Actress Shabnam Ghosh, the poster girl of Lollywood in the 1970s, burst into tears while revealing to the audience of Ravians' Literary Festival about her story of leaving Pakistan and film industry here. Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana was the chief guest at the literary festival organised by the Old Ravians Union (ORU) at the Government College University Lahore.
"It was very painful for me, but I did it for my family, especially my father, who suffered from heart attack in Bangladesh while I was in Pakistan," said the movie star. She added: "I lived and worked almost for three decades in Pakistan, so how could I forget the people who gave me so much love and respect." Veteran actor Mustafa Qureshi also attended the session, 'an interaction with Shabnum Ghosh', hosted by noted dramatist Professor Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed.
According to Shabnam, the film industry was hit by the fall of Dhaka. When asked about the Bangladeshi cinema, Shabnam said "nowadays it is no different from Pakistan's." But, she was optimistic about the rival of their film industry, saying that "the new generation is working hard for the cause." Shabnam said that actors were not very demanding in their times, adding that "there was no concept of five-star hotels as they used to stay in tents most of the time during the outdoor shoots."
Shabnam said that her husband, renowned music director Robin Ghosh, was loving, caring and very understanding and never interfered in her film life, and never asked questions when she had to come home late from work. Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab governor lauded the ORU executive committee for holding a vibrant literacy festival to apprise the young generation of their language, literature, art and culture. He was particularly touched by poetry of Anwar Masood. He believed that the writers mirrored the socio and psychological dimensions of contemporary society at a highly creative level.
The festival was spread over five literary sessions including one on the traditions of theater and drama which was addressed by two senior television actors Irfan Khoosat and Naeem Tahir. The panel stressed the need for eradicating the vulgarity from theater and reviving it on the pattern of literary drama which had been staged in institutions like the Government College Lahore since the 19th century.
The festival opened with a session which paid glowing tributes to Bano Qudisa. Poet Yasmeen Hameed, Anees Ahmed, the son of Bano Qudsia, critic Professor Dr Saadat Saeed and Dr Khalid Sinjarni told students about the great literary works of the towering writer, her inspirational personality and vibrant role she played in strengthening the roots of Urdu literature.
In the third session, eminent director Usman Peerzada, actress Feryal Ali Gauhar and filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat deliberated upon the revival of cinema in Pakistan. Eminent broadcaster Yasmin Tahir, senior journalist Rashed Rahman and Naveed Shahzad shed light on the life and works of Syed Imtaiz Ali Tajj and Chief Justice S. A. Rahman. Rana Asad Khan, the general secretary, conducted the entire festival with distinct finesse.The festival concluded with an enthralling poetry session with noted poet Anwar Masood.