THE award winning best South Asian documentaries were screened on the last day of the Vasakh film festival at the FC College that concluded on Wednesday with a cultural evening.
Drumbeating and traditional Gidda and Bhangra marked the start of the cultural evening. There were also buggy rides for guests who were welcomed with showering of petals by students clad in Shalwar Kurta and Lacha, Saris and other traditional dresses. Different groups of students also presented Folk dance, Kathak dance and Punjabi Tappas, representing the Pakistani culture.
The stage was tastefully decorated with the colours, befitting the season of Vasakh. Students presented classical, jazz and Punjabi songs. The best three contestant documentaries were awarded. The first prize went to Poor Man s Gold of the National College of Arts, second went to Decade of ICS, Punjab University, and the third to Khuda Zameen Se Gaya Nahi of the Fatima Jinnah College for Girls, Chunna Mandi.
In ten category of fiction, first prize went to Not to be too loud of the Punjab University, second to Mehru by the Lahore College for Women University and the third went to Pallet Eye by the NCA, Lahore.
During the day, the screening of the best South Asian award winning documentaries brought the screening section to an end. At first documentary CREACIOUN COLLECTIVA (Germany) made by a German filmmaker Mona was displayed. It depicted the love of people working hard to make theatres to life by doing different shows and how it brought smiles on other people s faces.
The next documentary Kalu was directed by Naveed Anjum which was in Punjabi language. This film was about roaster fighting and its relation. It portrayed the basic idea that how small things mattered and we did not care about them.
The third film was named One show less sent in by the students of the National Institute of Design. The story was about the poor condition of cinemas, and a painter who went to different cinemas and painted the furniture. He shared his views about his connection with cinemas from childhood and commented on the condition of cinema.
It was followed by the last documentary The way of the road which gave insight into Nepal s civilisation, culture and different rituals. This documentary showed people whose livelihood depended upon the rituals of death. The documentary reflected the difficulties faced by the lower class people.
The ending was marked by the promo of a horror movie Cheekh made by the FCC students. The question-answer section took place that threw light on the key ideas of documentary making.
After the event, Mona, a German filmmaker, shared her views regarding Vasakh and Pakistan. She appreciated the organiser s efforts a lot and said that the documentaries shown were very good and gave her the insight into Pakistan s culture.