From Anwar Maqsood and Dawar Mehmood’s Naach Na Jaanay heading to Islamabad to Pakistani filmmakers representing the country in China and designers going beyond the call of duty to help others, the past week saw a number of interesting happenings.

 

Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza attend the 5th Jackie Chan International Action Film Week

In May, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza attended the Asian Film and TV week, in Guangzhou China, where their latest outing Load Wedding opened the festival. The filmmaker duo once again represented Pakistan at the recently concluded Jackie Chan International Action Film Week, held in in Datong, China, where they met Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody, Rush Hour star Chris Tucker and the new Mulan, Liu Yifei amongst others. It was a big year for Pakistan as Teefa in Trouble was actually also nominated at the festival, a proud moment for Ahsan Rahim and Ali Zafar.

 

Naach Na Jaanay heads to Islamabad

Legendary playwright, Anwar Maqsood and Dawar Mehmood collaborated earlier this year for theatre play Naach Na Jaanay that marked artist Yasir Hussain’s comeback to the stage after almost seven years. After getting rave reviews during its extended Karachi run, the play headed to Islamabad last month and will run till August 11.

Naach Na Jaanay is a prequel to Aangan Terha that Anwar Maqsood wrote for television in the ‘80s and then recreated for stage in 2013. Yasir Hussain has reprised the role of Akbar from Aangan Terha in the on-going play that depicts the era when Zia-ul-Haq had declared martial law and banned dance academies.

Yasir Hussain is seen here with actor Usman Mukhtar, who essays the role of Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in the Islamabad run of Naach Na Jaanay.

 

Huma Adnan celebrates Craft Stories

Known for her eponymous brand FnkAsia, Huma Adnan joined hands with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) last year to develop a line called Craft Stories; the aim was to economically empower thousands of refugees residing in Karachi. Last week, the designer hosted an intimate ceremony at her residence and commemorated the remuneration of refugees on Craft Stories jewellery. Besides the female refugee artisans, who have been creating gorgeous handmade jewellery for the past 6 months, notable guests such as the team of UNHCR, Pakistan and acting US Consulate General, Mr Darian Arky were also present at the occasion, where hand crafted jewels were on display.