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A South Asian film feast
September 2017

What a weekend for South Asian film! Three films of three different genres, and three important stories all premiere tonight.

First up is Armed with Faith, a documentary feature about the Khyber Pukthunkhwa Bomb Disposal Unit in Pakistan. Embedded with the under-funded, under-resourced three man unit operating in a seriously conflict wracked area, co-director Asad Faruqi tells the untold story of the risk and sacrifice wrought and demanded by state and non-state violence. Asad Faruqi has previously shot Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s award-winning film A Girl in…

Ishq – the story of Heer Ranjha comes to London’s West End
7-9 September 2017

When I was 16, I remember standing in a giant sports field in Lahore’s blistering summer sunshine watching about 200 actors, all dressed in provincial Pakistani outfits – silken, shiny, and very elaborate – step out of a row of buses. They were arriving from different parts of Punjab for the first and only rehearsal of the opening ceremony of Pakistan’s Interprovincial Games. Dr Farooq Beg, director of Serendip Productions, the company producing the ceremony, and my very first boss, walked over to me with…

Little known histories: The British Library’s South Asia Year of Culture
Until October 2017

South Asia Year of Culture - British Library

The British Library’s year-long exploration of South Asia, in particular India, continues with a series of fascinating events showcasing the history of India, Indians and their relationship to the British, as revealed by the Library’s extensive archives of manuscripts, paintings and photographs.

The South Asia Year of Culture programme runs till October, and features traditional and contemporary literature, the politics, art and language of Empire, and tales of migration – all brought to life through music, poetry, illustrated talks and conversation.

Highlights include a…