Artists from Potohar presented a spell-binding performance at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-e-Jinnah on Monday. The event was arranged by Rawalpindi Arts Council under the auspices of the Punjab Council of Arts in ‘Folk Studio’ Season 2.
Information & Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan flanked by Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education Wajiha Akram graced the cultural show titled Rawal Rang and watched the performance for three hours straight.
Artists from Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal participated in Rawal Rang, anchored by famous artist Masood Khawaja. The show started with a performance by Sami Folk Dance by artists from Fateh Jang followed by traditional music of Potohar given by Iram Abbas from Murree with sitar and a pitcher. Artists who called themselves Gurya Pakistan and Waheed Murad performed on dhol which mesmerised all the attendees.
The artists who gained popularity from ‘Coke Studio’, Chakwal Group presented an amazing performance. Famous singer Afshan Zebi got the audience to the dance floor. Folk singers from Chakwal and its adjoining areas, Gulshan Ali Khan and Ahmed Haideri presented a dhol geet. The Arts Council students Rabail, Laraib and Hamza Ali presented tappay and mahey. Famous artists of Pakistan Television Saeed Anwar and Asif Mir were also among the singers who performed.
Chakwal Group of ‘Coke Studio’ fame presented an amazing performance. Famous singer Afshan Zebi got the audience to the dance floor. Folk singers from Chakwal and its adjoining areas, Gulshan Ali Khan and Ahmed Haideri performed on a dhol geet
Besides these performances, artisans also represented Potohar. These included Talib Hussain’s Table Lamp, Ejaz Mughal’s Truck Art, Fauzia Naheed’s Doll Making, Ambreen Fatima’s Chik Art and Shahida Parveen’s Paper Quilling.
Punjab Arts Council Executive Director Saman Rai, in her welcome speech said that this cultural institution of Punjab was promoting arts and culture of their respective areas under the patronage of Fayyazul Hassan Chohan. She added that ‘Folk Studio’ is also a humble effort to provide a platform to the artists of far-flung areas.
Wajiha Akram said that she had never seen such a kind of memorable performance. She said she had come to Lahore all the way from Islamabad for Rawal Rang which was a wonderful show.
Chohan said that Potohar was full of cultural norms and values which made it a distinct region. He further said that the government of Punjab under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had started various projects for the betterment of artists of Punjab which were Artists Health, Voice of Punjab and many others.
Published in Daily Times, February 20th 2019.