It’s been 25 years since the fashion industry was first introduced to the phenomenon known as Imran Qureshi. To mark this turning point, we decided to give a bit of a twist to the obligatory interview: we had Imran interviewed by his own choice of journalist. That might not be how most people know famous fashion designer Rizwan Beyg as, but he was in actuality the perfect choice. Not only has he been a much-admired columnist of an English weekly, but he also happens to be great friends with our anniversary boy, and that is how an otherwise straightforward interview turned into a friendly chitchat session.

He sits at the table with his soft brown eyes and floppy hair and I look carefully for gray but there is none. He claims to be 47 but the face and slight build belie his claim. 25 years later Imran Qureshi is still very much a force to contend with and as the founding father of choreography in Pakistan is very much a part of the who’s who in fashion.

The overt feeling of loss and longing as captured in the currently running video of Khammaj’s living testimony to Saqib Malik’s clarity of vision as a director. Not to forget his earlier masterpieces the sardoni Mr. Fraudiye and the seductive Behti Naar. With a fascination for Pedro Almodavar and Guru Dutt, Saqib has always something to startle his audiences with Bet Deewaney would be the Next!

What is power? Who has it? How can you tell? These are questions that have no easy answers. Ask an assertive journalist, and you’ll hear a vehement dismissal of all glamour types and the list of powerful people whittling down to a stodgy industry bigwigs. Ask a starry-eyed showbiz fanatic and you’ll hear a bubbly eulogy for all the hot starlets who in reality would not even have the clout to wangle a solo project. So the dilemma remains.

It appears as if the floodgates have been opened for foreign entertainment and news channels. The last couple of years have seen an invasion by cable channels, which can be seen wherever you go, from restaurants and homes to shops. This is all part of the phenomenon called ‘globalisation’. Pakistani viewers, noticeably, are losing interest in local channels because of the glitz and glamor of the foreign media. It is easy to see that the majority of images beaming out of television sets are of foreign films and shows. Viewers countrywide prefer Indian music, films and Hollywood flicks and this has resulted in the local channels being relegated to the background.

Moving Closer, a 40-minute documentary by Serendip Productions, was screened at Alhamra Hall-II.

The documentary will also be shown in Bombay and Delhi and later screened on Pakistan Televison, Star Plus and Doordarshan.

Moving Closer is about Indian actress Urmila Matondkar and director Prahlad Kakar’s visit to Lahore earlier this year. The two joined Pakistani actors Resham and Shamyl Khan and video director Saqib Malik to make a music video for the Fuzon song Deewanay.