Feature Film: Indus Blues, Short films: Lucky Irani Circus & No More Backseaters
Pakistani folk artists talk about their struggle to keep a fading art form alive while reminding the world what they are about to lose.
The diverse cultures around Indus, with over 70 spoken languages, have deep roots going back centuries. Despite the richness of the various cultures flourishing along the mighty Indus river, their sounds have faded to the background in a world dominated by modern musical instruments. Filmmaker Jawad Sharif takes us on a journey spanning a thousand miles from the Karakoram Mountains to the southern coastline, capturing the little-known ethnic, linguistic, and musical diversity and humanism of the cultures of the Indus.
In Pakistan, a country riddled with political turmoil, economic challenges, and social identity crisis, folk musicians and instrument craftsmen find it hard to survive and sustain their art. We hear accounts of the struggle of the featured artists with terrorism, economic difficulties, and social issues surrounding music and dance. Each one of them affecting their survival.
Indus Blues is a film unlike any other because not only does it showcase the unique performances of these rarely seen musical instruments but also take the audience on a trip across the landscape of Pakistan. In many cases, these performances feature the last remaining maestros playing their respective instruments.
Indus Blues is an exploration of this age-old musical tradition and its state in the modern world.
The film has already received recognition with two nominations at Regina International Film Festival and Guam International Film Festival respectively and winning the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature Crystal Award in the latter. The film has also won "Best Feature Documentary" and "Best Cinematography" Awards at Jaipur International Film Festival, India.
Here is the trailer of the film:
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