“The Glassworker is a historic milestone for Pakistan’s film industry, marking the country’s first hand-drawn animated feature film.”

The Glassworker premiered to a packed house at Nueplex Cinemas, with a sold-out crowd of art lovers and celebrities in attendance. The red-carpet event set the stage for an evening of celebration as members of the Mano Animation Studios team mingled with guests, sharing their passion for animation and film.

The Glassworker is a historic milestone for Pakistan’s film industry, marking the country’s first hand-drawn animated feature film. Directed by Usman Riaz, this cinematic masterpiece took a decade to bring to life, symbolizing the realization of a dream that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in Pakistani cinema.

The film has already made waves internationally, premiering at the prestigious Annecy International Film Festival and the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). The Glassworker is now set to premiere in Japan at the Hiroshima Animation Festival.

The evening in Karachi opened with a heartfelt speech by the director and Mano co-founder Usman Riaz, leaving the audience in awe of the film’s quality, a testament to the incredible talent within Pakistan.

The movie enthralled the guests with the presentation impressing them with the story and the clear animation which became more impressive with the fact that each drawing was painstakingly made by hand and brought together for a smooth animated projection on screen. Thus, the long duration of the filmmaking process requiring a lot of patience from Usman Riaz who, understandably, became emotional during his speech at the premiere. But he was amply rewarded with the adulated reviews of the audience.

White Plague presents the contrasting ideologies of war-mongering dictators and empathetic healers, the current societal divides and the necessity for compassion and unity in today’s world

Theatre, a medium of art as old as time, still continues to serve as a powerful reflection of societal challenges, a fact evident from one of the recent theatrical productions being directed by award-winning filmmaker Meher Jaffri, called ‘The White Plague.’ Originally penned by the well-recognized Czech playwright Karel Capek in 1937, this timeless narrative has been masterfully adapted into a theatrical work and translated into Urdu by Bodhi Works, underscoring its universal relevance and enduring impact.

Set against the backdrop of war, disease and the enduring struggle for moral conscience, this the theatrical play, standing as a tribute to the indelible legacy of the artist Zia Mohyeddin, echoes the challenges of the current times. With the central characters in the play embodying the complexities of humanity, power, and compassion, the play presents the contrasting ideologies of war-mongering dictators and empathetic healers, the current societal divides and the necessity for compassion and unity in today’s world.

Speaking about what drew Meher Jaffri towards this project, she shared, “I remember reading about this play when I was 16 years old and I also performed on it in high school. Since then, it has always stuck with me. So, when COVID had happened in 2020, I felt the situation was somewhat similar to the theme of this play, even though it was written earlier. During COVID, masses had different opinions on what to do and what not to do. The play also explores the effects of a mysterious pandemic in everyday life of a common man and how everybody has a different opinion on what’s going on. Another thing that drew me to it was the prevailing situation in Gaza because I believe the play reflects whatever is happening around today. While essentially, it’s an anti-war play, it’s also about having a moral conscience to do the right thing in the face of difficult decisions.”

Blending humour and satire with a profound message in the play, Meher Jaffri aims to inspire audiences to take active roles in shaping a more just and compassionate world and realize that it is important to have the courage to overcome the feeling of hopelessness. Because in that courage and in that action of resisting against injustice, there’s a whole new world of impact that could happen. “Even just a sheer energy of putting your support behind something right is important. There might be times when things may seem hopeless, but that’s no excuse to be passive about what’s going on and about doing the right thing or speaking up against injustice. The world demands it right now. And there’s no excuse not to,” she emphasized.  

Meher Jaffri, as a director has diversified projects to her credit, but finds THE WHITE PLAGUE to be most rewarding work so far.

On Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day, the HUM Network’s office was abuzz with energy as employees gathered outside the HUM offices in Karachi and Islamabad, clad in shades of green and white. The ceremony was conducted live from Islamabad and Karachi and began with a lively Q&A session between the CEO and journalist Asma Shirazi.

The message from Duraid Qureshi, CEO, HUM Network, on Pakistan’s 77th anniversary emphasized the importance of resilience and unity in the face of adversity. “As we mark 77 years of independence, Let us reflect on the many challenges we’ve faced, including constitutional crises, economic downturns, and international conflicts,” he said. “Despite these obstacles, our country remains strong thanks to your efforts and love and we will continue to work together to build a brighter future for Pakistan.”

President, HUM Network, Sultana Siddiqui’s message echoed the theme of unity and patriotism. “On this Independence Day, I congratulate everyone on their efforts to serve the country,” she said. “We must take pride in our achievements and reflect on what we can do more to promote education, cleanliness, and respect for our nation. As employees of HUM Network, you have to set an excellent example by promoting patriotism and serving your community. I encourage each of you to continue this tradition and make a positive impact on your surroundings.”

Highlighted the importance of cleanliness and responsible social media use, she added: “I urge everyone to vow from today onwards to clean their streets and alleys, and share pictures of their efforts next year,” he said. “Let’s work together to create a better Pakistan for ourselves and future generations.”

The regal ceremony was followed by a halwa puri breakfast for HUM Family, a tradition which is adhered to every year.