On the Scence:-The story of documented proofs and documentaries
(Weekly Column)
By Zaib Azkaar Hussain
During a virtual literary meeting held under the aegis of Mummasilaat E Asraar (MEA), the question of authenticity of the presented content and described events came under discussion.
Faheem Islaam Ansaari who discussed at length, the life and art of renowned Poet and Critic Raghupati Sahay Firaq Gorakhpuri (August 28, 1896- March 3, 1982) made it clear that he gathered only authentic and factual events of the life of Firaq Gorakhpuri.
He rejected the unauthentic information, adding that, either some of the contemporaries of Firaq (who were opponents of Firaq) or some other relatives of Firaq propagated the wrong information in order to damage the reputation of a great poet.
The attendees mostly writers and scholars noted that the study was not only authentic but original as well. Many of events were new in a sense that they were not reported earlier.
Faheem Islaam Ansaari paying glowing tributes to Firaq said he was a man of a different frame of mind and didn’t care of settled customs due to which he had to face strong opposition in literary circles.
He genuinely enriched Urdu literature because of his vision and creativity, Ansaari added. He held most of the stories targeting him were either fake or were of the creations of biased critics. He pointed out that he had relied on authentic documentaries and documented studies.
He observed Firaq was one of the greats who changed the history of poetry in this sub-continent by enriching it at a time when the conditions were at the worst and no fresh poetic voice was over there.
Mah Jabeen Asif who coordinated the discussion said that Firaq was a poet of fresh aesthetics.
Sarwar Gazali, Rifat Islam Siddiqui, Anwar Zaheer Rahber, Ishrat Moin Seema, Dr Shehla Naqvi and other attendees commended Ansaari for presenting a nice account on the life and works of Firaq.
Sarwar Gazali referring to some documentary films on the life of Firaq and concluded that Ansaari’s study matched the facts (of the films’). He declared the study ad perfect, fair and informative.
Anwar Zaheer Rahber and Ishrat Moin Seema recalled that once they (on behalf of Urdu Anjuman Berlin) had arranged showing of a documentary film on the life of Firaq.
The attendees also appreciated Rizwana Fehmi for designing a very nice flayer for the function on Firaq.
We do talk much about the authority and authenticity of documented history and documentaries, but irony is that there are very few individuals and organisations who do truly an authentic job.
Of course some TV Channels are making their all efforts to give good documentaries, but the action of the Geomentary is indeed worthy and considerable.
Geomentary Department is part of Geo News Television, Pakistan. It’s been the first and the only documentary production unit for any news channels in Pakistan and considered to be the country’s largest production house in terms of the number of high quality documentaries and short films it has produced in the last over one decade.
Nusrat Amin who heads the department told that it earlier had worked as part of the Geo’s Current Affairs, started functioning independently in 2012, contributing a high standard content to the network in forms of full length original documentary films, short films and audience-based mega shows besides other special and long-format products.
When asked Nusrat Amin told the Geomentary was also credited for producing well over a hundred episodes of a travelogue / informative show titled ‘Geo Ajooba.’
This show still remains the biggest source of inspiration and reference guide for filmmakers and authors who later worked on several archeological sites and the remnants that were never correctly described or shown in Pakistan before.
The basic purpose behind establishing Geomentary unit and later making it an independent unit, was to reach out to a wider landscape of audience with a more meaningful and more credible format, says Nusrat Amin – a known journalist, columnist and the head of Geomentary. “Documentary films have emerged as the most credible format in the last over 20 years almost all over the world,” says Nusrat, adding: “Showing exactly what we say is what makes a documentary film the most authentic source of information and a credible tool to build correct perception.”
Geomentary products largely documentary films and shows have been referred to quite extensively in media training programmes and workshops. An instructor, for instance, referred to a Geomentary show while suggesting Social Media enthusiasts at IBA, as a source of inspiration and guideline for the intended Vloggers. The unit is also credited for producing Pakistan’s first fully animated docu-dramatic film titled Mr. Jeem.
By March 2022, Geomentary turned digital by producing weekly news short films for Geo’s online and social media services and news department.
It’s been a dynamic part of Geo’s massive campaigns such as Aman Ki Asha (on bilateral peace between Pakistan and India), Zara Sochiye (on education), Fifty Years of 1965 War and Eradication of Polio and others. And as the pandemic Covid-19 engulfed Pakistan, Team Geomentary worked harder from home and produced well over 60 high quality short films besides a research-based documentary film titled ‘Coronama’ in a period of three months.
The unit has extensively worked on the voice-dubbing of high quality foreign documentary films, or the ones originally made in the languages other than Urdu. The unit also has the honor of converting the 20th Century Fox’s documentary film, He Named Me Malala, into Urdu. The film is based on the life and works of the youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai. Incorporating the original voices of Malala herself and her family members is the foremost factor in the budded version.
Besides documentary films, Geomentary produces a wider range of products largely short news documentary films, Public Service Messages, voice-dubbing, subtitling, live voice translation of the U.S Presidential candidates, street shows and coverage of special and important events.
Ends
