The author is a culture critic based in Lahore
Bulleh Shah’s urs has become a ritualised celebration of a man whose poetry challenged hierarchies
Mukesh helped shape the Hindi film song, becoming one of his generation’s defining playback singers
The awards should honour genuine contributions, especially to Pakistan’s cultural heritage
A new heritage gallery draws attention to the state of the Punjabi language in Pakistan
The annual urs of Data Ganj Bakhsh testifies to the enduring appeal of qawwali
Hindustani classical music absorbed the landscapes of the subcontinent in ways Urdu poetry rarely did
Mohammed Rafi spent his formative years in Lahore before becoming a defining voice of Indian cinema
The withdrawal of a film has reignited debate over censorship
Two widely covered events reveal how media narratives shape public perception
Music has served many purposes throughout history, but its essential nature remains elusive
Recent engagement between Iran and Pakistan offers an opportunity to revive a rich tradition of cultural exchange
Technology has continually reshaped how Muharram’s rituals of remembrance are heard and performed
The acceptance of an AI-generated film at Tribeca signals a shift in how creativity may be understood in the years ahead
Despite years of renewed optimism, Pakistan’s film industry remains far from a sustained recovery
The root of the crisis lies in the society’s uneasy relationship with its history
The controversy surrounding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest shows how culture can’t be separated from politics
Questions of cultural legacy have resurfaced as Lahore’s Open Air Theatre once again changes hands
The relationship between human creativity and technology is entering a complex phase
The muted response to Asha Bhosle’s passing reveals how culture is quietly constrained
