“I Love You”: An Archival Journey Through Romance in Pakistan’s Cinema
What does it mean when someone says “I love you” on screen, and how has that changed over time? In this session, we take a closer look at how romance has been expressed in Pakistani Urdu and Punjabi films from 1948 to 2015. Through a unique archival project, we trace how film heroes and heroines declared love – sometimes through shy glances and poetic metaphors, other times with bold words and gestures.
Using carefully selected film clips, this talk explores how these cinematic moments reflect the changing social, political, and moral landscapes of each era. It’s not just about romance on screen, it’s also about how popular films help shape the way we think about love, gender and identity.
About the Speaker:
Madeeha Fasahat is an educator, artist, and media professional with over a decade of experience in visual arts, media, and higher education. She currently teaches in the Media Studies Department at Bahria University’s Islamabad campus, where she also developed the comprehensive four-year bachelor’s program in Communication Studies for Bahria University Karachi.
Madeeha holds a Master of Art Education with honors from Beaconhouse National University Lahore and a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the National College of Arts. She has served as an Assistant Professor and member of the Board of Studies for the MPhil Art and Design Education program at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design Lahore, teaching research, studio, curriculum development, and theory courses. She has also taught as a visiting professor at Comsats University Islamabad and the National College of Arts Lahore and is on the Board of Studies for the Fine Arts and Art and Design programs at the University of Peshawar.
Alongside her academic work, Madeeha has contributed to leading advertising agencies and TV networks across Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. Her creative portfolio includes short films, documentaries, and poetry – her poem “Khalq” was featured in the Pakistani film Chambaili. She holds certifications in television production, film theory, direction, and screenwriting from Geo Television and Script Net UK. Her areas of specialization span art education, graphics, photography, television production, scriptwriting, and poetry.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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