文化｜映画「国宝」チームに菊池寛賞
河北新報・横山勲記者らも受賞
日本文学振興会は、優れた文化活動に贈る第73回菊池寛賞の受賞者を15日に発表しました。今回の受賞者には、映画「国宝」の製作チームや作家の宮本輝さん、数学者の藤原正彦さんらが選ばれています。
菊池寛賞の賞金は各100万円で、贈呈式は12月に招待制で行われる予定です。
なお、本記事は有料会員限定となっております。クリップ機能のご利用も、有料会員のみ可能です。
［西日本新聞meとは？］
（※残りの詳細記事は有料会員限定です。7日間無料トライアルもございますので、ご検討ください。）
https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/1411494/
**Karachi Hosts the World Culture Festival 2025**
The Arts Council of Pakistan (Karachi) is bringing together more than 800 artists for the World Culture Festival 2025, to be hosted in the vibrant city by the sea. Gathering voices, movements, and colors from across the world, this event is a grand celebration of diversity through performance, sound, and visual expression. It serves as a showcase of creativity that builds understanding across cultures.
Pakistan’s representation is extensive and varied. Musicians such as Akbar Khamiso Khan, Akhtar Chanal, Asim Azhar, Bilal Saeed, Imran Momina (Emu), Lutaf Ali, Mai Dhai, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Abdullah Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Izat Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Nafees Khan, and Wahab Bugti reflect the richness of the country’s artistic landscape. Spanning folk, classical, and contemporary genres, their performances connect generations and traditions.
Theatre highlights include work by Fawad Khan, Khaled Anam, and Khalid Ahmed, representing Pakistan’s growing stage culture. Adding depth to the festival, classical and contemporary dance showcases by Sheema Kermani and Nighat Chaudhry lend artistic authenticity. Together, these artists capture the vibrant energy of Pakistan’s creative identity, where cultural heritage and self-expression coexist beautifully.
Beyond Pakistan, the festival features a wide range of international talent across disciplines. Groups such as 7 Spices, Anikaya, Ballet Beyond Borders, Barcelona Repertory, Bedaya Group, CirkBizArt, Eurythmy West Midlands, Inkaba Creative Arts House, Khalaha Theatre, Lidia Kopina, Veronika Berashe Vich, Mine Nur Sen, Ozlem, Sahar Assaf, Sakai International, Scalambra, Soky Productions, Spirit Sisters, Stages Theatre Group, The Freedom Theatre, Umunyinya Theatre Company, University of Diyala, and Wava Theatre will bring distinct traditions, languages, and storytelling forms to Karachi audiences.
The global music lineup echoes this diversity, featuring artists such as Adiga Music Band, Arthur Ban, Ashraf Sharif Khan, Diana Baroni, Erica Lauren, Eva Klesse Quartet, Farah Baba Orchestra, Fariya Chaudhuri, Jay-C Val, Kenta Shoji, Liboi, Lucy Tasker, Madan Gopal, Mixwell, Mrs. Georgiana Costea Gluga, Nawal, Ricardo Passos, Sahib Pashazade, Kamran Kerimov, Sarah Dillamore, Shireen Jawad, Sh-oomb, Tommy Hill, Veronika, Vicente, Viktor Marek, and Zouratie Kone.
Their participation promises to add beautiful rhythm and melody to the festival’s collective voice, creating moments where cultural distances fade through shared sound.
Dance remains a key component of the festival’s program. Anisha Thai, CayenaColfolk, Don Sen, Haraka, Lapa Dance Company, Navid Rezvani, and Shaam each bring their unique movement styles to the stage, telling stories through rhythm and motion.
Visual artists such as Adjaratou Mariam Ableusi Ouedraogo, Adrian Bojko, Bubly Barna, Chifumi, Domi Forest, Halldor, Kelechi Nwaneri, King Kesia, Luis M. S. Santos, Mendrika Ratsimandresy, Niharika Momtaz, Onesmus Okamar, Sinenkosi Msomi, Suborna Morsheada, Victoria Santos, and YAZ showcase culture through distinct interpretations of identity and place, expanding the festival’s creative horizons.
Film is represented by Per Fikse, whose work adds a compelling cinematic dimension to the event.
The World Culture Festival 2025 exemplifies how art strengthens connections through empathy and shared imagination. Artistic expression communicates ideas and emotions often beyond words. It records struggle and achievement, reflecting the human desire to create meaning and beauty.
When you experience art, you participate in an ongoing conversation—you learn from differences and recognize shared values across cultures.
Through this gathering, the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi reaffirms that culture is not a privilege but a living element of society. It shapes thought, sustains identity, and supports creativity. The festival reminds us all that art belongs to everyone, and diversity is not a division but a collective strength.
—
**Moklani The Last Mohanas: Pakistan’s Historic Win at the Nature Oscars**
*Moklani The Last Mohanas*, directed and produced by Jawad Sharif, has made history as the first Pakistani feature film to win at the Jackson Wild Media Awards 2025. Often called the Nature Oscars, this prestigious event honors excellence in environmental and wildlife storytelling.
The win, announced on October 2 in Jackson, Wyoming, places Pakistan firmly on the global map of documentary cinema.
The film tells the story of the Mohana community of Manchar Lake in Sindh. Known as the boat people of Pakistan, the Mohanas have lived on the waters for centuries. Their lives revolve around the lake’s rhythm, but pollution, shrinking water levels, and the loss of traditional practices now threaten their survival.
Sharif’s direction highlights the beauty of Manchar Lake, revealing the fragility of both nature and culture. The film connects local realities with global environmental concerns, giving voice to marginalized communities that are rarely heard.
Supported by the National Geographic Society and Climate Kahani, the project blends art and advocacy to raise awareness about the cultural and ecological importance of Manchar Lake.
Sharif said after receiving the award, “The award belongs to the Mohana people, whose stories deserve to be seen and heard beyond borders.”
The Jackson Wild Media Awards are among the highest honors in conservation filmmaking. *Moklani* competed in the Global Voices category, which recognizes underrepresented perspectives. According to the official Jackson Wild website, over 500 submissions were reviewed by more than 200 international judges in 2025.
This recognition places *Moklani* alongside leading environmental documentaries worldwide and reflects Pakistan’s growing presence in global storytelling. It also highlights how local filmmakers contribute to vital discussions on climate change and conservation.
For Pakistan, this award represents more than a single success—it symbolizes the growth of the country’s creative industries and their confidence on the international stage.
From Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Oscar-winning documentaries to the global acclaim of *Joyland*, Pakistani cinema continues to evolve. *Moklani* adds to this progress, proving that the nation’s filmmakers can stand among the best.
Sharif noted on his company’s website, “This award is for every Pakistani storyteller who believes that film can be a tool for empathy and change.” His words echo a wider movement among filmmakers using documentaries to raise awareness and inspire action.
*Moklani*’s success shows that documentary filmmaking in Pakistan is gaining momentum after years of limited support. The genre is now recognized as a powerful medium for storytelling, advocacy, and cultural preservation.
Sharif’s earlier films—*Indus Blues* (2018) and *K2 & The Invisible Footmen* (2015)—earned similar acclaim for spotlighting indigenous art and unsung heroes. *Moklani* continues that mission, exploring the link between environment and identity.
The film’s strength lies in its quiet universality. Rooted in Pakistan but understood worldwide, it documents a community’s resilience and humanity. More than a film, *Moklani* preserves the story of the Mohanas and their water-bound world for future generations, capturing their culture, struggle, and hope amid environmental change.
As Pakistan expands its cultural presence globally, *Moklani* stands as proof of what is possible when storytelling meets purpose. It marks a defining moment for Pakistani cinema and for all those who use art to represent their communities.
—
**Now Playing: Spotify Joins ChatGPT to Turn Chats into Playlists**
Imagine chatting about your day and, with a few words, discovering the perfect song to match your mood. That’s now possible as Spotify integrates with ChatGPT, turning everyday conversations into gateways to new music.
This integration is live in English across 145 countries for ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users on both web and mobile apps (iOS and Android).
Whether you’re a free or premium Spotify listener, you can now explore music simply by asking for it. Just link your Spotify account to ChatGPT and start talking. You can ask for playlists to suit your mood, favorite genre, or a specific artist—and with a single tap, listen directly in the Spotify app.
Spotify already plays across more than 2,000 devices including cars, TVs, smart speakers, and home systems. With ChatGPT, that reach extends even further, bringing music discovery into everyday conversation.
Ask for new releases, hidden gems, or songs you once loved; it’s like having a personal DJ who understands not just what you type, but what you mean.
“For listeners, it’s a more direct way to find music. For artists, it provides a broader stage to reach new audiences,” said Sten Garmark, SVP and Global Head of Consumer Experience at Spotify.
By bringing Spotify into ChatGPT, Spotify is creating new ways for fans to connect with artists and creators whenever inspiration strikes. Importantly, Spotify has confirmed that no music, podcasts, or other audio or video content will be shared with OpenAI for training purposes, ensuring that artists and creators remain protected.
Music shapes how we experience moments. This collaboration makes conversation a bridge to sound, where every word can lead to something you love. Describe a mood, your plans, or even a fleeting thought; Spotify in ChatGPT will help you find the right track in seconds.
The process feels effortless, blurring the line between dialogue and discovery—letting words lead you to rhythm.
Spotify in ChatGPT transforms language into listening, keeping the focus on what matters most: music that moves you. It’s not just technology, but a conversation that feels alive and human.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350275-the-sound-the-stage-the-story
Not just at Raj Bhavan, the Academy’s presence is felt across venues from Shivaji Park to the heritage hall of the BMC headquarters, where budget battles and civic clashes usually dominate. In that charged chamber, cultural performances soften rancour, reminding the city that art and politics must coexist—sometimes in harmony, often in tension.
The Academy marks occasions like Independence Day, Republic Day, and Marathi Bhasha Diwas here, and mounts presentations on Shiv Jayanti and Maharashtra Day. With scant means, its 50 music and 90 art teachers train, costume, and guide students beyond duty.
One begins to understand the Academy better after stepping into the corridors of the Education Officer’s chamber in the Triveni Sangam Municipal School building on Currey Road. Here, authority meets energy in Kirtivardhan V Kiratkudve, who describes the space that offers what many homes cannot: a first encounter with the arts where teachers step into the role of parents, nurturing talent with patience and persistence. “Art is a must in life to wage life’s battles,” he says, echoing the belief of MV Desai, the city’s municipal commissioner (1972–75) and the Academy’s founder.
For 51 years, that legacy has been shaped by founder-advisers such as litterateur PL Deshpande and Pandit Vamanrao Sadolikar, and sustained over decades by an advisory committee drawn from the finest in their fields. Today, only three of its 12 seats in the music academy remain occupied: vocalist Shruti Sadolikar Katkar, instrumentalist Shankar Abhyankar, and danseuse Sucheta Bhide Chaphekar. The rest were once held by luminaries like Pandit Jasraj, composer Yashwant Deo, veteran dancer Kanak Rele, and actor-director Damu Kenkre, whose vision still echoes in the work of 8,500 students across 900-odd primary and 250 secondary civic schools in Mumbai.
### Music Education Across Languages
BMC students learn music in school, with all civic school teachers trained in art forms at Sangeet Kala Academy. BMC schools function in eight mediums: Marathi, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. This linguistic diversity feeds into the Academy’s ensembles and teacher projects.
Music instructor Jyoti Bhat, a Kannadiga by birth, sings in five of these languages. Her favourite is a Gujarati number, *Rang Bhari Holi*, though she recently composed a song in English. “Every July, we introduce six new *samooh geet* for teachers. It’s their toolkit to engage students across neighbourhoods,” says Bhat, herself a former BMC student. “It’s lovely to see teachers learning new languages because of these group numbers.”
Principal Shivangi Damle (Music) affirms how simple lyrics energize students and bind teachers. Alongside building a repertoire of theme songs on environment and harmony, teachers are also trained in folk forms so their grasp of Maharashtra’s dances—going beyond the usual Koli choreography—directly enriches students’ learning.
### A Legacy of Musical Productions
The Academy’s music lessons have long been a launchpad for ambitious productions, some even staged abroad, rooted in Maharashtra’s Sangeet Natak tradition. Founder Desai, a passionate lover of musicals, owned two rare organs and a pair of harmoniums (later donated to the Academy). The Academy has kept this cornerstone of culture alive by staging Marathi musicals with its own music teachers in leading roles.
Over time, 1,315 productions have been mounted, many winning laurels at the Maharashtra State Drama Competitions. Among the most memorable are *Mandarmala*, *Katyar Kaljat Ghusali*, *Sanshaykallol*, *Bavankhani*, and *Dhadila Ram Tine Ka Vani*. Municipal school students get trained not just in fine arts, but also in allied professions such as mass media.
As former principal Suvarna Ghaisas (who directed quite a few musicals) puts it, “We are not just preserving a tradition, it is like living it—taking Desai Sir’s love for Sangeet Natak from the classroom to the state-of-the-art stage; also demonstrating the magic that can come out of minimal resources.”
### Visual and Performing Arts: Creativity Flourishes
Music may be the Academy’s heartbeat, but its spirit flows into the visual and performing arts, where many students discover creativity for the first time. For instance, 450 students built a 40-by-50-foot replica of the legendary *Janta Raja* play set at NSCI Dome in Worli as part of Indradhanushya 2023, winning Gold at Asia’s WOW Awards.
Marking 75 years of Independence, 2,000 students linked hands at Ghatkopar’s Acharya Atre ground to form a living map of India. In *Bacche Bole Moraya*, 2,500 young hands shaped eco-friendly Ganesh idols, carrying tradition gently into the future.
The Academy also conducts the BMC’s annual art contests for children, such as the *Mazi Mumbai Balasaheb Thackeray Drawing Competition*, where children make rangoli, sculpt eco-friendly Ganesh idols from shadu clay, and build sand sculptures of Shivaji Maharaj’s forts on Juhu Beach.
### Annual Art Contests and Community Engagement
The *Mazi Mumbai Balasaheb Thackeray Drawing Competition* draws nearly one lakh children across 48 city parks. Alongside it thrive traditions that blend art with civic imagination: eco-friendly Ganesh idol contests using shadu (riverbed) clay, sand sculptures of Shivaji Maharaj’s forts by 300 students on Juhu Beach, and rangoli competitions engaging students and civic staff.
Photography contests bring together municipal employees, city photographers, and young learners, while a three-day Artist Camp for teachers culminates in an exhibition at the Nehru Centre.
Each year, 4,000–5,000 civic school students take Maharashtra’s Elementary and Intermediate Drawing Exams, with pass rates above 90 percent. The BMC allocates ₹42 lakh annually for arts initiatives, plus special funds for the Mayor’s contest, within a ₹65 lakh arts and music budget.
Principal of the Academy’s visual arts wing, Dinkar Pawar, says the sustained effort has produced both first-rate artists and a visually literate audience that now extends into neighbourhoods across Mumbai. The BMC’s commitment to providing students and teachers with necessary material, without fail and entirely free of cost, makes a huge difference to those who otherwise cannot compete on equal footing.
### A Thriving Community of Alumni and Teachers
The Academy’s student power shines through a big band of professionals (alumni) who pay back in the form of free backstage support. Their presence fosters a living community, with experienced hands stepping in as larger programmes unfold.
This culture of continuity is matched by teachers who prepare children free of cost for competitive exams. Each year, nearly 500 students appear (many funded by teachers), including at the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, affirming that the Academy extends beyond classrooms into a lifelong rhythm of practice.
### Resilience Through Challenges
In its 51 years, the Academy has weathered many battles, the pandemic among the hardest. Work could have stalled, but then principal Ghaisas and Abhijeet Kamble carried it into the virtual space for the first time.
“Those were sleepless nights,” recalls Ghaisas. “We had to build an online routine from scratch, while ensuring our children’s talent and our teachers’ dedication still reached people in those dark hours.”
Ghaisas recalls August 5, founder MV Desai’s birth anniversary, as a key date for teachers to showcase new contributions, especially in 2020 when Covid forced a shift online. That year, rehearsals moved to Zoom: teachers sent recordings, which Kamble compiled into a presentation for 300 colleagues.
Encouraged by the response, Ghaisas launched an online Music Week for students—a daunting task when songs had to be taught over mobile phones. Once students learned their parts, instrumentalists recorded harmonium, violin, tabla, and dholki accompaniments from home, sending tracks for mixing.
The three-hour programme *Nave Kshitij* was streamed on the Education Department’s YouTube channel, drawing over 7,000 viewers. In the Academy’s lifetime, it was extraordinary proof that even in isolation, art could bridge distances— even if it never made breaking news.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/the-academy-mumbai-forgot-to-celebrate-23595049
