Dir Bio: Zakir Thaver developed and produced feature length documentary Salam - The First ****** Nobel Laureate, which has garnered accolades and critical acclaim. Zakir has previously worked as a Consultant for ITV Studios in New York where he worked on a number of true crime programs. His current projects include a true-crime documentary series as well as an international espionage documentary series about events of global significance that took place in Pakistan in 2011.

Films shown in Divvy Film Festival 2024

Ustad

dir: Saiyna Bashir & Zakir Thaver

run time: 12 mins

production year: 2021 - present

documentary short

synopsis: With a voice that captivated millions, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s musical genius transcended borders, bringing ancient Qawwali music to the world stage. His meteoric rise was cut short when he died suddenly in 1997 at the age of 48. Saiyna Bashir Studios presents Ustad, a cinematic biopic of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, that paints a rich portrait of a man from humble beginnings, devoted to his craft, surrounded by an array of characters eager to bask in the glow of his success. Now for the first time, with intimate interviews from those who knew him best as well as rich archival recordings of his artistic prowess, the in-depth story of the life of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is told.