Singapore City (TDI): A special screening of the Pakistani film Nayab took place in Singapore this week, organized by the Pakistan High Commission as part of its ongoing push to use culture as a bridge between nations.
The event drew a mixed crowd, diplomats, Singaporean officials, filmmakers, media folks, and members of the Pakistani community all turned up.
Everyone gathered not just to watch a movie, but to experience a slice of Pakistan’s evolving film scene.
In a brief welcome, High Commissioner Rabia Shafiq spoke about how cinema can do what politics sometimes can’t connect people.
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“Films let us tell our story in our own words,” she said, adding that Nayab reflects the struggles, dreams, and resilience seen across Pakistan today.
Directed by Umair Nasir Ali, Nayab is a coming-of-age story of a young girl from Karachi who aspires to play for the national cricket team, challenging societal norms and family expectations along the way.
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The audience responded warmly. Some were visibly moved, discussing the movie.
Events like this, the High Commission said, are part of a wider effort to keep cultural dialogue going. And judging by the response, Nayab hit the right note.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
