(Pareesa Afreen)

“Even in stillness, this space resonates with the living spirit of art” said the roadside vendor.

I was in an old area of the city in a locality behind the city courts. I was taking a walk around the street
where I noticed many roadside vendors selling betel leaf (Pan) leaves by the bundle. Probably this was
where pan was sold in wholesale to retailers. Amidst the vibrant chaos, I noticed an ancient building that
stood out because of its beautiful yellow and brown stone work with its long closed wooden doors and
broken windows. This is Nigar cinema which was entertaining Karachiites pre-partition and continued to
do so till it stopped doing so some time around 2005.

This iconic landmark if it can speak would fill volumes about the neglect that it has endured over the
years, evident from the graffiti on its walls and the overall vandalism that it has suffered over the years.
However, it was at the rear of this crumbling cinema building that you will notice another entrance gate.
This was once the ticketing corner of the cinema, and on the wall above it there is a board that is still
very visible saying in bold Urdu letters “PAINTERS”.

It is here that I discovered an unexpected corner of artistry that breathed life into the fading colors of
the once vibrant Nigar cinema. This is the story of my encounter with Pervaiz Bhatti, a former Pakistan
cinema billboard painter, who has now turned his talent onto the canvas. I made my way to this small
forgotten corner of the Nigar cinema, which has a small studio. Dozens of painted canvases adorned the
walls while some were placed on the ground, displaying a vivid array of artistic expression. The moment
I entered, I was welcomed by the artist himself, Pervaiz Bhatti, who was busy painting a portrait.
Pervaiz Bhatti is a humble and talented artist, and he shared his story with me. He spoke of the years
that he spent as a Pakistan cinema billboard painter, creating larger than life artworks that adorned
theaters across the country. However, as the era of digital advertising dawned, the demand for handpainted billboards come to an end, leaving Pervaiz’s skills underutilized. He transitioned his expertise
onto the canvas, breathing new life into his passion for art.

As Pervaiz guided me through his mini studio, he shared his vision of preserving the heritage of Nigar cinema. He showed me the album that comprises all of his artwork that he has done for old cinema’s management. The artwork he has created depicts scenes from classic movies that once graced the screen of the cinema.

During an interlude from him working on a canvas, I asked him why was he still to be found in Nigar Cinema more than a dozen years after it closed down and had he not relocated his studio somewhere else, he replied : “I find peace in this place. My heart and soul is all in Nigar cinema.”

In an age dominated by digital art and mass-produced prints, Pervaiz’s dedication to hand-painted art is
inspiring. Each stroke of his brush tells a story, preserving the essence of human touch and the
uniqueness of his creations. The colorful paintings he has hung up seem to breathe life into the faded
walls of Nigar cinema. Pervaiz’s transition from Pakistan cinema billboard painter to canvas artist
showcases the adaptability and determination of artists to continue their craft despite all the latest
technologies have to offer.