For those who have been following the recent slow but promising trend of indie films from Pakistan, watching Mehreen Jabbar' s feature-length debut, Ramchand Pakistani, is a thrilling experience.

Recently released in Pakistan, the film premiered earlier this year at the Tribecca Film Festival in NYC then played at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Osian's Cinefan Film Festival in New Dehli. It is perhaps only the second Pakistani feature to make it to major international film festivals.... CONTINUE

Mohammed Hanif's debut novel

A Case of Exploding Mangoes makes it to the Man Booker longtlist...Book review coming soon.

Reviews:

• New York Times, The Late Dictator
• The Independent, Mangoes meet mullahs in a fine political satire

Editor's Note:

August 2008

When we launched Jazbah.org back in 2003, it was to celebrate the achievements of Pakistani women in a variety of fields. Over time, I interviewed and profiled many highly inspirational women. It has been a pleasure working on this project. Thank you to all those who wrote in appreciation and those who contributed their work to be added to the site.

Now after a long hiatus, I am relauching Jazbah.org with a new design and a slight shift in focus to mainly writers and directors. We hope you will visit often to read book and film reviews and interviews presented here periodically.

The first interivew I published on Jazbah.org when it was originally lauched was with the Pakistani director, Mehreen Jabbar. Now, as I relauch this site, I begin with a review of Mehreen's newly released debut-feature, Ramchand Pakistani.

Hope you enjoy and visit us often!

Thank you for reading.

Laila Kazmi
Jazbah.org

Mahmoud Darwish passes away

It is with utter sadness that we report the passing of renowned Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish. He died on August 9, 2008. More information at:

• International Harold Tribune, Mahmoud Darwish, Palestinian poet, is dead
• Reuters, Mahmoud Darwish, poet of the Palestinians, dies
• http://www.mahmouddarwish.com/english/index.htm

Some of Mahmoud Darwish's poetry collections:

The Butterfly's Burden (2006)

Unfortunately, It Was Paradise (2003)

Memory for Forgetfulness (1995)