By Sridhar Vankayala

EGO columnist Sridhar Vankayala interviews Ali Khan, the director for the recent award winning movie 7.6 and the president of FYI (Foundation for Young Intellectuals ). The movie captured Ali’s mission to bring art to Pakistani children and giving these kids an alternative way to express themselves, after the 2005 Earthquake.

What inspired you to make this movie? Was this an idea that was brewing in your mind for a while?
The interesting aspect of 7.6 is that the film was completely unintentional. I actually went to Kashmir to simply paint with the kids who were affected by the earthquake. But as I started to experience life within the refugee camp, I decide to document it. I arranged for a field producer and set about documenting the "Grahi Habibullah" refugee camp. The Pakistani army was very helpful in letting me film and document their lives. Within the camp, my focus was to teach these kids how to paint, and provide them with a gateway to psychological healing through art.

Later during the South Asian International Film Festival I got the opportunity to display the paintings [done by the kids in the camp] I had brought over from Kashmir. I exhibited them at the Clearview Cinemas in Lincoln Center during the festival, to enable audiences to view them before the films. This eventually helped me win the Verizon Wireless Peoples Choice Award, out of 24 other short films. The film ironically debuted on the 1 year anniversary of the Earthquake as well.

The whole experience must have been quite an emotional roller coaster? How did you deal with the emotional turmoil that you saw and felt personally?
The experience became tremendously emotional after I left the camp and on my drive back to Islamabad, I broke down into tears. I couldn't believe that I was leaving these kids to continue their lives in such hazardous conditions within the refugee camp, with just the promise that I would return one day. Overall life within the camp was tough emotionally, but I tried keeping a positive outlook at all times and listen to people’s stories whenever I could.

I told the camp leaders that my purpose for being there was to paint with these kids and show them a fun side of this Pakistani American, who hadn’t forgotten his roots, just like so many other Pakistani Americans in this country.

Finally when the day came for me to leave I was really frustrated with myself for not having more time to spend with these wonderful people. I was mad that I had run out of money and resources and simply had to leave.

Has this experience changed you and your outlook on life? If so, what do you think has changed?
Absolutely. This experience has totally turned my life around.
When I was in Kashmir I made a promise that I aim to honor one day. It sounds silly when I speak of it to people, but it just didn’t feel the same coming back to NYC, I felt totally different.

I recently read this book called "Three cups of Tea" -- about a mountain climber (K2) who built nearly 60 schools throughout remote mountainous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the help of the Central Asia Institute. It helped remind me of the promise I had made, to go back to Kashmir and build an Art academy, an academy that will provide hope to the kids in Kashmir and show them that it’s feasible to build a career as an artist. Their’s a Van Gough somewhere in Kashmir and I wouldn't mind giving him a paint brush to help him prove it.

What would you say were the two most important things that you took away from your experience at “Grahi Habibullah Tent Village”?
One of the most important things I took away from this experience was realizing that I should never take people who are close to me for granted. After seeing how so many lives [in Kashmir] can be uprooted in less than a minute, you start to realize how important the people around you are.

The second thing I learnt was; to keep fighting, no matter how tough things may seem. It’s something you learn very quickly when you see these kids [in the camp] negotiating hardships and still being interested in my work and wanting me to succeed in what I was trying to achieve at the camp. But now it’s my turn to fight. Now I’m fighting for them; to get my point across and hopefully have the right person see the cause in F.Y.I's idea and help me bring my dream, of building an art academy in Kashmir, to life.

Why did you think art / painting would help these kids? Did you see much change in the kids?
I thought of an activity that I do personally when I’m down and sad, and to me that activity is painting. I hoped since so many of these children had lost their families and friends they could also express themselves, like me, through art. I wanted to give these kids an alternative way to express themselves, to express their emotions through art and color. Sometimes its easier to express one’s self through art rather than words. Another more practical point was that it gave the kids in the camp something to do, something to take their minds off the boredom. While on camp I quickly realized that there wasn’t really much to do all day but to pray to god that one day your house will be rebuilt. Panting was a way to keep these kids active and a way to give them hope.

I don't believe I stayed long enough to personally see changes in these kids, but I do know that I touched their lives and I could see this in the way their eyes glowed and faces lit up, when they painted. They were able to be carefree kids again even if it was just for a couple of hours.

Art is a very powerful tool to help express emotions. Did you find the locals receptive of this concept? Were the kids and locals skeptical of what you were trying to do?
In the beginning, the kids [in the camp] didn't know what was going on. I’d asked the head of the refugee camp to bring all of the children to the community center tent where I told everyone that I was there to teach them to paint. As a kid, I didn’t really get the opportunity to paint but I now as an adult I wanted to share my colors with them.

I then started off by given the kids a lesson on arcrylic colors after which I let them drive. I told them to choose their favorite colors and paint whatever they hearts desired! From then on it was simple; the kids just whole heartedly went for it with.

Do you have any favorites (paintings) amongst the various pieces the kids drew?
Zainab’s painting - She told me that she loves to see birds fly in the mornings because she liked the songs the birds sang and the way the echos reflected off of the mountains. Zainab was 7 yrs old! I was overjoyed to hear her emotions come to live in her

How would you gauge the success of this movie? What in your mind is the purpose of this movie?
I believe the movie is only the beginning of a higher goal. I had a limited budget with which to shoot my footage. I converted this raw footage into a short film so people could appreciate such a sensitive subject matter. My ultimate aim is to build an Art school for these kids. I am an aspiring filmmaker, artist and humanitarian. I wish to do all 3 and teach in the school I will build one day.

You are also the president of FYI (Foundation for Young Intellectuals ). How did this come about? What does this foundation aim to achieve?
I started this club when I was in college. Its purpose was to help pair up mentors with protégées in their respective industries. Upon returning from Kashmir I decided to use the clubs name once again, for this film.

Having seen the pain and suffering back in Kashmir I was again inspired to help and serve humanity as best I could. I have a passion for filmmaking and no passion and respect for profiteering. I decided to use the FYI name to make a non profit film company with the intention, that one day when we sell our film, the proceeds could go back to the kids in Kashmir.

So whats next after 7.6?
Well, quite a few things actually… FYI is currently organizing their first public event which will be an Art Auction/Fundraising event, where we will pair up each of the paintings [by the kids in camp] with professional artists. The aim is to bring to life the dream of building an art foundation in the earthquake affected region and to help heal the psychological wounds these kids have suffered.

Additionally I’ve also been involved in various other films. I’m currently working on a film call “Sukoon” along with Fareen Butt (FYI's Creative Director- creative@foundationfyi.org ). Fareen lived in a refugee camp in Cameroon and taught children how to paint and Fareen and I merged our footage together to create this film. FYI recently completed a short film called "Milestone", a film about a man’s journey to fight discrimination after 9/11 and his struggle to help another man in need. Shilpi Gupta, a Sundance Jury Award winning filmamaker, is the editor for this epic short film.

Recently FYI also completed a short film called "Amazing RQ" a film about a magician's journey and his life amongst gang violence in South Bronx, as he strives to win the top price at the Apollo amateur night. This was produced by Stephen Fuller from Studio 4

FYI is working on a trailer for a feature film with Ahmad Razvi as the lead actor. The working title is "Nobel Return". FYI is also collaborating with Zariya to create a documentary /reality TV show on the life of a "Matchmaker".

I’ve either directed or produced all of these films and I work 7 days a week out of a small cubicle to make my dream [of building an Art School] come true.

Movie Website: FYI Presents 7.6