The cultural scene in Dubai has perked up lately. Having long bemoaned the lack of interesting events, I find myself deliberating between a rare photo exhibition and an Alfred Hitchcock film festival, a short story writing workshop and a book club meeting. The cup runneth over…
A couple of days ago, I found myself at Jam Jar in Al Quoz for ‘Mahmovies: Music for the eyes’ – a 4-week event featuring films and music. The movie being screened that night was Sita Sings The Blues,which innovatively compared an ancient Indian epic to a modern marriage, and set it to blues music. The animation film (which featured four distinct styles), was written, produced, animated and directed by one tour-de-force, Nina Paley, who used the breakup of her own marriage as the basis of the story.
The Jam Jar was packed to capacity with movie lovers, artists and other culture-starved vultures. Everyone was moved by the talent and creativity in the film. But there was more to follow.
The organiser, Mahmoud Kabour, had brought in a small group of people who are usually invisible to the genteel set, but whose efforts have in fact built Dubai. These were the labourers who had won the labour camp singing contest (‘Camp Se Champ’) and were to perform before an unfamiliar audience for the first time in their lives.
The nine performers were all sharply dressed. Each of them said a few words in halting English, and then went on to sing without accompaniment, and even without a microphone. The songs inevitably were from Hindi films, but the confidence and lack of self-consciousness were their own.
Mahmoud asked one of the performers, “It’s Valentine’s Day, is there someone in your life that you want to sing for?” The performer turned to him and asked, “Do you have a wife?” When the bemused Mahmoud shook his head, the performed continued, “Then my song is dedicated to you.”
Another performer from Nepal said, “I built Mall of the Emirates. But I feel helpless that I sing for you in Hindi. Please excuse.”
The final performer pulled out a pair of flashy sunglasses and sang a rousing song, complete with a hip-shaking gesture, which had the audience in splits and rooting for him at the same time.
We left the Jam Jar charmed and uplifted. It was music and movies for the soul.
