Ali Rizvi

Yahan se Sheher ko Dekho | Look at the City from Here Numaish Karachi | Ali Rizvi Location: Galli Soorjan Singh. This seven-minute film of drone footage captures the journey from the entrance to the Walled City through the Delhi Gate, the bazaar and its streets to culminate at the historic Wazir Khan Mosque; the aerial shots open up an experience underpinned by this geographic reference point. The panoramic views segue into the living city–glimpses of people enjoying tea by the Dina Nath Well, children running through the gallis, pedestrians in the bazaar–allowing the ancient city’s distinct physiognomy to emerge. This short demonstrates the contrast between the temporal and spatial urban landscape of Lahore inside the Walled City and beyond its boundaries. Medium: Drone footage

a short film by Ali Rizvi Inspired by Qandeel Baloch's struggle to claim her space in a world that ostracized her, Zunn is a story of misfortune. It is a jarring, thought provoking uncovering of hypocrisies, double standards and male privilege – all of which wreak havoc in the lives of women disadvantaged by a strictly patriarchal society.

Synopsis: Ghungroo is a short documentary about a dancer named Dawood, who challenges toxic masculinity in a conservative Pakistani society by wearing ghungroos (bells) and performing Kathak, an eastern classical dance form that is typically performed by female dancers. Author's Biography: Ali Rizvi is a filmmaker and designer from Karachi, Pakistan. He founded Ehsas Films Project in 2015 and has produced short films as part of the initiative. Sapna, his film on a transgender person's struggles won the best film award at International Travel South Asia Film Festival in 2016. His work is rooted in the politics and discourses on social and developmental issues in Pakistan, focusing particularly on public health and social justice. Ali experiments with different forms and mediums to tell compelling stories, but film remains his primary focus.

This is Saima, one of many IPC workers from Karachi. Trained by Greenstar Social Marketing, Saima, is leading behavioural change in her community. As part of Greenstar Social Marketing’s interpersonal communications team, she visits house to house to counsel women on health-seeking behaviour and family planning. Lovingly called Sitara Baji, (the community star) by women, Saima has won the hearts of her community.

This is a short animation to raise awareness among the trans community about the Trans Protection Act.

A trans woman has an urgency to pee. Because of the social stigma attached, she hesitantly leaves the female toilet and goes in the male toilet where she has to face the discomfort and humiliation meted out to her by two men present inside.

The Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan is yet to peak, with over eighty thousand recorded cases and counting, and no indication of flattening the curve. Paired with the country’s abysmal health and gender indicators and a fragile healthcare system, this pandemic has exacerbated barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls. Amna Saleh Mohammad, a community based service provider, is one of the many young girls, trained by Greenstar Social Marketing, successfully leading and spearheading service delivery programs for women in her community. As a front line defender in these crucial times, Amna is bridging the gaps in reproductive health for women in her community.

The Untouchable is a news documentary about a sweeper who belongs to a marginalized community and cleans gutters but has big dreams for his son.

On 16 February, 2017 a bomb blast in Sufi Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan, killed at least 90 people and injured over 300 while pilgrims were performing dhamaal, a Sufi ritual. This is a video tribute to the people who lost their lives and Sheema Kirmani, who continued the dhamaal the very next day as an act of resilience.

Bullshit is my first attempt at stop motion animation. It is a short satirical piece on Donald Trump’s “alternate facts”.

This is an experimental video. It was produced to raise awareness about the increasing carbon footprint caused by human activities. 'Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.' — Mahatma Gandhi disclaimer: clips from YouTube used

Kiyari is a sustainable solution to the growing food insecurity and water scarcity in our local context. It stems out from the increasing need for a shift towards sustainable, and eco-friendly methods of human activities. Kiyari proposes aquaponics for households in urban settings as well as communities in the rural areas of Sind with a means to grow their own food. It aspires to be a unique local start-up, a social enterprise, and a worker’s cooperative. Kiyari is a truly transdisciplinary project that I undertook as my final year capstone project in undergraduate school.