BBC Shehr Kahani: Videos on the life of ordinary Pakistanis

A look into the lives of ordinary Pakistanis by BBC's Urdu Service. Each video is 5 to 10 minutes long and gives a good insight ( the good, the bad and the ugly) into the lives of ordianary Pakistanis ( or for that matter insight into problems normal people face on the streets of many developing countries). Needless to say you need to understand urdu to watch these.....thank you Khany for pointing me to these..

This is the first short documentary I edited, made by community people from rural Pakistan, who were trained by BBC Word Service Producers. This is the story of a woman who ran away from her home in Hyderabad, and settled in Multan, as a man. In order to work at the Public Call Office that she manages, she dresses as and passes for a boy:

http://www.youtube.com/v/hSNjh-c91RQ

This is the second short documentary I edited made by community people from rural Pakistan, trained by BBC World Service. This is the story of a small village in Haripur, Pakistan, which is surrounded by three cement factories. The waste from the factories is causing the locals a lot of problems:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Ufq9rNuBS-o

The third in the series of short documentaries that I edit, made by community people from rural Pakistan. This is an inspiring story of a woman who lives in rural Pakistan, who is a committed social worker and politician:

http://www.youtube.com/v/aHyfHMoovA8

The fourth short documentary from the Shehr Kahani series, also shot and directed by community people from rural Pakisan. Faqero is a gifted sculptor whose work can be seen at many Hindu temples in Pakistan:

http://www.youtube.com/v/tkCN_Dnc0ZU

This fifth short documentary in the Shehr Kahani series is an oral history of the great sufi saint Shams, as told by one of his devotees. Illustrated by beautiful shots of his shrine and the atmosphere there, this is one of my favourites. Although I say that for every one of these I edit. The fact that all of these are shot and directed by 'authentic' community people makes the subject matter - and visuals - just so much more interesting, and a pleasure to edit:

http://www.youtube.com/v/U9G9gcy4Pk4


The sixth short documentary in the Shehr Kahani series. Ibrahim tells us about the art of moulding clay into beautiful designs:

http://www.youtube.com/v/6N35M2fuKWM


The seventh short documentary in the BBC Urdu Shehr Kahani series. This was also shot and directed by community people from rural Pakistan, and is the story of a woman who lived a very difficult life, but in the end did what she wanted to:

http://www.youtube.com/v/1-QiKTMAm7Q


The eighth short documentary in the Shehr Kahani series. Mohammed Amin has no hands, but earns enough money to sustain himself and send his children to school:

http://www.youtube.com/v/qMwdjvamueA


The ninth short documentary in the Shehr Kahani series tells the story of Francisnagar, where unusually high levels of rain in 2006 caused water to stagnate in the whole village. The people of Francisnagar were forced by fedual lords to work and live in the water, which was causing them many health problems:

http://www.youtube.com/v/DYfqbit2Jx4


The tenth short documentary in the Shehr Kahani series. Balram supports his family by selling balloons and stamping mehndi tattoos on children. But he wishes he was born in a 'rich' family so that he could go to school:

http://www.youtube.com/v/1akibUINeQU

The eleventh documentary in the Shehr Kahani series. This is the story of Talib, who lives in a small village in Dadu District. He is blind, but is a poet, singer, shopkeeper and electrician! And he loves life, as well as Rani Mukerjee:

http://www.youtube.com/v/BHYfqFPjbME