S Muzaffar Ali to deliver lecture at PU on Jan 16

Chandigarh: Eminent filmmaker and artist Muzaffar Ali will deliver the fourth Professor Urmi Kessar Memorial Lecture at Panjab University on Jan 16. The lecture, titled Art for Peace, will be held at 11.30 am at the PU law auditorium, Sector 14, and will be open to the public.The annual lecture series was instituted in memory of Professor Urmi Kessar, a noted scholar of fine arts and art history, known for her work on the social content of modern Indian painting. The initiative aims to foster dialogue on art, culture, literature and history, bringing together scholars, practitioners and students.Supported by the Professor Urmi Kessar Memorial Fund established by the Kessar family, the series has previously featured speakers such as historian William Dalrymple, writer Vikram Seth and poet-lyricist Irshad Kamil.Muzaffar Ali is acclaimed for films like Gaman and Umrao Jaan and is also known for his work as a painter and cultural curator. He founded the Jahan-e-Khusrau World Sufi Music Festival and chairs the Rumi Foundation. Ali is a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award.