An exiled Pakistani poet finds fresh inspiration in his new home, while reflecting on the tragedy of partition that has left a legacy of war and strife in his beloved land. Fragments of a globalised world seem to coalesce here on Fifth Avenue, strung together in the poet’s mind.Directed by Sofian Khan Cinenmatography – Bob Blankemeier / Original Score – Joshua Green / Sound + Mix – Evan Manners / Animation – Will Clark / Makeup – Jackie Push / Starring – Arik Hartman/ capitalkpictures.comAbout the poetHasan Mujtaba is a poet of Urdu, Punjabi and his native language Sindhi, who wrote extensively as a journalist for the English language publication Newsline in Pakistan during the 1990’s. His hard-hitting investigative reporting took an unflinching look at the urban sprawl of Karachi and the politics of the Sindh province. His political writing got him in trouble with the regime, and in the late 1990’s — feeling that he and his family were in danger — they left for the United States.The following years were spent in obscurity, seeking asylum in New York City. While journalism remained part of his soul, poetry became his salvation. His recently published collection of poetry is a product of these difficult years in New York, including ‘Fifth Avenue’, originally titled “For Allen Ginsberg”, which recounts a key moment of inspiration that spurred him to write about his new home in New York.About the poemThe poem “Fifth Avenue” is part of Hasan’s recently published collection of Urdu and Punjabi poetry. Koel Shehr Ki Katha, released this year by Saanjh Publications Lahore, Pakistan.The poem recounts one summer day when, sitting on 5th avenue in Manhattan, Hasan witnessed a parade of Hare Krishna devotees making their way down the avenue. Amongst them, he saw a man who looked like Allen Ginsberg — one of Hasan’s favorite American poets. Though it was not him, the sight of this lookalike gave Hasan an important thought. If this American poet once journeyed to India in search of inspiration, why could Hasan, a Pakistani, not come to America and likewise find some spark of beauty to write from. Hence began his journey to create this singular collection of poetry that fuses his new home with images of that which he left behind.About the filmmakerSofian Khan is the founder of Capital K Pictures. His documentaries have played at festivals around the world and been aired on PBS and The Documentary Channel. His work has also been featured online at The Atlantic and Huffington Post. You can learn more about his work at www.capitalkpictures.comOn Fifth AvenueBy Hasan MujtabaEnglish translation by Manan AhmedAmid the crowd of Hare Krishnas,an old man who looked like Allen GinsbergAmid the riot of saffron colorthe cymbals, the drumswhites, blacks, and rainbow colorsin June’s silvery lightsilent, alone,uniqueas if he was the exclamation point of this whole philosophyIn the walking crowds of Fifth AvenueI, a lost childHe, an old man who looked like Allen GinsbergHolding his thought’s fingers,I walked far awayfar to the lanes of Sehwan“in public, I dance”It seems a vision from a dream.I take Fifth AvenueI take the lane of SehwanWritten on the shores of Indus, I take all of Rig VedaI take Qur’anI reject ChagaiI refute PokhranI deny the whole of Aurangzeb’s creations.Home.when I singsongs of my exileI return to my selfBut they speak back to mein the language of bulletsthey do not readwhat is written on the walls“A donkey pisses on the General’s Uniform”Those blood soaked lanes of Delhithat naked SarmadNow your GazeSoils the purity of the Holiest, the RighteousThat woman inside meThese vines of grapesThat moon over HudsonThis silvery dusk over Indusdescends like revelation on a Prophet.ایوینیوففتھپرراماکرشناکےجلوسوںمیںوہایلنگنسبرگ٭کاہمشکلبوڑھاوہگیرویرنگوںجلترنگاوردھمالوںگوروںکالوںاورکئيساترنگوںمیںروپہلیجونمیںچپچاپتنہااوریگانہاسطرحجیسےوہاسسارےفلسفےکاہوبساکآخرینقطہایونیوففتھپرچلتےہجوموںمیںمیںاککھویاہوابچہوہایلنگنسبرگکاہمشکلبوڑھامیںاسکےخیالکیانگلیپکڑکردورجانکلاکہیںسیوھنکیگلیوںمیں‘سر بازار می رقصم‘ یہسبکچھخوابمیںدیکھاہواپہلےسالگتاہےایوینیوففتھبھیمیرااورسیوھنکیگلیمیریسندھوتیرےکناروںپرلکھےرگویدکیسارےشبدمیرےقرآنیآیتیںمیریوہیچاغیکاباغیمیںوہیپوکھرانکامنکرمنکرہوںمیںاورنگزیبکیساریخدائیکاوطنتیریجدائیکامیںجببھیگیتگاتاہوںمیںخودمیںلوٹآتاہوںمگرگولیکیبولیمیںوہمجھسےباتکرتےہیںوہدیواروںپہتحریریںنہیںپڑھتےکہجنریلوںکیوردیپرگدھاپیشابکرتاہےوہیدلیکیخوںآلودگلیاںننگدھڑنگسرمدابھیچندتیریآنکھوںپرقطباقطابولیوںکےوضوٹوٹیںمیرےاندرکیعورتاوریہانگورکیبیلیںوہیہےچاندہڈسنپرروپہلیشامسندھوپراترے اسطرح جیسے وحی اترے محمد پر