Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Minister for Culture and Tourism in Sindh, has formed a two-person investigating commission to investigate the disappearance of painter Safdar Ali Soomro’s artwork .
The Director General of Antiquities and the Director General of Culture make up the committee which will conduct a thorough investigation and provide a comprehensive report on the missing artwork
Minister for Cultural Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said, “We have initiated a comprehensive investigation, and further action will be taken based on the findings. Any negligence or misconduct will be addressed accordingly.”
Big Bang issued a statement on their Instagram account, saying,
“As artists and producers ourselves, our sympathies go out to the concerned individual. This being said, Big Bang Entertainment would like to clarify that we have no involvement in this matter. The location for this specific shoot was rented, and as per our agreement, all assets present, including the painting in question, belonged to the venue owners.”
“Unfortunately, this is beyond the control of our production team, and we encourage the artist to directly address the matter with the concerned parties. We hope for a swift and fair resolution and expect all stakeholders to respect the unprecedented success and acclaim Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has organically achieved these past few weeks.”
Safdar Ali Soomro, a talented artist from Daharki in Ghokti, Sindh, never imagined that his paintings would be featured in the smash hit drama Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum.
The trending serial has captured the hearts of viewers both in Pakistan and abroad, with its characters and storyline receiving widespread praise.
However, an unexpected twist occurred when artist Safdar Ali Soomro recognized his lost paintings hanging in the background in one of the episodes.
In an exclusive conversation with The Current, Safdar shared the story of his missing artwork. Graduating from the University of Sindh with a focus on fine arts, Safdar created 16 paintings for his thesis, all in blue monochrome, under the theme ‘Innocent Faces.’ These works were displayed at his university’s Benazir Art Gallery, after which he sought exhibitions in Karachi.
“After the display, I took my paintings to Karachi to explore the market. I had already participated in two or three local exhibitions while I was at the university. I saw an ad on Frere Hall’s social media inviting artists to submit their paintings for an exhibition. I submitted my paintings to their Sadeqain Art Gallery, and they made an entry in their book. I might have received a receipt, but I don’t have it anymore.”
Before bringing his paintings to Karachi, he had already showcased his work in a few university exhibitions.
Safdar submitted his paintings to Frere Hall, but to his dismay, he was informed that they had gone missing. Seven years later, in 2024, he was surprised to see his artwork featured in episode 17 of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
“ I want to say that whoever’s paintings they are, they should get the credit. No third party should take credit for my work. I am the owner of those paintings, and I have proofs and my signature on them,” Soomro added.
The Current reached out to Big Bang Productions, who clarified that they had nothing to do with the paintings and only paid rent for the scene shot at Frere Hall. The problem now lies at Frere Hall’s doorsteps, with many questions still unanswered.
