Apart from special ramzan transmission Hum TV also airs a special ramazan drama every year. ‘Maahi Aaye Gaa’, ‘Faiz Manzil Ke Rozedaar’, ‘Ghalti se mistake ho gayee’, ‘Chaudhween ka chaand’ are few famous Ramazan special dramas of Hum TV.
This year Hum TV is coming up drama named ‘Mein Na MaanoN Haar’ starring Umar Sharif, Sakina Sammo, Zeba Shehnaz, Faiza Hassan, Saleem Sheikh, Shehroz Sabazwari and others. It is directed by Saife Hassan.
Here are few clicks from the shooting of this play
If you have ever been in a relationship then you would know the most difficult part of any relationship is, no; not telling the other person how you feel about them, no; not saving up to take the love of your life on a date, and no certainly not telling your parents about your soul mate. It is coming up with that one, convincing break up line that will set you free after you have spent enough time or more than enough time in a saturated relationship.
You ponder for hours, try to imagine her reaction, how will she take it and then you have to choose a safe place to take her to perform this much anticipated act of bravery that will inevitably result in your freedom. That will open the path way for brighter horizons and greener pastures.
You have everything in order, you have practiced that heart wrenching tone over and over again, your heart breaking expression is perfect with hours of practice in front of a mirror (that you did of course ages ago before your first break up) but still you have doubts about that one final blow that will end your misery. You have therefore rehearsed a number of break-up lines, just in case. If one doesn’t deliver the desired results, you can always have the other to fall back on. But since you are a pacifist at heart, you want to keep it as humane as possible, least possible pain and still the eradication of the problem.
You will of course start with that one, innocent line that you know is harmless “You Deserve Better”, how ingenious and crafty, it will not only make your intentions clear, it will also get you the status of a Martyr. You want whats best for her, you are willing to get your own heart broken to pieces but still want her to be happy. Ahhhhhhh, you are a gentleman.
And when the waterworks start and tears start coming out, “Burre Tum Nahi, Burra Main Hoon”, yes its true but say it like you are taking the blame for getting your own heart ripped out of your chest. Release her from any blame, if this doesn’t get you the martyred status, then she is selfish and self-centered to the core.
“Mayray Gharwalay Nahi Maan Rahay”, if she is as stubborn and thick headed as a mule and doesn’t show any signs of getting the hint and leaving you alone then use this Time Honored One Liner. Put the blame on the dreaded in-laws, yes she will have someone to blame and hate, it will relieve the pain and anger and you would still manage to come out as a poor, wronged, heart broken eastern “Obedient Son” , who gave preference to his parents wishes over his own.
“Ho Sakay To Mughay Maaf Kardayna, Aur mughay Bhool Kar Khush Raihna” what appears as the most selfless, heart felt and sincere last advice of a heart broken lover are in fact the future plans of a man whose soul has just tasted the sweet taste of freedom. Now that who have got the desired results, its time to do the damage control, for that bring atleast a box of tissues so that when she is done calling you every name in the book and has cried her eyes out, you can still be the gentleman that you assume you are and help her clean up her over flowing maskara.
Congratulations, mission successful, you are now free to move on with your other pending relationships and break-ups.
Fawad Khan is very popular in Pakistan because he has an unmatched star power which took the viewers over from the Dastan days. After proving that he is the powerhouse of talent in Pakistan, Fawad Khan is proving himself as an equally good actor in India.
Anil Kapoor appreciated Fawad Khan’s acting skills. He said that after watching Fawad Khan’s spell binding performance in Khuda Ke Liye and in some dramas Anil Kapoor decided to make Fawad Khan a part of his upcoming movie Khoobsurat. Fawad Khan will be starring with Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor in the film.
In Pakistan when someone is going to do something they most often do not have the worry only about what their family member will think but they also have to keep into consideration what neighbors and other people they know will think and say about them.
What is the reason for this? The expert on the show rightly pointed out that the main problem is that people have a lot of free time so they have the time to observe what other people are doing. And they even have more free time to gossip about it. They don’t care how this wrong attitude of theirs effects people.
A-Plus is a Lahore based entertainment channel which is gaining popularity in recent times. Like other channels it has also organized Ramazan special transmission which will be hosted by Noor Bukhari and Dr. Omar Aadil.
A-Plus has released the promo of its transmission too. Looking at the preparations of various channels, it is evident that Ramazan transmission is a lucrative opportunity for the media houses.
Like every major channel ARY Digital has also arranged special Ramazan transmission for the holy month of Ramazan. Like last year it will be hosted by Junaid Jamshed and Waseem Badami.
The format of the transmission will be similar to last year where families can participate to win prizes along with celebrity guests
Pakistani fashion designers making inroads in European markets
Pakistani fashion designers have progressed quite a lot in past one decade. Regular fashion and bridal weeks are organized in two major cities Lahore and Karachi where designers showcase their work.
A sizable overseas Pakistani community lives in countries of Middle East, Europe, Australasia and North America. These overseas Pakistanis are a potential market of Pakistani designers. For the very same reason, Pakistani designers have regularly arranged fashion parades and shows in London. At one such recent event, Ali Zafar (singer and actor) has also participated. British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC has also covered this event to analyze the prospects and chances for Pakistani designers in british market.
We live in an age where commercialism has affected every aspect of our life and even religious programs have a commercial touch. The private satellite channels don’t have the luxuries of fixed revenue like PTV, so their utmost effort is to earn maximum revenue from each genre of television programs, whether it is religious based transmission.
All the channels have opted for famous media persons or celebrities to host their upcoming Ramazan transmission. The main criteria for selection is ‘who can attract maximum viewership and advertisement’. Among many who are hosting religious programs Aneeq Ahmed clearly stands out as someone different who is more focused on religion in his program rather promoting himself. Aneeq Ahmed currently hosts program ‘Payame Subah’ on Dunya TlV, a program aired six days a week (apart from Sunday) at 7 AM, Pakistan standard time.
This Ramazan Aneeq Ahmed is also selected to host the Ramazan transmission of Dunya TV. It will be interesting to see how he carries this responsibility as he openly opposed the over commercialism in Ramazan transmission.
Here is an introduction to the personality of Aneeq Ahmed
Born in Karachi, Aneeq Ahmed graduated from Karachi University in International Relations. He started his career from PTV in 1999,joined GEO in 2002 then moved to ARY in 2005. He has been with DUNYA TV since June, 2011.
He successfully brought sensitive socio-religious topics into public debate through over 2000 programmes, largely live, on television. His programme ALIF was pioneering religious content on GEO TV that daringly discussed issues pertaining to religion and life for 3 years.
As he chose to switch his TV appearance, his next programme AGHAZ on ARY delighted thinking heads of viewers for 6 years before he carved his latest niche in the category of religious TV content with PEYAM E SUBH on DUNYA TV.
For last two years, his early morning programme on DUNYA TV has become very enlightening education for those eager to understand the divine message in its entirety.
In his humble capacity, Aneeq Ahmed has been lecturing on religion, Sufism, Iqbal and the contemporary issues of Muslim ummah and their solutions while visiting USA, UK, TURKEY, INDIA, UAE, FRANCE, SPAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA.
Aneeq Ahmed remained elected Secretary of Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, for three consecutive terms from 2005-2008.
Being part of many academic, literary and social initiatives, Aneeq Ahmed is also a Director of Rotary Club.
Meekal Zulfiqar has been a preferred choice for many fashion brands and is signed by multiple clothing manufacturers for promotion of their summer/winter ranges.
Recently he has worked for Summer Kurta range of the clothing brand Dynasty with top model Cybil J. Chauhdary. Here are few clicks from this campaign.
Holy month of Ramazan is just around the corner, it is the time when all channels arrange special transmissions. As we already shared this year Ahsan Khan will be hosting Ramzan transmission for Hum TV along with Junaid Iqbal. Ahsan Khan has also recorded a special promo for this transmission in his own voice. Earlier Ahsan has also rendered his voice for OST of his HUM TV’s drama ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’
The popularity do not only require hard work but luck as well. If I talk about the entertainment industry only then getting one good project is considered as a golden chance to prove that who you are, some artist do lots of hard work but they fail to earn the level of recognition what they actually deserve. This does not only happens in Pakistan but in Bollywood and Hollywood as well. However here we are only talking about Pakistan Entertainment Industry.
Since the rise of drama industry from 2009 new talent injecting every year is making grounds difficult for the current talent to sustain the rule of Industry and each year we notice new actor or actress ruling the hearts of audience. We all know that the only way to rule the drama industry is to perform in a powerful project scripted and directed by a popular writer and director. Here my topic is to give you a list of only those actresses who had ruled the drama industry from 2009 through their power packed performance in a mega project.
2009: The actual rise of Drama Industry begins from 2009 from a drama called “Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan”. This drama gathered immense TRP through its powerful storyline. Beside Samiya Mumtaz, Sarwat Gillani was also in the lead role but Samiya’s performance as Saba was widely praised by the audience. She was definitely ruling the Industry at that time.
2010: The year of 2010 was purely dedicated to Sanam Baloch, she was able to rule the hearts of audience through her mesmerizing performances in super hit dramas Dastaan and Daam. Both dramas took the overall TRPs of above 7.
2011: In year 2011 our drama industry was clinching towards growth stage. In this year we have noticed many new talent pooling in the industry. This year was quite competitive in comparison with 2010. At the start of 2011 three actresses were ruling the industry Syra yousuf for Drama “Mera Naseeb”, Sadia Khan for “Khuda aur Muhabbat” and Saba Qamar for “Paani Jesa Pyar”.
Then there comes Mahira Khan with super dooper hit drama Humsafar leaving all actresses behind in terms of popularity. Drama serial “Humsafar” had not only given extra-ordinary fame to Mahira Khan but to Naveen Waqar as well and this was the reason why most of her fans overreacted on her marriage with Azfer. Both Naveen and Mahira were ruling the industry when Humsafar went On-Air. Saba Qamar could have remained on the ruling position with drama serial “Maat” but due to “Humsafar” Mahira and Naveen was able to take the ruling position.
2012:Sarwat Gillani was leading the Industry with Drama serial “Mata-e-Jaan Hai tu” straight after when Humsafar came to an end in February 2012. Sarwat Gillani may not be able to outshine in “Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan” but she was outstanding in “Mata-e-Jaan”. She was leading the Industry until Mahira Khan claimed back her ruling position in July 2012 with another project “Shehr-e-Zaat”. She once again outclassed other actresses with her mesmerizing performance as Falak in Shehr-e-Zaat. Straight after when Shehr-e-zaat came to an end the crown was placed on Sanam Saeed’s head for drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai. In this year Sanam Baloch failed to acquire leading position as Dur-e-Shahwar received less viewership.
2013: This year was dedicated to three actresses with a cognominal name Sanam. Firstly Sanam Saeed led the Drama Industry for a half a year until May 2013. I still remember that many people have shown concerns on Sanam Saeed’s selection as a lead actress but she proved that she is not a novice actress as she performed tremendously with Fawad Khan in “Zindagi Gulzar Hai” thereby making character “Kashaf Murtaza” super hit. After Sanam Saeed, Sanam Jung was also leading on the popularity chart for drama “Dil-e-Muzter”. Sanam Baloch once again claimed her ruling position back in June 2013 through drama “Kankar”.
By the end of 2013 the competition had become already tough this time many actresses were performing in good projects. Soon after Kankar ends in November 2013 I was thinking that Sanam Jung will again lead the Industry for “Muhabbat Subah Ka Sitara” but my prediction was wrong as Sajal Ali had already taken up the ruling position with drama “Aasmano pe Likha”.
2014: Currently Ayeza Khan is ruling the Industry with drama “Pyaray Afzal” but from the beginning this year had remained competitive. No one actually ruled the Industry sustainably as everyone was working in good projects. Ayesha Khan, Ayeza Khan, Sajal Ali, Sanam Jung, Saba Qamar and Arij Fatyma they were all competing equally as they were all working in good and popular projects.
Now who will rule the Industry when Pyaray Afzal will come to an end?
Ayeza Khan will definitely go back from the driving seat as besides Pyaray Afzal she is not working in any good projects. Mere Meherban is not a powerful content. Sanam Jung might rule again for Mere Hum Dum Mere dost but I am not hearing much from this drama. Sarwat’s Projects are absolute disaster in this year. “Izteraab” Yet again wrong choice from Saba Qamar. There might be a chance for Ayesha Khan with drama “Soteli” but up till now this drama is not receiving much viewership. So the answer is that Sadia Khan or Sabreen Hisbani might rule the Industry with drama “Laa” this is currently the most interesting drama and a mega project ON-AIR on HUM-TV and it is the time for Sadia Khan to claim back the lead position of Industry.
If Sadia Khan fails to mesmerize people through her acting then there will be a strong chance that Sonya Hussain will rule the Industry as she is the strong contender with a drama “Shikwa”. Sonya Hussain is a next rising star and with one mega project she can easily claim the leading position as she is a talented actress. My sympathies with Sonya as Marasim is currently ON-AIR on least watched entertainment channel A-Plus and not on HUM TV or ARY Digital, however if anyone wants to see her versatility then my suggestion is to watch Drama Serial Marasim.
I know most of you may not agree with my analysis so please do correct me. I did my analysis by taking popular and Mega Projects.
Fair Complexion or Gora Rang is preferred choice of most of persons in Sub-continent including Pakistan. Many beauty products manufacturer exploit this demand and there are dozens of products for male and female for this. The trend is criticized many times, but still it is here to stay unless we are not willing to change our mindset.
It again become a center of debate when few weeks ago a new beauty product is launched by renoun cooking expert Zubaia Tariq aka Zubaida Aapa. Heating debates were observed over social media discussing whether Zubaida Tariq has rightfully worked for this product for not. Though remain un-conclusive as always, it attraced interanational broadcaster BBC Urdu who have mentioned it specifically on their site. Here is the video for this report from BBC Urdu, which raises questions over this trend to locate the answers as well. The ad launched with the tag line ‘Ab Gora Ho Ga Pakistan’ which is now changed after criticism.
Famous media personality Aamir Liaqut Hussain has recently joined Express television, where he will be hosting Ramazan transmission. As per media reports his Ramazan Transmission was widely viewed last year.
Express entertainment has already started registration for this upcoming transmission which is expected to be a successful one in the history of this channel. The publicity campaign for this transmission is in full swing where Aamir Liaqut himself has provided insights into this transmission.
Naa maaloom Afraad is an upcoming film about chaos and turmoil in Karachi. Its cast including Fahad Mustafa, Jawed Sheikh, Mohsin Abass, Urwa Hocaine, Salman Shahid and British actress Kubra Khan while Mehwish Hayyat has a guest appearance in an item song. The shooting of this film has been completed and it is all set for release in coming August. It will be first released film of Fahad Mustafa who is also working in another film Mah-e-Meer
This film is produced by Fizza Ali Meerza/Medi Ali under the banner of Filmwala productions and directed by Nabeel Qureshi. The film is co-written by Nabeel Qureshi and Meerza and the cinematographer is Rana Kamran. Shooting has been done in old city area of Karachi at original locations and places. The film was in news when during shooting some buses and cars were burnt to depict the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi.
The film is expected to be released in upcoming August and its trailer is due to release tomorrow 27th June 2014. Artist Mehwish Hayat has already expressed excitement to see her first performance in a film.
Fawad Afzal Khan is definitely missed these days on television. For past many months his appearnce is limited to television commercials.
Fawad can be seen in the Ramazan Special commercial of leading dairy brand Olpers which is known for its colorful and impressive Ramazan advertisement campaigns in the past. The advertisement also features famous social worker Abdul sattar Edhi and Bilqees Edhi.
Fawad’s getup is same as seen in pictures posted on social media during shooting of his indian film. Famous singer Haniya Aslam has also appeared in this advertisement.
The first season of Master Chef Pakistan is already on screens from past two months. On the whole this show has been is appreciated for its production quality and execution, though also criticized for bad editing and behaviour of judges.
There is further good news for fans of Master Chef, as now Urdu1 the channel of MCP, has decided to give us viewers an opportunity to see the making of MCP. Starting from 27th June, this program will be aired at 6PM every friday and wednesday. Hopefully like actual program, the making of MCP will also be a fun to watch.
The official facebook page of MCP says “Curious to know what goes on behind the MasterChefPakistan camera? Watch the exclusive behind the scenes of your favorite contestants and judges, twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays starting from 27th June!cebook page of MCP says on this “”
What a sad turn of events! The only person in the world who truly understood Laila and who gave her the strength to survive in her difficult circumstances is gone for good. And what is even more sad is that this happened when Laila finally decided to open up to her father. Laila had made up her mind about her future and her father was going to be the pillar of support for her like always but it was not meant to be. I must say that the relationship between Laila and her father had to be the sweetest thing about this play. I enjoyed their meaningful conversation, the way her father felt things which Laila never had the courage to say and most of all the fact that Laila’s father was like oxygen in her life. Whenever she felt suffocated, she used to turn to him to unwind and get herself charged again. Qazi Wajid stole the show right from the get-go as the caring and nurturing father. The chemistry between Alishba Yusef and Qazi Wajid coupled with the intelligent way in which the relationship between the two was established by the writer gave us an unforgettable father-daughter relationship to watch on screen after a very long time.
There is nothing new about the story of this play but the treatment is brand new. Laila’s reaction when she finds out about Mansoor’s extra marital affair was definitely not what we usually see on screen. Laila, it seemed, was already prepared to deal with the situation or maybe she had been through so much in the past few months that nothing surprised her anymore. The events in tonight’s episode reinforced my guess that Laila already knew about Kukoo and Mansoor so when the “secret” came out in the open she was prepared to move on in her own way.
What was even more interesting and unusual was that Laila actually turned to Kukoo for helping her establish her business. It is amazing that even though these women are linked together in the most bizarre way but they understand each other so well. For once these two women do not blame each other but they blame the man involved. I love the change in Laila’s character; the character development has been very convincing indeed. Laila is done with pleasing everyone, she has decided to take her father’s advice and do what makes her happy.
Mansoor’s character is very well etched out too. His explanations for not marrying Kukoo and the way he justifies his behavior towards Laila is another interesting and convincing part of the show. Sohail Sameer has outdone himself in this role. Mansoor is losing control on Laila fast and he is not sure what to do about it.
This episode was picture perfect like always. The only thing that bugged me was that everyone kept on referring to Laila and Mansoor’s daughter as “bachi” “choti” etc…doesn’t the child have a name?
The most outstanding aspect of this play is that the script is very coherent and well articulated. The director has a firm grip on the screenplay and the details. The actors are doing a brilliant job, the credit for which goes to the director and the writer too. When you have an outstanding script and director to work with then you can’t help but give it your best.
Pehchan is turning out to be even better than I had hoped it would be. The meaningful conversations and the story is getting better with every passing episode. This drama is extraordinary and unconventional. This drama is about strong women who we don’t get to see on our screens any more. It shows that a woman does not need a man to save her. A woman’s “pehchan” is not the man she marries. I have very high hopes from Pehchan now and I am quite sure I won’t be led down. A Big thank you to the producers Seema Razi and Raziuddin Ahmad for investing in something different.
Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.
Pakistani dramas have taken the Indian viewers by storm. Not only is the general public enjoying the dramas but the actors are also appreciating the dramas for many different reasons.
Here are some tweets from Indian actors in which they share how they feel about Pakistani dramas being aired on an Indian channel.
There was news going around in the media that film star Noor and the notorious Gullu Butt were going to play the lead in Bilal Lashari’s upcoming film Maula Jutt. The film Maula Jutt is going to be inspired from the typical Lollywood version of Maula Jutt in which the hero uses ghandasa instead of Kalashnikovs.
Bilal Lashari tweeted on his twitter account to tell his fans that the cast had not been finalized yet so they should not listen to these rumors. He also talked to the Express Tribune directly to clear the misunderstanding.
Our drama industry is loaded with talented and pretty actresses. When you are in show business, your talent is not the only thing that matters but in order to get the top contracts especially for modeling the actresses should be stylish as well. Look at Mahira Khan, she is pretty and stylish so you would see her modeling for the top brands whereas actresses like Sanam Baloch or Ayza Khan who are also very gifted actresses will never be signed by a top designer because they do not have style which a model needs to carry such designer outfits.
Anyone who denies that looks and talent alone matter in entertainment industry is wrong because without style no actor or actress can go far. This is my list of actresses who are very pretty, they have the perfect features but they lack style because of which they are never seen modeling for top designers. These actresses are well appreciated as actresses but no one considers them style icons. Style isn’t only about wearing trendy clothes but also about carrying them in the right way.
I think if these actresses had style too then they could have taken the entertainment industry by storm. Right now they are restricted mostly to dramas because of lack of style.
Sajjal Ali
Sajjal Ali has beautiful, expressive eyes. She also has full lips and a good shape of face but no one can say that she is stylish. Sajjal Ali is the girl next door and with that style she can’t go much further especially in the modeling world. In dramas too, she can perform only specific roles due to the lack of style.
Ayza Khan
If you look at Ayza Khan you will notice that she has a perfect face which can be transformed in Eastern or Western looks easily but does Ayza have style? The answer is no! You can’t learn to be stylish, some people do but not everyone can.
Sanam Baloch
Sanam Baloch is the queen of hearts. She has won her fans over and over again by giving some outstanding performances. Sanam has a pretty face but she is nowhere near stylish Maybe that is the reason because of which she is confined to playing roles of a girl from middle class family.
Sania Shamshad
Sania Shamshad has a very cute face and she has very beautiful hair. She could pass as a very stylish girl if she had that natural trendy way of carrying herself.
Saba Qamar
There are no doubts about her acting skills in my head and she dresses up very modern too whenever we see her in awards. Even in some ads we have seen her wearing very modern clothes but modern isn’t always stylish. Saba Qamar still needs grooming and she is definitely not the catwalk material.
Madiha Iftikhar
Madiha Iftikhar does not have the perfect features but she has an attractive face. Her sense of dressing is good too but what is missing is style. She does not talk or walk like a diva!
I know some of people’s favorite actresses are on the list, they are my favorite actresses too but the fact stays that they don’t have the style which some other actresses like Aysha Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Maria Wasti, Aysha Omer, Syra Yusef and many others have.
Syed Noor has undoubtedly been the most promising director of Pakistan film industry from mid 90’s. He strengthened his position with films like Jeeva, Sangam, Ghoongat, Chor Machaye Shor, Dupatta Jal Raha hai, Deewane Tere Pyar Ke and Chooriyan. However, it all changed gradually once filmstar Saima appear in his films. Syed Noor married Saima and thereafter Saima played lead in almost all films of Syed Noor.
Recently after a long long time, Syed Noor announced one film without Saima in the cast named ‘Bhayee Wanted’ which is on the situation of Karachi. The film has new faces Yasir, Khurram Patras (Both have worked in Zindaa Bhaag) and Maryam Ali Hussain in lead roles and its shooting is under way in Azad Kashmir.
Not in the initial cast, Syed Noor has created a space for Saima in this film too, to do an item song. In her career spawning over two decades, Saima has performed in very few item songs. Her last item song was ‘Tez Chuna Lagayee Ke’ in film Ishq Khuda in August 2013 which was composed by Wajahat Attray in the voice of Sanam Maarvi. Before that Saima performed in item song ‘Lagi Lagi’ in film Moosa Khan (2002) which was composed by Jawwad Ahmed in the voice of Naghmana Jaaffri.
Source news excerpt from Urdu Daily Express
Here is the clip of item song from film Ishq Khuda released last year
Ohkay, finally I can sense that this drama is on it’s way to an end & I hope it happens in another couple of episodes because I see no point in dragging such a story.
As much as I have been irritated by the boldness of Sofia’s character & the choices the writer has made in regards to her role, I wish where they have shown a 12 y/o being involved in a questionable flick, I hope they also had shown someone smacking her face, either Jazib, Zara or Dua so that her batameezi could subside. I am sorry but this little lady is a pain to watch & I will make sure I don’t follow any of the dramas in which she has a role to play. I know she’s playing a character of a girl who comes from a broken family but this just does not justify that a girl resorts to such stuff at such a young age. If the writer had nothing better to show then she should’ve opted for a girl who was at least in high-school or let’s say was 16 years of age because that still makes some sense but to show a girl who hasn’t even stepped into teenage years & is worried more about some guy thinking she can do whatever she wants, is a sick mentality & I feel the writer should reflect on the choices she makes while writing the scripts & should definitely be ashamed of giving such a twist to Sofia’s character.
Jazib is also a depiction of those weak men that frequent our TV screens every single day. I think he was having pre-withdrawal symptoms of Zara therefore he managed to overlook the past & was amazed at how amazing Zara was. It’s kind of upsetting to see such men having a win-win situation in the most nastiest of the circumstances. He has a young wife who takes care of his family & food & home, so that he gets the time to rekindle the feelings that he omce had for his first wife. A little sympathy does make some sense but those glances & gasps, that speechlessness because of Zara’s beauty was uncalled for.
Good for Zara that she is getting the attention that she wanted but it was ridiculous that she snatched that sweet moment & turned it into a complaint box regarding Dua. I even got to hear Jazib say that Zara has brought up their kids well & I am questioning the judgment of Jazib because we can clearly see how much of a good job Zara has done with Sofia especially. One thing I just couldn’t understand was the turn that Zara’s character took because the same day when Sofia was planning to hang out with her friends, Zara & Jazib were gone for dinner but the same night when Sofia went & confessed her feelings, Zara had a scarf wrapped around her head? That just didn’t make any sense but then it shows that the director is in a rush to end the drama so it comes as a good sign!
This time around I actually felt bad for Dua that no matter how hard she tries, she can never earn the respect of Zara but then after watching next episode’s preview, I think Zara will finally surrender & will confess her fears to Dua which for her sake I hope happens soon. Over all this has been a very average drama which makes me feel that if this drama wasn’t produced, we weren’t missing out on something big. Share your views on this episode.
The holy month of Ramazan is now just few days away, and all the channels have installed extravagant sets for their Ramazan transmission. Different channels have also signed for celebrity hosts including artists or media persons.
A-Plus is an entertainment channel based in Lahore which has strengthened its ranking as an alternate choice for entertainment through its various daramas. This year it is also launching its Ramazan transmission.As per a local news channel City42 A-Plus has signed artist Noor Bukhari as a host for this transmission.
With celebrity hosts on other channels too, this year there will definitely be a stiff competition among all the channels to get the high ratings and sponsorship.
In recent times many new multiplex cinemas are constructed which have changed the film watching experience. In multiplex cinemas multiple films are screened in a day. Traditionally cinemas in our country are single screen, where only one film is screened for a specified duration, such cinemas are termed as ‘single screen’ cinemas. In Lahore most of the single screen cinemas are on Mcleod Road and Abbot Road.
For the holy month of Ramazan, most of the single screen cinemas in various cities will remain close till Eid. In Ramazan, normally attendance in cinemas is very low which makes it impossible to cover the running expenses of a cinema hall. The closed cinemas will undergo annual repairs and construction to be available in better condition for Eid shows.
Famous journalist Muhammad Maalik was appointed as Managing Director of Pakistani Television Coorporation, a state owned instituion last year. His appointment was challenged in the Islamabad High Court which has declared it illegal. As per Islamabad High Court the appointment was done as ‘pick and choose’ and does not fulfill the principals of merit and opennes.
The news circulating on the internet and different news channel is that Shoaib Akhtar entered into Nikkah with Rubab Mushtaq from Haripur. Maulana Khurshid Shah did the Nikkah in Haripur. When Duniya News asked Shoaib Akhtar’s brother if the news of the nikkah was true he denied it but various reliable sources directly involved in the Nikkah said that it did take place.
A few weeks back the Express Tribune also posted this news but later on said that this was not true because the girl that Shoaib got married to was only seventeen and people criticized him therefore Shoaib said that this news was not true.
The Indian Newspaper posted this picture and said this was Shoaib’s wife Rubab.
Geo News showed this picture
The Nikkah registrar said that Rubab is not seventeen but twenty years old. The Express Tribune also reported today that Shoaib Akhtar had gotten married although he said earlier that he wasn’t getting married.
Ali Haider is a famous name mainly in pop singing, who is also known across the border in India. Few of Ali Haider’s albums were also released in India during late 1990’s. Like Junaid Jamshed, few years ago Ali Haider also announced to leave singing and showbiz, though lately he can be seen acting in some sitcoms. Recently he has also released an album ‘RUB RANG’ comprising of sufi music, including dhamaals (genre of sufi music).The album is focused on famous sufi ‘Laal Shahbaz Qalandar’
As per Ali Haider an Indian Music Company has approached him to acquire the worldwide rights of this album. The company is interested in launching this album in India and other countries. As per Ali, this album is being appreciated on music channels and social media, and will be further successful if released in India.
Let me start by saying that there was a time (not very long ago) when I absolutely loved Sarwat Gillani. There were many reasons for it; the first and foremost being her natural acting, secondly that she always focused on her performance more than her looks and most importantly Sarwat Gillani is one of those rare actresses who have been very versatile throughout their career. We see so many seasoned artists being typecast but Sarwat Gillani has always played roles that were very different.
I forgave Sarwat Gillani for opting to play a role that was eventually going to make very little sense in Mere Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley because let me confess that I am just as capable of being biased about the celebrities I adore as anyone else. Sarwat Gillani was spot on in Dil-e-Muztar so I had reason to fall in love with this brilliant actress all over again. But recently Sarwat Gillani has disappointment me in more ways than one. Lately, Sarwat Gillani’s dialogue delivery in Koi Nahi Apna and Aahista Aahista both has been very monotone. The versatility that was there once is fading out fast.
Sarwat Gillani’s hosting skills in Jago Pakistan Jago have failed to impress too. Her conversations lack spontaneity and she does not seem at ease with the whole thing at all. It is plain to see that live television and being the captain of the ship is a huge responsibility which Sarwat is not ready to take up just yet. The heavy make up does not do justice to Sarwat Gillani’s innocent face as well. I really expected Sarwat Gillani to deliver as a host but sadly I find her just as dull and lost as rest of the Morning Show hosts.
I don’t mean to sound harsh at all, when you like an actor so much you expect nothing but the best from them. Has anyone else noticed any changes in Sarwat Gillani’s acting? Do you think that she is compromising on the quality of roles that she is playing or the projects that she is venturing into? Does anyone else feel that Sarwat Gillani has failed to impress the viewers with her hosting skills? I have a feeling that she may not be able to continue hosting Jago Pakistan Jago because she appears to be very uncomfortable playing the Chirpy and friendly hostess who can take a conversation forward in an intelligent way.
Sarwat Gillani is still young, talented, extremely cute and I am sure intelligent enough to make wiser decisions in the future.
It is always great to see our favorite celebrities happy and settled. Sadia Imam has always been very active in the entertainment sector but lately we have not been seeing her on television. We know now why she has been missing from television. She moved abroad a few months back and now the news is that she is expecting her first baby.
We wish Sadia Imam and her husband Adnan Haider all the best for their future.
Mahnoor Baloch has already proved herself as a versatile actress and a very accomplished model in the Pakistani entertainment industry. She has worked on different electronic medias. Mahnoor Baloch has also had the privilege of working in a Hollywood movie Torn.
Usually Pakistani modeling agencies, clothing brands etc feel the need to hire Indian actresses to promote their brands but this time an Indian agency has hired a Pakistani i.e. Mahnoor Baloch for two ads. The ads will be shot in Bangkok soon.
While talking to the media Mahnoor Baloch said, “I got this (commercial) deal only because of my talent. An artist’s art knows no boundaries. So, when you get a chance, you should prove your talent. I always pray for Lollywood’s revival and I am very excited and happy about these opportunities I am bestowed with.”
Every once in a while you chance upon a drama that captivates you and delivers a truly superior viewing experience. Talkhiyan was a perfect example of that and more. Too bad it didn’t quite get the attention it deserved primarily due to the channel it aired on- one that’s not the default go-to channel for entertainment.
Background
Talkhiyan aired on Express Entertainment towards the end of 2012. The drama was directed by Khalid Ahmed, produced by Raziuddin Ahmed and written by Bee Gul who was inspired by the novel “The God of Small Things”. The ensemble cast included Sanam Saeed (Bibi), Hina Bayat (Appu Ji), Shamim Hilali (Mama Ji), Khald Ahmed (Agha Ji), Adnan Jaffer (Janu Baba), Sarmad Mirza (Monty), Hassan Niazi (Baloo), Mehak Khan (Zoya), Nargis Rasheed (Ayi), Sabina Jabeen (Zoyee- child artist), Meher Sagar (Jugnu).
Being a woman in a man’s world
The story is narrated through the eyes of Zoya, who is now a grown up woman. She revisits her maternal home in Silverwood and recollects the time she spent there after her mother, Bibi, divorced her father, Paul (a man she had eloped with). Zoya has a twin brother, Jugnu. Bibi, who was considered an outcast for marrying a firanga, returns to her father’s home much against his will. Bibi grew up in a predominantly male chauvinistic household with her father Agha Ji heading the brigade. Her mother, Mama, a blind woman, spent her years as a silent victim of domestic abuse and openly professed her preference for her son Janu Babu over Bibi. To make matters worse, she had a spinster Phuppi, Appu Ji who secretly loved a priest, Father Albert and that is why she remained unmarried. Bibi’s return with her twins is met with a cold welcome. Her father refuses to believe that Paul was capable of the monstrosity that Bibi narrates since he was an Englishman. Agha Ji was a proud Anglophile yet it’s ironic that he disowned Bibi when she married an Englishman. Even stranger that Janu Baba also married an English lady and his marriage ended in a divorce too yet no one ever brought that up. As young Zoyee soon learns, this trend of favoring boys continues in the household with Appu Ji and Mama clearly treating Jugnu like god-send. Appu Ji is vicious and self-absorbed- she enjoys tormenting the twins, and taunting Bibi over her life choices. Bibi, who’s frustrated by her circumstances has grown into a bitter woman- one who doesn’t think twice before her retorts.
Life is a Pickle, Share It
With Janu Baba’s return, Bibi’s inherent frustrations reach an all-time high. Her strained relationship with her brother pushes her towards seeking freedom and independence. Janu Baba empowers Mama and helps set up their own pickle business. Bibi works as a mere factory worker on an hourly wage. Bibi’s hatred for her brother is a result of her family’s constant rejection of her existence; the endless comparisons with Janu Baba’s many achievements make her nauseous. Things get even worse when Janu’s ex-wife Margaret and their daughter Lizzie come by for a visit. Jugnu and Zoyee become far more rebellious after Lizzie’s arrival since she is treated like a pampered princess while they are scorned for any and everything. A childhood mistake turns into tragedy- yet another blow for Bibi. Jugnu and Zoyee are suffering in their own way while Bibi tries to fight for her rights. The twins have had their fair share of trauma seeing an abusive, alcoholic father and seeing their mother lash out at them for no fault of theirs making them question their self-worth. Monty, Bibi’s cousin brings a slight glimmer of hope in their bleak existence but it is not meant to be. They befriend Baloo, the only man they know who genuinely seems to care for them.
Mujhko ab meri mohabbat ke fasaaney na kaho
Depressed, hopeless and cheated by life once again, Bibi finds herself falling for Baloo- a man belonging to a lower caste who’s generations have worked for Agha Ji’s family. Baloo is not allowed inside their homes except for work- he is considered dirty- not because of his appearance but by virtue of being low-born. But love knows no bounds and Bibi finds passion and love in his arms. However, Bibi’s happiness is short-lived and her life spirals downwards when her family gets wind of their liaison. It’s not that Bibi is a bad mother; she tries very hard to bring some normalcy into their lives, to fulfill the role of both their mother and father but the burden is too much for her to carry. Bibi adores both Zoyee and Jugnu to bits but her circumstances force her into becoming this cold, withdrawn woman. Bibi tries to start all over again and promises to make a new life for her children. Sadly she fails miserably- as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and lover. She suffers the biggest blow when she realizes that she has failed not just others but herself!
Final Verdict
Talkhiyan explored many bold and taboo subjects but did so with discretion. The story flowed seamlessly and the locations were surreal. The title song sung beautifully by Mehwish Hayat and Waqar Ali was one of my favorites of the year and continues to be part of my play-list. You can hear it here- http://tune.pk/video/10680/OST-Title-Talkhiyan-Drama-Hum-TV-Mp3-Video-Download
Sanam Saeed delivered a flawless performance as Bibi; Hina Bayat proved that she is indeed versatile and performed Appu Ji to perfection; Shamin Hilali was brilliant as always; Adnan Jaffer looked the part of Comrade Janu Baba; Mehak Khan did well for a newcomer as Zoya; Sarmed Mirza brought oodles of charm to the role of Monty; Hassan Niaza was clearly overshadowed by the rest of the actors. A special mention to the child artists Sabina Jabeen and Mehek Sagar who played the twins Zoyee and Jugnu with such ease- these kids have a future in acting for sure. Talkhiyan for me was nothing short of epic. Having read the novel, I was eager to see how it would play out and I was not letdown- not even for a split second. It was by far one of the most gripping dramas I’ve seen- a thought-provoking story, phenomenal acting, picture-perfect locations, a soothing background score; brilliant direction- everything was in perfect harmony. If you haven’t watched this one, I highly recommend it especially to any of the viewers who are currently mesmerized by Pehchaan- this one is a must-watch! For those that have watched it, I would love to hear your take on it.
P.S This will be the last review in the Drama Of The Week segment since we are taking a much-needed break with Ramadan approaching. We will keep you posted about restarting this segment. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading just as much as we’ve enjoyed writing this segment. It’s goodbye for now- from Fatima Awan, Zahra Mirza and myself- until we meet again.
Amanat Ali is a well known name in the field of singing. Now following his footsteps younger brother Ali Hamza has also launched his first music video named Dukhi Dil. It is said that Ali Hamza also participated in the auditions for Pakistan Idol, but failed to clear it. Here is his first music video…
Bilal Lashari, the young director of recent Pakistani movie Waar has filed an FIR against the investor of the film Hassan Waqas Rana. According to the reports Bilal Lashari is very upset because the investor did not pay Bilal Lashari according to the contract between the two. According to the agreement, Hasan Waqas was to share 25 per cent of the profit with the director. In the FIR filed with the Kohsar police, Lashari stated that he was a partner of the investor in the film but Rana deposited Rs 200 million in his account, refusing to share any part of the earnings with the director.
Hassan Waqas Rana said that the allegations were false because according to the agreement the film was to be shot in 45 days but it took Bilal Lashari three years to shoot the film. Due to the long time frame, the expenses were more too.
Hassan Rana said ““I paid Lashari Rs15 million for his job but when the film was completed, he e-mailed me and threatened to delete the film if I do not share 25 per cent profits with him,” he said.
“The fact is that I have not received all the amount of the film. Moreover, Lashari received many awards for the motion picture but never disclosed who was the investor of the film,” he added.
Naveen Jan has been working as a newscaster and anchor person on ARY News for many years now. People who watch the channel are very familiar with her face. Naveen Jan is no more just a news anchor but she is stepping in the world of showbiz as a model too. These pictures show that Naveen Jan is all set to be a fashion model. We wish her all the best.
Dua Malik celebrated her valima with a big gathering of friends and family. Most of her pictures have been shot very casually, which is the trend nowadays. Here are those pictures which Dua Malik shared with her fans.
Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Limited commonly known as Geo television is the largest media house in Pakistan. Apart from television channels, print media (including many english and urdu daily and weekly), music release company (fire records) it is also active in film distribution with its division named Geo Films.
Geo films has so far released very few (less then ten) Pakistani films in past 10 years, including super hits like Khuda Ke Liye and Bol whereas films like Ramchand Pakistani, Virsa (Punjabi) proved unsuccessful while films like Chambaili and Mohabattan Sachiyan (Punjabi) performed average. Like other divisions of Independent Media Corporation, Geo Films has been more active in distributing Bollywood films. Though unlike other divisions it also releases Hollywood films apart from promoting Indian films. As per Geo television/Jang Group, the most successful film (revenue collection wise) in Pakistan i.e. Dhoom3 (an Indian film) was released by Geo Films which collected more than 25 crore (250 million) rupees surpassing Waar.
But now after a gap of almost one year Geo Films has acquired the rights of a Pakistani film named Dukhtar, which will be released on 14 August 2014. Here is full content from English Daily The News
In the flurry of exciting news of current and upcoming film releases, a recent entrant in the Pakistani independent filmmaking scene is Dukhtar (Daughter). It is helmed by Afia Nathaniel, one of Pakistan’s most exciting filmmakers and founder of Lahore-based Zambeel Films, and produced by Muhammad Khalid Ali, seasoned producer at The Crew Films in Karachi. Geo Films has acquired the rights for the Pakistan territory and is making release nationwide release plan for 14 August 2014, the 68th Independence Day of Pakistan. Dukhtar is an international co-production between several countries and has high profile in the independent film community having won several prestigious and highly competitive film production awards like the Hubert Bals Fund, Sorfund and National Geographic’s All Road Seed grant, making Dukhtar the first Pakistani feature film to have all these awards under its belt. “Dukhtar is a powerful story about a mother’s personal quest to save her ten-year-old daughter from an arranged marriage to a tribal leader. It is also Pakistan’s first road-trip thriller shot in the surreal landscapes of the northern areas. I am really looking forward to bringing this film to our Pakistani audiences,” said Afia Nathaniel, its writer-director and producer. Speaking about Dukhtar, producer Muhammad Khalid Ali said, “We worked with some of the top-notch actors of Pakistan, including Samiya Mumtaz, Mohib Mirza, Asif Khan, Ajab Gul, Adnan Shah Tipu, Samina Ahmed, Saleha Aref, Abdullah Jaan and Omair Rana. We have made a film that is uniquely positioned to capture not just Pakistani audiences but international audiences as well.” Post-production on the film is wrapping up and the film’s first look will be released soon. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Sahir Ali Bagga and Peter Nashel in New York. Imran Aslam, President, GEO TV Network adds: “GEO Films has always been at the forefront of the Revival of Pakistani cinema. We have been associated with landmark films like Khuda Kay Liye, Bol and Chambaili, amongst others, which have been significant milestones in this journey. Dukhtar is yet another meaningful film, which is a road movie inviting us to continue the journey”.
