After the launch of the very successful Tarang Telefilms which created waves amongst the audiences, a new trend has now emerged. Producers are focusing more on making movies now that they know that audiences are willing to watch quality movies. Humayun Saeed’s production house made the initiative of making the very first grand budget movie ‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’, which will be released very soon. It has also been heard that Sultana Siddiqui is now ready to get her hands into filmmaking and has been searching for a female lead for her movie. The male lead which was previously rumored to be Fawad Khan, has now been finalized and it is none other than Humayun Saeed.

Now following this trend, the dramas are also going to the movie way. It has been in the news that there are two shows which will first be released as movies and then their drama would also be launched.

MANTO:

The first in the list is Sarmat Khoosat’s tentatively titled show ‘Manto’, which has been in the news for quite some time now. Many plays have been written about Saadat Hassan Manto a very famous writer of his time, but this will be the first movie made on him.

His character would be played by Sarmad himself, who is not only a very talented director but a superb actor too. He has recently been seen in the show ‘Dil Mohallay Ki Haveli’ in which he is playing a role of a mentally challenged man and he is doing a fantastic job in it. Other than Sarmat, the cast is fully loaded with names like Saba Qamar, Mahira Khan, Tipu Sharif, Faisal Qureshi, Imran Abbas, Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha, and Savera Nadeem. With this stellar cast, the movie is surely going to be a huge success. The story is written by the playwright Shahid Nadeem. The movie would not be the typical mainstream types and it would not be an Independent movie either because of its large scale production.

The story will focus on Saadat Manto’s life after partition and the events that followed. Sarmad has revealed that “This is not going to be an overtly political film, but it will involve a commentary of some of the things occurring at the time,” he continues, “When I came across the project, I felt he needed to have a film.”

The movie does not only have a stellar cast but also an engaging soundtrack which will enthrall the audiences. The movie has already been shot and is in the post-production phase. The movie will release by the end of this year or the start of the next year. The drama will also be made on the same concept and hopefully with the same cast after the movie has been released.

BIN ROYE AANSOO:

The second show that would first be released as a movie and then dramatized is the very hyped and popular show, ‘Bin Roye Aansoo’. It has gained immense popularity and publicity in its pre-production stage. From the moment the cast has been announced on the writer Farhat Ishtiaq’s official page on Facebook, it has captured the interest of all the viewers.

There had been a lot of criticism on the cast in the beginning as a lot of fans wanted to see Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan as the leads in the show, and it angered the fans to see Humayun Saeed selected as the male lead. The anger slowly dissolved when the shooting started and a few shooting pictures were released. Now audiences are desperately looking forward to this show which will also include names like Armeena Rana Khan, Zeba Bakhtiyar, Javed Sheikh, Jahanzeb Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, and Osman Khalid Butt. The cast also includes a few child stars like Mehreen, Mujtaba Khan, Yashal Nadeem and Shahzayn Duraid (son of Momina Duraid). They would play the role of the leads in the initial phase of the drama/movie. The drama and the movie will be directed by the very famous director Haissam Hussain who has given us shows like Dastaan and Aunn Zara. It will be produced by Momina Duraid’s Production House.

The shooting of the movie is at full speed at the moment and the movie will release around February/March 2014. Mahira Khan fans are waiting to see her back on screen after more than a year. I am sure this movie is definitely work looking forward to!

Here are a few clicks from the sets:

Mariam Shafiq

I couldn’t help noticing especially in the past few years that there are many television artists who pay special attention to their wardrobe. Not all the actors who are talented are well-dressed as well. I am not denying that talent comes first and the dressing sense later but it is also true that a good sense of dressing along with great talent can be a deadly combination. You will all agree with me that there is no doubt about how gifted the artists in the list are. We talk about their talent all the time, I thought it would be appropriate to acknowledge their good taste as well.

Who you think is well-dressed depends a great deal on your own likes and dislikes. For me looking elegant as well as stylish is what counts the most. It is also very important in my eyes if a person can look stylish and chic without showing too much skin. All the artists in the list are always seen dressed elegantly in award shows and other functions. They also put in extra amount of time and effort to dress up well for dramas they star in too.

Momal Sheikh

Momal Sheikh has always impressed me with her fashionable wardrobe. Whether she is dressed up formal or casual, this woman never fails to make a fashion statement that will make you stand up and take notice. White looks very pretty on her, she never goes overboard even when dressed formal.

Hina Khawaja Bayat

Hina Khawaja Bayat has paid special attention to her wardrobe from the very first time we saw her on screen when she used to do only talk shows. There are actresses who have learned to dress up in style only after they entered the industry but Hina Khawaja had her own style statement when she entered the industry. Hina Khawaja plays a lot of attention to detail. Her matching lenses in Aunn Zara and her elegant sarees in Talkhiyaan and Zindai Gulzar Hai show what a great taste she has, that is all of her own! She looks just as stunning in casual kurtas, like the ones she wore in Shehr-e-Zaat.

Sanam Jang

One thing is for sure that being stylish isn’t just about what you wear but it also has to do with how you carry what you are wearing. Sanam Jang is usually seen wearing clothes that are rather simple but she knows very well what kind of cuts suit her. She looks wonderful even in a long kurti and tights because she knows how to carry it. Her formal look very often is a long frock with pajama. Sanam Jang is another very wise television actress who knows what will look good on her.

Sarwat Gillani

Sarwat Gillani did not pay much attention to her looks when she entered the industry. Her style was always very casual. But things have changed tremendously now. Sarwat Gillani is always dressed to kill. She has groomed herself very well. I especially like Sarwat Gillani in embroided chiffon shirts; she wears them on usually on function.

Seemi Pasha

Seemi Pasha has been around for as long as I can remember. She always dresses up in trendy clothes that suite her perfectly. Apart from her chic dressing, her accessories are always well chosen. She is another artist who pays attention to every little detail that goes in to giving the perfect look.

Adnan Siddiqui

Adnan Siddiqui has a certain class about him that very few other male actors have. He always looks dignified. He looks very smart in dress shirts in particular. There are many male actors in our industry who repeat their clothes in the serials so many times that you can literally count the number of shirts they bring on the set! Adnan Siddiqui experiments with different colors and styles and looks great in them.

Nauman Ijaz

I have never seen Nauman Ijaz wearing anything that does not suit him. Even if he is playing a character which demands that he dresses up in Kurta Shalwar only, he will choose the right kind of styles that suit him. Unlike many of our male actors who can’t even match a pair of trousers with a shirt; this man knows how to choose the right kind of wardrobe.

Javaid Sheikh

He is decent, well dressed and carries himself perfectly. Not to mention that he has aged very gracefully. Some celebrities never go out of style, Javaid Sheikh is most certainly one of those evergreen celebrities of our industry.

Now that I think about it, I think there should be a separate list for actors who are good looking, act very well and also carry themselves well but don’t dress up right. Do you agree that all the artists mentioned in the list are well dressed? Would you like to add any other names?

Ayesha Ahmed

When Pakistan was created, Quaid-e-Azam set out some guidelines for the Pakistanis to follow, these guidelines or main principles were unity, faith and discipline. Unity meant That we will all stay united through the toughest times especially because Pakistan’s creation could not have been possible without this union of the Indian Muslims and also because Quaid-e-Azam knew that like any other nation-state Pakistanis were going to face many hardships also. These difficulties no matter of what magnitude would be much easier to resolve if we all stayed united. Unfortunately, this first teaching of the Quaid has been left behind. Today, most Pakistanis identify themselves on the basis of the territory that they reside in. Provincial identities are more important than a national identity. But are people really at fault? Most certainly not. The wrong policies of many governments as well as preferential treatment given to some provinces by the governments in power left people with a feeling of deprivation. Other than that the provincial leaders highlight these issues further and as a result people start associating with provincial leaders more than national leaders.

Dearth of good leadership has also added to the problem. Pakistan has not been able to find its own national identity not because of different cultures or languages but due to the lack of good leadership. All these people who are disintegrated now were once united for the cause of Pakistan only because they had great leaders to guide them.

The other aspect of the principle of faith is to have faith in our own capabilities. Which would mean that we should rely on our own strengths.

Faith is the other pillar on which the Quaid-e-Azam thought we may have to rely on in order to move forward. Faith means our religion Islam which makes us one, which should technically be the common ground that brings all of us together. Pakistan was made in the name of Islam, so that the Muslims of India could freely visit their worship places and profess their religion but thousands are killed even today in the name of religion.

Discipline can change the fate of nations if gets engraved in their national culture. We blame the governmental policies for everything but if we take a good look at ourselves, we will see that unfortunately most of the people lack the honesty needed to do their own respective jobs. Coming to schools and workplaces late is a norm in our country, so much so that even those people who are in a habit of coming early feel like they are doing something that is not needed or appreciated. Adding discipline to our lives can change the environment in our workplaces and also the quality of work.

Sadly, we have left the guidelines given to us by the Quaid-e-Azam and other leaders like Allama Iqbal behind. We have forgotten that thousands of people sacrificed their lives in order to get this home land. What can we do to make a difference? I think w e can all make a difference by doing the tasks assigned to us properly. if every Pakistani whether he is a sweeper or a director starts doing his work with honesty. If we stop giving jobs on the basis of sifarish and rishwat but let the people who truly deserve these posts come on the forefront, a great deal can change.

Last but not the least, the government’s top priority should be to come up with a proper guideline to counter terrorism because gradually it is taking over the lives of more and more citizens. The situation is such that people are forced to migrate from their home towns. Thousands of lives are lost every month but no one is punished for taking those lives.

What do you think we can do to make a difference? What do you think is the need of the hour?

Happy Independence Day to all the Pakistanis – do you think is it time to celebrate or is it time to reflect upon where we went wrong in all these years?

Pakistan Zindabad, May Allah grant patience to all those who have lost their loved ones because of terrorism. May He direct our leaders and people on the right path.

Khuda kary ky mere Arz e Pak par utry
Woh fasl e gul jisy andesha e zawal na ho

Ameen.

Ayesha Ahmed

The most anticipated Pakistani movie Josh which was released this Eid, is still now in cinemas and as shared before, it was only today that I, along with my family watch the movie and it is really a critical point to define it as either a success or a failure. Receiving a tough competition from the Bollywood release ‘Chennai  Express’ within the country,  most of the audience who is making its way towards Josh to support the local content has gotten all its answers that why is Josh still somewhere far behind the ratings of Chennai Express.

The promos of the movie spread a different idea where the audience hoped to see something related to the concept of freedom in general. However the movie has its own meaning of freedom in the movie. Let us first discuss its plot in detail.

The story as shared in my previous predicted reviews, is about a girl Fatima (Aamina Sheikh) who lives with her father(Khalid Ahmed) and beloved nanny (Naila  Ali),enjoying  a high profile living. Being in love deeply with her artist friend Adil, she is in general a humble and sweet girl who feels s for the suffering ones. Her Nanny, Nusrat Bi belongs to a rural tribe which was been ruled by a politician ‘Khan’ (Qaisar Khan) who govern the basti, called ‘Khuda Ki Basti’ completely. Nusrat’s family is the one who actually serves food to the orphan children of the basti and is hated by the feudalist Khan. Nusrat Bi takes a leave from her work to help her brother who stole wheat from khan’s reservoirs. Ahmed though escapes once Khan gets to know about it, but Nusrat becomes a victim of him and is been raped brutally and killed afterwards.

When she didn’t return, Fatima visits her house and finds her dead body lying in front of her.  People of the basti, though tried to hide the truth but soon she gets to know about it when she decides to continue Nusrat’s services by feeding orphans. Khan, who wanted to be their god again finds Fatima as an interruption and his people kidnaps her when people started supporting her against the move. Ahmed then tries to get her free and in the darkness of night, his gunman kills Khan’s own son.

The movie ends only here showing Khan to be arrested by the police and the free food service turns into a hotel.

Yes, this is it all! Let me just quickly share the strong points and the weak ones here.

Strong points

Flawless acting by all the characters

Beautifully directed

High quality graphics

Good music

Well-written dialogues

Weak Points

The plot could have been better

All the actors are known for being the drama faces. Seemed more like a HUM TV drama!

Overall maintained a slow pace!

Abrupt ending! Abrupt indeed!

It is yet hard to pass any comment over its business because what I have been keeping in view is the crowd which I experienced in the cinema. Though Chennai express seems to enjoy 6 times more business than Josh, Josh still has its patriotic touch.

Azaadi Manao sirf DO rupay main!

 Share your views please,

Nida Zaidi

The movie which is striving really hard to give a tough competition to the Bollywood and Hollywood releases in the country as a standalone Pakistani movie is attracting more audience day by day. Josh is a movie which reveals all about the lives of people who live in rural areas of Pakistan and are under a great pressure of feudalism. The cast of the movie is further motivating the Pakistani drama lovers to see actors like Amina Sheikh,  Mohib Mirza, Naila Ali and Naveen Waqar on big screen.

The film’s private premiere early in August was a successful event in Karachi where many celebrities showed up to support the movie at Atrium Mall-Karachi.

Here are a few snaps been taken, have a look!

Now that the movie is all available in cinemas and I am also done with the rituals of Eid, I am done with the ticket purchasing of the movie for this Monday and will be watching the movie with my family to support the local content. Have you grabbed your tickets by now?

Share your views,

Blessings,

Nida Zaidi

If given an option, would Meera and Mathira be your top choices for celebrities you want to spend your Eid with? If the reply of most of the readers is in negative then I wonder why our Morning Show hosts in particular are convinced that it is important to invite such controversial AND unbearable celebrities or more like attention seekers to shows in order to get the attention of the public. The viewers were not spared even during Ramazan and now on Eid day also it is almost as if there is a competition between Morning Shows hosts as to who can bag these celebrities first.

Isn’t it sad that our television industry is full of talented and decent people but our Morning Show hosts never make the effort to call them on their shows so that people can enjoy quality entertainment on Eid? On the contrary, they resort to short cuts in order to get the attention of the public. They know that there are many viewers who will get amused by Mathira’s and Meera’s cheapness and some more will watch it out of curiosity; in short it will serve the purpose so why put in extra effort to call some decent, intelligent and not to mention more talented people to the show.

Some of these Morning Show hosts appear to play second fiddle in their own shows while these over the top and strange women take over their shows. They may get attention for all the wrong reasons but all they want is attention, it doesn’t matter whether it is positive or negative.
The norm now is that the louder and most controversial an Eid show is, more people will be attracted to it. I am certain that there are many intelligent viewers who do not jump at the prospect of watching Mathira, Meera and the likes in Eid special shows. Does the presence of such guests show the mentality of the Morning Show organizers or does it prove that most viewers are hypocrites; they may criticize such controversial celebrities but the fact is that they actually want to see them. Because if these celebrities were so unpopular why would there be virtually a race between Morning Show hosts to get hold of them.

I have read the views of many viewers on different forums and I am very convinced that people just want celebrities/attention seekers like Mathira to “disappear’! But then when these celebrities appear on every second show especially special shows like Ramazan special and Eid specials , I wonder if the channels are cashing in on all the “popularity” which these women have among public. You know the urdu saying “Badnam hun gaye tu kya naam na ho ga”. Is that really the case? Are Mathira, Meera and others like them invited to shows because they actually get the channels the TRPs they want?

Saud

Eid is an occasion on which all the Muslims celebrate their fasting in the month of Ramadan and spend time with their families and relatives and exchange gifts and blessings. Thanks to the advancement which has been seen in our entertainment industry, every occasion, whether it be new years eve or independence day,  Eid or Ramadan, our TV channels make sure that they make a full use of it by offering special transmissions to their viewers. Being a citizen of a Muslim country, our celebrities to celebrate eid on screen and off screen and here is a small collection of Pakistani celebrities in their Eid outfits of 2013!

Have a look!

We wish you a you a very happy eid,

Blessings,

Nida Zaidi

Eid is just around the corner. I am sure that everyone is done with their Eid shopping and other preparations by now. It always makes me a little sad when the month of Ramadan is drawing to a close because there are so many of us who normally do not follow the teachings of Islam all through the year except in this month. In my opinion while we are all busy with the festivities of Eid, there are a few things which we should not forget.

The spirit of Islam should continue even after the end of the Holy month

The holy month of Ramadan gives us few very valuable lessons. Firstly, that our lives should be dedicated and centered around our religion. Secondly and most importantly there is pleasure in giving. All through Ramadan we try to help out as many people as we can but why only in Ramadan. Why not continue helping others, not just financially but in any way we can all through the year and especially on Eid. The most important thing to remember this Eid is that we must not forget to be generous. Sharing and giving is what can make this occasion more memorable and special, not just for us but also for those who do not have as much resources as many of us.

Don’t forget that we are all equal in the eyes of God

Ramadan teaches us the lesson that we are all equal in the eyes of God. All Muslims, whether they are rich or poor, young or old, live in Europe or Middle East, all of them have the same rituals during Ramadan. We must remember that all teaching of Islam basically try to teach us that we are all equal in the eyes of God. Never look down upon anyone because of their social status.

Making someone smile can be the biggest gift not just for the other person but also yourself

Try to make someone happy even if you have to go out of your way to do so. Making children happy in particular can be s o rewarding, that is something I know from personal experience. If you can’t do something grand, do something small like buy a big pack of sweets and distribute it among children who cross your path on Eid , especially the ones who cannot afford to buy these goodies. A smile on their face will make your day.

Eid is a wonderful time to make up with people you may have fought with or are not talking to

Forgive those who may have wronged you. If you are at fault then there is no better time to ask for forgiveness than on Eid. It will only make your day even better. You may just win a friend or a family member back this Eid only by making the first move so go ahead:)

Unfortunately, there are many of us who think that when Ramadan ends it is time to move on but it is not so. We wish our readers a very Happy Eid, spend time with your friends and families, have a lot of fun but please don’t forget those people who are less fortunate.

May Allah bless all of you and your families on this Eid and all through the year. Ameen.

Ayesha Ahmed

Previously cherished cherish holy month of Ramadan is now nothing more but an attempt to to secure more TRPs for the private channels which is really a significant aspect one should think about. Now that the month has reached its end, it has been heard that the religious scholars have passed a Fatwa that all such so-called religious programs are causing harm to the actual idea of Ramadan and have declared them Haraam.

Its is important to state that there is nothing new this year only but an extension has been seen to the past few years’ celebrations. We have been sharing or rather criticizing over the issue and here is what the scholars have to say about it.

Have a look!

It seems like now that Aamir Liaquat has been known well by the people for his previous Ghalib video which earned him hatred of people who are truly following the teachings of Islam, he is now enjoying to be a real smart one out by playing with a holy theme. It is not only Geo TV this year but all the private channels who have tried their level best to improve their ratings.

Now that even a panel of scholars have even passed a Fatwa about it, let us see how things turn out to be next year but there is one thing for sure that such acts are really something Muslims should condemn. Ramadan is a month to worship your  Lord and purifying your soul from evil thoughts and deeds and not something where Muslims should be attending shows to grab their hands on a piece of branded cloth or Q-Mobile. 

Share your views,

Nida Zaidi

The holy day of Eid-ul-Fitr is now a few hours away from us and has been shared with you all, there were 4 major Pakistani movies releasing this year on Eid, out of them the most powerful release was expected by Humayun Saeed’s ‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’. Like all other movie lovers, even was looking for some tickets for my family for the movie Josh (and not ‘MHSA’) and figured out that ‘’Main hoon Shahid Afridi’ will not be releasing on Eid in the country. The movie’s release has been delayed probably to provide a clear gateway to the previously banned Bollywood movie ‘Chennai Express’.

Still confused? Making it easier to understand, Indian Movie Chennai Express which was previously banned in Pakistan to give the local content a better exposure within the country has already made its way to the cinemas and is a part of the ShowTime been offered by Pakistani popular cinemas.

Atrium Cinema in Karachi, which offers an online booking service has already set its schedule for the movies that are been released this eid and it is interesting to see that despite of the hype been created about the four upcoming Pakistani movies, Josh, Ishq Khuda, Main Shahid Afridi hoon and Waar, we can see Josh only that is been schedule where even Ishq Khuda is also kept on hold.

Announcing the delay in the release, Vasay Chaudhry, the writer of the movie told the Express Tribune that the movie editor Azam Khan has passed away and the movie is still not done with the final touches. He also admitted that if the movie would have been released this Eid, the Bollywood movie which will now release on Eid would have taken up the market completely and so play it safe, it is better to release the movie some days later.

Let us see which movie takes up the market this Eid,

Share your views,

Nida Zaidi

It is one of the foremost duties of a platform, such as reviewit.pk to break all the news that are somehow related to the media industry of Pakistan without any delay and appreciate the work been done by our celebrities if it is worthy of praise. What we have today to share with you all is a great news that it will be finally this year that Pakistan will be making its entry in the Oscar Awards, which is exactly 50 years after it made its last entry.

Oscars are considered to be a dream come true for all the celebrities who earn fame, respect and applause from an entire world for their great work and now that we see our film-making industry flourishing, it is more than a delight to see our celebrities and best-selling movies to be nominated in Oscars.

As it is, the country will be producing four high-budget movies this Eid and the producers are hopeful for their success. As per the latest reveals, a committee of some veteran actors and experts has been framed who will be selecting the movies to be nominated in the Oscars. The deadline for the list of submission is announced to be October 1^st.

The said committee will be headed by Oscar Award winner, Sharmeen Obaid who made the nation proud of herself with her film ‘The saving faces’. Moreover, you will see Mohsin Hamid, Mehreen Jabbar, Rahat  Kazmi, Akifa Mian, Samina Peerzada and Framji Minwalla playing an important role in the committee.

There are certainly no second thoughts about the potentials of our emerging Film actors, yet, it is still an excited fact that they will be representing the nation on such a huge platform. India, being popular for its Bollywood industry has been nominated for its movies on and off and it is expected that this year, too, the neighboring rival will give Pakistani movies a tough competition in the niche of foreign language category.

Keep your fingers crossed for more news over the issue,

Wishes,

Nida Zaidi

This post is meant to be strictly food for thought, nothing more and nothing less. I think countless readers and drama viewers can relate to it because there are numerous times when we find ourselves wishing or thinking how a particular male and female lead will look together in a play. Our industry is full of artists who are very gifted. Our directors and producers also experiment with different kinds of on screen couples all the time. Gone are the days when an on screen couple was a hit with the viewers, it was seen over and over again because their presence alone guaranteed that people will watch a drama. If that was the case then we would have seen Mahira and Fawad Khan, Sanam Baloch and Fawad Khan on screen together again and again. Nowadays, the trend has reversed. When an on screen couple is as big a hit as Khirad and Asher and Bano and Hassan then the directors and producers want that those memories should stay in people’s mind and do not show the same actors and actresses together in different dramas. Based on this new trend of experimenting with different leads, I am going to give some ideas of which male and female lead will look good together based on my own likes and dislikes of course.

Fawad Khan and Syra Yusef

Fawad Khan is older than Syra but he can still pass for a college boy if given the right make over. I really like both Fawad and Syra. Ideally I would like to see them in a romantic comedy; something like AunnZara because Syra has proved already that she is really good at doing comic characters and Fawad Khan and his fans need a break from all the serious roles that he has been doing.

Don’t you think that these two will make a very cute couple?

Sami Khan and Sanam Baloch

The other day I saw a picture of Sami Khan and Sanam Baloch, they looked great together. Both of them are exceptional actors even though Sami Khan is wasting himself in roles that don’t bring out the best in him but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a very gifted actor. Sanam Baloch has always maintained a very good chemistry with all her co stars. I think both of them will look great in an intense role because Sanam emotes very well and so does Sami Khan.

What do you think will they look good together or not?

Ahsan Khan and Sanam Jang

I am very certain that all of Ahsan Khan and Sanam Jang’s fans will do anything to see both of them together in the same play. Sanam Jang is another new actress who is the queen of expressions. Ahsan Khan is a very versatile actor, he has no problem fitting in any kind of role so we know for sure that he will not let us down.

Would you like to see both of them as a couple in a play? If not then who do you think they will look good with?

Meekal Zulfiqar and Ayza Khan

Ayza Khan is very cute and very talented. Meekal Zulfiqar is talented but sometimes I feel like he is being typecast. I have always wanted to see both of them together in a play. But for once Meekal should not play the bad husband who cannot do justice to his wife. It would be really good to see them in a romantic serial in which they have strong characters but there isn’t too much rona dhona.

Have you ever wished to see both of them together? There is no harm in wishing!

Danish Taimoor and Alishba Yusef

Alishba Yusef is one of those actresses who make their fans wait for too long before they make an appearance on screen. I really liked Danish Taimoor’s acting and character in drama serial Rehai. He should do more projects in which he gets to play such roles. Alishba Yusef and Danish Taimoor will make an amazing on screen couple given that they are working in a good play with a good quality script and of course with a first-class director.

Mahira Khan and ?

Who do you think Mahira Khan will good with? Honestly speaking, I would really like to see Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan on screen together again but we all know that is not going to happen. Mahira Khan and Mohib Mirza also had a very good on screen chemistry in the play Shehr-e-Zaat. Ahsan Khan and Mahira Khan will look good together too but seriously this one is a difficult choice so I will leave it to the readers to decide.

Feel free to share your views about the above ideas for on screen couples without any reservations.

Ayesha Ahmed

Unfortunately our television channels have never shown much interest in providing children with quality entertainment. Our schools also stress more on English than on Urdu and as a result most of the children who go to private schools find it difficult to grasp Urdu, which in my opinion is a much more difficult language to learn than English. Cartoons and animations in Urdu which teach children good lessons are the need of the hour. The electronic media can play a vital role in educating the kids. By education, I don’t mean teaching them ABCs but by helping them understand the difference between good and bad. Learning this difference goes a long way. It helps children become good individuals when they grow up.

I have never been a big fan of fairy tales because they send the wrong message to little girls in particular. Almost all of them send out the message that being pretty is very important. None of the fairytale princesses were ever average looking. In fact the other day when my niece was reading Snow White I was actually amazed at the way her beauty had been explained! Thanks to these fairy tales at a very early age girls start obsessing with having long hair. They also start differentiating (unconsciously of course) among friends or class fellows on the basis of color; who is whiter and who is “brown” is sadly very common nowadays.

Other than this all the fairy tales end with the damsel in distress being rescued by her prince charming because her happy ending is not possible without a prince charming.

Burka Avenger comes as a breath of fresh air considering just how clichéd these fairy tales are. Our super hero is no damsel in distress but she helps those who are in trouble. She is strong enough to take care of herself and other people too. She does not have long locks of beautiful hair and rose colored lips but she wears a burka to hide her identity and looks great in it. I think the concept that this super hero is actually a school teacher by profession is sheer brilliance because kids all age look up to their teachers. They are their ideals and now they can be super heroes too – how cool is that!

The Burka Avenger has been launched in a very intelligent way too. It has a facebook page which has a lot of fans already, there are Burka Avenger phone games and t shirts and it has a great soundtrack of its own. Annie Jaffrey is the voice behind our super hero. The Pakistani pop star Haroon Rashid came up with this idea.

The Burka Avenger does not use weapons to fight her enemies but her weapons are pens, pencils and books. This clearly shows that the idea behind the concept is that with education we can fight all kinds of evil. Burka Avenger’s first episode was very impressive. The creator of the animation has made it clear that main purpose of this animation apart from educating the kids is also going to be to entertain them.
Following is the description given in the official page of the animation, “The Burka Avenger is an amazing action-comedy animated TV Series that follows the adventures of the Burka Avenger and three young kids in the imaginary city of Halwapur as they fight the evil Baba Bandook and his henchmen.The Burka Avenger wears the burka veil to hide her identity like superheroes do. Her alter ego is that of a mild-mannered teacher at a girls’ school. Her use of pens and books as projectile weapons to fight the bad guys is symbolic on many levels. Her main motto is “Justice, Peace and Education for all”. The good news is that the series Burka Avenger is all set to go global with plans for it to be screened in 60 countries. It will be translated in 18 different languages.

If your kids/younger siblings/nieces/ nephews etc didn’t get a chance to watch the first episode of this amazing series, I suggest that you make them watch it online because it will entertain them and teach them some thing positive. It airs on Geo Tez at 6 pm on Sundays. The production house (Unicorn Black Production) has taken a great initiative by introducing this series. It is highly recommended that you visit the official website of Burka Avenger for fun games, trailers and the OST.

Did you watch the first episode? Do you agree that we should be proud of our new super hero?

Ayesha Ahmed