Bollywood has produced a number of fine actors right from the very beginning. It is an unhidden fact that Bollywood actors are appreciated all around the world including Pakistan. One can find crazy fans of Shahrukh khan, Ambitabh bachan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareen Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and many others. From every section of our society we can easily find people who are die-hard fans of Indian actors. And when their films hit Pakistani cinemas they are the first ones to grab their tickets & book their seats. There is a strong influence of their culture and tradition in our society and therefore one can relate why the actors are so applauded.
Recently I was in conversation with one of such die-hard fan of Indian actors who visited the famous Madame Tussauds Museum in London. It was not surprising for me when I came to know that wax statues of a number of Indian actors have been kept in the museum and these statues are very popular among the visitors. Let us have a virtual look over these statues:

i) Aishwariya Rai Bachchan

ii) Amitabh Bachchan

iii) Shahrukh Khan

iv) Kareena Kapoor

v) Hrithik Roshan

vi) Madhuri Dixit

vii) Salman Khan

I hope you all must have liked them. Drop your comments underneath, please.

S.Rasool

Pakistani Drama Industry (PDI) is doing way better than Indian Drama Industry (IDI). We all know that there was a time when Indian dramas were penetrating our society. At that time, revival of the PDI was needed. Then there came a period when PDI started to flourish and started to produce good dramas that became very popular among the people. Viewers started to switch back to Pakistani dramas and turned down the Indian culture. This period is termed as the “REVIVAL OF PDI”. There were some very basic reasons which drove the Pakistani viewers to start accepting the Pakistani dramas v/s Indian dramas. Some of them are:

i) Realistic v/s Unrealistic depiction
ii) Focus on story line v/s focus on make-overs
iii) Short time period v/s lengthy time period
iv) Sensible choice v/s Insensible choice of actors
v) Strong plot v/s weak plot

i) Realistic v/s Unrealistic depiction:

The Pakistani dramas were more realistic than the Indian dramas. The viewers can relate to the dramas. They depicted the true picture of their society, their problem and their issues whereas the Indian Dramas were un-realistic in nature so slowly and gradually they went unpopular and finally died out e.g Kasauti Zindagi Ki, Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu the, kahani ghar ghar ki etc. Today a great number of people from our society want to tune in Pakistani dramas channels rather than Indian drama channels because of this major reason

ii) Focus on story line v/s focus on make-overs:

There was more focus on make-overs, styles, costumes of the drama actors and renovation of sets in Indian dramas rather than storyline but Pakistani dramas were based on stories and the sets were also designed accordingly. Also the costumes chosen for the actors of a particular drama filmed in Pakistan was in relevance to the story line of the drama. This was lacking in Indian drama

iii) Limited & short time period v/s unlimited or lengthy time period:

The traditional Indian soap serials usually used to last for a long time (a year or two or even more sometimes). The viewers usually lost interest in watching such long engaging serials whereas Pakistani dramas were prepared with a defined scope, time period and were lesson oriented. Usually these lesson-oriented dramas got more popularity and acceptance from the viewers than former ones.

iv) Sensible choice v/s insensible choice of actors:

The choice of actors as per the role’s need and demand was ensured in Pakistani dramas. This aspect was lacked in Indian drama from the core. You would usually see a girly looked female actor performing the role of a mother in Indian dramas. Obviously, this kind of lack of sensibility from the selectors of actor was noticed by the viewers and was unacceptable, so people inclined towards Pakistani dramas which were more sensibly fabricated.

v) Strong plot v/s weak plot:

This is the fore-most triad which led to successful Pakistani Dramas. You can easily imagine a drama which consists of finest cast and crew and lacks a strong story-line, such kind of drama most probably never survives and fails to win over people.
By lying out some of the many factors which led to the triumph of PDI, I by no mean, claim that there weren’t and aren’t any unsuccessful Pakistani dramas. All I want to say is viewers, accept only those dramas which they think will live up to their expectations.

The PDI should understand, now to produce good stuff for their people else their efforts will go vain. I have seen some Pakistani dramas recently that are not doing well. The storyline is far away from reality, to name some “Rishtay kuch adhory se”, “Ishq hamari galioun mein” etc. It is high-time that the PDI realizes their flaws and try to fill up the left gaps else they will again loose their potential viewers.

What do you think about the current situation of PDI?

Have your say

Cheers

S.Rasool

Ohkay, so the most raved about, the most anticipated show of 2013 Pakistan Idol began & no doubt where at times it looked like a decent attempt, it fell flat as well. I really don’t understand why do Pakistanis have to over-do certain things. There looked like a lot more people who were forced to make an entry for the TRP’s but I may be wrong too because some people love being ridiculed as they are blinded by their over-confidence.

I have to say that the most decent judge in the panel of 3 was Hadiqa Kiyani. She seemed to-the-point, sophisticated & was giving judgements rationally. Ali Azmat was fine too but I expected more from him being the only male judge there. The only judge who was over-doing it was Bushra Ansari. With all due respect, she may have released a few albums which I never came across but yeah, heard her singing in some shows all these years, but by NO means she can be taken as a singing icon of Pakistan.

As all other Idol shows are followed globally, I am sure Pakistan Idol would make it there too, so the panel of judges should’ve been selected with utmost attention. I feel the only judge who seems to impress till now is Hadiqa Kiyani because she did give her YESES to those contestants who deserved but seems like Bushra Ansari had to say NO to every single person. I think she is being a bit too overly judgemental at the things which didn’t even come across as technicalities that she was pinpointing. Yes, Bushra Ansari even blessed us viewers by singing a few lines in order to correct a contestant but to add to her woes, her voice couldn’t even come through to us even with a help of mic. Making me feel more at how an inappropriate choice she was for that judging seat.

Mohib Mirza seems to be hosting a show, he was doing a fine job too but at times it looked like he was passing a few personal comments on the random people from the crowd. I think a host should be the most neutral person out there who shouldn’t  judge at all.

I think it could’ve been a far more better show if a bit more experienced singers judged it. It wasn’t necessary to pick all the Karachi based singers for selection of Pakistan Idol. I am wondering where did Rahet Fateh Ali Khan go when the very first Pakistan Idol was being planned because he has also judged a few shows in India so why wasn’t he approached or why didn’t he become a part of Pakistan Idol? Shafqat Amanat Ali was another person who would’ve looked perfect in that spot for judging. But nevertheless, I am definitely going to follow the show hoping when the actual selected lot hits to our screens, it becomes a better first attempt of Pakistanis under this title.

Have you say.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Pakistan has a flourishing showbiz industry. A whole lot of immense talent is present in our industry. Best actors, actresses, models, directors and producers combine their expertise and create masterpieces. All these masterpieces need to be covered and shown to the public. Not only these masterpieces but also the work of the designers, make up artists and also the jewellery designers are also covered in magazines. Pakistan is a country that has a wide range of celebrity and fashion magazines. In this article I will be highlighting the leading magazines of Pakistan.

Hello Pakistan is one of the leading magazines of Pakistan. This magazine brings together the best of Pakistan’s culture, glamour and fashion. The publisher of the magazine is Zahra Saifullah. Hello magazine had its versions in other countries previously; Zahra Saifullah grew up watching her mother read Hello from around the world. Since then she started to work hard to bring a local version of Hello in Pakistan. The purpose of Hello Pakistan is not to create or define Pakistan according to their terms but to celebrate the country. Zahra Saifullah said in a press conference that we are Pakistani and want to celebrate that fact and not undermine it in anyways. Hello Pakistan focuses on both renowned and little known celebrities. Approximately 20000 copies are sold every month.

Good Times Magazine is the biggest rival of Hello Pakistan Magazine and also a leading magazine of Pakistan. It is a fortnightly launched magazine. This magazine covers lifestyle, fashion, food and culture. The aim of Good Times Magazine is to be committed to advancing and reclaiming spaces of cultural and artistic activity in Pakistan. The publisher of this magazine is Mira Sethi. She along with her team including; Misbah Momin, Mehek Raza, Saba Ahmed and many more create masterpieces. Mira Sethi is a highly talented woman. She is an Oxford graduate and this is the reason why she comes up with new and innovative stuff in every other issue.

Moving over to another magazine named SHE Magazine, this is also one of the leading magazines of Pakistan. This magazine also focuses on the latest trends going around in Pakistan. It also lets people know some useful tips for their daily lives and also their horoscopes. The best thing about this magazine is that every individual in the team of SHE magazine works really hard to make their efforts worthwhile. This is what makes this magazine prominent in the list of popular and leading magazines of Pakistan.

Libas is also a very popular and leading magazine of Pakistan. This is a quarterly launched magazine. It is based on the lifestyle of the people of Pakistan. The glossy edition of Pakistan is ranked as the largest circulating magazine of Pakistan. IT shows the latest fashions may it be prêt, semi formal or bridal wear. They work with an aim to produce high quality content and maintain their status. This magazine is headed by a leading fashion designer named Sehyr Saigol. She is well known for her clean tailoring lines, details and embroidery. She is a strong minded and a confident woman and this is why she reflects all these qualities in her work on the magazine.

Brides and You is also another leading magazine of Pakistan. This magazine shows the efforts of the designers and make up artists that work together and create beautiful brides. This magazine is a quarterly launched fashion magazine. This magazine was launched from Lahore in 2001. This magazine is the largest print run in Pakistan. This magazine is distributed in Pakistan, India, Gulf, North America and Europe. It has thousands of readers all around the world. Every issue of the magazine shows latest trends in bridal couture and jewellery. It also carries advice, ideas and tips for wedding households. The purpose of this magazine is to serve as a guide by talking about and advising on issues relating to women, psychosexual problems, legal advices and other social topics. This attracts many readers.

Magazines have always been a best time pass. Whenever you are in a place and have nothing to do the first thing that comes in your mind is to read a magazine. At that specific moment, these above mentioned magazines are something that is more than perfect. They not only act as a time pass but they also provide a lot of information at the same time. They do not let you get bored or anything so one should always have one of these magazines and see what wonderful work is being done in Pakistan.

Written by: Moomal Hassan.

Mahesh Bhatt has been an avid promoter of Indo-Pak relations since many years, and now Bollywood super-star Shahrukh Khan has also expressed his desire to visit Pakistan. Shahrukh has his roots from Pakistan as his father and his family hails from Peshawar. Shahrukh Khan is keen to take his three children to visit his family’s hometown, and wishes that the relation between Pakistan and India improves soon.

He expressed his desire to visit Pakistan when Pakistan’s former foreign minister Hinna Rabbani invited him to Pakistan to an event. He spoke a lot of good things about Peshawar which he had visited once in his teens with his father. He stated:

“My family is from Peshawar and few of them still live there. I would love to come to Peshawar and bring my children over because my father took me when I was 15 or 16. I still have some of the greatest memories of the time I spent with my father in Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore. I want to take my kids there”

Shahrukh Khan was born and raised in Delhi but his father, Taj Mohammad Khan came from Peshawar and was a freedom fighter. Shahrukh wants to bring his three kids, Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam to Pakistan to make them familiar with their roots.

“I hope with whatever issues and stresses we have… I hope we become friends, we become friendlier, we become like a family and one together.” said Shahrukh Khan.

He is a promoter of good relations between Pakistan and India and hopes that both the countries keep their culture differences aside and join hands. He further added:

“When I travel abroad, I notice it [cultural differences] even more, because sitting in your nation you can’t make out. But when I go to London, Dubai or US, you don’t even get to know who is from where – there’s no cultural difference. I think people should forget and continue to be what we used to be”

Another keen promoter of Indo-Pak relations is the popular Bollywood Director Mahesh Bhatt who has also made it a point to promote the talent in Pakistan by giving them a chance in Bollywood. Imran Abbas Naqvi, Sara Loren and Meera all have debuted in Bollywood through his movies along with many other singers.

Recently, he announced that he is going to produce a theatre play with actors from both India and Pakistan. The theatre play is named ‘Milne Do’. According to reports, ‘it will be an intense love story between two individuals from across the borders, and aims at promoting peace.’

Indian Actor Imran Zahid will be playing the male lead along with a female lead from Pakistan. The actors will perform live in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

Sharing his feelings regarding the promotion of peace between the two countries, Bhatt said, “I have always maintained that a movie or a play can be a greater vehicle of peace than all the lectures we give. Any message, if communicated through storytelling, touches a chord. This play will be an emotional transaction between industries on both sides.”

It is good to know that famous Bollywood personalities are keen to develop good relations with Pakistan!

Mariam Shafiq

The Pakistan Media Awards is a first-of-its-kind effort to promote media industry of Pakistan globally, thus reaching out to millions of its fans. This year it will celebrate its 4^th year of recognizing talent in the Pakistani Industry.

The main objective of this award is to appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of Pakistani artists for their outstanding performances to promote Pakistani Drama across the globe through TV. Apart from this, it is our endeavor to revive our film and theater industry through this platform. The 4^th Pakistan Media Awards will be held on 28^th December, 2013.

Here are the nominations for the Pakistan Media Awards 2013:

Radio Category

Best RJ Male:

Khalid Mehmood (City FM 89)

Dr. Faisal Mamsa (Radio FM 91)

Liaquat Ali Sheikh (FM 93)

Yasir Anwar (FM 96)

Faisal Ali Khan

Agha Faizan (FM 101)

Yasir Qazi (Hot FM 105)

Shahid Khuwaja (FM 107)

Adeel Azhar (FM 107.4)

Best RJ Female:

Muneezah Sanai (City FM 89)

Beenish Khan (FM 91)

Nadira Mushtaq (FM 96)

Cressella D’Cruze

Uzma Balouch (FM 101)

Syeda Mariyem Rizvi (FM 105)

Nadia Naqi (FM 107)

Sulmeen Ansari (FM 107.4)

Television (Satellite)

Best Newscaster Male

Fareed Raees (Dawn News)

Ali Hyder (Express News)

Waqas Rafiq (Capital TV)

Shehzad Hassan (Samaa TV)

Ashfaq Ishaq (Aaj News)

Ehtisham Khalid (CBNC News)

Mohammad Junaid (GEO News)

Waseem Abbasi (ATV)

Best Newscaster (Female)

Seemi Haider (Dawn News)

Mehreen Sibtain (Express News)

Uzma Ejaz Khan (CNBC Pakistan)

Asma Iqbal (Samaa TV)

Ayesha Buksh (GEO News)

Ayesha Kanwal (ATV)

Kiran Rizvi (Aaj News)

Zara Ansari (Capital TV)

Sana Hashmi (News One)

Best Current Affair Program

Asma Choudhary (Mumkin Capital TV)

Asma Shirazi (Faisla Awam Ka Dawn News)

Hamid Mir (Capital Talk Geo News)

Mujahid Barelvi (Live with Mujahid, CNBC Pakistan)

Nusrat Javaid, Mustaq Muneer (Bolta Pakistan, Aaj TV)

Kashif Munir (Breaking News, ATV)

Rana Mubashir (News One)

Shahzeb Khanzada (To The Point, Express News)

Morning Shows

Maya Khan (Express TV)

Saira Kabeer (Dawn News)

Fahad Mustafa (Hum TV)

Ayesha Khalid (CNBC)

Shahista Lodhi (GEO TV)

Faisal Qureshi (TV One)

Nusrat Haris (Aaj TV)

Sanam Baloch (Samaa TV)

Best Fashion Designer

Adnan Pardesy

Emraan Rajput

Zaheer Abbas

Erum Khan

Zainab Chottani

Tabassum Mughal

Best Fashion Photographer

Guddu Shani

Fayyaz Ahmed

Rizwan-ul-Haq

Ayaz Anis

Best Makeup Artist

Angie Marshall

Sobia Mustafa

Saba Ansari

Mussarat Misbah

Best Model (Male)

Abbas Jaffri

Attar Amin

Jahan-e-Khalid

Rizwan Ali Jafri

Shehzaad Noor

Omar Shehzaad

Best Model (Female)

Amna Ilyas

Ayyan Ali

Cybil Choudhry

Nooray Bhatti

Mehreen Syed

Saima Azhar

Best Singer (Male)

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Atif Aslam

Ali Zafar

Ali Azmat

Shafqat Amanat Ali

Best Singer (Female)

Zoe Viccaji

Fariha Farvez

Hadiqa Kiyani

Qurat-ul-Ain Baloch

Best Sitcom

Ishq Maray

Halka No Lo

Hooney Moon

Bhatti & Co

Kis Din Mera Vyah Howega

Best Telefilm

Ghoongat (Aplus)

Behaad (Hum TV)

Pehli Jumeraat (Express TV)

Saray Zamin Per (TV One)

Batameez Dil (Geo TV)

Best Drama

Talkhiyaan (Express TV)

Tammana (TV One)

Zindagi Gulzar Hai (Hum TV)

Aunn Zara (Aplus)

Adhoori Aurat (Geo TV)

Meri Saheli Meri Hamjoli (Urdu1)

Best Drama (OST)

Ranj-e-Aashnai (Sahir Ali Bagga and Fareha Parvez)

Zindagi Gulzar Hai (Ali Zafar)

Minahil Aur Khalil (Mohammad Ali)

Ideals (Ifti)

Aasmanon Pay Likha (Sohail Haider)

Best Drama Writer

Samra Bukhari (Gohar –e-Nayab)

Seema Ghazal (Mein Chup Rahoongi)

Umera Ahmed (Zindagi Gulza Hai)

Bee Gul (Talkhiyaan)

Faiza Iftikhar (Aik Nayee Cinderella)

Nadia Akhtar (Meri Saheli Meri Hamjoli)

Best Drama Director

Haissam Hussain (Aunn Zara)

Mohsin Talat (Tamana)

Sultana Siddiqui (Zindagi Gulzar Hai)

Mohsin Talat (Pehli Jumeraat)

Haissam Hussain (Aik Nayee Cinderella)

Bachal Kathore (Meri Saheli Meri Hamjoli)

Best Supporting Actor (Male)

Shamoon Abbasi (Ghayal)

Munawar Saeed (Tamanna)

Mohib Mirza (Shehr-e-Zaat)

Jibran Syed (Emaan)

Javaid Sheikh (Nanhi)

Best Supporting Actor (Female)

Sabreen Hisbani (Aunn Zara)

Sara Umair (Tamanna)

Samina Peerzada (Zindagi Gulzar Hai)

Shamim Hilali (Talkhiyaan)

Sawera Nadeem (Teri Berukhi)

Best Drama Actor (Male)

Fawad Afzal Khan (Zindagi Gulzar Hai)

Adnan Siddiqui (Tamanna)

Ahsan Khan (Emaan)

Osman Khalid Butt (Aunn Zara)

Faisal Qureshi (Adhoori Aurat)

Best Drama Actor (Female)

Mahira Khan (Shehr-e-Zaat)

Sanam Saeed (Talkhiyaan)

Myra Khan (Tamanna)

Sajjal Ali (Gohar-e-Nayab)

Sajjal Ali (Nanhi)

Television (Terrestrial)

Best Drama

Mar Jayein Hum To Kiya (ATV)

Anokha Ladla (PTV)

Best Morning Show

Morning with Farah (ATV)

Morning with Juggan (PTV)

Film Category

Best Film

Josh

Lamha

Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Zinda Bhaag

Best Film Actor

Humayun Saeed (Main Hoom Shahid Afridi)

Mohib Mirza (Josh)

Mohib Mirza (Lamha)

Khurram Patras (Zinda Bhaag)

Best Film Actress

Mahnoor Baloch (Main Hoon Shahid Afridi)

Amna Sheikh (Lamha)

Amna Sheikh (Josh)

Amna Ilyas (Zinda Bhaag)

Best Film Director

Syed Ali Raza (Main Hoon Shahid Afridi)

Erum Parveen Bilal (Josh)

Mansoor Mujahid (Lamha)

Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi (Zinda Bhaag)

Theatre Category

Best Theatre Plays

Pawnay 14^th August (Dawar Mehmood)

Cinderjutt (Javed Ahmed Sayeedi)

Lovengers (Shehzad Qureshi/Usama Qazi)

Avanti (Javed Ahmed Sayeedi)

Angan Terha (Dawar Mehmood)

The overall nominations are justified as they have given importance to shows from all channels. Underrated shows like Talkiyaan, Tamanna, Gohar-e-Nayab and Meri Saheli Meri Hamjoli are given recognition. There are, however, a few surprising things here and there too. It is surprising to see Waar not nominated this year since it is the highest grossing Pakistani movie ever. Also, in the theatre category the biggest play of the year, Dhaani (Featuring Sanam Saeed and Sarwat Gillani) is not nominated. In the best actress category, Sanam Saeed is nominated for Talkhiyaan and not Zindagi Gulzar Hai, very surprising indeed! They have also included the OST of Asmanon Pay Likha which is turning out to be the biggest show of 2013. In the makeup artist category, they have not nominated the most popular makeup artists; Natasha and Sabrina from Natasha Salon. It is also shocking to see Nida Yasir’s not been nominated for her morning show.

The public poll is still open. Everyone can vote for their favorite artists here:

http://mustafamalik.com/wordpress/public-poll/

Mariam Shafiq

 Nowadays Pakistani commercials on TV have increased so much that a one hour show has approximately a half hour commercials. People watch commercials as a time pass and that is why they are very concerned about them as well. In this article I will be focusing on the quality of the content on which most of the advertisements are based. In most Pakistani ads women are shown as deprived and complexed. I am again highlighting the point that I am focusing on most of the ads not all of them. The focus of my article will be on the advertisements showing women’s role in the society.

In most of the ads, women are shown as suppressed and tired. They are shown doing the household chores and working around the house like a machine. Most of the ads focus on making the women more beautiful. The anti aging creams, hair dyes, shampoos, soaps and fairness creams. Is this what a Pakistani woman is all about? The ads show the women worrying all the time about their family’s health. Is this really a true reflection? Pakistani women are careful about their families and they are also conscious about their beauty but this is not all. They are much more than this.

 A woman of Pakistan is confident, bold and empowered. They are excelling in almost every other field. May it be banking, medicine, media, international relations or military, the women of Pakistan have proven themselves everywhere. Apart from this the concept of a joint family is also fading in Pakistan day by day. People are starting to make their families nuclear. Women are as independent as men. But as far as our ads are concerned, they do not focus on the successful women in our country. All they focus on is the beauty tips that our women need. They aim to make every women in Pakistan like Katrina Kaif which is definitely not possible because the women of Pakistan are much much more better than that. Only in some hand wash ads, women are shown as Doctors otherwise in each ad either the woman is a wife or a model. There is no ad that focuses on a woman in a corporate environment except some rare commercials of ufone.

Most cooking oils, soaps and washing powders show the negative attitude of mother in laws towards the women. This is actually what is being portrayed about our women. They are portrayed as weak, and helpless people who work day and night to give love and care to the family. Yes, women of Pakistan do strive very hard to keep everyone happy but we are a lot more than this. We know how to juggle up out responsibilities. We can even continue studies, work at an office and do the house chores simultaneously. There are many young girls in Pakistan who are students but they still take out time for online jobs or internships in companies and the house chores. I am myself a student and I also work online. Why is this not shown in the TV ads? Why women are always seemed to be kept in the four walls?

There are some ads that need to be appreciated. Those which show a positive image of the women of Pakistan, Aquafina shows Mahira Khan studying for her exams and her mother comes to give her some blessings. Apart from this Nesvita ads are also in the favor of women. Moreover we had an ad of Mobilink which had a Pakistani athlete Naseem Ahmad in it. Tapal tea has also shown good ads like the one in which the daughter convinces her father to let her work in a company. My point is that advertisements should be meaningful. They should not only portray a positive image but they should also be motivating for others.

Advertisers should stop this male chauvinism and come up with new, fresh and innovative ideas. These ideas should not only promote our culture but also our thinking. We should break this stereotype that in Pakistan all the women are Gharailu type. We are multi-talented. This is what we need to show. We can do every possible thing and we do not lack at any point. Advertising agencies should hire new and fresh minded creative directors. These directors should stop focusing on the beauty of the girls and their personal stuff like hair removing creams etc.. instead they should think about the talent those girls possess. Only in this way they can show the truth and produce advertisements showing women’s role in the society based on the reality.

Moomal Hassan

Lately adaptations of novels as drama or film have become a popular trend. Viewers do appreciate these adaptations but unfortunately it doesn’t go very well with the readers who most of the times find the adaptations unsatisfactory. Adapting a novel into drama isn’t new in Pakistani Drama Industry, super hit dramas like Khuda ki Basti, Bhandan and Aag were adaptations.

Most of the recent adaptations have been mediocre or complete disasters; there have been some good adaptations as well. Dastaan, Darbar e Dil, Man o Salwa, Doraha, Talkhiyaan, Humsafar, Aunn Zara and Meri Zaat Zara e Benishan are examples of rather good adaptations. Sadly wonderful novels like Ambar Bail and Jo Chalay to Jaan se Guzar gai turned out to be disasters, especially the former which have been dramatized twice failed to impress the audience both times. All of the adaptations might not be up to the mark or super hits like the novels but these adaptations have increased the quality of dramas as compared to the dramas of few years ago. It is up to the writers; be novelists or original playwrights to bring new and engaging topics on the front.

These adaptations at times offer nothing new; they seem mere repetitions of timeworn predictable stories and plots (novels published in digests are somehow predictable or formula novels, at least majority of them). One of the main factors rooting disinterestedness in adapted dramas can be having already read those novels (being an avid reader I’m never satisfied with the adaptations). But this is not always the case, sometimes the scenes turn out more engaging in dramas than in novels. Another factor for mediocre dramas is unrequired omissions and additions. The dramas are needlessly stretched; viewers resultantly lose interest resultantly. Inappropriate choice of actors can also result in a disaster drama as happened in Amar Bail.

Despite all objections and reservations I desperately look forward to adapted dramas. The only adaptions (which I have watched) I found better than the novels were A Walk to Remember and Stardust. Do share your opinion, your choice; what do you prefer, the novels or adaptations. For me it is always novels.

Faiza Cheema

This year we have seen many youngsters making their way in the Pakistani Drama Industry. One of such talented actress is “SOHAI ALI ABRO”. The multi-talented actress has been able to successfully prove herself in different roles in Pakistani Dramas. She is not just an actress but a model and a dancer as well. 1994 Born young actress has played as lead character in many popular dramas.

Sohai made her film debut with a supporting role in the 2013 romantic drama Yasir Nawaz’s Anjuman, a critical and commercial success. Her performance won wide critical acclaim, earning a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category at Tarang Housefull Awards. Sohai started her career as a Model. She has appeared in many commercials such as Shan Pickle, Coca Cola, Mobilink and Pepsi.

Sohai made her acting debut with Geo TV serial Saat Pardon Mein opposite Mikaal Zulfiqar and Alyy Khan. Later she performed dance on ARY Digital’s reality show, Naach. She also did a Telefilm Rangraiz Meray aired on Hum TV. She then appeared in serial Tanhai opposite Goher Mumtaz, Ayesha Omar, Azfar Rehman, Saba Hameed and Arisha Razi airing on Hum TV and Kyun Hai Tu opposite Mikaal Zulfiqar and Neelam Muneer aired on Geo Kahani. She is currently seen in Hum TV serial Khoya Khoya Chand opposite Ahsan Khan, Maya Ali and Rishte Kuch Adhore se opposite Yumna Zaidi and Mehmood Aslam.

Sohai Ali Abro has been widely acknowledged by people for her acting in her drama Saat Pardon Main

Just recently when she was interviewed and asked about her the kinds of role she is interested to work in, she said:

“I had been getting very decent offers of acting since the past two years. The only reason I didn’t do such dramas was that I wanted an interesting story along with a good role“

A young actor with so clear motives, she will definitely go a long way. She is very clear about the roles which she chooses. She knows where to work, where not to work, with whom to work & with whom not to work. These intelligent traits of her personality will help her out in getting better roles.

She is beautiful yet intelligent. She is poised yet careful. She is brilliant yet bubbly. And there are many other attributes of her personality which are admired by her followers/viewers. A poll was carried out on social media forum and it also highlighted that Sohai is one of the most successful faces of Pakistan drama industry.

It is not out-of-place to mention here that her latest fashion photoshoot got extremely popular. As a model, she has achieved great appreciation as well. Some critics said that she is not tall enough unlike veteran models to get herself fit in the fashion industry as a model but at the same time, her appreciators also say that she give enticing face expressions which trait overshadows her weaknesses. This is something very positive for her. She can flourish in both acting as well as in the modeling industry. But who will be the ultimate decider ? Lets keep that on the time ahead.

Also side by side, she is currently working on polishing her acting skills.Since she was a professional dancer in the earlier years of her professional career in the Pakistani Media Industry therefore she had to struggle on her acting skills when she entered the drama industry. Whether she played the role of a mother in “Tanhaye” or a young serious lady in her recent drama “Rishty Adhory se”, she did exceptionally well in both of them as per the demands of the director. Even her critics have now become her appreciators.

All of us wish her a very best of luck and hope that things turn out spectacular for her in the coming future.

Don’t forget to comment below, how did you find Sohai Ali Abro with her acting. If you have any suggestions for her you may drop in the comment box that as well

S. Rasool

Pakistan is a country which is full of talent. Every other drama serial has new faces in it. These new faces are not only attractive but they are also really very talented. The actresses in the showbiz industry of Pakistan are very beautiful and talented. This article focuses on the leading actresses of Pakistan. These actresses are leading the showbiz industry not just because of their beauty but also because of their talent. This list is based on the popularity of these actresses.

The most popular among the leading actresses of Pakistan is Mahnoor Baloch. She is a legendary actress, her evergreen beauty and fitness has made her a role model for others. She is very elegant and beautiful. The most amazing thing about her is that she is still listed with the young people of the industry even at an age much elder than them. She is a very versatile actress. She has not only acted in dramas and films but she has also worked in TV commercials and music videos. She started her career at the age of 20 with a drama serial Marvi. She is happily married and is blessed with a daughter. Apart from her successful career, she also has a happy family. This is what matters the most. Our showbiz industry is proud to have Mahnoor Baloch as a part of it.

The second among this list of leading actresses of Pakistan is Ayesha Omer. You must be seeing her in your favorite comedy play, Bulbulay. Apart from acting, she is a dress designer and also a singer. Having all these talents, she is highly popular among the audience. She is a young, bright and confident actress of our showbiz industry. She started her career as a model, and then she hosted morning shows, acted in TV commercials and ended up as a great singer. She has launched two music albums, won several awards, worked in hit drama serials and is also planning to work in films. Our industry really needs an all rounder like Ayesha Omar.

Moving on to the third leading actress of Pakistan, Sanam Baloch is an outstanding actress. She is a very simple and down to earth sort of a girl. Her career started from a Sindhi TV channel and she later did many dramas, commercials, morning shows and other activities. She has recently tied a knot with Abdullah Farhatullah. The innocence and cuteness of Sanam Baloch is a plus point for her career in the showbiz industry of Pakistan. Her dramas named Dastaan, Chemistry, Kankar and many others have been big hits. Sanam Baloch and her sister Sabreen both are wonderful actresses. They match every role in different dramas.

Saba Qamar is ranked as fourth among the leading actresses of Pakistan. She is very confident and bold. Her beauty and attractiveness has made her popular among the audience. She is tall and extremely talented. She has provided the Pakistani showbiz industry with so many masterpieces of talent. She has worked in commercials, TV shows, and drama serials and also in films. Kash Aisa Ho, Maat, Yahan Pyar Nai Hai and many other dramas have been huge hits because of her versatile acting. She has also been hosting the very famous comedy show named Hum Sab Umeed Se Hain. Apart from this she has been seen in many commercials such as, Fresh up and many more.

At the fifth rank is Mahira Khan. She is famous worldwide. Mahira Khan started off her career as a model, then she became a very famous VJ and after that her acting career started. She starred opposite Fawad Khan in the record breaking television show named Humsafar. Apart from Humsafar, another drama named Shehr e zaat was also a record breaking hit as well. She is a true asset of Pakistan. Her confidence and the way she carries herself has mesmerized million of audience. Apart from her successful career, she is also a wife.

Next up is Mehwish Hayat. She started her career as an actor and in a very less time she gained a lot of fame. She has also been listed among the top 10 attractive faces of Asia. This has made Pakistan very proud. Her smile has been said to be an attraction for the audience. Her famous dramas are Kabhi Kabhi, Mohalley ki larkiyan, Mirat ul uroos, Mere qatil mere dildaar and many more.
Apart from all these talented actresses, we have a huge bunch of talent left to be mentioned. Mawra Hussain, Urwa tul wusqua, Aiza Khan, Syra Yusuf, Sajal Ali, Moomal Shaikh and many many more. All these extremely gifted people work their hearts out to entertain us and it is our duty to appreciate them. Our appreciation matters a lot to them.

Moomal Hassan.

Pakistani media has been blessed with many talented family who have served in the fields of literary and performing arts. Families of Saba Hameed, Javed sheikh, Yasir Nawaz and many others are those whose second generation is also immersed in showbiz. But above all a family which can never be forgotten and is perhaps one of the most multi-talented families is of Anwar Maqsood.

Fatima Suraiyya Bajia

Usually known as Bajia she is the eldest sister of this exceptional family. She is among the pioneers of Pakistan Television and has produced many memorable dramas. Bajia was been bestowed with many awards like Pride of Performance, Hilal e Imtiaz and many others.

Anwar Maqsood

Anwar Maqsood is a true asset of Pakistani industry. Phenomenally multitalented Anwar Maqsood is not only a writer, poet, lyricist but also painter and satirist; a true master of humor and puns. His genius combined with Moeen Akhtar’s talents and the duo produced works like “Fifty Fifty”, “Loose Talk” and “Studio series” are unrivaled by the whole industry. Anwar Maqsood wrote theatrical plays such as “Sawa 14 August” which was performed in August earlier this year. Anwar Maqsood has a library of his own, his brother Ahmed Maqsood (late) had a collection of 10,000 books.

Zahra Nigah

Zehra Nigah the famou Urdu poetess is Anwar Maqsood’s sister. She like her other siblings started writing at a very young age and earned a place in the era when women rarely came on the front in the then conservative and male dominated Pakistani society. She along with Bajia and Anwar Masqood was also award Pride of Performance. She also wrote Strings’ famous song “Dhani”.

Sughra Kazmi

Generally known as Mrs. Kazmi, Sughra Kazmi is another sister of the Maqsood family and is the pioneer of the “Kazmi” label famous for bridal wear. She started working out of necessity (unlike rest of her siblings) with ragged dolls garbed as brides but later on the demand of customers actually started designing bridal wear. “Bajia, Zubeda and I received these awards but I feel they should have gone to Sara Naqvi and Sughra Kazmi…both of them started their careers from scratch and worked very hard to establish themselves” commented Anwar Maqsood.

Zabaida Tariq

Cooking expert Zubaida Tariq started her career quite late as compared to her siblings who rose to the heights of fame in very early stages of their lives. She is not only famous for her cooking but for her home remedies as well.

Sara Naqvi

Late Sara Naqvi was also Anwar Maqsood’s sister and Bunto Kamzi’s mother. Sara Naqvi was associated with BBC. She was not only a journalist but a scientist as well and assisted the famous scientist Abdus Salam for some time.

Bunto Kazmi

Bunto Kamzi well acclaimed designer is Sara Naqvi’s daughter and Sughra Kamzi’s daughter in law later joined hands with her mother in law and took her bridal label to new peaks of recognition.

Bilal Maqsood

The guitarist and occasional vocalist of “Strings” is son of Anwar Maqsood. Though Anwar Masood usually pens downs the lyrics of their song but Bilal Maqsood also sometimes writes the songs e.g. “Me to dekhon ga”. The music produced by strings. The best thing about Strings’ is that unlike their contemporaries they not only focus on the music but equally on the lyrics as well. Strings has given us melodious hit like Dur, Mera Bichra Yar, Me to Dekhon ga, Zinda, Dhani, Kahani MOhabat ki hai Mukhtasir etc.

Mikael Maqsood

Mikaek Mazqood is Anwar Maqsood’s grandson and Bilal Maqsood’s son. Following the footsteps of his grandfather he is following his innate urges to paint and sketch like rest of his family at a very early age.

Do share your views, your liking and disliking.

Faiza Cheema

Sanjay Leela Bhansali enhances the beauty of his actresses by choosing for them the most beautiful traditional clothes. This not only adds to the beauty of the actresses but also to the beauty of the characters in his films. From “Hum Dil Dey Chukay Sanam” to “Ram-leela” we have seen his interest in being very particular about the dressing of his film’s characters. In “Hum Dil Dey Chukay Sanam” you must have noticed the beautiful “Shararas” & “Ghagra-cholies” of Aishwariya Rai. And he carried on the same trend in “Devdas” and now in “Ram – Leela” as well.

Though this was the first time when Sanjay was working with Deepika but he already had in his mind the picture of his film’s character. He knew that there was not a single actress that can play this role as perfectly as deepika can. He is a great-appreciator of Deepika’s beauty and her way of carrying clothes. Aishwariya Rai also shared with her this attribute.

Here is a glimpse from his latest film:

Dressed by Anju Modi in this film, Deepika’s embroidered and zari-embellished lehenga-choli outfits show off her slim waist, that delicious curve of her back and, when she spins around doing her garba moves, her long legs. All the heroine’s exquisite costumes in the film have been designed by Anju Modi, who has been a part of the Indian fashion industry for many years now. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s new movie is Anju’s first Bollywood project and she has managed to make the very photogenic Deepika look exquisite on-screen.

When Anju was asked what briefing Sanjay gave her to design costumes for her film’s lady, she said:

“First, we all know about Sanjay’s passion for costumes and the kind of detailing he does in them. I was naturally quite excited about the whole thing. He is a man of his word and doesn’t really restrain or strain himself too much. He said this is the theme, use your creativity, and go over the top if you want, but don’t restrain yourself. He gave me the script, which was the brief initially”

The film is set against the backdrop of Kutch. This flavour is kept intact and yet given a contemporary touch to the outfits by Anju. The dresses are designed according to the colors and creations of the film. The designer says:

“It was very categorically designed, well conceived, and the script was ready. So we knew that after scene one, scene two is coming and then scene three, four and so on. So when the garments were getting ready, we would place them on a hand rack and give them to Deepika. There’s a scene where she’ll be playing Holi, so we thought, let’s not do a typical white outfit. Why not give her a red on red with tinges of white and not all white? We wanted to be different from what has been done till now. Then scene-wise we were discussing things and realised that we hadn’t used ochre yellow yet, which is very much Deepika’s colour, so we designed a yellow outfit. We were carrying on scene by scene.”

For all those who love to dress traditional, let me tell you ladies that there was an Indian trendy costume designed for Deepika which weighted 30kgs and had a ghera of 50 meters designed by the talented Anju itself and it took 1 months to get done with it. On this anju said:

“Everything took ten days, 20 days, 30 days. The minute one costume was done, the second was started. This particular costume weighs so much because of the flare. First, Deepika is tall. Second, the outfit is longer than her height because it’s falling on the guns. The ghera itself is cotton gauze mulmul with a silk border and silver work printing. All these things add to the weight. Since we’re giving so much flare, automatically the weight increases”

This was all for those who are very curious about Deepika’s beautiful looks in her very latest film Ram-Leela. So now you all know how Anju’s spectacular designs added value to the leela of SLB.

Don’t forget to comment underneath on how beautiful Leela (Deepika) appeared to you.

Cheers!

S. Rasool

There has been an ongoing discussion on this forum about who is underrated and who is overrated. Why is it that so many of the actors who are very talented are not given as much appreciation as they should be getting? Why is it that Fawad Khan’s plays manage to grab the attention of the viewers even if they are mediocre but a talented actor like Faisal Qureshi who has been in the industry for much more time does not get that much attention. Sure, he has a vey good standing in the industry but viewers do not wait for his plays or follow him like they follow Fawad Khan. Also, the producers and channels do not promote Faisal Qureshi or other talented actors the way they promote Fawad Khan.

Similarly, a versatile actress like Sanam Baloch does not get the kind of attention that a newcomer like Mahira Khan or even Sanam Jung gets. Sanam Baloch is good looking no doubt but she is not stylish like Mahira Khan or Sanam Jung. Which makes me think that do looks count more than talent? Most people are very visual by nature, a face that appeals to them is more likely to get their attention even if the actor is not very talented. Our producers make the most of this weakness and try to groom boys and girl with good looks to work in the dramas.

Most recent example is that of Kanza Wyne in the drama serial Numm. She has a very pretty face but she cannot act to save her life. Mostly people can easily see through the good looks and tell that she requires a lot practice before she can pass as a good actress. On the other hand, the newcomer Sanam Jung was an instant hit with the viewers because she is not just a pretty face. Same was the case with Arij Fatima as well, the audience accepted her immediately. Her acting has always been praised.

There is no doubt that people like to see actors and actresses on screen who are good looking but the fact is that good looks without talent do not leave a very lasting impression on the viewers. Good looks may count a lot as far as modeling is concerned but when it comes to dramas, people look for talent. Artists who are blessed with good looks, style and talent clean sweep the ones who many not have the whole package. Good looks are an extra advantage but good looks without talent will not take an actor far.

Viewers also get more attracted to actors and actresses who are glamorous and have the X factor. It also depends on how hard an actor works to promote his image.

What is your opinion? Are some of our talented actors and actresses underrated because they are not stylish or glamorous enough? or is it because the channels and production houses do not promote them as much as they promote others?

Share your views.

Ayesha Ahmed

 How many of us believe on the first impression? In my opinion almost all of us do so. A first impression is something that defines a whole new concept of a person’s personality. There is a saying that one should never judge a book by its cover but no one actually believes on this saying. This is the reason why people nowadays like to be trendy and fashionable. In this article I will focus on the ways a person can choose for being fashionable and trendy along with comfort. Fashion is marketed in such a way that one is compelled to ‘attain a certain look’. Many women have negative self-images if they don’t look or dress up to the ideals of the high fashion world…this could be due to weight/body type, hairstyles, make-up, jewelry, shoes, handbags, perfumes, wrinkle creams, and so on. Reading fashion magazines and going through different catalogues can help in developing a great dressing sense in people. This is the reason why every shop and almost every outlet has magazines for their customers. These magazines not only create a good dressing sense but they also give an idea of the service the outlet provides to the customers.

 People should also be up to date. They must know what is popular and what is not. This can be done through watching television programs based on fashion and also by going through websites. Being fashionable and trendy is not only based on following the trends but it is also based on the way u carry the trend. Anyone who wears a mini skirt can not look pretty until or unless she doesn’t have the confidence to carry it. If you have the confidence required to carry attire then you will look outstanding even if you are wearing normal pajamas. Red lip color is often said to be perfect for fair complexions but I have myself seen girls with a brown complexion wearing red lip color with so much confidence that it looked astonishing.

 Apart from this every person must know how to dress according to their body type. There are some things that do not suit the people of a specific body type. This is why when the wrong trend is matched with the wrong body type then everything gets completely damaged. It becomes a mess which is not easy to handle. This rule goes for each and every individual out there. Being fashionable also means looking for what suits you the best. For example if a fat legged girl wears skinny jeans, she will look odd. The same goes for other girls as well. Try to buy something that you find comfortable for yourself. If you do not think that scarves or bandanas will suit you then try an alternative. Do not go for them. Comfort comes first. Moreover try to be unique; copying others will not make you fashionable. Being fashionable means to be completely unique and satisfied with what you are wearing.

 While shopping, it is necessary to know your needs. Try to buy something that is good in quality and will last for long. If you buy good quality stuff that lasts for long then that’s better then buying something cheap that wears off the next day. Do not compromise on quality and make a good choice while shopping. Try to buy bags and accessories of neutral colors so that they can get along with all of your dresses. Look up to people who you think are fashionable. Being fashionable is having an idol that is perfect for you. Another trick is that, try to mix and match your own clothes and create something creative out of it. Bringing changes to your everyday get up can also make you look fashionable. Being fashionable also depends on the choice of an individual. It is necessary to dress according to the occasion. One can definitely not wear a summer dress in winters and a coat in summers. This will look hilarious.

Trendily dressed people tend to attract more positive attention. Dressing age appropriately causes people to respect you more. People who are not dressed age appropriately tend to attract scorn and ridicule. The most important part of being fashionable is to be yourself. Being who you are is the essential component. Losing your identity while copying others is a big failure. Those who enjoy fashion consider it a form of art. These were some important ways of being fashionable. Try following them in your daily life and things will change for sure.

Written by: Moomal Hassan.

Playwrights in Pakistan generally follow some preconceived notions and ideologies. They are chained in certain ideologies and whoever tries to break through those ideologies face lots of criticism. Pakistani media has gained independence in the last decade which has given liberties to the writers as well. Prior to that writers weren’t allowed to write openly, to choose certain taboo topics or challenge the stereotypes or ideologies clearly defined by the society and culture. But now the question arises is that since the writers have also gained certain liberties are they using their pen aptly to challenge those notions and stereotypes.

But there is and should be a distinction between taboo topics and vulgarity. It is totally upon the writers how they broach the subject; their ability makes all the difference. Sadly our writers fail to see this and produce dramas like “Zip”, “Qudosi Sahab ki Bewah” and “Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein”. There are some writers who occasionally try to question the stereotypes but discussing them will require a separate article; one of the examples of such characters is Kiran (Kankar) and though some people appreciated her character but mostly it was subjected to criticism.

Despite all the liberties writers are still stuck with old topics and stereotypes. The female characters are either essentially negative or positive; writers rarely present forth balanced characters that can be good with some bad characteristics or vice versa e.g. an extremely evil saas and extremely masoom n mazloom bahu (e.g. Ek Tamana Lahasil si, kabi kabi). Dramas now lack originality, if a drama becomes popular all dramatists start following the story and theme blindly, hence end result is dishonesty; not only with their profession but with the viewers as well. For instance the sister rivalries, prejudiced maulvis (I have hardly seen a balanced maulvi character, they are always prejudiced, lacking in actual knowledge, unfit fathers and husbands) etc. have become the rage in the last few years. Honestly this should end now; the viewers are more than fed up of all these repetitive themes which offer nothing new.

Some writers have produced very unique and unforgettable characters. Faiza Iftikhar is among such writers who have given us dramas like Roag, Bilquees Kaur and Aunn Zara. On one hand she has portrayed gravely serious topics and characters and on the other is a lighthearted, perhaps the most entertaining drama of the season. But her lighthearted dramas like Aunn Zara and Akbari Asghari also had underlying meaning highlighting bitter realities of our society. Again it depends on the way a writer approaches the issue. She might not have challenged the stereotypes with her characters but she certainly have with her style.

Please do share your views; points you agree with or what is lacking in here.

Faiza Cheema