We have known Samina Ahmed since decades. Little did we know about how strong she is. She has been a lot in the past but prevailed and has shown massive strength. What least we can say is she is definitely a role model for women.
Samina Ahmed was married to Fareed Ahmed. Fareed Ahmed was previously engaged to actress Shamim Ara but they broke off before getting married and Fareed married Samina. Later things took a turn when Shamim Ara and Fareed Ahmed again wanted to marry and Shamim asked Fareed to divorce Samina so they could marry. Fareed Ahmed divorced Samina and married Shamim Ara. But just after few days of marriage Shamim Ara called a press coference and said that she wants a divorce because Fareed Ahmed is Impotent. She accused Fareed because he already had 2 children with Samina whom he left behind to marry Shamim. But he couldn’t take the shock and died after few days of the incident. The revenge was taken for the broken off engagement and who was affected in this whole situation without doing any wrong were Samina and her children. May Allah bless her for all she endured and she is definitely a role model for women who face these situations in their lives.
Pakistani showbiz industry has no shortage of talent. In every field of this profession, there are hundreds of people who are able to perform well enough to mesmerise the audience. Recently, there have been an influx of a lot of young people who have become very popular due to their beautiful voice quality and exceptional ability to carry tunes. Some of them are listed here ;
1. Farhan Saeed
He is a fabulous singer and has many brilliant numbers to his credit. Some of the famous ones being halka halka suroor, sajna, pi jaun and many more. His songs have always been much admired but after his popularity increased as he married Urwa Hoccane in a multi event celebration, people have started going back to search his songs and his fan following has increased a lot.
2. Momina Mustehsan
Momina has had a very steep climb to success in a very short period of time. She has been blessed with a beautiful voice and that alongwith her luck has made her one of the most sought after singers of today. This ramzan she was the voice behind the ost of Ittehad Ramzan transmission.
3. Gul Panra
Gul Parna’s innocent face and melodious voice has won her thousands of fans. Her famous Man Amadeh Am, which she sang along with Atif Aslam’s Urdu version in 2015 has been her claim to fame. She has sung for more than twenty pushto films till now.
4. Nabeel Shaukat Ali
After winning Sur Kashetra, Nabeel has never looked back. His journey is always onwards and his fame going upwards. Alongwith three songs for coke studio season 8, Nabeel has also sung ost for Shukk, Dil ka kay rang karun and wo aik pal.
5. Bilal Saeed
Bilal Saeed rose to fame with 12 saal in 2011 and has sung many popular numbers after that. He has also sung for 2016 Pakistani movie, Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai
6. Falak Shabbir
Falak Shabbir gained popularity with Rog which was a solo song but later gave many hits. He is also the voice behind ost of recent drama serial Waada, starring Shaista Lodhi and Faysal Qureshi.
7. Danyal Zafar
He is the younger brother of very talented Ali Zafar and has sung some songs recently with him. He is also very popular on social media due to his fit physique.
8. Ali Sethi
The son of Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin, Ali Sethi rose to fame with umraan langian in coke studio 8. Lately, there is a lot of hype about his latest video song, chan kithan. He has also sung ost for latest drama Teri Raza.
9. Damia Farooq
Releasing her debut album with the name Dania Debut in 2012, Damia has come a long way these five years. She also sang ost for the drama Sun Yara. She is also in the line up for coke studio season 9.
10. Samra Khan
A banker by day and singer by night, Samra Khan’s Hina ki khusbau from coke studio has gotten more than two million hits on YouTube. She is also the voice behind ost of Yeh Raha Dil.
Nabila is an award winning stylist. She knows her game and knows what to do with a face. Makeup and lipsticks are an integral part of a woman’s life. So Nabila gave some tips on a show that how can you make your lipstick stand out. From shades to lining to colour choices she explained all. Watch and get some makeup inspiration and fashion tips from the one who is undoubtedly at the top of her game:
Yasir Nawaz came on Nida’s show to promote his movie and Nida made a wish that he dances with her. Then what a wife’s wish is always a command for husband. So likely Yasir danced on the beat with Nida and he didn’t do really bad. Watch video and see how the couple looked while rocking some dance moves:
Sometimes kids really embarrass their parents. We all have witness these situation when the young ones will tell your clumsy habits in front of every one. However may the child be, he is confident or intelligent or sharp he is still a kid and can make you blush with embarrassment anytime. Something similar happened to Javeria on Nida Yasir’s morning show when her son pointed out about her laughing. Watch video and know what he said:
Saud and Javeria have very cute kids. They are seen in many shows with their parents. They are confident and know what to say most of the times. But that is not it. The kids have also borrowed the acting talent of their parents and even at such young ages they are doing quite good use of it. So both these kids are fans of dubsmash and here is a cute compilation of their talent on camera.
The Richest Poor Man Abdul Sattar Edhi ; yes the father of humanity he is! Edhi Sahab’s education was humanity, his religion was humanity and he served the humanity selflessly. One year is passed since he left this mortal world. But have we forgotten him? Can anyone forget him? No! Because Edhi is not a just a name, Edhi was not just a man; Edhi is an ideology.
Born in 1928 in Indian sub-continent a boy was taught by his mother to give half of what he has to the needy. He never wished anything for himself. He gave society more than was his due share. People called him names, tried to defame him and even called him kaafir. But as the truth is “Wa Tuizzu man tasha Wa tu zillu man tasha” , his honour and respect is of the level that whenever you will be wanting to donate to any charity the first name is always Edhi Foundation. From an elite official to a small child everyone knew that Edhi is genuine, that Edhi will always work for humanity and not for his personal causes. Today marks the death anniversary of the Father Of Humanity Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Edhi foundation is still working with the same zeal under Faisal Edhi today as it worked under Abdul Sattar Edhi Sahab. So stand with Edhi as nation as always stood before with him. Because millions living in Edhi homes, the needy women, the old parents who have no where to go and the children who only know Abdul Sattar and Bilqees as their parents need you.
We at reviewit remember the Father Of Humanity today and wish that all of you will remember him in your duas and will stand for what he stood because as he said: “No religion is higher than humanity.”
When someone enters the showbiz, they are grateful for any roles that are offered to them and easily accept it, regardless of the plot or character role. The goal of the initial, small roles is to showcase your talent on TV screens to attract the eye of a big producer to cast you in a reputable, (most preferably) lead role.
However, once you manage to create a name for yourself in the Entertainment Industry, you can spread all your wings in the open and take as much space as you require meaning you can live comfortably without having to worry about impressing producers for a job. At this stage you have proven yourself enough to have them come to you, not the other way round. This is the place where the veteran actor, Faisal Qureshi, stands today.
Despite all the fame and fortune, it is not advisable for an actor to disclose the roles he regrets doing, unless the role was not popular in public. But, in a recent interview, Faisal informed the 3 dramas he felt he didn’t need to do in his career. Watch the video to find out which dramas they are:
Never ask a man his salary and a woman her age. Vasay Chaudhry totally ignored this and straight up asked the beautiful Ayesha Omar her age!
Faisal Qureshi was also present when this happened and his reaction at the answer the actress gave was priceless. He definitely wasn’t expecting the host to ask the female artist this question, without any warning whatsoever.
Ayesha Omar is among those Pakistani actresses who have crossed their 30s’ and are still single. So do you think she answered the question? If yes, then was it an honest answer? Watch the video to find out:
Celebrities — sometimes they really are just like us! Sometimes they swoon over the same handsome/pretty celebrities that we swoon over. And sometimes, they publicly admit their crushes pretty much like we do to our friends and siblings! Those are the best times, of course!
Faisal Qureshi was recently asked about his celebrity crushes and the veteran actor didn’t hesitate in giving his answer. We quite agree with his answer as did the hosts of the interview and other guests. It is to be noted that Faisal is a happily married man, a great father and that all of this was just for fun, nothing serious.
But, we are sure you are curious about his answer! So watch the video below to find out what Faisal’s answer was:
In the past few years many of our actors and singers have crossed borders to India to showcase their talent in that country and create a fanbase of themselves in India too. Many have returned back to our homeland successful and many disgraced. Mikaal is also one of the many that went to India to act in a film. The cultures in both the countries differ on the basis of religion and hence, things that are acceptable to be shot in an Indian film aren’t in Pakistani.
In a recent interview, Mikaal Zulfiqar explains his reaction and thoughts in detail when he was asked to do an intimate scene with a girl. His story had both the hosts of the show and the guest hooked. Watch the video below to find out what all of this is really about:
I thought I would never say this but there were quite a few developments in this episode which were interesting as well as intriguing. After watching the same scenarios over and over again, it was definitely refreshing watching the story move forward like it should in every other episode (ideally speaking!). There were scenes which were needlessly stretched and the first 5 minutes or so of the drama covered the scenes which had already been shown in the previous episode so basically the episode that went on air live did not start from where it should have started from and I was wondering if they were showing the previous episode all over again! If this was supposed to be the precap then it was painfully long.
This episode however proved that if the story focused throughout on the main leads, their feelings and interactions with each other more than the side characters who are most often annoying then this drama could have been far more interesting. A simple love triangle with few complications here and there, some powerful dialogues, leading actors with good on screen chemistry and an unpredictable storyline is always better than a love triangle which is blown out of proportion for no reason when the leads hardly ever interact with one another! Maheen and Waqar’s feelings were much easier to relate to tonight. Gulrez’s character however does not have the same impact which it had in the first 2 episodes or so which is the main reason why Mehreen’s decision seems all wrong and I think that is the reason why Gulrez’s character is so unappealing. There is an undeniable chemistry between Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan which makes you root for them even when the story and direction is as weak as it is in this play.
The first scene of this episode (online version!!) translated those emotions which have been missing from the previous many episodes in an apt manner. Maheen’s attempts to prove herself, Gulrez’s lack of confidence, Waqar’s decision to lose the match to make Maheen happy and most importantly a more sensitive reaction from Ami begum at that time made this scene a winner. Later on too all those scenes in particular which covered Waqar and Maheen’s state of mind were right on point for a change although the background music at times was extremely inappropriate. Imran Abbas in particular acted brilliantly in this episode. I found myself wishing that the drama could go on like this for the next few weeks as well but then I was reminded of all the thappars and those reactions and situations in the past 8 weeks or so which made very little sense!
Jia’s track had a secret in store as well, although her father’s dialogues and the way they were delivered was not that impactful but it seems like Jia’s mother had an affair with Maheen’s deceased father. It remains to be seen how this recent revelation will effect the story. Maheen’s mother also mentioned her fate and remembered how things did not go as planned multiple times in tonight’s episode. Jia finally forgave her father and now that they will have a ‘normal’ relationship, I am wondering if he will accompany Jia to Maheen’s house at some point and figure out the connection between her and Aurangzeb.
The conversation between Fajr and Waqar after their team lost the match had to be the best conversation in this entire episode. The whole scenario now is quite interesting and there are no unnecessary complications but I doubt that the story will move forward with the same momentum given the history of this play!
How many of you watched this recent episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
Rangreza is an upcoming movie starring Bilal Ashraf and Urwa Hocane in the lead. The movie will be a musical romance where Bilal will play the role of a singer. As it is a musical we surely have high hopes in the music department. So the first song is out and we are definitely impressed. The song is sung by legendary Abida Parveen and the very talented Asrar. The melody of the song will sooth your core surely. Listen and be floored!
Chein Aye Na’s trailer release last month was met with an uproar since it seemed quite cheap and lacking substance. In all fairness though, the movie might be met with a different response. We cannot be sure of anything before hand.
The audio album has also been released and while some songs are okay, some unimpressive, on the whole the album fails to make a mark.
There is a remix from Moammar Rana’s film Chooriyan, Karan Main Nazara, which has been revamped to make it more suitable for this era’s cinema goers.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has sung Hona Tha Pyar Hogya, and even though the lyrics are not awesome, Rahat Fateh Ali’s intonation does give this one an edge over others in the album.
The title track Chein Aye Na has been sung by Ammar Baig and its lyrics and tone makes it one of the good ones in the album. It is a very romantic song.
Aisi Basi Dil Mai Tu by Waris Baig is nothing special at all. It sounds very much like his older songs, nothing new.
Nazr Se Nazr is a duet by Bina Khan and Waris Baig and does not do anything for the album, good or bad. It’s more like a filler song.
Meri Wafa Meray Waday is a remix of the old Barbra Sharif starrer, but the original version was far better than this new one.
Lahore nachda is a typical shadi dance number. It is not different but fits in nicely as an addition to the songs usually played on my Pakistani weddings.
Dulhan Chali is a rukhsati song by Bina Khan. It is one of the good ones and might become popular as a wedding song as well.
Na Jala is also sung by Bina Khan and the singer did not do great in this one. It is quite an unimpressive number.
The Pakistani cinema has recently revived itself from the ashes to compete with the Bollywood and Hollywood productions, and although it’s brilliant to see the appreciative initiative it has taken,and the definite underlyingpotential, I think it’ll be a while before we can reach those heights.
Does that put you in a pessimistic mood already? Well I’m here to assure you that the Mind Works Media Production, released on the 26th of June, written and directed by Hassan Rana, isn’t entirely a bad watch. But be sure not to compare it to the other abroad films at the cinema, or it’ll definitely make you gloom sorely about the money you spent. That being said, I can be brutally honest to say that at least I’ve done my part of sitting in the show-time of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to support the Pakistan cinematic industry.
First things first: let’s politely applaud Hasan Waqas Rana’s aim about creating awareness among the ordinary citizens of Pakistan about the horrors of war and its traumatic scars that wound the families whose sons, brothers or husbands are martyred while defending the borders and honor of the country. It is undoubtedly a difficult choice for both of them and something that we tend to forget amidst the chaotic routines of our own life. But I think, that with the hassle of trying to do three different parts at once (director, writer and actor), the man missed the finer points of production which I’m here to review, one by one.
The first 20 minutes of the movie start off by the execution of an operation, where Col Asad (Shaan Shahid) from Special Services Group of Pakistan army (SSG) is leading a rescue mission for Col. Jogezai (Ayub Khoso) who is in terrorist captivity. Asad and his team, which comprises of Capt. Bilal (Bilal Ashraf), Capt Umair (Umair Jaswal) and few other SSG specialists, drop over the enemy installment. It could have been highly constructive and exciting, except it never happens because as they enter the captivity zone and take down the enemies, the movie closes itself in a still-scene which ends quite abruptly and the next thing you know, you’re back at the headquarters.
This isn’t the only time when you’ll notice the awkward transition of scenes. The movie paces in time with action-romance-humor-repeat with little or no amalgamation of all four aspects at one point.
The film continues to introduce the malefactor, Tro Jan (Humayun Saeed) who is the militant leader of a convict group supposedly very evil, and merciless to his enemies. How do we know this? He’s the only good-looking Pakistani actor who has been purposefully made to look not-so-appealing by his long shabby mane of hair and weird outfits, the obvious act of terrorism by shooting anyone who comes within his sight and his malicious laugh after he’s done with them. His character could have been more in depth and yet there’s no obvious explanation of his history as a felon or whether he has any link to a religious/terrorist group but I guess it saved the director from being a victim to any outbursts and critiques from the distinctive communal groups of the country.
Tro Jan forces one of his (newbie?) followers Baran (Gohar Rasheed) to gatecrash an old friend’s wedding, killing everyone and kidnapping his wife Zarmina (Ayesha Omar) as spoils of a war. His only intention is to scare her enough into marrying him which again, doesn’t make much sense given his character but it works. The character of Zarmina came as a shock since the actress had absolutely no pivotal role in the entire movie, with a maximum of 5-6 dialogues, never-ending crying and the consistent repetition of ‘Tum insaan nahi darinda ho!’
Concocted in between the good and bad sides are the personal lives and love interest of the soldiers. Cocky Bilal is secretly in love with the vivacious Jero (Armeena Khan) while his good-humored friend Capt. Asif (Ahmad Taha Ghani) wishes to seek the hand of the serious and studious military gynecologist Samia (Uzma Khan). Col. Imran (Adnan Siddique) is happily married to his beautiful wife Fareeha (Aleeze Nasser), who is expecting soon and finally the complicated lovers-to-friends-to-lovers relationship, shown in fragments of scenes between Col. Asad and journalist Sadia (Sana Bucha) is perhaps highlighted the most. As far as chemistry goes, I personally believed that that of Adnan and Aleeze seemed to appear much more natural and believable as compared to the rest. Samia looked much more attractive onscreen than her friend Armeena, whose acting hasn’t quite improved since the release of Janaan. Even Sana Bucha, who is apparently a celebrated hardcore journalist in the film, has no strong character and is more keen about Shan’s life and whereabouts, than doing her actual job.
This is serious mishap in the movie but one that wasn’t completely unexpected. With no reference to sexism, I do believe that the lack of any strong-willed woman characters, as well as their noted absence in any army positions (with the exception of Samia) should not be over-looked. It’s 2017 and about time that the women are represented as something other than the conceptual idea of a damsel-in-distress.
One thing’s for sure. Ahmad Taha Ghani, probably intended as sidekick, stole most of the show with his comical acting and nearly perfect deliverance of hilarious dialogues, making it your time’s worth. The small telepathic exchange of thoughts in Punjabi between Armeena and Bilal were funny too, but improperly set in.
Speaking of Punjabi, we wish that the screen-play had induced more of our national languages and less of English jargon and slangs which seemed quite out of place. After all, isn’t that is one of the objectives of resuscitating the country’s cinema?
So after flitting in and out between the scenes of the movie, which seems more and more as a flick visualizing the lavish and posh lifestyle of the army, the film finally brings us to its actual story in the last 30-45 minutes when a military operation conducted in the Piochar region of Swat district was carried out to terminate Humayun’s terrorist group once and for all. This, is where we can actually give some credit to Hassan Rana for his direction and writing for these last minutes are suspenseful as the enemy is attacked; and patriotic as soldiers are bombed or bullet-ed to the ground serving their country and sacrificing themselves for their fellow comrades-in-arms. It’s also where the entire emotion builds up and you can actually hear and see a few people in the audience, sniffing and shedding a few tears silently, especially when the song Ae Watan Pyaray Watan resonates through the hall.
All in all, Yalghaar could (obviously) have been better in so many terms. The songs were good but played in and tuned out too early, probably because there wasn’t enough time. Most of the actors had no less than 2 or 3 lines and came on screen for not more than 20 seconds such as Umair Jaswal, Ali Rehman Khan, Ashir Azeem and Haris Bukhari, which makes us wonder why did they agree to take on such small roles anyway. My guess is that the director wanted as many good-looking and charming army civilians displayed, in spite of whatever role they had or whether or not they could even manage to pull it off. The characters didn’t have sagacity. The scenes had no coherence in between them. The closing credits rolled in with the pictures of APS victims and other victims of terrorism, played on the backdrop of an emotionally penned song composed by Xulfi, making you ponder over the number of ways this story could have laid itself out in so many possibilities so that its intended moral could have been impressed effectively from the very beginning.
Nevertheless, the sense of nationalism will generally appeal to you as will the film itself, if you are passionate about the army. But considering it as a sequel of Waar, it was consequently, rather disappointing.
Indian media is known to spice each and every news to such a degree that it becomes bad for health. The same had happened about 2 months back with the renowned Bollywood actor, Paresh Rawal when he appreciated Pakistani projects and showed his desire to work in Pakistan. The Indian media had added so much masala to this news and made such a big deal out of it that the poor guy had to retract his statement in the end, blaming the Indian media for misquoting him.
But guess what? Mr.Paresh is back at it again with even more praises for the talent in our country!
While giving an interview to an Indian publication, Rawal blamed his nation’s media for bashing him for his views about Pakistani stars and dramas.
They (Indian Media) jumped at me as well. I was slammed as well. Anyway, this is something I said in 2014 as well that I like their shows.
It’s good to see his consistent stand with Pakistani Entertainment Industry. And who can blame him? Indian shows are just tiring to watch, given how long they last.
He further rationalised his earlier statement(s) by giving the perfect example
If I call Imran Khan a good cricketer, does that make Sunil Gavaskar Bad?
And he totally won us over when he said
But I will not stop from praising them (Pakistani talent).
He is also one of the few Indian celebrities who had a heart big enough to congratulate Pakistan after their big win against India in the Champion’s Trophy. Indian media obviously wasn’t the least big happy about it to which he replied,
I Ignore them.
He clearly shakes off the haters because he knows they are just ‘gonna hate,hate,hate’. Way to go, sir!
When civil courts fail us, we look towards the military courts. The past records have proved them more effective, after all.
Sindh government has decided to send 10 cases of terrorism to the military courts. This decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the home secretary.
The case of the murder of renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri will be sent to the military court.
Amjad Sabri was shot dead in Karachi on 22 June 2016, after unknown assailants fired at his vehicle in Liaquatabad area of the city.
Sabri is credited with making the qawwali musical style that attracted even the Pakistani youth. He was a sought-after performer for large-scale events in Pakistan and had become a regular in several Ramazan transmissions. He was due to appear on the 9th season of Coke Studio but his untimely death didn’t allow him so. No one can argue that he was one of the greatest qawwals of all time and that we all want to know who was behind this vile act.
Take a moment to listen to “Bhar do Jholi” in his beautiful voice :
Igloo finally came up with a TV commercial after ages but I am sure this is not what they expected when they put it out there. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned the ice cream’s ad and we are going to tell you why:
The advertisement was too seductive for an ice cream ad and PEMRA took notice of it.
In the notice issued to the ice cream, the censor board imposed imposed restrictions on the TVC over objectionable content.
Instructions have been issued to all Television channels to not air the ad anymore.
Life is not an easy feat, they say and you realise how true this is when you are into practical life and have work commitments and then something happens in your personal life that shakes the very ground you are standing on, and yet the very next day you appear all groomed and professional for your work.
Actors and actresses also have the same kind of personal perils and they too have to smile through them for professional reasons. Listen to Sajal Ali as she explains how she managed to pull herself together for a lively dance shoot after her mother received the diagnosis that she did not have much time left, before she lost the deadly battle with cancer.
Sajal Aly has formed quite a bond with the mega movie star Sridevi of India. Here, she tells how she felt when she first went to India alone for the signing up the movie mom. Here she talks about how she feels when she met Sridevi for the first time and how she felt about it;
Sajal Ali has been through a huge turmoil in the form of her mother’s cancer diagnosis and death, and her journey during the film MOM was marred by these personal issues of hers. It was not easy for her to continue shooting after all that, but Sridevi was like a mother to her through all of that. Watch her telling Sanam Jung how Sridevi is like her mother in India;
Sajal Ali and Adnan Sidiqui have earned a lot of praises through their mega project “Mom” not only in Pakistan but across the border as well and the Indians are absolutely loving their performances.
Mom, the movie starring Sri Devi and Nizamudin Sidiqqui, has made its mark in the hearts of all and the Pakistani actors have a major part of the movie’s success to their names. The Times of India, declaring Sajal Ali as the look-like of Kareena Kapoor, wrote:
“Dew fresh Sajal Ali, who seems to have grown up watching Kareena Kapoor films, seems like a clone of the senior actor. But this is not to take away from her otherwise adept performance.”
Here is what Ravi Udaywar had to say about our Pakistani stars:
“I had a great time working with Adnan and Sajal. It was refreshing to see them. They brought something special on screen. Sajal plays the daughter’s role and there were many silent scenes in the film and she delivered them brilliantly. Adnan is a great actor. They both did a good job,”
According to Lahren TV reviewer:
“[the movie also stars] two very efficient Pakistani actors. Adnan Siddiqui as Devki’s husband and Kareena Kapoor look-like Sajal Ali. The coming together of many talents gives relief and variety [to the narrative].”
Nadia Khan and Madiha Ifthikhar are known for introducing fresh ideas and concepts and this time around, they have come up with yet another brilliant idea of an online magazine that revolves around lifestyle, fashion , health, entertainment, gossip and much more.
Nadia Khan bid farewell to morning shows a year ago with a promise to bring something new for the audience other than the on air shadi business, fake shows where you watch live exorcism, totkey to whiten up your skin tone and the live baby shower broadcast of the hosts themselves.
Madiha Ifthikhar, the beauty we know from the fashion world, also thought to quit the morning shows and bring something worthwhile for her fans. Their collaborative efforts earned them success and much fame through a platform popular among people throughout the world. Their new YouTube channel “ Nadia and Madiha “ is captivating enough as it deals with all aspects of life. Their videos not only help the viewers stay connected to their lives but also help aware people regarding different issues which are otherwise glossed over.From beauty tips to a healthy lifestyle, this vlog provides you all that you have always wanted to watch which makes it a complete package.
Covering lifestyles of two famous hosts and other everyday issues ,the channel has earned an impressive amount of followers and praises so far and this infotainment channel is all set to achieve a lot more.
Ohkay so, the production of Wajahat Rauf, direction of Zeeshan Ali & the writing of Mohsin Ali, Yaar e Bewafa commenced last night & I must say it most certainly had a great start. From writing in terms of introduction to the characters & their scenarios, to direction, everything was spot on & what I actually enjoyed the most about the first episode of this drama was how the director kept things simple, minimal & realistic. While watching this episode I never once felt that I needed to know more about the characters because everything that was important was given out perfectly without making it too obvious that they were trying hard to let us know who the characters are & what they’re are going through. I liked the effortless approach of the director in the first episode & I hope that he has given this sort of treatment to the rest of the drama as well.
So, in the very first episode, the two couples & their stories got introduced. The first couple of Zaid (Imran Abbas) & Fizza (Arij Fatima) & the other one of Amna (Sara Khan) & Saleem (Saleem Mairaj). Zaid & Fizza’s family consists of Zaid’s mother (Samina Ahmed) & their son & they are trying hard to make the ends meet. At first, when you get an insight into Fizza’s character, you feel she is eager & desperate because being a mother, she wants to give her son a better life but as you get to know more about her, you find out about the baggage that she is carrying. Fizza is a school teacher & Zaid is an employee in a firm but as much as they both earn, it goes into the household expenditures. Fizza & Zaid also have a future plan that they both are working on, which is for Zaid to settle in Australia so that he can provide better lifestyle for his family. Fizza & Zaid both have the same vision & believe in achieving their goals together with each other’s support.
Things get tougher for both Zaid & Fizza when the immigration agent Rashid tells them to arrange a good amount of money to pay for a semester fee of the university so that Zaid can get his visa. Even though Zaid’s friend tries to warn him of the frauds that tend to happen in this industry, Zaid still blindly trusts his agent as he guarantees him the visa which puts Zaid’s heart to ease. Also, the fact that Fizza happens to be so adamant on this plan pushes Zaid to such an extreme that he doesn’t even consider the possibility of things going wrong.
Amna is married to Saleem, a factory worker who keeps on getting into trouble because of his temperament. Amna tries to support her husband & stand by him through thick & thin but it seems he doesn’t really appreciate what she does for his sake. Amna & Saleem also have a son. It looks like Amna has accepted her fate with a husband like Saleem & that is why even when her Aunt tries to knock some sense into her, Amna denies everything & assures her that she is happy with her husband because he loves her a lot. The fact that Saleem shuns the hassle that Amna goes through to arrange his bail highlights the fact that he really doesn’t care much for her but Amna tries to tweak with the reality in order to present a decent picture of her life in front of people.
I must say I actually enjoyed seeing Fizza’s character & how her background story was revealed, it’s like you can’t be sure of her & she can be a grey character which I liked. At first I thought she was doing everything & pushing her husband so much because she wanted a better & secure future for her son & rightly so because like she said, every single day through different channels she got a reminder of all those luxuries that were missing from her son’s life but as I got to know more about her, I understood where she was coming from & everything she wanted was not only because of her son. At first when Fizza compared her life with the richer, it did make me feel that she was a bit too desperate but just a single visit to her parent’s house changed my perspective of her. At this point, I am not forming an opinion whether Fizza’s fixation with ‘better & secure future’ is right but seeing how she comes from a wealthy family showed that she did have her reasons.
Fizza left every single thing for Zaid’s sake & she settled for a very humble lifestyle because she loved him & just because she got desperate & visited her parents to ask for some financial help, she was reminded of all those claims that she made. Fizza’s father Kamal Wasif (Tahir Jatoi) a wealthy businessman, didn’t take a second to remind his daughter of what she said when she decided to get married to Zaid, obviously being in love did cloud Fizza’s judgment at that point & she actually thought that she’d be able to live happily ever after even in the most desperate situations but now when she has been married to Zaid for 5 years, she actually has realized that things aren’t as easy as she thought they’d be. The fact that Fizza comes from an affluent background & how she has settled for such a different lifestyle does justify her wants & needs because first off, she was used to all the luxuries & then comes the main reason, which is to prove her father wrong. All this while I thought Fizza was just someone who didn’t mind complaining but seeing how much effort she has put into this relationship & how much she has also sacrificed for this relationship, shows that she is keen on a better future as she wants to prove to her father that her decision was right. Fizza’s verdict saying ‘wo jeet gaye’ showed that she actually was striving so hard to make the most of this golden opportunity in order to tell her father that getting married to Zaid was not a wrong decision that she made & that Zaid was capable enough to provide a decent lifestyle for her.
Overall, the first episode of Yaar e Bewafa was really nice & I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Zaid’s mother got to make a very little contribution in the episode but her presence was felt & I liked seeing her. The fact that Zaid wanted to keep her free from all the worries & seeing how decided to help Zaid only to see a smile on her son’s face was heart-warming. I do have a feeling that Zaid’s mother might be suffering from some sort of mental illness because the fact that she forgets things a bit too easily was highlighted subtly in this episode. I liked all the characters but I actually am interested to see more of Fizza because where she does come across as reasonable most of the times, she does give an irrational vibe at times too & I think that was balanced out by the writer beautifully because that is what made her character real. Imran Abbas, Sara Khan & Arij Fatima, all did a fantastic job because it looked like they all had such a great understanding of their characters that they actually owned them, like not even for a second I felt that one of them was struggling to fit into his or her character & may be that’s why I found everything quite effortless & realistic. Definitely impressed & definitely looking forward to the next episode. Please share your thoughts about the very first episode of Yaar e Bewafa.
Every now and then an advert comes on that you just can’t get out of your mind. The reason for it can be the heart-touching message, the catchy background song or maybe the actors/models starring in it.
Every year, companies spend millions of dollars for just a few seconds of airtime in hopes of getting consumers attention—and then, maybe, their money. Here are some of the commercials that came out in the recent years that managed to capture our attention:
Shan Foods
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXMsSm3liQI
The message that this commercial tries to deliver is just beautiful and quite truthful. When someone is living in a foreign country – like the Chinese couple in this ad- it is hard to blend in because of the racial, cultural, and traditional differences. However, food is definitely an incredible ingredient to bond over. It is human nature to crave interaction, intimacy, friendship – as depicted by the Chinese wife- and she needs some common ground to be able to bond with her neighbours and get accepted into the new community she became a part of. In short, food acts an an icebreaker of sorts here! Also, doesn’t the Chinese actress look really cute in a dupatta?
Lemon Max Bar
The reason for the pick being – Biryani…and Sheharyar. Sheharyar Munawaar does an amazing job in this ad. The script too is great and brings a smile on the audience’s face (the first time they watch it at least). This ‘Lemon Max Bar’ commercial came out very recently and has managed to win people’s hearts if social media statistics are anything to go by. The couple sneaking food to enjoy their ‘date’ is just adorable. I love the fact that this advertisement showed our Eastern culture too, where parents are given utmost respect and have the most authority. The son and daughter-in-law don’t want to upset the mother by making her feel that home-made food isn’t much appreciated by her children or that they prefer to dine alone. These little acts of kindness capture people’s heart. The best part about the commercial is the end when the mother basically tells the couple that she is aware of their “biryani parties”. All in all, biryani + cute couple gets an A+ for the adorableness. It also imparts a very important lesson : if you ever sneak in Biryani to your house and want no one to call out for a share, eat it quietly and erase the evidence by the use of the magic dishwash bar- Lemon Max Bar!
Ariel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS0ftVwHnwI&t=38s
Straight up one of the best commercials to be ever made. This ad focuses on one of the biggest problems of our society; assuming before learning the facts, judging before understanding, hurting before feeling and speaking before thinking. We never know what someone is going through because we are not in their shoes. We tend to judge people on their outer appearances and behaviors without being aware of their inner struggles and problems; without being aware of their story. Exactly the same is depicted in this commercial when our girl is asked to retrieve some papers from the director of the company she works for by her boss. She portrays our general society’s behaviour as she takes in the house and comments that she (director) must be doing so well for being way too nice to the boss. Her impression is proven wrong when the mother of the director defends her daughter by telling her that she’s a very hard working girl who supports her disabled mother. This advertisement clearly says not to judge a book by its cover and we love it.
Dettol
Oh God, the sass! The sassy kids and the super catchy ‘dettol hath dho’ song is what makes this commercial special. Yes, having to listen to this song again and again can be annoying but look at the positive message it is delivering. It is a norm in our society to not say anything to what people older than you tell you and while that is really a commendable and respectable quality in an individual, our children need to be taught how to disagree with someone older than you without being disrespectful. The way children in this commercial spread the message of cleanliness to not only the elders but their peers is amazing! And the song replaying in your head definitely helps Dettol in their sales when you visit a grocery store!
Tapal
What do all women want? A loving and caring husband who loves tea like you, yet doesn’t ask you to make tea for him, cup after cup. In the span of 1 minute, Sanam Saeed and Adeel Hussain show you what an ideal family looks like. This ad triggers couple intimacy by encouraging men to play a role in developing their relationship with their wives by performing small acts such as making tea for the missus to strengthen their bond. Making tea is just an example as after making tea, Adeel goes to look after their on-screen, unseen child that tries to call his/her parents by crying to its fullest level. The smile on Sanam’s face as she witnesses this is just breathtaking. Take notes, hubbies! Learn how to share responsibilities with your spouse as the on-screen couple did in the ad!
Pepsi
Pepsi Liter of Light is Pepsi’s new international campaign that gives light using electricity by reusing cheap plastic bottles.The campaign is about providing light to remote and dark areas where there is little or no electricity.The story that is portrayed in this heart touching ad is of a little girl who doesn’t want her father to get lost in the darkness of the forest he has to cross everyday to get back to the little angel. The girl tries to illuminate the dark pathway by various techniques that her little mind comes up with but doesn’t find any success until people from Pepsi approach her with the litter of light bottles. The smile that graces her face is enough to even thaw a frozen heart. The magical vocals of Abida Parveen and Atif Aslam further make you fall in love with the advertisement. This ad features Naumaan Ijaz and Mansha Pasha along with an adorable little girl who managed to steal the hearts of every Pakistani by her charismatic innocence.
Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI3jaeTm8jU
Indian cricket fans had been teasing the Pakistan cricket team and its fans on the basis of the ‘Mauka Mauka’ video ahead of every match between the arch-rivals since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. After Pakistan thrashed an off-colour India by 180 runs to lift the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 title at the jam-packed Kennington Oval, Pakistani cricketers gave their fans a chance to have a go at the Indians. As a result, Jazz’s commercial, more commonly known as “No Issue, Lelo Tissue” was born. This advertisement resonated with the excited nation after their well awaited victory very well and made this ad one of the most viral ads on social media by making it one of the most shared commercials on facebook. #NoIssueLeloTissue trended on twitter the day Pakistan won the match and it made us smile whenever we visited the site.
Zameen.com
Few commercials have touched my heart as much as this one. This Fawad Khan starrer advertisement is a reminder to not forget your roots no matter what. Our parents provide us with their level best in the sectors of education, security, health and any other of our needs. Thanks to all of their love, care and support when we manage to become independent and able enough to survive on our own, we should not forget them. Monetary help is one thing but physical care and presence are very vital too. Infact, these are what our parents crave the most. This commercial portrays exactly this notion in a brilliant and heart-warming way. When Yusuf (Fawad Khan) ends the call of his family in favour of some other important call, our heart breaks. Only later to be mended when we find out that he was doing it all to give his family the gift of a new home and visiting them after a period of 5 years.
Surf Excel
Surf Excel is known to make really good, thought provoking, meaningful commercials. Their commercial for Ramadan 2017 didn’t disappoint either. The message was clear : spread kindness and encourage your children to do so too. Children are innocent beings with hearts pure as gold. The goodness in their hearts is either increased by the society they live in or dimmed by their environment. Sometimes we stop stop them from doing a good deed for our own convenience. This advertisement teaches us the opposite. When the boy returns after performing a good deed-waking up the hearing impaired uncle- he is covered in dirt and his white attire is turned to brown. The mom doesn’t discourage him from the act of kindness that he just performed on account of the mess he made, rather supports his decision and asks him to invite that uncle for iftaar!
Wall’s
There were tears in my eyes the first time I watched this advertisement. I believe most of us can relate to this commercial; whether to the mother’s role or the children’s. Social media has stolen our life, our family, our relations from us. We have become closer to the people far from us and far from the people in our vacinity. These days, appearances are everything.People are more concerned with proving to the rest of the world that they’re having the time of their lives than actually enjoying themselves. We are more concerned with what the world will think of the things we post than whether we personally like it or not. The same happens in this heart wrenching ad when a mother resorts to social media to interact with her kids because they no longer have time to have a ‘live conversation’ with her.
Our Entertainment Industry is full of rumors about co-stars fighting on set. That’s why it’s so refreshing to find film and TV co-stars who not only get along, but consider themselves good friends long after their project has wrapped. In Saud’s interview to Faisal Qureshi the two seem pretty chummy with one another. These friends discuss one of the the behind the scenes that happened in the presence of the veteran actress,Meera Ji. Infact, she was a major participant in the act that nearly cost Saud his life! Saud and Faisal when teamed up, bring humour to the most dangerous of situations and this was no different.Meera was in the same danger as Saud was yet the actor said she was safe. Wondering why he said so? In fact, Meera was the reason Saud had to face the ordeal, Faisal claimed. Watch the video below to know what really happened:
Mom is releasing today for all the fans all over the world. Sajal Ali and Adnan Siddiqui are playing important roles in the movie alongside mega star Sridevi. Because of political tension going on between the two countries Sajal and Adnan couldn’t promote Mom in India but Sridevi sent a special message to both. Watch video to know what she said:
What is it that ladies look forward to in a gathering other than gossips? Looks. Yes, judging a book by its cover is the most common thing we, as humans, do. Make-up plays an essential role in a woman’s appearance. As time changes, so do the make-up trends. To keep up with these trends our ladies take inspirations from the TV actresses and hosts as well as the beauticians that are invited on the morning shows. Nida Yasir who hosts ‘Good Morning Pakistan’ on ARY digital, gave her analysis on the make-ups of 3 female stars of our Entertainment Industry on their wedding day. As it is a very special day of any girl’s life, especial care is taken of the make-up and dress. Keeping that in mind Nida said a few words about Sadia Imam’s dress and make-up on her wedding day, followed by an analysis of the same for Sanam Jung and Urwa Hocane. Watch the video below to know what she said:
Son of veteran Pakistani actor Naeem Tahir, Faran Tahir, is best known for his recurring role as Rhys Bashir in American Crime. Alumnus of University of California Berkeley and Harvard University, he made his film debut playing Nathoo in the Disney’s 1994 live-action version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Among the famous blockbusters he’s known for appearing in Star Trek, Iron Man, Pitch Perfect, and TV programs Grey’s Anatomy and Once Upon a Time.
Seeing his success on his journey from Pakistan to Hollywood after realizing what his true passion was, perhaps we could learn a thing or two from him.
“Stereotypes are now diminishing from Hollywood in any case. The approach towards sensitive topics is much more balanced because the audience understands that nothing is black and white.”
Faran Tahir is one of the most famous Pakistanis who made it to hollywood and i believe he’s bringing a positive change by playing diverse roles and tackling stereotypes.
“Any role one can sink their teeth into is a dream role”
Faran urges aspiring actors not to “get discouraged by the speed bumps” and to “keep a focus on the journey and where we want to get to”.
“There will be plenty of rejections along the way and plenty of wins but be your own best critic and friend. We all want to be successful and there is plenty of room for all of us but lets succeed with grace and dignity. ”
He loves offering his two cents as a Muslim on terrorist attacks and incidents like 9/11 believing that it becomes our responsibility as people who move within these cultures and people who come in contact with these cultures that we do stand up and have a conversation about it.
To attract a diverse audience and break down walls, obviously the best way would be to reflect them onscreen. Until this happens more often, the side kick or confidant will be a recurring role for actors of ethnic minorities. Luckily for Faran, he has played a wide variety of roles beyond a taxi driver or the owner of a local corner shop. For many South Asian actors in Hollywood, stereotyping has been an issue, but for Faran this hasn’t been the case, who looks to the variety of roles he’s played throughout career as proof of that.
We need to learn more from our emerging Pakistani talents, from the ones who rise from within us, for a better change. Faran Tahir is just one from the lot, as we take his example.
“It is vitally important that we keep making inroads. The bigger number we have in the media the more opportunities to explore different story lines. That’s how we break down walls.”
A mother is someone who takes care of you from the day of your birth till the day she is no more with you. But we mostly do not give our mothers the time and appreciation they deserve. Sanam on her morning show talked about her mom and how she has realized what her mother means to her after she became a mother herself. Watch video to know what caused Sanam’s realization and how will she rectify everything:
Saud and Javeria are seen together on many shows. They talk about their children and everyday life quite openly. So this time the couple came on Faysal Qureshi’s show and they were again asked some fun questions. Javeria was asked how would she feel if Saud took a selfie with her friends; to which she responded that she won’t care. But Saud’s response was plain shocking. Watch video to know what he said:
To explore the genre of qawwali, a workshop is scheduled to be held at National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) on July 9 at 7pm. The event has been announced by Ustad Nafees Ahmad at a press conference on Thursday.
Ally Adnan, who has written extensively for different publications on classical music, theory, culture and practice of music in India and Pakistan will also be present at the event. Ally Adnan had also researched extensively on qawwali and Sufism, will talk about the origin and evolution of the classical music form at the event.
The workshop will cover diversified topics like different forms of qawwali, Ameer Khusrau’s contributions to the music form, the etiquettes involved and the different families contributing to it over generations.
The workshop is a step towards making the genre of Qawwali easy to understand by the public.
It is human nature to love and value appreciation. It is especially delightful to hear that someone who is more experienced than you in your field, more renowned than you, more respected than you, praising you. Sajal recently worked with India’s veteran actress, Siridevi in the film “Mom”.She plays Sridevi’s daughter in the movie. it is reported that the two actresses got really close thanks to the shooting of the movie. This alone is a huge achievement for Sajal as it is considered rare for Siridevi to mix up so quickly with her colleagues. Sirdevi is a huge name in India and Pakistan and to receive compliments and praises from her is a dream come true for any actor. We are pleased to inform you that Pakistan’s Sajal Ali’s dreams did come true when the legendary actress showed her unabashed appreciation to her acting during the shoots.Want to know what she said and how she acted towards our young star? Watch the video to find out!
Folk songs and Ghazals are the two forms of our music which are less listened to today and therefore do not get mainstream attention. In contemporary music era, the youth is more attracted towards the modernized forms of music and therefore fewer are aware of our pure traditional music. One of the reasons of this possibly is that these music forms are not projected on the levels they deserve to and therefore do not reach most of the audience. Though, few artists from the Folk Singer lineages and from Ghazal Gharana’s have pulled their energies into these methods of music to keep them alive and their efforts needed to be appreciated. However, efforts on the communal level should also be made to nurture and thrive our traditional melodies and Ghazals.
Folk music, the traditional yet beautiful form of our music that is mostly restricted to our regional audience, needs to be addressed more. In addition, Ghazal is an ancient form of singing and bears an extraordinary variety of expressions. Our country has produced some of the greatest Ghazal singers in history of the subcontinent. But unfortunately, this beautiful form of singing has now been over shadowed by variety of different current forms and the purest versions of it are now slightly deserted.
It is heartening to share two latest developments in quest to keep our method music active and celebrate it too. First is the release of documentary on our famous folk singer Shoukat Ali. Secondly, the Lahore Art Council has organized a three-day Ghazal festival. The details of the happenings are as follows:
Documentary on our folk singer Shaukat Ali has been released:
Recently, the work of our famous folk singer Shaukat Ali has been memorialized in a documentary produced by a Canadian film company. The documentary is untitled and has been narrated by Rashad Mahmood. It is about an hour long and bears interviews of some greatest singers of the sub-continent, appreciating the talent of Shaukat Ali. The documentary also possesses the videos and pictures of Shaukat Ali from his journey as a folk singer. The documentary is released on YouTube and thus is easily available for the masses.
Shaukat Ali is one of the biggest name in the history of Pakistani folk singers. He started singing folk songs in 1960s and later started signing for Pakistani Punjabi movies as well. He is also remembered for signing the patriotic songs during the wars of years 1965 and 1971. In 1982, he has also given a live performance in Asian Games in New Delhi.
He has been bestowed with numerous awards in his career. Starting in 1976, he was honored with the ‘Voice of Punjab’ award. In 1990, he was awarded with the highest Pakistani civilian Presidential award ‘Pride of Performance’. Then in 2013 he received ‘Pride of Punjab’ award by the Pakistan Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC).
The list of songs he has sung is quite lengthy. However, some of his famous and most remembered songs include Saif-ul-Malook–Awwal Hamd Sana-e-Elahi, Mein Puttar Pakistan Da, Ae Tay Waila Aap Dassay Ga, Lal Meri Patt Rakhio Bala, Jhoolay Lalan Dey, Teri Meri Aey Azlaan Di Yaari.
Despite of the fact that Shaukat Ali does not keep a good health now, his passion for signing has not diminished and he still sings occasionally in musical programs. In an interview with Express tribune, Shaukat Ali expressed his feelings about the documentary as follows:
“In my life, I have performed all around the world and earned many honors for Pakistan. And no doubt, Pakistan has given me a lot too.” He further added “I believe social media a great platform to promote music from and there was a need for someone to highlight my work,” he said. “Therefore, I think my son Mohsin and the production company in Canada has done a wonderful job in documenting my work. It deserved to be highlighted. In fact, I think the work of all good singers should be highlighted this way so that emerging singers can learn from us.”
Thus, the step of making a documentary on Shaukat Ali has not only celebrated the work of our great folk singer but has also benefited the society by highlighting his work. His documented work will also serve as a learning platform for emerging talent.
Three Day Ghazal Festival At Alhumra:
To promote the genre of Ghazal in the country, the Lahore Art Council (LAC) has organized a three-day festival at Alhamra Art Center on The Mall. The festival will start from 14th July and will end on 16th July. Since the number of ghazal singers is significantly reducing, this step taken by the LAC officials will be beneficial to promote this genre. Both seasoned ghazal singers and upcoming talent from the field are expected to charm the festival.
The LAC council is also planning to hold ghazal festivals in future also. They are also planning to invite students from different institutions of the city to participate in ghazal competitions in future events.
I wish more events and documentaries could come our way, and pave way for resurrection of these fading forms of music.
Information Source: The Express Tribune, DAWN and Wikipedia.
Rabia Anum, a famous newscaster on Geo News is finally married now. Recently the news of Rabia’s engagement was all over the social media and now the pictures of Rabia’s Nikkah ceremony has been released. The recently married newscaster looks beautiful and happy.
Congratulation Rabia and we wish you all the best!
Let’s have a look on few pictures of Rabia Anum and her colleague newscasters on her big day.
Anchor Maria Memon and Farah Yousaf with Rabia Anum
