Adnan Siddiqui has a been a constant on our screens since the time of Aroosa. There is no doubt that he is extremely talented and unbelievably handsome. But now, with a recent Facebook post, he has shown a fatherly side of himself.
In a poignant post directed to his three kids, Maryam, Daniya and Zayed, he tells them a lesson for childhood through his own journey. He explains that after suffering the loss of his mother at the young age of 16, he became his own dreamer, his own performer and his own cheerleader. He tells them his love for cricket and his passion for commenting on himself.
Adnan Siddiqui wishes such a childhood for his kids, full of dreams and free play, imagination and innocence. While it’s a pity, our parks and streets are not safe enough for kids to roam freely and wander where their imagination takes them, there are still books. Books that recreate the magic of childhood, that feed creativity and imagination and that encourage the dreaminess of childhood.
So Adnan Siddiqui is a lot like all of us when it comes to parenting. We all share the same fear of losing our kids and their imaginative capabilities in throes of digital media, where other people are for following, trolling and criticising, not for collaborating and creating. We are all struggling to find that one fine balancing equation where you let your kids have the screens for catching up on this fast paced world and and take them away for catching up on the magical moments of childhood that is ever so fleeting.
We love your message Adnan Siddiqui and if you become successful in making your kids understand it, please write about it in a future post.
What in the world have I just watched? Was this for real? Man I feel betrayed! These were the statements that slipped out of my tongue, as I exchanged fretful glances with my little sister next instant, the torture of ‘Mehrunissa V lub you’ ended!
Now that I have stated my sentiments regarding the trailer, even though I was procrastinating to write on this very subject or to be more exact, tried very hard to nullify these feelings and move on with my work as always yet I decided to write on it at least so that, next time the makers would consider these thoughts . Hence, let’s get into the facts which made me write this article.
The film which promised to be filled with social messages had its trailer released a week or two back, considering the fact that one should always be a supporter of Pakistani products in the name of being a Pakistani, and at least wait for the film to be released yet, I rolled my eyes in dismay and repeated the same question I have been repeating in my head since our beloved film industry revolutionized, along with a raised eyebrow, the cursed moment I came across the trailer of this so called ‘Pakistani film.’ i.e. WHY ARE THEY INSPIRED SO MUCH BY BOLLYWOOD??
Honestly, I’m not against Bollywood, however, it’s quite mandatory now to realize the line that separates us with it, and that it’s high time now to accept these truths. Heroine clad up in gaudy Saree, that, too with those cheap one liner in the background, and, then to worsen the situations those dance moves along with that trashy romance, gives the impression of nothing but bollywood which for all the right reason is a bit spooky to say the least. Our ideology, thoughts and the way we perceive everything is quite different from them! Indians and we can never be same merely for the limitations prescribed to us by the religion we follow. Had we been same, this separation wouldn’t even have taken place in the first place. And now that we have separated through the long and hard struggles of our forefathers it’s quite pertinent now to at least be respectable of the choices those people made years ago, by being true to our roots while creating movies for the big screen.
Over crowded with cheapness written all over it, the film doesn’t seem to have any purpose at all, and since they have been promoting it to be a romantic comedy I so wish the writer now takes a few classes from Mustafa Afridi, (although I have always been against comparing the writers with one other, but, they so pushed the wrong buttons and brought me to the limits where I actually had to!) to give their viewers decent humor filled films.
I’ve not been able to grasp the thoughts process they have whilst working on these films, as if, this is something they would want to spend their bucks earned by burning their midnight oils, had they been in our shoes, their taste quite seem questionable! When watching the trailer of any film, it’s either the acting, dialogues or the story that entice, rest is all secondary. However, this time around everything in it seemed cheap, I, repeat ‘CHEAP!’ And the fact that I supposedly don’t live in an oblivion and absolutely am aware of the requirement of some entertainment to entice the viewer, still it doesn’t give them any right to come up with films that promote ‘ kissing’ or ‘trying to kiss’ or being physical as something very normal on the big screens in the territories of Islamic republic of Pakistan or does it? And if it does then I wonder where are we actually heading towards in the name of liberalism or modernism!
Nevertheless, I do understand that they put in quite a lot of efforts (as they claim) to bring with them some entertainment for us, but what for? For promoting vulgarity? For making the heroine who seemingly belong to a respectable family dance in the snow all clad up in saree as shiver moves down her spine? And if all these were your motives Congratulations! You achieved them!
I so hope the next time they come up with anything new, they consider these facts and bother to ameliorate such shortcomings, as I know for a fact that we Pakistani as a nation (although equipped with alot of negativity) always stand up for the right and are enough respectable to appreciate our girls not throwing off their clothes in the name of ‘art!’ and trust my words when I write this, you guys would gain more respect if you’d stick with limitations and the norms of society and wouldn’t budge changing them!
May we get to see films based on our culture!.
P.s we need to understand there resides a thin line in between being modern and vulgar, and once it’s shattered things automatically starts to crumple and that every nation has some sort of precedents set for their people that separates them with other nations of the world. We belonging to the Islamic State, have some limitations, too, and can’t be in our wildest dreams as modern as rest of the world, hence be proud of your culture, and stick to your roots or else the only thing that’d be crushed would be ourselves.
Like I’ve said, I’m not that pleased with the general output of Phir Wohi Mohabbat and today was pretty much the same. Every single part of this drama has no flow whatsoever, things that could be meaningful end up happening in a blink of an eye, making the viewer wonder what is going on?
So Samra stood up, and for some reason they didn’t choose to show anyones reaction to it. One minute she was in a wheelchair, the other she’s using a cane. But since it’s not that much of the basic storyline, I let it go.
What I hate about Alishba’s character is how Ramsha says merely one word, and Alishba breaks down in front of her and starts tearing up. It’s like she’s so sensitive she can’t deal with the smallest of negativity. However her living in the village for most of her life, she should have been depicted as tougher.
Somehow I just can’t understand what the director and writer are thinking. Samra and Alishba’s conversation was not heartwarming, it didn’t make any sense why Alishba would become closer to Waleed through it. Samra basically told Alishba that Shehreyar has moved on, and Alishba became heartbroken and gave in. Finally Waleed Mian took a stand, and said he would not talk to her so long as she confessed his love for him. Alishba with all stupidity said that Ramsha told her to accept Waleed. Almost as if she was indebted to her, just say it was your mother, why are you trying so hard to make Ramsha sound better?
The most interesting character right now would have to be Ramsha, she’s scheming diligently and Salma Hassan attacks with her expressions amazingly. I can actually see the hate seething from her for her sister and her daughter. Then the dinner conversation which made no sense, had no flow and was unnecessary. This public proclamation of love was awkward and made me cringe. It would have been so much better if she had done it in private, without adding unnecessary phrases like “tumhare bina rehna ka soch bhi nahin sakti”.
Mansoor Saeed keeps repeating himself through different characters. Alishba’s proclamation had the exact phrases that Waleed had told her in the same episode! Oh my. Ugh, can’t even express my dislike for the last scene. Alishba’s chooriyan scene was so weird and cliche, and it made no sense why nobody heard but Waleed. And him rushing up the stairs was…. Ahhh. What can I say except that it was unrealistically proportioned and didn’t make me feel any way towards the two. I guess their chemistry could be really great, but the script isn’t written properly.
Once again, a crazy change that is hard to digest. Alishba sitting like a newly wed dulhan in the verandha waiting for him, and then them heading out together. Like how?
Today’s episode had its high and lows. Hania Amir’s speech delivery was better, at least she was more confident talking to Ramsha. But some cliche speeches like “Muhabbat? Mujhe toh is lafz sai nafrat ho gya hai.” Like calm down! You’ve been in one relationship that lasted for two days, and then he walked out without any word to you.
Waleed’s character didn’t have a lot of development. Asher and Yasir are both characters that are wasted. Couldn’t Yasir be a bit more angry when talking to Ramsha in Waleed’s room?
Another not so great episode of Phir Wohi Mohabbat. The promo showed Sana back in a deranged state, which is something that I am interested in. Let’s hope we have no more crazy roller coaster turns and instead can be taken through this drama nicely.
With all pakoray, samosay and fried items in aftar and equal ghee filled parathas during sehri one is bound to gain weight in Ramadan how hot the weather may be. Somethinghaute.com got in touch with some of our fittest celebrities and asked them about their routine to stay fit in Ramadan and this is what they had to say:
Mehwish Hayat:
“The most important thing about staying fit in Ramzan is to eat healthy,” says Mehwish Hayat. “The problem is that in Ramzan we tend to consume high amounts of fried foods and junk that we usually would avoid on regular days. So try to eat healthy stuff like fruit salads, dates, lentil soup etc. I would also recommend you include some sort of physical activity in your day, even if it is just 20 minutes a day, do some jogging, cardio or a light brisk walk to keep yourself feeling better and not stuffed. I personally changed my workout routine from in the morning to the evening after iftaar to stay fit throughout Ramzan.
Ayesha Omer:
“My first and foremost go-to drink in Ramzan is coconut water,” shares Ayesha Omar. “Not only will it keep you hydrated but it is packed with great vitamins and nutrients. Especially having a couple of glasses of it before sehri will leave you less thirsty and more energetic. When you’re going on about your day without eating for a longer period of time, hydration is key to surviving this month.”
Anoushey Ashraf:
“I always focus on eating healthy during Ramzan,” Anushay says. “I limit my carbs intake to sehri only which gives my body enough time to burn it off during the rest of the day and as tempting as stuffing your face during iftaar is, it’s always wise not to give in to unnecessary cravings. I also make sure to have at least 2 liters of water in between to stay hydrated. And as difficult as it is, I always schedule my work out to right before iftaar so I can get my metabolism kicking in. And let’s not forget the most important thing: get enough sleep and do not exhaust your body!”
Mehreen Syed:
“People often forget that Ramzan is not the month to feast and it’s definitely not one to indulge,” opines Mehreen. “I always need my energy up during Ramzan because things tend to get very busy at work and at home. For that I always keep my diet high on protein and fiber for my sehri and iftaar to keep my feeling fuller for longer and maintain my routine lifestyle which means keeping my sleep cycle and workout cycle the same as before.”
Amna Babar:
“For me, getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, having a healthy diet and staying away from pakoras are keys to winning this month,” says Amna. “It’s so boring, I know, but doing those things really helps in giving me more energy for things that are actually important during the month of Ramzan.”
Sammi never ceases to impress me; this was another remarkable episode with a lot of substance and many scenes which were extremely emotional. It happens rarely that you get emotionally attached to so many characters in a play, especially one with multiple tracks and variety of characters but Sammi has definitely managed to achieve just that because of numerous reasons. Firstly, the characters are beautifully and flawlessly etched-out. Their story has been told with utmost sincerity therefore they are realistic and easy to connect to. Secondly, all the actors have been beyond impressive (with the exception of Mawra Hocane) in portraying their characters. The eloquence and perfection with which they utter their dialogues and their outlooks breathe tangible life into their roles. Thirdly, all the conversations always add something to their story, all the dialogues are well thought out and Sammi is one of those rare dramas with absolutely no repetition. With every dialogue and interaction either the story goes further or you know something new about the character and sometimes these dialogues give perfect voice to what a particular character is going through at a particular moment. Lastly, it has been a long time since I heard such good use of Urdu language in any other drama.
This episode had so many poignant moments and it is difficult to pinpoint one scene which was my favorite. However, if I had to choose, I would choose the scene in which Salima announced that she finally knew the gender of their child. Rashid’s reaction and most importantly the effect his words had on his daughters was priceless. What a beautiful message the writer put forward through this scene. We need to see more such characters in our dramas which change for good and we are shown how big an impact the change in one individual’s thinking can have on an entire family. The scene in which Rashid hugged his daughters was very touching and it was the highlight of tonight’s episode. Salima is finally convinced that she can have a “secure” marriage without a son therefore she no longer feels the need to lie to her family in order to be temporarily happy. All the actors involved in this particular track; Saman Ansari, Adnan Siddiqui and all these beautiful girls who are playing the roles of their daughters have always been brilliant throughout. This is the reason why their scenes always make me emotional.
The change in Waqas’ character and the scene in which he begged Sammi to forgive him was another intense scene with yet another strong message for all the “gheratmand” brothers out there. I cannot praise the writer enough for her overall approach towards all these issues. She has presented everything in such a way that those people who are guilty of these crimes would really have a reason to rethink their actions after watching this play. Waqas has realized just how wrong he was but Sammi does not want to forgive him now. Haris Waheed has been phenomenal as Waqas, he has proved through this play that he isn’t just a natural actor but he is also versatile. Tonight even Mawra Hocane’s acting was up to the mark therefore for the first time it was great watching Sammi stand up for herself. She is still scared from inside but she has made up her mind therefore she will not let this fear stand in the way of doing what is right. She is no longer willing to play the victim and no one can make her a victim without her consent.
Naheed is another woman who faced all those people who came to question her with courage but later on her reaction showed that she was completely broken from inside and rightly so too. The preview of the next episode gave hope that Naheed’s track will have a happy ending – she deserves just that!
Chandni and Aalyan’s scene was another powerful scene of this episode. Also. Chandni and Zulekha’s conversations were deep and meaningful. Sania Saeed and Madiha Rizvi both are brilliant performers who always do complete justice to all the roles assigned to them. I am glad we saw the chota chaudhry worrying about his father’s fate since he was there when Aalyan and Sammi were talking about going to the police. Just like every other episode Chaudhry Nawaz’s dialogues and Rehan Sheikh’s acting was right on point. He is such a powerful performer.
Loved this recent episode of Sammi, it was written beautifully and directed flawlessly. I can’t wait to see how this drama ends next week. I will be very happy if it turns out to be one of those dramas which do not end with a tradegy, there is hope that it will have a good and positive ending. I am wondering what will become of chaudhry Nawaz. Will Rashid kill him?
How many of you watched this recent episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.
I’m ortunately, we have seen quite a few famous deaths recently, ranging from Eidhi sahib to Qandeel Baloch. The one thing that stands out among them all is the glorifying of their personalities after death. Here we will talk about how death changes your perspective, so much so that you are nitpicking about a person some days ago and the news of his or her death changes it altogether. TV shows are conducted in remembrance, social media pages are created in honour and the whole nation suffers a memory loss.
It would be unfair to include Eidhi Sahib here because he belonged to a whole different genre entirely. As it was so clear that none of his actions were for his own benefit, nobody criticised him in life or in death. Maybe some did about the use of money that ppl donate or about his religious beliefs but they were so few and far between.
Now let’s talk about Amjad Sabri. His friendliness is legendary, so he hardly had any enemies per se. But his social, political and spiritual views were brought to debate many times. After his death, it became common knowledge that he was receiving death threats, makes you wonder why a man with one of the biggest janazas the city had ever seen, never provided with any security. Why are all of us so separate? He was popular enough to have program after program dedicated to his memory, yet not famous enough for some personal security.
Talking about Junaid Jamshed, the one person whose voice has ruled the media after his death, was never given any importance when accused of blasphemy. He was left alone to beg forgiveness. A mufti from Zimbabwe had made a speech regarding his innocence but no one from our mainstream media had supported him openly. Not one religious scholar, not one TV show host, nobody. He was criticised widely in his life and commended openly only after his death. Such is the irony.
The most glaring example of all this is Qandeel Baloch. It is one thing to discuss or comment on what she was posting for public to see, and another one entirely to dig into her past and bring out all the skeletons from her closet. I still remember her apologising to an anchor over not telling that she had married once and had a boy. Who said she was bound to explain any of this.
Now that there are pages in her memory and an upcoming movie about her life, makes you wonder what would or would not have happened if she was not being given that much attention for all the wrong reasons.
The movie seems to have failed at the box office. According to unofficial, unconfirmed sources, the lifetime collections of the film is approximately 1.5 crore rupees. Unfortunately, not a single film could do well on box office this year until now.
Chalay Thay Saath was a highly awaited movie produced by We Think Films and in association with Hot Water Bottle Films. All in all, Chalay Thay Saath has emerged as a flop!
Stories of molestation, stalking are heard in Pakistan every now and then. The fact of the matter is that in this advance 21st century, women are learning to speak for themselves.
Recently, Girls at Dhabbas shared an account of a girl who went out to buy some clothes with her mother at a clothing brand called Zeen at the Dolmen Mall, in Karachi. The girl was harassed by one of the staff members at the clothing store.
The brand was quick to take an action and serve justice to the girl who was harassed.
The holy month of Ramzan brings with it a spree of Ramzan transmissions and a tug of war between TV channels regarding who will win the Ratings rat race, with almost every channel airing a Ramzan transmission.
PTV Home’s Sehri transmission hosted by Junaid Iqbal transmission is topping the TRP, see the graph below:
PTV Home is evidently, leading the way in TRPs with 1.81 TRP ratings, followed by a huge margin coming second is ARY Digital at 0.76 according to Kantar (MediaLogic).
This goes to show that viewers prefer simplicity, and shows that offer peace instead of game shows.
Assalamoalikum, hope Ramzan is blessing you all with its abundant goodness everyday
Just watched the sixth episode of Madiha Imam’s and Faisal Qureshi’s zakham. The story has unraveled slightly but the confusions remain quite obvious even now. This episode was mainly about every individual’s take on this mismatched shadi between Khawar and Takbeer. What I found most annoying was Takbeer’s family. They were giving so much importance and so many gifts to Khawar for their daughter’s successful marriage and yet paying no heed to the same daughter’s mental and emotional state. This is the age old irony of our society that daughters are aided in every way to ensure their security in their husband’s home, while closing the doors of her own parent’s home to her. Shabbir Jan is excellent as the well meaning yet dangerously orthodox father.
Khawar swings from making sense in one scene to going totally loony in the next. Unless we get a very good explanation as to why he is like this, his behaviour with Takbeer will keep on making no sense whatsoever. How can he be so ruthless on the first night to making tea for her the next and requesting her to be a wife to him to ordering her to clean the house like a maid to sending his sister to terrorise her and then crying like a child on Tehreem’s grave to being genuinely embarrassed by a compliment. It was like he was a whole new person in every scene. This much is evident that he is mentally disturbed but the spectrum is left very wide. In a moment, he seems evil, abusive and controlling and in the next just insecure and anxious.
Khalida’s character has to be the most calculative and selfish in the play. Being a woman, she believes in sacrificing other womens’ lives for her crazy brother and then goes on to oppress them psychologically in order to make them compliant. I am glad that Khawar and herself are getting some inklings that Takbeer is not like Tehreem. The scene where her husband pointed out that they cannot keep on finding out girls for her nutcase of a brother was very well executed. The irony that she is so dominant in her own household while she expects her bhabi to be totally submissive was shown clearly.
Moosa is the forlorn lover, whose heart is in the right place, but his methods are not very thoughtful. He is still very upset at the unfairness of Takbeer’s marriage and though his acting is not very convincing, his handsomeness kind of makes up for it ?
The show stealer however is our Takbeer. She transforms herself through grief, then anger, then acceptance and now control. Despite all the wrongs that was done to her, she still believes in giving a fair chance to Khawar. Her realisation that her sister may have died of the oppression at his hands was a very touching one. And her determination to stay strong for little Ahmed is so admirable. The way she acknowledges Moosa’s feelings and yet reminds him that she is in Khawar’s nikah was extremely strong of her. I do not think she realises the extent of Khawar’s mental disorder and the battles that lay ahead but she seems ready to face everything head on.
Firstly, I had thought she would suffer so much at the hands of Khawar that her parents will regret and ultimately she will end up with Moosa. Now it looks that she might be able to turn Khawar over a new leaf, though it’s not going to be easy, given the promo in which Khawar is tattling on her by saying that Farhan has taken her to Moosa while Farhan and Takbeer are seen taking Ahmed to hospital. Talk about negativity …
Ever since Mawra Hocane made her dream debut in India, she makes sure she maintains her connection with the bigwigs of Bollywood and her friendship with Sonam Kapoor has been going strong.
It’s heartening to see that the political tensions between Pakistan and India hasn’t affected the way Pakistanis and Indians communicate with one another.
Mawra Hocane, perhaps the friendliest and warmest celebrity around, took to Twitter to wish Sonam Kappor a very happy birthday,
The Neerja star replied just as sweetly saying that Mawra has a special something coming her way!
Fabiha Sheraz started making waves on social media after being sighted on Fahad Mustafa’s show, Jeeto Pakistan. The nation seems to like her as she has garnered thousands of followers on her social media accounts.
Wedding pictures of the girl have surfaced online, and anything that has Fabiha’s name breaks the Internet in no time.
If you were sad after finding out that Mahira and Hamza wouldn’t score a scene together in Maula Jatt 2. Worry not because we have something adorable for you all to see *insert smiley here*.
An old video of Mahira Khan spilling beans about her unknown friendship with Hamza Ali Abbasi is all over the Internet.
Last year, in a live chat session, Mahira Khan, admitted, while answering that she and Hamza had been offered a few films,
“Everyone’s asking me this question these days. When we got the award [Best Dressed award at LSA 2016] Hamza said to me that ‘this is probably the only time we’re going to be together in one frame’. He is busy with Maula Jatt and I’ve just wrapped up Raees. But we should do something together before he quits acting.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY9CS1vzdqE
However, she probably took a dig at Hamza’s need to stay politically updated, and outspoken. Nevertheless, Mahira’s answer was absolutely cute and it is undeniable that they share great chemistry with each other which was evident from their shoot last year and we’d definitely like to see them perform together.
The Pakistani drama industry has long been producing quality dramas but the content was limited to the depiction of some of the problems prevalent in the society only. With the passage of time, as the drama industry evolved, a great number of problems which needed to be highlighted were brought before the audience. Despite the fact that questions were raised against such dramas, they were eventually not only accepted but also praised by the society, for awareness remains the utmost concern and need of today.
People tend to follow what they witness and entertainment they prefer has a great deal of impact upon them, therefore it is important to ensure quality content.
Inkaar, a drama with the motto “say no to drugs” revolved around drugs, won the hearts of many for it dared to bring the topic to light in times when our drama industry was still struggling. PTV at that time was given the credit because it remained the first channel ever that aired such a drama.
In 2010, the drama Bol Meri Machli which revolved around the premarital sexual relationship between a girl from middle class and a poet who for personal pleasures, trapped the innocent girls, the aftereffects of abortion, the life of a girl aspirant to become a model but instead, becomes a victim of molestation and sexual assault, and a girl getting married to a gay.
The drama raised a lot of questions but was, later admired for the fact that it unveiled the problems considered taboos in our society.
Another drama, Meri Zaat Zara –e- benishan , portrayed the misuses of religion for personal interests. Portrayed how a woman so religious, swore to God for false allegations she put on her daughter in law and suffered afterwards. Roag, remains one of most emotional dramas that showed child abuse and how rape affects a girl’s life and how a kidnapped child is raised as a criminal who sells drugs and suffers from sexual assault which makes him an HIV positive. It, furthermore depicts how a girl who adopts kids before marriage is ridiculed and blamed for having premarital relations.
Khuda Mera Bhi Hai, another thought-provoking drama deals with the life of a woman who gives birth to the third gender and is looked down upon throughout her life.
Udaari , the latest drama revolved around child abuse and how the victim is threatened to keep her mouth shut. It gave a fair representation of the monstrous culprits. Ahsan Khan, the antagonist displayed a sheer amount of brilliance when it comes to his acting skills.
Tanveer Fatima BA, a drama not so popular but was definitely a thought-provoking one for it depicted the lives of feudal lords who brutally murdered and blackmailed people. The drama was aired in 2010.
Besharam highlighted the life of a model who strives to attain respect from the society but is disappointed , for all she gets is disrespect and people looking down upon her . Her dialogue from the drama “ Sab miljata hai , dolat , shuhrat , bas izzat hi nahin milti” says it all . The models and actresses of today can all relate to her life for they face the same in our typical society.
Nazar – e – bad, a drama which deals with another crucial problem, is another hit. Revolving around black magic , it provokes the thoughts of many . We live in a society where people greatly rely on black magic to get things done. This drama shows how it is unwise to rely on such things for it destroys those on whom it is done, along with those who do it.
Pakistani drama industry has undergone a lot of positive changes and the dramas now being produced have a lot to offer apart from just entertainment.
After all the hype and rage and debates about Ramzan transmissions, they are nowhere near any improvement. Rather, as Ramzan is progressing, they are getting more and more pointless, more and more vulgar and as detached from the holiness of this month as possible.
In his recent game show “Ramzan Mein Bol”, Amir Liaquat invited Meera. As the show unfolded, it was wrong on so many levels. From boys proposing to Meera through poetry to Meera telling the things she would be doing to prove herself a good wife and daughter in law, it was a very demeaning and shameless ramzan transmission, if I may call it that.
The meaningful phrases and tones that Amir Liaqat used were quite inappropriate and Meera’s responses were no good. Granted, she was playing a game but there has to be better ways, especially in 2017, to be a good wife, than washing and ironing clothes, and birthing kids and waking up your father in law in the morning.
Rahim Perdesi, the man of versatility with a broad sense of humor and wonderful taste, is a complete package. With millions of followers on his Youtube channel, Perdesi ,as a comedian, has managed to make his place in the hearts of many .His has viewership not only in Pakistan but people all over the globe have started admiring and following him.
What is different about Pesdesi? His versatility is.Performing as Perdesi and Nasreen simultaneously in his videos, makes him stand out from the rest. Rahim has not only been playing these two roles successfully but has also been playing other roles well enough. His hard work and quality performance in his videos showcase his uniqueness as a comedian.
His videos have gone viral over the internet and his character of Nasreen, a typical Punjabi woman living abroad with her husband, has particularly impressed everyone.She struggles to keep up with the trends and is desperate to show the girl power. Her bravery and straight –forwardness give a fair representation of women as the strong and self-sufficient members of the society.
Perdesi’s dance is another factor attracting the attention of viewers and this portrays Rahim as a multi-talented man.
Perdesi’s videos, moreover, contain messages in order to morally enlighten the society on the whole. Depicting the importance of tolerance in religion, the bravery of women, and his love for his homeland (patriotism) in his videos, Perdesi gives strong messages to the nation .Humor and entertainment combined with enlightenment and morality, set Perdesi apart from the other comedians.
Ramzan, the month of blessings is here, bringing along the liveliness of sehar and aftar. This month being the gift of Almighty Allah, gives us a hundred reasons to thank him. Fasting makes us avoid sins and gets us closer to God. People celebrate this month throughout the world. However, in Pakistan we do a lot more than just fasting.
The Melting heat with no electricity and to add more to the misery of us Pakistanis, exams ahead. Yes, this is the prevalent situation in our country. The heat of the Sun striking hard and people finding shelter in their houses. The houses, which remain darkened and suffocated because load shedding is another gift we are blessed with by our government.
With this, the approaching exams seem a burden. HEC announced the intermediate exams to be held in June, in the month of Ramzan and so did some of the universities.The thirst-stricken students face yet another trial when they find the examination halls suffocating and extremely hot with no fans working at all.
Recently a number of cases have been reported about students fainting from suffocation while some other attacked by heat strokes. The rising temperature in the hottest month of the year leaves everyone hopeless which, eventually affect the students’ performance in their exams.The prevalent situation remains devastating and students find no way out.
The authorities upon being asked about the unannounced load shedding, have no answers to the question and the students in the pressurizing circumstances fight hard to keep up, no matter how hard they find it.
For the students to perform well in their exams, it is very important to provide better circumstances and healthy environment to them but in Pakistan, students suffer not only because of the heat but because of the negligence at the part of the government as well. With this, Allah is the only hope us, the students are left with.
This was another disappointing episode of Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai full of dialogues explaining love from all angles even though most of these dialogues did not even go along with the personalities of many of the characters, which made these scenes extremely tedious to sit through. Watching these college going boys and girls talking about love like they were brought up by Rumi and Ghalib when actually their parents have the IQ of a teenager was terribly difficult to relate to and at the same time extremely annoying! Ami Begum has way too many opinions and the tactics she is using to make sure that Waqar gets married to Jia have completely ruined the initial impression her character had on the viewers. She is the biggest baby (more like a spoiled brat) in the family who everyone follows blindly and quotes like she is Socrates! Yes, I am mentioning the names of these philosophers, thinkers and poets because so many of the dialogues today were an overdose of philosophy even though the writer could easily have kept everything nice and simple instead of penning down every little thought that came to his mind down and then forcing it somewhere in the script in order to have enough content to fill in the space to cover these episodes!
Watching Gulrez utter all those heavy duty dialogues about love made me want to hit my head against the wall! Gulrez has always been shown as a sensitive yet not very mature guy yet tonight he sounded like John Keats’ rishtedar with all those rate rateye dialogues which did not suit him at all! The way the family listened to him lecture them on love was even more annoying! I am surprised these people who are like audience in a stage play do not take notes while these other characters utter these dialogues which sound more fake than anything else. While watching this particular scene I was wondering why I did not feel an ounce of sympathy for Gulrez and then I realized it was because we hardly know anything about his character. The writer has focused so much on exploring love from all angles that he forgot to explore the main characters which is why most of the viewers are having a very tough time connecting to these characters. Although, I have been watching this drama with complete dedication for all these weeks but even now there are times when I have a tough time remembering the names of some of the main character! It is because although I know which actors are playing these roles but the characters themselves have nothing tangible to offer. It has been a long time since I watched a drama with such shallow characters who say things which are do deep yet have no meaning since they do not go well with the scenarios at all!
Neelam’s “definition” of Maheen was another revelation which came out of nowhere! The only person I feel for at times, so far is Waqar and that too because of Ami begum’s meanness towards him. I understand that Ami begum is afraid that if he falls for Maheen, the situation will be very awkward and Gulrez will be heart broken but I don’t understand her method at all. She is like a mean old woman who is constantly plotting against her own grandson. The actress playing Maheen’s mother’s role is terribly annoying, she does not know the first thing about keeping things subtle, she gives way too many expressions and always goes overboard. Even Maheen’s reaction when she saw what her mother did with Waqar’s gift was so artificial. Waqar’s character is confusing as well, even though he is treated as if he is not a part of the family but an outsider yet he is always so cool about it like he is used to getting abused by his family! Wasn’t this boy supposed to be everyone’s ladla? Torturing him is a game for all the grown ups in the family which is why they seriously need to grow up! Let’s alienate Waqar and break his spirits is a game which Ami begum & co play with such enthusiasm that you wonder if they need therapy!
Imran Abbas, Kinza Hashmi and Haroon Kadwani are the only three actors in the play who are not overacting. Imran Abbas’ make-up however is an absolute fail! He looked great in Tum Kon Piya but in this drama he does not look good! The person responsible for his make-up ruined his look completely.
Overall, this episode was one of the worst episodes of Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai So Far. I have no idea for how long I will be able to sit through this play because it is getting worse with every passing episode.
How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.
Saima Noor has recently made a very powerful comeback on TV and now she is all set for the release of her husband Syed Noor’s “bhai wanted” with Moammar Rana.
The movie had been gaining and losing momentum since 2013 but now it is all ready for glorifying the cinemas in September, 2017.
Bhai Wanted is a movie spanning the days of wanted criminals. It chases them around their adventures and escapades. The lead roles are by Saima, Moammar Rana who is said to have replaced Shaan, Nadeem, Khurram Patras and newcomer Yasin Khan.
Though the movie is about hunted goons, masala lovers need not be disappointed since it has all those elements as well, including six romantic songs.
Ayesha Omar and Amna Ilyas have recently been very active on instagram with pictures showing them roaming inside the magical monuments in Turkey. Alongwith with fashion photographer Tipu Javeri, the threesome and their team are there for Turkish Airlines, in order to promote an online influencers’ campaign for the five star air carrier.
Work and tourism always makes the best combination. Doesn’t it?
The golden times of PTV are still remembered by all Pakistanis. Our content was seen, appreciated and loved not only by Pakistanis but all over the world. Even today the best of our actors are seen quoting how their skills were polished and how much they learned during the PTV era. We excelled in all forms of entertainment; be it drama, tragedy, action or COMEDY. Comedy is a genre loved by all. In today’s times when there is extremism and gloominess everywhere comedy can prove to be an even greater escape from all the sadness and an opportunity to feel fresh.
Pakistanis have known the gist of comedy from very start. PTV has produced some evergreen comedies that will forever be loved. Some examples are Alif Noon, Sona Chandi and Andhera Ujala. These shows were not mere comedies with cheap material but had impressive scripts and lessons for the masses. They made the actors in them stars and they are still loved by the masses. Like who can forget Irfan Khoosat’s ‘Oye Allah dittay” from Andhera Ujala . The show was not a mere comedy. It showed what our police go through and gave us an insight on the wrong doings occurring in our society. It was beautiful, emotional and hilarious. It was comedy with a message.
Sona Chandi made people realize everyday problems and showcased husband wife relationship beautifully. Alif Noon had a brand of its own. The show made Actor Rafi Khawar popularly known as Nanha a film star and he will always be remembered as one of the best comedians of the Pakistani entertainment industry. Talking about films Munawar Zareef’s style of comedy and even his movies were copied across the border and were huge successes making people laugh left and right.
But after all this glory like every other entertainment sphere comedy also fell into a dump and unfortunately we still have not discovered back our comedy streak and all we are left with are shows like Halka na lo, Dugdugi, Bulbulay and Qudusi sahab ki bewa. Let me sum up what is wrong with these shows:
The Script:
First and foremost thing makers of these shows need to understand a show might be comedy but it NEEDS A SCRIPT. It is not tolerable for audiences to see people running around here and there with no story at all. Best example of this are shows starring Barkat and Uzmi. People are laughing, running and looking stupid for no reason at all and they call it a comedy show. The makers desperately need to take some inspiration from the old shows and realize a script is necessary to run a show.
Unnecessary Vulgarity:
Our country has progressed a lot and we are far more modern from older times. From celebrity dresses to themes of our dramas and films everything has moved ahead but still many things which were inappropriate are still inappropriate and will remain as such. Does anyone remember when Momo was pregnant with Sona and Khoobsurat with Chandi in Bulbulay. The show is loved by people and I know babies are born every day and it is a natural process but believe me it is not a very beautiful sight when your 6 year old comes running to tell you “Woh Momo Maa banne wali hai na.” Imagine the horror as the biggest audiences of this show are children. Talking about films the only comedy left there is “Ooper dekhoonga to neechay se chirya ura do ge” from Wrong No.; let me remind you a small boy is saying this to “Ye aik banday ka kaam nahin hai” of Mehrunisa V Lub U and showing gayism in JPNA. The question to the makers is Do they really think this is comedy?
Fixed Actors:
Fixed actors are seen in sitcoms and comedy shows. Gone are the days of Family Front and Shashlik when actors like Waseem Abbas, Saba Hameed and Nadia Afghan used to do comedies. Only some fixed actors are seen doing comedy shows these days like Nabeel, Barkat, Uzmi, Mahmood Sahab and some more. The dilemma of fixed casting has made comedy confined to certain people and shows limiting the impact this genre can otherwise have.
So from glory of Alif Noon to unnecessary laughing of Mr. Shamim and Halka na lo our comedy has really gone from best to worst. We definitely need a lot of improvement and seeing the progress of the industry one should remain hopeful that one day the comedy will rise from sastay jokes and dheeli hassi to actual punch lines and comic scripts. But we will have to suffer till the day comes!
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has the ability to make anything sound meaningful, such is the power of his voice. Salman Khan releases the third song of his upcoming film Tubelight that would hit cinemas this Eid. Sung by singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the melancholic song is about brotherly bond between the on-screen characters of Salman and Sohail.
This is not the first time that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has joined hands with Salman Khan and created magic. The duo has made chartbusters like Jag ghomeya of Sultan.
The three-minute video of the soulful song opens with Salman Khan waving goodbye to his brother Sohail Khan who is leaving to join the army.
Touted as the first superhero film to be produced in Pakistan, Project Ghazi is one of the most awaited films of 2017. Starring Humayun Saeed, Sheheryar Munawar and Syra Shehroz in lead roles, the film’s first teaser released recently and it is a treat to watch.
Humayun Saeed and Sheheryar Munawar will play the lead role, while Syra Shahroze will play Sheheryar’s love interest.
Humayun Saeed, is the name that defines versatility. The actor never fails to impress his audience with his new looks and thrilling stunts. This time, he has donned a new look for Project Ghazi. The movie itself seems to be quite interesting but one thing which we couldn’t take our eyes off was Humayun Saeed’s powerful look for the movie. The intense and handsome look has blown us away. He is playing the role of Colonel Salaar who is courageous and daring!
Nadia Khan ruled the morning transmission for more than a decade. She started her careers 17 years ago and became a household name instantly. There’s an exciting news for all her fans out there, Nadia Khan has arrived and is here to stay.
The actor turned host Nadia Khan is back on Tv screens after 17 years. She recently announced that she will be playing a role in an upcoming Pakistani drama by Big Bang Productions!
There are few Pakistani Dramas that tend to leave an impact and are labelled as a personal favorite of the crowds. A habitual practice brings me to open up YouTube on my phone and occasionally re-watch an already aired drama from some time ago. I’ll admit that one of the main reasons behind it is merely to pass the time and yes, to make up for quite monotonous serials, un-entertaining transmissions and the frightful news that one simply needs to escape from every once in a while.
As my fingers momentarily pause over the virtual keyboard and my mind would search for dramas that I liked, I flashed to some 4-6 years back, when there was a time that my entire nuclear family would sit down to watch television together.
It isn’t something that I would regard as unusual presently, but it is something that I sorely miss. Amidst the hassle of modifications and transfiguration of our lifestyle, women usually flop over the lounge couch to watch their dramas at night, whereas men would take refuge in watching either the news or a movie on another television set. And they can’t be blamed for doing so. How much more can a man enjoy himself by viewing the repeated story-line in ever screen play, where he is portrayed as a evil husband who finds no other pleasure than to physically abuse his wife? Won’t children find it tiresome to see the same troubled woman crying her eyes out and gaining the undeserved sympathy of the viewers by playing the weakling she shouldn’t be? Also, will this not influence their physical and mental development as well as the insight of their surroundings?
Take a look back at Yeh Shaadi Nahi Hosakti aired on ARY in 2013 or even the memorable wedding series of GeoTV starting from Azhar Ki Ayegi Baraat in 2011. These dramas comprised of characters that had small ordinary roles, yet they were acted so naturally that they became an instant success. The story-lines were centered on marrying off a couple, with the hardships that usually came with being in a relationship, the bride and groom’s family differences as well as the amusement brought along with the circle of friends being the reception groups for both parties; often seemingly to be stretched and elongated. However, this careless aspect was extremely minor in comparison to the sound ones and could be ignored, so that the overall impact was in regardless, quite compelling.
Most importantly, these dramas were such that the entire family would be equally entertained as an individual. There were no negative roles, only sides which, logically, every family member tends to have and contributes to the special bond that a family, especially a joint one, possesses. For example, in Yeh Shaadi Nahi Hosakti, the bride’s aunt Dure, was adamant on the wedding being called off because of her dislike for the groom’s family status, but she wasn’t vilanious all the way through.
Such dramas are relatable and adept; for every household has, in one way or another, been a part of these situations realistically such as Sila’s parents getting separated, Dolly’s father getting married again, the unhappy hitches of being in marriage etc.
Moreover, these plays do not tend to diverge people in accordance with their differences and conceive ratings by tearing families apart with every emotional outburst and temperamental violence, but focuses on how these distinctions can be put aside so as to converge people even closer than before. It might seem like creating a fictional bubble, but in truth, we have made the idea of families sticking up for each other as an impossible task by being suspicious of each other’s motives.
The aforementioned dramas on the other hand, put the famous Anna Karenina principle : Happy families are all alike; every unhappy familyis unhappy in its own way, into play as well. In order for a family to be happy, it must be ready to accept one’s dissimilarities and unhappiness.
Drama, suspense, comedy (as well as folk music and dance) are amalgamated into one and these variations in the script prevented the viewers from getting bored with respect to repetition.
As mentioned previously, these on-screen plays added the element of the diverse cultures and families, (having polar languages, customs, rituals and traditions) that dwell within different cities and provincial states of Pakistan which was always hilarious as well as insightful, for in spite of the differences that may be present, it puts an emphasis on unification all the same.
In addition to this, the dramas tackle societal and communal issues with the same virtuosity and also tend to portray the message of the generation gap that exists, and is perhaps larger than ever, among our age groups so as to make both adults and youngsters comprehend the process of how to handle it strategically and understand each another better.
All in all, it is a pity that such dramas aren’t produced anymore, but we have our hopes up into the making of another one just the same. What are your thoughts regarding these two dramas? Let us know with your comments!
According to the latest buzz, Nida Yasir will be playing an important role in Mehrunisa V Lub U. If reports are to be believed then the morning show host refused several offers due to the busy schedule, but has decided to act in her home production.
Produced under the banner of YNH films, Mehrunisa V Lub U is set for an Eid-ul-Fitr release. The film also stars Danish Taimor, Saa Javed, Javed Sheikh and Qavi Khan.
Pakistan’s loss to India ICC Champions Trophy 2017 started a debate amongst cricket fans. The nation was hurt over team’s dreadful performance and people are taking to social media to share their thoughts.
The latest one to hit the cricket team is singer Rabi Peerzada. The singer who did a disastrous rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s classic took to Instagram and wrote an infuriated note to address the Pakistan cricket team.
Congratulations India on a historical winning… wake up Pakistan cricket team… practice more than acting in commercials ????
Ali Zafar is a star and a multi talented artist. Either it is singing, acting or painting; you name it and he does it. He has struggled a lot and has made a name for himself. People love him for his style and pesona.
The Teefa in Trouble star shared an adorable video of his teenage where he and his friend are pretending that he has become a star and is getting a lot of offers from hollywood. Check out the video:
The dreams do come true if you work hard is the perfect caption for this video!
Hamza Ali Abbasi is a highly opinionated person and he loves to share his opinions with the world. His facebook account has actually turned to a platform of discussion and he talks about everything from politics to entertainment. Wonder Woman is performing well all over the world. The movie stars Gal Gadot in the lead who is an Israeli actress and a former Israeli soldier who has previously supported Israel’s stance on Palestine. Due to this reason the movie even got banned in Lebanon.
Look what Hamza had to say on the controversy:
Many people appreciated him and agreed to his point of view while others thought it is a hypocrisy that we use Israeli products but oppose the film. What do you think? Is Hamza right or wrong? Do share your thoughts!
Saba Qamar is a versatile and talented actress no doubt. She rules the hearts of her Pakistani audiences with stellar performances like that in Main Sitara and Besharam. And now she has wowed the critics and audiences alike across the border in her debut movie Hindi Medium.
The movie is enjoying the second best third week collection after Bahubali:the conclusion which shows the potential of the movie. Hindi medium had a slow start but positive reviews made the sales pick up and now the movie has crossed 90 crores and is a hit nationally and internationally. Just 10 more crores and Saba will join the 100 crore club.
Saba’s commendable acting has made the movie such a super hit. More power to you Saba!
This particular episode of Tonite With HSY actually came as a pleasant surprise not because the format of the show was changed in any way but it was refreshing watching Hamza Ali Abbasi being candid and fun for a change. We have been watching him play serious and tragic roles for years now, we watch him getting emotional and sometimes too worked up over different issues and he is never candid on social media! I am so glad that in this episode of Tonite With HSY besides talking about things which Hamza Ali has talked about many times before, the viewers got to see another side of him which showed that he has a really nice sense of humor and he is totally capable of being adaptable! I have to say that Hamza Ali Abbasi made this show a lot more entertaining and the relationship Mahira and Hamza share definitely was another plus point. I have to give HSY credit for calling those guests on the show who get along perfectly which makes the show more fun if the celebrities involved do not get carried away and are not there to send certain messages across!
The way HSY interacted with Hamza and Mahira both showed that he genuinely respected both his guests which also made a great deal of difference. For a change however he did not give his guests a leverage but gave some pretty difficult questions to answer. Having said that, I don’t understand why Mahira Khan’s fixation with Shah Rukh Khan is always blown out of proportion in every single interview. The first half of the questions Mahira Khan answered focused solely on her experience of working in India and more specifically with Shah Rukh Khan. Mahira Khan answered questions about Shah Rukh Khan like she was there to tell people about him and not about her own self! Also, I was shocked to find out that Mahira found the filming experience in Pakistan “pinching” after doing only one film in India. Her explanation for that statement was even more disappointing. Although, I greatly appreciate how far Mahira has come as an actress but the fact is that she isn’t too good at expressing herself in talk shows. This is the reason why some of the questions she answered left me wondering what exactly she was trying to convey. Mahira Khan’s energy however added more life to this episode.
There was a good reason why Hamza Ali Abbasi won the hamper in the end, he was definitely more blunt while answering the questions and was not there with an agenda unlike few other celebrities who came in the previous episodes. I also felt that the questions HSY asked Hamza Ali Abbasi were more relevant to his career, like the question about Maula Jatt and him not being part of JPNA2.
In my opinion, the segment in which HSY invites some other guest to come and talk about themselves besides the main guests should be chopped off so that he can focus on the main guests even more. I felt like he did not ask Mahira Khan enough questions regarding her career in Pakistan and I also felt like Mahira Khan did not give the Pakistani viewers/her fans the credit they so deserve which had to be the most disappointing part of her interview. When she said that Hamza told her that the Pakistani fans made her what she was, I was hoping that she would acknowledge them but she gave the Indian fans just as much credit which was not fair! I have to say that I expected better from a star like Mahira Khan who got so much love from Pakistan. I am all for our celebrities going to India and working there but it is sad when their interviews are so calculated to make sure that no one in India gets offended by something they say!
I am going to be extremely honest and say that after watching this show I like Hamza Ali Abbasi a lot more and Mahira Khan slightly less! And yes, with all due respect whoever told Mahira Khan she could sing was lying!
How many of you watched this show? Do share your thoughts about it!
This was another episode with absolutely no character development. Naila’s stubbornness and selfishness knows no bounds and Ahmed is equally forgiving and compromising! This drama still has some positive aspects and it is somewhat enjoyable but it is clearly being stretched. Also, Amna’s reaction to the entire situation was difficult to relate to because she was never close to her mother. A kid will naturally be disturbed if the mother is no longer around but her refusal to stay at her grandparents house and the change in her behavior was difficult to relate to. Naila has been shown as one of those people who even exploit their own children and never have the time for them and Amna clearly despised her mother after what she had seen. The only reason she ran away from the house was because she wanted to be away from her toxic mother therefore all of sudden watching her miss her mother made no sense. Ultimately, this turned out to be the reason why Ahmed went back to pick Naila.
I have said this many times before and I feel the need to say this after watching a new episode of Titlee every week; Hania Aamir has nailed this character faultlessly. She is so good that even now there are times when you question Naila’s father and brother’s decisions just as much as you do hers. It is a fact that they never paid heed to her approval when they were going to marry her off. This of course does not justify her actions but they are at fault too. Ahmed turned out to be a very compromising and caring husband therefore naturally the viewers felt for him and hated Naila for making him suffer. Another reason why Naila is largely at fault is that she used Ahmed many times when she had no one else to rely on emotionally and even financially. In the beginning Naila was not greedy which is why she was never attracted to Ahmed because of his financial status but gradually she got used to all the luxuries which were always at her disposal and then although she did not feel anything for her husband but she stayed with him to enjoy these comforts.
Although I am dead against men hitting women in our dramas but this particular thappar in tonight’s episode was very well deserved! Also, I appreciate the fact that for a change we are watching a husband who did not immediately divorce his wife because he comes from a family where divorce is not an option. Normally, Ahmed’s reaction would have been unconvincing but since we have all seen how he has been brought up therefore it was easy to connect to his character. The only aspect of this track which I did not like was that Ahmed didn’t take a lot of time to forgive Naila. He even showed he was willing to compromise when she was storming out of the house. Had he calmed down a few days later, it would have been far more believable.
Right now, Rehan has been continuously reassuring Naila of his support and in one of the previous episodes he was shown thinking how things would have been if he had met Naila earlier. I am pretty sure he won’t be this supportive once Naila is relying on him alone and I hope that the change in his behavior is covered in a convincing manner. Although, I truly admire Ali Abbas’ acting skills but the change in his outlook continuously throughout this episode was terribly annoying. Naila’s parents made an appearance after many weeks tonight and the way the episode ended today showed that the writing and the direction of this drama is not the same as it was before.
Another week, another episode but not much has changed. Waiting for this drama to end decently and hoping it happens soon!
How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
In the match between Sri Lanka and India for the ICC World Champion’s Trophy on Thursday, people at large were pretty much dumbstruck (and okay a little overjoyed too) when only moments after Virat Kohli took bat against the opposing team, he was bowled out a duck.
Previously, on Wednesday, AB De Villiers accounted a similar fate (first time in the South African skipper’s ODI career) and it created a much-forseen frenzy over the social media, as fans were fussing over the new developments on their favorite cricketers. And now finally, it seems these aggrieved fans have found their target.
Zainab Abbas — a cricket analyst and sports anchor affiliated with Dunya News Pakistan, is apparently believed to be blamed for the outrageous performances witnessed earlier in the week.
Before either of the matches took place on the cricket ground, Twitter found selfies of Abbas with the aforementioned players who gave a disgraceful play of their talent in the matches as shown below:
Rage has spiraled over from fans of Kohli and De Villiers everywhere as they are convinced that Zainab has a hand in being responsible for the outcomes of both the matches and the failure of the Indian and South African team.
Of course, there are other people who are much more delighted and starting to consider Abbas as a good luck charm or trolling her haters with hilarious tweets good-naturedly. A number of posts here are evidence to that.
What are your thoughts on the enigma surrounding Zainab Abbas and the uncanny relationship of her selfies with cricketers with their fateful performances?
The concept of game shows is not alien for Pakistani TV audience. When we speak about game shows, the one name that immediately comes to our mind is of Neelam Ghar. I don’t think there is any Pakistani (excluding the younger generation) who would not say that Neelam Ghar was a part of their TV watching routine. During my childhood when we only had PTV, Neelam Ghar used to be one such show that my entire family used to watch together. While talking about game shows, I am kind of compelled to draw a comparison because no one can deny the fact that Neelam Ghar & the legendary Sir Tariq Aziz set the precedent for the game shows & also for the game show hosts.
I do understand that the times have changed, people have changed, our audiences have changed, their standards have changed, in short, everything has changed, but one thing that I fail to comprehend is how have basic things like self-respect & dignity changed as well? Human nature remains the same irrespective of the era that you belong to, so every time I see people stooping to ultimate lows to grab a Q-Mobile or Bike, I am left wondering what went wrong & especially where did things go wrong for people to come to this level where they don’t mind ‘begging’ on national TV for smallest of things?
I had a misfortune of following a few episodes of Jeeto Pakistan as they were recommended to me by YouTube, so while doing some household chores, I tuned to it as I needed some background noise & to be honest I was shocked, like I can not even explain how I was shaking my head in disbelief at what I was watching. I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me when I will compare today’s Jeeto Pakistan with yesterday’s Neelam Ghar but then again, don’t blame me for drawing a comparison because the fact is, all these shows were/are designed to giveaway things to the audience & to engage them in certain activities for the sake of entertainment, but sadly, the graph & the standard just deteriorated in stead of improving. Also, comparisons might give people a wrong impression that I am trying to bring down the legend & his work by comparing it to some cheap counterparts of today but that is clearly not my intention & I am sure I will put forth my point clearly for you all to understand.
Since I have only watched Jeeto Pakistan this year as I seriously don’t have the energy to watch any other game shows, I will be strictly talking about Fahad Mustafa & his show Jeeto Pakistan. Let’s take a look at what our game shows & game show hosts used to be & sadly what they have turned into now!
The Host Then vs The Host Now:
I remember when I was just a child & I would watch Neelam Ghar, I don’t remember picking one such word or terminology or any such thing from that show that would be counted as something ‘bad’, like usually how it happens with the kids, since they are impressionable, they tend to grasp a lot. I am talking about it in a sense that even though I have a faint memory of that show, what I clearly remember is that I never ever saw Sir Tariq Aziz demeaning, degrading or openly insulting his audience. The usage of honorifics not only showed the caliber of Sir Tariq Aziz but it also showed his true nature where he believed in respecting those regular people who used to grace his show with their presence. Even though I don’t remember a bit too clearly but what I can recall is how the females used to be treated by Sir Tariq Aziz with utmost respect & how he would use words like ‘mohtarma’, ‘meri behan’, just showcasing that women are worthy of being respected. I remember being under 10 years of age when I used to watch Neelam Ghar but just imagine the impression it left on me where I till this day, still remember what that show used to be like & what it offered.
To be honest, when I was in Middle East a couple of years ago & we had an access to the channel, plus considering the time difference between Pakistan & Oman was of only 1 hour, we would switch the TV on after Iftaar, that was the time when I first time watched Fahad’s show & saw his hosting, I thought he was still doing a decent job comparatively, since that was the time when Amir Liaqat’s barbarianism was at its peak (not that it has lessened over these years), so I thought Fahad was actually projecting himself as an educated person, but this time around, I was shocked to see that the impression I had of Fahad was ruined by no one else but Fahad himself. I saw Fahad speaking to people like ‘abay’, ‘tu’, ‘chal’ & stuff like that which actually made me cringe so hard. Yes, I do understand since Fahad has become everyone’s Biological/Sagga Fahad Bhai as he distributes bikes & mobiles that our awaam is so bhooki for, he tries to be candid with everyone but there is always a thin line in coming across as rude or friendly & honestly speaking, what Fahad says or does only showcases his arrogance that he has attained due to the high ratings that his show gets & he brags about. I understand that Fahad can not be all formal with the people & he has his own style but then again, no one in any day or age has the right to insult people by covering it under the veil of ‘friendliness of a bhai‘.
I just spoke about how Sir Tariq Aziz used to treat women in his shows & honestly speaking the thing that makes my blood boil while watching Jeeto Pakistan is how Fahad Mustafa bodyshames women so openly & so inhumanely. Bodyshaming of any gender is not allowed but considering he speaks to women like that the most, I think it is fair to remind him that women can go through a lot of changes throughout the years & they can have a lot of health/hormonal issues, so not every other woman carries a lot of weight because she wishes to, but may be because she can have some problems which lead to the weight gain, so how can he comment so casually on that? I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a segment in which Fahad Mustafa calls & I quote ‘moti moti taazi taazi auntiyaan’, weighs them in, makes fun of their weight & then compensates then with a free bike & a bike ride. Forget about the segment, even if generally a healthy woman comes to the stage to play a game or open the luck box, Fahad Mustafa never ever leaves the opportunity to comment on their weight, make up or overall personality as if he has been given the right to bodyshame people just because he is everyone’s Bhai? There was this healthy woman who came to the stage & her name was Nagina, the moment Fahad saw her coming he was like ‘bohat mota nagina hai’ & then later challenged her about her weight where she said she weighs around 85kgs but Fahad was persistent that she weighed more than that & if she wouldn’t he’ll give her 3 bikes!?!?! I saw this young boy come to the stage with his mother to play some game & Fahad couldn’t stop commenting on his dusky complexion by saying that I am going to give you whitening injections? While going through Fahad’s Celebrity Profile on Reviewit, I found out that he is a Ph.D in Chemistry, like we are talking about some seriously high qualification here, so to see someone so educated & literate speaking to people like that does make one wonder if he wasted all these years of his life because his education couldn’t teach him basic manners? Yes, it is a fact that Fahad has a huge fan following & he is loved by a lot of people but that doesn’t give him the right to insult people because they come to his show & give him high ratings.
I will however appreciate some of the things that I noticed, where Fahad after getting 1 Lac Rupees in a bag gave it away to an elderly woman. It is also appreciable how he gives away Umrah Tickets/Packages to the kids. There was this humble gardener who came & asked for Umrah tickets, so Fahad gave him 2 of those for him & his wife. Also, there was this little boy who came with his father & he wasn’t blessed with the sense of vision, so Fahad gave him & his parents an Umrah Package too. Yes, I will give credit where it is due but then the overall personality & behavior overshadow all these good things that he does.
I think I have drawn a good comparison between the hosts, now let’s talk about the general public because they are the ones who give ratings to these shows, so does this mean they are ready to put up with everything as far as it guarantees them a free bike?
Audience Then Vs Audience Now:
When it came to getting freebies, I remember in Neelam Ghar there used to be a merit always, like every single time people won something, it would be based on some sort of contribution from their side. Contribution could even mean having an electricity bill in your pocket or having nail clippers in your hand bags & then it would go on to general knowledge segment as well. I don’t remember even a single person from the audience asking Sir Tariq Aziz for a freebie/favor just like that. I am not sure how to put it but if I look back & if I look at the audience of today, does this mean people don’t have humility anymore? Does this mean people from the yesteryears had a lot of self-respect & dignity? Does this mean people back then had more pride? Or does this mean people these days are ready to put up with everything as far as it guarantees them motor bikes?
I must say I remember people being overjoyed even if they won SuperAsia’s Washing Machines or Water Coolers in Neelam Ghar because they didn’t have this sense of nadeeda-pan where they came with a pre-set mind that they had to win a specific thing for them to be happy but the race these days is just ridiculous. I blame the channels for instilling this idea in the people where they have grown completely comfortable with begging. I remember a couple of years back I would see people drooling over Q-Mobile as if their life depended on it & they wouldn’t settle on Jam-e-Shireen or Dalda Cooking Oil. Moving forward to this year, the same thing is happening now but the standards have changed & everyone’s life is depending on Motorbikes? It is actually quite amusing how winning LED TVs, Generators, Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Toasters, Juicers literally make people go mad & they carry such an expression on their faces as if someone stabbed them in their guts, but the moment Fahad announces that they won a bike, the same person who would be posing to be on his death bed a couple of seconds ago would all of a sudden gain this energy where he could even beat Usain Bolt. It is amusing how the channels have literally fed the greed of the audience to such an extent where now winning Q-Mobile only brings a tight-lipped smile on people’s faces & they only come with in intent of winning a car or motorbike!
I just spoke about having some sort of a merit, it would’ve been so good if we saw people winning something over by doing something to earn it, yes, some people do answer the questions that are asked, some people play games, some people show their strength to win something but almost 80% people come with their hands spread & tongues hanging out because they think begging is the way to go. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this girl, who was wearing a nice dress, enough to show that she didn’t come from a financially unstable background, asking Fahad for a cycle for her daughter & when Fahad granted her wish, she then wanted a Tablet for her daughter too!?! I actually feel disgusted when I see kids asking for favors because they have been taught by their parents to do that? This year I noticed this new trend where women (wives, daughters, sisters) would come & ask for bike for the grown up men & cycles for the younger ones of their family? The amount of screaming that they do when they win a bike is ridiculous like seriously, such happiness over what, just a bike?
Also, it does come down to a personal choice but I don’t really get how & why do women clad in Abayas & Naqaabs sit behind Fahad for a free ride while holding onto his shoulders? Can someone tell them that they are defying the basics right there? No matter what, I am not trying to be preachy but this show airs around 7:30PM, right after Iftaar & goes till 10PM I believe, so doesn’t this mean that all those people are missing their obligatory prayers to be in this show & what about Taraveehs? The way women literally flock around Fahad for the sake of petty selfies is also quite amusing plus not to be forgotten, how they are shoved aside by the volunteers, it literally feels like you’re watching a live circus. I remember when I watched the episode for the first time, I saw Fabiha Sherazi, the volunteer of Jeeto Pakistan, I won’t lie, she caught my eye, I did look at her & thought she’s pretty & that’s about it, but later I got to know that she has become this new so-called sensation where people are going gaga over her? Like what for only because she is pretty & is fair (reminds me of Momina Mustehsan)? I remember there used to be volunteers in Neelam Ghar too, yes since people back then were civil they didn’t have to do so much of running & manhandling at times like the volunteers of Jeeto Pakistan have to do, but we shouldn’t forget that it is a Ramadan Transmission, so not sure why their female volunteers can not be dressed in kurtas or Eastern outfits? Yes, their job does require them to be on their toes but then again, I don’t see the need of presenting them as models in a Ramadan game show!
Speaking of merit, the merit these days is coming up with best excuses or stories to open a window to ‘win’ something or fetch a ‘beg’. I heard this aunt on the phone telling how her daughter was physically challenged & how she was an avid watcher of Fahad’s show & the next thing she said was ‘mujhe mere betay ke liye bike chahiye’ to which even Fahad unconsciously went like ‘hain?’ because no one would be able to grasp the fact that someone would open up about their helplessness with an intent of getting a bike. The funniest thing that I came across in this show was a woman showing her 3 – 4 y/o son & telling Fahad that he was born on 14th August so Fahad should give her a bike? Even though Fahad gave her a bike later but the moment he heard her, he was like ‘is mai kya bari baat hai ke bacha 14 August ko paida hua hai’. I hate to say this & even though I am not giving Fahad a clean chit but I feel people themselves have pushed the hosts these days to mistreat them because no one would dare to treat you like a doormat if you will show some pride & dignity yourself & if you conduct yourself respectfully first. Boys/Men these days ask for bikes for their fathers in law, diamond rings for their mothers & wives & I am talking about such men who do look healthy & fit enough to be able to make money for these things themselves. A woman comes, shows her 3 daughters & asks Fahad for 3 diamond rings? I just don’t get how & what gives these people this much of confidence to be asking rather begging for things so casually? Even though I don’t want to but seeing the level of greediness, I am forced to use the word ‘begging’ because honestly speaking, this is what it looks like these days.
I spoke about bodyshaming but seeing how women put up with it just because they know that they will be compensated for all these insults with a bike makes me cringe so hard. I just can not blame Fahad Mustafa alone for his atrocious behavior, it is actually a result of all these people putting up with those slurs because they have become so immune to the fact that by the end of it, they won’t go empty handed. In Fahad’s show there’s some siren that goes off which indicates that he will now walk around the audience handing over freebies without asking any questions & the way people turn into hooligans to grab free stuff leaves such a bad taste in mouth. What happened to earning something with some hard work? What happened to winning something by showing that you’ve got something?
I think an ideal situation would be where people will only get things if they will fulfill a certain criteria, like if they actually win something by showing strength, wit or luck. This trend definitely needs to stop where people just bag freebies because they spread their hands in front of the host. This entire trend has turned people into beggars where they don’t feel any shame in asking for stuff randomly. It is annoying to see how channels are feeding this greed & making it even more powerful where it gets the better of people as we can see that it started off with Q-Mobiles & now for the time being it has settled on Motorbikes. I am sure it is only a matter of couple of years where people won’t even settle on Motorbikes & would be asking for Cars or Airplanes. The hosts also need to learn better because there is a difference in being a ‘bhai’ or being ‘badtameez’.
Finding halal food abroad is a hectic task specially when you are not familiar with the area. Ramadan is around and Muslims are fasting in this holy month all over the world. Atif Aslam is in Switzerland, Zurich these days and like all Muslims he is also observing Ramadan and is fasting for about 19 hours each day.
Atif was out in rain during sehri times as he was looking for a halal joint to have food. Atif’s video totally represents the problems faced by tourists visiting foreign countries and people who freshly settle there. Atif went live to share his search with his fans. Have a look!
All have seen the Pepsi liter of light advertisement staring Nouman Ijaz and Mansha Pasha where Pepsi strives to provide electricity to all the electricity impaired areas of Pakistan.
They started the campaign where they asked people to post a picture of them with their eyes closed; many celebrities joined the cause and posted their pictures in black shirts and closed eyes with hashtags#Pepsiliteroflight. Their purpose to make people close their eyes was simply to make them feel darkness which people in areas without electricity counter on daily basis.
But Gohar has a totally different point of view and he believes helping the ones in need with open eyes is better than posting pictures with closed eyes. He also took a dig at government and spoke the electric truth that it is the government’s duty to provide electricity not a brand’s. This is what he posted:
Shall Gohar’s opinion be criticized or supported? You decide!
