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Dil Lagi – Episode 12

This episode focused on Sabiha’s track just as much as it did on Mohid and Anmol’s. It seems like there is finally going to be some development in Sabiha’s track. The most important aspect of tonight’s episode was that Anmol revealed her true intentions behind ‘helping’ Sabiha. Anmol’s selfish reasons for asking Sabiha to take a stand for herself and do something against her mother and brother’s wishes were obvious in the previous episode as well but in this episode she made it quite clear that she did not want Sabiha to be happy, she only wanted to see Mohid and his mother suffering. It is ironic that Mohid has been able to convince everyone else in Anmol’s house that he only wants to make his marriage work and does not want to play games but Anmol is the only one who remains unconvinced. Mohid did not succeed in making Anmol confess that she was lying all along but it was definitely good to see her feeling annoyed and frustrated.

Anmol’s mother’s character has to be one of my most favorite characters in the play. She always makes sure that she tells Anmol why she is wrong with logic and reason. The viewers find it easy to connect to her because she is one of those very few on-screen mothers who do not want their daughters to make their marriages work because they are scared of people or what they will say. She knows that her daughter is at fault and that is the reason why she wants to make her realize that things are not the way she sees them.

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The ‘supporting characters’ in this play have definitely been playing a very important role right from the start and except for Sabiha all of them are very interesting. Mohid’s mother has taken a backseat after realizing that Anmol will never listen to her – thankfully this track isn’t one of those typical saas-bahu tracks in which the saas feels that it is her mission in life is to make her bahu’s life hell!! I cannot praise Dastagir and Imran Ashraf enough; his love and sincerity for Mohid coupled with his amazing sense of humor makes his character one-of-a-kind. He is the sort of friend /brother/partner everyone wishes for and he comes with a very pleasant personality. Imran Ashraf’s acting has been top-notch right from the start. If he had gone overboard, this character wouldn’t have been as likeable as it is now. For the first time tonight, the viewers got to see Mishal and Dastagir having a ‘normal’ conversation and I must say that these two have made-for-each-other written all over them!!

Anmol continued to justify her actions based on everything that had happened in the past. While Mishal and her mother have forgiven, forgotten and moved on, Anmol finds it impossible to do so. The reality checks from her mother make her feel like a victim – she cannot tell why her mother cannot see that Mohid deserves to be miserable. These scenes in which Anmol’s mother tries to make her understand how wrong she is and Anmol reacts by crying or justifying her actions have been written beautifully and directed superbly. Mehwish Hayat is always very convincing in these scenes because of which I never have a problem relating to how Anmol feels, her expressions say it all! Anmol hasn’t questioned her actions ever even once therefore  she finds it impossible to believe that her mother finds everything about her actions so wrong.

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“Tumhare dil ki murad mei aise kisi sahare ke beghair puri kr du ga.” The scene in which Mohid gets up to get water and every other scene in which Anmol feels frustrated and scared was hilarious! I am sure I am not the only one who loves Mohid’s new found confidence. Hamayun Saeed makes you feel for his character and the fact that this character is so well written helps too! The opening scene at the shrine was beautifully shot yet again, the director Nadeem Baig made the most of this location. “Maaei tu sub ki sanjhi hoti hei” scene yet again proved that a good director and a good script can bring out the best in an actor! The actor we all found highly unimpressive as Asher in Gul-e-Rana manages to steal the show every time in this play! For the first time we saw a man being ‘accused’ of not being able to give his wife children – now that was something brand new which could only have come from someone like Sabiha’s mother! Saba Hameed continues to be faultless in every scene. Asma Abbas manages to fit into every role like it was written for her, she is very versatile and immensely talented.

This episode of Dil Lagi was entertaining; this drama has it all, the right kind of emotions and it makes you laugh! It isn’t easy writing or directing a play which is dead serious and funny at the same time. The emotions of the people in this drama are not a joke but the situations can be so funny most of the times. Mohid is fighting a real battle and he needs to win it, Anmol takes her ‘struggles’ very very seriously yet their scenes together are always funny in some way. Thank you team Dil Lagi for another remarkable episode.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

 

Fatima Awan

 

P.S: Readers who want to discuss religious matters in particular are requested to find an appropriate forum online and discuss such matters there. This thread is only for drama serial Dil Lagi – just in case there is any confusion – and there is absolutely no need to drag religion into Mohid/Anmol’s relationship or anything else!!! I managed to discuss the whole episode without bringing Islam into the discussion, I am sure we can all do that.

Fawad Khan Raises Funds For SKMCH In Bahrain

Fawad Khan, the actor with the greatest fan following, is often seen in charity events and he is especially active when it comes to raising funds for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH).

Fawad Khan recently attended a fundraiser in Bahrain for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH).
He was welcomed with open arms and the response he received was delightful.

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NEF Holds Annual Zakat Dinner – Pictures

Namal Education Foundation (NEF) hosted its annual zakat dinner on Friday at a local hotel in Lahore. According to Dailytimes, the dinner was aimed at gathering donations for deserving students enrolled in the class of 2020. The donations which will be gathered will be routed through zakat fund to oay for educational expenses of deserving students. Namal has spent more than 261 Million Rupees on scholarships since 2008 and currently 90 percent of the student are on scholarships.

It was attended by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, TV actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, mountaineer brother and sister Samina baig and Mirza Ali Baig, model Rabia Butt among others.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

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More About Sana Javed’s Debut Film

We know that Sana Javed will be making her debut with first-time director Aamir Mohiuddin’s film which is expected to release across Pakistani cinemas in August.

Sana Javed has now revealed that the other actors that will be seen in the movie are the very talented Gohar Rasheed and Bilal Ashraf. Gohar Rasheed has appeared in numerous dramas and films. On TV, we have seen him in some very popular dramas including Goya, Digest Writer, Shikwa, Aitraaz and the latest – Mann Mayal, where viewers loathe him as Mikail. On the big screen, Gohar Rasheed has appeared in Seedlings, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, 021 and Jawani Phir Nahe Ani (cameo appearance).
I think we will be seeing a lot of Bilal Ashraf this year because he is part of many upcoming films including the much anticipated Janaan.

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Talking to Dawn Images, the director of this film shared, “It is a film based on music, in which we are exploring the contrast between classical qawwali and modern pop music. A love story will join the
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We wish the team all the best!

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Zhalay Sarhadi’s Beautiful Photoshoot With Her Daughter

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Zhalay Sarhadi is very well-known as a host and an actress but her fans know very little about her personal life. The trendy model and actress is not just a hardworking celebrity but she is also a very dedicated mother. Zhalay Sarhadi talked about motherhood while talking to Mag Weekly. She said that mother’s love transcends all other, this is something she realized only after she became a mother herself.

Zhalay Sarhadi daughter Anaya changed her life when she entered this world. Sharing her feelings Zhalay Sarhadi said,

“It was the most awaited change. I was always a responsible kid, but it was only after becoming a mother that I became completely organized, knowing what I exactly want from life. Now I’m very clear in my head with no confusion.”

Talking about her feelings for her daughter she said,

“She is the biggest joy I have and it’s not a cliché for she really is! She’s the most amazing child who doesn’t give me any trouble.”

Zhalay Sarhadi also said that she was a strict mother. She added,

“I’m not even the sort who is a friend to her kid. For parents who do that at such a young age, aren’t doing it right. She’s too young right now, but she’s not afraid of me.”

Here are some pictures of Zhalay Sarhadi’s photoshoot with her daughter Anaya:

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Mira Sethi Talks About Drama Serial ”Gypsy”

Mira Sethi made her television debut with ARY’s Silvatein. She is quite a talented actress and we will be seeing her in upcoming drama serial, Gypsy, alongside Adnan Malik and Sanam Saeed. I am sure Sanam Saeed’s fans will be delighted to know that she is part of the cast.

In a recent interview with Dawn Images, Mira Sethi shared, “The most interesting thing about Gypsy is how all three characters are almost in a race to sacrifice deeply held longings for the sake of someone else’s love. In that sense, although Adnan Malik’s character is the obvious ‘gypsy’ in the story — he’s a photographer, a nomad — my character as well as Sanam’s are gypsies in their own way, in their desire to detach themselves from the people they love most.”

Mira makes no mention of Mawra so I am guessing that Mawra is no longer part of the cast.

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The story involves a love triangle but since the drama is penned by Faiza Iftikhar, the viewers need not be afraid of this trope. “It is a baffling, maddening, and ultimately very sweet love triangle.”

Faiza Iftikhar’s plays always feature headstrong characters, and Gypsy is no different. “Most Pakistani dramas are centered around wailing women but Gypsy is different. It’s about three strong-willed people struggling to understand the nature of their own yearning.

 

Tum Yaad Aye – The Besharams! – Episode 18

Oh my! A lot of us wondered why Mehtaab was so quiet about her past and now that the truth has begun to unravel, I am not surprised she was so mum about it. I do however think that there is more to the story and will not write off Mehtaab as the villain just yet but what an interesting twist for once if she really was the one at fault here. Sure did not see that coming!

Ahmer, with his ‘let me take your til and put it in my pocket’ and ‘hide your khushboo from the world’ is deep deeeeeep in love with Zainy. Please do not hate me for ridiculing those ‘romantic’ lines for I am a romantic at heart and fall for all the brooding, ‘eyes that speak volumes’ and even sigh at times at the age old ‘mein tumharay beghair nahin reh sakta’ but this til and khushboo business had to top the ‘Cheesy Lines Under The Guise of Romance’ charts!! And even though Munib Butt did not look very convincing saying those lines and seemed on the verge of laughing himself, it seems to work though for although Zainy keeps telling Ahmer that she can not be with him, she still loves him and is often lost in thought thinking about the moments she has spent with him.

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Nigar and Novera – what a combo! Novera is like the match that would set the ticking bomb that is Nigar off – she just needs to find the right moment to say what she has to say and then let all hell break loose! I found it hilarious when Zainy says Novera has a crush on Sherry and when she tells her off for telling her for the umpteenth time how lucky she is was so spot on. I wonder why Nigar has not sat Novera down for a 1 to 1 for Novera sure as hell looks like she’s ready to spill the beans and then some! Nigar is not immune to Zainy’s aloofness and disinterest in the whole wedding preparations and does not mince words sharing her thoughts with Sherry. Zainy has decided that she can not play with her parents’ ‘izzat’ anymore and will marry Sherry thinking this is the right thing to do.

Ah, the bombshell! I am still wary of this latest development. Phuppo and Tayi’s conversation seems to suggest that Mehtaab had wronged her first husband and he kept quiet and forbid his family to talk about what happened. Ahmer listens in on the conversation and upon a search through his dead Chachu’s briefcase he finds a brown envelope which seems to hold a lot of answers. So did Mehtaab leave Zainy’s father for Yusuf Kamdar? Really?! I thought the whole ‘besharam aap, nahin besharam aap’ might end with Mehtaab slapping Zainy but it did not come to that. The look Yusuf gave Mehtaab and Zainy though seemed to suggest there may be some truth in what Zainy is accusing her mother of but we will have to wait and see. I thought it odd that Mehtaab stepped out when Yusuf asked her to. Why could she not have finished off her conversation with Zainy on a proper note rather than running off when Yusuf called her? I wonder what Zainy’s father had written in that letter? Was it something that he did that made Mehtaab leave him and then marry Yusuf or did she actually leave him for Yusuf? Somehow I find it hard to believe that Mehtaab and Yusuf were romantically involved while Mehtaab was married To Zainy’s father and I think there is more to this than what we have been told so far but then who knows? I suppose the story will unfold eventually.

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Zainy had been accepting, although disinterested with her upcoming marriage to Sherry but it seems that now armed with this ‘truth’ she will not marry him as she clearly says to her mother. Next week’s promo shows Phuppo and Tayi’s appearance at Zainy’s house ‘demanding’ her hand in marriage and Mehtaab saying she would rather kill her daughter than agree to this marriage. Umm, ok. Just as this drama seems to settle into a sluggish pace, something comes up and the pace picks up again. I had not expected this twist in Mehtaab’s character and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I know some of us do not seem to like Munib Butt’s acting but I have not seen him in any other play and to me, he seems perfect as the impulsive, immature Ahmer. I love how Seher Afzal has portrayed her character where she feels she is the one being wronged and ‘judged’ and where she is not evil but we see what a confused, spoilt girl she is. The claustrophobic intricate web of relations does seem to raise its head in every other episode, such as Yusuf’s comment in this episode about Zainy now being not only a daughter but daughter in law as well so she should be extra careful about maintaining the ‘izzat’ of this house – uggh – but yet this drama has more to offer in terms of story, pace and acting and keeps my interest alive.

Seems like Zainy will get her way and marry Ahmer and I saw a photo somewhere on Facebook of Novera in bridal clothes and sitting with Sherry so seems like she may get her Prince Charming too. But what then? What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Neelam Muneer & Sanam Chaudhry’s Latest Photo Shoot

Neelam Muneer and Sanam Chaudhry are two wonderful actresses and both have a good fan following. They appeared together as sisters in drama serial, Mere Mehrbaan. Now, they were seen posing together for Ayesha Zahra’s Lawn Collection for Al Zohaib Textiles.

Have a look at the lovely pictures:

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Firdous Lawn Eid Collection Launch – Pictures

Today, Firdous Lawn launched their Eid collection and many celebrities including Aiza Khan, Bushra Ansari, Sumbul Iqbal etc were spotted.

Have a look at the lovely pictures:

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Kathputli – Upcoming Drama On HumTV

The promos of Kathputli caught my eye primarily because of the real-life couple, Goher Mumtaz and Anam Ahmed. Goher Mumtaz made his debut with Tanhai and he was later seen in drama serials like Neelam Kinaray and Uff Yeh Muhabbat. His gorgeous wife, Anam Ahmed will be making her debut with HumTV’s Kathputli and the couple will be seen together.

Written by Faiza Iftikhar, directed by Fahim Burney, produced by Momina Duraid under MD Productions, drama serial Kathputli is expected to go on air on 11 June 2016.
According to Brandsynario, Anum plays the role of an innocent girl who falls in love with Gohar but no points for guessing that their relationship faces some obstacles.
The rest of the cast includes Sanam Chaudhry, Farhan Ahmed Malhi, Samina Ahmad, Farah Nadeem and Shaheen Khan.

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Anam is excited about her debut. “MD Production -Fahim Burney’s production house has been insisting that I act for them in the past year. But I had different priorities at the time. I was completing my studies and waiting for the right time to make my debut. Of course, working with Gohar felt like the most natural and comfortable way to begin.”

Speaking to Dawn Images, Anam said that this drama was a huge learning experience. She also spoke highly of the entire team. “I’m blessed to work with lovely co-actors, director and production team who treated me like their very own. At the end of it, we became more like a family than anything else.”

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Ahmad Ali Butt Asks LSA Jury to…

Ahmad Ali Butt is one of the most talented comedians and actors out there. Any award ceremony is incomplete without Ahmad Ali Butt’s presence and perfect comedic timing.

In the LSA Nominee Reveal 2016, Ahmad Ali Butt was nominated in the category of Best Actor for his performance in Jawani Phir Nahe Ani, but listen to this: Ahmad Ali Butt has asked LSA jury to remove his nomination. Talking to Express Tribune, Ahmad said, ”I am truly honoured and thankful to be nominated in the Best Actor category for my film Jawani Phir Nahi Aani. However, I believe that my role in the movie was of a supporting actor and not the main lead, where I have currently been nominated and therefore I have officially requested the team and the respected jury members at Lux Style Awards to look into this matter and move my nomination in the appropriate category of Best Supporting Actor.”

Ahmad Ali Butt has sent an email and Fareshteh Aslam who is in charge of LSA’s media management, spoke to Express Tribune about this, “I haven’t seen the email but I have heard that he has approached the jury. A committee reviews all the nominations after they have been announced anyway. So, if there has been any mistake, it will be rectified.”

What Does Ali Zafar Have To Say About Pakistani Movies?

Ali Zafar is one of those multi-talented people that received a lot of praise in both Pakistan and India. Recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Ali Zafar shared his views about both Pakistani and Indian film industries.

“I feel that just like Indian films release in Pakistan, Pakistani movies should also release in India. I am sure people here will like them.Over the past few years, many movies have been made in Pakistan. And with the growing competition, the quality is bound to improve. I have met many talented directors and writers with some great ideas, and I want to work with them.”

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According to Ali Zafar, Bollywood has an edge over Pakistani film industry. “India has an edge when it comes to the infrastructure here, because this industry has been growing for decades. I am sure the Pakistani film industry will also become more systematic in the next few years.”

He is a singer, actor, producer but now he wants to try his luck as a director, too. “Multitasking is challenging, but I enjoy it. I would love to direct a movie in the future. Film direction has always fascinated me.”

Umera Ahmed writing for Indian film

Umera Ahmed is an acclaimed fiction and drama writer of our country. She has a lot of successful dramas and novels/short stories on her credit. Her famous dramas are Meri Zaat Zarra Benishan, Shehre zaat, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Kankar.

Umera has not written any new drama for past two years or so but has provided screenplay for few dramas like currently aired Aabroo on Hum Tv and Digest Writer before that. Both these plays have also been successful.

After success in dramas, Umera is now writing the screenplay of a film. It is not a Pakistani film, but an Indian film. Acclaimed Indian artist Shabana Azmi is playing the lead role in this film.

Umera Ahmed official facebook page has posted about this film as follows

My first Indian film as a screenplay writer is being shot in Kashmir these days. Based on a short story by Munshi Prem Chand Eidgah is a co-production between India and Poland for World Cinema. Shabana Azmi is playing the main lead and Piyush Punjuani is the director.

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Rashid Nazir Ali

“We need to generate some work for Bollywood actors” – Fawad Khan

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Fawad Khan is a Pakistani who has gained a lot of popularity in India. He is always trying to find ways to bring Indian and Pakistanis together. He also believes that art has nothing to do with boundaries. He also wants people on both side of the border to be more tolerant of each other. While talking to the media Fawad Khan said,

“In the world that we live today, news thrives on disaster and catastrophe. We don’t see as many good things being reported… I guess people just like to see tragedy and drama. I think films expose you to a lot more, which is good.”

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Fawad Khan also thinks that travelling is about much more than just taking a break and seeing other countries. He said,

” I believe that the best way to bridge the gap is to travel and expose yourself to the world. The more you see the world; the more you will become tolerant towards different ways of the world.”

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Fawad Khan also wants Bollywood actors to come to Pakistan. He said that he had invited his co-stars to visit Pakistan and they said that they will if there is such an opportunity.

“I think there is that curiosity, but somehow because of our lifestyle and fast-paced work, we just don’t end up entertaining that curiosity to travel. I’ve always wanted to see India, my wife was keener, but I landed up here for the first time because of my work.”

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Fawad Khan also said that he has always liked being in India. He said that he never felt like he was in a new place.

“When I came to India for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the country, and I felt it was like a home away from home. Well, I think we need to generate some work for Bollywood actors to come over to Pakistan. We will be doing that, Insha Allah.”

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There is also news that Fawad Khan may star in Karan Johar’s next film “Kalank” which will be directed by Abhishek Verman. The movie will have two male leads. Arjun Kapoor is being considered for the second Male lead.

Is India Ready For Qandeel Baloch?

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Qandeel Baloch is one of the most controversial people who has done everything she could to get attention from the public from posting pictures and videos which are obscene to saying things in talk shows which were shocking for many. She also caught plenty of limelight when she tried her best to meet the leader of PTI. Qandeel Baloch is also known for her emotional outbursts when things don’t go her way. She is known as a drama queen who is compared to the likes of Mathira and Veena who also astonished the public with their controversial pictures, videos and statements.

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The latest news is that Qandeel Baloch will be part of the next season of Big Boss. Big Boss is a reality show which is also controversial most of the times just like Qandeel Baloch. Veena Malik and Ali Saleem were also part of this show many years ago. Qandeel Baloch made this announcement on facebook.

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She is also claiming that she is being offered a large amount of money for being part of the show, something she is very excited about. While she is posting every news item relating to the show on her page, she is also using the hash tag #rumors with it.

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Mein Sitara – Episode 12

Right now the most amazing aspect of this drama serial is the characterization and the relationships of all the characters with each other. Mein Sitara has never been a fast paced play but things always move forward a little with every passing episode giving the viewers something to look forward to. Watching this drama is like reading your favorite novel, you want to pause after you have read a few lines so that you can enjoy every little detail.

This episode showed brilliantly how hard it is for Sitara to make a decision at this point. She vows not to take this relationship with Farhad any further but then whenever he approaches her, the temptation is too much to resist. She does not want to let Jharna down and at the same time she cannot break Farhad’s heart. Tonight for the first time it seemed like Farhad was taking advantage of Sitara. At this point he is definitely the one investing all his emotions and energies into taking this relationship forward. He is not letting Sitara do what she wants to do. Although Mikaal Zulfiqar and Saba Qamar are the same age but the way their relationship has been shown right from the start has made it very easy for me at least to look at Farhad Sethi as a much older man who is taking advantage of a young girl who is probably infatuated with him – nothing more and nothing less. Saba Qamar and Mikaal Zulfiqar outdid themselves in tonight’s episode. Two scenes stood out more than any other in tonight’s episode; when Farhad goes and tells Sitara that he wanted to meet her alone and when Sitara sits in front of the mirror regretting what she had done. These scenes were directed so well and acted out so brilliantly that it didn’t look like acting at all. They have portrayed every single emotion faultlessly on screen. Farhad is blinded by his fascination with Sitara right now and Sitara is unsure. Mikaal and Saba also played the lead in Sangat but Mein Sitara’s characterization is so solid that you forget that these two have played the lead ever before too. I never feel like I am watching Mikaal Zulfiqar and Saba Qamar on screen while watching this play because they are so into their characters.

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The song sequence was another addition to this episode which went to show the amount of creativity and effort that must have gone into making this play. There was absolutely no need to add this scene but adding this scene gave the viewers something different to watch, we got to hear one of the most unforgettable songs of its time and also the picturization showed the feelings of all these characters. Right now Farhad is not willing to listen to anyone. Saleem tried to tell him that he was making a mistake in very clear words but right now Farhad only wants Sitara, he does not care about his relationship with Jharna. I am hoping that the latest development in which Jharna shows up unexpectedly will serve as a wake-up call for Farhad. Farhad is just being a ‘man’ right now – I hate to generalize but there is no other explanation for this scenario! Sitara is young, beautiful and interested in him – he finds the temptation very appealing. Probably because it makes him feel young again. He is the only character at the moment who is not analyzing the whole situation in a practical way not even after Saleem told him that Jharna asked him about him and Sitara. The actor playing Saleem is another person who fits into his role flawlessly. Also, his relationship with Farhad has been shown impeccably.

Naseem Dil Ruba’s phone call confirmed Jharna’s fears although she didn’t know what was going on between Sitara and Farhad for sure. Naseem’s ‘mole’ is probably the make-up artist who keeps on giving her the information she needs. Meera’s acting yet again was a pleasant surprise. Also, the make-up artist has given everyone superb makeovers. Meera has never looked this good and Saba Qamar looked very pretty particularly in the scene in which Farhad comes to see her. Also, the person incharge of the wardrobe has complimented everyone’s looks to fit the era this drama is showing.

A lot of attention to detail, a brand new story and amazing team work is what makes Mein Sitara one of the most spell-binding dramas I have seen in a long time. It is unpredictable and enticing without being too over-dramatic. This drama has provided its viewers with 12 weeks of quality entertainment which is a huge accomplishment.

The preview of the next episode showed Jharna finally trying to convey her feelings to her husband without giving him a reason to walk out of the room. Will she be able to knock some sense into Farhad? It looks like nothing can stop Farhad right now not even Jharna.

How many of you watched this episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Shooting Of Lahore Say Agay – Pictures

The makers of the road trip/ comedy flick, Karachi Say Lahore have joined heads for the sequel, Lahore Say Agay, starring Yasir Hussain (who played quite a likable character in KSH) and Saba Qamar. Both Yasir Hussain and Saba Qamar use their instagram accounts to keep their fans posted. Have a look at the pictures:

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Maya Ali – Latest Photoshoot

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Maya Ali takes her work very seriously and does everything passionately. No matter how busy she is, she always updates her fans about her upcoming projects. Maya Ali has been the brand Ambassador for a long time. She was the one who did the modelling for Maria B.’s lawn collection and later on she was also seen walking the ramp for the designer. Now that Maria B.’s Eid collection is out Maya Ali was very enthusiastic shooting for it. She posted pictures from the shoot when it was being done. It was something she enjoyed because all the team members were her favorites. The end result of this photo shoot is perfect. Maya Ali looks stunning in these formal dresses.

Here are some pictures from the photo shoot:

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Syed Jibran Celebrates His Daughter’s Birthday – Pictures

Syed Jibran is a brilliant actor who has appeared in numerous dramas, and he never fails to impress the viewers. He played the disgustingly evil Numair in Chup Raho, and we also saw him taking on the role of a doting brother and husband in Ishqparast.

Recently, he celebrated the birthday of his daughter, Eva. Here are some of the lovely pictures:

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Judai – The Weeping Brotherhood! – Episode 16

So the overflow of emotions continues. Mehr brings Zaina and Zaryan to her home and unknowingly offers Zaina up as the sacrificial lamb for Alia and Haider to zero in on. Sooo sooo relieved Zaina was not left saying ‘meri baat tau sunain’ and I held my breath until she completed her sentence when she says she knew Hamza in Lahore – but she had no idea he was Hassan’s son. Her statement seems to fall on deaf ears – well except Mehr’s who believes Zaina. I have to say Mehr does have a lot of faith in these two strangers for yes, we as viewers know the truth but for Mehr – and even Haider and Alia,  Zaina could be guilty as Alia suspects. Hamza however is another story. He sure seemed to be a lot more persuasive when he was bent on wooing Zaina in Lahore and is now reduced to a head bobbing speechless puppet!

Mehr’s slap was a bit drastic and I had actually expected Zaryan might lash out at Haider then when Haider questions Zaryan and Zaina’s motives. Suitcase promptly packed in minutes, Haider and Alia move in to Alia’s parents’ house. Why is it that the bahus in our dramas are either pure evil or pure doormats? Why is there generally never a woman who faces her share of situations that life throws her way yet she is not a bechari nor a scheming shrew?!

Haider’s crumpling face when Mehr slaps him and then later when Alia literally rubs salt in his wounds made me shake my head in amusement. And then Hamza’s quivering voice that has been threatening to bring on the tears finally gave in and it was so not amusing to watch a grown Hamza cry like that! I am all for sensitive, ‘human’ men with feelings and of course even grown men may shed a tear or two in grief but this spineless, kaan ka kacha Hamza has no sympathy from me. He was the one who pursued Zaina and went all out to try to get her to spend time with him etc. For all his ‘itna toot kar chaha tha’ you would think he would have a bit more faith especially when his mother and best friend Minahil seem to trust Zaina a whole lot more then what excuse does he, the man who supposedly loves her a lot have?

Zaryan’s reaction to finding Zaina had hid the truth from him was justified. I like how he says that he did not have an issue that Zaina was friends with Hamza but the fact that she hid it from him and then he had to be told the truth in front of Haider and Co hurt him. Waisay, why is it that Minahil has to talk sense into these guys? Why can Minahil see what Hamza can not? True he is in shock but then so is Zaina. Yes, you guessed right – not a fan of Hamza’s personality at all!

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Hamza is angry with Mehr now too and she feels she has lost her sons to the ‘new bachay’ as Haider calls them. I get Zaryan’s guilt over having caused so much havoc in Mehr’s life but I also understand how they really have no place to go. Junaid’s advice to him to stay and take what is his does ring true. If Hassan had made provisions for Zaina and Zaryan to live comfortably then given how utterly alone and dependent they are, I would see how Zaryan may want to swallow his pride for now till the storm blows over and they are in a position to leave Mehr’s house.

I wonder what it was that Hamza wanted to say to Zaina. I expected a bit more of a reaction from Mehr when she learns of the relationship between Zaina and Hamza and uff I do mean their romance and not supposedly the behn bhai wala rishta that Alia seems bent on pushing forward!! Even though Hassan had the foresight and the sense to make adjustments in his will so that Zaina and Zaryan get their share too I wonder if Haider will still manage to find a way round the whole thing to suit himself. Will Hamza get over his ‘hum aap kay hain kaun – bhai ya lurrrve’ soon enough or is that to carry on a while? Will there be more confrontations and tears leading nowhere? Excluding Alia-Haider’s conversations, this episode did hold my interest and I am curious to see where all this leads to. I just hope it does not become one of those dramas where Haider-Alia-Hamza will continue teaming up against Zaina-Zaryan-Mehr until the last twenty minutes of the last episode where everyone will suddenly become one big happy family!  I will never trust a drama again if that happens, LOL!

What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Tum Kon Piya – Episode 11

Tum Kon Piya continues to be a mediocre play in terms of storyline but the sleek direction and well written dialogues make it a decent watch. Although there is nothing extraordinary about the story but like I said before the fact that there are no glaring flaws in the script make it interesting enough. This episode focused on Arif’s growing frustration, gradual realization on the part of Elma’s father that he had made a big mistake, Javeria’s re-entry in the show, Ramish changing his decision and Elma’s failed attempts to win the approval of her mother-in-law.

Ramish’s father felt like a victorious man whose ego and pride both had been satisfied because his son had finally accepted Sunbal as his future wife. Muzaffar Hassan obviously must have something to gain from this marriage otherwise he would not have tried this hard to make it happen. After his father’s heart attack Ramish did not want to do anything to upset him further and ended up doing what he wanted him to do. Watching Muzaffar Hassan analyzing his son like he knew about life and relationships more than anyone else was rather ironic! He is a very narrow-minded man who thinks that the world is exactly the way he sees it when actually that is not the case. For the first time today it seemed like Mehmood Akhtar was not into his character and was just reading his lines out loud.

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Arif’s confrontation with his mother went to show that his anger and frustration is growing with every passing day. And like any other man who has achieved nothing in life he is not willing to own his failures. Yasir Shoro was beyond impressive in this scene, his acting was spot on and powerful. He has portrayed different shades of Arif’s character so well that you have no choice but to wonder how his track will develop in the upcoming episodes. Arif is the middle child who never got the attention he wanted, because of his complexes he was never able to achieve anything in life and now with a new person in the house he feels even more suffocated.

Javeria mentioned that she had been meeting Arif very casually but it implied that she might be the one who has been adding to the way he has been acting lately just to cause even more trouble in the house. Watching Zarbab’s sister talk about her bhabhi like she was a very negative person went to show that although she is always complaining about the way her mother is with her son and daughter in law but deep down she has the same thinking too. Javeria is back in the picture and it remains to be seen how she will effect Zarbab’s life now.

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The scenes in which Elma’s mother in law told her off over and over again and the way Waqar Ali told lies to convince Seema’s khala that Elma was very happy in her life were the most clichéd parts of tonight’s episode. Although Waqar Ali had no idea that Sharaft begum could be so rude and insensitive but he always knew that Elma’s in laws weren’t so welcoming either. The confrontation with Sharafat begum was unexpected and hurt Waqar Ali, something which made him regret his decision. Although there is nothing new about these developments, we have seen them over and over again in dramas but even then they were shown nicely without stretching these scenes. The only part that is getting annoying are the same kind of issues – Elma not turning up for dinner and chai engagements!

Elma always looked trim and proper before she got married and in the first 2 or 3 days of her marriage but now it is good to see that the director and Ayeza Khan both decided to compromise on her looks because that is what the situation demands. Otherwise we have seen women who go through the worse phase of their life with their hair perfectly curled and styled and without making any compromises on their make-up. These realistic touches make the story and characters easy to connect to. Ayeza Khan has a pleasing personality and an innocent face which has so far made Elma’s character likeable even though it doesn’t have much to offer.

Although Sharafat begum’s role is very typical but I am certain there are many women out there who can relate to her character. Zarbab wants to keep peace in the house and if he has to compromise on a few things in order to do that he doesn’t mind it.

The preview of the next episode showed Arif and Javeria scheming to break Zarbab’s marriage and most importantly Ramish overhearing his father saying that he faked a heart attack (surprise surprise!). This proves one thing that Tum Kon Piya definitely does not bank on never-ending misunderstandings to take the story forward.

How many of you watched this latest episode of Tum Kon Piya? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.

 

Fatima Awan

“Star Iftar” With Sarmad Khoosat On Urdu1

Sarmad Khoosat doesn’t cease to amaze me – we all know that he can act and direct, flawlessly, may I add, but listen to this: he can cook, too! Our favourite director will be seen on Urdu1 with his own production, ”Star Iftar”. This show will air from the first of Ramadan, everyday at 6:00 pm.

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Talking to Dawn Images, Sarmad Khoosat revealed, “I am cooking and chatting with celebrity friends; it’s a recorded show. It’s the first production of my recently launched company, Khoosat Films and my sister, Kanwal Khoosat is directing it.”

We will be seeing many celebrities including Mahira Khan, Maya Ali, Junaid Khan, Reema, Mawra Hocane, Amina Sheikh. I don’t know about you, but I am excited!

Sarmad Khoosat also added, “All I can say is that I am not competing with anyone, at least not the grand, big shows. Mine is a small, cozy and personal show.”

Here are a few pictures:

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Morning Shows Hosts Talk About Their Experiences

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Farah Hussain is known for her unique style of hosting Morning Shows. Unlike other Morning Show hosts she does not add dances to her shows and mostly her show is more informative. Farah Hussain organized another interesting show recently by asking Javeria Abbasi and Noor to come to her show and talk about their experiences as Morning Show hosts.

Javeria and Noor shared some interesting aspects of hosting Morning Shows. They said that they appreciated the fact that Farah was educating people with her shows. But Farah Hussain said,

“When I meet people they appreciate me for doing a different show, for giving them information but the fact is that the shows in which there are dances and other things get more TRPs.”

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Noor said that she was more comfortable acting than hosting. Morning Show hosts and showed in a short clip what hosting Morning Shows had taught them. Sanam Baloch said,

“I think that the objective of Morning Shows shouldn’t only be entertainment but we should try to focus on social issues too and do whatever we can for the society.”

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Madiha Naqvi said,

“Hosting a Morning Show has made a better person. The only negative side of doing Morning Shows is that unless you have wedding functions on your show, the show does not get ratings. I don’t like that.”

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Javeria Abbasi also shared,

“When Shaista Lodhi’s Morning Show was banned, the channels and the Morning show hosts were very scared. We used to get all kinds of strange instructions like how to wear our duppata, how to sit and what not.”

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Faysal Qureshi said,

“Being a Morning Show host is tough for me because I am also an actor, I am doing films and I have to go to the gym. It is not easy to manage. The biggest advantage of hosting these shows is that there are so many things in my heart which I want people should hear and these shows give me the opportunity to do that. I want people to love each other and stop hating.”

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Noor said,

“Nowadays the only criteria for being a host is that you should look good, nothing else matters.”

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Watch the show here:

 

Fashion Parade London – Pictures

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Pakistani fashion industry is progressing with every passing year. With new designers and techniques being introduced the fashion industry is making waves not only in Pakistan but also globally. It is economically profitable for the country also if Pakistani designers get noticed by markets out of the country. Many designers have their outlets internationally too already and their products are liked by many.

Fashion Parade London was held in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Knightsbridge in which leading designers like Faiza Samee , Saira Rizwan, HSY, Ali Xeeshan, Nomi Ansari, Hira Shah, Khushboo and Mehreen Noorani  were part of the team which came up with fresh ideas especially for this event. Ali Xeeshan paid tribute to Prince, who is considered an icon in music. Other designers also got inspiration from other countries and mixed it up with their own creativity and imagination.

Here are some pictures from Fashion Parade London:

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Janaan To Be Released Internationally

Directed by Azfar Jafri, written by Osman Khalid Butt and co-produced by Reham Khan, Munir Hussain and Imran Kazmi under production banner IRK Films, Janaan is an upcoming romantic comedy expected to be released across cinemas on Eid ul Azha.

According to Brandsynario, ARY Films, that is handling the distribution of the movie in Pakistan has joined hands with B4U Movies, a Bollywood movie digital TV channel, for the international distribution of Janaan. It will be released in in six countries namely UAE, England, USA, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. The producer hopes that Janaan will be the only Pakistani movie to be released in more than six countries. The team is currently in Thailand for post-production.
The producers also promise that after they are through with this big project, they will work on other ventures, like Parchi.

I’ll admit: the trailer/teaser of the film did put me off. Khubsurat chehray and two boys falling for the same girl – nothing groundbreaking and pretty much what we keep seeing on our TV screens so if I buy a ticket to watch a film, I at least want it to offer something different. But, that’s of course my personal preference. I really want this film to prove me wrong. Best of luck to team Janaan! :)

Enjoy a few pictures:

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Ainy Jaffri Celebrating Her Birthday

Petite and pretty, Ainy Jaffri has appeared in numerous plays that were popular among the viewers, like Meri Behen Maya, Aseerzadi, and she made her big screen debut with Main Hoon Shahid Afridi. After her marriage to Faris Rehman, viewers are not seeing her onscreen as much as they would like. She will appear alongside Osman Khalid Butt in Haissam Hussain’s upcoming film.

Recently, Ainy Jaffry celebrated her birthday in London where she currently resides, and posted a couple of pictures on her instagram:

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Amber Khan Shares Bitter Experiences Of Her Marriage

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The world of showbiz is all about glitz and glam but sometimes those people who are attached to this industry are not as happy as they appear to be. Their lives are not always perfect and they have been through trying times in the past. Amber Khan is very well know host who hosted one of the most liked and famous Morning Shows. She is also considered a trend setter for introducing new segments in her show which were followed by others too.

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Nowadays Amber Khan is not hosting a show of her own but she is seen in every famous Morning Show. Usually she is seen as a fun and bubbly personality but this time she got emotional while talking about bitter experiences she had in her wedding. She did not say anything clearly but what she said clearly shows that her husband used to abuse her and did not fulfill his financial responsibilities too. Amber said that she is the kind of person who would get into fights because of small reasons but there came a time when she could not take it any more and she had to leave her marriage.

Amber also said that she was lucky to have the support of her family.

Watch the video clip here:

 

Mahira Khan Talks About LSA Nominations

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It is that time of the year when all the people attached to the entertainment industry are awarded for their work. ARY Awards and HUM Awards were held recently and now Lux Style Awards are expected soon. Lux Style Awards are all encompassing and were there long before private channels started their award shows. Mahira Khan it appears to be is nominated in every award show and we see her bagging an award every time. This time she has been nominated for the best actress category for drama serial Sadqay Tumhare and the film Bin Roye.

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While Talking to Express Tribune after the nominations were announced Mahira Khan shared what it felt like to be nominated and whether winning or losing meant something huge for her. She said,

 “It always feels good to be nominated. Winning and losing I don’t really care about. It is good to know that these people are watching our work and recognizing it.”

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Mahira Khan also said,

“I don’t like the term ‘revival of Pakistani cinema’ being used again and again. I think the revival period is over, Pakistan cinema has been revived now we should stop using this word. We need to say that we are going to maintain what we have achieved. We have to continue churning out good films.”

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Mahira Khan said that she had no information about why Raees’ release was delayed because it was the decision of the producer.

“It is upsetting when films are delayed, same happened with Bin Roye too.”

Mahira Khan also talked about her future plans.

“Because I thought Raees was coming out in July, I stopped taking any work. I couldn’t do some amazing films that came my way. I had to let go but now I have decided that I have to work. I am going completely crazy, I need to be on a set, I need to be acting, reading a script. I am looking into a few really good things.”

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Mahira Khan said that the fans will find out very soon what she is doing next.

And The Nominees Are…

The wait is over! The nominees for Lux Style Awards 2016 were announced in an event that was hosted by Mahira Khan.

Have a look at the list.

Model of the Year (Female)

1. Amna Babar

2. Fouzia Aman

3. Nooray Bhatti

4. Rabia Butt

5. Sadaf Kanwal

Model of the Year (Male)

1. Aimal Khan

2. Hasnain Lehri

3. Jahan -e- Khalid

4. Shahzad Noor

5. Waleed Khaild

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Fashion Photographer

1. Abdullah Harris

2. Ayaz Anis

3. Guddu Shani

4. Rizwan ul Haq

5. Shahbaz Shazi

Best Hair and Make-up Artist

1. Hannan Siddique

2. Nabila

3. Omayr Waqar

4. Raana Khan

5. Shammal Qureshi for Toni & Guy (North Pakistan)

Achievement in Fashion Design – Luxury Pret

1. Mahgul

2. Misha Lakhani

3. Muse

4. Sania Maskatiya

5. Shamaeel Ansari

Achievement in Fashion Design – Pret

1. Coco by Zara Shahjahan

2. Daaman

3. Generation

4. Sana Safinaz

5. Sapphire

Achievement in Fashion Design – Bridal

1. Ali Xeeshan

2. Elan

3. Faraz Manan

4. Shehla Chatoor

5. The House of Kamiar Rokni

Achievement in Fashion Design – Lawn

1. Elan

2. Faraz Manan

3. Sana Safinaz

4. Sania Maskatiya

5. Zara Shahjahan

Best Menswear Designer

1. Ahmed Bham

2. Amir Adnan

3. Hassan Sheheryar Yasin

4. Nauman Arfeen

5. Omar Farooq for Republic

Best Emerging Talent

1. Alee Hasan (Photography)

2. Ammara Khan (Designer)

3. Anum Malik (Model)

4. Hira Shah (Model)

5. Zara Abid (Model)

FILM

Best Film

1. Jawani Phir Nai Aani by Six Sigma Productions & ARY Films

2. Manto by GEO A & B Productions

3. Moor by Azad Films Co & Mandviwalla Entertainment

4. Shah by Logo Films & Media

5. Wrong No. by YNH Films & ARY Films

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Best Film Actress

1. Mahira Khan for Bin Roye

2. Mehwish Hayat for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

3. Samia Mumtaz for Moor

4. Sania Saeed for Manto

5. Sohai Abro for Wrong No.

Best Film Actor

1. Adnan Sarwar for Shah

2. Ahmed Ali Butt for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

3. Hameed Sheikh for Moor

4. Humayun Saeed for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

5. Sarmad Sultan Khoosat for Manto

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Best Film Director

1. Adnan Sarwar for Shah

2. Jamshed Mehmood Raza for Moor

3. Momina Duraid & Shahzad Kashmiri for Bin Roye

4. Nadeem baig for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

5. Sarmad Sultan Khoosat for Manto

 

Best Supporting Actress

1. Armeena Rana Khan for Bin Roye

2. Ayesha Khan for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

3. Nimra Bucha for Manto

4. Sarwat Gillani for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

5. Sohai Ali Abro for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

Best Supporting Actor

1. Ali Safina for Jalaibee

2. Javed Sheikh for Wrong No.

3. Shaz Khan for Moor

4. Vasay Chaudhry for Jawani Phir Nahi Aani

5. Yasir Hussain for Karachi se Lahore

Best Singer (Male) – Film

1. Ali Noor & Ali Humza OST Karachi Se Lahore

2. Ali Sethi for Aah Ko chahiye OST Manto

3. Javed Bashir for Talabgaar OST Moor

4. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for Teray Bina Jeena OST Bin Roye

5. Rahim Shah for Gul Bashri OST Moor

Best Singer (Female) – Film

1. Abida Parveen for Maula OST Bin Roye

2. Zeb Bangesh for Kya Hoga OST Manto

3. Meesha Shafi for Eva OST Moor

4. Harshdeep Kaur for Ballay Ballay OST Bin Roye

5. Zarrish for Rabbi Ralli OST Dekh Magar Pyar Sey

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MUSIC

Album of the year

1. Bahadur Yaar Jung by E Sharp

2. Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh by Noori

3. Ismail ka Urdu Sheher by Zohaib Kazi

4. Saturday Night Killing Machine by Adil Omar and Talal Qureshi

5. Till the End of Time by Natasha Humera Ejaz

Song of the Year

1. Jogiya by Javed Bashir

2. Rockstar Romeo by Ali Zafar

3. Sarak Sarak by Mai Dhai Band

4. Shakar Wandaan by Asrar Shah

5. Tamasha by Khumariyaan

Best Music Video Director

1. Adil Omar for Nighat & Paras by Adil Omar & Talal Qureshi

2. Kamal Khan for Wake Up/Jaago by Zohaib Kazi

3. Nadir Shehzad Khan for Baaghi by Sikandar Ka Mandar

4. Natasha Humera Ejaz & Shahrukh Khurshid for Khwab by Natasha Humera Ejaz

5. Salman Noorani for Mariam by Mooroo

Best Emerging Talent

1. Ali Suhail

2. Mehdi Maloof

3. Slow Spin

4. SomeWhatSuper

5. The Tamashbeens

TELEVISION

Best TV Play

1. Diyar-e-Dil

2. Mohabbat Aag Si

3. Muqaddas

4. Rung Laga

5. Sadqay Tumhare

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Best TV Actor

1. Adnan Malik for Sadqay Tumharay

2. Faisal Qureshi for Rang Laga

3. Noman Ejaz for Zinda Dargor

4. Noor Hassan for Muqaddas

5. Osman Khalid Butt for Diyar-e-Dil

Best TV Actress

1. Iffat Umer in Mohabbat Aag Si

2. Mahira Khan for Sadqay Tumharay

3. Maya Ali for Diyar-e-Dil

4. Saima Noor in Rang Laga

5. Sajjal Ali for Khuda Dekh Raha Hai

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Best TV Director

1. Aamir Yousuf for Aap ki kaneez

2. Anjum Shahzad for Rang Laga

3. Ehteshamuddin for Sadqay Tumhare

4. Haseeb Hassan for Diyar-e-Dil

5. Sabiha Sumar for Khuda Dekh Raha Hai

Best TV Writer

1. Adeel Razzaq for Muqaddas

2. Farhat Ishtiaq for Diyar-e-Dil

3. Imran Nazir for Muhabbat Aag Si

4. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar for Sadqay Tumhare

5. Sana Fahad for Rang Laga

Best Original Sound Track

1. Alvida by Shafqat Amanat Ali for Alvida by Momina Duraid, Humayun Saeed, Shehzad Naseeb

2. Diyar e Dil by Zeb Bangash and Momin Durrani for Diyar-e-Dil by Momina Duraid

3. Dusri Biwi by Ahmad Jahanzeb for Dusri Biwi by Fahad Mustafa & Ali Kazmi

4. Mohabbat Aag Si by Shafqat Salamat Ali & Beena Khan for MAS by Momina Duraid Productions

5. Mol by Bushra Bilal for Mol by Momina Duraid & Satish Anand

All the best to the nominees! :)

Magnum Store Opening (Lahore) – Pictures

When Magnum Store was first opened in Karachi, many celebrities were seen showing their support. Similarly, on 30th May 2016, celebrities were spotted at Magnum Store Lahore. Have a look at the pictures:

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Veena Malik To Make A Comeback On Television

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Veena Malik’s life took a turn for the better few years back when she decided to ask Allah for forgiveness and follow a path which was very different from the one she was following before. There was a time when Veena Malik was known for her controversial projects whether they were films or photo shoots, Veena Malik never tried to follow the norms of the society. She was a rebel who did everything she could to get attention.

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It is not easy to admit that you have made mistakes in the past but Veena Malik has done that on shows which were being watched by millions of people. She said in a show that everyone makes decisions in life they are not very proud of and everything Veena Malik did in the past was a product of many wrong decisions which she will never repeat again.

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When Veena Malik came back to Pakistan few weeks back she said that she had no intentions of doing films but she was going to consider doing dramas. The promo on Aplus suggests that Veena Malik will start her journey on television with something very different from dramas and films. Not much has been revealed about what she will be doing but it appears to be that she will be contributing in some way to the Ramazan transmission on Aplus. We wish Veena Malik all the best.

Watch the promo here:

Dinner Hosted In Honour Of Amir Khan – Pictures

Born and bred in Britain but true to his Pakistani roots, Amir Khan is a professional boxer. His Amir Khan Foundation has been working globally to improve the lives of the underprivileged, and recently, their aim is to drill two water wells in Thar. For the purpose of raising funds, Amir Khan is currently in Karachi, so a dinner was hosted in his honour. Many celebrities including Ali Zafar, Ayesha Khan, Amna Baber, Anoushey Ashraf were present. Here are the pictures:

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Mera Yaar Miladay – The Blame Game – Episodes 16 & 17

So where do I start? Everyone is either offering themselves up for blame or blaming the other. If Dabbu had not thrown Fahd out he would not have run off with Mushq and a half baked plan, eventually ditching Mushq. If Mushq had not run away Zeba would not have ended up with Niyaaz, correction, evil nand. If Striker had not opened his mouth, Mushq’s feelings would not have been hurt and she would not have run away for the umpteenth time. If Mushq had not run away in the first place then Dabbu would not have had to worry about leaving the mohalla. If Fahd had not left for Karachi his mother would not have been wailing buckets. If Mushq had not bumped into Fahd at that wedding then none of this mess would have started. And if the day I thought of writing my very first review had not been the day this drama had aired its first episode, I would not be writing weekly reviews on the drama. Not to go all Dabbu-Striker on you all, but yeh sub kismet ka khail hai meray dost!

But here we are. So Zeba is not willing to forgive Mushq and egged on by her nand she asks Mushq to leave her alone. She later visits her and makes it clear to her that she wants nothing to do with her ever. She also blames her for the misery she is living in. Oh well. Mushq accepts Dabbu’s offer and goes to stay in his house. Obviously the mohalla is outraged and Aslam issues an ultimatum to Dabbu to either throw Mushq out or leave the mohalla by the next evening. Master Sb truly does not want Mushq in his life for he stood there as the ultimatum was issued and really could not care less what happens to Mushq.

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Aww Dado aww. I teared up when she says to her son that she promised her daughter on law on her deathbed that she would raise her daughters as her own. And Dado really did stand by her promise. Such a positive beautiful character and so refreshingly different from the grandmothers and saas that our dramas love to portray. Seems like Zeba vented out all her marital frustrations on Mushq when she screeched and threw Mushq out from her father’s house when Dado dies. Not sure what the point was to kill off Dado’s character though. I suppose we will have to wait and see.

So we learn Dabbu’s real story. I am curious to know what his real name is by the way. I would be very tickled if it is an old fashioned name, the very opposite of Dabbu. It was a relief to hear him speak like a normal person when he tells Mushq about his degree and his father. But he reverts back to his street wise language and mannerisms later though I noticed. Just as Fahd had been hit with that brainwave in the earlier episodes to leave Lahore and head to Karachi to find Mushq, Dabbu is hit with the same bright idea and he and Mushq head off to Lahore. Ek tau mein yeh mobiles say boht tang hoon! Dabbu’s mobile is stolen and that is just going to make it all the more harder to find Fahd (obviously).

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Ainjing and oonjing, Fahd’s mother is the queen of emotional blackmail. With the recent dramas it seemed that shaadi was the only solution to everything. While that holds true, it now comes with a twist. Shaadi or else – janaaza! Fahd’s mother threatens him to marry a girl of her choice and give up Mushq ki yaad otherwise she will lay down her life. Sigh. Seems to work because Fahd is seen having laddus stuffed in his face and his rishta done.

I wonder if this is  going to go down the Hum Dil De Chukay Sanam path. Obviously Dabbu and Mushq are not married yet but in his quest to find Mushq’s ‘lover boy’, Dabbu will go all out for her and they will ‘bhatkofy’ from here to there and in all that she will begin to develop feelings for him so much so that when they finally find Fahd, Dabbu and Mushq will be in love and realize it only when they have found Fahd. So Dabbu and Mushq will end up together, leaving a usually disoriented Fahd even more disoriented and his mother yelling ainj what the hell?!

What is with the lighting in this play? I am not sure if it is meant to have some sort of aesthetic impact but I am only left squinting. I was waiting for Dabbu –Mushq track to begin for the romantic tones it seemed to offer with Mushq falling in love with Dabbu’s ‘good heart’ but I did not realize I would enjoy the chemistry Faysal Qureshi and Sajal Ali seemed to share. I am glad Mushq is not taking out her anger and frustrations on Dabbu and sees him for the good person he is. Makes falling in love with him easier to believe and more enjoyable to watch. Ah well, I am assuming she will fall in love with him?!

I wrote this review then waited till I could watch the promo for next week’s episode on TV. Lots of touching moments between Mushq and Dabbu – as predicted!

Oh, by the way. Striker’s chacha. Another old man. With the track record of old men in this drama, I really hope this is not another leery old man. Please Mushq marry Dabbu before you decide to marry another oldie!!

What did you all think of these episodes? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid

15th LSA 2016 Nominee Reveal – Pictures

Lux Style Awards (LSA), dubbed ‘Pakistani Oscars’, are always considered a big deal, especially these days when in-house award shows have emerged, people look forward to LSA for unbiased results.

Today, the Nominee Reveal Ceremony was held. The event was hosted by the face of Lux, Mahira Khan and the super talented Yasir Hussain. Have a look at the pictures:

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Mann Mayal – Episode 19

The story finally moved forward a little with this episode, now only if all this had happened some 4 weeks back things would have been much more interesting. Right now it is a case of too little too late. Mannu’s parents’ concern yet again seemed out of place since they were missing in the past few episodes and the fact that Mannu’s father turned to Salahuddin yet again went to show that he had learned absolutely nothing from his past mistakes. After trying to win Salahuddin over with her cooking and cleaning, Jeena decided to take things in her own hands by staying back at Salahuddin’s house and she also got the golden opportunity to tell Mannu’s father off. This scene and the one later on in which she told Salahuddin that she had not let the servants in because she did not want them to know she had been there all night clearly showed that she was a liar and a manipulator. Jeena is getting more desperate with every passing day. Her story about her aunts and how she was so used to getting everything she wanted solved the ‘big mystery’ behind her obsession with Salahuddin. She wants him and will do anything to have him in her life. Her character reminded me of Rameez’s character from Alvida. There must be a good reason why her aunts abandoned her, which makes me wonder if she ran away from a psychiatric ward!

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Yet again even after Jeena’s loud and clear hints, Salahuddin did not believe his mother when she told him that Jeena liked him! The relationship between these two people could have been far more interesting and mature if Jeena wasn’t obsessive and Salahuddin didn’t play naive all the time! And of course if he didn’t give confusing signals! Mannu’s parents came to meet her for the first time unannounced but she didn’t allow them to interfere in her life in any way. Mannu’s parents just like always let their daughter have her own way because Mikael was after all the father of her children!! Whatever happened to Mannu afterwards was the direct result of all the wrong decisions which she has been taking all these years. There was no reason for her to stay in this marriage in the first place, long before she had children. Now, she has a promise to keep! Mannu is incapable of taking a stand for anyone at all. She kept on talking about her children’s future but is she really preparing for it? Storing away cash and jewelry is not exactly the best way to plan your children’s future when you have a husband like Mikael! Mikael is a hopeless case, he is not only selfish and greedy but also cruel. He is incapable of feeling anything for anyone at all. He does not care that her parents are dead and could not even remember his children’s names.

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This episode did suggest that the drama might finally pick up pace now and there will be some new scenarios in the upcoming episodes. After watching the way the story was taken forward in the past few episodes however I have very little expectations from Mann Mayal.

The preview of the next episode showed Mannu taking ‘refuge’ in Salahuddin’s house probably with Jamil’s help. All the tracks are terribly messed up at the moment. The preview of the next episode reminded me of the last few episodes of Shukk. Will Mannu do something ‘normal’ for a change and call her parents and ask them to send her a ticket? Or will she continue living in Salahuddin’s house because Salahuddin will promise her to help save her marriage? Salahuddin will at some point witness Jeena’s negative side probably when she is saying something like that to Mannu. I just hope that the drama is not stretched any further and we at least get to see some fast paced episodes in the end.

How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Servis 4th HUM Awards – The Highs And Lows

Hum TV left no stone unturned to ensure that the Servis 4th Hum Awards were the most grand of all the awards they have organized so far. The organizers raised the bar high last year and now it seems like it is only going to get higher with every passing year. Last year these awards covered only dramas but this time around there was a special category for films and the directors talked about Hum Films’ plans to add to the revival of Pakistani cinema. Almost all the prominent and new faces of the entertainment world especially the world of drama were seen on the award show and on the stage as well.

I would like to discuss the highs and lows of this award show by highlighting different aspects of the show one by one. Also, please keep in mind that this article attempts to discuss the award function and not the nominations or the awards.

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The Hosts:

The show was opened by Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayesha Khan. It wasn’t the perfect beginning because although Hamza Ali Abbasi is a great speaker and he has a nice voice but he needs to lighten up. Hamza’s body language in particular made this start too serious and not entertaining enough. Also, Hamza’s reply to Feroze Khan when he said that he could never think of competing with Hamza was in bad taste! Hosting isn’t just about reading out your script but also adding some life to the evening. Ayesha Khan’s more-American-than-the-actual-Americans accent and lack of spontaneity definitely did not help kick start the show. These two hosts were much better later on once they were on the stage for a while.

Vasay Chaudhry and Ahmed Ali Butt’s entry changed the mood of this show altogether. The lyrics of the song they sang and performed on were witty and relevant to the show. Also their performance was top-notch. They brought with them the spontaneity and wit which was lacking in the show. It cannot be easy being on the stage with such a big responsibility on your shoulders but these two makes it look like a piece of cake. Ahmed Ali Butt in particular is truly gifted.

Sanam Jung hosted part of the show with Hamza Ali Abbasi and Vasay Chaudhry. Sanam Jung was confident, articulate and definitely much better than some of her co-hosts. She did not shake for a single second even and was definitely not on a mission to impress anyone with her English accent!

Vasay Chaudhry, Ahmed Ali Butt and Sanam Jung did their job well and made these award shows fun to watch.

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The Stage And The Script:

The stage was perfect in every way. Whoever was in charge of the stage did complete justice to the task assigned to them. Every time there was a new performance the background changed and it looked beautiful.

This time around there was plenty of Urdu in between too unlike the last time when the entire script was in English. Ahmed Ali Butt and Vasay Chaudhry mentioned in the beginning that some people got offended last time therefore they kept the personal jokes to the minimum and focused more on general things like the excessive rona dhona in our dramas and different reasons why people watch these dramas etc.

The introduction part in the beginning of the show however was less than average, there was more focus on rhyming and less on briefly asserting the importance of these awards. Unlike the last time the most important awards were not introduced very eloquently.

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The Dance Performances:

I have to say that after I was finally done watching the award show I felt like I had just watched a dance competition! There were too many dances in the show, some of which were truly impressive without any doubt. The costumes, set and choreography was spot on but why do we continue to be fixated with Indian songs? Honestly speaking, it was shocking to see so many dance performances on Indian songs at a time when we are all raving about the growth of Pakistani film industry. If all these producers and directors are so impressed by the growth of the Pakistani film industry then why do they choose Indian songs for these performances?

Atif Aslam’s performance was impressive but was he singing live or just lip syncing?

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Few Suggestions

I was very tempted to give a few suggestions after watching this award show. A lot of hard work went into organizing this grand ceremony – something which I truly appreciate and acknowledge but if our organizers pay a little more attention to few things here and there then they can truly give these award shows a more ‘made in Pakistan’ feel.

Pakistan is blessed with some amazing writers and our actors who hosted this show are very good at speaking Urdu therefore it would be nice to ask one of these writers to write the script which I am certain even Ayesha Khan can read and deliver without any hindrances!! I hate to say this but there were times when I felt like some actors were trying to prove their accent was more ‘English / American’ than others!

Personally, I would much rather watch an award show with absolutely no dance performances but since that is inevitable, it would be nice if the organizers put in some effort to make medleys of OSTs instead of live performances in which yet again mostly songs that are sung are Indian and recorded. Also, Pakistani films have plenty of dance number therefore these songs can easily be used for the dance performances. Dancing on Indian songs sends out the wrong message – as if we don’t have any good songs of our own! If we use our own songs, that will encourage the composers and the singers as well and give the show a more Pakistani feel.

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This award show function was thoroughly entertaining especially Ahmed Ali Butt and Vasay Chaudhry were hilarious but it was too long. I couldn’t help but wonder how the guests managed to sit and watch it for that long. I suggest separate award shows for dramas and films next year, I am certain that Hum TV can do that. I would like to thank all those people who put in so much effort and time into organizing this show and request them to implement some of the suggestions mentioned above next time.

The best thing about watching this show was seeing all these fabulously talented people under one roof being recognized and appreciated – they truly deserve it!

How many of you watched 4th Servis Hum Awards? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan