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Stereotpyes of Pakistan in Indian entertainment Industry

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Stereotpyes of Pakistan in Indian entertainment Industry

India has one of the largest and most vibrant entertainment industries in the world. How ever it is notorious for copying western content and also for it’s xenophobic productions depicting it’s neighbor Pakistan as the center of all evil.
Here are some common stereotypes perpetuated by Indian movies and dramas.

1) Pakistan is responsible for all evil in India: Whether it is terrorism, Khalistan movement, drug and weapon smuggling or the underworld ISI is responsible for it. What is amusing is that in these jokes of a movies/dramas ISI agents are openly running around the country( telling every one they work for ISI nonetheless) and no body seems to stop them or at least find out how they got in the country.

2) Kashmiris are terrorists: Kashmiris are carrying out terrorism in India (again with Pakistan’s help!). Or they are simpletons who are being brainwashed by Pakistan. It is up to our Indian hero to either kill or reeducate them.( What ever fits the nonsensical plot)

3) Indian muslims are ISI agents: There is a log list of movies and dramas that depict this. Sarfarosh etc. The list is too long to be mentioned here. These movies depict Indian Muslims as fifth-columnists. ISI agents are seen recruiting/duping them in the name of Islam.

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4) Every corrupt politician is A Pakistani agent: ‘Garv’ requires an honorable mention ( sarcasm) in perpetuating this ridiculous conspiracy theory. It seems it’s dialogue were written by Bal Thackeray or an agent of RAW. It was an open contest of who would abuse Pakistan more. So remember the next time a mega-corruption scandal breaks out in India we are responsible for it!

5) Pakistan is responsible for all ills in the world: Whether it is terrorism, smuggling or even Human trafficking Pakistan is at fault. Even in foreign counties Pakistanis are carrying out these evil acts unless of course our brave Indian hero stops them.

6) Pakistanis are one-dimensional villains: Looks like Pakistanis have no other job or hobby in the world then the plots to take over Kashmir, plan terrorism in India etc. We have no other desire to improve our living conditions but to continuously obsess over harming India.

7) The muslim stereotypes: Pakistani women( when shown and that too in ridiculous roles) are always covered in a Burqa ( unless they are female ISI agents Ofcourse!). Pakistanis wear skull caps whether at the barber shop( D-day) or even when seeing a cricket match! ( Dil bolay Harappa___ A movie which was tragically unfunny and mind-numbingly stupid by the way).

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8) Pakistani women always fall for the Indian hero: Whether it is ‘Agent Vinod’ ( full of (wrong) stereotypes or ‘Ek tha (buddha) Tiger’ Pakistani women( trained ISI agents by the way) fall for aged Indian heroes. They abandon their country, their families, their duties( To destroy India Ofcourse for their man. Commendable indeed is their sacrifice for love or blind adulation for the 40+ hero. And if the situation reverses( Qurban For ex.) then beware the wrath of Shiv sena!

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9) Cultural stereotypes: Pakistan is a diverse country, It has many different cultures and people having vastly different lifestyles. How ever Pakistanis are depicted as backward, poor, generally depressed( no wonder they attempt to escape this dreary life by going on an exciting mission against India. Women are always in hijab or with their dupatta draped firmly around their body. What is objectionable in not what they are wearing but that these women are always shown as repressed illiterate house wives. Even highly-educated working women wear hijab in Pakistan so it is a dumb stereotype nothing more. Also looks like Pakistani men have nothing else to wear then shalwar kameez( Have you finally won JJ? :P). Except for the generals who attend weddings in full-military uniform complete with medals! (Qurban, Ghadar etc.). Pakistanis speak in Urdu only! Looks like Sindhi, Gujarati, Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi, Kashmiri. Gligati, Hindko and Seraiki are spoken on Mars! Also Pakistanis use Aadab. Wear Ghararas( no seriously) and speak highly-persianized Urdu( But with a Hindi Accent hence leading to some really ridiculous and stilted dialogues)

10) Indian muslim leaders are Pakistani stooges: When they are not busy extracting favors ( read blackmail) from their political bosses, creating issues of nothing and starting riots against Hindus( Always started by sword-wielding Muslims in skull caps and beards) they are busy in contacting ISI to carry out their evil plans! (Examples are too numerous and painful to quote here!)

11) Pakistanis are evil by nature: Pakistanis are shown as treacherous, corrupt, misogynistic and generally unfriendly. I won’t be surprised if some day these movies claim that we are not even human but a race of Demons out to harm India!

These stereotypes might seem laughable and ridiculous to such but keep in mind that there are millions of Indians who believe these stereotypes to be true. The amount of hate we see online and generally by Indians is a direct result of it. I wish these Indian researchers should at least do their research before forming a picture of Pakistan. Couldn’t they at least Google ‘Culture of Pakistan’ before presenting such erm ….. Masterpieces!

As always keep supporting and commenting! I do my best not to make any mistakes but if any do occur then please don’t let them ruin your opinion of this article after all I’m pretty sure you are not Indian movie producers!

Talha Rizvi

“Bollywood is scary” – Mahira Khan

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“Bollywood is scary” – Mahira Khan

There has been news that Mahira Khan has accepted an Indian film but Mahira Khan in her latest interview with the magazine Instep said that these rumors are false. “I am not doing a film with Ranveer Singh. This smoke has no fire at all. I’m not even in talks with Bollywood, not really. I mean I’ve gotten calls, some from very reputed directors, but I’m in talks with no body for a film,” she said while talking to Instep.

“I think that they (Indian filmmakers) have only seen Humsafar in fact even Humsafar hasn’t played in India yet,” she added “They haven’t seen enough of my work to present something solid to me. If I work in India I want it to be for the same caliber of work that I get in Pakistan. I don’t want to change my standards.”

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Mahira Khan in her interview made it very clear that she would like to work in India even though she maybe a little afraid of stardom there. “Bollywood is scary. It is unchartered territory. You don’t know what you are getting into. That said, Bollywood is scary but not so scary that I wouldn’t try.”

She also said that she will never compromise on quality

“If I’m choosy in my own country and if I’m picky then I’m going to be as picky in Bollywood. I’m going to look at a script as minutely as I do in Pakistan. Why should Bollywood or Hollywood or Turkey be any different? I don’t understand that. I don’t work like that. People tell me that it’s career suicide. They say, which actress gets fame and then decides to do one project a year. Who does this? I do it. The way I see it, if I can ask a close friend in Pakistan to read his script (referring to Asim Raza’s film) then I would also ask the same of a big director in India. ”

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When asked that why Mahira said yes to Bin Royee Ansoo when she clearly said that she did not want to do any films, she replies “Bin Roye was offered to me right after Humsafar and Fawad was meant to do it. But he went on to do Khoobsurat. I had a choice and I decided that right now this is the best thing I could do. I liked the story. It had this one scene that kept me awake at night and drove me insane and I couldn’t not say yes.”

While talking about her recent drama Sadkey Tumhare, she said “I read the script and flipped over it and decided to do it….I have not enjoyed saying my dialogues as much as I have in ST. My leading man is Adnan Malik. The cast is fabulous and it was just like fresh air. It’s so interesting for me to play that girl. I hope people enjoy the dialogue and the script because it’s not your usual saga.”

It appears to be that we will be seeing Mahira Khan in an Indian movie too as soon as she bags a good script.

Upcoming Film “Karachi” Teaser

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Upcoming Film “Karachi” Teaser

The teaser of the upcoming film Karachi is finally out. The film was in the news for a long time but no one was sure what it was going to be all about. The teaser shows that the film is going to be about the hopes and aspirations of the young generation. There are many faces in the film which we see in dramas on daily basis. The film looks like a serious take on how difficult it is to earn fame and money. The film has been produced by Ahtesham Khalid and Afzal Ali, it has been written by Ali Sikandar and Agha Ali and the director of the film is Agha Ali. The star cast consists of Javaid Sheikh, Ayesha Toor, Rashid Farooqi, Shehroz Sabzwari, Madiha Iftikhar, Seemi Pasha, Agha Ali, AIjazz Aslam and Adnan Jaffar. Except for Javaid Sheikh all the names that are in the film are seen in dramas more than films.

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Here is the teaser of the film:

 

Ayyan’s Second Music Video Is Out

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Ayyan’s Second Music Video Is Out

Ayyan who was previously known as Ayyan Ali has already made her mark in the modelling world in Pakistan by being the highlight of every top fashion show. She has won many awards in the field of modelling too. But this young girl knows no boundaries, she believes in exploring new horizons. Ayyan started her music career with the song You And I. Most people were not impressed by the quality of her voice or the song. Many people said that the focus was more on the video and not enough attention was giving to the singing.

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Ayyan did not let that criticism stop her singing career there because she is serious about pursuing it. Ayyan is back with her new song Making Dollars in which she joins hands with international star Timo. The song is catchy, the video is bold just like last time but the real question is that will Ayyan get praises from the critics this time? Since Ayyan has been singing English songs so she is probably trying to target international listeners, do you think the song will make waves internationally?

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Here is the video of the song:



Burka Avenger Nominated For Emmy Award

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Burka Avenger Nominated For Emmy Award

The team of Burka Avenger, the first animated series of its kind is honoured and excited to know that it has been nominated for the prestigious Emmy Awards. AIny Jaffri who is the voice being the leading animated character in the series is overjoyed to hear the news.

 

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Aaron Haroon Rashid who is the man behind the animation in more ways than one is also very happy to hear the news.

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The series Burka Avenger was produced by Unicorn Black Studios, the 13 episode series aired on Geo Tez of Geo Network TV in 2013. It had been noticed by the international viewers when it went on air. It was praised for a different story and the cause which it promoted. In an article published in Hufington Post Lindsey Davis said, “Part karate kid and part superhero, Pakistan’s first animated television series is a better role model for girls than any princess Disney’s ever drawn”.

Burka Avenger shows a young teacher clad up in a burka, she is brave and intelligent and fights all those people who are against educating children.  Her superpowers consist of everything related to education. Burka Aveneger proved to be a great hit with the kids in Pakistan. The series had its own games and it was translated in many different languages.

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We hope that this series will bring the Emmy home for Pakistan.

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Fawad Khan and Sonam Kapoor All Set To Do Another Film Together

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Fawad Khan and Sonam Kapoor All Set To Do Another Film Together

The Khoobsurat jodi does not just have a wonderful chemistry on screen but off screen too Fawad Khan and Sonam Kapoor have very good ties with each other. Fawad Khan has certainly impressed the Indian viewers a great deal because he got many positive reviews from the critics as well. The latest news is that the Khoobsurat jodi will be seen again in another Bollywood film. The film is going to be based on screen adaptation of famous aunthor Anuja Chauhan’s novel Battle For Bittora. The novel was a best seller in India.

The film is going to be produced by Sonam Kapoor’s sister Rhea Kapoor. According to the ndtv website “Battle For Bittora is the story of twenty-five-year-old Jinni, who works for an animation studio in Mumbai, and lives a carefree and independent life until her grandmother commands her to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from their hometown Bittora. She finds herself pitted against the irresistibly attractive ex-royal Zain Altaf Khan. What ensues is a bitter battle between the two young contestants, complicated by their passionate love story”.

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While talking to an Indian newspaper Sonam said, “People have loved our performances and also our chemistry in the movie. They are going crazy over the romance. Fawad and I are working together again for sure.” Sonam also said that she was shocked by the response.

“We released it on 900 screens because we did not expect this kind of reaction. People thought this will be another Aisha but they were surprised with the film. People have given a lot of love to our movie. They are praising me so much and I feel weird because I don’t think I have done something really great. It feels surreal,” Sonam said.

“All my heroes have been my friends even after the completion of the films so maybe it is true that I am lucky for them. I think even they feel the same. But keeping jokes aside, I don’t think I should give myself that much credit. I feel I select the right projects and the correct heroes,” Sonam Added.

We wish the Khoobsurat jodi all the best!

Tonite With HSY- (Omer Sharif & Mehreen Syed) Episode 5

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Tonite With HSY- (Omer Sharif & Mehreen Syed) Episode 5

You’d think having the King of Comedy would ensure plenty of laughs but that wasn’t meant to be! Not a fan of comedy and even lesser of a fan of Omer Sharif, I was still open for entertainment. Mr. Sharif cracked a few jokes but those were far and few. What we got to see instead was his serious side- one where he spoke about God, his struggle as a theater artist and his journey. As if I wasn’t bored enough, Sheru’s next guest was the Queen of the Ramp- Mehreen Syed. Sheru, Sheru, Sheru, calling someone the King of so and so and the Queen of so and so will not guarantee that they will both give us a good royal time. I can’t help but wonder how this episode would’ve been had they invited some Queen of Comedy – Hina Dilpazeer anyone???

Mehreen Syed looked drop dead gorgeous. Her outfit, make-up, hair- everything was flawless. But there was nothing she had to say that was even remotely interesting. In between some random conversations, there was a mention of horoscopes and we found out that Mehreen Syed is a Leo, Omer Sharif is Aries and Sheru is a Scorpio.

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Omer Sherif spoke about his mother and how he has worked to establish a hospital called “Maa” as a tribute to all mothers.  Both him and Mehreen spoke highly about their mothers and how they struggled to raise their families after becoming widowed. It was heart-warming to hear their passion for helping their families.

As always, the challenge rounds were just meh. What did strike me as unusual was that Mehreen hadn’t heard of Sarmad Khoosat nor Hamza Ali Abbasi. Omer Sharif kept silent when he was shown a pic of Kapil Sharma- he had spoken about plagiarism and Kapil Sharma’s name came up. Round 2- Ajnabee Kaun Ho Tum was again a disappointment because the sound quality wasn’t up to the mark. The last round had an opportunity for singing and mimicry but I feel the questions are just too monotonous and don’t really serve a purpose.

This was definitely one of the more boring episodes so far. I really had a hard time staying focused since this episode put me into a coma. What did you think?

Yours in watching,

Kanwal Murtaza

Digest Writer – Episodes 01 & 02!

Zahra Mirza
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Digest Writer – Episodes 01 & 02!

Ohkay so, Digest Writer; a new drama filled the slot of Sunday prime time with a very different plot. I must say I am pleasantly surprised with the execution of the drama & am already looking forward to the 3rd episode.

The story’s all about a girl Fareeda (Saba Qamar); who belongs to lower middle class, where every single day she gets to hear how hard her father’s working to keep the family afloat. Fareeda’s father is obviously very orthodox & staunch, that’s why he believes that he only needs to invest all his money & attention on his one & only son Farhaan. Fareeda also has an elder sister Jameela (Maheen Rizvi) & a younger one Shakeela (Aiman/Minal Khan)

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The story revolves around how Fareeda has a passion for writing & how she finds repose when she fills the papers with her thoughts. Ignoring the objection of her family, Fareeda thinks she ain’t doing anything wrong if she is sharing her thought process with others through her stories. The only little support Fareeda has is of her college friend & her younger sister Shakeela.

The background to which Fareeda belongs, definitely doesn’t allow girls to fulfil their wishes; no matter how harmless they might be & what really creates a mountain of problems for Fareeda is when her story is published in a digest. That gives a rise to all sorts of opinions that are not in her favour but despite seeing everything against her; Fareeda remains persistent to pursue her dream of becoming a writer because the positive response she gets from the readers boosts the confidence in her that she can entertain people through her work.

Fareeda comes from a family that’s facing a lot of problems, where the financial condition of her father isn’t very strong & she has an elder unmarried sister for whom her parents are having a hard time finding a decent suitor. The only way Fareeda deals with the harsh reality of her life is by turning her reality into fictional situations that her characters are facing in her stories & that’s how she uses her circumstances as an inspiration for her stories because she takes her imaginary world as a sweet escape from what’s life’s putting her up with. Her problems not only end there but she also has to put up with the opinions or rather objection of her Pupho, who takes it as her duty to even highlight the issue of Fareeda using her pen name ‘Rashk-e-Hina’ other than her real name Fareeda, which she got after her grandmother & which she dislikes actually.

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I must say even though the story of Digest Writer is very different, the family of Fareeda & the family of her cousin Shaukat (Gohar Rasheed) reminded me a lot of drama; Daam. I feel the execution of Daam was very realistic whereas Digest Writer has a very commercial feel to it & also the characters aren’t very subtle that’ll often make you feel that you’ve been there, seen that, but still it offers you something very different to look forward to.

There were a few interesting things that I liked a lot about this play. First one being that even though Anwar has invested a lot in his only son, Farhaan makes sure he pleases his father by studying hard & isn’t like one of those spoiled boys who exploit the love of their parents. Farhaan seemed very wise & reasonable where he seemed well aware of the fact that all the luxuries that he demands aren’t so easily accessible to his family. Another thing that I liked was the different shades in Jameela’s character. Even though she might get jealous because of the attention & the proposals Fareeda gets, still she has a very sisterly relation with her where she jokes with her, teases her & also listens to Fareeda’s words of wisdom when Jameela herself is depressed. The support Shakeela being a younger sister extends to Fareeda is also very sweet.

I know it would sound very random but I kind of enjoyed watching the character of Shaukat & his ways of wooing Fareeda, where he kept on hinting at her & still was shy to propose to her directly because he’s too scared of his own parents. Fareeda’s pupho was a perfect representative of all those people that put a pressure on others & feel they need to restrict others of the things they like to do, that’s why to get what she wanted, she felt it was important to thrash Fareeda’s writings in front of Anwar & portrayed them in a very bad light, ignoring the positives that were also a part of her story.

Fareeda’s finally on a roll where unexpectedly Rida & Sikandar who’re about to produce a drama will approach her because Rida in particular saw the spark in Fareeda’s writing that she was looking for. That will obviously create more problems for Fareeda & I am interested to see how she tackles them & convinces her father to allow her to pursue her dreams.

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I must say all the actors have done their jobs really well & Saba Qamar looks really nice playing the role of a day-dreamer, who definitely dreams big but is well aware of her ground realities. This is the very first time I have seen Gohar Rasheed acting in a drama & I must say he was effortless in playing the role of Shaukat as well. Share your thoughts about the first two episodes of the drama; Digest Writer.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Good news for Crime Show fans!

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Good news for Crime Show fans!

PTV remains my favourite channel for a reason. They had diversity and their dramas weren’t copies of others. They explored genres and provided something for everyone to watch.

One of my favourite dramas is a crime show named “Angels”. It aired several years ago on PTV . The show was really interesting and kept me glued to the screen.  The cases were deep and the show was definitely written well.

 

 

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So there is good news for all of you. The trio of Sophia, Sami and Huma is back on Sundays at 8:00 pm. 

 

Areeba Mohsen

Firaaq-Episode 6

Maryam
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Firaaq-Episode 6

Let me start by confessing that this episode solely belonged to Syed Mazhar Ali. I can’t praise him enough for his phenomenal portrayal of Haider’s character. I loved the way he talked sense into Tabbasum. He made her realize that the longer you hold a grudge, the more difficult it becomes to dig your way out of the negativity it creates in your life. It only serves to separate you further from the people you love. ’Khuda kay liye aagay barho. Do chaar qadam hi sahi! Sab ko maaf kardo; jo zinda hai unhain bhi aur jo margaye hain unhain bhi.’

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In order to figure out what makes Sara so fidgety in Imroze’s presence and why does she harbour such negative feelings for him, Paymaan decides to talk to Roomi. I think this was a much-needed conversation because Roomi finally got the opportunity to clarify his position in front of Paymaan and he explained to her that being Imroze’s patient, Sara confided in him and she fears that if Shams learns anything about this patient-psychiatrist relationship; that would be the end of her marriage. I agree with Paymaan: Sara is an educated and liberal lady, then why so many insecurities? But then again, with a guy like Shams, any sane person can develop such insecurities because this man is VERY difficult to handle. Haha, I agree with Paymaan: she is a part of a paranoid family where everyone is running away from each other, the fear of confrontation is preventing them from being true to one another and therefore, their problems and misunderstandings aren’t coming to rest.

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When Shams threatens Paymaan that she cannot visit Tabbasum without breaking all ties with him, she decides to leave his house because she comes to realize that her brother is as intimidating as her mother. She didn’t run away from a strict household to end up in another prison of restrictions. I loved Paymaan’s outburst because it was only then that Shams got a reality check. Paymaan rightly pointed it out to him that if he continues controlling the people around him, he will be left all alone, just like Tabbasum and this cycle of resentments will just not come to a halt. No matter how emotional or hasty, I think this was a sensible decision taken by Paymaan. Sanam Saeed’s acting was pretty impressive in that scene.

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Haider’s words of wisdom made Tabbasum realize that she can’t go on with her life carrying a bag of grudges and she went to Shams’ house to reconcile with her son and daughter. I loved Haider’s dialogues in the car: ‘Shams ko daekhtay hi ussay apnay seenay say laga lena. Maa ki muhabbat ki hararat say na ussay tum say kuch kehnay ki zaroorat paray gi aur na hi kuch samajhnay mei mushkil paish ayegi. Waisay bhi zyada bolna baat ko uljha deta hai’. Though Tabbasum has made blunders all her life but this time around, she was true in her intentions.’Mein tumhe galay laganay ayi hun beta’. In that particular scene, I found Shams’ behaviour a bit unreasonable and unfair. Now was the right time to make up for all the lost time but even after that reality check, Shams remained indifferent and that was a mistake on his part. But before leaving, Tabbasum spilled the beans about Shams’ so-called ‘perfect’ father. Uzma Gillani’s spectacular acting leaves nothing to be desired!

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Paymaan is now under Imroze’s protection and according to the next episode’s promo, wedding bells are approaching ;)  So this was it for today, guys! Did you watch the episode? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts please.

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Maryam Mehdi

P.S: I am covering for Fatima Awan today. I hope you guys enjoy the review; her reviews are always so impressive :)

Bashar Baji – Episode 22!

Zahra Mirza
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Bashar Baji – Episode 22!

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Tauba! So, tell me, did you guys enjoy watching this episode? I think the best title for this drama would’ve been B4: Bashar ki Behan, Biwi aur Bhanji. I thought this drama was all about a life of a don but too bad, a lot of people took over & where’s Bashar? Yes, it looks like even he’s looking for himself.

So, finally, Buland has mustered up some courage to prove to the world that he ain’t a puppet but what’s worse is that the urge to prove himself as a human being, for starters, has struck at a wrong time because he’s also going to become a father pretty soon. He thought looking into Bashar’s eyes would scare & shoo him away which I guess actually worked because after that, Bashar was nowhere to be seen. I really think instead of chucking a handful of akhrots in her mouth, Maheen should’ve replaced it with Strepsils because the shrieking voice nearly broke the glasses of my home.

To be honest, tumhari behan, meri behan, meri behan, tumhari behan, mohallay ki behan, bari behan, choti behan, achi behan, buri behan conversation Adil & Bashar had was really funny. Isn’t it sad that Bashar has no business to look after & no dreamy 100 crore deals to sign that he’s being avidly involved & taking interest in the jhamela of his sister’s marital life. Adil was right that Saira only knows how to be Bashar’s behan but not Adil’s biwi.

Rudaba had an asthma attack & in the meanwhile she also had a realization that she can’t wreck someone’s home but then I guess she will keep on having those depression pangs until Buland takes a final decision & forces her to abide by.

I think the story has become stagnant because seems like we’ll keep on seeing such repetitive scenes where Rudaba will try to avoid Buland but he will continue to get her & all that really can’t happen before the baby’s born, so yes, looks like Tayyaba will also play along to win Buland back & Bashar being Bashar; faarighest man of all times will plan & plot because like I said seems like he’s got nothing to do except taking care of his jinxed-sister duo which will compel him & eventually he’ll end up chasing his unfortunate & unlucky jeejas – Buland & Adil.

I really don’t think it was a good idea to make Bashar Momin the main lead of the drama because his character hasn’t gotten the coverage that any central character would normally get. Ever since the drama has begun we’ve seen the focus shifting from Fathers to Rudaba to Buland to Adil to Tayyaba & now to Saira & what’s more funny is that even Parizay’s getting more coverage than her mamu, lol. Seems like Faysal Qureshi was promised to have a main role & when he signed the drama, the script was changed & then the writer screamed ‘BAKRAAAAAAAAA’ because other than that I really don’t see a reason that the guy who has a drama based on his name has no substantial role to play at all. All this while it looks like he’s only there as a guardian to his misery-struck sisters & that’s it.

I really don’t think they have the time left to shift the focus back on Bashar’s story & for the viewer’s sake, I wish they wind up the story soon by showing who got Rudaba in the end & who won the licence to buy her an inhaler. Share your thoughts on this please.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Fawad Khan’s latest interview with BBC Urdu

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Fawad Khan’s latest interview with BBC Urdu

Fawad Khan has talked to BBC Urdu about his Indian film as well as state of film making in Pakistan. Fawad praised his fellow Indian artist Soonam Kapoor calling her as an excellent host and intelligent artist. Fawwad also expressed his views on Pakistani cinema and commented on comparing Indian and Pakistani film making.

https://vimeo.com/108619991

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2014/10/141008_fawad_khan_video_gh

Rashid Nazir Ali

 

 

Dramas based on foreign novels

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Dramas based on foreign novels
Nowadays almost every other drama is based on a novel or short story mostly written by a female fiction writer. Adapting novels for films and dramas is a popular trend worldwide, being the first television channel definitely state run Pakistan Television is the pioneer in Pakistan when it comes to adapting novels for dramas. PTV produced many dramas based on Urdu and regional (Punjabi, Sindhi) novels which I had already covered in a series of articles. Following on the trend of PTV, now novel based drama is a routine.
But PTV clearly carries another distinction in this aspect which is adapting foreign language novels for dramas. Adapting a foreign novel requires a lot of effort as it requires localization of main character and situation of novel. The main theme remains the same, but the character and environment of novel is customized as per the local  taste and censor requirements.
Since 1970’s PTV produced few dramas based on novels, which received mixed response. Interestingly most of such dramas by PTV have Rahat Kazmi in the cast. Speaking of contemporary drama making, only Hum Tv has adapted few foreign novels as dramas though they never mentioned the name of the novel.
This article is a compilation of drama serials of PTV and Hum Tv which were based on foreign novels.
Qurbatain aur Faaslay
Qurbatain aur Faaslay aired in 1974 was based on Russian novel ‘Fathers and sons,’ by Ivan Turgenev. Starring Rahat Kazmi and Sahira Kazmi, the play was very popular when aired from PTV Rawalpindi centre. It was a black and white play and perhaps its recording is no more available. The play provided nationwide recognition to both Rahat and Sahira.
Parchayian
Parchayian in late 1970’s is another play from PTV Rawalpindi centre based on English novel ‘Portrait of a Lady’ by Henry James. Haseena Moin dramatized the novel whereas Rahat Kazmi, Sahira Kazmi, Talat Hussain, Shakeel and Javaid Sheikh were in prominent roles. The play was successful and it is available online as well.
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Teesra Kinara
Teesra Kinara in late 1970’s is another play from PTV Lahore center based on Russian-American novelist Ayn Rand’s novel ‘Fountainhead’ . Starring Rahat Kazmi, Usman Peerzada, Sahira Kazmi, Badi-uzZaman, Saba Hameed, it was dramatized by Rahat Kazmi himself. Teesra Kinara is also remembered for its theme song Kabhi Hum Khoobsorat Thay in the voice of Nayyara Noor
TK
Ehsaas
Ehsaas in mid 1980’s is another play from PTV Karachi center. It was a mini serial of six episodes starring Rahat Kazmi, Durr-e-Shehwar Raheem, Marina Khan, Khalid Anum, Sabiha Khanum and Hameed Wyne. Dramatized by Shahid Kazmi it was directed by Shazad Khalil. Ehsaas was based on English novel ‘Misunderstood’ by Florence Montgomery
Ehsaas
Ehsaas, PTV Play
After gradual decline of PTV in from mid 90’s onwards, Hum TV is definitely a spearhead in drama making which revived the tradition of Pakistani drama. Through its back to back strong productions, Hum TV pulled the audience attention back towards Pakistani dramas which restored the faith of television viewers in Pakistani productions. Few of Hum TV dramas were based on foreign novels though they never mentioned the name of the novel in the credits.
The Ghost
The Ghost in 2008/2009 on Hum TV was an adaptation from a foreign novel. For television it was dramatized by Umera Ahmed and directed by Babar Javed starring Faisal Qureshi, Samina Peerzada, Savera Nadeem, Nadia Jameel, Sania Saeed, Rehan Sheikh and Ismael Bashi. The credits of drama clearly say it is an adaptation, but the name of the novel was not mentioned in the credits. Despite a huge cast, and big names as director and writer Ghost was not much popular.
the ghost
Khamoshiyan
KhamoshiyaaN in 2010 was also an adaptation and it was mentioned in the credits of the drama though the name of adapted novel was missing in the credits. Directed by Babar Javed and written by Samira Fazal the play starred Nauman Ejaz, Sania Saeed, Faisal Rehman, Ayesha Khan, Vaneza Ahmed and Sana Khan in main roles. Khamoshiyan was a successful play.
KMS
khamos
Mera Naseeb
Mera Naseeb in 2011 was a successful play of Hum Tv written by Sameera Fazal. Again the credits say ‘A part of the story is an adaptation’ but the name of adapted story or novel was missing in the credits. Starring Sanam Saeed, Syra Yousaf, Adeel Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Rubina Ashraf, Samina Peerzada, Imran Abbas, Imran Aslam, Sajid Hassan, Mera Naseeb enjoyed great success with audience as well as critics. It also won the best drama award Lux Style Award. Though the drama makers never mentioned about adapted novel, later on social media it is revealed that novel Sister of My Heart by an Indian author was the original source of the story.
 Mera Naseeb
So that is my compilation of dramas adapted on foreign novels. Do share your experiences and views on these dramas, or mention if some drama is missing in the list.
Also comment whether foreign novels be adapted as dramas or not? If yes is there any recommendation from your side?
Thanks for your precious time.
Rashid Nazir Ali

Jackson Heights – Episode 04!

Zahra Mirza
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Jackson Heights – Episode 04!

Ohkay, before talking about this episode, to be honest I’d straight away say that I am looking forward to the next episode because the preview seemed a tad bit interesting. I think the director & the writer have taken a lot of time in unwinding the plot & right now it’s only coming across as if they are focusing on the issues people face in their day-to-day lives, without moving the story forward.

The only subtle revelation in this episode was about Salma where she clearly looked uncomfortable at the mention of domestic violence & later avoided the conversation about the subject, which was enough to let us know that she must be facing more or less the same situation in her own personal life. Salma has actually started to enjoy the conversations she once in a while has with Imran Bhatti because till now as much as she knows about him, only she was able to understand that he didn’t seem himself & was actually engrossed in his own thoughts.

Jamshed finally managed to arrange his trip to America & it was kind of heavy seeing his grandmother seeing him off. All her conversations only depicted how sad she is & how much she misses her son Imran but she’s helpless & can’t do much about it, that’s why the least she could do was to bind Jamshed in a promise of his return so at least she can have a sense of assurance of some sort.

Tanya was pretty direct in speaking to Michelle about her future plans but surprisingly Michelle bluntly told her that Rizwan is nothing more than a friend to her, which I doubt because whenever he speaks on those lines; instead of snubbing him right away she comfortably ignores those hints & that doesn’t do any good because if we go by their age, I really don’t think Michelle is at that stage in her life where she can dodge the bullet by keeping those things unanswered. As much as we’ve seen her, she’s very straight forward & doesn’t believe in beating around the bush, so why is it that despite knowing what Rizwan feels for her, she hasn’t been able to give him a clear cut answer in negation? I think Michelle’s being unfair to Rizwan where she isn’t giving a name to their relation & yet she expects everyone to see them as just friends.

Imran Bhatti’s obviously dealing with a lot in his personal life too & yes, he’s clearly stuck with Cathy because her testimony also counts in the hearing for his immigration. For the first time, instead of random babbling, he gave voice to his problems in front of Salma by sugar-coating a lot of things that Cathy puts him up with. I thought his mother doesn’t know about his marriage but to my surprise, seems like she not only knows but has accepted Imran’s marriage to a an American woman & a mother of two.

The good part about this episode were the conversations where they tried to show that no matter how hard people try, the life in such countries is a lot more difficult but people back home hardly understand the pressures their family members are facing while making a living in such a place. Each one of them seems to be occupied in some sort of a struggle but they try to snatch every possible moment that gives them relief & is a chance to unwind with a new-found or an old endeared friend. Share your thoughts on this episode please.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Sadqay Tumhare – Episode 01!

Zahra Mirza
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Sadqay Tumhare – Episode 01!

Just one word for the very first episode of Sadqay Tumharay; BRILLIANT. I am sure everyone here would agree that this drama has had a great start. Writing of Khalil ur Rehman Qamar & direction of Ehtashamuddin; Sadqay Tumhare hit our TV screens tonight with a bang & I must say, the very first episode was nothing short of perfection.

‘Uske mangetar ka naam Khay se shuru hota hai, aur wo samajhti hai ke aggar Khay aur Sheen mai Wao likhoongi, to lagega hum dono ke darmiyaan deewar khari ho gai hai’. This perfectly sums up Shano’s (Mahira Khan) frame of mind where she is in love with the promise that her grandfather did on her behalf, sealing her fate with her cousin Khalil (Adnan Malik). The engagement that was verbally announced more than 10 years ago is enough of a reason for Shano to cling onto the rope of love. When you’re in love, you do everything in your control to protect it & unwillingly you harbour such superstitions which whenever prevented make you feel that your relation is secure. When in love; you want to do those little things which might be misunderstood but give you a great sense of assurance that you’re not falling short of your responsibility towards your relation & just like a hopeless romantic, Shano – without knowing a bit about her fiancé Khalil, is in love with the idea of being engaged to him & yes, she is in love with everything related to him.

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Little does she know that her parents (Samiya Mumtaz & Rehan Shiekh) are in no mood to rekindle the promise that Shano’s grandfather made to Khalil’s parents regarding their engagement but Shano’s father still seems a bit considerate where he thinks it would be appropriate to know what’s in Shano’s heart because she already knows that she’s betrothed to Khalil.

Another opportunity has presented itself where everyone will gather for a family wedding & just like what Shano has been doing in the past, she feels she must attend the wedding just in a hope that her fiancé might show up there. Khalil, has never thought much about her fiancée because he seems too preoccupied in his routine & to him; for now- this verbal commitment means nothing but he doesn’t know his life’s about to be changed & Shano has unknowingly played a role in bringing him to her, where I must admit I loved the telepathic aspect of their relation because it depicts a love of some other sort; unconditional & a purest form of love.

I enjoyed all the conversations that Shano had with her friend Humaira (Sanya Shamshad). Humaira only knows what Shano’s going through & just like a sincere friend, she feels all she can do is; say a special prayer for Shano so that she doesn’t return disappointed this time around. In such a difficult time when you feel your heart might stop, such a heart-warming gesture from a friend gives you exactly the hope that you’re looking for.

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‘Abb surkhi powder ki zaroorat nahi hai usay, dekhoge na to heran reh jaoge’. On the other hand, Khalil’s cousin Maqsood (Shamil Khan) tries to tell Khalil all that he knows about Shano while giving him an idea that his fiancée is picture perfect. He genuinely feels it’s about time that Khalil fulfils his promise & gets to interact with Shano because he has seen the ardency in her eyes for Khalil. That was another conversation that seemed very heartfelt & genuine because Maqsood is mature enough to know that no matter what this engagement means to Khalil, Shano has bet her life on it.

I must say the direction was top-notch & all the added scenes completed the episode perfectly. No other location could’ve done justice to this story & I feel the director has been able to capture the essence of it undoubtedly. I loved the soundtrack & I feel with this drama, HUM’s on its way to redemption. I totally feel that the whole cast was chosen perfectly because everyone seems really comfortable in their characters. Sanya Shamshad looked perfect in her supporting role. Farhaan Ali Agha seemed perfect as a father. Samiya Mumtaz is a fine actress & Rehan Sheikh’s acting is known to everyone, however I do feel he shouldn’t have forced the harshness in his voice & I hope that it’d subside in the future episodes. & now coming onto our protagonists, to be honest I wasn’t sure about Adnan Malik but seeing him as Khalil, has really changed my preconceived notions about him & his acting. & yes, that goes without saying that Mahira Khan actually looks really pretty as Shano. It looks like she has put in a lot of effort to portray herself as Shano & match the age of her character & yes; I must say she has been able to do achieve the look perfectly. I also see a lot of improvement in her accent, in her acting & I am really looking forward to her story because without a doubt, she has been able to convey the crux of her character right from the beginning.

Being a love-story buff myself, I say everyone who loves love-stories should brace themselves because as said by HUM, we’re about to experience a timeless love story. *fingers crossed* :)
Share your thoughts on this episode please. :)

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

PS: I am covering for my dear friend Fatima Awan as she had to attend a family function tonight. Do look out for her comments in the comments section below & look forward to her amazing reviews starting from the 2nd episode. :)

Fairy Tales Characters and Our Actors

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Fairy Tales Characters and Our Actors

Today while cleaning my bookshelf, I came across a book of fairy tales. While thumbing through its pages, I started to think which actors fit the fairy tales characters. Here is what came to my mind at that time.

Cinderella

I guess we all know that has to be Sanam Jung. She can cook, clean, serve tea, and take sever abuse. She is usually not allowed to participate in parties and weddings, and she usually does not have a mother.

sanam jung1

But If we have a Cinderfella, that must be played by Sami Khan.

 

Cindrella’s evil sisters

Now as we all know Yumna Zaidi is the evil sister/cousin of the year, this role goes to her. But we need two of these. No problem, Yumna will play a double role and act as both of these sisters. She has enough evil in her.

yumna zaidi

Cinderella’s step mother (covering all step mothers)

That’s actually not hard to find. Rabia Noreen fits the role right there.

rabia naureen

Fairy godmother

This one is not tough either. Ismat Zaidi will be a perfect choice.

ismat zaidi

Prince (covering all princes)

The prince has to be charming, good looking and of course being a prince he must be able to churn rather than earn money. We have seen Mikaal and Fawad Khan in roles like these, so they will be a good fit.

meekaal

fawad khan

PS. We are only left with the pumpkin that must turn into a coach in the Cinderella story. How about Ushna Shah? This role does not need acting skills.

ushna shah

Aladin

If we were making a drama/film based on Aladin, the best choice in my opinion is Usman Khalid Butt. This guy can do comedy roles without looking like a joker. Aladin has to be young and fun loving, but still be able to fight the evil Jaffar. By the way Adnan Jafer will be a good Jaffar.

OKBadnan jaffar

Hansel and Gratel

Who should play Hansel and Gratel? Hansel and Gratel were young brother and sister who were threatened by a witch in a jungle. The witch was a cannibal. They were young, cute, and vulnerable. Sheroze Sabzwari and Mawra Hocane will be a perfect fit.

shehrozmawra

Jack( from Jack and bean stalk)

If we dramatize Jack and the bean stalk, then Yasir Mazhar comes to my mind as Jack. I am really impressed by his acting skills.

yasir mazhar

Beauty and the Beast

Mahira khan as Belle, I think she is beautiful and will look great in this role. The beast can be perfectly played by Faisal Qureshi, Nauman Ijaz, or Adnan Siddiqui as the beast.

mahira

Thumbelina

Thumbelina is tiny girl, about the size of a thumb and she had several adventures involving problems with toads that wanted to marry her. She ended up marrying a flower-fairy prince of just her size. So who do think can be Thumbelina? In my opinion that must be Sajjal Ali.

sajjal ali

Snow white

Snow White’s name suggest she has to be really white. Hareem Farooq loves to be painted white, so she wins this characters. Hina Bayat will be a perfect match for her step mother.

hareem farooqhina bayat

What do you think? Do you agree with my choices or you have other ideas? Please share. I will look forward to your comments.

PS. I wrote this article just for fun. If you find editorial mistakes I am sorry. But please do not use degrading remarks about my writing. I think this forum is to exchange ideas and since it is easier to communicate in English using a keyboard, many of us opt for English.

 

F. Kazmi

Indian Punjabi film producers eyeing Pakistani market

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Indian Punjabi film producers eyeing Pakistani market

India the eastern neighbor country of Pakistan is famous for many things especially its hindi film industry known as Bollywood. Hindi films produced in Bollywood are exteremly popular in Pakistan and mostly attract massive crowds towards cinemas. In Pakistan, Hindi movies are considered vital for the survival of cinema houses as mostly Pakistani cine goers prefer Indian movies over locally produced films.

In recent times many Indian films have earned considerable revenues in Pakistan, and thus it is appearing as a lucrative market for Hindi films. However filming in India is not limited to Hindi, and a large number of films are also made other regional languages like Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi etc. Like Hindi which is also understood in Pakistan, another language Punjabi is also understood on both sides of the border. There are more Punjabi speakers in Pakistan as compared to India, however the state of local Punjabi cinema in Pakistan is at stand still.

Looking at the spectacular and record breaking business of Hindi movies in Pakistan, Indian Punjabi film makers are also interested to exploit the potential of Pakistani market. In past locally produced Punjabi films have attracted viewers as well as business with some super hit films like Chooriyan and Majan. However gradually the production of Punjabi films also declined like Urdu films.

Indian Punjabi film makers knew about the hidden potential of punjabi films in Pakistan, and are considering to release Indian Punjabi films in Pakistan too. There are fair chances that Indian Punjabi films will also be welcomed with same enthusiasm as Indian Hindi films. So in near future we might also see Indian PUnjabi films along with Hindi films in our cinemas.

A recent report by BBC has covered the aspect of Indian PUnjabi film makers

https://vimeo.com/108319857

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2014/07/140723_punjabi_film_india_aw

Rashid Nazir Ali

Veena Malik and Abram Khattak offered a film

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Veena Malik and Abram Khattak offered a film

The new born baby boy of Veena Malik, Abram Khattak is already getting popular with over 27000 followers on his official page though he is still few days old. Still in cradle Abram is all set to start his career . A Lahore based film producer Asif Sheikh has offered Veena Malik to work in his film along with Abram Khattak.

As per Asif Sheikh, his upcoming film has a role for a mother with an infant and Veena/Abram are perfect for this role. Veena Malik has yet to comment on the offer.

Full content form Urdu Daily Jehan Pakistan.

p10-024

 

Veena-Son48183157_2014923164357

Rashid Nazir Ali

Hira Pervaiz Passes Away

Saud
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Hira Pervaiz Passes Away

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ‎

Hira Pervaiz passed away three days back in Copenhegan , no one knows the reason for her death but everyone who knows her is still in shock. Hira started her television career as a news anchor from Samaa and later Express News. She also worked for PTV News. She starred in two dramas Chubhan and Kadoorat. She was also part of the reality show Desi Kuryan.

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Hira Pervaiz will be sorely missed, may her soul rest in eternal peace, Ameen.

Meera Joins BOL

Saud
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Meera Joins BOL

After staying away from showbiz for sometime except for some controversies Meera is back in action. Few weeks back Meera told her viewers that she was going to do a few stage dramas and Meera is also seen hosting the show Hum Sub Umeed Se Hein. The latest news is even more shocking, Meera has joined BOL and that too in a very senior capacity.

Untitled

BOL promises to have it all from entertainment, news, movies and even sports. According to the BOL website:

“BOL is a complete media enterprise consisting of platforms that are important and relevant to our audience, including Television (News, Entertainment and Sports), Digital Media (Web, Social Media & Media Apps), Print Media (Newspaper and Magazines), Cinemas & Movies, Theatre and Radio. With a massive launch and a clear social development objective, BOL is all set to bring a revolution in Pakistan’s media industry.

after significantly contributing in the socio-economic realm of Pakistan is now applying its strength to pioneer a media revolution that will further amplify its efforts to create a better Pakistan!

the world’s leading IT company, is in the business of IT related products & services since 1997. It has grown by leaps and bounds to reach a position where it enjoys a global presence across 6 continents, 120 countries and 1300 cities with more than 25000 Employees and Associates worldwide. Axact’s 10 diverse Business Units offer more than 23 world class products to some of the most prestigious clients worldwide. Axact not only ranks as the “top choice employer” in Pakistan but also has more than 2 billion users worldwide and a strong customer base of 40 million across the world. At present, Axact remains the largest exporter of IT products & services in Pakistan”.

Shikwa-Episode 22

Maryam
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Shikwa-Episode 22

Okay so this was one ‘’happening’’ episode, and the story did progress. I admit it over and over again that no one could have owned Mehar’s character the way Sonia Hussain did and she has come a long way for sure :)

s11

The way Firdaus Aapa analyzed Mehar’s personality is the best way to understand our heroine. ‘Mein nay tumharay chehray par sirf zidd aur ghussa daekha’. And that’s a 100% true. Mehar is impulsive and stubborn but she is nowhere near wicked. I must say Mehar’s character has to be one of the most well etched-out characters of this year. There’s just one thing: a mere conversation with Firdaus Aapa coupled by a gradual realization caused Mehar to change herself completely? Is it just me or Mehar’s transition and her new get-up seems slightly unconvincing? Throughout the serial, Mehar went through so many changes but I for one believe that this is the FINAL change in her personality. Guys and gals, Firdaus Aapa finally said goodbye today. I am pleased by the way they wrapped up Firdaus Aapa’s track. Deep down, she was a nice person and it was a treat to see how she praised Mehar in front of her son.

s14 s16

I am NOT enjoying Shariq and Sidra’s track at all because of the obvious reason-there’s nothing new about it. Sidra has this constant pained+confused expression on her face and Shariq has this staunch I-can-leave-anyone-but-Sidra policy, which is actually quite understandable but the newlyweds are wasting too much of our time. In order to tackle this whole situation, Shariq has taken Sidra to his place without a proper and formal rukhsati and if you are aware of the fact that Humaira Zaheer is playing Shariq’s mother, then you can easily predict what her reaction (and expressions/dialogues) must have been.

s13

The major part of the episode was, as I call it, ”‘The Theft’’ :P Yasir stole Mehar’s Samsung Galaxy S5 (haha, that was the correct model, rite?) and apart from sending those sea-view pictures to Saqib, he even called and brainwashed him that Mehar is the one running after him and begging him to spend some time her. The only good thing about that scene was the much deserved slap he got from his mother (i.e. Mehar’s phupo) who tried to talk some sense into Yasir and reminded him that he too has an unmarried sister and despite all odds, Mehar is her bhateeji.

s15

On the other hand, Saqib, with that seed of suspicion already growing in his mind, became convinced of Mehar’s infidelity, followed his impulse and came straight back to Pakistan, bringing along an unexpected (not to forget, female) guest with him, named Zeba (Sabahat Bukhari). Whoa, now that was one shocking development, and for me, it made up for all the previous dull and dreary episodes! Is Zeba his colleague, friend, or perhaps, his wife??

I am definitely looking forward to the next installment :)
Did you watch the episode? What do you think of it? Please share your views!
Maryam Mehdi

“My wish list does not have Fawad Khan” – Sarmad Khoosat

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“My wish list does not have Fawad Khan” – Sarmad Khoosat

Sarmad Khoosat’s most appreciated drama till now Hamsafar will air on the Zindagi channel in India next week. Even before the drama went on air everyone there already wants to know more about the director who made this drama what it was. Indian newspaper Times Of India interviewed Sarmad Khoosat and asked him question specifically related to his relationship with Fawad Khan since they have worked together in two dramas.

Sarmad Khoosat was very finest on his questions, in fact his replies may shock many people. “I like Fawad as an actor and a star but our approach and our process of working don’t match and for me the process of filming a drama or a film is more important than the outcome”, said Sarmad Khoosat.

sarmad khoosat

“Our actor-director relationship was extremely nice till Humsafar but after that I had reservations about a few things with him.” Fawad’s next drama which Sarmad directed was Ashk which clearly showed that it was not Sarmad’s best work. Sarmad Khoosat never owned Ashk the way he owned Shehr-e-Zaat which also aired at about the same time.

When Sarmad Khoosat was asked if he will ever work with Fawad Khan again or not, he said, “It’s nothing like that. There is no animosity between us. I might work with him in future. I feel Fawad, Mahira and I should work together again. But I don’t have a feeling that ‘Oh, I want to do something with Fawad’. My wish list does not have him.”

hamsafar2

Sarmad Khoosat is happy with all the success which Fawad Khan has bagged in India. “He deserves it. He is a great actor. I am very happy that people love him here because he is so talented. This should hopefully lead to more exchange between the two countries because they are so similar in culture and people that I don’t even feel I am in a different nation whenever I am in India,” said Sarmad.

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

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Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting continues for Diyar-e-Dil as Sanam Saeed joins the cast in Skardu. Here are a few pictures of the cast & crew while filming:

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Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

 

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

Shooting Continues for Diyar-e-Dil!

-H.S

Morning Show Hosts – They Are All The Same!!

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Morning Show Hosts – They Are All The Same!!

Generally speaking, I am dead against generalizing things, groups, or people but in this particular case I can’t help but generalize because after giving a lot of Morning Shows a shot every time the hosts changes I have come to the conclusion that there are some “qualities” which every Morning Show host must posses in order to fit in the “role” which the producers and perhaps the viewers have selected for them. Usually, a talk show reflects the personality, likes, and dislikes of the person hosting it but that is not the case in Pakistan. There is a certain formula that all the Morning Shows on different channels follow because for some odd reason it must be working for them. They are obviously catering to a particular kind of audience who must find these shows entertaining. Here are some of the qualities which every Morning Show host must have:

The Art Of Exaggeration!

Yes! After watching all these Morning Shows I have come to the conclusion that all our Morning Show hosts are experts at exaggerating things. They get excited over small things and obviously expect the same from their viewers! The audience in these shows is also directed to do the same and I am sure that most of the viewers like me are left wondering if they are the only ones who find this fake excitement exaggerated and Over The Top!

morningshows1

Acting Skills!!

Gone are the days when you could be a host without being an actor because our Morning Show hosts have to act a lot. Just being who they are is not good enough, you have to fake expressions and sometimes even cry, now how can anyone possibly do all this if they do not know how to act? Sometimes I feel like there is very little difference between scripted dramas and live Morning Shows because they are equally scripted and most of these shows are being hosted by actors who are apparently advised to put their acting skills to good use while hosting these shows.

A Low IQ Level!

Even actresses like Sarwat Gillani, Sanam Jung, and Sanam Baloch who are intelligent people in real life have to lower their IQ level in order to match the standards of the Morning Shows they are hosting. If you are intelligent and refuse to act like you’re not then you may not survive in the Morning Show race for too long, a prime example is that of Marina Khan! She wasn’t OTT, fake and dumb and she didn’t last too long;)

morning shows

Loud Dressing

I have never been able to figure out why our Morning Show hosts dress up so formally and that too early in the morning! If hosting a Morning Show is like attending a wedding then they are dressed up perfectly for the occasion but if it is like a meeting with friends then they really need to rethink their dressing sense. Is dressing up loud a way to impress people? If it is then it is certainly not working!

There was a time when the cream of the entertainment industry was handpicked to host shows; these people were very articulate, refined, educated, polished, and brilliant. These people were true role models and their shows reflected their personalities. The hosts nowadays mostly bank on negative publicity and controversies to get attention. Being loud and over-confident unfortunately is a prerequisite for hosting a Morning Show. Even if the guests who are invited to the show are interesting, the loud music and the brainless questions make it impossible for the viewers to watch these shows.

What other “qualities” do you think a person needs to be a Morning Show host? Do share your thoughts!

 

Fatima Awan

Pakistani dramas and movies: What we have and what we need!

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Pakistani dramas and movies: What we have and what we need!

I believe that everyone should be confident with themselves.  The worst thing you can do to yourself is have an inferiority complex. It cripples you and leaves you with no motivation for anything. So please believe in yourself and your country.

Within 60 years, Pakistan has achieved a lot in the entertainment sector. I think that by preferring non- Pakistani content we are letting our country down. But, I do not, I repeat, do not mean that we’ll watch anything that the producers throw at us just because we’re too patriotic! Nobody and nothing is perfect.

I admit, I watch a few American dramas and appreciate them as well. But I stopped watching those channels which aired dramas against Muslims  (recently Star World) and then it hit me.

What about our side of the story? What about us? Will we never stand up for ourselves and make dramas that portray our security forces and secret services in a good way? Will we keep watching foreign shows despite their negativity for Muslims?

 

Time to look at the positive and negative side of our dramas and movies.

Positive side:

1. No vulgarity:

Yes! This one tops the list. There are no “close” scenes in our dramas. Yes there are some exceptions like “Ishq junoon deewangi” and “Janum” but we are far better than foreign shows (Indian, American) when it comes to tameez ki dairey mein rehna. Those guys can shoot a romantic scene between kids and elderly people as well.

2. Importance of family:

There are some exceptions, but most of our dramas tell the importance of family. The heroes and heroines of foreign shows hate their parents and the only relationships they have are with their wives/husbands or bf/gf! Thus parents have zero importance.

 

garr maan

 

hamza

 

Example of this from a movie is Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi. All the misunderstandings between Shahid (Noman Habib) and his father and those between Akbar (Humayun Saeed) and his son were resolved and the importance of family was shown.

3. Difference between right and wrong:

A man drinking alcohol will never be the good guy in our dramas. A person committing adultery will NEVER be the hero/heroine. But turn to  American and Turkish dramas and oh boy!  They have no etiquette. Their lives revolve around romance and this leads to such pathetic and objectionable scenes that you can’t even imagine.

In Waar, Zoya (Meesha Shafi) and Ramal (Shamoon Abbasi) were the villians and they were the ones committing these objectionable deeds not Mujtaba (Shan Shahid).

 

 

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4. Respect of religion:

We know how to respect religion. Pakistani dramas tell the importance of Islamic values and never criticize other religions. If you turn to American dramas, they make fun of their own religion i.e Christianity and don’t even spare Islam, Jewism and Hinduism. They even make fun of their worship place, the churches.

 

5.   A proper lesson:

We give a proper lesson in the end. No matter what the topic is, Pakistani dramas manage to give food for thought to the audience.

I am not completely against ghareloo stories but over dose of ghareloo issues is what annoys me.

 

6. A proper ending:

There are exceptions but I think Pakistan is the only country which has mastered the skill of properly ending a drama in a few, power-packed episodes. American shows refuse to end before loads of seasons. Indian dramas and Turkish dramas are extended to the extreme.

The movies “Mein hun Shahid Afridi” and “Waar” also had proper endings.

 

7.  More than mere glamour:

A poor girl will definitely look like a poor girl and a woman working in the kitchen won’t be loaded with jewelry. So yes, we value stories not glamour.

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Negative side :

1. Moving towards vulgarity:

I can’t believe that we have started vulgarity when we have just started making movies. Why copy India? As I said before , inferiority complex will leave you nowhere. No need to get inspired from wrong ways of others. The item song in NMA and some horrible scenes in Mein hoon Shahid Afridi are not what we expect.Punjabi and Pashto movies take this to another level but please, stop showing these scenes as they are hideous!

Kissing the forhead and hugging is getting pretty common in dramas. Not just that, rape scenes too! I want dramas that I can watch with my family without changing the channel.

 

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2.  Showing religious people in negative roles:

Molvis are mostly shown as bad guys who  hate their wives. They prefer sons over daughters as well.  Religious people aren’t judge-y. We need characters like Molvi Subhan Allah of Pyaray Afzal , not evil molvis who judge others continuously. We need to show how beautiful Islam is.

Moreover I would love to see girls who wear niqab and aren’t forced into it. American shows like Homeland and Alice in Arabia are spreading the wrong message. Homeland’s creators have even targetted Pakistan in Season 4.

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3.  Too much ghareloo issues:

Like I said before, the over load of ghareloo issues annoys me to the core. Enough with the saas bahu!

 

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4. Supporting teenage girl fantasy:

The tried and tested teenage girl fantasy is promoted the most. Seems like the only aspiration of girls is to get married to rich hunks! I don’t think all girls are farigh like our heroines. Most girls nowadays have proper career aspirations.

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7. Not noticing teenagers:

While they support the stupid teenage girl fantasy, they fail to deliver what the teenagers of this country want. They want thrill and that is definitely not present.

 

 

 

6.  Not exploring genres:

I have said it before and will say it again. We need diversity. I am not against social romantic dramas or even romantic comedies (the sensible ones) . But what about action, suspense and mystery/horror genres?  A little request; bring old PTV back.

 

Action dramas and movies can change the perspective with which the world sees us. We need to tell the world that hijab isn’t a bad thing. Bearded men aren’t evil and Jihad doesn’t mean terrorism. There is a BIG difference between a Jihadist and terrorist!

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So you can see that if we take care of these things, i.e diversity, vulgarity and sensibility then our dramas will improve. People will not be forced to watch American dramas to escape those hideous ghareloo stories.

 

Areeba Mohsen

Two Cinemas Take Operation 021 Down A Day After Its Release

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Two Cinemas Take Operation 021 Down A Day After Its Release

Operation 021 was a much anticipated film along with Na Maloom Afraad which was going to be released this Eid. While the film Na Maloom Afraad is still being shown in all the major cinemas, the film Operation 021 has been taken down from Bambino and Capri Cinema already only a day after it was released.

When the film was released in both these cinemas, it did not do good business at all. In Bambino cinema people were so disappointed with the film that they threw bottles on the screen which resulted in some damage as well.

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The people running the show at these cinemas said they decided to take down the film only a day after its release because viewers did not like it. It could also be because it is in English.

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“People did not like the film, possibly because it was an English film,” said Mukesh, the projection room operator at Bambino. “My staff came in and told me that people were throwing bottles on the screen, but I told them we cannot stop a scheduled show.”

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De Ijaazat Mujhey, new drama by Hum TV

Rashid Nazir Ali
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De Ijaazat Mujhey, new drama by Hum TV

De Ijazat Mujhay is a new serial starting from Monday 13th October, to be aired each Monday and Tuesday i.e. twice a day in a week. Written by Seema Ghazal, directed by Faheem Burney, the show stars Sohai Ali Aabro, Farhan Saeed and Yasir Ali Khan in lead roles. Jal band fame singer Farhan Saeed is working for first time in a major drama serial.

Earlier former members of Jal band Gohar Mumtaz and Atif Aslam have also acted and now its Farhan Saeed’s turn to test his acting skills.

https://vimeo.com/108225978

 

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Shaan Shahid stance on collaboration with Bollywood

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Shaan Shahid stance on collaboration with Bollywood

Shaan Shahid, a famous name of Pakistani cinema was in news few months ago upon calling few artists as ‘cheap-sellouts’ for working in indian films. Shaan has reiterated and clarified his stance in a recent interview to BBC.

https://vimeo.com/108214581

 https://vimeo.com/108214581

Video Courtesy of BBC Urdu

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2014/10/141006_shan_shahid_interview_aw

Rashid Nazir Ali

Pakistani Celebrities On Eid

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Pakistani Celebrities On Eid

Fans are always curious to find out what their favorite celebrities wore on Eid or what they did on Eid. Here is a sneak peak into what some of these celebrities wore and how they wished their fans. All these celebrities spent their Eid day with their families. Mehreen Syed and Mathira enjoyed their day with their babies. Mawra looks beautiful in blue and Urwa decided to wear white and gold for Eid.

 

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Syra Yusef’s daughter Nooreh with her nana and dada

 

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Gidh, short teaser/first look

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Gidh, short teaser/first look

Gidh is an upcoming film directed by Shamoon Abbasi, starrig Shaan Shahid, Shamoon Abbasi, Sara Loren, Sabika Imam, Sohaib Tariq and others. Ahmer Raza is the producer whereas Zubair Abbasi is the writer of this film. Kamran AKhtar, Saaji and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan have composed the music for this film.

A short teaser or first look of this film is released today.

 http://vimeo.com/108074382

GIDH TEASER/first look (short version) from SHAMOON ABBASI on Vimeo.

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Maalik, first look of upcoming film

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Maalik, first look of upcoming film

First look pictures of an upcoming film Maalik are released. Whats special about Maalik, well it is written and directed by Aashir Azeem. Aashir Azeem stunned the tele viewers in 1990’s with his debut production Dhuwwan, now after almost two decades Maalik is the next notable project by Aashir Azeem.

As per its official page, “Maalik Is a story of men of Pakistan’s Elite Special Forces whose life gets entangled with Politics.

They soon realize that serving the nation is more complicated than simple following of orders.”

The film is shot in Karachi, starring Ashir Azeem, Sajid Hassan, Hassan Niazi, Adnan Shah Tipu in main roles. Aashir Azeem provided direction, screen play and story, whereas Media Hub is the production banner.

As expected Aashir Azeem will be playing the main lead. However the official page is silent about female cast in the film.

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Rashid Nazir Ali

My Birthday Gift to Maya

MAAZ AHMED SIDDIQUI
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My Birthday Gift to Maya

It was 27th July 2014 when Maya turned 25. Being a distant friend of her I thought to gift her some unique present.

Hence I decided to make a video for her which includes compilation of her different pics.

This is what I made

and Maya’s Reponse.

maya response

I know I am late posting this but please do share your views on it.

PFDC Bridal Week Lahore 2014

Rashid Nazir Ali
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PFDC Bridal Week Lahore 2014

Pakistan Fashion Design Council recently organized Bridal Week in Lahore which ended on last weekend. Here are few clicks from this event

 

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I’m very aware of the choices I make _ Mahirah Khan

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I’m very aware of the choices I make _ Mahirah Khan

Mahira is always in a hurry. And she’s in a characteristic state of rush as she walks in for this interview, radiant in a white cotton kurta, gorgeous in an unaware state of unkempt attraction. It’s the look of a woman who has too much to do, with little time to do anything more than pull back her hair and leave the house with nothing fancier than a washed face. But what a face it is! Mahira is a head-turner, evoking both envy and desire of women and men who either want to be like her. Or simply want to be with her. And she’s blissfully unaffected by both.

A million dollar smile warms up her hazel eyes as she sees me. And she holds up her hands to show ten fingernails that are painted red and blue. Spiderman. It’s her son’s birthday and she spent the morning entertaining his friends in a superhero themed party. That, she quickly explains, is the reason for being fifteen minutes late. I can imagine anyone would happily wait a lot longer for this one.

Bollywood, I get straight to the point. Is there a fire where this smoke’s coming from?

“It’s not true at all,” she replies, settling down with a cup of coffee and bringing on that slow, reinforcing tone that would make it impossible to misunderstand what she’s saying. “I am not doing a film with Ranveer Singh. This smoke has no fire at all. I’m not even in talks with Bollywood, not really. I mean I’ve gotten calls, some from very reputed directors, but I’m in talks with no body for a film.”

It’s been two years since Humsafar catapulted her to the pinnacle of popularity. But while her co-star Fawad Khan has made a lot of hay under the proverbial shining sun, she’s barely cashed in on that wave of hysteria. One television play (Shehr-e-Zaat) and one talk show (The Lighter Side of Life) is what she has to show in her post Humsafar trajectory. If there were offers from Bollywood then what has stopped her from taking the next step forward?

“I think that they (Indian filmmakers) have only seen Humsafar in fact even Humsafar hasn’t played in India yet,” she offers an explanation. “They haven’t seen enough of my work to present something solid to me. If I work in India I want it to be for the same caliber of work that I get in Pakistan. I don’t want to change my standards.”

Are you afraid of stardom, I ask her a question that frequently crosses the mind of anyone who knows her?

“Maybe,” she agrees with a sheepish laugh. “The thing is that right now this is it. They say these are the stars of Pakistan and if this is it then I feel that isn’t so bad. I’ve managed to guard myself and give as much as I want to and hold back as much as I want to. But yes, Bollywood is scary. It is unchartered territory. You don’t know what you are getting into. That said, Bollywood is scary but not so scary that I wouldn’t try.

“The way I see it,” she continues, “is if I’m choosy in my own country and if I’m picky then I’m going to be as picky in Bollywood. I’m going to look at a script as minutely as I do in Pakistan. Why should Bollywood or Hollywood or Turkey be any different? I don’t understand that. I don’t work like that. People tell me that it’s career suicide. They say, which actress gets fame and then decides to do one project a year. Who does this? I do it. The way I see it, if I can ask a close friend in Pakistan to read his script (referring to Asim Raza’s film) then I would also ask the same of a big director in India. ”

Whether in India or Pakistan, the only path Mahira wanted to follow was the one that lead her to the silver screen, which is why she signed up for Bin Roye immediately after Humsafar and Shehr-e-Zaat. Bin Roye, Hum TV’s first feature film in the making, was supposed to cast Mahira opposite Fawad Khan but unfortunate delays in filming lost Fawad to Bollywood. Humayun Saeed stepped in as her hero.

“Humayun Saeed is possibly one of the best co-stars to have in the industry,” Mahira quickly clarifies when I ask her why she ranked him as the last person she’d choose as co-star (on the Tonite with HSY show). He has one of the biggest hearts in the industry. He’s nice to everyone, from spot boy to co-actor. He’s the only guy who has genuine friends in the industry. He’s selfless.”

There are rumours of Humayun Saeed’s wife being the scariest part of working opposite him. Was Mahira intimidated, I ask her cautiously?

“Not one bit,” Mahira replies with a smile. “I understand that this is a tricky place to be in, whether it’s my significant other or someone else’s; they will feel insecure. I get that. But there are levels of insecurity. And this is my job. I can’t be worried about what someone’s wife thinks. I have to work and I will make sure that I don’t do anything that makes her or anyone feel insecure.”

 

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You’ve said no to so many films, why did you agree to Bin Roye?

“Bin Roye was offered to me right after Humsafar and Fawad was meant to do it. But he went on to do Khoobsurat. I had a choice and I decided that right now this is the best thing I could do. I liked the story. It had this one scene that kept me awake at night and drove me insane and I couldn’t not say yes.”

Slated for a January 9 release, there’s very little information about the Hum TV film except for the fact that it features Humayun Saeed, Armeena Rana Khan, Zeba Bakhtiar and Javed Sheikh alongside Mahira on the cast. Also that it’s been filiming for two years now and has even seen a change of guard in the director’s seat.

Does Bin Roye run the risk of looking more like a tele-drama than a feature film?

“It’s a full blown feature film,” Mahira replies, without revealing any details. “I love commercial cinema. I like watching a Ram Leela. I like my dance and song. And I have danced in Bin Roye,” she gives her fans something to watch out for.  “I’ve given Bin Roye everything and I’m hoping that people enjoy something different coming from Pakistani cinema.”

But the film is also being turned into a drama serial?

“Yes,” Mahira sighs. “Drama makes channels more money. Every channel wants to sign a deal for two dramas and a film. Bin Roye was supposed to be a drama and then was turned into a film. First the film will release and then consequently the drama will release. It’s a business idea that they want to try out, though personally as an actor it’s not something I enjoy. I’ve given this film my blood, sweat and tears. We often joke that this film is a Titanic, a Mughal e Azam; we’ve been making it forever.” And let’s hope it’s just as successful.

Speaking of films in her kitty, Mahira talks about her next project: Asim Raza’s film, which she has also signed on. Starring Sheheryar Munnawar and Adeel Hussain, it’s a contemporary, coming of age story of two friends. Currently untitled, they’ve only just started readings and rehearsals but it is for this film that Mahira had to refuse the movie Shaan is writing and producing in collaboration with Shiny Toy Guns.

“I could have done both but I wasn’t comfortable with that,” she explains the reason for her choice. “There are certain things that I will not compromise upon. If it’s my friend’s shaadi then my dates are gone to my friend’s shaadi. If I’ve committed to one project, that too of a friend’s, then I won’t pull out of it, no matter what comes along. It’s just who I am. It’s about my priorities.”

Female actors have made very little impact in Pakistani cinema. Do you think you’ll make a difference?

“That’s the idea,” Mahira says. “I’m very aware of the choices I make. I think about my roles and how I perform them.”

Is there any one female actor in the world that she idealizes?

“I respect so many actresses but I don’t idealize anyone,” she replies. “The thing is to leave your own legacy. I want to offer something that is unique. I want to offer something that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Speaking of roles in drama, cinema and her professional life the conversation steers into more personal territory. The one dominant role in her life is mother to the young and adorable Azlan. And rumours of her estrangement to her husband are often the topic of much speculation.

How has stardom affected your personal life, I ask carefully, knowing it’s an uncomfortable space. But there’s too much speculation to ignore.

“I’ll tell you what stardom did,” Mahira reminisces, with a faraway look clouding her eyes. “Anything that was bad became worse, the cracks became deeper. Being in people’s eyes takes a toll. Even people close to you, those who love you, start seeing you in a different light, in the eyes of the audience. I might be fooling myself that stardom doesn’t play a part. I haven’t figured it all out yet. But yes, as my professional life was soaring, my personal was crashing.

“I actually don’t want to talk about it,” she continues after a pause. “I think I’m the most critisized and the most loved actress in the country. I can’t figure that out. But I want to leave Ali, Azlan, my mother and my father out of this. I don’t want to drag them in it. What I can say that even today, I enjoy a great relationship with Ali. It’s pretty cool that way. We haven’t called it a day yet and I’m happy that our parents are on the same page. I have more clarity now and I think everything will open up. But I don’t want to talk about something that is so personal. There won’t be a single person who will understand because they’re not you. So why bother? I’m already putting my soul out there in my characters. Putting my personal life out there is something I can’t do.”

Back to her comfort zone, Mahira lights up as she talks about Sadqay Tumhare, her upcoming serial opposite Adnan Malik, which is ready to air. Written by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, the story casts her in the avatar of a village beauty, a role that her fans will undoubtedly love her in.

“I read the script and flipped over it and decided to do it,” she enthuses. “I have not enjoyed saying my dialogues as much as I have in ST. My leading man is Adnan Malik. The cast is fabulous and it was just like fresh air. It’s so interesting for me to play that girl. I hope people enjoy the dialogue and the script because it’s not your usual saga.”

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Mahira is not your usual star. She shies from exposure, she is unsure of her sex appeal. She likes to keep things simple and she prefers to keep complications out of the public eye. A loyal friend, doting mother and passionate performer, it’s no wonder that she’s everyone’s favourite.

Mahira’s portraits by Nadir Firoz Khan on location, during the filming of Bin Roye

 

Source: http://tns.thenews.com.pk/unusual-shining-star/#.VDETgNKLC1v

Hum TV, Eid highlights

Rashid Nazir Ali
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Hum TV, Eid highlights

This Eid, Hum Tv is also coming up with special programs consisting of special shows, award shows, music shows, tele films and indian films

Special Show
One highlight is special shows of morning show Jaago Pakistani Jaago which will also feature the newly wed couple of Danish Taimoor and Ayeza Khan, who are appearing on television first time after their marriage.

Award Shows
Hum Award show will be retelecasted on this Eid.

Indian Films
Indian film are also part of Eid transmission the main highlight is Dhoom3 featuring Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Telefilms
Many special tele-films like Dil Pardesi Hogaya, Harkat Mein Barkat, Arrange Shadi Ki Love Story, Anokhay Raqeeb, Dil Parosi ho gaya are also part of Eid Transmission

Music Shows
Terey Mast Mast Do Nain, a show featuring Rahat Fateh Ali in live concert will be aired on second day of Eid

https://vimeo.com/108027094

 

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Rashid Nazir Ali

Tonite With HSY- (Reema Khan and Bilal Lashari)- Episode 4

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Tonite With HSY- (Reema Khan and Bilal Lashari)- Episode 4

If ever there was a doppelgänger for Snagglepuss (remember the pink mountain lion from Yogi Bear?), it must be HSY. After all, there must be a darn good reason everyone refers to him as Sheru (wordplay alert). Tonight’s intro to the first guest made me extremely curious who he’d invite and I was taken aback that he had the queen of cinema, his friend, his muse- Reema Khan. I’ve never watched any of her movies and I don’t think she has done much work in television. All I have seen are promos of her show “Reema Ka Amreeka” and bits of interviews around the time of her much hyped wedding. Reema seems to consider herself as a trendsetter of sorts- she takes credit for all the celebrity weddings that have taken place after her big day! Meri shaadi ne kitno ki shaadiyan karwaadi…

I must confess, I was pleasantly surprised at her confidence and her no-holds barred attitude. She was exactly the kind of guest that HSY was hoping for all this time. This lady had no qualms about saying ANYTHING. The casualness with which she commented on Meera’s films left me speechless- depend karta hai film 35 mm par banaa rahe hein ya mobile phone par! Late night television is a gossip monger’s dream come true!

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Bilal Lashari aka Billy was the second guest for the evening. Bilal was playing it too safe and he admitted that he’s too new and thus remained diplomatic. I like how grounded he seems- despite the 25 crores that WAAR earned him. It was nice to get a clarification from both Reema and Bilal about how the money is split between the cinemas, producers, marketing, etc and only a small cut falls into the director’s hands. Bilal declared that he is married to his work and he is not ready to commit at the moment. Bilal briefly spoke about his upcoming project- a remake of a cult classic Punjabi film “Maula Jatt” and Reema added that she will be back on the big screen soon. Bilal attributed his passion for directing to the film series- “Back to the Future”. I was relieved that age wasn’t brought up in this episode- by the way, doesn’t anyone know how old Reema is?

With Reema skipping comments on two pictures (Resham and Meera) in the round, “Love or Don’t Love”, there was another opportunity for Sheru to pry and he did. Reema’s remark about those competitors resorting to chhotay aur onchey hatkandey was the fodder HSY was digging for. Seeing Reema’s candidness, Bilal seemed to loosen up and made a very careless remark about how Pakistani actresses ne ajeeb si wahan jaakey harkatein ki hain in response to whether actors should go overseas for work. I’m sure this quote will come back to haunt him since there’s no dearth of people who tend to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Reema’s rendition of “Mere Nehar Se Aaj Mujhe Aaya” was pretty lame but she was a good sport about it. Add to that the fact that it gave her an opportunity to take one more shot at Tahir Shah. I must say that she looked graceful and I hope that other guests take pointers. Green may not be my favorite color and the outfit itself was nothing out of the ordinary but our ethnic outfits add an element of grace that we can’t deny. What did you think of this episode?

P.S. Eid Mubarak to all my fellow writers and our wonderful readers. For those of you who don’t know Snagglepuss, here’s a little Eid treat:

Yours in watching,

Kanwal Murtaza

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