So, the so called love day – Valentines day is here. It’s ohkay for those who originated it to celebrate but is not meant for the societies who just want to hop the bandwagon to show that they are not the odd ones out.

It is this time of the year & we can clearly see our morning show hosts dedicating the whole week for this purpose. Calling celebrity couples to make people understand how much they lurve each other on-screen. Morning shows are mostly seen by the housewives who tune to them while doing their household chores. It isn’t always necessary that in order to help them kill their time, they come up with next to nothing in the name of entertainment. Who says entertainment can not be or should not be informative? Who says that we need the shows like these to promote the English concept of love when it has nothing to do with us or our festivities?

I see there’s a massive group of people in Pakistan that has accepted this as a norm & those who don’t follow it are declared as backward or almost aliens but the truth is, we should focus more on the festivities that actually mean something to us in stead of just following what the West has prescribed for us.

I am actually gutted to see the morning show hosts going gaga over the promotion of valentines day & literally dedicating their precious time to tell people how important it is to express your love on this particular day, how important it is to exchange the gifts wrapped in RED gift papers, how important it is to be dressed in RED & wearing RED lipstick bhalay hi after the clock strikes 12 you don’t feel like talking to each other but no matter what, it is important to do all this in these 24 hours. Does it really have to be shown to the normal people who are busy with their lives to especially do certain things & gestures which actually mean nothing?

The morning show hosts come up the most irrelevant excuses while promoting such days in their shows that Pakistan is going through such a tough time so we want to spread smiles. I think they need to understand that by showing needless things in their shows that too in the wee hours of the morning, they are doing nothing to spread smiles in fact they are making people addictive of the Panadols, because all the shor sharaba & nach gana tends to be a headache-provoker instead of bringing a smile to anyone’s face!

All I say is that happiness is subjective & independent of such days. No one needs a certain day to celebrate each other’s presence & certainly there’s no need for all the fuss over a petty day which clearly has no value especially in Pakistan. Share your thoughts on this.

& in the end to re-emphasize it’s importance, a word of thought from my favorite artist Arsalan of Comics By Arsalan:

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay, so after a HUGE success of Pakistan Idol I think it’s about time we start investing more finances & time in the reality shows. I am not into foreign dramas (except Korean) or any thing of that sorts but yes, I’m a huge reality TV buff. Irrespective of the countries to which the shows belong, I do watch most of the reality shows because no doubt they provide the quotient of a healthy entertainment.

We all have clearly seen how Pakistan Idol has clicked to the masses so for that I do feel that the rest of the reality shows will also make an impact. IF the channels provide us with our own reality shows I am sure so many people who like them, like me won’t resort to the others and eventually will stick to & support our very own content. I think it’s another best way of grabbing the TRP’s & because of that our channels wouldn’t have to buy the foreign content to fill the time slots for the ratings, instead they will earn the TRP’s with the international franchise but with our own content.

So, here’s the list of reality shows I’d like to see on Pakistani TV screens:

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire:

I love all sorts of quiz/game shows because not only they are mentally engaging but provide such a healthy entertainment. I have been an avid follower & would love to see the Pakistani contestants compete for the prize money. I know there have been some attempts of the sorts in the past but I think it would make a greater impact if the actual franchise with the brand-name makes an appearance on the Pakistani screen.

Masterchef:

I heard a buzz about Masterchef Pakistan being launched in the year 2014. If that’s the case, I am all for it. Maya Khan’s Kitchen Idol in 2012 was more or less on the lines of Masterchef but it wasn’t that systematic rather it was more like a morning show with some cooking thrown in. Masterchef is again another one of those entertainment reality shows which would gain popularity all over Pakistan because no matter what – we love to cook & there’s no beating to the Pakistani cuisine.

Big Brother:

I think we all are aware of the show & it’s format. It is an undeniable fact that Pakistanis love to follow the Indian version of the show – Bigg Boss. I think Pakistanis are totally & equally supportive of their celebrities & anyone would want to in fact love to find out more about the lifestyle & personalities of our celebrities. I think this show is the best in terms of getting to know about the psychology of the people & I would love to find out more about the people we see on our screens.

Pakistan’s Got Talent:

As the hypothetical name suggests – for sure WE do have talent, of all sorts & it’s a fact. I would love to see the creativity of normal, non-celeb Pakistanis because I am sure none of us are short of the ideas to make this show a hit. It would be a nice push to those who have talent & are looking for a break to project what they are capable of. It would definitely leave a mark & gain the viewership IF it is handled on such a large scale like we see it happening in all the other countries.

So, what did you think about the list? Do you agree that Pakistan should have more reality shows? Which more reality shows do you want to see happening in Pakistan? Share with us, please. :)

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

A few last years have been very fortunate for otherwise shattering Pakistani cinema. Movies like Josh, Siyah and Waar infused a new life to our film industry. 2014 is no different! A lot of Pakistani movies are going to release this year! We will be watching a lot of Shan Shahid with a strong dose of patriotism in 2014. Another interesting thing is the shifting of mini screen artists to big screen. Many talented Television artists are going to make their cinema debut this year.

Here is a short list of some great Pakistani movies to look forward to in 2014. Let’s support our industry and spread the word about them!

Kambakht

Produced by Ayaad Ibrahim & Sharmeen Khan and directed by Hamza Ali Abbasi, Kambakht is an action comedy movie that will release this April all across Pakistan under the banner of ARY Films. Kambakht is starring Pakistan’s heartthrob Sheheryar Munawar Siddique, senior TV and Film actor Hamayun Saeed, senior lollywood action figure Shafqat Cheema, the new intelligence in town Hamza Abbasi, the girl with pretty smile Soha Ali Abro and others. Screen play of the movie is written by Hamza himself while we get to see two other names, Atif  Siddiqui and Jawad Rana as writers too.

I have high hopes from Hamza Ali Abbasi and really looking forward to the release of Kambakht. I never really admired Soha Ali Abro as an actress but we shall see how she proves herself in her cinema debut.

Jalebi

A joint venture of ARY and Redrum Films, Jalebi is all set to hit cinemas in Pakistan very soon. This is going to be one of its kind movie since according to sources, some of the parts of the movie will be animated. This is probably going to  happen for the first time in Pakistan so the patriotic Pakistani in me is already taking pride in it while anticipating it impatiently.

Prominent names from the movie cast are; Danish Taimoor, Adnan Jafar, Ali Safina and Zhalay Sarhadi. Another thing to make you excited about Jalebi is the fact that it has been shot via ARRI Alexa HD cameras. Yes! the same fancy-shmancy cameras that were used to shot famous Skyfall, Iron Man 3 and gravity.

Naach

Starring king of Pakistani cinema, Shan Shahid and Momal Sheikh, Naach was scheduled to release in 2013 but due to some inevitable reasons the release was delayed. Hopefully the movie will be released soon now. Shan is going to play the character of a dance teacher in Naach and we will be seeing some major dance moves and intense emotions of love, rivalry and jealousy in the movie.

Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zuljilal

Umair Fazli’s Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zuljilal is supposedly releasing on 14th August, 2014. The film is featuring the events of history of the nation and its heroes. Kudos to the entire team for a courageous attempt to introduce the forgotten part of the history to the new generation.  The cast includes Shan Shahid, Noman Ijaz, Kamran Mujahid, Sohail Sameer and Nayyer Ijaz.

Operation 021

Pakistan’s first ever big budget action thriller movie is directed by the internationally acclaimed media personality Summer Bodhi Nicks, he not only directed the movie but also wrote its screen play. Operation 021 is produced by Zeba Bakhtiar and Azaan Sami Khan and is in news for a while now.

The movie stars action hero Shaan Shahid, Iman Ali and Aamina Sheikh – the perfect threesome. I personally am a fan of all three and cannot wait to watch them rock the big screen together.

Hijrat

Director Farooq Maingal is making her cinema debut with movie Hijrat, starring sizzling Rabia Butt and Asad Zaman. The story of Hijrat is written in the background of the Afghan war and as its name denotes, will be highlighting the lives of people who were compelled to take refuge in other places. The movie is shot in Turkey, Balochistan and Karachi.

Tamanna

Pakistan’s first noir movie Tamanna’s story “is essentially about class snobbery, adultery and ego”. Starring Mehreen Raheel, Salman Shahid, Omair Rana and Feryal Gauhar, the promotional banners of the movie look really promising. Mehreen Raheel, with her vintage winged eyeliner and matte red lips is looking really classic and according to me, is a great choice for such movie genre, but of course if she does justice to her role with her acting skills as well.

This is only first part of the article, a lot more Pakistani movies including Moor, Jinn (if we consider this venture Pakistani) and Ishq Positive are in the process of making. We shall keep you updated, keep watching this space.

Zubia Rizvi

The Sindh Festival 2014, the much awaited cultural extravaganza, has turned out to be one of the most hyped events as its promotion had started almost six weeks prior to the event. The Sindh Festivel finally began on Saturday, 1^st February, near the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro with a lavish opening ceremony which was hosted by Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui and Humaima Malik. The festival also featured beautiful fireworks as part of the grand opening.

The mastermind behind this unique cultural revival festival is Pakistan People’s Party Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The festival includes a series of celebrations all over the province for two whole weeks. With the remains of Mohenjo-Daro as the backdrop, Bilawal Bhutto walked up the 80-feet-wide illuminated stage to officially open the festival.

The inaugural Sindh Festival, instigated by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was conceived because of the danger in which Sindh’s rich heritage and culture is right now. Mohenjo-Daro, the world’s oldest planned urban landscape, lies in a state of disrepair, a victim of neglect and indifference. It is but one of a myriad of sites of antiquity scattered across Sindh and Pakistan which need attention now if they are not to be lost forever.

According to Bilawal, ‘It is to preserve, promote and protect our heritage, such as Mohenjodaro, standing right behind us’. The main object of organizing the festival was to initiate the process of protection and conservation necessary to safeguard Sindh’s unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage for generations to come. The main tagline of the Sindh Festival is ‘Apni Sakhawat Pe Naaz Karo, Pakistan Se Pyaar karo’ (Be proud of your culture, [and] love Pakistan)

Apart from Bilawal, the official opening ceremony was graced by Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, PPP leader Faryal Talpur, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Owais Muzaffar and Sharmeela Farooqi. A number of foreign visitors were also seen at the event wearing traditional Sindhi Ajrak. Approximately 1,000 guests were present at the grand opening ceremony; some of these had been specially flown to Mohenjo-Daro to attend the event.

A lot of effort has been put by all the Bhutto siblings to promote this event. A few creative videos were made in which words like ‘Saeein to Saeein’ and ‘Meri Ajrak’ were used to promote the festival. Sindh Festival is a celebration of all things Sindhi, from Sufi raag to art, to fashion, film and everything in between. The festival had different kinds of events such as Sufi night, Basant, Ghazal night, Music Mela, Art Festival and many more in the course of two weeks.

Apart from the videos, Bakhtawar Bhutto released a song in which she has displayed her rapping skills. This song is made in collaboration with the band Mooroo and the song was released via a link to the song on the Sindh Festival’s official Twitter account.

The song starts off with a very catchy beat and has a hip-hop feel to it. Bakhtawar talks about preserving Pakistans’ heritage, the motto of the festival. She goes on to rap about how Pakistanis should “stand tall” on their “soil with pride”.

The song with Mooroo is not the only song that will be featuring in the festival. Ali Gul Pir, of the Saeein toh Saeein fame, released the song ‘Pakistan Ka Beta’ especially for the festival. The song has the same beat as his popular song ‘Saeein to Saeein’.

We hope the festival serves its purpose of reviving Sindh’s culture and heritage.

Mariam Shafiq

Grease – The Musical is the first licensed musical play to be performed in Pakistan. It is based on the adaption of the classical 1978 movie which had John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as the leads. Grease has been in news for quite some time; it started at the Art Council on January 16 and was declared a hit immediately. It ended on 2nd February after being performed at the Art council for almost 17 days. The play took three months of vigorous training and more than 100 rehearsal sessions for the actors to perfect the play, and their hardwork has definitely paid off. It starred Ahmed Ali as Danny Zuko, Ayesha Omar as Sandy, Mustafa Changezi as Kenickie and Sanam Saeed as Rizzo, along with an ensemble cast of familiar faces and promising newcomers. In the play, Ahmed Ali was paired up with Ayesha Omer and Sanam Saeed with Mustafa Changezi.

The play introduces the 50’s era to the audiences. The costumes, songs, setup all had been designed keeping this era in mind. The play did not have any particular message, it solely depicted the essence of being a teenager in the 50’s. Its success proved that teenage love is still an ever green concept.

The director Nida Butt has given her 100% to this play. From the choreography to the music, every little detail was well thought out and executed. All the actors also did a brilliant job especially Sanam Saeed who portrayed Rizzo’s aggressive character to perfection.  She was extraordinary throughout the play and the actress had easily picked up the accent and gesture required to play the role.

All the performances were top notch, but one song that stood out from the rest was Freddy my Love which was sung by Sara Haider. This song touched the audiences’ hearts and was appreciated and applauded by all. The lead pair might be Sandy and Danny, but the limelight was stolen by Rizzo and Kenickie as their chemistry sizzled on stage because of their magnetic and realistic connection.

Here is an interview of the star cast who shared their experience with their co-stars, how they managed to fit into the shoes of their character, and their feelings of being part of a play which is first of its kind:

Danny Zuko AKA Ahmed Ali Butt

How did you get in to the character of Danny?

I watched the movie a couple of times, mainly for the relationships the characters have with other characters. I started acquiring the traits from him over the months. The walk and the laugh — I have done them so much that they’re my thing now. I don’t even remember how I used to laugh!

Travolta and Newton-John had a lot of chemistry between them. What is your chemistry like with Ayesha Omar?

Ayesha is amazing to work with. She is very humble, very down to earth. When I heard Ayesha was playing Sandy, I was a little intimidated, but she eliminated the feeling. She is awesome to work with.

What is your relationship like with Mustafa? Do you think he’d make a better Danny and you a better Kenickie?

I have taken some inspiration from Mustafa actually, he doesn’t know that (he laughs). He is quite the ladies’ man and the laugh he does is very similar to Danny’s — I stole that from him. Mustafa could have been a good Danny. Danny has a slight feminine touch to him, and Kenickie is a bad-ass. Had we been asked to and given time, we could have swapped roles. They’re both similar; they’re both the leader of the pack with a smooth style. In real life, Mustafa can probably relate to Danny more than I can.

How do you feel about being part of this musical?

I was a musician before I started acting. This is where music and acting come together — in musical theatre, and I found it to be my true calling. I am honoured and humbled; Grease is an opportunity to make history. My father is a huge Grease fan. After the first play I did, he was very encouraging and said, “Good, you should go into acting. There is a play Grease, you should ask the producers to do that.” I did seven plays and he would say the same thing every time. When I got this role, I went up to him and told him I am doing a play, he asked which one. When I said Grease, the smile on his face was amazing. I hadn’t seen it for years!

Kenickie AKA Mustafa Changezi

How does it feel to play Kenickie? How did you get into character?

It’s pretty cool. I don’t really have a tough guy persona, so to pull someone like Kenickie off was a lot of fun. It wasn’t too hard to get into character; I watched the movie a couple of times and tried to act like the guy throughout.

What was it like to be paired up with Sanam Saeed?

Sanam is one of the strongest actors in the industry. Initially, when I heard I was paired with her, I was like ‘Fine. It’s cool’. Then, when I saw her act, I saw how confident she is and that intimidated me a little, but it’s been fun. She’s a genuine sweetheart.

Do you and Ahmed have the kind of relationship on stage that Danny and Kenickie did?

I love the guy. Initially, I didn’t know who he was, and I really doubted the fact that he can do justice to the benchmark Travolta set. Then I met Ahmed. He is so committed and dedicated to his role and nobody but him deserved to have it. He and I are the closest amongst the cast.

Sandy AKA Ayesha Omer

How does it feel to be a part of Grease?

My career just took a very busy turn. Every day, there is some offer coming in after the success of Coke Studio [season 6], but I just can’t take up anything. It’s like letting go off something you have worked for, for ten years. However, getting away from the petty TV mind-set was very refreshing for me mentally.  We are all like family here. It’s team work. It’s very exciting and it’s been a wonderful experience. And I couldn’t have asked for a better co-star than Danny.

Do you have a message for the readers and audience?

It’s the first licensed show and we have put in a lot of effort. The audience needs to know it’s very difficult to put something like this together. People should come and look at it with an open mind and encourage the newcomers.

Rizzo AKA Sanam Saeed

How does it feel to be Rizzo?

I wouldn’t have picked any other character to play. It’s a role I’ve always wanted to do. With the support and the kind of chemistry we all have, each one has done justice to their role. Ahmed, Ayesha and I are the eldest in the cast and the most experienced, so we automatically had some sort of hold over the kids ­— they’ll kill me for saying this — and that kind of helps the character, considering how Rizzo is and how she bosses around her minions. It’s fun, it’s perfect, everything has worked out really well.

This play was an hit through and through, it can be called a pure masterpiece without any exaggeration!

Mariam Shafiq

Our Television Industry is not at all deprived of young,talented and beautiful faces.Every year, thousands of girls try their luck to become one famous television star; A very few of them get chance to show their talent – rest of them rely on their looks and beauty. My list contains all the actresses that are blessed with perfect smile that enhances their onscreen appearance.

10.  Arij Fatima
Despite of not having any experience in the field of acting,her charming personality with this smile made her earn huge fan following in very less time. This young talented girl,Arij Fatima, definitely deserves a place in my list for her smile.

9. Saba Qamar
Saba Qamar is the one of those versatile actresses these days that can mould themselves in any character they want. Be it the girl from “Thakan” or from “Bunty I love you”,she fits in every role. Her smile compliments her personality and for that she is the part of my list.

8.  Ayesha Khan
She might not be that young to stand out among fresh faces and new-comers in our television Industry but her smile is enough for her to be remembered every time when we talk about “perfect smile”.

7. Aamina Sheikh
The Dusky Beauty, Aamina Sheikh, is among those few Pakistani actresses that are ultra photogenic. She has got those naturally beautiful cheek bones that not only enhance her overall look but compels one to appreciate her smile too.

6. Sonia Hussain
The Merai Humrahi Girl, Sonia Hussain,definitely deserves a place in my list.She has got those perfect set of teeth that adds glow to her face and to her aura too.

5. Sohai Ali Abroo
Queen of Rona Dhona , Sohai Ali Abroo, might be hated by all of us in those stereotype roles that she has been playing for so long but as soon as she smiles, everyone appreciates her. She looks fresh and energetic with a smile on her face and this is the reason why I have given her 5th place in my list.

4. Syra Shehroz
Winner of Veet Smile of the Year Award, Syra Shehroz, needs no explanation to justify that why she forms a part of my list. Her smile, with those cool looks, add spark in her personality.

3. Mahira Khan
Mahira might not be good actress for some people or never appeared to be stand out for them, but for me,she always does. Whatever look she adopts, make her look even more beautiful than before and to add more, the wide smile on her face says it all.

2. Sanam Baloch
Only thing that comes in my mind after hearing the name of Sanam Baloch is her cute smile. Her smile adds a WOW factor to her bubbly look.

1. Sanam Jung
The one with innocent face, Sanam Jung, steals every one’s heart whenever she smiles. She has got perfect baby-like face that can make anyone fall for her anytime and for that she is at the top of my list.

Do share your list of all the actresses with perfect smile.

Keep smiling as it costs nothing, but gives much :)

Rabia Basharat.

Although, I have not been an avid follower of morning shows all my life, (mainly because of my morning schools) I still liked to catch up with a few episodes on lazy weekends to keep up with the latest happenings and gossips of town. I believe, morning shows, if well presented, can be a great source of infotainment for stay-at-home-moms/wives/sisters. I have been observing morning shows for quite a few months again and honestly speaking, I’m not impressed. I remember watching Tauseeq Haider in one of the PTV’s morning transmission, his eloquence and sober style of hosting is nothing similar to what we see in morning shows today.

After Tauseeq, I had been following Nadia Khan and Farah Sadia for a short while as well. Nadia Khan was one of a kind morning host in Pakistan, either you personally like her or not, but truth be told she was quite good in doing live morning shows. Although at times she used to get a little too loud for my liking but I always enjoyed her interaction with her celebrity guests. Farah Sadia, who is hosting A TV’s morning show till date is one of the most well-composed, mature and decent morning show host of recent times. I quite like how she has complete grip over the topic she brings under discussion with her guests.

In my humble opinion, the quality and pace of a morning show depends SO much on it’s host. An anchor can totally make or break the reputation of a show, while few of the morning show hosts are doing their best to entertain the Pakistani audience, I still feel if something is missing – maybe a meaningful discussion or maybe a more sober attitude! Without pointing out anyone I’d like to name a few celebrities of my choice, whom I’d like to see as a morning show host. Like always, don’t forget to mention your favourites in the comments section.

Tauseeq Haider

Hailing from the capital of Pakistan, Tauseeq Haider has started his career as an English newscaster. He had hosted Pakistan television’s live morning transmission for sometime and was pretty good at it. I, once had a chance to see him interviewing Nadia Khan on the show, his questions and the way of including the guest in the discussion was beyond perfection. I’d like to see him on screen again as one of the entertainment morning show host.

Babar Ali

Not long ago, I got a chance to catch few glimpses of a morning show that Babar Ali was hosting for a regional channel and boy was he good at it! I was literally shocked to see his tremendous hosting skill, the fluency of his speech and the over all feel of the show. I really would like to see him host a morning show at some bigger platform.

Sania Saeed

For me, Sania Saeed was the perfect host for the talk show Maa. She interviewed many celebrities on the forum and tackled many emotional situations. Seeing calm and composed Sania Saeed hosting a morning show will be an amazing experience.

Aamina Sheikh

Aamina Sheikh is a well established celebrity and proved herself in almost all fields including film, TV and ramp. I have enjoyed watching her interviews in different morning shows and always get a feeling that she, herself has amazing anchoring abilities, would love to see her hosting her own morning show some day.

Nadia Khan

Last but not the least, I’d like to have Nadia Khan back on the board. Her shows were really entertaining, she was always ready and devoted to introduce new segments to the show, I never got bored while watching her.

Summing it all up, though the present morning show hosts are doing their best, (specially Fahad Mustafa and Faisal Qureshi – at least they present something other than weddings and emotional dramas) I’d still like to have something more meaningful and worth the time while sipping my morning tea.

Are you satisfied with the quality and content of morning shows these days? Which celebrities would you like to see as morning show hosts?

Zubia Rizvi

Had a real bad day? Feeling under the weather? Nothing feels good and you need a real dose of humor to brighten up your day? Here we are with our comedy plays suggestions to brighten up an otherwise gloomy day. Grab up a steaming hot mug of tea/coffee or a giant size bowl of popcorn, turn your laptop on, take a pick from one of the below mentioned plays and there you go, laughing and smiling, almost forgetting your earlier bad mood!

Whenever I am down, a light comedy always helps. With the same thought in mind, I tried compiling a list of light comedy plays for you guys to watch when you are not feeling better. As always, don’t forget to expand this list by adding your favourites, let’s make it a fun discussion. Let’s proceed!

Family Front

An ultimate favourite of us, 90’s kids, Family Front is the story of a house hold where nothing goes right. Written by our own king of humor Dr. Younis Butt and directed by Waseem Abbas, Family Front was a huge hit of its time. The team of Sumbul (Saba Hameed), Nusrat (Samina Ahmad), Bobi (Anjum Shehzad), Huma (Arooj Nasir) and Khushiya (Naseem Vicky) is always up for something exciting and adventurous; sometimes participating in a cooking contest, sometimes making and selling washing powders. The crisp witty lines and hilarious situations make this play worth watching time and again. Aazam (Waseem Abbas) is the only sensible person in the family, hence whenever he enters home, everyone gets alert. Remember “Aazam aap aa gaye?” , “Nahi abhi aa raha hun”.

Dolly Ki Aye Gi Barat

Dolly Ki Aye Gi Barat is the part of Kis Ki Aye Gi Barat series, directed by Marina Khan, starring Saba Hameed, Javed Sheikh, Natasha, Bushra Ansari and others. The play revolves around two families; one hailing from Karachi and the other belongs to Faisalabad. The play highlights the differences in their lifestyles and thoughts in a witty and comic manner with a strong dose of desi wedding blitz. The highlight of the play is Saima Chahudry (Bushra Ansari) – a quirky, loud fashion designer and bride’s mother. A character that you will remember for ages, no one could perform it better than Bushra did.

Shashlik

Starring Sarmad Khoosat, Nadia Afgan and Fatima, Shashlik was one of its kind play. Cheeko, Mishi, Munni and Kammo were some of the famous characters of the time. Sometime back, its sequel, Shashlik Xtra Hot was launched on Geo TV as well, the new story featured the life of Cheeko and Mishi as a married couple. But I’d personally recommend you to watch the original Shashlik first if you haven’t already. For me, it was the best.

Nadaniyan

Nadaniyan went on air from Geo TV and was quite popular among masses. Starring Yasir Nawaz, Nida Yasir and Danish Nawaz, Nadaniyan was their home production and shot nowhere else but their own house. Nadaniyan was the story of a small family living in a big metropolitan city. Nida is a working wife and Yasir a househusband, their mutual quarrels and arguments are definitely fun to watch.

Bulbulay

Probably Bulbulay is the only play of the list that is on air these days on ARY Digital. A home production of Nabeel, Bulbulay features four main characters; Nabeel, Khubsurat, Mehmood Sahab and Maa Ji. You actually develop an attachment with these characters when you start following the play regularly. Out of all four, Maa Ji (Hina Dilpazeer) is my favourite.

How many of these plays have you watched already? What is the one thing YOU do when feeling down?

Pakistan’s entertainment industry is growing-and growing really fast. Thanks to the private channels, acting has flourished a lot as a career opening new doors of success for the women here in Pakistan. While we still cherish our legendary actresses who have set huge standards in the field of acting, it is a matter of proud to see our female newcomers doing an absolutely amazing job as actresses. Here are few of my favorite female newcomers who are doing really good in  as actresses in Pakistan.

Have a look!

Sidra Batool

The beginning of her career was from the drama serial Yeh Zindagi Hai and since then she is working with the most prominent actors and directors of Pakistan TV industry. She is full of confidence and has a doll face making her a really cute actress and model.

 Sana Javed

In the world of Pakistani dramas, she has proven to be unique and stunning. Her famous serials include Pyar E Afzal, Menu Ka Sasural and Meri Dulari etc.

Sanam Jung

She is a model, a TV actress and a VJ who has earned great fame from her TV drama serial dil E Muztar in which she has acted against Imran Abbas, earning great fame and praise round the world.

Sajal Ali

She has conquered the world of TV industry in Pakistan in a very short amount of time. Some of her great work includes Mehmoodabad Ki Malkaiyen and Mastana Mahi. She is innocent and has a bright future in Pakistani TV industry.

Sohai Ali Abro

She is a Pakistani dancer, model and TV actress and has earned great fame through her drama serial Saat Pardon Main featured on Geo TV and Tanhai on Hum TV.

Maya Ali

She has worked as a VJ on many channels in the starting of her career but her true fame was received when she worked in the drama serial Durr E Shehwar and Aik Nayee Cinderella. She is currently modeling for various brands and definitely has a prodigious imminent in this industry as well.

Urwa Hocane

She is one of the most popular VJ and actress of Pakistan. Her debuts in the dramas were Meri Ladli and Kahi Un Kahi in which her appearance has marked a significant difference in the work being done in Pakistan TV industry.

Arij Fatima

She started modeling in 2011 but later started acting in the daily soaps that helped build her entire career like Sabz Pari Laal Kabootar And Hazaroon Saal etc.

Mawra Hocane

She is the most talented and successful VJ, actress and host. She has performed in numerous celebrated TV drama serials among which Shadi Mubarak, Yahan Pyar Nahin Hai and Halki Si Khalish are acknowledged the most.

So this was my list, share your views on it please.

Blessings,

Nida Zaidi

Reality TV shows have taken the world of entertainment by storm and Pakistan, of course is no different. TV audience probably like the REAL dramas better than the scripted ones! The lifelike situations, living and breathing participants and real challenges serve as a better medium of catharsis for audience as compared to the contrived and plotted stories.

19 Entertainment’s internationally acclaimed music reality TV show, Pakistan Idol finally made its way to Pakistan and is all the rage these days, but unfortunately not for all the good reasons. The first controversy was regarding the selection of the judges for the show, apparently Bushra, Hadiqa and Ali were not the perfect threesome to judge the singing skills and potentials of youngsters at such a big platform, according to the social media polls and forum discussions, Sajad Ali, Abida Parveen and Shafqat Amanat Ali would have been a better choice! Cherry on the top is the obnoxious and discouraging attitude of judges; always taking pleasure in mocking young contestants who came on the forum with big dreams and high ambitions.

In spite of all that not-so-friendly attitude of Pakistan Idol’s juges, audience criticism and all contervorsies, the mega music reality show is successfully maintaining its popularity among masses. People actually take out time from their busy life schedules to sit back and watch the episode with family, cheer the contestants and enjoy the over all feel and enthusiasm of the competition. Not only that, by now, audience have picked up their cult favourite contestants too for supporting and voting. Seeing their favourite participant getting good comments make their day and eliminations make them gloomy, this is the beauty of reality shows, you can actually relate to them. With all this stuff going on, I have a feeling we have two CLEAR winners of Pakistan Idol already before the grand finale and any official announcements!

Maria Meer is one of those not-so-glamorous contestants who were rejected by the judges during the auditions only to emerge as the new sensation of Pakistani music before even the official commencement of Pakistan Idol. Public that was already disappointed and mad at judges for bashing talented singers, supported Maria whole heatedly through social media hence her first song Naina Lage with Amanat Ali was an instant hit.

And the story of success doesn’t end here rather it’s just the beginning! In addition to the constant love and support of public, Maria Meer is also receiving some worth mentioning media fame lately. Maria Meer gave her first live TV appearance on Express Entertainment’s Morning Show, followed by Good Morning Pakistan of ARY Digital where she was given a makeup over by the famous Aliyah Tipu.

There is a long way for Pakistan Idol to go before announcing its first official winner but Maria Meer has certainly nailed it already. They say, success comes to those who never give up and Maria Meer has proved it already!

Amanat Ali – the one who promoted Maria Ali through his song Naina Lage is also getting all fame and real celebrity status these days. Seems like reality shows have a thing for Ali; first Sa Re Ga and now Pakistan Idol (without even participating) brought him all the popularity and fortune that unfortunately his own album Kohram couldn’t bring! Amanat Ali is now hosting and judging the Sindh Festival Talent Hunt show Voice of Pakistan that aims to promote talent without insulting them. Well played Ali!

Are YOU guys following Pakistan Idol? What do you think about Maria Meer and Amanat Ali, a fame well justified?

Zubia Rizvi

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against changing with the times. I understand only too well the importance of adapting to a changing environment. But have we evolved to the extent that’s causing us more harm than good?

Personally, I like happy endings. I love romance, a bit of drama plus a tinge of comedy. But everything doesn’t need to be broadcast on our tv screens. Something’s are better left to our imagination and there is a certain amount of allure when everything isn’t spelt out in BIG BOLD LETTERS.

I’ve grown up in a fairly liberal environment but that said, my parents were big on respect. There were plenty of do’s and don’t’s and over the years I’ve come to realize how essential these are to shaping up character.

Back in the 80s and 90s, drama serials had strong messages minus the need for the unnecessary intimacy. You would never see a scene where a couple is sitting on the bed let alone lying side by side. Yes, we are all sensible enough to know couples sleep together but there’s no real need for the visual. Holding hands, getting cozy, close proximity is on the rise. We’re not far from the days when our tv screens will show a couple kissing!

Maybe it’s because we hail from a society that’s rich in tradition, but I truly hope we can hold on to our traditions and not transform ourselves and lose sight of who we are. There are things we can comprehend without the need for exhibitionism.

Aren’t we seeing too much of coziness/ awkward moments lately? I for one, would really like it if our writers and directors would exercise a little caution and use some restraint. There’s no dearth of good stories and certainly no shortage of talent either. Why can’t we go back to the era of classics that still remain close to our hearts and look up to the artists rather than raising eyebrows on their comfort levels.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you like the direction where our dramas are headed or do you look back at the old times and wish for its revival?

Have a lovely weekend.

Kanwal Murtaza

It’s been around 2 – 3 years now that the internet humour in Pakistan has taken a face of memes. I think it’s the best way to say what you feel like creatively. Some of the pages have shared with us some really hilarious memes & for this I give a special mention to two Facebook pages that outdone all the others when it came to memes. I am sure Comics by Arsalan is a well known page to all the Facebook users by now. Run by an artist named Arsalan who has worked on this amazing ‘Burkha Avenger’ project as well, I must say he comes up with some really original ideas & turns them into amazing memes. What I love about his comics the most is the originality & his sense of humour.

The other page which ruled back in 2012 where all the users came up with their self-made memes was ‘The Sarri-alist Movement’. These two are my favorite Facebook pages & I thought just for a change I’d share some of the funniest meme’s that I came across on these pages. You all must check Comics by Arsalan on Facebook as well for some real & to the point humour.

So here’re some memes from Comics By Arsalan that I found the funniest:

The other hilarious memes I came across on ‘The Sarri-alist Movement’ are:

So, do share with us any of your favorite memes that you guys have ever come across while surfing the internet.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza. 

Ali Zafar is the singer turned actor who has reached the heights of success in a very short time. His pure masculine voice has a certain charm that makes his voice stand out from the rest. His singer career made him popular, but his acting career made him a star. He started his singing career with the song Jugnuon Se Bhar Le Aanchal for the Pakistani movie Shararat, but he made his mark with his first single Channo from his first album Huqa Pani that sold over five million copies worldwide.

Ali Zafar’s first experience in acting was even before he started singing; he has acted in Pakistani shows like Kanch Ke Par and Kollege Jeans. The turning point of his career which made him a renowned personality worldwide was through his debut in B-Town. Many Pakistani actors have gone to Bollywood to make their mark, but have returned disappointed. But Ali Zafar’s luck has been with him throughout as he has had opportunity to work with the biggest banners in B-Town.

His first Bollywood movie was ‘Tere Bin Laden’, which was moderately successful at the box office, and for which he was nominated for Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. In 2011, Ali Zafar appeared as a guest in Yash Raj’s Luv Ka The End, and later on he was seen in the romantic comedy Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. The movie had names like Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif in the cast and was declared a commercial success. Ali Zafar also won Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow – Male in 2012. Ali Zafar has also starred in other commercially successful films like London, Paris, New York and Chashme Baddoor.

Ali Zafar will next be seen in another romantic comedy ‘Total Siyappa’ opposite Yami Gautam. The cast also includes names like Anupam Kher and Kiron Kher and is slated to release on 7^th March, 2014. The story revolves around a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless Pakistani boy Aman (Ali Zafar) while visiting his girlfriend Asha’s (Yami Gautam) parents, leading to some of the funniest, chaotic and outrageous situations. The promo has been released and by the looks of it, he has another commercial success in his hands.

He was also recently seen performing on the 20^th Annual Life OK Screen Awards on his song ‘Palat Meri Jaan’ from his movie Total Siyappa which is a huge accomplishment in itself. He is also currently seen sporting his Johnny Depp inspired look for his upcoming movie ‘Kill Dill’ which has renowned names like Govinda, Rani Mukerji, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra in the cast, and will be produced under Yash Raj’s banner. The movie will release by the end of 2014. Another news making rounds is that Ali Zafar will also be seen in the fourth installment of the movie Golmaal. The list does not end here though;  Ali will also be a part of the sequel of Tere Bin Laden.

The best part about Ali is that he might be busy with his Bollywood movies, but he also takes out time for his own country. He makes appearance in interviews and also at events whenever he is in Pakistan. Recently, he performed an exclusive concert for Hum TV for Valentine’s Day which will be shown on Hum TV on 14^th February. He does not get time to release single albums anymore, but he does fulfill his passion for music by singing tracks for his Bollywood movies.

Well, there is no doubt that Ali Zafar is soaring high nowadays, and is at the peak of his career. He definitely makes us all proud with his hard work and accomplishments. May his luck always be by his side, and he reaches even greater heights!

Mariam Shafiq