Ismat Tahira is a veteran artist, who had worked on television and radio, since 70’s and 80’s. Ismat Tahira is a brave lady, she raised her children single handedly by working on television, radio and also in advertisement agency. Even when married and after breakup, she had worked hard to run her house. Though Ismat has never much talked publicly about her husband, once in a radio interview she told his husband was a highly educated person, but he never took responsibility of home and earned, due to which Ismat became a career woman.

On radio Ismat has worked in multiple fields, as a compare, news caster, and actor. On television, she has played numerous roles in dramas of PTV Lahore center. She mainly appeared in supportive/ character roles. Neelay Haath is one of her famous dramas, which was aired in 1989. In the field of advertisement, she worked in an advertisement agency, to raise ads for different newspapers and in doing so, she also drive motorcycle, as she cannot afford a car then.

Ismat Tahira, gradually stopped acting and not appeared on screen from mid 1990’s as she moved to Canada with her family. Ismat has five daughters and one son, three of whom also joined the field of showbiz and are famous.

Irsa Ghazal is daughter of Ismat Tahira, and a famous TV actress too. She started her career in mid 1980’s from PTV Lahore center. Her famous dramas are ‘Mirat ul Uroos’ , ‘Pyaasi’ and Catwalk.  In Mirat ul Uroos, she played the role of Akbari. Irsa Ghazal took a break from television in mid 1990’s and made a comeback in 2008-2009, and now she is regularly appearing in dramas in character roles like ‘Rishtay Kucch Adhoray se’ and ‘Kahi Unkahi’.

Shah Sharabeel is son of Ismat Tahira, he is a director and producer in theatre mainly serious theatre. He has produced and directed many theatre plays like ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’, ‘You only marry twice’

Ushna Shah, is daughter of Ismat Tahira, she was brought up in Canada. Like her elder sister and mother, she has also joined the field of acting. She has appeared in lead roles, in dramas like Shehar Yaaran on ARY and Meray Khawabon Ka Diya on Geo TV

Do share your views, on the contributions of Family of Ismat Tahira.

Rashid Nazir Ali

As the winter season is at its peak, people are trying to carry out different colors that make them look good and comfortable at the same time. People usually go for dark colors as black, grey, navy and brown. The color that usually people forget is white. White is basically the color of the winters. This monochromatic winter white is very tricky to wear but if you know the perfect trick then it is the perfect color for the winter season. In this article i am going to highlight some tips that will help you to wear a wonderful monochromatic winter white outfit. Usually people do not wear white because of their own consciousness. They get conscious about their looks and their dress getting dirty this is why wearing the color white becomes a problem. It necessary to play around with textures. If you are wearing a full white outfit then try mixing up the texture of your dress. You can pair your white cotton and polyester sweater with a furry textured jacket or you can pair up your white tweed pants with a white silk shirt. This will make your outfit trendy and interesting at the same time. The thing that you need to keep in mind while doing so is that the color must not be different because this will give an odd look. As there are many shades in white so you should always use same shades while playing with the textures otherwise the awe factor will be lost.

If you are not ready to wear a completely white outfit and if you want to look a bit different then you can try the color blocking technique. Most of you must not be familiar with this technique, so I will tell you what it is. Let us suppose if you want to wear a green monochromatic outfit then you can establish a color palate and find three to four pieces that are all of the color green but the shade of the green is different. You can wear a pair of emerald green pants, mint green shirt and a lime green jacket. The outfit will still be monochromatic but it will have a whole new look. The same is for the winter white dressing. The most commonly used monochromatic outfit is the winter white. It is a versatile color. Any vivid print scarf, jacket or tights can go along with it. A white blouse is a life saver, whenever you have nothing to wear with any of your colorful tights or pants, you can grab a white blouse and make yourself look like a diva. Do make sure that the print on your tights is very simple because white goes along with simpler stuff. Apart from this also pay full attention on your shoes, because when you wear a colorful tight then nude colored shoes work best.

So when you have your monochromatic winter white dressing available and you think that it is boring then try adding up some colorful accessories along with it. Get a statement piece for example a green scarf, a red hat, lots of blue bangles, yellow pumps and much more. Literally any color can be used along with it. A monochromatic winter white outfit is itself very chic, trendy and clean. You can make a style statement by simple trying a bold lip color to go along the clean white look. Moreover grabbing a coat can also be a way to break the boredom. White goes very well with neon colors so you can choose a neon pink, yellow or orange colored coat to go along with your white dress. It will give your look a refreshing pop. Winter white is crisp, clean, and chic. While a pair of white pants are amazing I would not recommend wearing them in the winter time because it can easily get stained. We have a lot of dust in Pakistan that is why white pants are not recommended by me for rough use.  Monochromatic winter white dressing is daring, modern and “cutting-edge”. Work your way up to a monochromatic colored outfit  if you can pull it off. Do not be afraid to wear white, they make bleach for a reason! Just be extra careful! Your suggestions are valued and i hope that you will also be in favor of this increasing trend of monochromatic winter white dressing.

Written by: Moomal Hassan.

Hamza Ali Abbasi is a rare man among today’s breed of actors. Driven by passion, his latest directorial venture, Kambakht, is Abbasi’s own Joseph Gordon-Levitt Don Jon moment. While he has already established a burgeoning career for himself as a leading man, he is looking to make his mark on cinema from the director’s chair.

“I am better known for my acting, so a lot of people told me ‘focus on that’ or ‘wait before you make a film’, but I felt I had to do it. It’s kind of like getting married, you can wait five years or do it now,” Abbasi tells

Abbasi has paid no heed to these suggestions and is currently in the process of directing what is being hyped as a vitriol comedy that should be released by mid-2014.There are many positive things about Abbasi, but one thing is certain, he is always talking about bringing people together and supporting each other for the betterment of the industry. The actor-director has kept his indie-film roots intact with this endeavour by casting and running the production through people he feels comfortable with.

“The passion aspect has overshadowed professionalism. We’re all people who are doing this for the first time, so I think that’s what made the project so interesting,” says Abbasi.

His production team is a cultivation of minds he has brought together or scouted over the years. More importantly, they are people he trusts. For instance, the script is a collaborative effort between Abbasi and two theatre veterans, Atif Siddiqui and Jawad Rana. His production team includes two relatively new figures — Shayan Latif, who was his DOP in Mudhouse and newcomer Sharmeen Khan.

“My first priority was to work with people I already knew and thought I had a comfort level with, so we would stay together at work, so that helped me,” says Abbasi. The hype surrounding the film has been apparent since its inception due to the originality of the piece, and the star ensemble assembled by Abbasi. Ahsan Khan was initially going to star in the lead role, which is now being played by Abbasi himself.

Kambakht has quite the all-star cast, including Abbasi, Shafqat Cheema, Humayun Saeed, Shehryar Munawar, Sohai Ali Aabru, Fizza Zehra and Gohar Rasheed, amongst others. A comedy with an original storyline, Kambakht is about two people, one middle-aged man from the backward areas of the frontier, played by Shafqat Cheema, and a young urban city-slicker played by Abbasi himself, who strike an unlikely and accidental friendship.

“I think it’s going to feel like a combination of both “Hera Pheri” and “The Hangover” mixed together. It’s pure comedy and entertainment, in which I think the film’s strength is going to be the story and the characters,” says Abbasi.

Gohar Rasheed, who helped with production and is playing the role of a policeman, is quite excited about Kambakht, due to the hilarity surrounding its characters. He says that the out-of-the-box and non-conventional approach has provided something really different.

“It’s really a roller-coaster ride; it has one turn after another, one twist after another, and one event after another. Personally I am against comparisons, because I feel it’s just that original. This film will leave its own mark,” says Rasheed.

Comedy aside, he says there is a broader change coming, in light of the fact that type-casted actors such as Shafqat Cheema, who has only been known for his roles as a villain, will be seen in a completely different light. Another person to look out for will be Humayun Saeed, also known for dark-harrowing characters, playing against his type.

S. Rasool

Well if we recall, Pakistani television gave us a lot of great comedy dramas where a few had no meaning & the others had some sort of a message to convey but in a light hearted way. I think in the time of distress people really love tuning into comic dramas I mean I would love to because at times it does get tedious to watch all the rona dhona.

For me the definition of entertainment also means to watch something away from the reality (at times) because everyone is so real in their own lives, so at times tuning into the harsh portrayal of realities doesn’t sound like a good idea. It is definitely a loss of ours to be lacking in the sitcoms or light hearted comedies because no matter what, if you do watch something hilarious, it does leave you with a good taste.

The amazing sitcoms or comic dramas I have seen & recall clearly are:

Teen Batta Teen:
Who doesn’t remember it? A 1990’s comedy directed by Jawad Bashir of 3 guys & 3 girls, neighbouring in two building blocks & trying to make ways into each others hearts but all they were capable of was committing blunders. It was aired in the PTV times where we only had one channel & it definitely was my favorite time of the week to watch it. I remember people anxiously waiting for the day it used to be aired because it definitely redefined comedy. No doubt their characterization was perfect making it a huge success because all the actors gave their 100%.

Family Front:
‘Azam app a gaye?’. It was another one of those dramas which I am sure people still remember. Again airing in 1990’s it was directed by Azam (Waseem Abbas) himself for PTV. It was actually an episode based drama & focused more on the museebatain the Azam family had to endure. It was like a new day everyday for that family & it was still amazing to see Azam maintaining his sanity while living with a bunch of smartly insane people. ‘Main bobby to nahi hoon’ showed the honesty of Bobby – Azam & Sumbal’s son who took his brains after his mother. I am glad it ran for a decent period of time, making people fall in love with the family.

Kollege Jeans:
It was a production of the students of National College of Arts – Lahore (NCA). Somewhere in the early 2000’s it was definitely something new back then because it focused more on how the college students are & how hilariously bizarre they can get. It also starred Ali Zafar because back in those days he was a model & being a student of NCA, he was also a part of the group. Ayesha Omar also made an appearance in some of the episodes because of her affiliation with the institute. I remember people raving about it because no doubt their one-liners & their situations were cleverly projected making it all comical because it for sure was one of it’s kind & being the first one to actually bring in the limelight the life of the university students. It was again an episode based drama showcased on PTV.

Shashlik:
Production & direction of Surmed Khoosat where he played the role of Cheeku. It was aired in the mid 2000’s again for PTV where it was all about a bunch of friends who developed certain love triangles. Starring Nadia Afghan, they did do wonders & it ran for quite some time too. I remember it was again one of the funniest dramas of that time because during that period we saw a different sitcoms but this one clearly stood out.

Sab Set Hai:
Direction of Ali Azfar which starred his ex-wife Salma & his friend Mani along with some other actors, it was more or less based on the lines of Teen Bata Teen where they had 3 guys & some girls who always tried to began a relationship with their mohallay ki larkiyan. I remember it being aired on Indus Tv because back then Indus Tv just started & to get the viewership, they did suceed by airing Sab Set Hai.

Bulbulay:
Who doesn’t know about it? It is an amazing amazing attempt by Nabeel & his team to keep us all happy & luckily they all are succeeding. No doubt despite the time it has been running, it still has a viewership because all that we come across these days are dramas based on miseries of life, so yes Bulbulay is a breath of fresh air, surprisingly even though it is an episode based drama too, they are not running out of ideas, be it Ramadan or Eid, they always bring in some really interesting subjects.

Ulta Seedha:
This was aired on GEO back when it started. Produced & directed by Faisal Qureshi (funny wala), it wasn’t a drama but it was a compilation of funny skits – more like a comedy program which was extremely funny. It starred Mani along with Amna Khan & Ahsan Khan two amazing video directors who picturized some amazing songs perfectly. I remember they had a unique taste of comedy & it was always hilarious to tune into Ulta Seedha It had 2 seasons that aired on both GEO & AAG . It is still uploaded on YouTube under the channel name of GameOverProduction10.

Aunn Zara:
Who doesn’t know about it either? A perfect blend of Punjabi loudness & Urdu speaking tameez o tamaddun. Airing in 2013 & making it probably the most memorable drama of the year, Aunn Zara had it both high & lows but I am placing it in the comical shows because even though it had a few lessons & few heart wrenching moments of it’s own, the main wow factor was the Punjabi family’s wawela on each & every thing. No doubt Nasreen Qureshi was the star of the show & the drama was directed by Haissam Hussain.

So, this was my list. If we look at the past, back in those PTV days they had certain centres from which the dramas used to be produced & aired. PTV Karachi Center, Lahore Center, Peshawar Center etc but if we look at it, Lahore Center has produced some amazing & most memorable sitcoms of all times starting from Teen Bata Teen till Shashlik, all these were the production of Lahore Center whereas the other three like Sab Set Hai, Bulbulay & Aunn Zara are obviously Karachi based because the main industry is in Karachi these days. I also found Akbari Asghari funny too & I think it should have a mention where we’re talking about comedy as well. With this list where I pay tribute to these masterpieces, I am also hopeful that we revive those amazing days of comedy dramas again that can be remembered for a long time!

Do share about which were your favorite sitcoms or comedy dramas & which ones did you enjoy the most! :)

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

It is said that ” a successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt everyday”. We often talk about reel life couples who have made a very special place in our hearts which is irreplaceable. On screen couples like Bano and Hassan, Asher and Khirad and a few more leave a deep impression on the viewers because of the on-screen chemistry that the artists playing the characters share. There are many real life couples in our entertainment industry too who look great off screen and also on screen, whenever we get a chance to see them together. Here are the top 5 celebrity couples of our industry.

5. Hira Tareen and Ali Safina

Both of them are very cute and very talented. We do not get to see a lot of Hira or Ali on television but whenever we do they give us something to remember. Hira and Ali compliment each other beautifully. You can see the love they feel for each other just by seeing the way they look at each other. Hira looked beautiful on her engagement and her wedding.

4. Syra Yusef and Shehroz Sabzwari

They look fantastic off screen and also on screen. They rocked as the young and cute couple in the play Tanhaiyaan Nayee Silsilay. Syra’s and Shehroz’s wedding was the most talked about wedding last year because it was not just the union of two actors/models but also the union of two people who looked fabulous together.

Shehroze Sabzwari and Syra met through a mutual fiend. For Shehroze, it was love at first sight but Syra took some time falling for Shehroze. Now that they are finally together, it is plain to see that they were meant to be with each other.

3. Usman Peerzada and Samina Peerzada

These love birds have been together for almost forty years now. Both of them, like all other couples in this list are very gifted and they look wonderful together. Usman and Samina give each other the space they need to grow as individuals. This is the reason they have come so far.

“You could call our marriage unconventional,” said Samina Peerzada in an interview. “That’s because we both are unconventional people. We like to live life according to our own rules rather than conform to society’s stereotypes.” Their love story is very filmy; Samina Peerzada’s mother did not want her to get married to an actor therefore these two love birds decided to elope! “We got tired of the parental pressure and tied the knot, returning to our respective homes after the ceremony. Then, a few weeks later, on Valentine’s Day itself, we had a proper wedding with our family and friends.” confessed Usman Peerzada in an interview.

2. Aamina Sheikh and Mohib Mirza

I simply love Aamina and Mohib because one aspect of their relationship that is very obvious from their joint interviews is that they respect each other a lot and also have a lot of understanding. I always wanted to see them on screen together. They proved that they can be an unmatchable on-screen couple as well in the film Seedlings (Lamha). Mohib said in one of his interviews “it was great working together but we want to be known for our individual work rather than get typecast as an on-air couple”.

Mohib Mirza and Aamina Sheikh got closer to each other when Aamina was directing a children’s show which Mohib was hosting. It took a lot of hard work to convince Aamina’s father in particular. “Aamina’s family is not involved in the media at all and they had their reservations towards her marrying so soon and that too, to an actor. I met Aamina’s father five times before he gave us his approval,” recalls Mohib in an interview. Both of them are multitalented and excel in their respective fields.

1.Rahat Kazmi and Sahira Kazmi

These two need absolutely no introduction. Although both of them have not been seen in dramas for a long time but they have been engaged with theater and television in some way or the other. They have grown old together but theirs is a relationship which only got stronger with time. Sahira Kazmi has not been seen on screen for such a long time because she has been working on her own private production and also because she is not happy with the way things are progressing in the entertainment sector. While giving an interview she said “Unfortunately, this mushrooming of channels has resulted in an overdose of half-baked professionals who begin as actors, turn into cameramen the next day and directors a day later”.

Rahat Kazmi also said in one his interviews “My current state of mind is that I have grown old and that the creativity which used to be there is no longer there”.

Rahat Kazmi was the one who suggested Sahira’s name for her first drama, she was a news caster at that time. Rahat said in an interview ““The beginning of our romance was with an argument…. We were going to the TV station. Somebody had commented that the camera work was very conventional and she agreed. I said it suited the material; it was neither conventional nor unconventional. So we started arguing and it has continued till date”! Sahira Kazmi said in an interview “I love and respect him for what he does. He’s highly educated, and he’s done what he’s wanted to do – besides, I have brought humor into his life, which is very important!” She believes in the power of love but also accepts that it takes more than just love to keep a relationship going, ” Love is important, there’s no two ways about it, but that can fizzle out. It is important to trust and respect each other; when you live together and are friends, you figure that out.”

What do you think about the list? Who is your favorite celebrity couple?

Grease has hit the theatre and we have caught NIDA to answer some of our questions so that we can explore the nitty gritty details of the play

Lets hear something about GREASE from the one and only NIDA BUTT

Why Grease?

Everybody loves Grease. I didn’t do it earlier because I wasn’t ever sure how to go about it. About six to seven years ago, I wouldn’t have known how to actually stage something like this, but now we have figured out how to make it work.

It’s the first licensed musical play in Pakistan. How do you feel about that?

We were quite thrilled; it’s a great show of confidence by theatrical rights worldwide to have awarded the license to us. It took me weeks to find the right people to contact, but eventually, we got the rights. It’s the socially responsible and legally correct way to stage Western musicals if we are going to be using their titles.

How did you manage to translate the quintessential American nature of the story for a Pakistani stage?

Grease is a classic, so you can’t really mess with it or tweak it or localise it. It would steal the essence of what Grease is. We wouldn’t do that.

Do you think the actors are going to live up to the expected standards? John Travolta was one of the most charismatic leading men in Hollywood. Is Ahmed doing justice to the role of Danny Zuko?

The talent this time is splendid. We do understand that the characters are so well-known from the movie that we would not want to move too far away from the characterisation of those, but naturally, every actor brings their own flavour. It’s very important that you do that and make it your own, while staying true to the spirit of the character.

How did you manage the costumes and sets?

The costumes are colourful — they’re young and they’re fun. The designers have done a great job bringing back the 50s era. We have managed to create five sets and the integral part is to be able to shift from one scene to another in an instant. I started working on these sets in June last year; it’s been a real thorn in our side. We want people to pay attention to what we have done to the sets and not just the songs and dances.

Some people are complaining that Rs2,000 per ticket is too steep. What do you have to say in response to that?

If you look at theatre around the world, it is not a cheap hobby. You’re paying a couple of hundred dollars for the best shows. We’ll be putting up the best musical show that Pakistan has ever seen. I think they got off easy.

S. Rasool

Faysal Qureshi is one of the most outstanding actors of our time. He is known for his versatility, he can portray every character; whether positive, negative or grey shaded to perfection. Faysal Qureshi being in the cast of a show is enough for its publicity. He has been a part of the industry since he was a child. Faysal started his career as a child artist from PTV’s play Emergency Ward, and also appeared in the play Andhera Ujala. His major acting role as an adult was in the film Saza in 1992, and since then he has never looked back.

He is known for Television shows like Qaid-e-Tanhai, Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishaan, Man-o-Salwa, Manay Na Yeh Dil and many more. He is an excellent morning show host and a good comedian as well. He has hosted many award ceremonies and has also judged a dance reality show. He has played characters that are old, young, deaf, blind. The 40+ actor can easily switch from a college going teenager to a father of a 20 year old son. And the best part is he easily molds himself into his characters! Playing such various types of characters does not only need good acting skills, but also a change in one’s appearance which goes with the personality of the character. He is known for experimenting with his looks for the various characters that he had played over the years.

This is how Faysal Qureshi looked more than two decade back and he has evolved not only as an actor but in terms of physical appearance too. He has changed his hair style, experimented with his facial hair, and even his weight for the different characters he had played.

Have you seen any actor in four different looks in a single show? I am not talking about turning young or old, or putting up a moustache or changing one’s clothes. I am talking about one’s physical appearance in terms of weight. Faysal Qureshi is one actor who has changed his physical appearance in terms of weight four times for the show Meri Unsuni Kahani. Here are the four looks he sported in the serial:

For almost every show, Faysal Qureshi has a different look. Here are the few looks in different drama serials:

For the drama serial Roag, cropped hair with the full beard:

The gangsters look in Ek Hatheli Pe Hinna Ek Hatheli Pe Lahoo:

The grey-shaded character in Umm-e-Kulsum:

Dressing up as a woman in Kis Din Mera Vyah Howega:

Playing a politician in Virasaat (older and younger look):

His very unique character in Jhumka Jaan:

His look in the show Mera Yaqeen:

His look in Sabz Pari Laal Kabuter:

The fisherman’s look in Aashti:

His look in the movie Aaina:

His older look in Qaid-e-Tanhai:

His two different looks in Meri Zaat-Zara-e-Benishaan:

His look in the show Adhoori Aurat:

His current look for his upcoming serial where he plays an army officer:

His various other looks for photo shoots and advertisements:

I have not seen a more versatile actor than Faysal Qureshi! Do you guys agree?

Share your opinion about his various looks in different serials and which one you admire the most.

Mariam Shafiq

Of all the forms of devotional music, Sufi music, despite being age-old, has the ability to appeal to modern sensibilities. It encapsulates a facet of Eastern spirituality that can entrance anyone with its message of love. Celebrating this unparalleled, mystical magic of Sufi kalam, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop (RPTW) organised its 12th Annual Mystic Music Festival from January 10 till January 12.

The festival is a commendable medium to project the Sufi path that gets one in touch with the soul. The three-day event is perhaps one of the most widely attended events organised by RPTW. The platform makes Sufi music accessible for the genre’s enthusiasts.
But other than the gripping kalam, what attracts a following for Sufi music are the artistes themselves, whose history and traditions are worth knowing. In a backstage conversation with some of the musicians performing at the festival, We explore the various aspects of their lives as Sufi singers.

The family of musicians, called Shah Jo Raag, who sing at the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai have maintained their 400 year long tradition and kept close to their roots. There is nothing commercial about their craft and there is potent spirituality in their music.

Muhammed Ismail Mirjat, who is a direct descendent of Shah Jamal, says that every Thursday, the singers gather after the Isha prayer and sing for the rest of the night and on the event of an Urs, they sing consecutively for three days.
“This has been going on since three hundred years. We have never missed a day at the shrine and we perform without any money/salary to sustain ourselves; it is pure devotion and no night has been empty,” says Mirjat.

Saeein Ghulam Abbas of the Madhu Lal Group adds that although the musicians hail from different backgrounds, they all wish to enter the dervish mode while performing, through the song, the sound of the dhol or dance. Having travelled around the globe, he says that it is praiseworthy that the festival pays homage to the complete devotion and purity of the centuries-old Sufi poetry and songs.

“I think if a hundred people came to any of our shows, they will develop faith in the Sufi way because it’s the way of peace and calm,” says Abbas. “There is a fear that we may become extinct, but let me say that whenever the Sufi message is discussed, people do gather.”

The festival brought together some of the most renowned Sufi artistes this week, including Sanam Marvi, Saeein Zahoor, Pappu Saeein, Akhtar Chinar and Arieb Azhar. Each day had its own charm, and with its greatly designed set-up and impeccable sound system, the event had a high entertainment quotient.

On its last day, the show started with an act by Mehboob Mian Miri qawwal and was reminiscent of the days when the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan could captivate any crowd with his live performances. On the recommendation of Saidaan Peerzada of RPTW, the qawwal tried a first-off fusion performance with Rafaqat Ali Khan, for which he harmonised his traditional qawwali with Khan’s contemporary classical music.

Krishnan Lal Bheel from Cholistan, who performed primarily in his local Marvai language, sees the festival as an institution that has, in modern times, given a platform to Sufi artistes both locally and internationally.

While Sufi and folk music continues to embark upon its aim of touching the soul of the masses, Bheel says that the government must do more to preserve the art. “If the government would give us some support, it would help make [Sufi and folk] music thrive again. Many of our elders are leaving slowly because they cannot sustain themselves and don’t receive much emphasis or protocol,” says Bheel.

It is fitting to see Sufi artistes, who rarely get the opportunity to display their art in the mainstream, being offered a prestigious channel to do so in the form of the RPTW Mystic Music Festival.

S. Rasool

We get to see countless number of OST’s of dramas every year. OST’s are an integral part of any show as it serves as a source of marketing strategy for the show. Producers invest heavily in OSTs and a show is considered incomplete without one. Even if the cast is average and fails to catch the audience’s attention, then a melodious OST can definitely be useful to attract viewers.

Here are the top 10 OSTs that certainly got my attention last year:

1) Dil-e-Muzter:

Dil-e-Muzter’s OST tops my list because it not only has the melodious voice of Alycia Dias, but also the beautiful lyrics written by Imdad Hussain. The song was composed by the very famous Waqar Ali who has given us the most popular OSTs over the years.

2) Kankar:

I was a bit confused about which OST to put on the first place because my two favorite OSTs of this year are of Kankar and Dil-e-Muzter, but Dil-e-Muzter gained extra brownie points for the beautiful poetry in it. Kankar’s OST ‘Yeh Sheesha dil maskan tera’ is once again sung by Alycia Dias and composed by Waqar Ali.

3) Zindagi Gulzar Hai:

Every aspect of this show was brilliant; the story, cast, direction, and production. Then how is it possible that its OST would not match up to the viewer’s expectation? The OST had two version; male and female. The male version was sung by Ali Zafar while the female version was sung by Hadiqa Kayani. Both versions were superb in their own place. The female version had a slower tune while the male version was more upbeat. The song was composed by Shani Haider and lyrics were done by Naseer Turabi. I must say, this song was a beautiful composition!

4) Aasmanon Pay Likha:

This show and its OST generated interest amongst many viewers when its promos went on air. The show did not live up to the expectations of many, but its OST definitely did. The OST is sung by Sohail Haider who has given us countless hit OSTs in the past of shows like Dastaan, Mastana Mahi, and many more.

5) Shukk:

When Shukk’s promos went on air, they did not interest me at all because the show seemed to have a very typical story. However, its OST is what captured my interest and I was hooked to it. Then after watching an episode or two by fluke, I had to change my perception about the show too. It’s a typical story portrayed in a very different way! The OST is sung by Nabeel Shaukat Ali (Surkshetra’s winner). He has a brilliant voice which just makes you want to hear the song again and again.

6) Numm:

This show might have hugely disappointed us all, but it OST is definitely a winner. If I had to point out three things good in the show, then it would be Fawad Khan, Sania Saeed and its OST. Its OST ‘Mumkin Hai Chashm-e-Numm’ was written by Ahsan Talish (the director of serial), and composed by Muhammad Agha. The song is sung by the talented Faiza Mujahid who rose to fame by the song Bandya Ho from the 2006 film, Khuda Kay Liyeah.

7) Meri Zindagi Hai Tu:

The next OST in my list is of the show ‘Meri Zindagi Hai Tu’. The show might have not gained popularity but its OST definitely has. It is sung by Nouman Javaid and Shabnam Majeed. A beautiful OST which leaves one spell bound! The lyrics and composition both are absolutely brilliant!

8) Darmiyaan:

‘Khalish aur khushi ke darmiyaan’ is another beautiful OST sung by Nabeel Shaukat Ali who has once again weaved magic with his voice. The song is composed by Sahir Ali Bagga and the lyrics are penned down by Mubashir Hassan.

9) Pyaray Afzal:

What I really like about Pyaray Azal’s OST is its beautiful lyrics! ‘Jane woh kaise log thay…’ is a very well composed and written song which instantly caught my attention when it was played during its promos. The song is sung by the popular composer and writer, Waqar Ali. He has proved that he is not only a good composer, but also a great singer.

10) Kabhi Kabhi:

The uniqueness in the OST of Kabhi Kabhi lies in its different tune. The song ‘Kabhi kabhi wafa mili…’ is very well composed by Waqar Ali and it is sung by Alycia Dias. The simple but unique lyrics are written by Khalil Ur Rehman.

Other than the 10 OSTs above, there have been a few others that have captured our interest like the OSTs of shows like Ranjish Hee Sahi, Pachtawa, Ek Kasak Reh Gaee, Talkhiyaan, Adhoori Aurat, Khoya Khoya Chand, Mujhe Khuda Pe Yaqeen Hai, and Mere Humrahi.

Feel free to add to the list!

Mariam Shafiq

The business of buying and selling artwork is a fascinating one. The dynamics of the art world have been dictated by the market, and this market constitutes a number of significant art collectors. Just like an accessory sported by an established celebrity becomes popular, items collected by art-loving heavyweights add to their value.

It all depends on where a piece of art finds its home. Throughout the course of time, collectors have lent impetus to the art market and played a major role in the success of many artists.

Nour Aslam, head of South Asian and Contemporary Art at privately-owned British auction house, Bonhams, talks us about how Pakistani art is trending in the international market.

“The Indians are a factor in driving up the Pakistani art market,” says Aslam. “They find Pakistani art aesthetically pleasing and cheaper than Indian artwork.”

Aslam, who is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, New York, has been working at Bonhams in London for four and a half years. She deals with modern and contemporary art from Turkey and Bangladesh, among other places.

Commenting on the inextricable link between art collectors and an artist’s success trajectory, she says, “In some instances, a major collector can change the fate of an artist, and the two go hand in hand. If there was no Gertrude Stein, there would be no [Pablo] Picasso, and if there was no Picasso, there would be no Gertrude Stein.” Not only was the success of these artists contingent on how talented they were and how good their work was, but also on the basis of who liked and bought their creations.

Aslam shares that one of the most imperative factors that contributes to an artist’s success is international collectors. “[Abdur Rahman] Chughtai spent time in Austria, Bashir Mirza in Holland, and Sadequain in Paris, and this exposure was crucial for their success because their work was collected by people abroad.”

Interestingly, another determinant of the success of artists is how accessible their work is. In some cases, the more available an artist is, the less the worth is of his/her work. In most instances, it takes years before an artist’s work becomes worthy of being a collectable. “Most of the famous Pakistani artists gifted their work to their friends and it is after their lifetime that they became collectors’ items,” Aslam says.

Having studied studio art, Aslam plays a crucial role in the prestigious auction house that was founded in 1793 and has 66 locations worldwide. “Once a piece of art is asked to be auctioned off, we have to authenticate it, catalogue it, research the artist and the origins of the work, value the piece and then sell it.” Size, medium and condition of the piece, along with who the artists are and what their background is, are all factors that are considered when a certain piece is being evaluated.

Contemporary artists, such as Imran Qureshi, Aisha Khalid, Rashid Rana, Faiza Butt, Mohammad Ali Talpur, Ali Kazim and Khadim Ali are gaining ground internationally. Aslam talks about the impact that their work is making in the Western markets. “Pakistani contemporaries are being showcased at the Venice Biennale and are getting the Western exposure they need,” she states. “When international art fairs, museums and galleries pick up an artist, they ensure that the right people see the work.” Just like any industry, even the art market depends on both where you showcase your work and who sees it.

With an ever-evolving art market, and certain forms of art and artists going in and out of fashion, Aslam urges people to not hesitate to buy what they personally like. “You have to live with the work; hence, you should love it,” she says.

S. Rasool