Kuzey Guney Episode 85 in High Quality 28th December 2013
Barbies & Kens of Pakistani Drama Industry!
Life in plastic, it isn’t always fantastic! Although glamour is directly associated with the world of showbiz but very often there are times when our glamorous actresses & actors have to compromise on their styling, make-up and outfits because a certain role which they are enacting in a drama does not allow them to look glamorous. Looking very attractive at times can undermine the effect a character might have on the viewers. Since television is an audio visual medium therefore the outlook of the characters in dramas is just as important as their dialogue delivery and the body language. A character which is going through a difficult phase in life must look like it is going through the worse otherwise the viewers will have a difficult time identifying with the characters no matter how powerfully penned down they are. Also, certain characters need a specific outlook which might not always be very glamorous.
While our drama industry is filled with actors who are more than willing to give up their glamorous looks to translate their characters more flawlessly on screen, there are however some who find it impossible to allow glamour to take a back seat. These actors who are very keen on looking glamorous on screen either opt for roles which are glamorous or make sure that their make-up and styling is on point even when their characters are not supposed to look very attractive. All these actors are immensely talented and have given some memorable performances in their career but they have hardly been seen in roles in which they had to give up their glamorous looks altogether.
Here is a list of A-list actors who haven’t yet been able to give up glamour even though they have been in the drama industry for a considerable amount of time.
Fahad Mustafa:
Fahad Mustafa wasn’t one of the “pretty boys” when he started his career because he focused on his acting more than his looks. He dared to experiment with his looks and left glamour far behind when he starred in Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon but lately he has groomed himself a lot and he clearly wants to be known for his good looks more than his performances. This is the reason why he chose to play the arrogant, rich Sikandar in Kankar because although Sikandar’s character was not perfect but there was tons of room for putting on make-up. Also, his role in Doosri Biwi which was a drama from his own production house was that of a man who was very “wanted”! Fahad Mustafa made sure he looked very charming in this role as well. Fahad wears just as much make-up as his heroines because according to him in our industry you need good looks to survive since talent alone can’t take you much further.
Ayesha Khan:
Ayesha Khan has been associated with dramas for the longest time now and in this long career there isn’t a single drama in which Ayesha Khan wore minimal make-up or did not style her hair. Even in Parsa when her character went through a complete personality change, the make-up was always on point although that character did not require a glamorous look. Every other play which Ayesha Khan has played required a glamorous or a stylish outlook. In drama serial Bari Aapa although she played the role of a simple girl but she was someone who always made sure she looked pretty for her husband. Recently, in Mann Mayal, Ayesha Khan was shown flaunting her wardrobe, hairstyle and make-up even in those scenes which suggested that she just woke up or was about to hit the pillow at night!
Imran Abbas:
Imran Abbas might not admit that he wears makeup but we all know that the camera doesn’t lie. In the play Dil-e-Muztar there were times when Imran Abbas’ lip color was more prominent than that of Sanam Jung’s. Imran Abbas is another actor who always wears a lot of make-up and is very conscious about his looks. The only time he did not look all made up was in the play Akbari Asghari, but other than that in every other play he makes sure to wear a blush on & a proper eye makeup including mascara. Imran also sports a lip gloss & at times a lipstick which is usually very prominent. He is also one of those actors who are blessed with good looks yet they think they can’t do without all the make-up.
Saba Qamar:
Saba Qamar is one of the most prettiest faces of our drama industry & she is a very powerful actor at that too but in every single drama, Saba Qamar makes sure that her hair remain voluminous & her makeup looks fresh as new. In Digest Writer, where Fareeda spends a chunk of her life unhappy with her husband, her glamour most certainly didn’t tell a tale of a dysfunctional marriage. In Sangat, where Saba played the role of a rape victim, her curls remained tight & her makeup was flawless throughout, which most certainly didn’t do justice to the predicament of a rape victim. Saba is a beautiful girl & she can totally do without makeup, especially in the dramas which are more on the mature themes where her character is going through a very hard time because in such scenarios, no makeup look is what will allow the viewers to genuinely feel for what her character is going through.
Osman Khalid Butt:
I don’t ever remember Osman Khalid Butt on screen in a drama without proper make-up and his beard and hair right in place. Even when in drama serial “Goya” he was in the hospital for days, his beard was well taken care of & his foundation stayed put! Osman Khalid Butt surely does not need so much of make-up to look good on screen because he is good looking enough as it is and would even look great in a casual look with no gelled back hair, no proper shave, no cake faced foundation, zero kajal, no mascara and heavy contouring, which further enhances his already chiseled features.
Bushra Ansari:
Bushra Ansari’s name is a brand in itself. She is a veteran actress who has garnered so much of experience over the years but despite putting in all the effort in her acting to make it intense & power-packed, she also keeps a heavy hand at makeup, so much so that it seems unjustified. In drama serial Jhoot, she is playing a role of a well-groomed lady, so her glamorized look goes well with her character but in drama serial Udaari, where her character was mourning the death of her husband, her face was packed on with a thick layer of foundation. Yes, a little bit of coverage using the makeup is a need of the camera, but to showcase a glamorized version of a character all the time is most certainly not needed.
Faysal Qureshi:
Faysal Qureshi has been a part of the Pakistani showbiz for a very long time now & he is probably one of those few actors who don’t hold back when it comes to experimenting with the looks for the sake of different characters that they play, but Faysal Qureshi also falls in the list of those actors who rely heavily on makeup, despite not needing it at all. In recent dramas of his, like Bashar Momin & Mol, Faysal Qureshi’s makeup was so overdone to an extent that even the filters couldn’t defuse the thick layer of foundation & warm toned eye-shadows that he was wearing.
Sohai Ali Abro:
Sohai Ali Abro is a glam doll without a shadow of doubt. She concentrates a lot on her make-up, hair and outfits even if she is playing a role which does not leave a lot of room for glamour. In drama serials Rishtey Kuch Adhoore Se and Bhabi Sohai Ali Abro made a special effort to give her looks as much style as possible. Her hair is always properly made up and her clothes are always stylish even if they are simple.
Armeena Rana:
Armeena undoubtedly has a very pretty face & it is obvious that she doesn’t need that much of makeup but she pays more attention to being glamorous than the situation that her character is going through. In Mohabbat Abb Nahi Hogi, Armeena’s character goes through a very tough phase where she leaves her husband’s house & lives in tough conditions where she finds it hard to fulfill the basic necessities like food, but throughout her hardships, the things that didn’t falter were the Kohl in her eyes & the straightening of her hair. Amreena can look totally beautiful in minimal makeup because she is naturally very pretty, but she chooses to focus a little too much on looking glamorous than being realistic as per the demand of her character.
Yasir Mazhar:
Yasir Mazhar is a brilliant actor but unfortunately his over dependence on thick foundation and hairstyles which give a very made up look fail to give him the perfect look needed to make his characters more presentable on screen. His outlook in Bashar Momin, Mausam and more recently in Zara Yaad Kar qualifies him for this list because if there’s one thing that remained consistent in all of his projects, is his dependency on the bronzer!
Sanam Chaudhry:
Sanam is not only pretty, she is a very talented & gifted actor too but it is not a secret anymore that she relies on makeup a little too much. No doubt her makeup artist does a great job where they use makeup as special effects to elaborate the mindset of her character in a certain situation, but at times it seems a little too made up & gives you a feeling that she could’ve relied on a no-makeup look to make her ordeal seem real & genuine. Sanam’s character went through a lot of sufferings in a drama serial Tere Mere Beech starting from divorce to death of mother to her becoming suicidal, but her foundation to her contour to her blusher to her eyebrows, everything remained on-fleek.
Noor Hassan:
From heavy contouring to bronzing to eyebrow filling & a face packed with foundation, Noor Hassan goes overboard when it comes to makeup & styling. He can most certainly do without makeup as he has good looks but he gives out a clear message that he is not comfortable in his own skin. Every single time in every single drama, Noor Hassan looks machine washed & pressed to an extent that he ends up looking monotonous & makes it feel that he walked from one drama set to another because he is always so prim & proper in all his dramas, irrespective of the characters that he is playing. In Aabro, where he spent years & years in difficulty & bad-luck, where he became a persona non grata for his family but the thing that only seemed to have stayed by his side & worked for him was his makeup & hair-styling team!
Hareem Farooq:
Yes, Hareem Farooq’s makeup has improved over the years but we still haven’t forgotten the days when she sported a Casper look in drama serial Mausam. She was white-washed to emphasize on the fact that she was the pretty one but the whiteness of the white foundation was a little too white for the viewers to handle. In Dusri Biwi, where she was seen crying buckets over her husband’s betrayal & second marriage, her straighented hair never lost their straightening & her face makeup never seemed to fade away. In Diyar-e-Dil, where her character matured & she became a mother, that was the only time when she chose to give her character a realistic look because she couldn’t rely much on the makeup & that was the time when she looked the best in comparison to all drama that she had previously done.
Hina Bayat:
Hina Bayat is an elegant & beautiful lady. She can look equally beautiful on the camera without the makeup too because I remember the scene from Mata-e-Jaan where she had absolutely no speck of makeup on her face & she not only looked 10 years younger but absolutely gorgeous as well. In Aunn Zara, Hina sported a very neat look with a tad bit of kajal & that was enough to enhance her beauty but since then, she has focused a little much on the glam side & has made it a priority, which at times doesn’t suit the age of the character that she is portraying.
Iqra Aziz:
Iqra Aziz is one of those actresses who loves to play damsel in distress but very conveniently, that distress is covered with a thick layer of foundation & a lot of makeup, leaving no room for the distress to peak through. Iqra is quite a talented actress but at times where she can go overboard with her expressions, she goes overboard with her makeup & hair-styling too. No matter how tough the conditions for her might be, her curls never lose their intensity & her blusher doesn’t lose its vibrancy. In Muqaddas, there were certain times where Iqra was seen with no makeup & it actually showed her confidence as an actor but after that, in dramas like Mol & Deewana, where she had her fair share of distress, her makeup didn’t let the signs of it show on her face.
Danish Taimoor:
Danish Taimoor is also one of those actors who are very talented and versatile but they cannot compromise on their looks. Danish Taimoor easily passes for one of those male leads who look just as “pretty” on screen as their heroines. Danish Taimoor concentrates on his looks so much that his styling and dressing very often distract the viewers from his acting & he happens to be the one who wears more highlighter than the heroine he is paired with!
Saboor Ali:
Saboor Ali cried buckets of tears in drama serial Beqasoor but her eye make-up stayed intact right till the end. Even when her character was going through the hell, the heavy eye make-up stood out more than the troubles her character was facing. Saboor Ali is young and attractive but somehow she is also one of those actresses who cannot go with a no make-up look when the scene and the situations demand just that.
Feroze Khan:
Feroze Khan’s perfectly shaped eye brows, hairstyle which is always very “cool” and the shimmer on his face in drama serial Gul-e-Rana make him eligible for this list although he only has two drama serials to his credit.
Sami Khan:
There is no denying the fact that Sami Khan knows how to translate his characters impeccably on screen through his acting but he fails to keep a balance when it comes to the looks he sports while playing these characters. Like all the other kens in this list, he too is known for going overboard with make-up and styling. Most of the times he has so much gel on his hair that you are tempted to take a shampoo and wash it all off! And the make-up on his face makes you want to take a sponge and wipe it clean.
So, here is the list of all these Barbies & Kens of our drama industry. The sad part is that all these actors are beautiful people who would look just as fabulous without all the make-up and styling yet they are not comfortable with letting go of glamour because they don’t feel the need to walk an extra mile to make their on-screen characters look as closer to reality as possible. Please do let us know your thoughts about these Barbies & Kens & feel free to add more names to the list too.
Fatima Awan & Zahra Mirza
Barat Function Of Sonia Jung Sister Of Famous TV Host And Actress Sanam Jung
The barat function of Sanam Jung’s sister was held on 3rd of August 2020 in a small gathering. The gorgeous Jung sisters were seen enjoying at the wedding ceremony like earlier at the Mayoun.
The bride Sonia was seen carrying a minimalistic white outfit with gold details.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDfmmAtnPBs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
She wore white flowers on her hair to add elegance and alluring jewelry pieces. The bride’s makeover was by Sheeba the makeup artist though sonia is a makeup artist herself.
The cutie pie Alaya Jaffri daughter of Sanam Jung was also seen at the wedding of her beloved khala. She is absolutely loving the wedding cake.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDc-itSH79H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sanam also shared it in her instagram story that the wedding decor and planning was done by her sister Anum Jung.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDrYNhqjku8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sanam was seen getting quite emotional on her sister’s barat whom she considered the sweetest of all and is mssing her already.
We wish her all the best for her future!
Bano Qudsia passed away
Famous name of Urdu literature Bano Qudsia passed away today in Lahore. Aged 88, Bano Aapa wrote many novels and collection of short stories. She also wrote drama serials and tele plays for PTV and private productions. Her famous novels are Raja Gidh, Purwa.
Her last drama for television was Piya Nam Ka Diya aired on Geo TV in 2007.
Born in 1928, Bano Qudsia married Ashfaq Ahmed (Late) another famous name of Urdu literature. Ashfaq Ahmed passed away in 2004. The couple has three sons.
Read more about Bano aapa here http://www.humsub.com.pk/43111/headline-6/
Rashid Nazir Ali
Bano Qudsia denies rumors of bad health
Famous literary figure and drama writer Bano Qudsia has denied the rumors regarding her bad health. As per artist Noorul Hassan who regularly visits her, she is in sound health. After death of her husband Ashafaq Ahmed and due to growing age Bano Qudsia now avoids publi gatherings and prefers to stay at home.
Noorul Hassan was replying to some rumors regarding her health on social media. Noorul Hassan appealed to everyone to respect elders and avoid posting false rumors regarding their health.
Source: http://akhbar-e-jehan.com/June2014/30-06-2014/jahanefun_7.asp
Rashid Nazir Ali
Banned Pakistani Film Javed Iqbal To Be Premiered In UK Asian Film Festival
Abu Aleeha’s film Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer, starring Yasir Hussain and Ayesha Omar was banned two days before its scheduled release in theaters. Despite having clearance from all censor boards, Punjab government stopped the showing of Javed Iqbal. The actors expressed their disappointment on social media and filed a petition against this decision in Lahore high court.
Recently, actor Yasir Hussain took to social media to reveal that film Javed Iqbal, which is banned in Pakistan is all set to be premiered in UK Asian Film Festival 2022. “Yeh bohot fakhar ki baat hai k UK Asian film festival hamari movie ko itni izzat de raha hai magar afsos hai k hum kabhi apna content aur apny log pehchan nahi paaty. Pakistan mai yeh Pakistani kahani ban ho gai magar eid pe aap apny culture pe banai gai 5 movies zaroor dekhiye ga”, wrote Yasir.
The premiere will take place on May 4 at London’s BFI Southbank. Here’s how audience reacted!
Banned films of 2016
The year 2016 is concluding in a weeks time. With respect to cinema it has been a mixed year, the cinema business sustained in the first three quarters of the year. In October 2016, the cinema owners and distributors announced a ban on the release of Bollywood movies which hugely impacted the business of cinemas in the last quarter of 2016. The self imposed ban is finally lifted on 19th December 2016.
While there are tales of success and failures at the box office, there are also few films which were denied the right of screening by the government authorities. In our country in order to screen a film it must get a screening certificate or censor certificate from the three censor boards active in our country
Punjab Board for Film Certification (PBFC) has jurisdiction over the whole Punjab province excluding the cantonment areas. Sind Board for Film Certification (SBFC) covers the whole province of Sindh excluding the cantonement areas. Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) covers the provinces of Balochistan, KPK and Federal Capital Islamabad as well as the Federally administered areas of FATA, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. CBFC also covers the cantonment areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces.
In order to screen a locally produced film it must get a screening certificate from any of these three film certification boards. For the foreign films an additional step is required. At the first step the distributor writes to the Federal Ministry of Commerce with the intention to import a film. After examining the content of the film the Ministry of Commerce issues a Non Objection Certificate (NOC) to the distributor and the film is imported. Once imported the film must obtain a screening certificate from any of the three functional Film Certification Boards like a local film. The film certification boards can also seek the advise of Federal Ministry of Information for the screening of a film if the board does not reach a decision about the screening of the film.
This article is a compilation of all such films which failed to get either the NOC for import or the screening certificate from the Film Certification boards and thus banned from releasing in the cinemas. The most frequent reason put forth by the government authorities (Ministry of Commerce/Information or Film Certification Boards) for banning these films was the Anti-State or Anti-Pakistan content or theme of these films. Apart from Anti-State content reason, some films were banned due to adult or mature content.
Most of the films (99.9%) banned were Indian Bollywood films, whereas one local Urdu film also came under the axe of censor.
One film Sarabjit included in this list was not banned, but it is included here due to rumors of its ban.
Kiya Kool Hain Hum 3 (کیا کول ہیں ہم 3)
The first banned film of 2016 was the Bollywood’s Kiya Kool Hain Hum 3 (KKHH3). Due to release on the 22nd January 2016, the film was duly imported on time and presented before the CBFC.
Generally in Pakistan, the content of the Bollywood film is regarded as obscene and bold. But ironically the same films prove the first choice of the cine goers and perform very well.
The Film Certification board which seldom shows discontent over the obscene content of Bollywood films banned KKHH3 on the same basis. The content of Kiya Kool Hain Hum was declared “out-and-out obscene” by the CBFC chairperson Mobashir Hasan.
As per Mobashir Hasan
“It is an out-and-out obscene film that not only shows nudity but also has a lot of vulgar content in its dialogues. The board has officially disallowed the film from public viewing and sent a show-cause notice to the distributor,” Mobashir Hasan, the CBFC chairperson told The Express Tribune. “The problem with this film is that we couldn’t even allow it with an Adult rating, it so vulgar,” he further added.
Fakhre-Alam, chairperson of the Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC) echoed Mobashir’s sentiments. “The film is not suitable for screening,” said Fakhar. “All boards, including Punjab and Sindh, find it unsuitable for public exhibition in cinemas.”
Out right rejection by the three Film Certification Authorities handed the film the distinction of the first banned film of 2016.
Reference Story: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1033972/kyaa-kool-hain-hum-3-banned-in-pakistan/
Neerja (نیرجا)
Due to release on 19th February 2016, Bollywood’s Neerja was based on the courage of Neerja Bhanot an Indian air steward.
The film centers on the Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization’s hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986. The film is shown from the point of view of the flight’s head purser, Neerja Bhanot, who thwarted the hijack attempt by alerting the pilots, thus grounding the plane; Bhanot gave her life to help save 359 of the 379 passengers and crew on board.
The Government of Pakistan recognized the contributions of Neerja Bhanot by awarding her Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (for showing incredible human kindness). However the same government represented by the Ministry of Commerce has other ideas regarding the screening of this film in Pakistan.
Initially the Ministry of Commerce issued the NOC to the distributor IMGC required to import the film. However later it revoked the NOC without stating any exact reason. Without any NOC, the film was not imported in Pakistan and thus not presented for the film certification.
Reference Story: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1042656/neerjas-story-to-remain-unheard-in-pakistan/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1045651/neerja-was-never-banned-in-pakistan/
Maalik (مالک)
Maalik (مالک) is a locally produced Urdu film released on 8th April 2016 after obtaining the screening certificates from all the three Film Certification boards. The film marked the comeback of Dhuwaan (1994 PTV drama) famed Aashir Azeem after a gap of almost 20 years. The film was directed and produced by Aashir who also played the lead role. The film performed average at box office and entered third week of business before making headlines in the press.
After screening for three weeks suddenly the SBFC revoked its screening license objecting at its content as anti-state and presenting some ethnicities in an irresponsible manner and thus its screening halted in the Sindh province. Aashir Azeem obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court against the decision of SBFC. Two days later CBFC added the further twist to this tale by revoking the screening license of Maalik thus depriving it from screening through out Pakistan. CBFC stated the same reason of anti-state theme, provoking violence and irresponsible depiction of few ethnicities.
Aashir Azeem challenged the decision of the CBFC in the superior court. After three months of hearing the superior court allowed the screening of the film in September 2016. Thus Maalik was re-released in September 2016 and continued screening through out September and October.
The hurdles faced by Aashir Azeem regarding the screening of Maalik eventually lead to an announcement of shelving his next project for an indefinite time period.
Reference Story:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1092979/the-curious-case-of-the-maalik-ban/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1093042/maalik-banned-across-pakistan/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1176979/hc-declares-ban-maalik-illegal-clears-screening/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dykx6PGX12Q
Sarabjit (سربجیت)
Released in India on 19th May 2016, Bollywood’s Sarabjit is based on the life of Sarabjit Singh. Sarabjit Singh was an Indian spy who was caught, trialed and imprisoned in Pakistan. He was killed in the prison after an attack by a fellow prisoner.
No distributor from Pakistan contacted the Ministry of Commerce for NOC to import this film. Thus the film is never imported nor presented before the Film certification board. Still the film was part of rumors that it is banned in Pakistan. Officially it is not banned as no distributor asked the government for NOC at is not presented before any government bodies.
Reference Story:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1110973/lack-box-office-appeal-controversial-content-fails-get-sarabjit-pakistani-distributor/
Dishoom (ڈیشوم)
Bollywood’s Dishoom was due to release on 29th July 2016. The film was duly imported by the distributor after obtaining an NOC from the Ministry of Commerce. However the film failed to obtain a screening certificate from CBFC.
As per the press reports, the film Dishoom shows the two leads attempting to kidnap an Indian cricketer before an India-Pakistan cricket match in UAE. CBFC initially approved the screening but referred it to the Ministry of Informtion for further advice. The ministry of Information eventually decided against its screening declaring negative portrayal of Pakistan in the film as the reason.
As the film was imported, its was advertised in the print media by its distributor. The lead artist of the film Varun Junaid Dhawan also displayed his disappointment in a tweet when the film was not released in Pakistan.
Reference Story:
http://images.dawn.com/news/1175930/is-dishoom-banned-in-pakistan
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1155861/disappointed-censor-boards-india-pakistan-myopic/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1153678/dishoom-technically-not-banned-pakistan-cbfc/
Happy Bhaag Jaye Gi (ہیپی بھاگ جاۓ گی)
Bollywood’s Happy Bhaag Jaye Gi (HPJG) was due to release on 19th August 2016. The film stars Pakistani artist Javed Sheikh and his daughter Moomal Sheikh in supporting roles.
The film was duly imported by the distributor and presented before CBFC. Being a film of light comedy genre it was expected to pass the axe of the censor board easily. The film was promoted by its distributor in the print media. It was expected to do well in Pakistan due to the presence of local artists. Unexpectedly the film faced a last minute road block in the CBFC. CBFC objected to few scenes and dialogues of the film which as per them were anti-Pakistan.
Eventually the CBFC referred the film to the Ministry of Information and in the end the film was not released. The ban was unexpected as no one thought that a light comedy Bollywood film can be declared as anti-Pakistan by Ministry of Information.
The English Daily Express Tribune later published the dialogues and scenes which were considered objectionable by the CBFC.(http://tribune.com.pk/story/1169800/censor-board-notes-reveal-dialogues-may-halted-happy-bhaag-jayegi-release/)
Scenes
– Entire first scene of seminar/conference be excised
– Shots of slapping Pakistani policemen by Bagga be excised
– The dialogue in front of Quaide-Azam’s portrait , “ Or Kitnay Jhoot Bulwaogay” be erased
– The shot of Pakistani policemen saluting the photo of Gandhi on Indian currency note be excised
– Drinking scenes of Pakistani girls be excised
Dialogues
– “Kaash Gandhi Pakistan Mae Hoti”
– “Bera Gharak”
– “Teri Behen Di. Teri Maa Di”
– “Suar Dae Puttar. Ben Dae Takkay”
– “Tension Pakistan Ko Honi Chahiye”
– “Bewqaoofon Ki Basti”
– “Kia Dais Hai , Jab Koi Baat Hee Nahin Karta, Bandoqq Dikhaye Baghair”
– “Teri Bhai Ki Shaadi Rukwanay Mae Parosi Mulka Ka Haath HaiIndia Ka Namak, Poora Pakistan Khaata Hai”
– “Teen Hindustanion Nae Lahore Ko Waqt Dala Hai”
Javed Sheikh and Moomal Sheikh were criticized for working in the film which was deemed inappropriate by the CBFC. However Moomal and Javed defended their act as none of the objectionable scene or dialog was shot on them.
Reference Story:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1165365/momal-sheikhs-happy-bhaag-jaayegi-faces-last-minute-roadblock/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1166967/heres-momal-sheikhs-happy-bhag-jayegi-hasnt-released-pakistan-yet/
http://www.bbc.com/urdu/entertainment/2016/08/160818_film_happy_bhaag_jayegi_release_tk
Happy Bhaag Jaye Gi was the last banned film of the year 2016. As stated above in October 2016 a wholesome ban on the Bollywood films was announced by film distributors and exhibitors which lasted till 19th December 2016. Now the ban has been lifted and screening of the Bollywood films will commence in coming weeks. However no Bollywood film is expected to be added in this list in the remaining one week of the year 2016.
Do share your thoughts on the banned films of 2016. Especially Maalik which was banned first allowed screening and then banned and eventually superior court removed the ban.
Also comment on the banning of Bollywood films like Happy Bhaag Jaye Gi and Dishoom which were of comedy genre but still failed to clear the censor board criteria. Also in case of Neerja does our censor board and relevant ministry is over reacting to any Bollywood film which has a reference to Pakistan?
Thanks for reading and your time.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Banned films of 2015
2015 has been a remarkable year for film business in Pakistan. Hollywood, Bollywood as well as local Pakistani films have earned quite well this year. While there were films which made headlines due to their subjects and business, there were plenty of films which were the lead stories when they were banned for one reason or the other.
This article is a compilation of all such films of 2015 comprising of Bollywood and local Pakistani films. Interestingly most of the Bollywood films banned in Pakistan also failed to earn big in India. Also the reason for ban on all the Indian Bollywood films was same i.e. their anti-Pakistan or anti-Islam content, still it has not impacted the business of other Bollywood films allowed screening in Pakistan.
Baby
Bollywood’s Baby was due to release on 23rd January 2015. The film has veteran Pakistani artist Rasheed Naaz as well as Mikaal Zulfiqar in the supporting roles. The film made headlines when it was denied the censor certificate by the Sindh Board for Films Certificate (SBFC). SBFC refused the censor certificate due to its allegedly anti-Pakistan subject and theme. After the refusal of SBFC, the film was not presented before the other two censor boards of Pakistan i.e. Central Borad for Films Certificate (CBFC) and Punjab Board for Films Certificate (PBFC).On social media Rasheed Naaz and Mikaal Zulfiqar both were criticized as well for working in this film.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2bnank_exclusive-baby-official-trailer-akshay-kumar-t-series_shortfilms
Honour Killing
A British-Indian film Honour Killing was due to relase on 27th February 2015. Pakisani artists Zara Sheikh and Javed Sheikh played important roles in this film. Honour Killing was issued the censor certificate by SBFC, however it made headlines when presented before the CBFC. The CBFC refused to issue the censor certificate calling it an anti Pakistan film as well as revoked the censor certificate of SBFC.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gtvjz_honour-killing-official-theatrical-trailer-rabba-maaf-kareen-2015_shortfilms
Welcome to Karachi
A Bollywood film released in May 2015. The film created uproar when its trailer was released in April 2015. It also has Pakistani artists Ayub Khoso and Adnan Shah Tipu in the negative roles. The trailer of the film resulted in its negative image in Pakistan and eventually no Pakistani distributor bought this film for release in Pakistan.
Bangistan
Due to release on 7th August 2015, the CBFC issued a negative statement against the film after seeing its trailer on social media. Due to the statement made by CBFC, the distributors of the film cancelled their plans by not presenting it before the censor board.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2to1sy_bangistan-2015-official-trailer_shortfilms
Phantom
Based on the Mumbai attacks, Phantom was not intended to release in Pakistan. However it gained fame when Hafiz Saeed the leader of Jammatul Dawwa filed a pre-emtive petition in the Lahore High Court to halt its expected release. The petition of Hafiz Saeed (who is accused of Mumbai attacks by India) made headlines in Indian as well as Pakistani media and dragged many politicians in the debate too. Phantom was not presented before any censor board in Pakistan, but was banned by Lahore High Court on the petition of Hafiz Saeed.
Phantom was not the first film of Indian director Kabir Khan banned in Pakistan. Before Phantom, Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger in 2013 was also banned. Interestingly Bajrangi Bhaijan also directed by Kabir Khan is so far the highest earning Bollywood film of 2015 in Pakistan.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2z857o
Abdullah The Final Witness
A local Urdu film produced in Quetta, Balochistan, this film is based on the Kharotabad event of 2011, in which five russian and tajik citizen were killed by a security agency. The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2015. But when presented in CBFC in June 2015 to release in Pakistan, it was returned with many objections. The film is still stuck in CBFC despite few cuts made by the producer Hashim Nadeem. The CBFC has objection on the portrayal of a security agency in this film.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d5dwp_abdullah-the-final-witness_shortfilms
Swaarangi
Swaarangi was due to release on 29th August 2015, but it became a victim of the inconsistent censor policy of different censor boards of Pakistan. Swaarangi got censor certificates from SBFC and PBFC without any cuts, but stuck in CBFC. The CBFC termed Swaarangi as an effort to undermine Pakistan. Swaarangi was based on drug addiction and its consequences. In the end Swaarangi was released only in Sindh and Punjab on 11th September 2015.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18jhiy_swaa-rangi-pakistani-movie-trailer-geekpk-com_shortfilms
Bajirao Mastani
Bollywood’s Bajirao Mastani is also another film which became a victim of the inconsisten censor policy of different censor boards. It was cleared by PBFC and SBFC without any major cut but was stuck in the CBFC. Eventually CBFC also issued the censor certificate after reviewing it multiple times. So Bajirao Mastani is released in the whole Pakistan on 18th December 2015. Though tt is not banned in Pakistan, but the late decision of the CBFC resulted in the rumors of its banning.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2yzf7w_bajirao-mastani-official-teaser-trailer-ranveer-singh-deepika-padukone-priyanka-chopra_shortfilms
2015 is the year where perhaps the number of films banned or stuck temporarily in the censor boards is the highest. Though the three censor boards currently operating in Pakistan follow the same censor code, but their inconsistent decision making with respect to films like Honour Killing, Swaarangi and Bajirao Mastani raised many questions about the qualification of the members of various censor boards. A comparative study carried out by an English daily revealed that while the majority of the members of PBFC and SBFC are mostly former artists the majority of the members of CBFC consists of retired bureaucrats and army officers. The inconsistent decision making of these censor boards might attribute to their members, who belong to different walks of life and thus their approach towards issuing a censor certificate to a film varies to a huge extent.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Bangladeshi Singer Mesmerizes Audience With Her Version Of Kahani Suno
Pakistani music has the ability to win hearts and stir your soul. Kahani Suno 2.0 is the song which gathered love from all over the world. Kaifi Khalil won hearts and the song became even more viral when it featured as the OST of Wahaj Ali starrer Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha. Wahaj is trending all over the ex-subcontinent these days and his projects have gathered love in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Now, Kaifi Khalil’s song Kahani Suno’s new version is here and in the voice of a Bangladeshi singer. A Bangladeshi singer sang Kahani Suno live and her voice is simply mesmerizing. She also devised her own version and it is not less magical then Kahani Suno.
Here is the Bangladeshi singer who is winning hearts with Kahani Suno:
Listen to Bangladeshi singer’s Kahani Suno:
Bandish Season 2 Scary Teaser Will Give You Chills
Horror is one genre Pakistanis have not done well in but Bandish was one drama that caused a stir when it came out. The mix of horror, thrill and black magic glued the audience to the screens and people were in love with Abis Raza directorial. Hira Mani, Zubab Rana and Marina Khan gave exceptional performances in the drama and it is one of the best projects made in Pakistan for the horror genre.
So, when the second season of Bandish was announced, people have been on their toes and they have been waiting for the details to be out. Well, Abis Raza is once again in the director’s chair while we have Affan Waheed, Sania Saeed, Amna Ilyas and Areej Mohyuddin all set to scare us this time around with Bandish 2.
The teaser of Bandish 2 is out and it is giving all sorts of chills to the viewers. The dark, subtlety of thrill is already evident in the drama and looks like Bandish fans are in for a ride.
Here is the teaser for Bandish 2:
Here is how the audience is reacting to the teaser:
Bandish 2 Cast Shares Horror Incidents From Set
The super talented cast of drama serial Bandish 2 has recently appeared in Good Morning Pakistan where they reveal details about the drama serial Bandish 2. Well, Bandish 2 is the sequel of an already aired horror drama Bandish which starred Hira Mani, Zubab Rana and Sania Saeed. Abis Raza directed the show. Bandish 2 is also directed by Abis Raza under the banner of Big Bang Productions. The cast includes Affan Waheed, Sania Saeed, Amna Ilyas and Areej Mohyuddin. The drama airs on ARY. The actors have shared horror incidents which happened with them on the set.
Affan Waheed talked about an accident which he faced on the set of Bandish 2. Talking about it Affan said, “I didn’t face anything this much scary on the set because I was throughout sick in the drama, I was seriously sick, but let me tell about my accident, they are talking about the shelf and the same shelf fell on me because maybe they have put a lot of heavy objects on it, but I admit that it wasn’t a supernatural incident”. Have a look at the video link:
Areej said that the supernatural activity happened on the very first day with her and Shuja. Shuja then told the whole incident, he said, “First day, when we both came on the set we faced a supernatural incident like we had a shelf attached with the wall, there was a pot with flowers and a few books over the shelf, me and Areej were just watching the shelf when the pot fell down on its own, the books also fell down, obviously, if we are doing the drama on supernatural existences so they will naturally shoe their existence to us”, Areej also said that she was super scary while doing shooting of her death scene in the drama and it gave her immense pressure while being on the set of horror drama. Have a look at the video link:
Ban On Verna Lifted!
An uproar has been happening for a few days now when Verna was banned by the censor board. People showed discontent over this decision and celebrities too came out to talk about this ban. The good news is that Verna will finally release all over Pakistan uncut since the censor board has passed the film after the final viewing.
Verna has released today and has finally come out of the pressure, the director was getting to do some major cuts in the movie. The lead actress Mahira Khan shared a message on Twitter about the power of art:
Are you guys watching Verna? Share in comments!
Ban On TikTokers And Social Media Influencers To Enter The Parks In Punjab
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has proposed a ban on video recording in five major parks in Lahore.
Punjab Government has decided To take help from private security companies for the security of 5 big parks in Punjab. Armed Security Guards will be patrolling in all big parks of Punjab.
According to sources, the Punjab government has decided to ban entry without family in all major parks. Students in school and college uniforms will not be allowed in the parks. Security guards of the parks will be trained in the style of dolphin force.
Sources said that a new security plan will be formulated for other parks including Greater Iqbal Park, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Bagh-e-Jinnah, and Jallu Park. Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Asif Mehmood has been given a special task. The Punjab government has taken steps to avoid any incident like Iqbal Park.
PHA has been Instructed to install new cameras in all Parks of Punjab and all old faulty cameras are to be repaired within a month to ensure the security of females in the parks.
According to News reports, PHA Vice-Chairman Hafiz Zeeshan has said that those working on TikTok and social media channels will not be allowed to make videos in the parks.
He also said that a proposal to charge money from video makers in a public park is also under consideration. After receiving the money, the PHA will also provide security for the required time. He said that decisions would be taken in the meeting of the Board of Directors of PHA.
Ban On Na Maloom Afraad 2 Lifted!
Na Maloom Afraad 2 released this Eid and in cinemas for over a month now. The film has proven to be a huge success in financial terms as well as was loved by a large chunk of the audience. The film, however, was banned in Punjab after running for so long and the reason given was “vulgar scenes” in the movie. The ban was challenged as it should have been and now the censor board in Punjab has reviewed the movie and consequently, the ban has been lifted after prevailing just for one day. This is the notice issued by the government:
So Na Maloom Afraad 2 is back in cinemas!
Ban on Movie Maalik has been removed by the SHC!
The wait is over, the much awaited film Maalik which was banned by the Sindh High Court is now free from the ban. SHC has lifted the ban on Maalik movie by Ashir Azeem which was released on April 8th 2016. It was the Federal Information Ministry that placed the ban.
The persistence shown by the director of the film Asheer Azeem is remarkable . He challenge the decision of federal Government in court and is reaping fruits today.
the major reason being told for the by the federal government is that an extremist Afghan character who was commemorated as a national hero in the movie.
Sajjad Ali Shah the SHC justice , along with another judge lifted the ban after listening to the arguments given by the director of the film. Therefore now Azher Azeem will be able to release the film nationwide.
According ot the sources, Azeem is very happy and the screening will soon take place once distributors of the film meet the director.
Ban on Indian Dramas lifted, Pakistanis not Happy!
After the Uri attacks on Oct 19, 2011 a ban was imposed on Indian Dramas from airing on Pakistani TV channels. It wasn’t well received by people who were addicted to dramas like “Tulsi” and “Parvati” but they soon got over it when they gave our local series a chance and found them out to be much better than the Indian. One of the major reasons our drama industry has flourished so much in the last decade is because of this.
All good things come to an end, and so has this ban.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has now lifted this ban declaring it null and void as the Federal government had no objections to the Indian content being shown in the country.
A petition to overturn PEMRA’s decision was held by M/s Leo Communications which is the parent company for Filmazia. They claimed that the government was indulging in “selective patriotism” due to Bollywood films allowed in cinemas but not on television.
According to Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah,
The world has become a global village
Here’s how people reacted to the news:
@Farhankvirk @iamteamik We need to ban all
indian content on our
channels etc #PEMRA#say_no_to_indian_culture— Qh '🚀MATR1XCoin (@QH_DKL) July 19, 2017
Sicilian Mafia is working hard to make @narendramodi happy to air indian TV channels content #ThankYou Quaide Awam Dubai Wale and #PEMRA
— F@H@D (@FahadRanaJamil) July 19, 2017
Not a famous decision at all.Emotions and logic defy rules and regulations sometimes.After all everything is fair in war and love.#Pemra https://t.co/k1svA1Sdjv
— 🔥 (@ChamnakaBoy) July 18, 2017
@reportpemra i was shocked to see indian naked Monkey Gods on my screen in #Jhang
Koi Sharam Hoti Hai Koi Haya Hoti Hai #PEMRA— F@H@D (@FahadRanaJamil) July 19, 2017
Ye Pakistani media hy jo Indian content ki khatr courts tak ponch gya. Inko sirf Paisy sy Mtlb hy na culture sy na 2nation's theory sy
— Afnan Shamraiz (@Afnanshamraiz85) July 18, 2017
Lanat crore dafa is mulk ki adalton py jahan mazloom ko insaf inti Jldi Ni milta jitni Jldi Indian content ki ijazat mil rhi hy shame shame
— Afnan Shamraiz (@Afnanshamraiz85) July 18, 2017
LHC Chief Justice's wife is probably a @NakuulMehta fan! =D
— Muhammad Asif Nawaz (@asifnz) July 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Tveets1/status/887259659727503360
Ban on ‘Verna’ Infuriates Women’s Rights Groups
Shoaib Mansoor’s Verna has been talk of the town ever since it’s filming started and it’s in the headlines again but not for the reasons we’d like it to be for, the film was banned by The Censor Board a couple of days ago almost five days before it was set to release on November the 17th.
The fans are outraged and so are women’s rights groups including Pakistan Nari Tehreek which is a network of over one hundred grass roots women organisations, hence the organisation filed a petition against the ban.
The petition reads,
“The incident in D I Khan of stripping a woman naked and frequent incidents of rape are alarming, and it is appalling to see such decisions being made regarding a film which addresses the ill of our society and the gaps in the system,”
It further said,
“It is known to us that the Lahore and Karachi Censor Boards have passed it but still await the final decision from Islamabad. The full Film Censor Board is due to revisit and review the film and we hope the board members will realise the importance of Shoaib Mansoor’s work and the awareness he has created regarding the heinous crimes against women.”
Moreover the petition adds,
“Verna is also pro-democracy and will take the society forward. As far as we are concerned, the film belongs to the women of Pakistan and it needs to be shown to all, inside and outside Pakistan.”
The petition was signed by representatives of the core members of Nari Tehreek including Mukhtaran Mai, Maliha Husain, Bushra Khaliq, Anbreen Ajaib, Aqeela Naz, Shad Begum, Gulalai Ismail, Aasia Mughal, Sidra Humayun, Shazia George, Irum Fatima, Sana Malik.
This isn’t the first time The Censor Board in Islamabad is being criticised for banning a feature film, it has quite a reputation for that.
Ban lifted on screening new Indian films in cinemas
After a ban of nearly two weeks, the federal government has reverted its decision and allowed screening of new indian films in local cinemas. While the matter is still subdues in court, commerce ministry has issued Non Objection Certificate (NOC) to four indian films namely ‘Hassi To Phassi’, ‘Ghunday’, ‘Highway’ and ‘Total Sayapa’ which has paved the way for release of these four films.
The ban on Indian films has severely affected the cinema owners who were running shows with empty halls. Cinema owners and film distributors have welcomed the decision by federal government.
News from Urdu Daily Dunya
Rashid Nazir Ali
Ban Doraemon demands PTI
In a rather startling move, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday submitted a first of its kind resolution in the Punjab Assembly calling for a ban on famous Japanese anime series Doraemon.
PTI legislator Malik Taimoor Masood urged Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to impose a ban on Doraemon or limit its airtime as it contains explicit content which has a bad impact on children.
The legislator argued that 24-hour cartoon channels are adversely affecting the educational and physical growth of children. The resolution also claims the language used in cartoons run on channels is damaging societal norms. The resolution will be discussed in the next PA session.
Doraemon is a Japanese manga series and is dubbed in Hindi for viewers in Pakistan and India. The anime series revolves around a robotic cat named Doraemon and a young boy Nobita. It is aired on various cartoon channels.
Here’s how people reacted to the news:
The move comes after Ashish Chaturvedi, the whistleblower of India’s biggest education scam, voiced concerns against two of the world’s most famous Japanese cartoon characters – Doraemon and Shin Chan. Chatuvardi feels the adverse psychological impacts of the two Hindi and English dubbed ‘violent’ cartoons are grappling a whole generation of kids across India and the world, according to the Times of India.
Chaturvedi is seeking a ban on the telecast of the two Japanese cartoons as he claims several medial reports highlight mental abuse and other serious adverse impact of these cartoons on kids.
Further, in 2014, Chinese newspapers cautioned their countrymen against Doraemon saying, Beware of this “blue fatty” — the Japanese are exporting their values through him. According to The New York Times, three major newspapers in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, fired accusations against Doraemon for its “political overtones” and being a tool of Japan’s “cultural invasion.”
Japan’s former foreign minister, Masahiko Komura, appointed Doraemon an “anime ambassador” in 2008 in the hope that the character would deepen the world’s understanding of the country.
Acknowledgment: The whole content above is borrowed from Express Tribune
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1155119/pti-submits-resolution-japanese-cartoon-punjab-assembly/
About Doraemon in Pakistan
Doraemon is a Japanese animated character and cartoon series which is very popular worldwide. In Pakistan Doraemon is not televised on any channel. However it is televised after dubbing it in Hindi on the Indian channel for kids Disney India. Disney India is also aired in Pakistan and all of its series are widely watched by kids in Pakistan.
Indian content be it Bollywood films, reality shows, television dramas, award shows are widely watched in Pakistan and are popular among youngsters and adults alike. Indian content in Pakistan is aired on the Indian entertainment channels (like Star Plus, Colors, Zee, Sony) as well as the Pakistani entertainment channels (like Geo Kahani, ARY Zindagi, Hum Sitaray, Express Entertainment, Filmazia). Like the elders the kids are also fond of watching the Indian content available for kids in the Hindi language on the channels like Cartoon Network, Pogo and Disney India. The series like Doraemon, Chota Bheem, Best of Luck Nikki are popular in Pakitsan.
Rashid Nazir Ali
Balu Mahi’s Songs Are All You Need To Listen Today!
The most anticipated film Balu Mahi is slated to release on February 10. The album of the film released today and has got us super excited. The album which consists of four songs released on bestsongs.pk.
The title track of Balu Mahi is amazing and is cool party song. The signature Qawwali ‘Rang De Chunar’ is soothing to the ears and Rahat’s voice has done the magic yet again. The third song ‘Bechaniyan’ is the best way to celebrate love and friendship and is extremely captivating. Last but not the least ‘Tu Kya Jane’ is all about love and heartbreak and is melodious.
Listen to the whole album here
The music video of Balu Mahi’s title track is out now and we are getting into the groove with the heartthrob Osman Khalid Butt and gorgeous Ainy Jaffri. The confidence and the full command on body and those super energetic dance moves are a must watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPLHJJejM7Q
ps: People who stay overseas like i do, can listen to the album here
Balu Mahi’s Second Video Song ‘Bechaniyan’
Haissam Hussain’s romantic comedy Balu Mahi is one of the most awaited films of 2017. The soundtrack released recently and we couldn’t help but listen to the songs repeatedly. The video song ‘Bechaniyan’ released today and truly celebrates love and friendship. It is sung by very talented Sahir Ali Bagga and Afshan Fawad.
Balu Mahi is a modern romantic comedy that revolves around a bride, Mahi, who runs away from her wedding with a guy, Balu, whom she merely knows. The film which is produced by Sadia Jabbar is slated to release on February 10, 2017.
Balu Mahi’s Rising Craze!
Osman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri and Sadaf Kanwal’s upcoming flick is set to hit the screens very soon. The stars are leaving no stone unturned to promote their film in every possible way and we’re not complaining, in fact we’re loving it!
There was a dubsmash craze going on social media previously and now it’s two contests; one of it is the Q & A contest. Balu Mahi’s team this time has a fun thing on the floors and that is the dance contest. In the video recently uploaded on Instagram, Osman Khalid Butt and his friends, Hareem Farooq, Zainab Ahmed, Imran Kazmi and Usman Mukhtar, are dancing to the title track of Balu Mahi and we are in love with their energy.
This is what OKB has to say in the video:
“So guys this was us kick starting a new Balu Mahi competition, if you think you have the moves to match this choreography, or better yet, come up with choreography of your own, then please share or inbox your videos on the Balu Mahi page. And we will select 5 winning entities that will receive exclusive Balu Mahi merchandise. Let the games begin.”
Balu Mahi’s album was released recently and has been loved by the audience. The title track has got the audiences grooving to the tunes. The film is slated to release on February 10, 2017.
Balu Mahi’s Official Trailer is Out!
The most hyped film Balu Mahi’s trailer is finally released. The trailer takes you on a roller coaster ride with some ups and downs coming on the way. It has been entirely dedicated to Ainy Jaffri and Osman Khalid Butt and they are surely not a miss. Sadaf Kanwal had a short appearance in the trailer, the music of the film is undoubtedly amazing.
The romantic comedy film is directed by Haissam Hassan, produced by Sadia Jabbar and Muhammad Arshad Chaudhry. Balu Mahi is all set to hit the cinemas on February 10, 2017.
Rimsha Butt
Balu Mahi’s First Official Poster
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMqjIQEjauh/?taken-by=ainy_jaffri_rahman
Produced by Sadia Jabbar, written by Saad Azhar, film Balu Mahi’s first official poster has just come out. The film starring Ainy Jaffri and Osman Khalid Butt will also mark the debut of super model Sadaf Kanwal.
Osman and Ainy, sharing the screen for the very first time look charismatic on the poster. According to Express Tribune, the poster looks a lot more the the poster of film Bjirao Mastani, while we think the title resembles too.”Balu” in place of “Bajirao” and “Mahi” instead of “Mastani”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMrGr1dg2Gn/?tagged=balumahi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMspm0ZByDs/?tagged=balumahi
Vaneeza Fatima
Balu Mahi’s craze in London
The leads of Balu Mahi, Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffri are promoting their film in London in full swing. One of the most hyped film of the year is finally all set to release and has got the fans excited. The leads decided to have a meetup session with their fans at the Oxford Street in London and were overwhelmed to receive all the love and support from their UK fans. The crowd did turned out to be incredible.
Rimsha Butt
Balu Mahi, first teaser is out
Balu Mahi (بلو ماہی) is an upcoming film scheduled to release on the Valentines Day weekend, Friday 10th February 2017.
It is the first film of the director Haissam Hussain who has many successful and acclaimed dramas to his name like Dastaan, Akbari Asghari, Aunn Zara, Aik Nayee Cinderella, Durr-e-Shahwar. Haissam Hussain’s actual first film was Bin Roye (2015) which he left after filming few scenes due to the differenes with its producer. His name was not given as director on the film Bin Roye so Balu Mahi is the first official film of Haissam Hussain.
Balu Mahi is also the first film of Saadia Jabbar as a producer. Saadia has also produced some famous and acclaimed dramas like Mera Naam Yousaf Hai. Most of the dramas produced by Saadia are aired on APlus.
Balu Mahi stars Usman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri and Sadaf Kanwal in the lead roles. Sadaf Kanwal the famous model is doing film debut. It is the second film of Ainy Jaffri after Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi in 2013. Usman Khalid Butt who earlier did a cameo in Janaan (2016) is also appearing in the leading role for the very first time.
The teaser of the film is released today, which is a song by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan also shot on him. So it is perhaps the first Pakistani film where Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has done a cameo.
Here is the teaser of the song Rung De Chunnar composed by Sahir Ali Bagga. The song is shot at Hirran Minar near Sheikhupura.
Sadia Jabbar Productions proudly presents:
Balu Mahi – a film by Haissam Hussain.
Releasing in 2017.
Plot Outline
Happenstance brings two strangers together on a wintery night in Lahore. What follows is a series of (mis)adventures that brings them together… and drives them apart.
Starring
Osman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri, Sadaf Kanwal (debut)
Directed By
Haissam Hussain
Written By
Saad Azhar
Screenplay By
Haissam Hussain, Saad Azhar
Produced By
Sadia Jabbar Production (SJP)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balumahi.official
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dh5motMnPSOVjL9gzDwxg
Rashid Nazir Ali
Balu Mahi Release Date Announced!
As already known that Ainy Jaffri and Osman Khalid Butt are wokring in a film together Balu Mahi. The upcoming rom-com film ‘BALU MAHI’ and preparations of the film are in full swing. It’s been along time since the fans are waiting for the release date of the film and finally the wait is over. The release date for Balu Mahi is finally out, the movie is all set to release on February 10, 2017!
Video of Ainy Jaffri learning dance for the movie song.
Here are few shots from the movie.
Balu Mahi is not like any Bhansali movie!
Film Balu Mahi is directed by Haissam Hassan and produced by Sadia Jabbar. It is scheduled for release in 10th February 2017 with a star cast including Osman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri and Sadaf Kanwal. The teaser of ‘Balu Mahi’ was recently released and it opened to mixed reviews. Fans of the leads were quite excited watching the teaser since it had lots of elements to offer but the critics think Bollywood film seemed like an inspiration to the makers of Balu Mahi.
The teaser and the motion poster was said to be having resemblance with those of Sanjay Leela Bhansali Films. And much like most of the critics, we felt that too but the leads of the film thinks otherwise. According to the leads the movie is based on our culture and is miles apart from anything that exists in an Indian movie.
Talking to HIP, one of the most favorite actors, Osman Khalid Butt, felt that the comparison may have been complimentary but no imitation had been done.
“The comparison is a compliment, but this is the style of the director Haissam Hussain. He is a visionary and he has shot the movie using open frames. Pause the teaser anywhere and you will see that each frame looks like a painting. Maybe that’s how people drew comparisons,” Osman said.
Assuring HIP that Balu Mahi is unique in its own way, he explained,
“The story is for our society and has a message of women empowerment. It’s not influenced by Bollywood story wise.”
Ainy Jaffri, who was disappointed about her upcoming movie being called a copy, also explained that though the comparison is a huge compliment since millionaires fund a Bhansali film, Balu Mahi isn’t based on any other movie.
“We didn’t realize the posters were similar till people started pointing it out,” she revealed. “The fact is, we share the same history with India, our culture, music, and weddings are similar too. Hence, our movies end up appearing the same, and this is the first films in years that look as good as a Bollywood film aesthetically. Even if the song reminds you of Bhansali’s films, the rest of the story has nothing to do with his movies,” she stated.
Speaking on his character in the movie, Osman shared with HIP,
“Bilal is a man on a mission. He has come back from England and he is driven, that is until his world falls apart,” he explained, “When he meets Mahi, he is drawn to her exuberance and optimism. Because of her he begins to see life in a different way.”
Shedding light on her role, Ainy shared,
“Mahi is an independent, fierce and passionate girl of today. Her character resonates with a lot of young girls from Pakistan who want to carve their own future,” she explained.
According to her, Mahi will be a role model to many women and will motivate them to break out of the chains of society.
“She respects her traditions and culture but doesn’t just follow norms that she feels are not right,” further revealed Ainy. “The movie is her journey of self discovery and brings her closer to the goals she wants to achieve,” she concluded.
When asked how the audience will react once the movie is released, both the lead actors remained nervous yet hopeful, and interestingly, not cocky at all. After all, it’s our down-to-earth stars that make us fall in love with them.
“I’m nervous since it’s my first movie and my character was quite challenging, hence I put in a lot of hard work to get the role right. I am grateful to be chosen for such a fresh film.” Like us, he also feels that Ainy Jaffri and her beauty in this movie will pull audiences towards the cinemas, “Ainy has done a magnificent job and people will go to the cinemas to watch her,” the actor stated.
Ainy Jaffri, who believes that her hard work must be reciprocated by fans also said,
“I can’t predict how they will react to the movie but I hope the audience recognizes our hard work and the movie ends up doing well.One thing I know for sure is, that people will go to watch this visually striking masterpiece. And there will be a lot of surprises and twists in store for them,” concluded Ainy Jaffri.
Rimsha Butt
Balu Mahi Is Coming To Lahore
One of the most awaited films Balu Mahi is set to hit the screens on February 10, 2017. Balu Mahi’s team promoted their film in overseas and now they’re ready to rock it in Pakistan. The team is leaving no stone unturned to promote the film be it the contests, online promotions or the public one. The cast of Balu Mahi will now be touring Lahore and will go places to meet people, the schedule of the tour is out. The leads are already flying to Lahore so all the Lahori’s out there, who are fans of these stars will now have a chance to meet them!
Balu Mahi Film Review
Directed by: Haissam Hussain
Screenplay: Haissam Hussain and Saad Azhar
Dialogues: Saad Azhar
Produced By: Sadia Jabbar – Chaudhry M. Arshad
Cast: Osman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri Rehman, Sadaf Kanwal, Mustafa Ali Khan, Asal Din Khan, Durdana Butt, Abid Kashmiri, Javed Sheikh, Shafqat Cheema, Khurram Pataras, Adeel Hashmi and others.
I am going to be honest, I did not expect anything grand from this film mainly because of the fact that it isn’t always easy making an exceptional film when there is nothing novel about the plot but after watching Balu Mahi I am not only pleasantly surprised but also in awe of how much the Balu Mahi team managed to achieve. Balu Mahi pleased the Lahori in me, yes Lahore has never looked better on screen and has probably never been captured so immaculately on the big screen. It also pleased the demanding cinemagoer in me because it proved be a thoroughly entertaining film right from the get-go. Balu Mahi also satisfied the aesthete in me because this film is exceptionally beautiful on so many levels. Most importantly it completely gratified the Pakistani in me; watching Pakistani cinema come this far is something to take pride in. This film goes to show that a visionary director with the right team can create magic on screen – literally!
Balu Mahi’s main plot might not be novel but the screenplay, dialogues and the scenes are definitely brand new. Also, it isn’t just a love story but a film which also has a strong message in the end which is put forward in a subtle yet impactful manner. Balu Mahi is filled with scenes which are shot so beautifully and faultlessly that they look like scenes from an enchanting animation. Each frame is detailed; the background, the lighting, the get up of the leads and their expressions make this film a visual treat. Some of these shots will actually stay with you long after you are done watching this film. Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffrey Rehman prove that they have what it takes to set the big screen on fire; they are bound to blow you away with their flawless, honest and impressive performances. The sizzling chemistry between the leads and their journey makes you root for them and you sit there waiting for the time when they will finally fall in love with each other.
The director Haissam Hussain succeeded completely in exploring Lahori life, its culture, its landmarks and Pakistan’s beauty in general to the maximum. The best thing about this film is that apart from being extremely enticing, it also has made in Pakistan and proud to be Pakistani written all over it. Balu Mahi is the kind of film which you can watch more than once even though it is slightly stretched in the end and has some toilet humor which wasn’t really needed but overall it is surely going to win you over. It is one of the best films I have watched in recent times. Go watch this film with your friends, it will make you laugh and it will make you cry. Balu Mahi will be just as entertaining even if you watch it alone because it is an absolute paisa wasool film which will keep you glued to your seats even during the intermission!
Osman Khalid Butt does not only have a definite screen presence as Balu but he emotes so well that you forget that he is acting. He makes his character even more attractive because of his faultless performance. Ainy Jaffrey looks beautiful and plays the playful, strong yet sensitive Mahi with precision. A big shout out and special thanks to the person in charge of make up who gave Osman Khalid Butt the perfect look and accentuated Ainy Jaffrey’s natural beauty without going overboard. Sadaf Kanwal wasn’t exactly impressive and she failed to bring out the best in her character. Durdana Butt proved once again that she is a great entertainer and so did Javaid Sheikh.
All the songs in the film are not just beautifully composed and sung but they have also been placed well and shot perfectly. Balu Mahi is a complete entertainer with some of the most endearing performances to its credit. It is the kind of romantic film you fall in love with instantly. I am looking forward to Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffri’s next film already – the silver screen loves them and so will you! Sadia Jabbar is another person to look out for, all her projects are always impressive. I can’t praise Haissam Hussain enough because at the end of the day it was his brain child and he nailed it!
Go watch Balu Mahi – right now ;)
Balu Mahi Film Premiere Was A Star-Studded Event
The dusk of Thursday evening witnessed an amazing red carpet event of the most anticipated film Balu Mahi. Ever since the trailer of Balu Mahi released, it received immense appreciation and was the latest talk of the town. The premiere was nothing less than a star studded event with star cast of the film that includes Safad Kanwal, Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffri, besides the cast, many popular celebrities were also present at the event.
Balochistan’s First Contemporary Film to hit Cinemas Soon!
Pakistan’s biggest province in terms of area is Balochistan. However, unfortunately it is the most behind in terms of development. The Balochistan film industry is the most neglected industry of all the provinces.
According to the producers the film “Sangat” will be the very first of its kind. It is an upcoming contemporary production of Baloch cinema. The producer Waheed Albushi, further said he and his team is looking forward to revive cinema in the province.
He rightly pointed out the development that is required by the Balochistan film Industry.
Though the Pakistani film industry is undergoing a revival of sorts, the Balochistan film industry has yet to develop as there is a dearth of the filmmakers here.
He further shared his grievances saying that the cinemas are being converted to shopping malls.
In the last few years, four out of the seven cinemas in Quetta have been closed down due to lack of productions.
The movie’s plot revolves around the story of five friends and involves a lot of drama and action sequences.
It was filmed in Oman, and was made with a budget of Rs 3 million.
Albulshi further added that plan to release the film nationwide as well as in Gulf states is under works, and that it will premiere in Balochistan in the “coming weeks”.
The director of the film, Sami Sarang , in an interview to a local news agency, said that he wants to portray a different side of Balochistan through this film. He also shared what he hopes to achieve with this film,
We are hoping to lay down a foundation and build a strong film industry so that the young Baloch talent has a platform to showcase their skills.
The trailer of the film was released last year, but due to some technical difficulties, the release date for delayed:
Baloch Child’s Complain To Waseem Badami Goes Viral
Shan e Ramzan this year once again had a special segment for kids and we got to see many children in the show. Shah Brothers as usual were the staple part of the whole transmission as they appeared in Shan e Iftar and later on in Jeeto Pakistan. Another viral child sensation that has gripped the nation is Shiraz of the Shirazi Vlogs fame. Shiraz and Muskan, the brother-sister duo were also invited to Shan e Ramzan and became a part of several shows. Their entry was viral all over and many comments and opinions came forward.
Waseem Badami defended these kids coming on the show and said that he would like to invite all the kids of Pakistan to Shan e Ramzan if he could. He added that he would not mind his own son coming to the show so he would not mind any other child coming on either.
A Baloch child took to his TikTok and complained about why he was not called on the Ramadan show when everyone else is getting a chance. He added that he is also talented so why was he neglected, because he was from Balochistan, a province which has always been neglected by everyone in and out of power.
This is what the child had to say:
@toorkhan1255 kya Balochistan se Hona Jurm hai?🥹💔😔#foryou #foryoupage #fypage #babache #بلوچستان #⭐️boy ♬ original sound – baba che⭐
People are reacting to his complaint and cheering him up on his talent:
Baloch Child Wishing To Join Waseem Badami Meets CM Balochistan
Baloch Child Abu Bakar who is known as Baba Che on TikTok went viral yesterday. What happened was that the young kid was feeling down on not being invited to Shan e Ramzan and complained to Waseem Badami that why is he neglected when all other kids have gotten a chance to visit. Is it because he is from Balochistan, a province that has always been ignored. The emotional video went viral and people felt sad for him.
Young politician Jamal Raisani and Chief Minister Balochistan saw his video and they decided to pay the young child a visit and give him the confidence he needed. They also connected him to Waseem Badami via video call and he promised to invite Baba Che next year.
Here is the young lad meeting lawmakers of the province:
Balaj Exposes Mom Nida Yasir On Live Show
Nida Yasir is the most successful morning show host in the country. Ruling the slot since 15 years, the star is also very open about her family and she has never really hidden her children from the camera. Her youngest son Balaj is still very young and she has brought him to her show several times.
Nida Yasir hosted a special show and invited all the child stars from ARY Ramadan transmission. The Shah brothers, Shiraz and Muskan as well as her own son Balaj were guests. There were fun and interactive segments on the show and she also got exposed by her youngest child who is a cheeky fellow.
Nida was asking all the kids one dish which their mom makes and they hate it. Balaj ended up saying that his mom does not cook at home and the audience is enjoying how he exposed his mother on live television.
The internet is amused by how Balaj said that his mom is definitely not cooking at home. They found it both cute and funny. Here is how they reacted:
Balaa Last Episode Story Review – Lame
Opening Thoughts – Lame & Unconvincing Ending:
Ohkay so, last night Balaa came to an end. I did make up my mind that I’d watch the double episode in one go & review it right away but I dozed off in the middle & couldn’t keep my eyes open – shows the amount of patience & interest I was left with for Balaa. Anyways, just like everyone out there, I am also just so glad that it is over but talking about the last episode, to me it was lame & totally unconvincing & I have quite a lot of reasons which made me feel that way!
Reasons:
The drama lasted for 40 episodes & they dedicated 36 episodes to Nigar’s atrocities but when it came to having her taste her own medicine, only 4 episodes were kept for that? It just shows that the writer believed in doing everything that would generate ratings by pushing the negativity to whole new level week after week & when it was time for a proper closure, she made things unrealistically seamless & swift, which made me wonder why didn’t Taimoor display such wisdom & intelligence by cracking his wife’s agendas before? This is another reason which makes me feel that the ending of this drama was lame.
Nigar kept Taimoor occupied & tangled in her lies for so long & Taimoor allowed that to happen but when he made up his mind that he will now give it back to Nigar, everything was served to him in a golden platter. Everyone came one after another to confess their sins & Taimoor started finding out the truth which suggested that if everyone had kept their mouths shut, Taimoor would’ve never ever found out what actually happened & how Nigar was behind everything? Such an unconvincing way of showing the hero victorious by seeking revenge for his mother & sisters’ death whereas in reality, he didn’t do anything himself!
Taimoor made up his mind & started working on his plan of destroying Zafar & Nigar’s life. I was never a fan of Taimoor’s character because for me, he was a weak character who had no brains & no backbone & the last episode proved my point further. Whatever Nigar did with everyone & in the end Shama was in line with her character because she was shown to be a psychopath right from the beginning who had no conscience, no compassion & no regrets for what she used to do but Taimoor was raised by a God-fearing mother who instilled all that was good in him so to actually see him deriving satisfaction while Nigar cut her hair was actually disgusting. Is this what the writer was trying to show? That first you should keep your eyes closed to someone’s atrocities but when you start seeing everything, you should stoop to their level & do much worse than they did. My point is, Nigar was not mentally stable right from the beginning but Taimoor was so to me, he turned out to be a bigger culprit for pushing Nigar to that level where she lost her senses while he stood there like an amused spectator who was having a good time watching the entire circus. Taimoor was mentally stable so for him to see it all happening right in front of his eyes was disturbing. At first despite having brains, he didn’t really use them & when he did, it was only to destroy someone? So I guess it does prove his point that he himself was a Balaa like he said! No, I am not giving Nigar a clean chit at all & to be honest I expected much worse ending than she got but I wanted to see her punishing herself & not getting punished by Taimoor who in my opinion was in no place of doing that because he never once stopped her in the first place so he shouldn’t have been the one who pushed her to that limit in the end!
It is amusing that Taimoor will now get to live a luxurious life with his second wife only because his first wife Nigar loved him so much that she gave him everything that she had, be it her share in family business or her father’s home which was under her ownership too. I thought they’d show that Taimoor made Zafar go bankrupt but in the end they only showed that Zafar was made to leave the house? Zahir hai bhai, our writers can no go into technicalities & intricacies because they don’t have much intelligence as well as time to show all of that. Inhain bas burai aur negativity dikhani ati hai. It is funny that in a drama where the main character was a psychopath, she was never once taken to a psychiatrist. Why can’t our writers show proper solutions? Why is it either black or white? It is unfortunate that Nigar & Taimoor also had a baby together. Poor Saad!
Closing Thoughts – Sigh of Relief:
Well, I am glad that Balaa is over & I have never felt relieved this way before at the end of a drama. I think Fahad Mustafa should realize that apart from distributing bikes & doing Thakki Tikki Tha, he has more responsibilities as a producer & as someone who has a position in the industry to produce better dramas & not craps like these. Zanjabeel Asim Shah should take a break & stop spewing so much of negativity because it eventually comes to bite you back as well. I know it was just a drama but whatever she was trying to show didn’t really make it to our TV screens & just got lost like a lice in Nigar’s wig. Speaking of which, I now get why Ushna Shah was made to wear the wig, it was for this haircut scene in the last episode because other than that I just don’t see any justification behind such a hideous decision. Bilal Abbas Khan should start delivering dialogues properly & stop mumbling because almost in the entire episode he was inaudible & it was hard to understand what he was trying to say. Acting nikalne se pehle hi zubaan aur thook mai roll ho gai, lol. This is something that he should work on. Sajid Hassan’s acting was consistently good. Samina Peerzada was the only good thing about this drama, her persona & grace was mesmerizing in the initial episodes, too bad that Shama later died of a haircut, lol! Chalo, is se pehle ke I start giving it Mujhe Khuda Pe Yakeen Hai & Aahista Aahista treatment, I will end this review now by only saying that for me Balaa turned out to be a sick joke & I am glad it is over. Pour your heart out guys.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.