Pakistani filmmakers are on a roll these days with films hitting the screens almost every month. Adding to the list is the most anticipated movie, Yalghaar which is set to release on Eid-ul-Fitr this year.
Yalghaar is based on the 76 hours long successful military operation conducted in the Swat district. The film goes up close to follow the lives of patriotic officers and soldiers.
The 2 minutes 43 seconds long trailer displays a series of action scenes featuring the military. It opens with meticulous action sequences, followed by the struggle of the soldiers and loads of gun shots. The trailer narrates the tragic tales of the soldiers fighting for their people.
Yalghaar sees two of the industry’s biggest names, Shaan Shahid and Humayun Saeed, facing off as protagonist and antagonist. Made on a whopping budget of 50 crores, Yalghar will release in 60 countries worldwide.
The film has been written, directed, and produced by Hassan Waqar Rana. Besides Shaan and Humayun Saeed, Yalghar also stars Bilal Ashraf, Adnan Siddiqui, Gohar Rasheed, Umair Jaswal, Amir Qureshi, Ayesha Omar, Sana Bucha, Aleeze Nasser and Armeena Rana Khan in pivotal roles.
Ohkay so, recently I haven’t made any bad decisions but Munkir spoiled my track record as the worst decision that I actually made was watching 2 of its episodes together for the sake of reviewing & oh boy how it ruined my entire afternoon. I didn’t really understand what was going on in these two episodes because the characters were made to say one thing by the writer, while the director forgot to establish the grounds for what they were talking about, like there was such a disconnect between the situations & the characters that this drama ended up looking purposeless, not that it had any purpose to begin with, but still!
So, in this drama, this cliché had to be used to take the story forward & that was the death of granny. The only good thing that I could take out from this cliché was that we won’t be getting to see the character/actor again as sorry to say I find her dialogue delivery cringe worthy, I remember saying this when I was reviewing Rubaru & that most certainly hasn’t changed, so yes, that worked but apart from that, her death was only used as an excuse for Runa to not get married to Zain!
To be honest, I find this extremely stupid that the father in this family is so clueless all the time that Rania actually had to inform him that Runa & Zain didn’t get married that night? Like how many daughters does he have or how many members are in his family that he was so preoccupied that he forgot to pay attention to this daughter of his who was getting married? Like Zain’s family, Rania & even Molvi Sahab created quite a ruckus that day outside Runa’s room, so where was her father at that time, who later was speaking about Zain like he was now his son-in-law? I must say the writer didn’t resort to basic common sense while penning down Munkir’s script because if he had, he himself would’ve realized how many blunders & loopholes were there in his work!
Majid & Zain’s conversations ‘used to’ be one good thing in this drama but even they seemed like a mumbo jumbo because like I have said before, the situations & the overly yet unnecessarily philosophical conversations had zero connection whatsoever. There was a talk about Runa being in love with Zain, daughters in Pakistan being sacrificial lambs, then sympathy for Runa then what not, but I just didn’t get any of that. Zain was seen contemplating whereas all he could’ve done was call Runa & have a detailed conversation with her trying to know what she wanted & what was happening at her end, because anyways, she lost her Daadi, so this is something that Zain should’ve done!
To be honest, nothing irks me more than seeing religious characters in our dramas shown in a negative light, like this sheds a light on the tunnel vision of our writers who are bent on proving that if you are religious you are bound to be rigid, unreasonable, judgmental idiots. In the beginning, I remember saying that yes, religious people can be a little judgmental but this time around, the limit was pushed & it seemed completely unnecessary. They showed Zain’s mother looking down on people, badmouthing about other’s daughters just because she has chaand sa eligible bachelor beta, like seriously, everything was so disgusting & it left such a bad taste in mouth, to the point where it made me think that the writer could’ve removed those rags over their heads & they would still look as irrational as he wanted them to look, like there was no need to add the entire religious agenda in it. This is something that has actually gone overboard where the writers these days use religious characters to show how following religion is going to make you weird, which is something so stupid as it showcases the shallow-mindedness of our writers!
I don’t really understand Anjum, like she was now blaming Runa for killing her Daadi? Hello, someone completed the course of her life, so she had to return to where she belonged, how come Runa was responsible if her Daadi’s heart stopped working? Also, Anjum blamed Runa for loving Gulrez & then shattering the trust everyone, including Anjum had on Runa? Seriously, like you are the nutcase the instilled this idea of love in Runa’s head for Gulrez & now you’re the one saying all these things? Once again, another example of having no logic & no common sensibility!
Runa’s father was now babysitting his daughter as if she survived a fatal accident? Yes, we agree that her Daadi died, but I really didn’t understand where all this sympathy was coming from & why in the first place that too to such a point where he was now judging Rania & doubting her intentions? Someone please remind Runa’s father that when he was busy minting money, it was Rania who was playing a role of Runa’s mother, her sister & her friend! Anyways, there was zero mention about Runa’s abduction, like no one in the family knew or asked where Runa was & what Gulrez did? Also, they didn’t even explain why Gulrez abducted Runa when all he had to do was sit quietly & not say a word? Like till date they haven’t actually showed what made Gulrez do that & what was his motive? He didn’t propose Runa & in the end let her go so!?!?!
These two episodes of Munkir were illogical & made no sense, like they served no purpose. All of a sudden, all the side characters came into the limelight & looked like they were stooping to new lows to grab the limited limelight that they were getting. This drama or this story has no depth, no meaning & no purpose, that is why it is filled with so many loopholes & a bunch of weird characters! Please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Munkir.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers, Zahra Mirza.
ps: I am wondering how does the title Munkir fit this story!?!?!
The diva Mahira Khan has wowed us time and again with her beauty and flawless acting skills. She rose to fame with drama serial Humsafar and became a star overnight. Mahira is no doubt a very talented actress and gorgeous to boot.
In a recent interview with Qasim Yar Tiwana, Junaid Khan who is currently seen in Sun Yara was asked to choose between Urwa Hocane, Mahira Khan and Saba Qamar. The question was, ‘Out of Urwa Hocane, Mahira and Saba Qamar – who would you avoid, date and marry?’
To which Junaid replied, “I would avoid Urwa, date Saba and marry Mahira. Man, I wish that last bit would come true!”
Yassir Hussain has paired up with Kubra Khan for upcoming drama Shaadi Mubarak which is slated to air on Eid-ul-Fitr on ARY Digital.
Directed by Wajahat Rauf and penned by Yasir Hussain, Shaadi Mubarak also stars Sadia Faisal, Bushra Ansari and Salman Shahid. It’s a light-hearted drama showing the story of a guy whose mother wants him to get married to the woman of her choice, but he is in love with someone else.
A few BTS videos and shots from the sets of Shaadi Mubarak have surfaced online and precisely it’s all about Shaadi!
Last night, the ‘Rang De Basant Concert’ featuring Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar turned into a complete unfortunate mess. The concert was called off soon after Atif Aslam took the stage.
According to reports, the concert turned into a chaos last night. The singer was performing on the stage when the situation went out of control and three people got injured. Ali Zafar was set to perform after Atif Aslam, but that didn’t happen since the concert was called off.
However, a source said, “It was all going so good. Atif came and while he was on stage, a fight started between some security guys and sound guys,” reported The Express Tribune
As far as whether Atif was hit and injured with bottles, the source stated, “He wasn’t there when the crowd started throwing bottles on stage. In fact, the reason the crowd started throwing bottles was that they wanted Atif back on stage.”
“His (Atif’s) performance was going with such a flow but then this happened,” he added.
Let me start by saying that I had no idea that Mawra and Urwa were such big stars and internet sensations until I watched this episode of Tonite With HSY. For the first time the celebrity guests on this show took pride in the fact that they were the most liked and followed celebrities on instagram/twitter and acknowledged that the internet and social media played an important role in their career. Sanam Saeed said that she would reject a role or project offered to her because of her popularity on social media, Aamina Sheikh also said that she made a name for herself through her work long before there was social media. In my opinion making a name for oneself through ones work counts much more than being an internet sensation. HSY himself has always in a subtle way criticized those celebrities who have used social media to get famous.
Urwa Hocane talked about people’s comments about her wedding and also said that the videos were posted by people who were there and they never planned to make it all public! Mawra was very defensive throughout the show even when she did not need to do that. I also felt that HSY’s questions were more relevant this time especially in the first half of the show. After Farhan came, there was too much “excitement” in the studio but there was nothing exciting about the questions. The segment in which they had to guess the names of the celebrities were just plain okay too. The first half of the show was far more interesting. I expected HSY to ask Urwa and Farhan more questions about their marriage and perhaps about Udaari since it was a mega serial in which Urwa and Farhan acted together but he didn’t discuss Udaari.
Urwa and Mawra have answered the “Hocane” question so many times and everyone who has watched their interviews already knows the answer therefore this question should have been skipped. HSY through his questions clearly implied that Mawra’s Bollywood debut didn’t do well on the box office and Urwa singing skills weren’t impressive but both of them were quite happy with their work and said they will do it all over again, if they got the chance. “I can run an entire film” statement took me by surprise because most of us who have watched Mawra perform on screen know that she cannot even run an entire drama on her own!
“Good scripts come to good actors” was an interesting question which was followed with a long explanation by Urwa which I thought wasn’t really needed since she has so much confidence, she could have said she thought she was a good actress! Mawra explained how some people were bent on treating her like a kid although she had worked hard to get where she was today. It seemed like she was saying that people who have been around for decades should accept her star status without questioning it. My advice to Mawra is that if she wants to be treated like a mature star, she should start acting like one! Ranbir, Ranbir, Ranbir is getting old and does make her sound like a teenager!
This statement by Mawra will probably be the most talked about statement in this show, once people are done watching the show,
“I think the reason why he (Shan) started this hashtag (#BanMawra) is that he knows that when my name is there, the hashtag will trend!!!”
The fact is that Shan is a much bigger star than Mawra and he has never banked on controversies and shortcuts to get attention simply because he does not need to!
The “Mein Hu Adakara” segment was not very interesting mainly because of the fact that Urwa did not deliver. Urwa revealed that she is doing 3 Pakistani films and Mawra’s first Lollywood film will be released this year. The show was going fine until Urwa and Mawra were the only guests, it was all over the place when Farhan joined them. This could have been a better show if Mawra was invited with some other celebrity and Urwa and Farhan came together, the questions then and the interview as a whole could have been far more productive.
How many of you watched this episode Tonite With HSY? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.
Syra Shahroze and Kent S. Leung starrer Chalay Thay Saath’s premiere was held on April 20th, and many celebrities attended the premiere. However, something unfortunate happened with Shamoon Abbasi as he was asked to leave the venue.
“When I entered the cinema hall there were no empty seats so I sat on the stairs instead since the film had started,” Abbasi told Instep. “I was invited by Zhalay [Sarhadi] personally so I decided to attend the premiere otherwise I had stopped going to certain events for the past one year.”
However what happened with him at Nueplex Cinema where the premiere took place urged him not to go there again. “I’m not going to Nueplex Cinema ever again,” he stated.
Abbasi informed that while he was sitting on the stairs many people were courteous enough and asked him to take their seat but he refused. Suddenly a guy from cinema staff came and asked him to leave upon which he told them that he had been invited but since there was no seat he sat there and would leave shortly. “I didn’t want to create any scene as the movie had begun already,” the actor said. “But they came again and then the security guy grabbed me by the shoulder saying ‘Chalo chalo utho yahan se’ on which I was surprised and left right away. It was very rude of him to do that as if I’m a criminal or so.”
The incident went viral on social media and the cinema management responded saying it’s against their policy to allow anyone to sit on the steps. Abbasi said, “It’s the same cinema house that used to call me when Waar was running there. We went there several times, sat on the steps while they served us nachos and popcorns. Where was the policy at that time?”
This episode had quite a few important developments to its credit and it had a lot of scenes which were deep and meaningful. For the first time the viewers saw Sammi as a strong woman who was there for someone else for a change even though it is very difficult for someone in her position to see beyond her own problems. These scenes in which Sammi asked Salar to go back to his mother and later on was there for him when he was upset also showed that Sammi had accepted her fate, she knew she will be taken away at some point and no one will be able to help her then. The fact that Sammi does not want Salar to save her shows that she is strong enough to face whatever is coming her way alone. Since this drama is titled Sammi therefore the viewers automatically expected Sammi’s character and story to be the central part of the drama but I have to say that at this point all the tracks are equally important. All the female characters in the drama are equally interesting and each one of them is fighting their own battle. Mawra Hocane still does not look or speak like someone who has lived in a remote village. She has an innocent face which makes you feel for Sammi, otherwise the whole get-up could have been far better. Ahad Raza Mir is a powerful actor but his hairstyle is terribly distracting.
Salima’s reaction was surprising but easy to connect to!! Salima felt threatened and the only way for her to feel “secure” was to get pregnant again hoping this time she will have a son. All those lies she told Rashid about how she told Naheed off and the way she flirted with him showed this was her way of showing that she was in control! At the end of the day, she is putting her life in danger in order to please her husband. Saman Ansari has nailed her character as Salima right from the get-go. Adnan Siddiqui’s outlook and acting both are brilliant. Seemi Raheel is also doing a fabulous job, her performance in the scene in which her character was begging the chaudhry to forgive her son was remarkable. I have to say however that chaudhry barks more than he bites! He beat Rashid up but then he sent him back home, it would have been so much better if he kept him there and made him suffer. Chaudhry seems like a ruthless man and people like him don’t think a lot before killing someone. Madiha Rizvi’s character has to be one of my most favorite characters because she is the only woman in this drama who actually does something to take control even when the odds are against her.
Naheed’s track took an interesting turn with this episode and the best thing about this track was Aalyan taking a stand for Naheed. Although Naheed is educated and she has a job but her brother wants her to live her life according to the rules made by him. I would love to see her living life on her terms and conditions. Naheed’s character is another one which is brilliantly etched-out and Nadia Afghan is doing complete justice to it. I also really like Bilal Khan’s performance in the play, whoever chose him to play with role made a very wise choice.
Chote Chaudhry’s dialogues are always amusing and they also carry a very strong message. He says only what he has been taught by his father and what he has learned by watching everything that happens around him. For him, the world is divided between two kinds of people; people who are rich and those who are poor. The rich of course rule the poor and they are superior in every way possible. No wonder such children grow up to be Chaudhrys who exploit the poor and can’t even feel for them the way one human would for another. The writer has used chote chaudhry’s character effectively to give some very important messages and to make people understand where this mindset comes from.
Chandni continued to be insecure and stubborn in this episode but I have a feeling that her character will take a surprising turn in the upcoming episodes. Haris Waheed is another actor who is bound to make it big in the industry because his entire focus is on his performance and he has proved himself as a versatile actor. There are very few actors who start their careers with roles which have tons of room for performance. The preview of the next episode was exciting, looking forward to how the story unfolds from here on.
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
After the grand success of Desan Da Raja (Suni Kuri) with Komal Rizvi last year, Qurram Hussain is now collaborating with Levi’s Live and Nescafé basement’s fame Maria Unera.
A post shared by Singer. Actor. Host. (@komalrizviofficial) on
According to a local publication, a source close to Qurram has confirmed the collaboration, saying that the track will be a soulful song with Qurram’s signature modern sound.
This will be the second song of Qurram Hussain for Cornetto Pop Rock Season 2. The report also states that Qurram is also the voice of Bilal Ashraf in the soundtracks of the musical film Rangreza which is all set to release this year.
Recently, Bushra Ansari attended the Hum Showcase 2017 and the pictures from the event have taken over the internet.
However, the recent avatar of Bushra didn’t go well with many people out there and there were some who criticised her while others questioned the double standards of the people.
Can we ever get enough of the gorgeous actress Ayeza Khan? Apparently not! And now Sifona roped in the starlet for its 2017 Lawn Collection and it’s truly magical. Ayeza Khan is glowing, in the floral outdoorsy photo shoot. She stuns in the Lawn with vibrant prints from the Marjaan collection by Sifona.
Atif Aslam has a unique voice and always proves that he’s one of the best singers we have. His beautiful voice puts soul into every melody. Recently, he sang a song for Saba Qamar’s Bollywood Debut ‘Hindi Medium’ and we instantly fell in love.
A post shared by Atif Aslam Official? (@atifaslam____official) on
“Hoor is a very special song. It’s close to my heart. It is also one of the biggest songs for me this year. The entire team of Jeena Jeena has reunited for this song as well,” Atif said in a statement.
He added: “Jeena Jeena was well received by the audience. Sachin-Jigar have done a fabulous job with the song, and I hope the audience gives it same love that they gave Jeena Jeena.”
Talking about collaboration, Jigar said: “Hoor is more rooted, mature and Sufi than Jeena Jeena. This song will grow on people slowly. Lot of love songs that we hear today are more about heart break and separation. However, this song highlights the beauty of falling in love and how he describes his lover as Hoor.”
He said: “It’s a soulful and heartwarming song and it will definitely make you fall in love.”
Saba Qamar is surely experiencing a purple patch in her life. From giving some amazing performances in dramas to starring in a film across the borders, the actress continues to surprise the audiences.
However, that’s not all, because Saba Qamar has now signed another mega project and it’s a biopic. There isn’t much we know about the project because the actress is keeping it under wraps for now.
First things first, After watching this episode, I watched the previous episode again in an attempt to figure out how all these characters are related and here is what I think, correct me if you think I am wrong.
Dastoor Ahmed – Ami Begum’s son
Mehrunissa- Dastoor’s wife
Ali – Dastoor’s son
Ami begum lives with Dastoor Ahmed.
Neelam and Gulrez – Brother and sister – also the children of ami’s begum’s daughter who died in an accident?
Waqar – Ami Begum’s son’s son, who died in the same accident.
Maheen and Waqar are cousins. Maheen’s mother is Waqar’s phupo.
Fajr and Maheen are sisters
Waqar and Wali are brothers? (same surname but then Wali was calling Mehrunissa mami in the previous episode which could mean he is Maheen’s brother. Why is his surname Ahmed then? Helppppp!!)
Maheen’s mother is ami begum’s daughter.
Although, usually I don’t mind when the promos give the story away a little and even if the actors who are part of the drama share details about different characters and their feelings but after watching this episode in particular, I was missing more than ever those times when we had no clue which turn the story was likely to take in the upcoming episodes. The reason for this is that right now Gulrez and Maheen do not come across as a possible match at all and it seems impossible that Maheen will even consider this proposal seriously. Also, Wali’s dialogue today about all the tragedies in the family and what might happen if Maheen refused to accept this proposal, Neelam’s reaction when she saw Waqar in the first episode and the way she stood in front of Gulrez’s photograph kind of reveals which way the story is headed. Having said that, I am eagerly waiting to find out what turn these relationships take.
This episode gave the viewers an insight into the leading characters in particular except for Waqar, I still feel like I don’t know him well enough yet. Gulrez is kanjoos, he is bhola and he is also very sensitive. In the previous episode the viewers got the impression that Neelam and Ama Begum wanted Maheen to get married to Gulrez and he was as unaware of these developments as Maheen was but in this episode the viewers found out that Gulrez loves Maheen but he never had the courage to say it to her because of obvious reasons! Gulrez’s character is interesting, you can’t help but like him. Shehzad sheikh fits the role perfectly, I like his acting and overall look too.
Waqar Ahmed returned to Pakistan after 4 years and he met Jia on the way. Jia is also Maheen’s friend therefore she already knows a lot about Waqar’s family. I really wanted to see how everyone welcomed Waqar and perhaps more of a continuation of the last scene of the previous episode. It felt strange watching everyone following Maheen back home, I felt like there were a lot of gaps which needed to be filled there. So, the birthday party came to an end after Maheen walked out? The explanation Maheen gave to her mother went to show that she was impulsive and adventurous but she would never hurt her mother or anyone else on purpose.
I must say that the one scene in which Maheen and Waqar were together was electrifying. There is an undeniable chemistry between Ayeza Khan and Imran Abbas which makes their scenes a treat to watch. You can totally see that they are a far more compatible couple, even with all their “hatred” for each other, than Gulrez and Maheen. Waqar’s behavior towards Maheen completely changed after Fajr told him that Maheen cried a lot because of what Waqar did. I am surprised that this whole thappar issue is being mentioned so casually by everyone considering the fact that Maheen is such a ladli.
Right now the one thing which makes Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai different from other plays is the way the family ties have been shown. I feel like I am watching a drama from another era because it has been a long time since we watched relationships like these which are genuine and there is no backbiting, plotting and planning. All these people care about each other in some way whether they are young or old. Wali goes out of his way to help Gulrez out even though he is also sick of his obsession with his foxy. Neelam and Gulrez’s conversation showed how Neelam looks out for him. The older people are not seen lecturing the younger lot but they are part of the “gang”! The carefree timelessness of the younger lot has been captured brilliantly especially because we saw in the first episode how much these characters will change in a few years.
It was a decent episode which definitely gave me a reason to tune into this drama next week. The characters are appealing, their stories right now are simple yet engaging and the most important aspect is the way these characters have been translated on screen. Ami Begum’s character is already my favorite.The way she loves being part of the gang and the manner in which she covered up for Maheen was adorable. Saba Faisal is absolutely remarkable as ami begum. I just hope that the foxy is getting so much “screen time” for a good reason!
How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
1980’s is the decade in which the downfall of Urdu cinema started. Apart from Faisal Rehman, Neeli and Ismail Shah, no new notable face is introduced in the Urdu films in this decade. The artists of 1960’s and 1970’s dominated the Urdu films in 1980’s like Nadeem, Shabnum, Babra Sharif, Javed Sheikh, Kavita. Few foreign artists also worked in Urdu films (produced as Co-Production) like Sabeeta Parera from Sri Lanka, Babita from Bangladesh, Sushma Shahi from Nepal and Nazan Sanci from Turkey.
Though Urdu cinema continued its downward trend in the 1990’s; some new faces were also introduced in this decade, which till this day are the face of last days of our now defunct Lahore based film industry. The most notable among these artists are Reema and Shaan, two new faces introduced by director Javed Faazil in his film Bulandi released in 1990.
Bulandi was a smashing hit, the cine goers of that era welcomed the fresh blood injected in the Urdu cinema. Afterwards as a pair Reema and Shaan worked in many Urdu, Punjabi and Double Version (Urdu/Punjabi) films none of which proved successful like Bulandi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX_OxRvpMhI
Reema & Shaan in Bulandi
Gradually the working relationship among both Reema and Shaan also strained and their pairing in films also ended. They expressed their differences time and again in the press. Due to the differences both have worked together in very few projects afterwards. However whenever they reunited, it weaved magic on the screen.
In the years to come Reema continued the upward path towards success due to her professionalism. But Shaan suffered due to his unprofessional and irresponsible attitude. By mid 1990’s Shaan was out of the films, while Reema was ruling the screen as a new successful pair with new entrant Babar Ali.
The second era of Shaan in films began with the help of Syed Noor who introduced him as a vilian in the film Ghoongat in 1996 which proved successful. After the successful comeback Shaan worked successfully with many heroines like Resham, Meera and Saima but avoided working with Reema.
After a gap of almost six years, film director Sangeeta and producer Shahzad Rafique persuaded both Reema and Shaan to work together again in 1998. The reunion proved successful like Bulandi in 1990, when their film Nikah also proved successful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhuRBvVgc30
Resham Ka Lehnga from Nikah
Despite the success of Nikah, Reema and Shaan afterwards worked only in one worth mentioning Urdu film Dil To Pagal Hai
Tu Hai Chand Aur Mein Hun Chand Raat from Dil To Pagal Hai
They also worked in one Punjabi film Laung Da Lashkara in 1999.
https://youtu.be/-UzIPAetjew?t=98
Zulf Da Kundal from Laung Da Lashkara
Reema favored Shaan by accepting the secondary role in Mujhe Chand Chahiye (opposite Moammer Rana), which was being directed by Shaan. Released in 2000, Shaan played the lead in Mujhe Chand Chahiye with Noor Bukhari and the film proved successful.
In mid 2000’s Reema also ventured into direction with the hit film Koi Tujh Sa Kahan in 2005 starring Reema and Moammar Rana. For her second film Love Mein Gum, Reema offered Shaan the leading role with her, which he initially accepted. Love Mein Gum was expected to weave the same magic of Bulandi and Nikah on the silver screen, as Reema and Shaan were working together after almost ten years.
As per press reports the shooting of the film started abroad in Azerbaijan and Malaysia. But after few shots Shaan backed out of the project due to some differences with Reema. Moammar Rana replaced Shaan and Love Mein Gum eventually released in 2011 proving average at the box office.
With Reema no more acting in the film (she might continue as a director in the future), there are slim chances that Reema and Shaan are paired again in a film.
Apart from films, the other area in both Reema and Shaan have worked together is television commercials (TVC). Their first worked together in a series of TVC for TulsiPaan Masala which surely is still remembered by their fans. They do add the required spark to the project whenever paired together, just witness it from the Tulsi TVC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBXQrkLQ2w
Tulsi Television Commercial
After years of gap they both are paired again for another TVC to be aired from May 2017. The brand is Everyday Tea Whitener from Nestle. It is yet to be seen whether this pair revives their well known chemistry on screen or not. But the posters of this upcoming advertisement are surely intriguing and something worth waiting. Titled “Pyar Ho Jata Hai Phir Se” , the still shots of this advertisements definitely have the same chemistry seen in the past in Bulandi, Nikah or Tulsi TVC.
The talented actor, Noman Ijaz has worked in several drama serials and films. He is one of the most versatile actors today and has impressed us with his great acting skills time and again. Currently, essaying the role of Khan in a political drama, Noman Ijaz attended the 16th Annual Lux Style Awards for the first time in years. He was nominated in the Best TV Actor category for his performance in Dumpukht, however, that is not the reason why he decided to attend the show.
“There’s no excitement or anything of that sort,” he told Instep. “I’m not here for the award but because of my friend. Sheru (HSY) is doing it this time and I’ve come to support the gentleman.”
When asked about whether he thought he was going to win, Ijaz stated, “No, I’m not interested in the award. My beliefs are quite different. I don’t believe that we learn from these awards or achievements. We learn from other things, the failures and stuff in our lives. It all depends who the jury selects as the winner.”
Reflecting on the credibility of the LSAs, Ijaz stated that these events are no less than family functions. “It’s a way of meeting each other, sitting together and having a good time,” he said. “Channels also have to earn after all. It’s a family function kind of a thing,” he concluded.
Pakistan’s leading tv channel HUM has collaborated with QMobile to showcase latest summer trends for the first time at Hum Showcase 2017. Many designers like Faraz Manan, Momina Teli, Inaaya, Nomi Ansari are showcasing their designs for summer 2017. Many popular models displayed stunning collections of famous and budding designers.
Shoaib Malik’s wife Sania Mirza’s friendship with Bollywood celebrity Farah Khan is well known.
Looks like even Shoaib is good friends with Farah Khan. Apparently, he posted a picture of his wife and Khan and said: “If I make a movie, Farah Khan will be the hero”
The gorgeous, Syra Shahroze kicked off her career with MTV, went on to be a model and actress, and made her movie debut with Chalay Thay Saath. Recently, she celebrated her birthday along with husband and family, and we must say the lady looks absolutely stunning in that outfit.
The sequel of blockbuster film Aina will begin shooting in September this year. The first instalment was a huge success and now we’re all set to witness the golden couple on our screens once again.
Aina 2 will be directed by Syed Noor, and the cast includes Nadeem Baig, Shabnam and Shahroze Sabzwari.
Here’s what the director, Syed Noor, had to say about the sequel:
“I’ve been contemplating Aina 2 for many years now. I recently discussed it with Nadeem and Shabnam and I think now is the right time to begin working on it,”
“Of course, Aina 2 will further the story told in Aina with the original star cast members as well as some new faces. Also, we’re planning on filming it in Canada this time.”
“At this point in the life of Pakistani cinema, I believe Aina 2 will be a good addition. I am still in the process of finalizing the details of the project. Hopefully, I’ll get to share them soon, once everything is sorted,” said Noor.
Well, cat’s got my tongue. Or had. And took it for a long walk. Which was just as well for when I finished watching the last episode, I needed to sit still and mute for some time while my thoughts on the other hand were scampering all over the place! One thought that does stand out and that I walk away with at the end of this drama is how almost every female character in this drama was either pushed, prodded, bullied until the point she could take it no more and let it be known in her own way that she had reached her threshold.
I sat with my heart in my mouth as Paashi’s story reached its end. Literally. As Raaska later said to Paro ‘kaleja moo ko a gaya’. I felt the same – bas language was different. But jokes aside, even though I had my reservations over believing how easily Paashi came to such a decision, I can however easily believe how this may not seem an extreme end for her. Teenagers are impressionable – watching that movie, over-romanticizing the feelings she believed she had for Kaashi coupled with deluding herself into believing that she can not give up Kaashi and can not expect her parents to understand, she felt like she was doing the most noble and tragic thing for their love. So so twisted yes, but sadly so much more realistic than we may care to let ourselves believe for I had heard of the random similar incident or two as a teenager and so there you have it. However, I did think Paashi had more spunk and fire in her and so I did not see how a character like hers would easily come to such a decision.
Paro’s undoing was her daughter’s death. Bhaijaan’s rejection enraged her so much that she changed from a woman who could not dream of harming anyone to a ‘daayen’ – her own words. She took her anger out on Paashi thinking she could beat the notion of love out of her young mind so she did not go through what she herself did. At least that is what I am assuming she was thinking. When she realised she went too far in her verbal diarrhea session with Anwaar Sb, she tried to retrace her steps and pick up her life that suddenly seemed to be crumbling round her but it was too late. With Paashi gone, the last shreds of her composure and any other feelings of revenge and anger she may have had all vanished as she was reduced to a woman who can not face another day living with the thought that she drove her daughter to take her own life.
Jahan Ara too had been the epitome of self suffering, sacrifice and patience. Until she began to realise the truth behind the rumour that she had been ‘sold’ into marriage to MJ. And like she said, ‘woh baat chubb gayi hai’ and try as she might – she could not go ahead with the marriage. When Almas implored her to think of her and her family, I thought she might give in – true Jahan Ara style, but I felt admiration when she pushed Almas’ hands away from her and walked out. She chose a rather difficult path for herself thereon but seemingly the most practical and legal one. I am assuming hers and Yasir’s is a happy ending, although maybe not immediately so.
So, yes – all our suspicions about Anwar and Tajwar Bi seemed to be true and Tajwar Bi seemed to finally not be able to hold back her jealousy and descended on Nimo in a fit of rage. Mushtari’s response to Raaska later about Nimo not wanting to get married leaves very little else to imagination and I am a bit taken aback at this particular train of thought that the writer decided to play with in a drama that was doing so amazingly well otherwise. I watched this drama online with earphones so nobody in my family had to witness or listen to these interactions but for those of us who watched this with family I can imagine it must have been uncomfortable and I can only wonder why it was there in the first place. Oh well. Tajwar Bi loses her senses – and 25 lakhs at the same time.
Although Almas’ greed propelling her to agree to Jahan Ara being ‘sold’ is not justified, this too was another case of a woman who had suffered due to her husband’s whims and half baked business plans and when she felt she could take it no more, she was presented with a solution that was like killing two birds with one stone – financial security and Jahan Ara permanently out of Yasir’s life. Seems like Siraaj and Almas came out the winners with their happy ending. They managed to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak. Pocketed 25 lakhs and did not have to go through with Jahan Ara’s marriage or deal with Tajwar Bi when Jahan Ara left for Tajwar Bi (conveniently for Siraaj & Almas) along with her mother and brother has been escorted to a mental institution by her stepbrother.
Erum finally restored my belief in dramas depicting at least some level of reality. There was only so much she could take and sensing that things would not – could not change- she did what seemed to be the sensible thing to do and decided she had had enough and walked out of the marriage. I liked how she did not weep and cry or wail how ‘barbaad ho gayee hai’. A small part of me did hope Taabish may realise he had some feelings for her and only acted the way he did by being spurned on by his mother (probably what Erum had also hoped for which is why she stuck in that marriage for so long) but then another part of me is also relieved and pleasantly surprised to see how Erum’s track showed it is not okay, no matter what the reason, to put your wife through everything Erum went through.
Aaaaaand – that’s a wrap. A drama that drew me in with its witty dialogues, amazing acting, interesting storylines running simultaneously left me with a heavy-ish heart in the end. Yes, there were the happier endings – those of Erum’s and Jahan Ara’s – yet they were tinged with bittersweet and sad feelings too. I even felt bad for Paro who was left planning her own death. The dialogues in the last episode although not witty were no less impressive though, especially Paro’s conversation with Raaska and when Paashi spoke to her mother in her final days I felt my eyes well up.
I normally watch a drama without looking for any underlying messages but I can not help wonder at the message (s) if any the writer tried to put across. Anwaar Sb’s taunt to Paro about her not loving Paashi pushed her to find love elsewhere. Young minds being impressionable and well, young and immature need to be dealt with care and love. What one may believe to be right or wrong as a parent is alright to try to instill in their children’s minds but how do you go about getting your point across. An emotion as intense as revenge pushed Paro to destroy herself and everything that truly mattered to her. What I liked most about this play was how each character – well most of them were female so I will focus on that- although helpless in a way was not a wailing banshee whose sole purpose in life was to cry buckets. They suffered but all fought back in one way or the other. I have praised the drama enough in my overview so will not risk repeating myself but I will say that with a storyline(s) which was unique yet not so unique, this was definitely one of the actually good dramas I have watched.
I am sure we all have different (or not) thoughts about how the drama ended. There could have been a different way to end Paashi’s track is what I feel and I guess she was made to die so as to completely break Paro. And I would have preferred a more definite end to Yasir’s and Jahan Ara’s story but having seen the way it played out in this episode, I am content with this too. What did you all think – would love to hear your thoughts
After the shocking twist in episode 12, the story is back on track and I have to say that even though the story of the drama is too simple and there has been no character development so far but surprisingly enough I am still hooked to this show. Titlee always was and still is a guilty pleasure but one which I am enjoying reviewing. Usually, we avoid reviewing dramas which we watch strictly to pass time because you never take these dramas too seriously. Reviewing such dramas kills the fun because then you end up paying attention to every minor detail. Titli is an exception because I look forward to watching and reviewing it. We all need to watch a drama every now and then which is nothing more than meaningless entertainment. A major reason why Titlee is so enticing is that Hania Amir is playing the lead in this play flawlessly. You hate Naila but at the same time it is actually fun watching her character get away with everything and you wait for the time when she will finally get punished in some way. It is interesting watching someone like her who has no idea just how wrong she is doing exactly what she wants mainly because the people around her are just too nice. It is also amusing watching role models like her sister and sister in law who are complete opposites and can do no wrong.
Naila finally realized that she could not go on living in her parents’ house primarily because she could not handle the housework. Although she wanted to go back to her in laws and live the life she was living but she wanted to create such a situation that her in laws would beg her to come back. She managed to do just that and she was back in paradise!
8 years passed quickly and personally I don’t mind that but it was awkward when Amir’s wife was wearing the same clothes 8 years later too! There was absolutely no change in Naila’s behaviour and her in laws too continued to be very flexible. Although all these people are just too sweet but you also understand why they do not want Naila to go away. Ahmed’s parents value family ties more than money and can’t live without Naila’s daughters therefore they did whatever she wanted. I actually like the fact that for a change we are watching parents like Ahmed’s parents. They are open-minded, loving and mature. Ahmed’s reaction was realistic as well. Naila is a controlling mother who does whatever she needs to do in order to make her daughters do whatever she wants. Basically, her attitude with her daughters is exactly the same as it is with everyone else.
The preview of the next episode was alarming! I am wondering how Naila managed to buy herself a house. I am really enjoying watching Titlee even though it is nothing grand. It is always entertaining and gives me a reason to tune into it next week. Hania Amir is an amazing actress, love her in this role and waiting anxiously to see her in a lead role on the silver screen.
How many of you watched these episodes? Do share your thoughts about them.
According to a local newspaper, Pooja Bhatt visited Pakistan to attend Ali Azmat’s birthday party. She was specially invited to attend the birthday bash.
Asim Jofa hosted a star-studded evening for Ali Azmat’s Birthday bash in Karachi last night. Besides Pooja Bhatt, other attendees include Maria Wasti, Ali Zafar, Sohai Abro and more.
Pooja Bhatt visited Pakistan in 2016 as well and walked the ramp at Fashion Pakistan Week 2016 (FPW).
The masterminds of ‘Waar’ are bringing yet another tribute to the honourable Army of Pakistan, ‘Yalghaar’ which is all set to hit the cinemas this Eid-ul-Fitr.
And according to a local magazine, the trailer of the film will release on April 24. Yes, you heard it right! The trailer of Yalghaar will finally release next week and it’s surely a big news.
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The film has been written, directed, and produced by Hassan Waqar Rana. With its cast of coveted stars like Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Bilal Ashraf, Umair Jaswal, Ayesha Omar, Armeena Rana Khan, Uzma Khan and Ayub Khosa, the film is bound to create an uproar in the cinemas.
There’s a good news for Sajal Ali’s fans out there. The makers of Sajal Ali’s Bollywood debut film ‘Mom’ have decided to prepone its release.
The upcoming thriller drama film is now slated to release on July 7. The film, which was earlier scheduled to release on July 14, will now hit the screens on July 7, 2017, to avoid the clash with other Bollywood films.
The film also stars Sridevi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Adnan Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna in the lead roles. Mom is a thriller directed by Ravi Udyawar and produced by Boney Kapoor, Sunil Manchanda & Zee Studios.
The chiselled face, chocolate boy Imran Abbas is a charmer when it comes to acting. He has been acting since more than a decade and his versatile acting is always adored by his fans. The Khuda aur Mohabbat star is currently seen in Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai and is all set to appear on Geo Tv in an upcoming drama called Yaar-e-Bewafa.
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Recently, the actor, spoke to Instep about TV projects, playing it safe with cinema and the importance of financial stability
Imran Abbas shared his experience of working on Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai. “I had a wonderful time working with the production house, 7th Sky on a serial called Tum Kon Piya last year,” observed Abbas. “On top of that, this play been written by such a gifted writer and directed by someone whose work I’m very fond of personally.”
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“I’m very particular about the actress I’m paired with and I share great chemistry and comfort with Ayeza. So overall, I knew it was a safe gamble. It’s something that has been tried and tested previously, so there weren’t any risks,” he added.
He further said, “It’s different in a lot of ways. There’s also a transformation for the story and my character. There are several intriguing twists and turns in the plot that you’ll discover.”
Believing that media plays a strong role in the promotion of the arts, he shared, “I think it has become very important. Previously, we used to completely rely on word-of-mouth. But now marketing strategies play an essential role in the success or failure of any project at all – I feel that promotions are no longer only limited to films, they’ve become equally relevant for television as well.”
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The actor who rose to stardom with the serial Khuda Aur Mohabbat six years ago reshot the entire serial and also featured in its second installment opposite Kubra Khan.
“There were major changes in the development and detailing of the characters,” recalled Abbas. “It was originally aired in 2011 so obviously the newer version was a lot more contemporary. It was better in terms of production. Also, the second season picks up from where the last one ended and all of us have changed physically over the years as well so to make it all look relevant, we had to reshoot the first season. Nonetheless, I’m grateful to all the viewers for giving it so much love this time around as well. I feel blessed.”
Abbas also disclosed that his motive now is to earn more. “Thankfully I get paid exactly what I quote but of course financial stability is extremely important.
At the end of the day, all of us are working for survival and strive to make a living out of it. Gone are the days when we had to prove our mettle. I know I am working for money because above anything, it is my job.”
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When asked, if he’s planning to do a film in Pakistan, “I have been experimenting across the border. I wasn’t satisfied with Creature 3D. I liked the film but I expected a lot more from the audience. With Janisaar, we knew our niche market and we weren’t trying to cater to the masses at all,” said Abbas. “At this point of time, I don’t want to take any risks in my career. I’ve become very choosy about what I select and I actually thank God that I had to let go of a few Pakistani films because they turned out to be beyond disappointing.”
He is still looking to resume projects across the border that were delayed in the aftermath of the Uri attacks. “There will always be people who will stigmatize the entire society. It’s not restricted to India. We have them here in Pakistan too. But I do believe that any reciprocation and mutual respect is important. If we have started playing Indian films in our theatres, they need to start airing our television serials on Zee Zindagi as well.”
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“We need to get rid of this negativity. As far as my personal experience of collaborating with Indian artists is concerned, I’ve never been through any discomfort whatsoever and have only been showered with love and respect. Also, we cannot deny the fact that Bollywood is a huge industry and the international exposure it offers is not available locally. It will take time for us to build infrastructure but I see great enthusiasm in the younger lot and am very hopeful,” he continued.
Chalay Thay Saath is one of the most awaited films of the year; be it the amazing music or those beautiful locations, the audience just fell in love with this movie even before it released. Starring an ensemble cast of leading ladies Syra Shahroz, Zhalay Sarhadi, Mansha Pasha, and new faces, Osama Tahir, Faris Khalid, and Kent S. Leung, Chalay Thay Saath had its star-studded premiere last night. Here are a few pictures from the premiere:
The man of many talents, Ali Zafar performed at the Lux Style Awards this weekend with Teefa in Trouble’s leading lady Maya Ali. The actor has grown his hair for the film, and recently, he let it all out for the world to see!
Ali looks just like Jack Sparrow, isn’t it?
Speaking to The Express Tribune, about his transformation, Ali shared, “I had mixed martial arts training with modern-day gym techniques and most importantly, diet and dedication and a change in lifestyle. But I feel mental health is way more important than physical and that comes through various mental exercises and meditation.”
Ali plays the titular Teefa in the romantic action-comedy film. “I sometimes feel that artists or stars as you may call them get stuck in the hyped version or image of their own self and eventually become a caricature of their own image,” he said.
“Therefore, it is necessary to keep re-inventing yourself. During the process, you not only rediscover endless possibilities of your own mind and body but also give your audiences something new. For me, the process of learning is the key and that only happens when you break yourself and put yourself together, again and again.”
“In Teefa in Trouble, the director (Ahsan Rahim) wants to shoot every scene before action sequences which required extreme fitness and discipline. I like to do my own stunts because I don’t want to feel when I watch it on the screen that someone else has done this. It’s a high I get when I do it myself.”
Asked as to what will be the most interesting and unique thing we can expect from his Pakistani debut, Ali said, “Well, I think, to entertain people in a way I’ve never before. Be that with action, romance, song and dance, comedy or acting my heart out with intense emotion.”
Bollywood veteran actor Om Puri’s death is an unsolved mystery. A few months back, Pakistani anchor Amir Liaquat showed a clip and said that Om Puri’s ghost has been spotted in front of his Mumbai residence. In his show on Bol News, Amir Liaquat claimed that Om Puri’s ghost is back to seek revenge.
The video claiming that late actor Om Puri’s ghost has been haunting the area around his Mumbai residence went viral on the internet.
However, Om Puri’s wife Nandita has finally reacted to the video. In an interview with Hindustan Times, she said, “We are getting the intelligence to track it down.”
“Aamir Liaquat is a joker in Pakistan, who has survived a lot of these cheap thrills earlier too. According to my sources, he was given this from somebody in India and there are many people involved who have scripted this whole thing, which is disgraceful and in extremely bad taste. The video was shot in a night vision CCTV camera and we have traced down the building. Of course it’s not where Om lived. He won’t live in a shoddy building, but it’s very close to our house,” she added.
Oh dear, I so wish I could say that this week’s episodes of Nazr e Bad were interesting because even though there were a handful of developments that were made in the story, the overall progress was next to zero & the happenings weren’t interesting to say the least. For the first time I found myself glued to my cellphone while Nazr e Bad played in the background. This definitely has nothing to do with the characters or anything like that because the characters are still strong & the essence of the drama is also the same but it looked like there was a lot of focus on nominal things which made these two episodes a bit slow & uninteresting. Make no mistake, I am still a fan of this drama, I am still looking forward to it & will definitely watch it till the end, but I want things to move forward now!!!
So, Maham has started accepting Parvez & their relationship. At first she couldn’t actually believe that she not only said yes to his proposal but she also ended up getting married to him. I thought this would serve as an eye-opener & she will get back to her old ways where she couldn’t stand the sight of Parvez but that thing changed quickly. I am not too sure how I feel about this change in Maham’s attitude where she is showing acceptance towards her marriage like it makes her look like she has no personality & is just going with the flow, whereas she was introduced as a girl who knew what she wanted & would never budge for someone. Yes, I do understand that Maham was under the influence of black magic but later when she did realize that things were odd, I wish she had maintained her stance against Parvez despite him being her husband, because that would’ve spiced things up & also, it would’ve showed that Parvez’s magic wasn’t working on her!
To be honest, I so don’t want them to show that now that Parvez has Maham in his life, he is ready to give up on everything & he wants to redeem himself because that would be too unrealistic & unjustified. Just because Parvez felt that his life was complete after getting married to Maham, he immediately decided that he was done with black magic, which made me think that the story will lose its purpose if Parvez will be forgiven in the end because this is something that shouldn’t happen. No matter what, they should at least show that Parvez had to pay the heavy price for ruining so many lives & also for being a murderer of quite a few people. I really hope they don’t show Parvez walking away scot-free just because he repented & was forgiven by all the ladies who are already drooling over him now that he has earned a few bucks because the fact still remains that he is the one who destroyed so many lives, magic or no magic!
Parvez ended up meeting this Baba in the prison, who obviously was on the same path as Parvez & looks like he knows a little more than him. To be honest, his scenes were creepy & quite scary, so after I learnt what he was going to offer, I started forwarding his scenes because I don’t want to watch all of that as it was a bit too OTT for my liking & was way too scary. I am sure that Baba also has an ulterior motive & he isn’t that much of a well-wisher of Parvez as he is posing to be at this stage because he knew that Parvez was thinking about giving up on his magic, so he made sure to talk him out of it by telling that he fixed everything & also that he empowered Parvez in such a way that he could now do things that he couldn’t even think of before!
To be honest, I hated seeing Nazr e Bad turning into Saas Bahu, Devrani Jethani, Chachi Bhateeji saga this week as these were the situations & scenes that made me lose my interest in the drama real quick. The missing wall hanging scenario was dragged for no good reason. Almas giving Nusrat a hard time & taunting her like there’s no tomorrow was another thing that was boring. Parvez & Maham’s shopping spree was least interesting too. Humera insulting Nusrat was again something that was quite boring. The preview of the next episode also suggested that from now on even Parvez will get involved in this mess & he will be taking a stand for Maham tunring Nazr e Bad into one of those typical dramas that only have gharelu politics to offer.
To be honest, at this stage this is not what I want to see, I think they should now bring the story to the point where Maham will learn the truth about Parvez. I was thinking with Parvez gone for the entire night & Almas being downstairs because of her injury, Maham had a good chance to stumble upon the things that Parvez & Almas use for their magic. This is how Abeera found out too, so why couldn’t that happen with Maham because she was looking for her Wall Hanging anyways, so it would’ve made so much of sense if Maham had spotted those weird things in Parvez’s home & had grown suspicious of his activities for starters. I really think the team has taken its sweet time in showing what Parvez & Almas are capable of, so now they really need to hurry up & show their downfall especially with Maham finding out about everything first.
I hate to say this but I don’t know why after these two episodes, I got a feeling that the writer won’t give this drama the end that we all want to see, like I don’t know why I feel that Parvez will get away with everything & he will be forgiven by the writer citing his apology as enough of an excuse to forget what he did. They are in any case highlighting Parvez’s positive side by showing him as an ideal husband who can do anything for his wife, which I am definitely not buying because while watching him, I can’t get everything that he has done out of my mind. Also, I so wish there was more to Shazia or she wasn’t there in the first place, like seriously seeing a girl drooling over a khatarnaak jadugar is puke-worthy, like have some standards gurl!!!
Yes, the only thing that made sense & was interesting in these two episode was how Jins started disturbing Parvez & made him endure some of the hardships because they were mad at him as he decided that he was giving up on everything. It was something that I found interesting as it taught Parvez that moving away from everything won’t be so easy & effortless.
Anyways, I wish they move the story forward now & start revealing the truth about Parvez as they have taken a lot of time already. I really hope before Maham falls in love with Parvez completely, she finds out who he is & what he has done, because if she will fall in love, the writer will show that she forgave Parvez for all that he has done, which I don’t want to see as this is something that ladies in our dramas with no personality whatsoever end up doing! I hope they stay true to the purpose & the essence of the story & show us the downfall of the wretched characters ASAP! Please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Nazr e Bad!
The month of April brings with it a promise to give us loads of drama treats. With new dramas releasing every other day, there’s a lot to watch out for. The latest play which has us super excited is none other than ‘Alif Allah aur Insaan‘. The play has created an uproar about its arrival, seizing all the limelight from the rest. So, here are our top 4 reasons why we are desperately waiting for Alif Allah Aur Insaan.
The first reason is the gripping love triangle. For those who have seen the promos of Alif Allah aur Insaan, will know how intense and extraordinary the tale of the drama appears to be. The promos of the play elucidate that Alif Allah aur Insaan is going to have a touch of a love triangle. Remember how Shireen loved Aurang in Sange Marma? It’s the other way around this time. As Shahzeb (Mikaal Zulfiqar) loves Nazneen (Kubra Khan), but Nazneen is head over heels in love with Shehzad sheikh‘s character. So, what makes us wait for the drama is the fate of this love story, because we are sure that Kubra Khan and Mikaal Zulfiqar will create a magic on-screen. We love their chemistry, and the bottom line is, we are super excited to see them together!
2) Ushna Shah in a whole new avatar
After working in Pakistani dramas for several years, Ushna Shah has finally chosen a character that has a lot to offer. The role of Rani is somewhat different from all the characters she has played till now, not a typical one, but a girl who embarks on a journey of evolution. A girl who is innocent yet strong at the same time.
3) Qaisra Hayat’s Pen & Ahson Talish’s Direction
Qaisara Hayat is joining hands with Ahson Talish to dramatise a play based on her novel of the same name. Alif Allah aur Insaan is a popular novel with a unique approach on the spiritual bond of Allah and human. The play will show four different stories, discussing the different qualities of human body, emotions, human nature and the relationship between an Insaan and Allah. The drama revolves around individuals discovering the nature of life. The storyline is bound to grip the viewers as it’s relatable and talks about life. Sound interesting right?
4) The Stellar Cast
The makers of Alif Allah Aur Insaan have wisely chosen the actors who could relate to life and play different characters. The ensemble cast of the drama flaunts quite the big wigs of the entertainment industry and some strong supporting actors such as Imran Ashraf, Sana Fukher. The drama also stars Farhan Ali Agha, Firdous Jamal, Naima Khan, Leyla Zuberi, Ainy Zaidi, Azra Mansoor, Farrukh Kareem Darbar in pivotal roles.
Tune into Alif Allah aur Insaan, starting from April 25, every Tuesday at 8 pm, only on Hum TV.
With Award Functions being at their peak in Pakistan since last few years, these events give the celebrities to exhibit themselves and their sense of styling. Where some celebrities love to experiment and succeed in making their looks work, some celebrities fail and things go terribly wrong for the reasons best known to them. May be in the pursuit of looking different or standing out from the crowd, or may be because of being too bold and not being ashamed of experimenting, some of the celebrities ended up sporting the worst looks at the Lux Style Awards that was held last night.
Here is the list of the Worst Dressed Celebrities at Lux Style Awards:
Ayesha Fazli
Ayesha Fazli always knows how to stand out but this time around, she has stood out for all the wrong reasons. As much as the color of her dress is to die for, the broad neckline accentuating her shoulders seem pretty unflattering on her. The lack of clothing on her shoulders makes me think how good it would have been if the designer hadn’t wasted the entire fabric in giving her the trail which must be brushing the dust off the carpet only and other than that serving no purpose whatsoever.
Imran Abbas
After speaking about Lux Style Awards’ credibility and describing it as an event where Aunties exhibit their jewelry to the rest of Puphos and Chachees, looks like Imran Abbas understood the true spirit of the event and hence, showed up only to flaunt his untimely sunglasses. The polka dot bow also shows how someone can make retro go wrong.
Momal Sheikh
While her brother Shehzad sheikh made it to the list of the best dressed celebrities, I wish that could have been said about Momal Sheikh too but that is not the case here unfortunately. From dress design to dress color to the shade of her foundation to her lipstick, everything is immensely wrong with Momal Sheikh’s styling. Not sure what happened may be the designer had a personal vendetta against her or the makeup artist wasn’t in the right state of mind for makeup artistry.
Meera
May be Meera wanted to be remembered as the Golden Lady but looks like the dress designer couldn’t really conceptualize what she wanted and ended up giving her the most ill fitted dress of all times. It seems that just because she ran out of time and was in a hurry, she ended up using the wicker basket as her purse and covered it with the remaining fabric with which her dress was made.
Goher Rasheed
He makes me wonder how can he always look so messy so effortlessly!! The only idea I got from Goher’s outfit was that when you get bored of your old curtains don’t throw them away, get a jacket made out of it.
Hasnain Lehri
It looks like he got struck by meteorite shower when he was on his way to LSA. It is good that he got the award based on his talent because he must’ve put the jury in jeopardy if they had to award him based on his sense of styling.
Amna Babar
Do I need to say more? Isn’t the image self explanatory?
Mawra Hocane
Can someone please tell Mawra Hocane that dressing up like a Disney princess and carrying a carriage around (the purse!) won’t guarantee that her prince charming will come looking for her with a glass slipper which will fit only her!
Aamina Sheikh
Aamina Sheikh usually looks gorgeous on awards functions but this time her hair and make-up is so messed up that it looks like she ran to the venue!! I found this on Instagram and couldn’t agree more!!
Sadaf Kanwal
Sadaf Kanwal should know that you can look nice without revealing your body! I would love to see her in a classy gown which does not show her legs, for a change.
Mahira Khan
Mahira Khan is on this list simply because her dress did not leave much to the imagination! Her make-up and styling is perfect but I expected better from someone like Mahira Khan! I know she has worked hard to loose all this weight but she would have looked equally great if she wore something less revealing and more chic.
Quratulain Baloch
I am all for wavy hair but this isn’t even a proper hairdo especially when you are going for a formal wear. QB’s look is a weird combination of formal and too casual, even messy! She looks like a character from Adam’s family!
Nadia Hussein
She is a make-up artist and a model yet her look is all wrong. Her face has nothing but highlighter and her dress is all shimmery. What was Nadia Hussein thinking?
Lux Style Awards are all about acknowledging the work of all those talented individuals who work hard all through the year to give the entertainment and the fashion industry their best. These awards are also a time for celebrities to showcase their dressing sense because this is the time when they get to show just how much style they have. All the celebrities always choose their favorite designer, stylist and make-up artist for the job but not all of them always get it right even with all this homework. This year at LSA many celebrities wore black, which made us wish that we saw more color on the red carpet. There were a few who looked stylish and chic on the occasion.
Here is a list of those celebrities who looked stunning on the Lux Style Awards 2017:
Sanam Saeed
Sanam Saeed is known to be one such celebrity that doesn’t put a lot of effort in makeup and hair styling, be it in her dramas or her TV appearances, but this time around, it is evident that Sanam Saeed not only put in the effort but carried the overall look with a lot of comfort and confidence as well. Dressed in monotones, with simple hairstyle and minimal accessories to dress herself up, Sanam Saeed surely looked her best at LSA Event.
Atif Aslam and Sara Bharwana
Atif Aslam and Sara Bharwana always look great together no matter what function they are attending. This time too their color combinations and styling which was simple but appealing at the same time made them look effortlessly chic. They compliment each other.
Sunita Marshal
Sunita Marshal happened to be one such celebrity that broke the monotony of black theme that every other celebrity was sporting this year at LSA. Sunita’s elegance made her vibrant dress work and she carried it with a lot of confidence as well. Sunita also sported a very simple and minimalist styling to go with her dress making it seem like a statement within itself.
Faysal Qureshi and Sana Qureshi
What a charming couple, looking at them it is easy to tell that these two thought things through before getting their outfits designed. The red, black and gold combination adds the right colors to the base color. We love Faysal Qureshi’s sunglasses because they give him a trendy look.
Tooba Siddique
Amidst all the celebrities who wore black at LSA this year, Tooba Siddique surely made it work. Loose Hollywood curls tucked at one side, smokey black eyes and a dress that accentuated her physique in a most appropriate manner seemed flattering on her making her look stylish and elegant.
Syra Yusef
Syra Yusef does not need a lot of styling and make-up to look attractive. This beautiful dress is enough to make her stand out and she looks elegant in the straight hair and make-up which isn’t too loud. The outfit is especially pretty and looks good on her.
Mehreen Saeed
Mehreen Saeed is another celebrity who wore a black outfit and stood out from the rest of the crowd because of the way she carried herself. Even though her dress is quite simple, the way she glammed herself up with a bit of a backcombing and loose curls that dangled over her shoulders added a lot of grace to her overall look.
Zahid Ahmed
Zahid Ahmed looked handsome in a tuxedo. Since the viewers do not get to see him in this look very often in dramas so this formal look is brand new. There aren’t a lot of men who can carry a tuxedo the way he is.
Humayun Saeed
No one looks as handsome in black as Humayun Saeed. He carries a simple outfit with grace and looks effortlessly handsome. He proves that you don’t always need a jacket to look utterly charming.
Every year, the prestigious Lux Style Awards celebrate the best of the entertainment fraternity with a star-studded event, full of glamour. So, for all those who were anxiously waiting for the results, here are the winners of the Lux Style Awards 2017.
Ohkay so, based on a Farhat Ishtiyaq novel ‘Wo Yakeen Ka Naya Safar’, Yakeen Ka Safar is produced by Momina Duraid Productions & is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri & from now on it will be airing on Wednesdays on Hum TV. The first episode gave us a glimpse into all the characters & their stories & they gave us just enough to understand all of the characters & their struggles. I must say, the very first episode was directed perfectly because it gave equal coverage to so many characters, it shows the clarity & the vision that the director had while directing this drama. The very first episode introduced us the story & character in such a manner that I am already looking forward to the next episode. I am sure it is going to be a ride & with the first episode being just so perfect, my hopes have skyrocketed already.
So, the first episodes showed us three scenarios in three different locations, where in 2 of those scenarios, they shed a light on the physical & emotional abuse that women were being subjected to. In Rab Nawaz Village, a school teacher named Noori (Suhai) was abducted & sadly, in stead of looking for her, her father blamed her for being too ambitious for wanting to educate the children of her village. In Karachi, they showed Zubiya (Sajal Ali) & her family mourning the loss of her mother (Fazila Qazi) & lastly, in Islamabad, they showed us a light-hearted scenario where two maternal cousins Daniyal (Shaz Khan) & Gaiti (Hira Mani) were getting married & their families were making the most of this happy occasion.
So, Daniyal & Gaiti got engaged 6 years ago but the very same day Daniyal left for London to pursue his education. He has returned as a lawyer & he acknowledges & appreciates the fact that Gaiti stood by him & gave him enough time just when he was getting pressurized by his mother to come back & get married. Even though they didn’t show much about Gaiti but I loved how subtle her character seemed at this stage because of which I felt I wanted to know more about her. Daniyal’s father Usman (Farhan Ali Agha) & Gaiti’s mother Durdana are siblings, that is why both the families seemed pretty happy with this family affair. It seems that Daniyal’s younger brother Asfand & Gaiti’s younger sister are engaged to be married as well but Asfand is not mature or settled enough to take the responsibility of a marriage at this stage. I liked the way they showed that both the brothers Daniyal & Asfand share a very strong bond, where Daniyal is protective of his younger brother & Asfand looks up to him.
In Rab Nawaz Village, even though the first impression that I got of Noori’s father was disturbing but seeing him shedding tears did make me feel for him. However, I felt that the helplessness that he was feeling was self-imposed because he just didn’t want to help himself & gave up because he wasn’t ready to face the world & take a stand for his daughter as deep down even he felt that she was at fault & she herself invited the trouble she was facing. Very subtly yet clearly they shed a light on how men in these type of settings deem education as a burden & don’t have the courage to stand up for their daughters due to their false pride that they cling onto as they are afraid of facing the world because of their own fears.
Zubiya lost her mother & it was her Khala Mehjabeen (Huma Nawab) that tried to console her as she could see that losing her mother took a toll on Zubiya. Very briefly they introduced us to the dysfunctional relationship that Zubiya’s father Khalil (Ehtashamuddin) & her mother shared. It looked like Khalil always subjected his wife to mental torture because of his conservativeness & didn’t give her enough freedom to even stay in touch with her family. Zubiya has an elder brother Rehan who is married to Sheema & they both have a son Haram.
Even though the promo of the next episode gave away everything but the moment I saw the uneasiness on Khalil & Zubiya’s faces when they both faced each other, it did make me feel that Khalil was uncomfortable about something & was trying to cover it up as if even he knew he was guilty of something. The way he put Mehjabeen down & reminded her of where she comes from spoke volumes about his personality. It is sad to see that Khalil is shown as a rigid religious man who only believes in performing the rituals but doesn’t actually understand the essence of the religion that he follows. Mehjabeen’s concern for her younger sister was heart-warming, like even though she knew that her sister suffered because of Khalil but she couldn’t say much, however she did find it odd that all of a sudden her sister passed away & her family was unable to give her a clear cut answer to what exactly happened to her.
The direction, camera work, editing, equal coverage of all the scenarios & characters made the first episode a treat to watch. All the actors performed phenomenally but for me, Sajal Ali stole the show, I actually felt for her a lot when she cried as she was missing her mother. Even though Fazila Qazi’s character got a very little coverage but it was enough to show how special of a bond she shared with her daughter & how important she was in her life. Where Khalil was a rigid, emotionally detached & conservative father, his wife made sure to shower her daughter with all the love to keep her distracted from something that was terribly wrong in her life. I can already see how all these stories will be linked in the future episodes & I can not wait to see the story unfold.
I must say Hira Mani looked absolutely beautiful. Shaz Khan fitted his role perfectly. Asfand & his fiancée got a little too much coverage for my liking but it seemed justified for now as obviously they had to keep things a bit light hearted considering this was the first episode. However, I did pick a little mistake, because in the beginning they made it clear that Daniyal’s parents were Gaiti’s Mamu Mami, whereas Asfand’s fiancée while speaking about his parents said Chacha Chachi chalay gaye or something like that. I feel especially in the first episode where everyone is figuring out who is related to whom, the director should’ve paid a bit more attention as these sort of mistakes can create a lot of misunderstand & confusion. Anyways, I must say I am impressed with the hard-work that was put in this episode & even though there was so much happening in this episode where they kept on switching between completely different situations, I didn’t find the editing choppy or the sequence haphazard. I will thank the director for giving us a very strong first episode of this drama. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Yakeen Ka Safar.
Keep Supporting,
Cheers, Zahra Mirza.
PS: Dear readers, please excuse me for a short review, as this is the best I could do considering how unwell I am. I will get back on track starting from next week & will give you guys the sort of a review this drama deserves. Also, since this drama is based on the novel, I am sure a lot of readers here must’ve read it, so I think I do have to impose the no spoiler alert policy once again because it just kills the charm of the drama for viewers like me who haven’t read the novel. I have seen that some readers deliberately discuss the novel, promos, OST’s & upcoming bits as the curiosity gets the better of them but I hope they will respect the no spoiler alert policy because I & I am sure quite lot of other viewers have not read the novel as well. Also, I haven’t watched any promos or even the OST as I know they can give away the entire story so I hope that will be respected too. Let’s just keep the discussions strictly about the episode that will be airing without making it all about the future happenings & please bear in mind that novel reading & drama watching are two completely different things. Last but definitely not the least, if I will spot anyone discussing future happenings of a drama based on what they have read in the novel, I will delete those comments because that’s the only option that I’ll be left with. Let’s enjoy this ride together & remember we are not reading the novel together, we’re watching a drama here. ;)
The most prestigious award ceremonies of Pakistan, the 16th Lux Style Awards are happening this very moment and we all are super excited to witness the resplendent ceremony. The pictures of the celebrities hitting the red carpet are emerging online, and we can’t help but wait for the whole show to air on our screens. So, to make the wait easier, here are a few pictures from the red carpet of the Lux Style Awards 2017.
