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Austin South Asian | November 2019
Pooja Sethi - First Asian Woman To Win Woman Of Color Leading Change YWCA Award By Sumaiya Malik
Pooja is an Attorney and Managing Partner of the Law Offices of Pooja Sethi, PLLC; Austin’s Asian American Quality of Life Initiative City Council Commissioner; Founder of the Charity South Asian Austin Moms; and a selected “Leader with a Heart” for the American Heart Association - Austin Policy Academy.
Pooja Sethi is the first Asian woman to win the Women of Color Leading Change Award 2019 from the YWCA. She was honored for her pro bono work with Immigrant women and children, especially those in our Austin area who are victims of assault and domestic violence at the hands of their partners. Pooja not only helps on their cases, but she leads the change in helping them find housing, jobs, and giving them a voice.
She worked with other City Leaders on the Institutional Racism & Systemic Inequities Task Force - City of Austin , drafting the Report that is on the City of Austin homepage. Pooja also serves on the Policy Committee of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, is a mentor for The New Philanthropists, and is working with the Women’s March on Texas 2020. Sethi is a strong voice that is respected by so many, including lo-
cal Congressmen, City Leaders, and business owners. YWCA Greater Austin is a nonprofit in the Greater Austin area that works to eliminate racism and empower women through programs that address three key areas; the health and safety of women and girls, economic empowerment and advancement, and racial justice and civil rights. You can find out more about the YWCA and support their work at https://www.ywcaaustin.org/.
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AADI Brings Pakistani Film Parey Hut Love To Austin By Sumaiya Malik On Friday, October 18, Pakistani film Parey Hut Love, an Asim Raza film, starring Maya Ali, Sheheryar Munawar, Nadeem Baig, Hina Dilpazeer, Ahmed Ali Butt, Fariha Altaf and Rachel Viccaji was screened at the South West Theaters on Lake Creek Pkwy in Austin in front of a full house.
The two fall in love that night while exploring the city, but when Sheharyar does not return her texts, she painfully moves on.
audience and after movie conversation revolved around the narration, as did the acting of Ahmed Ali Butt and Hina Dilpazeer.
“By the time he changes his mind, it’s too late and Saniya, though hurt, has moved on – but all is not as it seems,” adds Bari.
Bangladeshi American Austinites Mr. Matiur Rahman and his wife Luthfa Rahman Rumi enjoyed the film. They are avid followers of AADI.
The movie viewing was the result of untiring effort of Austin Arts and Drama Initiative, a group of like-minded Austinites who have established a name as a platform promoting the the arts.
Six catchy songs make the colorful plot even more entertaining. Hadiqa Kiyani, Hardeep Kaur, Zeb Bangash, and Rahat Fateh Ali are well known maestros in their fields and need no introduction. Ik Pal by Hadiqa Kiyani has 2 million views on Youtube!
Parey Hut Love is an all out entertainer with star cast and special appearances of Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan. While the film has played in major cities in the US, it did not come to Austin.
Parey Hut Love has received mixed reviews, but the movie has generated so much interest that regardless of reviews, people who understand the language have gone out of their way to see it at least once.
That is when AADI decided to bring this blockbuster hit to our city. B4U, the distributor of the movie, played a role in making this happen.
The beauty of Mahira Khan and the story has mesmerized the audience. Her character is part of the climax and she renders full justice to it stealing the show with her natural acting.
The movie began with whistles and claps from a mixed audience. AADI saw people of Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi origin. AADI followers from Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville and
Lakeway, were part of a full house with people searching for single seats left in between. “Based loosely on the classic romcom Four Weddings and a Funeral, Asim Raza’s second feature, Parey Hut love makes for a lighthearted and funny Eid watch,” wrote
Mahnoor Bari in Pakistani newspaper Dawn. She adds a bit about the plot saying that Sheharyar is a reluctant participant in his cousin Natasha’s wedding where he runs into Saniya (Maya Ali) who is visiting Pakistan from Turkey after many years.
Nadeem Baig is a natural. “Humesha Dair Kar Deta Hoon Main” – an original poem by well-known poet Munir Niazi in Nadeem’s voice was a moment of reflection for the
Longtime Austinite, Nuzhat Latif said, “I think it is always good to patronize our industry and encourage these events so they happen more often.” Animon Jose, who is heading the upcoming Indie Meme film festival (April 2 to 4, 2020), also enjoyed the film. Pakistani cinema has undergone a transformation ever since the heavy taxation on the movie industry in Pakistan has been reduced. Films like Waar and Bol were so good that the people started waiting for Pakistani films to come on DVD so they could watch them in USA. Many Pakistani films are now available on Netflix. Parey Hut Love was made possible with help from sponsors like Zaviya Grill, Indie Meme, BBQ Inn and Royal Chenab.