BOL NEWSPAPER | July 10 2022

Why is this Eid ul Azha important for local films?

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If this scenario doesn’t seem alien to you, then it’s because a similar thing happened a couple of months back when the producers of Chakkar, Parde Mein Rehne Do, and Dum Mastam blamed the exhibitors (cinema people) for not giving importance to their films, and instead opting for Doctor Strange that released on what went onto become the fourth day of Eid. The makers of the fourth film Ghabrana Nahi Hai didn’t opt for the blame game because one of the cinemas was behind it as the financer recently crossed Rs15 crore at the box office, and showed to the rest that blaming others for your failure isn’t always the best idea.

So how will the film industry and the cinema industry in Pakistan (both are separate entities) fare during what is usually the most profitable period of the year for filmmakers? Will they go boom, or bust, depends on how smartly they play the game. Whoever doesn’t take the audience for the ride, doesn’t blame the exhibitors, and keeps making timely decisions will win the race, and no one (not even the God of Thunder) would be able to stop them from doing well at the box office.

If you look at the highest-grossing films Pakistan has produced since its inception, four out of the top five films were released on Eid-ul-Azha. Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 1 & 2 were released in 2015, and 2018 while Punjab Nahi Jaungi came in 2017. While JPNA 1 nearly missed the 50-crore mark by a little margin, JPNA 2 earned Rs70 crores worldwide, followed by PNJ at nearly Rs52 crores. Parwaaz Hai Junoon which was also released alongside JPNA 2 managed Rs43 crores while Teefa inTrouble remains the only non-Eid film to cross Rs50 crores. It would be interesting to know that TIT was also released a couple of weeks before Eid-ul-Azha and benefitted from being in the cinemas during the festive season. Hence proven, this period is without any doubt the most successful period for both the film and the cinema industry in Pakistan. The film industry represents the producers, the directors, the actors, and the crew that complete the film without any government support, while the cinema industry represents the film distributors, the exhibitors, and the many people associated with the working of the cinemas. But recently, the film industry people haven’t been as smart as the cinema folks, and in the last five years before the pandemic, they have released multiple films in cinemas without realizing that it will not do any favors to anyone. The more films, the less the business, and the fewer the business, the bigger the trouble for cinema and its survival in the country.

Is this year’s Eid-ul-Azha going to be different than the earlier Eid ul Fitr?

During the last 70-odd years, Pakistani cinemas have screened all kinds of films including Urdu films, films made in regional languages, and the savior of Pakistani cinema –films from Hollywood. However, for the first time in seven decades, local filmmakers decided to challenge the supremacy of Hollywood and took the exhibitors to court for giving more shows to the in-demand Doctor Strange and the Multiverse

of Madness instead of their own Eid releases. When the cinema owners didn’t budge the filmmakers took them to court and the matter is now being fought in the court of law.

Despite all that off-screen drama, two of the biggest filmmakers in the country (not the ones associated with the case!) Nadeem Baig and Nabeel Qureshi decided to bring their bigbudget films London Nahi Jaunga and Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad to the screens and the audience marked their calendars for these potential blockbusters. Enters horror-comedy Lafangey featuring Sami Khan and Nazish Jehangir and the two-film race became a three-film race, limiting the success ratio of all three productions considerably.

The same thing happened in what can now be termed as the last Eid ul Azha before the pandemic where Nadeem Baig’s Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, Nabeel Qureshi’s Load Wedding, and Haseeb Hasan’s released on the same day. Two of them went onto cross Rs40 crores at the box office, while Load Wedding went on to become the first failure of the Nabeel – Fizza team.

Add to that equation the names of worldwide box office leaders Top Gun – Maverick, Jurassic World –Dominion, and Elvis which are still running in cinema and the audience can have a wide range of films to choose from. It might be healthy for the cinema industry but not for the local filmmakers who have to share the 140-odd cinema screens in Pakistan. According to experts, the local filmmakers will continue to face this dilemma until the number of screens is increased considerably, and even though the government has come up with a friendly film policy, it will take time to improve the current situation.

Will this Eid prove to be Clash of the Titans for Pakistani cinema?

Just imagine the scene before going into lamenting mode. Had the number of cinemas all over Pakistan been over 1500, the local filmmakers could have screened three films comfortably without worrying

about the Hollywood movies that might also be released around the same time. However, with less than 150 screens across the country (including both malls and singlescreen cinemas) the idea of ‘more the merrier’ falls flat when it comes to Pakistan. It’s more like ‘survival of the fittest’ than anything else, and in such a case, films that are well-made, with good songs and feature popular actors in the lead will take the lead.

Both London Nahi Jaunga and Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad comprise well-known actors who have hits to their names, and their promotions are going full throttle. The only thing that gives Lafangey an edge is that their budget is relatively less than these two flicks and they don’t need to make huge amounts of money to recover their costs. Not having a successful film actor in the lead (Sami Khan is a great actor, but he has just a couple of hits to his name in over 18 years!) is their biggest drawback.

On the other hand, both Humayun Saeed and Fahad Mustafa have done well at the box office; they both were a part of the highest-grossing film ever made in Pakistan – JPNA 2 – while the former features in as many as five films (four as a leading man!) amongst the top 10 successful Pakistani films. Even Mehwish Hayat who will be returning to the screen after four years is part of four highest-grossing Pakistani films, playing the main lead in three of them.

Will three Urdu films be able to compete with the God of Thunder?

Instead of thanking Hollywood for

churning out hits after hits that run the Pakistani cinema when local films aren’t being screened, our producers choose to blame them for their failures. Yes, they might have a point here because in a few cases, it was learned that cinema owners refunded tickets of a Pakistani film that didn’t have a half-full show and replaced it with a Hollywood flick that would guarantee them a houseful show, hence more money but taking them to court was never going to ease the tension.

Where were the Pakistani filmmakers when Avengers: Endgame was the only film running successfully across the country with tickets being purchased in black? Weren’t they happy when Spider-Man: No Way Home was bringing people back to cinemas after multiple Pakistani films weren’t able to do so? Instead of releasing their films in such a way that a Pakistani film comes out every two weeks, they choose to release multiple films simultaneously and then blame the very people who have a cinema to run, so that their next film can also see the light of the day.

As for the competition with Thor: Love and Thunder, people who love Hollywood flicks and superhero flicks will throng the cinemas for their favorite hero, even if it is competing against a dozen Pakistani films. The target audience of Thor: Love and Thunder are youngsters whereas London Nahi Jaunga and Quaid-eAzam Zindabad are targeted at mature audiences, who used to be teens a decade back. Yes, some teenagers would love to see Humayun Saeed, Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat, Kubra Khan, and Mahira Khan in

action,

Is Pakistani cinema still in the revival mode or survival mode?

The million-dollar question that arises in an average Pakistanis mind is –are we still in the revival mode? The answer to that question is negative because we were reviving when Na Maloom Afraad came out eight years back. Back then, filmmakers were not making many local films and cinegoers were preferring Bollywood and Hollywood to Pakistan. The game, however, has changed considerably, first due to the arrival of OTT platforms and secondly due to the pandemic that has made people change their priorities.

Pre-pandemic cinema was considered a necessity while now it is considered a luxury since the cinema owners keep raising prices to maintain their expenses. Back in the day, people accepted a bad film and moved on but today, one bad film will not only be rejected but also stop people from coming to cinemas until they are sure that they will get their money’s worth. From 'reviving cinemas', the scenario has changed to 'surviving pandemic', with cinema not being the top priority for many. Until and unless the cinema industry realizes that its survival depends on cinegoers rather than making profits, things will not improve. Who knows, it might be on the verge of extinction the next time Eid-ul-Azha arrives in the country, and everyone would be responsible if God forbid that happens.

Despite the chaos of Last Eid, where three out of four Urdu films were unable to recover their finances, Pakistani producers are back to square one this Eid ul Azha. As many as three Urdu films – London Nahi Jaunga Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and Lafangey will be released simultaneously this Eid-ul-Azha and will have to battle it out with many international flicks, including Minions – The Rise of Gru and Thor: Love and Thunder which would also be running in cinemas.

but for them, the ‘God of Thunder’ is who they will trust for success, before buying a ticket for a local film.

Omair Alavi

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Minions – The Rise of Gru serves multiple purposes with its delayed release; not only does it entertain the young and the old alike, but it also bridges the gap between two franchises – Despicable Me and Minions Firstly, it is the sequel to Minions which came out in 2015, and takes the audience back to the time when Gru was just hoping to become a supervillain, and secondly, it presents Gru’s origin story to the audience who didn’t know many things about him. Since the plot, the execution, and the Minions aren’t limited to any specific age group, Minions – The Rise of Gru is a good, one-time affair.

The Plot

In the mid-1970s, a few years after the Minions saved the British monarchy, they are serving their new mini-boss Gru. However, when an opening arises in the criminal organization Vicious 6, Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) decides to apply, hoping that they would recruit him as their newest member. When the supervillains make fun of his age and height, Gru steals a necklace of gems called The Zodiac Stones and runs away. What he doesn’t know is that the founder (and former member of Vicious 6) Wild Knuckles (voiced by the wonderful Alan Arkin) is also in search of The Zodiac Stones since he was the one who found it, only to be removed from the gang, and left for the dead. While Gru is on the run from the Vicious 6 (voiced by Taraji P. Henson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, and Danny Trejo), he entrusts the most talkative Minion Otto with the precious stone, who trades it for a children’s toy on the way to the Headquarters. Will the Vicious 6 get their hands on The Zodiac Stones that will grant them superpowers on the eve of the Chinese New Year or will Gru save the day by finding the magical necklace and earning his place in the gang of supervillains, watch Minions – The Rise of Gru to find out.

The Good Pierre Coffin is again the star of the show since he voices all the Minions including the newest member of the tribe Otto. Steve Carrell returns to what he does best and as the young Gru, he shows that

he has all the qualities to become a supervillain, at that young age. Add to the equation his careless mother (voiced by the fascinating Julie Andrews) and Gru’s origin story is complete. Facing rejection from his mother who doesn’t care about his aspirations, Gru dreams of becoming a supervillain and is helped (or not helped) in his quest by the Minions!

The best thing about this installment is that the story races from the start to the end. Unlike the previous Minions flick where a lot of time was given to the origin story and less to the mission, here the mission takes the front seat and so do the players who feature in it. The story also takes place in multiple locations with one Minion riding all the way into the desert to recover The Zodiac Stones, the others fly to San Francisco to rescue Gru, who was held by the bad guys (not the Vicious 6) who wanted him to tell them about the stone.

Since the story takes place in the 1970s, everything from that era including ‘disco music’, ‘Jaws’, and kung fu make an appearance here and while Michelle Yeoh’s character Master Chow delivers a powerful-yet-brief performance, the audience takes back to the 70s’ touch with them when they exit the theatre.

The Bad Minions: The Rise of Gru doesn’t come out as a sequel or a prequel, but is more like a TV movie without which nothing would have changed. Except for the first meeting with his future collaborator Dr. Nefario (voiced by Russell Brand) this film does nothing to the franchise. It takes place eight years after Gru met the Minions for the first time in London, but there

is hardly any mention of the first adventure in this film. Also, how the Minions spent the time before meeting Gru at his house isn’t given much thought either. The worst thing about this flick is that the vicious villains don’t get the amount of time their stature demands. There is JeanClaude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren in the cast but you don’t ‘hear’ them much.

Similarly, Taraji P. Henson seems to be doing most of the talking as Lucy Lawless and Danny Trejo are reduced to supporting roles. Also, the minions commandeering a passenger airplane might make the kids laugh, but 'where were the real pilots' remains a mystery. Yes, the film is supposed to be ridiculous, but sometimes ridiculous can be done in a better manner.

The Verdict: 3/5

Minions – The Rise of Gru might serve as another film in the Despicable Me franchise but it certainly isn’t the best in the series. From start till finish, it is confusing about who is the protagonist here – Minions or Gru. If it’s the former then they should have done more and if it was the latter, then he should have done more.

Directed by Kyle Balda, the film lacks the ‘wow’ factor and doesn’t stand out like its predecessors or successors. The jokes seem to be more related to the era the story takes place in but kids of today who believe that 2002 was ancient, will not be able to relate to the 1970s at all. Its biggest achievement is that it helps both kids and adults to escape from their monotonous lives but with a little more effort, it could have emerged as the winner in a race where the winner sets the bar high with every victory.

The

This is a harsh truth that Strings the band is not together anymore, yet fans of both the singers, Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, thrive for their songs. Keeping that in mind, FK and BM are releasing quitter catchy songs lately which is gradually lessening the sadness of the fans that they had when the band parted ways.

The recently released song by Bilal Maqsood titled Zalima is his second single after Naya Naya. The song is directed by Umair Anwar which has catchy lyrics which are floating around the singer while he is driving. The graphics, artistic background and colours and contrast are quite engaging. Bilal released Zalima on Youtube with a caption: “Aap ka milaya hooa number filhaal bundd hai! [The number you’re dialing is currently switched off!]”.

Co-written by Ali Abbas Naqvi and Basit Naqvi and directed by Bilal Atif Khan, Bhoot Bakra is a horror-comedy which will be on-airing this Eid-ul-Azha. Gul e Rana, and others will be playing alongside Neelam Muneer and Syed Jibran in the main lead.

trailer suggests that the house members have supernatural activities in the house which ended up scaring them and they start doubting the house as a spooky or a haunted place. However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that the house is not haunted but there is something wrong with the goat which is being brought for the sacrifice purpose. Here is when Syed Jibran says “There is no ghost in the house, it is the goat.”

Mohammad Ali Naqvi, a renowned Pakistani-American filmmaker, was invited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science to become a member of the Oscars under the category of Documentaries.

Nearly 400 members were invited by the Academy and Mohammad Ali Naqvi from Pakistan is among them. He is already a member of the Television Academy (Emmys) and IDA (International Documentary Association) and has won many accolades including two Amnesty International Human Rights Awards and a Grand Prix from the United Nations Association Festival.

Naqvi has also served as the Co-Executive Producer of the Netflix Original Top 10 docuseries Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror.

The prequel to the Despicable Me franchise, and sequel to Minions is good, but could have been better!

By Sara Danial KARACHI

Reema Abbasi is a Pakistani journalist and a social commentator whose primary interest is covering the happenings around the country. She also takes close interest in culture, language and society. Having authored two books: Historic Temples in Pakistan: A Call to Conscience and Ajmer Sharif: Awakening of Sufism in South Asia, she is one the most renowned writers this nation has produced.

Sin: Stories by Wajida Tabassum, is a collection of short stories, translated from Urdu to English. Wajida Tabassum, who breathed her last in 2011, was an author of Indian origin, with writings based in Urdu fiction. Although her works entailed more than two dozen works, most of it was published quite later on, either in Urdu, or translated in English.

Life is extremely regressive in South Asia for most women, with a constant and fierce battle, internally as well as through external forces. Tabassum’s stories portray the lives of these women. She was known for her audacious and semi-erotic stories and her formidable power of storytelling. They emphasise women’s compliance and denial, focussing on the fact that “everything that is a sin to others is salvation to women.”

The book is segregated into four divisions, namely, Lust, Pride, Greed and Envy, each of them revolving around the dark, immoral elements of life, mainly built on the pedestal of seven ‘deadly sins’. These stories are corporeal accounts of envy and resentment, desire and spite, injustice and malice, and suppression and conformity. It helps to go beyond what is easily and conveniently called the circle of ‘virtue’. It explores what refuses women their right to possess the fundamental rudiments of nature, and denouncing them to a life of abstinence.

Tabassum’s stellar stories, along with her autobiographical account, explores and resurrects fearless portrayal of the realities of society, capturing riveting prose, the spectrum of depravity among Hyderabad’s aristocracy, middle class compulsions, blurred lines of decency and decorum, featuring protagonists who are not afraid to indulge in the primal.

The story Hor Uppar! was a contemporary of Ismat Chughtai’s Lihaf. In this story, standing progressively and holding a mirror to society, the begum rebels against

her devious husband who is involved in drunken sexual antics with the palace maids.

Brimming with contempt, she retaliates by ditching the gharara (a garment stitched between the thighs) for the roomier lehenga through which the hands of the young male masseuse, whom she appointed, are allowed to move past her knees during the massage.

It is a deeper probe into a woman’s agency, the absolute absence of any feeling of ‘sin’ for what she does with her body and for whom it will arch on her bedspread.

Lungi Kurta throws light on cold wrath and vengeance. In this tale, promises are woven around garments. Shabnam and Arshad Mian’s marriage begins well, until the mother-in-law informs the former about a family rule where she has to donate her wedding dress to the house help. She eventually finds herself caught — and then betrayed — by an exchange of clothes, which pushes all the wrong buttons.

Chhinaal and Larrki Bazaar are powerful societal extremes towards women, where Tabassum depicts the stench of nobility on its last legs as Independence dawned, with upcoming challenges faced by the elite and the taboos that accompanied it. The author also gives a peek into the murky corners of imagination as women adhere to their independence, boldness and imaginings.

The family in Nath Ka Ghuroor was in for the utmost surprise. New brides were bestowed with titles, such as Afshan Dulhan, Khubsoorat Dulhan, Heera Dulhan, even Moti Dulhan, according to their distinctive features. The protagonist is a young, passive Shakoo, Sharafat Dulhan. The new bride, who was born into a religious family and raised to submit, is troubled with an impotent husband, Nawab Wajahat. According to the Nawab, the nose ring, with five pearls and rubies, suggests that the woman is the keeper of the family’s honour, a symbol of respect. As we read further, we find the quiet girl resurrect into an authoritative figure, as she kicks down the shrine built in honour of family virtues. She takes to bed a male attendant, completely mindful of her physical needs and her noble stature. She blackmails the Nawab with the disclosure of his secret, her nose ring sparkling in the face of her husband who is wedged between betrayal and brilliance.

We see Rozi Ka Sawaa richly set against the backdrop of a sex district. It is as instinctive as it is desperate. The most tragic story Kaalay Baadal is an interpretation of a

couple’s greed for more money. The resolute possessiveness in wife’s deep love for her husband marks a terrible fate for their child.

It is a drama of discontent with intelligent charades of echoes and coinages. Dhanak Ke Rang Nahin also demonstrates envy which leads to marital strain and issues in family dynamics. Talaq, Talaq, Talaq is a depiction of realism and how it resonates with the dilemmas confronting South Asian women in today’s era and times.

Structurally placed in the centre of the book is Meri Kahani, where Wajida Tabassum writes about her own life from the time she was orphaned. Raised by her maternal grandmother, and with a flair for writing, she relays some of her most acute tragedies. Since most of her pieces were viewed in India as explosive, unorthodox and even impure, she was shunned by family and relatives, while the publishing houses were in a muck for giving her a voice. When her work was acknowledged far and wide, the same family, who had once spurned her, embraced her eventually.

All of Sin stories had women entering a household with the hope of achieving marital bliss, only to be staring at cracked mirrors – in the form of lascivious nawabs, societal conformities and conventions, lustful desires, cunning servants and unfulfilling marriages. Tabassum made sure to write rebellion into the aristocrats’ very ceremonial red brocades. A nonconforming iconoclast, and often referred to as the ‘female Manto’, she held little regard for rules and cultural policing. Although met with ruthless condemnation from the watchdogs of society, she dared to bare the naked truth about1950s’ Hyderabad’s oldworld aristocratic society.

Readers may consider Sin shocking, unapologetic, ruthless, almost brutal in its interpretation of the impotence, liberties, power structures, infidelity and desertion which brought the downfall of the Subcontinent’s nobility. Some stories, seemed recurring, reducing their singularity, and individual oomph factor. Abbasi has achieved to retain the essence in her translation. Translating Tabassum is not an easy job but Abbasi has managed this feat and a half as she remains loyal to the original language, not losing out on what was too good to leave behind, particularly when one strives to integrate socio-political issues, cultural taboos, and denunciation of everything erroneous with the social order in a more civilized manner.

By Bold Desk KARACHI

Karachi Biennale Trust (KBT) has announced Engro Corporation as the lead partner for the upcoming third Karachi Biennale (KB22) in October 2022.

On the momentous occasion of 75th anniversary of Pakistan, Engro and Karachi Biennale will pool their resources, experience and network, to expand their audience reach, particularly amongst the youth that constitutes a large part of the population. As the lead partner, Engro is contributing Rs 75 million for Karachi Biennale 2022.

Linking history with the future, the Karachi Biennale 2022 will take place from October this year at 8 venues in different parts of Karachi that are accessible to public audiences. The Biennale has invited local and international artists from 11 countries selected by the curator Faisal Anwar and his team. These artists will engage with heritage sites and explore the physical and cultural legacy of the city, with the latest and most innovative technology. Some of the venues are heritage sites that will open their doors for the first time.

Entrance to Karachi Biennale is free for the general public as the event looks forward to welcoming visitors for two weeks, packed with art exhibitions, performative works, guided tours, artist’s talks and workshops. With these immersive visual art experiences, the Biennale visitors will embark on a journey into tomorrow without losing sight of the past and present.

Expressing her thoughts about the partnership at the signing ceremony, Umber T.

Ansari – Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Engro Corporation, said “The partnership between Engro and Karachi Biennale is based on a shared vision of creating unforgettable experiences for the citizens of Karachi. The Biennale exhibition is about connecting with public and heritage spaces, providing an impetus to arts and culture, and a creative exchange of ideas by some of the best local and global talent.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan, we truly hope that the world-class interplay of arts and technology at the Karachi Biennale inspires positive energy and collective action from all citizens for a more prosperous Pakistan.”

According to Niilofur Farrukh, the Managing Trustee of Karachi Biennale Trust, “We are delighted to have this partnership with Engro Corporation as we share a strong belief in creating cultural opportunities for people. Public exhibitions of the Karachi Biennale connect art, the city and its people and this edition, with its focus on the works of leading national and international artists working with art and technology, is designed to engage the audience with futuristic ideas and innovation to celebrate 75 years of Pakistan. Engro Corporation joins us to present a spectacular Third Karachi Biennale in October/ November 2022.”

As a purpose-driven organisation committed to helping solve some of the most pressing issues of Pakistan, Engro Corporation recognises the positive role of arts, culture and sports in shaping the society.

For more than 50 years, the Group has been actively involved in community impact projects that promote youth development, excellence in sports, education and health.

religious festival

By Kayenat Kalam KARACHI

As we are nearing the 10th day of Zil Hajj, the Muslim pilgrims from across the world have once again gathered to simultaneously perform the rites of Hajj, followed by the sacred act of Qurbani (animal sacrifice) to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's trials, sacrifice and his devotion to Allah.

Being one of the two major festivals in Islam, Eid-ul-Azha, locally known as the “Bari Eid” or “Bakra Eid”, holds a very special place in our lives as this occasion is all about thanking Allah for his blessings, sharing meat, love, and care with those around us. While for men, it’s all about traveling back and forth to “Cow Mandi” and taking care of the sacrificial animals, ladies out there struggle to find the perfect new outfit to wear on Eid as the family gathers up to have special dishes and bbq nights.

However, with the exception of a few, the way of celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha has evolved over time and varies from country to country. From the inclusion of social media to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on our lifestyle, here is how Eid-ul-Azha celebrations have changed over time.

Bangles, henna & dressing up

Gone are the days when we all used to “doll up” for three days straight on Eid. There was a time when Eid felt incomplete without henna and bangles and these two things used to be the main focus for the ladies on the eve of the 10th Zil Hajj. However, today, when both men and women are in the middle of a major shift in roles and expectations, life has become busier and most people don’t have time for these little things that made Eid-ul-Azha different from other days.

The pandemic and lockdown have further encouraged staying at home in your PJs and dressing up only for special events.

Eid gifts and meat

Where social media posts are the new hand-written Eid greeting cards, the online delivery app has transformed the way to send meat and Eid gifts to your loved ones. Where it comes in handy in situations when you do not have time or resources to personally meet everyone, sending gifts and meat via a carrier loses the personal touch which is an important essence of festivals like these. Still, it’s a great way to let your loved ones know they are in your thoughts in times like these.

Staying connected… virtually!

There is no denying the fact that social media has become an essential part of our life. Be it via Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or any other app, the virtual way to wish “Eid Mubarak” has taken over the mainstream ways of greeting each other on special occasions. Soon after the moon is sighted to mark the blessed days of Eid-ul-Azha, people start sharing photos, quotes, and messages on their social platforms. It gives them a sense of staying connected with their circle even if they are physically unable to.

While social media has made it easy for those living far from their families to virtually stay connected at festivals like these, elderly people or those who don’t have access to technology may feel left out. Regardless of how social media has revolutionized our lifestyle, it cannot beat the heartwarming sense of just being there for each other and there is a void to be filled!

Dining out

The old-school way of cooking special meat dishes and having bbq nights still prevails, however, most people these days prefer to dine out and celebrate the holidays. In our society, where women spend most of their time in the kitchen cooking Eid delicacies, it’s a positive change to let everyone enjoy the holidays equally.

The post-Covid effects!

The SOPs we followed during the lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic have now become a regular part of our daily lives. Social distancing to avoid physical contact and crowds is one reason why most Eid-ul-Azha celebrations have slowed in the last couple of years. Where a large number of Muslims used to gather for Namaz-e-Eid Ijtima, which marks the beginning of Eid celebrations, we witnessed a massive decline in crowd attendance, especially in 2020. At the time when restaurants stopped accommodating dine-ins, people preferred to stay at home instead of getting together with their loved ones even on the occasion of Eid. Last year, the world tried to shift to its normal routine but once again, due to the resurgence of Covid cases during the second wave of the pandemic, it all went in vain.

Let’s see if we will get to witness and be a part of those heartwarming gatherings again because it seems that social distancing is the new way of hanging out now.

Regardless of the fact that Eid-ul-Azha celebrations have changed over time, the festival will continue to be one of the joyous occasions of the year and a reason to be there for each other.

By Isra Shams KARACHI

Eid-Ul-Azha, one of the most celebrated days among Muslims all over the globe, is almost here. However, unlike any other year, many of us now wonder if the celebration could be different this year, somewhat safer and hassle free, considering the mess and hard work this Eid requires from every household. But that does not mean we shouldn’t perform the holy sacrifice. Proper thought, caution and preparation is key. Just by maintaining some safe and easy practices during this Eid, you can ensure the safety of your loved ones and people around you, whilst celebrating the festive season without any hustle and hassle.

What you can do!

Go online

Given the current circumstances, we have now come about many other options rather than visiting the ‘Mandi’ and bargaining for hours and hours just to bring home the animal for holy purposes. Well, instead, we think this year you should opt for online services. Many vendors are now selling sacrificial animals online. This is a hassle free as well as safe way of buying your desired animal. Shopping online will also help you stay protected from the virus, it’ll save you the hours long bargaining and also be a convincing approach.

Limit yourself to the small cattle market

If you are hesitant about buying the animal online or don’t want to rely on just pictures or videos, then it is better to visit the small cattle markets in your area.

Rather than going to the big cattle markets in your city, one of the safe practices during this Eid could be visiting the closest one in your neighbourhood, also considering the rising cases of the pandemic. These approaches secure you from other unpleasant things and doings.

Avoid crowd during sacrifice

Given the uncertainty on the Covid-19 surge once again, it is best if you avoid crowd from building up across the place you’ve selected to sacrifice your animal. Choose a place which is open and not congested, be it inside the premises of your home. However, it would be wise to consult with your

Clean the cutting tools properly Usually the cutting tools that we use during Eidul-Azha are not used throughout the year. Thus it becomes a safe home for germs and bacteria. So before you go for the sacrifice, clean all the tools properly with disinfecting spray and then proceed. This is one of the most important practises to keep safe from any visit to the doctor later on.

Distribute the meat with precision

While maintaining hassle free practices during this Eid, many don’t provide much attention to the meat distribution. To avoid any inconvenience, pack the meat beforehand and remember to be cautious

while distributing. Infact, you can also take the help of delivery services to distribute the meat to your loved ones and yourself from this hassle.

Clean afterwards

It goes without saying that making sure the area is clean after the sacrifice is done is crucial even when the world is not undergoing a pandemic. So, this time around it could be one of the most significant things to keep in mind. You can take help from your neighbors or even call cleaning services to get it done for you. Also, also keep the kitchen clean too because from meat distribution to cooking, everything will be done from there.

Eid brings joy, Eid brings all of us closer together.

But with everything going on around the world, by following some of these safe practices can ensure that we all celebrate a happy Eid together.

neighbours and select a time and place when others won’t be performing the sacrifice so as to avoid the situation.

Know what this

is all about

By Kaukab Jahan KARACHI

The government of Pakistan is finally on its way to implement a much awaited and comprehensive film policy and to start with has announced special concessions for the restoration of the film industry in the recent budget.

It is to be mentioned here that in 2017, the then Minister of Information, Maryam Aurangzeb had designed a film policy after the consultations with the people related to the industry but before it could be announced the tenure of her government ended.

The salient features of these concessions are; waiving of withholding tax from exhibitors and distributors of which the ultimate beneficiary would be producer of the film, reductions on income tax, exemption of any kind of custom duty on importing equipment for filmmaking and cinema building. Moreover, after recognising film as an industry, banks would be more willing to provide loans to film makers and cinema owners. It also includes a Film Binding Fund, which will provide financial assistance to indie and upcoming film makers. To brand Pakistan a lucrative location for films, the foreign producers would be exempted from any kind of taxes if they shoot 70 per cent of their films in Pakistan.

The major stakeholders of the Pakistani film industry expressed their agreement on most of the concessions offered by the government and called them a step further for the betterment of industry.

Bold also reached out to Minister of Information, Maryum Aurengzeb to get her views on the policy announced by her ministry.

The Federal Minister was of the opinion that a workable film policy was much needed to show the brighter image of Pakistan. She said that Pakistan was about to vanish from the global cultural screen and the whole world

saw Pakistan as a country of political chaos, sit-ins and bomb blasts.

“If we want to tell the world positive stories from Pakistan, there is no better way than films”, she added that since the last 40 years, Pakistani cinema had been in doldrums and her government wanted to rebuild this entertainment opportunity for artists and as well as for people of this country.

The minister emphasised on the need of building single screen or low-cost cinema houses so the less-income group of the country could also avail this entertainment. She further said that there must be more cinemas opened country-wide that include both multiplexes and inexpensive structures.

Aurangzeb added that the new film policy also included the health insurance of artists to lessen the burden of healthcare from them.

In this regard, owner of Mandviwalla Cinemas, Nadeem Mandviwalla showed much of his satisfaction with the steps taken by the government for the improvement of film industry, but at the same time said it would be better if that policy had been announced in 2017 or 2018 when cinemas were flourishing and Bollywood films used to be screened here.

According to Mandviwalla, cinemas were already burdened with huge debt during the last two years of when cinemas were closed due to Covid, so in these situations, how one can think of building new cinema houses.

He added that in the difficult times of Covid, many countries including the USA helped a lot to save the cinema industry worldwide, otherwise many cinemas had been shut down by now.

He undoubtedly said that cinema needed films and it was a fact that in Pakistan Hollywood and Bollywood films generally do more business. “Before February 2019, when Bollywood was not banned in Pakistan, we used to import about 90 Indian films every year, so to fill this gap we would need to produce more films.”

He appreciated the lifting of withholding

tax. He further explained that before this act cinema owners used to cut eight to 10 per cent withholding tax before giving distributors their share and then distributors used to do the same, before handing the amount over to producers. “That practice had put producers in a very difficult situation, so waiving double taxation would make things better for the producers in the end,” he added.

The President of United Producers Association and Chairman of distribution company IMGC, Shaikh Amjad Rasheed said the film policy proposed in the recent budget was the result of their efforts which they started three to four years ago with the same minister Maryum Aurangzeb in her previous tenure.

Fizza Ali Meerza said that the most encouraging thing about this film

“It is a big win and the government should be appreciated for this”, she said.

She added that the clauses in the bill would make easier for producers the process of film making.

About the Film Binding Fund, Meerza was of the view that it would help a lot to women producers besides those indie producers, who are making films for the first time and need finance to finish it.

She also expected the government to explain in detail the privileges given in the bill and how the concerned people and entities could benefit from them.

The ace actor and producer Mahira Khan was much happy that at last, film and cinema were accepted as an industry.

Khan was of the view that artists always look up to the government for any kind of support and assistance. “Actually Pakistani films and actors are making waves across the globe that is why it is much needed now that we promote our industry in order to gain more following for our films.”

She considered tax relief policy an effective tool, which would support producers to make more quality work, especially those independent filmmakers whose films need a small budget.

“I myself am an independent producer never thought I would ever be able to make a film, but after the announcement of these concessions by the government, I have started considering why not go with a small budget film.”

Rasheed was much hopeful about this policy that for the very first time in the history of Pakistan, gave film a status of industry, which would make banks guaranteed in facilitating and providing loans and other benefits.

He also valued the allocation of 100 million rupees fund for filmmakers, as after the Covid, things had not been stable economically yet but at the same time, he also emphasized the need of announcing the modalities of this fund, and that the reserve should be handled by private sector and those who were not a beneficiary themselves.

Thirdly, he considered waiving the withholding tax (which varied from 16 to 20 per cent before) will benefit all the three components of the film industry, especially producers who faced maximum loss when they got money after deductions from cinema owners and distributors.

Sheikh also demanded to include Pakistani films in the export market, “Through TDAP there must be some export incentive given to Pakistani films. We face about 80 per cent loss if we take our films outside Pakistan. That is why most of the producers and distributors avoid taking this risk.”

He thought it was necessary to release Pakistani films worldwide as our local market size was not big enough to pay back the expenses spent on a film. In this regard, he suggested the government give some subsidy on the promotional and publicity budget of films released outside Pakistan. He was assured that he would make the government agree to sort it out as he was already in negotiations with them.

The celebrated film producer of Pakistan,

Actor and producer Fahad Mustafa was very optimistic about film policy and agreed that the government had announced it at the right time when some activity in the industry was finally resumed. However, he also thought that those steps should have been taken in 2017 or 2018, when our industry was flourishing in true sense, and that could pave the way for more aspiring producers and filmmakers to come forward.

The actor highly appreciated the five years tax holiday as he believed that it would help in removing the big burden from the shoulders of producers and also encourage new filmmakers to come forward.

Mustafa, though was of the view that those very important step must had been taken much earlier, but also agreed that even then, it would be very effective as after the Covid, cinema in Pakistan was still on a very dicey position; so these privileges for the industry will work in the benefit of the industry as a whole.

Javed Jabbar, the renowned media expert and former senator and Minister of Information, was adamant to censorship issues, also being a part of the film policy.

“I believe that instead of a censor board, we should use a name certification board, as has been adopted by many countries in the world.

The certification board would categorise the film like, ‘for adults only’ or ‘children with adults’ or ‘for universal exhibition’ or even ‘mainly for children with adults’ to serve its purpose.”

He explained the ‘certification’ was a better word in a democracy like Pakistan where despite all the conflicts the media was free to a certain extent. He added that the whole world is a free space now connected through social media, so it was better to issue certificates to the films rather than denouncing the right of freedom of expression by censoring the contents and banning the films to be released.

policy was giving filmmaking a status of industry.

If we want to tell the world positive stories from Pakistan, there is no better way than films.

Pakistani cinema has been in doldrums since the last 40 years but now the government wants to rebuild this industry

Minister of Information Maryum Aurengzeb

By Mubarra Yousuf KARACHI

Even though bangles may not still be made sea shell, agate or chalcedony, proving their age of many centuries old, they still hold on as ever- green trend that has no intentions of dying out any time soon. These delicate little circles have been adorning hands of women way before the existence of our separate country.

But just as any trend in the fashion world that has evolved and then evolved some more based on what proves to be aesthetically pleasing to the masses, the simple and traditional bangle has been through a similar evolution.

Shifting fashion trends

Pakistani fashion has been through a drastic change over the less couple decades, with fashion trends set on a rotation where the old is the current new, with the traditional bangles once again being all the rage right now. Gone are the bold prints and the over the top but still glamorous attire from our everyday wear hangers, and replaced with a new wave of solid coloured co-ord sets, perfect for any season, but one thing that has reemerged with full force thanks to the solids is the ability to throw open all your jewelry boxes and pair your outfits with a large variety of accessories, be it chunky or delicate and midst that we have definitely remained partial to the chooriyan.

By Isra Shams

With this major festive season upon us, it's time to bring out and dust off the usual decorations from the storeroom - not!

Eid is a very special occasion, not only because of its cultural and religious significance but the bliss that comes along with it. It is when friends and families come together to celebrate the blessings and create beautiful memories. So, if you’re ready to switch up your décor game (and impress your friends and family), here are 7 easy-peasy changes to make your home ‘Eid’ ready:

Get the colour scheme right

Chooriyan back in the day

Back in the day however these delicate, glass bangles held more of a cultural and traditional significance, worn by married women and taken as a sign of prosperity in one’s marriage, however this has slowly turned into accessory that no one is shy to style anymore.

A seemingly enddless collection

We have seen bangles of every shape, color and size, in materials such as glass to metal, they come in solid colors that are sold in virtually every shade imaginable, or you could go for the ones covered in glitter and sparkle every time the sun hits, or even ones made of precious metals and stones. These traditional accessories can be found in almost every store in every city across the country, with these “Choori” bazaars being particularly vibrant and busy during this time of the year, with Eid right around the corner. This is when people of all ages flood these bazaars looking for the perfect set of chooriyan to pair with their Eid outfit, with the endless selection never seeming to disappoint.

match

Mehendi and hooriyan - The perfect

No Eid is every complete without the smell of mehendi in the air, and hands and/or feet stained with beautiful, intricate mehendi patterns and nothing goes better with hands adorned with mehendi than arms stacked with chooriyan, so go get your old but classic pairing on.

TIP

If

Keep those abstract branch arrangements Maybe an effect of the DIY baking soda paint hack from last year, stone vases are here to stay. The most recently trending pieces are earthenware weathered vases, especially with long abstract branch arrangements. While we still love a great pampas branch, consider changing it up this fall with some foraged foliage from outside, or even some dried eucalyptus. To go with the weathered look, look for rustic wooden pieces and linen details.

Don’t be afraid of a little razzle dazzle Amp the celebrations with a hint of sparkle – think adorned lamps, shimmery table runners and sparkly ethnic hexagonal-patterned décor pieces. Do keep it simple though and choose only a few flashy pieces

Maya Ali Last Eid Maya Ali kept her outfit simple with a traditional yet contemporary ensemble, with the beautiful pairing of a white silk lehenga and a bright pink kameez adorned with gold embellishments and topped off with a matching organza dupatta. Lets not forget the chaand baliyaan and ofcourse the matching set of white and pink chooriyan stacked on both arms completing the look.

Rabab Hashim

Rabab sure knows how to ace every Eid outfit and did not disappoint with her matching lilac outfit complete with a net dupatta, all adorned in beautiful white embroidery. Rabab’s stacks of gold chooriyan are proof enough that a classic gold set of chooriyan can never go wrong and are the perfect fit for dressing up any outfit, especially during the upcoming Eid festivities.

Hania Amir Hania went bold as always with a matching shalwar kameez and net dupatta set of a deep emerald green shade and a bold red lip. The outfit was perfectly complimented with stacks of bright pink chooriyan with a simple and traditional “Gol Tikki” mehendi design (nothing beats the pairing of Mehendi and Chooriyan in my opinion) and a pair of gold jhumkas carrying the festive feel from head to toe.

Syra Yousuf

The adorable mother daughter duo of Syra Yousef and Nooreh spent Eid previously in simple yet elegant outfits of beige with cream prints and pink with gold lace detailing respectively. They paired those outfits with arms stacked with metal chooriyan complementing their outfits and this should definitely be your sign to match chooriyan with all the little ones in your life during this festive season.

you are a sucker for bangles but don’t necessarily enjoy the colour or the hassle of matching a new set of bangles to every outfit, a set of gold and silvered coloured ones will be your best friend, and will pair well with any outfit on any day. Metal chooriyan also tend to be the perfect choice for any age as they don’t with the risk of snapping off. At the end of the day wear whatever makes you comfortable enough to have a great time, it will probably be in style someday again anyways.

By Fariha Rashed ISLAMABAD

As a Universal form of expression, some form of body art through the use of ink, is practiced throughout the world by various cultures. Although a relatively more recent phenomenon here, tattooing has a presence in Pakistan as well. However, the origin of ‘tattoos’ and the meaning of the word itself is a mystery to most of us. Let’s shed some light on this. Tattooing is an ancient art, but the word ‘tattoo’ entered the English language only a few centuries ago and has two separate meanings, with differing origins. In present times, we usually refer to ‘tattoos’ as body art, which is a permanent mark or design on one’s body, made by depositing pigment beneath the surface of the skin. This origi-nates from Polynesian languages. However, less commonly, ‘tattoo’ also refers to a rhythmic tapping that was historically used to summon soldiers to their quarters. This originated in The Netherlands. Two words from completely different origins, converged into a single word in English - ‘tattoo’. It is believed that Captain James Cook first intro-duced these words into the English language in the mid-18th century after an expedi-tion to Tahiti where he witnessed beautiful body art on the locals.

It is incredible to see how different cultures around the world view tattooing. In many cultures they are seen as a symbol of purity, they can be a rite of passage, ensuring societal acceptance, they may be a means of being viewed as aesthetically pleasing or they may also represent a religious ritual. Japan and Egypt for example, used some tat-toos as protective symbols, while Samoa used certain tattoos to denote a person’s rank (Kearns). In America, in the big cities especially, the majority of people getting tattooed today, don’t attach any cultural meaning to their tattoos. Similarly, in Pakistan they are largely seen as a form of art and self expression. The social connotations.

While body piercings such as those for nose rings and earrings are widely seen and accepted in Pakistan, when it comes to tattooing, there is still controversy attached to this form of body art. The elite and upper middle class of the country seem to be quite open to tattooing. The question arises, is it a risk to get a tattoo in Pakistan? Duaa Sameer Malik, a 22 year old student and filmmaker from Lahore who took the bold decision to get a tattoo, doesn’t regret it for a minute.

“When I got my tattoo, I always knew that people would have opinions regarding it which would not be very pleas-ant to hear at times but it never affected me whatsoever. I believe that Allah is the great-est and the most merciful and no one else has the authority to decide for me.”, she ex-plains. According to Islamabad based rapper/ producer/ singer/ songwriter Mikail Murshed, the backlash you may face at home for getting tatted depends more on your background. “I don’t come from a very conservative background. I do come from a Mus-lim family but they aren’t the sort that will kick you out of the family or anything because you got a tattoo. It varies from person to person based on background. Mine is more lib-eral than most Pakistani people”, he says. Model Fatima Hira, hailing from Lahore, had to think about it a lot before getting tattooed as she feels most people in Pakistan are very conservative. “My family was chill about it so I got tattooed. It’s getting more and more common but even now at times I might have to cover my tattoos up in front of older people because of their views on them. With time that’ll probably change too”, she feels.

Sheroz John of Ink Grail Studio in Islamabad is a self taught artist and got connected with tattooing because of the style of art it represents and the interesting people he gets to meet through this line of work. He feels human beings have differing mindsets and if certain people look down on tattoos that is their personal perspective and think-ing, which is perfectly fine. “I don't force anybody to get a tattoo. Sometimes people come in with very eccentric ideas and I tell them straight out don't get that done, you don't need it. Tattoos also help in some medical cases where we can cover up scars, such as self harm scars and skin conditions”, he says. He believes that micro blading and scalping both follow the same process as tattooing because the same equipment is being used. “So if you look down on tattoos you should be looking down on all these things as well. People just don't trust the concept of tattoos and that makes no sense if they are ok with micro blading, scalping etc.”, says Sheroz John.

Tattoo Artist Zohaib Amjad is Owner of Pitch Black Ink in Lahore who in May 2010 left the Pakistan Army after serving for 5 years and took up tattooing as a profession. He inadvertently became a tattoo artist after the first and only tattoo artist to exist in Paki-stan back then, Naveed Saab, decided to retire. Zohaib felt it a responsibility to make sure the art does not die out here. Naveed Saab’s expertise was passed on to Zohaib who was trained by him. Zohaib believes that since the evolution of mobile technology, people have become more peaceful towards any controversy. “I personally never tried in my whole experience to convince anyone about tattoos because I have always been a part of the lot who wanted to get tattoos. I simply share the philosophy of tattooing with them on a personal level. I respect everyone's opinion and what I have found is that a large number of people here in our country like tattoos. It’s all due to the availability of social media”, he explains.

But why get them?

There’s a psychological angle to all this. According to practicing therapist Sakib Chish-ti, when people get tattoos, it in a way gives them a voice because their tattoos communicate on their behalf without them having to actually speak. “These people I be-lieve want some kind of attention and may also lack confidence in daily life”, he ex-plains. On the other hand some people have certain memories attached with their tat-toos which give meaning to their body art. Sakib feels at times people may also get ad-dicted to the pain associated with getting tattoos and like inflicting that pain on them-selves as a form of self harm. “When people get their whole bodies tattooed it may be because they faced some sort of body

shaming and their tattoos become a camouflage of sorts for them, which they hide behind”, says Sakib. This concept can be compared with people who do a lot of make up to hide behind a ‘mask’.They don't want people to see the real them. People with low esteem may get tattoos to feel more confident and look cooler to the outside world. Some kids may use getting tattooed as a form of rebel-lion against limitations placed on them by society, parents or the like. Not everyone who gets tattoos falls under the above mentioned psychological rational-ization though. For Duaa Sameer Malik her cat tattoo is close to her heart as she loves animals, especially her cat. “Cats represent resilience. I sketched my tattoo specifically keeping in mind the love I have for my cat. I made roses around the cat’s face which rep-resent beauty and nature”, she says. For Mikail Murshed tattoos have always resonated with him from an artistic point of view, depending on the style. “There are a lot of art styles which I don't like. I don’t like colored tattoos, I like black and grey”, he clears. As far back as Mikail can remember he has always wanted a tattoo. “For me it’s an artistic kind of thing. I like the idea of body art. My tattoo does have a significant meaning to me. I think in this day and age it’s so much more common to have a tattoo that doesn’t have to be super meaningful. You can just get a tattoo with no meaning”, he says.

Mikail’s arm tattoo carries a beautiful message. “My favorite cartoon growing up was Sword in the Stone. I love Arthurian legend generally. This tattoo signifies the sword be-ing in the stone. It signifies the struggle of this kid Arthur who thought he wasn’t worth an-ything. Everyone’s trying to pull the sword out of the stone so they are hailed as the right-ful king. All of a sudden came Arthur, someone who has been told that he isn't anything, that he doesn’t have what it takes and has major confidence issues. He manages to take the sword out and therefore he is King”, recounts Mikail. Moral of the story: one’s inter-nal dialogue and self talk might be a little negative at times and people might not be-lieve in you, but that doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. Believe in yourself!

All the tattoos on Zohaib Amjad’s body are not only meaningful but depict his life jour-ney and all he has endured. “One example is, when I completed my personal, spiritual, Sufi journey, I got a whirling dervish tattoo”, he says. Following his spiritual experience Zohaib’s perspective on tattooing totally shifted as he learnt about the law of energies and about the soul. It led to a shift altogether in his tattoo work and design. His famous saying is, "I tattoo your soul onto your body". Now he spends some time reading the cli-ent’s soul aura to see if the design they want to get, is aligned with their soul. “If not, I refer them to other artists who do all kinds of commercial work. For me now tattooing is completely a spiritual transfer of energy, in design form”, he says. Zohaib feels in other countries people get a lot of meaningless designs because they want to cover up their bodies with ink. They want full arms and full backs etc. covered. Here in Pakistan peo-ple prefer to get less tattoos and usually small ones so they want them to be meaning-ful and have a philosophy behind them.

You do know it’s permanent, right?

Tattoos are permanent body art, which will last you a lifetime. Bypassing the first layer of skin (epidermis) ink is injected into the second layer of skin (dermis) and after about a week of healing, a new layer of top skin appears over the tattoo, which is now techni-cally present inside your skin. “I think when you have a piece of art on your body and you look at it everyday you kind of get attached to it and if one day I feel like my tattoos don’t resonate with me anymore, they will still hold nostalgic value for me and will re-mind me how much I’ve grown/changed as a person”, says Fatima Hira.

The majority of people getting tattoos in Pakistan right now fall within the age group of 23 to 35, according to Sheroz John. “A good age to get a tattoo done is actually above 25 as you are focused in life, confident and clear about your career path. This is when you will know that you can handle getting a permanent tattoo. People who come in for tattoos have ideas which they want to express through art, which could be a design, a saying, a motivational word, or anything they resonate with. People also dedicate tattoos to their loved ones”, says Sheroz.

Yup! It’s Safe

Getting a tattoo is completely safe today. “The tattoo supply industry has grown so big that we now get all equipment used for tattooing easily. Everything is disposable and used only once on a client. The inks are made of plant pigments and are fit for use on human skin, so it's completely safe”, reassures Zohaib Amjad.

The practice of local tattooing in Pakistan has actually been around since thousands of years at Festivals (Mela) and at Shrines (Darbars). “Those tattoo artists have been using dollar ink for tattooing (not recommended at all!) and no one ever got infected. This is an extreme example but just to show that overall tattoos are completely safe”, re-veals Zohaib.

Zohaib adds that it is pertinent to mention that as per official statistics, till date there seems to be no case of disease in the USA from tattooing.

Growth potential as a business

“Tattooing is growing like a fire in the woods. It is a very reliable profession and there are a large number of people (clients) who are getting tattoos in Pakistan now. My prediction was that the tattoo trend will grow after 5 years, but to my surprise it has already begun!”, beams Zohaib Amjad. Sheroz John feels tattooing is doing well as a business now more than is was before, as there is more awareness about it and more people are open to getting tattooed in Pakistan.

The flip side

Of course there’s a flip side where religious scholars proclaim that tattoos are forbidden in Islam for the simple reason that one should not want to alter God's creation. Also, the intentional infliction of pain on the body is prohibited, thus many consider tattoos and even piercings out of the question. However, many devout Muslims determine tattoos completely fine and go ahead with their own. It is a personal choice at the end of the day.

By Danya Ali KARACHI

makes it through. Here are four vital tips to help you prepare for a storm.

If you live in Karachi, you might be in danger right now as it's time for intense thunderstorms and power outages.

On top of that, worrying about water leaks and property damage can make you go crazy. But with these tips, you will have a relaxed and good night's sleep even as the skies pour.

4 Tips to protect your home from stormy weather

Instead of panicking afterward and spending a lot more to overcome damages, it's better that you start today. Whether windy, snowy, or rainy, having everything in check

1. Clear the gutters

Clogged drains can become even more challenging during rainy or windy times. If your gutters are frequently blocked, you should check for the causes. It may be due to debris from your roof that is gathering up.

Also, did you know that stormy weather can cause even more debris and sediments to enter your gutter? You must have clear gutters before the stormy season to avoid further blockages.

2. Trim the plantation

Tress and even smaller plants around your home can be significant threats to your home. An effective way to protect your home in stormy weather is by trimming the plantation. You can check

for old trees with weak roots. These roots face higher chances of falling due to high winds and damaging your roofs.

Bad weather means everything is unpredictable. That is why you must minimize the risk of trees or branches falling near your roof. Even a few tree trunks you thought were harmless can destroy your home's windows or doors. Therefore, it's best to maintain a distance of at least seven feet between your roof and tree trunks. That way, even if your trees or a few limbs end up falling, they don't crack your roofing and pile up debris and leaves.

3. Regular roof maintenance

You can never stress enough about regular roof repairs. Roof maintenance helps you identify roofing issues that you may have overlooked till now. That is the best way to prepare your roof for a storm and every possible intense weather.

Bytes

By Isra Shams KARACHI

Every year, the question of how to handle the meat of sacrificed animals, be it from a cow, sheep or goat, for Qurban Bayram, aka Eid al-Azha or the Feast of Sacrifice, comes to the forefront once again.

And every year, we see people making the same mistakes over and over again, from outright ruining the freshly cut meat to making it harmful for human health. Here are some points to keep in mind when preparing and cooking your meat

Let it rest.

As tempting as it is to directly throw your meat onto a grill or a barbeque or marinate them in their own fat there to be braised, there is something major that many forget: rigor mortis. You might have heard of (or read about) this term in a police drama or a murder-mystery novel when they find a corpse.

It basically means that the meat toughens or stiffens (rigor) after death (mortis). This stiffness might be good for chopping up the pieces you want to keep in the freezer but it is not the smartest idea to eat it in that state. Aside from making your stomach hurt, the taste will not be quite right.

So how long should you wait?

Preferably you should wait 24 hours to eat the meat, but there are, of course, many factors that go into this estimate, such as the animal itself and the temperature outside. But as it is customary to eat the sacrificial meat on the days of Eid, a minimum of 12 hours should be allotted. For the impatient who might not think this is necessary, I just want to point to the fact that butcher shops let their meat rest for at least 24 hours in a cool and airy place before doing anything with it. They are the professionals, so we should be heeding their advice. Make sure to section off your meat and let them rest before putting them in the freezer.

How should you store it?

The animal has been sacrificed and everyone has gotten their cut. Now what?

Firstly, the meat needs to cool down on its own and preferably in an airy environment.

So putting your meat into a bowl or on a tray and spreading it as thin as possible to allow it to cool off is essential. Once it has gotten to room temperature, you should keep the meat in a cold place – a fridge, of course, is the best option. Depending on how you want to use your meat, you can cut and arrange the pieces, put them in freezer-safe bags or containers and put them away. One important thing to note here is

that you should avoid using something too thin to wrap the meat when placing it in the freezer. If the covering or bag is too thin or is not of the right material, you will be left with freezer burn, which will show up on the meat as grayish spots. It is actually safe to eat, but if you do not know where the grayness came from, you might end up throwing it away. The only problem with these gray patches is that they will dry out the meat and not offer a pleasant dining experience.

Once the meat is out of the freezer and has thawed, you cannot put it back into the freezer again, so make sure you only take out what you need. It is also noteworthy that if the meat has remnants of dust or soil on it, depending on where it was cut, you will want to cut those parts away and avoid washing it. The washing of meat is problematic in itself as the bacteria nestled in the dirt can get into the meat and contaminate it. Again, bacteria love warmth and moistness, so avoid washing it and save yourself from sickness.

it?

How should you cook

Once the meat has rested for ample time, feel free to prepare it in the way you like (braise it, roast it, boil it) but keep in mind that you want to avoid cross-contamination while using a cutting board. The board you use for the meat should not be the same one you use to cut up your vegetables – which you should definitely be included in your Bayram menu, one way or the other.

When you want to barbeque the meat, you will want to be careful and not place it too close to the actual fire. Let it cook, not turn to charcoal by burning. Eating burnt meat is also cancerous, and let’s be honest: Who wants to eat tough, dry chunks of meat anyway?

Don’t forget the bones

Once all the meat has been processed, cut the bones down to a size small enough to fit into a pot and boil them for a bit. Once the broth is done boiling, turn the stove off and let the pot cool. Pour the bone broth into smaller freezer-safe containers, and there you have yourself one of the most potent and vitamin-rich broths that can be saved for later and added to any kind of dish.

Hassle free tips for a festive Eid

1. Make smaller packets of 1 kg meat.

2. Label them properly: Paya, Biryani, Kunna, BBQ, Steak, Korma, Qeema, etc

3. Flatten the meat or minced meat. This way the meat defrost much quicker and it takes less space.

4. Always write the inventory with their position in the freezer so it’s much efficient!!

5. Lay out all the pieces of meat to dry under

That helps make your roof as sturdy as possible. Plus, roof maintenance enables you to prolong the time you need for a complete roof replacement.

4. Be prepared for power outrages

We are experiencing severe power outrages, and there is nothing we can do about it. However, some safety measures can help you handle the situation better.

If you have any wiring open, get it fixed as soon as possible. The frequent sky pour can wreak havoc on your wiring system, leaving you with no power.

Moreover, buying a generator or UPS that you can trust is best. Monsoon season is more like a challenge if you are a resident of Karachi. Make sure you are all prepared before it rains today!

the fan for a few hours, and then store them. This is a trick used by butchers which will ensure less smell in the freezer. Make sure the weather is good, and their is ventilation otherwise meat can spoil. Plus don’t lay out the meat on newspaper but on cloth.

6. Buy a pack of plastic bags or ziplock bags (the small ones), portions out the meat and then writes with a permanent black marker the usage of the meat. That includes writing who it is for, and what portion of meat it is. So let’s say writing relative, maid, driver or even meal names.

7. Freeze the meat in small portions,in small ziplock bags.

8. Boil some meat. You can keep boiled meat in refrigerator for two days. It will save the freezer space.

9. To remove smell from Qurbani meat: Boil some water in a pot. Add 1 tsp vinegar and cleaned meat. Cook for two minutes in boiling water and strain. It will remove the smell from qurbani meat. Then you can freeze it and cook it whenever you want.

10. Clean the fat from meat before freezing, try to freeze boneless meat as bones occupy high space; make labelled packets of meat or use boxes to freeze them. Marinate barbecue items then freeze. Put meat in the freezer according to the sequence you want to cook. 11. Do not freeze unsealed packets. It will dry the meat and ruin the texture. 12. Do not freeze oversize cuts of meat, meat with fats, big bones because it takes large space and everybody already have stored Paya on Bakra Eid. 13. Boil beef bones with ginger garlic paste. then discard the bones,and freeze thick yukhni or stock. 14. Wash boneless meat and make minced meat by using chopper machine or food processor. Now you can make kachay qeemay Kay

How long frozen meat can

be used?

Meat that is frozen can be kept and used within 3 to 4 months,if it has been properly freezed in small portion and did not defrosted. And if the freezer door does not open often and there is no problem of load shedding, then the meat can be kept for around 6 months. Once the meat comes out of the freezer and the ice starts to melt, the germs will start to thrive on it. So this meat should be used as soon as possible. Meat once taken out of the freezer should not be kept in it again.

Up and coming musical talent that is taking Pakistan by storm

Hassan Raheem

By Muhammad Adil

Hassan Raheem is a man of many talents he is a doctor recently having graduated from medical college, he is also a videographer with him starting out on youtube posting vlogs, but what he has garnered most attention and fame for is his music. Hassan Raheem blasted onto the scene with songs like Joona and Aisey Kaisey, which were bangers not just because they cashed in on the modernization of the love song genre but also because of the music videos he chose to post them with. Here a man was dancing and singing in public roads and super markets in Karachi. The videos had an underlying message to them that you can listen and jam out to music no matter where you are. This really resonated with people and since then he has not slowed down coming out with hit after hit. His most recent accolade is his collaboration with coke studio, releasing another hit i.e. Peechei Hatt. Part of Hassan’s appeal is also in the fact that you really don’t know what to expect from a new song before you hear it. He has perfected the art of making each piece of work sound completely unique. If you have not heard a song of his yet you should really consider it ASAP or risk becoming a social outcast considering the rate at which he is growing.

Shae Gill entered stardom almost overnight. She was a hostelite that used to post small snippets of her singing songs on Instagram for fun. Until one fateful day when coke studio slid into her dm’s and asked her to collaborate with them. In probably one of the greatest musical debuts of Pakistani history she released Pasoori with the brilliant Ali Sethi, and the rest as they say was history. The song was a hit in every way having worldwide views, and even being featured in a Miss Marvel episode. She has said in interviews that she did not expect the song to blow up the way it did, however considering this is just the start of her mainstream music career everyone is on the edge of their seats to see what

Maanu has a history with music he started out as a DJ trying to make a few extra bucks on the side but he knew that music is something he always wanted to do. He would go to open mics and rap and sing to sometimes a handful of people.

This was until the day he found his true calling, rap music. Maanu completely turned the scene around with hit after hit like CGPA and Rambo. His music is not for everyone it appeals to a very spe cific community of persons however, the beat and execution of his lyrics is something anyone can get behind.

He also makes music that makes you feel something, if you listen to melancholic and you don’t then you should genuinely listen to it again because sooner or later you relate to his lyrics.

Bayaan

Pakistan’s rock bands have often added a soofi touch to their music, making it their most defining feature. Bayaan is a band that is re-writing this trope for a generation the same way Noori did a generation before. They have slowed down the pace of their music made it less about angst and rebellion and more about emotions we feel on a daily basis.

They have also not strayed too far from Pakistani musical culture covering songs like Aaj Bazaar Mein, but adding a new age twist to them. The funny thing is that their journey all started with a little show called Battle Of The Bands.

Usually contestants on such shows (the ones that do not win) end up going into obscurity never to be seen again. However, Bayaan through the competition generated an extremely loyal fan following that refused to let them stop making music. This band if any out of this list is probably the most likely to to define our generation and we are all for it.

Faris Shafi is the brother of Meesha Shafi, and you would think in the shadow of such a giant beautiful tree not even a seedling could grow. Faris however, proves this analogy wrong he has shown to the world that much like his sister he too can do anything. His music is angst incarnate, think slim shady if he was born on the streets of Karachi. The man has a way of making mu sic that makes you laugh, angry and hyped at the same time. Honestly, some of the best Pakistani music you can have on your playlist for your next work out. He releases music sparingly however, you should keep your nose up for when he does because it will be nothing if not worth it.

AFP Pene Pati remembers his teachers at university telling him: "Don't be ashamed if you don't make it because a lot of Pacific singers won't."

In fact, they added, no one from Samoa had ever become an opera star.

Pati's reaction? "Well, I'll be the first and prove you wrong."

Now, at 34, he has released his first album on Warner Classics and is about to star in Rossini's "Moise et Pharaon" at the prestigious Aix-en-Provence festival, after already wowing audiences from Bordeaux to San Francisco.

One comparison keeps coming up -- and not just because of his commanding physical presence.

"Nearly every critic I've had at every single opera has said the same thing: 'You truly do sound like Pavarotti'," he told AFP with a laugh.

The comparison is well-earned since Pati spent hours watching Luciano Pavarotti -- one of the legendary Three Tenors and widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century — trying to figure out his secrets.

"I couldn't afford singing lessons so I ended up teaching myself on YouTube," he said.

"They were the only people I knew. I would watch videos of Pavarotti and zoom in on his face and try to figure out what he was doing and how he could make it look so easy."

The experiment worked Pati was born on the Samoan archipelago but grew up in Auckland, New Zealand.

He credits a smart initiative by his teachers for discovering his voice: they only allowed boys to play rugby if they also joined the choir — to make sure singing was embraced by sporty kids.

"The experiment worked. The boys playing rugby loved being in the choir," Pati said.

It was at university in Auckland that his teachers tried to keep his ambitions in check.

"They weren't being mean. They were being realistic because, in fairness, no one had done it before me except Kiri Te Kanawa," the great New Zealand soprano, he said.

But Pati started winning international prizes and set up a trio with his younger brother Amitai. This tenor is also making a name for himself, and the Samoan baritone Moses Mackay. Their debut album was New Zealand's best-selling in 2014 and 2015.

Pati went to study in Cardiff and San Francisco, before being spotted in 2017 by Marc Minkowski, director of the Bordeaux Opera.

Minkowski told him he had a rare voice

— light and lyrical — "a true bel canto that no one really does anymore".

In our DNA

Pati has since worked across Europe and plans to settle in Barcelona with his wife, the Egyptian-born soprano Amina Edris.

But he keeps his homeland firmly in mind.

"Samoan culture is truly embedded in music. It's in our DNA. We sing our myths and legends and stories to the next person.

We have had an operatic life and we did not even know it," he said.

His dream is to open a singing school there.

"When I started there was no one and my goal was to try to bring in as many people as possible, and now there are a lot of young Samoan opera singers coming through.

"The plan is to go back, teach these singers and hopefully their generation will achieve far more than I can."

Pakistani music is evolving gone and this does not mean that bangers like Nach Panjaban or Aaj Kiss Gali Ja Rahai Ho have no place in the music world it simply means that, the voice of a generation is coming out in full force. It is beautiful and these artists represent that voice. You should completely open up your streaming app and play a song and you will exactly get what the above statement means.

By Dr Khwaja Ali Shahid KARACHI

Gabala, also known as Qabala, is a scenic hill-station that lies around 225kms or almost three and a half hours drive from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. For many on a short tour of the country, Gabala is an out-back activity which means that you leave early morning from Baku and return late in night. However, the mesmerising surrounds of Gabala entices many to spend a night or two at this heavenly tourist spot. Those on their honey moon or love birds on a romantic escape may even extend it further.

Throughout the year there is always a considerable temperature difference between Baku and Gabala, latter being colder. As we began our journey from Baku, the landscape on the Baku Shamakhi Yevlakh Highway changed from almost white to brown and very soon it was all green and colourful. Half way through we stopped over at Ismayilli which is the capital of Ismayilli district of Azerbaijan for refreshments.

The first destination that we visited in Gabala was the serene Nohur Gol or the Nohur Lake. There is no entry fee for the visitors. The beautiful lake has clean, pristine water and surrounded by lush green, forest covered mountains of Goydag, Gulluburun and Yumru. There are fishes and frogs visible from the shore side. You can also rent water bikes, peddlers or boats for fishing and boating in the lake. Generally, a boat for 4 persons can be rented for 15 to 20 Manats, the Azerbaijani currency, where 1 Manat is equal to around 120 PKR, for 5 to 10 minutes ride. You may bargain for more time or less rent beforehand. The lake freezes during winter months.

A nearby market sells varieties of delicacies including Baklava, local sweets, Turkish delight, farm honey and many other deserts. There are also a few local souvenirs shops. Prices, however, are all steep compared to the rates in Baku. Here, traditional food is available on food carts, food vans and restaurants. Different engaging playing activities are available for children and elders. There is a praying area where few of us offered prayers and a free parking area as well.

After Nohur Lake, we headed for lunch at a local fast food set-up namely ‘I love pizza’. Like all over Azerbaijan, the food came in courses. Firstly, salad was served, followed by different soups and bread. Lentil soup and bread are very much favored throughout Azerbaijan, for all meals, even for breakfast! Finally, it was time for the fast food lunch main course. Along with soft-drinks a local (Turkish) equivalent of Saltish Lassi was also served locally known as Ayran. There was also a play area for children which kept many young ones merrily busy.

Hardly a few kilometers away, finally, the show-stopper for anyone visiting Gabala, is the

The cable car ride is for 16 Manats while there are few other cable car packages with different payment options as well. No fees to be charged for children. Just like in Patriata, the cable car ride to the top was in two parts and you have to change the cable car in between the ride at the junction. The view from the steep ride up is stunning. While herds of lambs and goat are seen grazing, you may also see horses running around, which is a common sight in these areas of Azerbaijan. Once you are on the top of this 2000 meters hill, the views become out of the world. The surrounding trees covered mountains, coloured landscapes, clouds overhead and even beside you, coupled with the natural fragrance from the flora and freshness of the damp air around, all provide for the aesthetic hues and shades to complete this masterstroke of a natural canvas.

At around the peak of the mountain, known as Sleeping Beauty, there is a somewhat scary glass floor out-pocket for visitors to capture their stunning photographs along with the view of 2000 meter deep natural mountain ditch, just below your feet. At this ‘Observation point’ a maximum of only 3

people are allowed on the glass walkway at a time. The most thrilling experience for many is the swing available here. Two sets of 10 meters and 7 meters high swings (from the floor of the peak) are available at the edge of the 1920 meters high mountain, which is absolutely not for the faint hearted to try. To ride on the swings, there are a few pre-requisites. Firstly, you are required to fill in the ‘Consent Form’ while accepting full responsibility of your action. Secondly, you must be more than 14 years of age and less than 150kg in weight. The prices for the swings are 20 and 15 Manats respectively. Although, a bit costly for hardly 5 to 10 minutes, it is definitely a worthy, thrilling experience. The users are properly strapped, and protected with helmets and other safety gears; before being stretched to the height of 10 or 7 meters and then released at the top. The first complete oscillation of the swing is likely to result in curses and swears, to forgiveness from God, to calling out your mother for help, or just plain old shrieks at the top of their voice, with clenched fists and closed eyes! Very few are seen enjoying and even making fun of those scared

spectators, who are watching them from down below. Few more related activities are in pipeline at Tufandag.

Similarly, there is also a Shahdag Mountain Resort in Gabala which is also providing some different activities to lure in the tourists. Needless to say, Shahdag, like Tufandag also provides for stunning mountain views, glaciers, peaceful valley with distinct flora and fauna, and entertainment in terms of winter sports activities.

I have also covered the entire Azerbaijan series for my YouTube channel with special emphasis on the flora of the region while also highlighting the iconic places to visit, food, culture and other activities on offer for those visiting Azerbaijan. You can watch the playlist, ‘Visiting Azerbaijan’ in which two of the episodes are entirely dedicated to our visit to the gratifying Gabala.

The writer is a physician, healthcare leader, traveller and a YouTuber host for the DocTree Team promoting Organic Gardening in Pakistan. He tweets @Ali_Shahid82

Gabala Hills Tour while using the Cable Car ride. The resort provide for activities which are mostly similar to those available in Malam Jabba, Swat region of Pakistan. This part of excursion occurs at the ‘Tufandag Winter Summer Tourism Complex’. It operates throughout the year offering ski tracks of different difficulty levels. Ski training, ski school, restaurants catering services, entertainment and playing areas for kids are also available.

London Nahi Jaunga

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad

Producers: Fizza Ali Meerza, Mehdi Ali

Director: Nabeel Qureshi

Writers: Fizza Ali Meerza, Nabeel Qureshi

Cast:

Music: Shani Arshad

Target

Interesting

Genre:

Plot: London Nahi Jaunga comes out as a typical masala

where

plays the village guy who has issues of his own. When he does fall in love with a girl from London (played by Mehwish Hayat), he makes things worse and loses her. However, despite taking an oath not to go to London, he visits the city and tries to patch up with the girl of his dreams. A sad turn of events then mars his reconciliation attempt and he has to choose either his family or the love of his life. Back home, another girl (Kubra Khan) is waiting for his return, but he has no idea whether he loves her or not.

Music: Shani Arshad, Saad Sultan, Adnan Dhool

Target Audience: Fans of Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, and Kubra Khan

Interesting Facts: This is the second collaboration between Nadeem Baig-Humayun Saeed-Mehwish Hayat-Khalil ur Rehman Qamar after Punjab Nahi Jaungi but is not the sequel, nor the prequel of that film. The film was shot in Bahawalpur, Karachi, and London, and features the best locations in the East and West. The shooting of the film was halted due to the pandemic but the director managed to complete it on time to release it on Eid-ul-Azha. To look out for: Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s dialogues are always the strongest point of his films or TV dramas. The trailer is just a glimpse of his prowess as a writer and despite the controversies, he has found himself in, he always lets his words do the talking and this film would be his way to make his comeback. He has only penned the lyrics of the film and although all the songs are in Punjabi, they will attract more listeners from across the world than the other two films.

The

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

and comedian Kevin Hart are undoubtedly great actors, but their first flick together – The Man from Toronto – failed to do justice to their stardom. What began as an interesting flick faded away by the time the end credits started rolling, because of its predictable nature, repetitive jokes, and tried-and-tested plot. Call it the director Patrick Hughes’s fault for not trying anything new or the streaming service for greenlighting a lackluster script, The Man from Toronto could have been a contender, had the makers tried to be original instead of coming out as inspired.

The plot

Athletic instructor Teddy (Kevin Hart) is a failure at whatever he does; getting fired from his job on his wife's birthday is normal for him and so is landing at the wrong place at the wrong time. When the FBI raids the place where expert hitman/interrogator 'Man from Toronto' was supposed to torture another man in captivity for information, they find Teddy and ask him to continue being their ‘Man from Toronto’.

The reason behind such an unusual request was to foil an assassination attempt on the President of Venezuela, who was visiting

the States for the inauguration of his country’s new embassy.

Trouble arrives in the form of

Film: Lafangey

Producer: Tariq Habib Rind

Director: Abdull Khaliq Khan

Writer: Abdull Khaliq Khan, Jahangir Hussain

Cast: Sami Khan, Nazish Jehangir, Mubeen Gabol, Salman Saqib, Saleem Meraj, Behroze Sabzwari, Adnan Shah Tipu, Gul e Rana, Waqar Godhra, Ismail Tara, Akhtar Husnain

Genre: Horror/ Comedy

Plot: Lafangey revolves around a haunted house where ghosts have been residing for many years, and terrorizing whoever enters the vicinity. When four luckless youngsters decide to investigate the house for their own gain, they find themselves in a situation they can’t get out of. Will they befriend the ghosts to make the house their den or will the ghosts chase them away as they do to all the temporary residents, the film will tackle that besides a subplot that involves the owner of the house who doesn’t want to sell it to anyone.

Music: Adnan Dhool, Rabi Ahmed, Sohail Haider

Target Audience: Fans of adult comedy, Bollywood movies like Masti and Kya Kool Hain Hum franchise

Interesting Facts: Lafangey’s trailer seems to be heavily inspired by the Telugu film Anando Brahma’ and if that happens, it will let down the audience who still haven’t forgotten the makers of Chupan Chupai for taking them for a ride. To look out for: The film marks the debut of the stylish Nazish Jehangir who has done well on TV but has never appeared in a film before. Sami Khan returns after the failure of Kaaf Kangana as the leader of the gang that also features Mubeen Gabol aka Matkoo, Salman Saqib aka Maani, and Saleem Meraj besides the producer Tariq Habib Rind who plays an important role in the film.

flick is not what the doctor ordered

to that list films the 90s classics Assassins and Rush Hour, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s later releases Central Intelligence (with Kevin Hart) and Red Notice (with Ryan Reynolds) and you know what is going to happen, how, and when.

Also, Woody Harrelson as the title character was not the first choice of the makers –Jason Statham was. He was unable to create magic with Hart who had a cameo in Jason Statham’s Hobbs & Shaw and belongs to the same age group. The lack of chemistry was compensated for through forceful jokes and would have only brought a smile to the face of that audience who believe that being shot anywhere can be humorous.

Although the film features FBI agents in abundance, showing them as stupid was a wrong move, even if it meant glamorizing the leading cast. The same thing could be said about the casting of The Big Bang Theory alumni Kaley Cuoco who looked

older, and nothing like Penny. It might have been a deliberate attempt on the part of the actress but she has so few scenes that anyone could have done it, and be forgotten before the credits.

The verdict: 2/5

The Man from Toronto seems like a film that takes place in the buddy-film universe that also houses Bad Boys and Rush Hour franchises. However, its lack of originality, mismatched casting, and inability to come out of the 1990s makes it a one-off flick and it doesn't seem that it will have a sequel in the near future. A lot of things that happened in this film have happened in many films before, giving the audience nothing special to look forward to. Add to that its direct-to-Netflix release and it comes out as nothing better than the direct-to-video movies that have been making their presence felt since the 1980s.

from Toronto and save the world from destruction at the same time.

The good

Watching Kevin Hart as a loser is a treat to watch and even in this film, he does the job like a pro. From the moment he is mistaken for a hitman to the time he realizes that he is stuck with the job, he displays the emotions of a failed person impeccably. He makes the ‘Teddy’ character his own in such a way that no other actor would have been able to better it. There are times when the audience cheers for him, hoping that he might do something uncharacteristically but he keeps the audience in suspense and remains a loser for most of the film.

There is a one-take fight sequence at the climax of the film that makes it worth any person’s while; it takes place at a gymnasium where the two leading actors throw everything except the kitchen sink at whoever is there to eliminate them. Due to the film being on Netflix, one can enjoy that scene over and over again and wish that more such sequences could have been made part of the flick.

The bad The film’s script looks good on paper but reminds the audience of similar films in the last five years – The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard where the African American lead was the hitman, and the white guy was the one who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Add

Veteran Hollywood star Woody Harrelson

the real Man from Toronto (Woody Harrelson) who decides to play along so that he gets the cash, without getting his hands dirty. He was counting on Teddy's collaboration but when

he finds out that the 'Man not from Toronto' is a loser, he becomes his mentor to get the job done. Together, the duo stands tall against a competing hitman, dodges Teddy's wife (Jasmine Mathews) and her friend Anne (Kaley Cuoco), and stays away from the FBI who want to apprehend the Man

Kevin Hart – Woody Harrelson buddy

Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan, Jawed Sheikh, Nayyar Ejaz, Mahmood Aslam, Saleem Meraj, Qavi Khan

Genre: Action/Comedy/Drama

Plot: From the trailer, Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad seems like a cop movie where Fahad Mustafa plays a dirty cop who has a change of heart once he falls in love. His journey from making money off people to serving the people seems to be the main plot, followed by subplots such as his character’s romance with Mahira Khan’s Sweety, and hatred for those who rob the people for their own gain.

Audience: Fans of action flicks, Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan

Facts: Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad may resemble the cop films from across the border but it is going to be the first such film to be made in Pakistan. It is also going to be the fifth collaboration between Fahad Mustafa-Nabeel Qureshi-Fizza Ali Meerza after Na Maloom Afraad Actor In Law Na Maloom Afraad 2, and Load Wedding. While Fahad Mustafa wasn’t there in Nabeel-Fizza’s Khel Khel Mein, he makes a triumphant return to the camp and performed most of the stunts himself. To look out for: The sizzling chemistry between Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa who are sharing the screen for the first time ever. They have never worked together in a TV commercial, or a TV drama let alone a film, but when put together on a film screen, they gel as if they were made for each other. Also, the soundtrack by Shani Arshad seems to be better than the other two films and is likely to help in making Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad the leader at the box office.

Producer: Salman Iqbal, Humayun Saeed, Shehzad Nasib, Jerjees Seja

Director: Nadeem Baig

Writer: Khalil ur Rehman Qamar

Cast: Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, Kubra Khan, Vasay Chaudhry, Sohail Ahmed, Saba Hameed, Gohar Rasheed, Saba Faisal, Asif Raza Mir, Iffat Omer

Drama/Romance/Comedy

flick

Humayun Saeed