BOL NEWSPAPER | June 19 2022

From cast to locations, Amin Iqbal’s directorial debut has all the right ingredients

By Maheen Aziz

I spoke to the team of Rehbra in all their glory as they shared the

process and the work that went into the film.

The conversation initiated with what difference he found in directing a movie as compared to the dramas. “Audio mixing, choreography and other technicalities aren’t a part of a television drama but these thick and thins are needed to be looked after while making a movie. When one starts a career in direction, the first medium is TV and one explores that. For me making a film came as an opportunity when I met Saira.”

Amin spoke very highly of Saira, a doctor by profession in the USA and also the producer of the movie. “She has come from the USA and wanted to invest her savings in making the movie.” Wasn’t it a risk by involving a new producer for a film? I asked. “No, not at all. What struck me was her passion. As I also began my career as a writer and later explored other avenues. The time when she came, it was the peak of the revival of Pakistani cinemas and I was passionate about directing a movie.”

Amin put all his heart and passion into this dream project of his, talking about how he got into making Rehbra in the first place, he answered: “I had already studied film writing from abroad and I wanted to put in my skills in this field too, it required that very passion that I had for the film. This was a great chance and I am thankful to the producer and the team. Everything happened magically.”

Given that a number of comedy films that have been produced while serious issues have been ignored deliberately or conditionally, what is it that compelled Amin to make a film that is a love story and what is its selling point? Amin went pretty honest by saying that his movie is not entirely a comedy flick but rather a rom-com. "Audience wants to watch comedy. Our flick is a rom-com. We have tackled this topic in a slightly different manner... It’s a risk that we are taking by releasing movie off season - not on Eid. Releasing movies on Eid holidays is a safe game for the producers to play by since they know that people will go out to watch films. But to be straight-forward, we have to put the wheel in motion by being there in all seasons that will resume the trend of going to cinemas."

With an already limited number of screens and Hollywood movies being released as well in the same timeline, Amin is certain that his movie is going to be a success. However, he also believes that content, cinematography, creation and quality play a vital role in deciding

Audience wants to watch comedy. Our flick is a romcom. We have tackled this topic in a slightly different manner... It’s a risk that we are taking by releasing movie off season - not on Eid. Releasing movies on Eid holidays is a safe game for the producers to play by since they know that people will go out to watch films. But to be straight-forward, we have to put the wheel in motion by being there in all seasons that will resume the trend of going to cinemas

the destiny of the movie. "The first risk was to make a movie while being a seasoned TV director. Having said that, I think that a lot of factors count in making any movie a hit or a flop. People should buy the ticket, watch the movie and then criticise it, and it should also be welcomed by the fraternity for it helps in improving and understanding the taste of the audience."

The veteran director does not believe in begging for the film to be watched. "If I am going to the cinema to watch an entertainment movie, that too, after buying a 1000 rupee ticket, popcorns and drink.

I have the complete right to bash or criticise a movie if I don’t like it because I have paid for the entertainment. This is my responsibility as a director or producer to bring in the content to match the standard. If I have to compete with Hollywood or Bollywood, I have to have the resources – from content quality to budget to bring forth something par excellence."

Walking us through the experience of bringing Rehbra to life Amin shared that making this movie was a wonderful experience, getting out of the drama screens and working for the bigger screen is a completely different practice. From cast to the crew, we all had an amazing experience."

While discussing the marketing strategy of Rehbra, Saira Afzal, the producer of the film shed light on the thought process behind the promotions, "we have been doing gradual promotions that includes songs launches, trailer and everything. Before launching a movie, marketing plays a crucial role in creating the hype and preparing the audience for the film."

Being his poised self with one of the most heart-warming smiles, I turned to Ahsan Khan, the man of the hour to ask him about his journey filming and preparing for the film: "Rehbra reminds me of those movies we would watch in our childhood; a larger than life hero, a typical heroine, a refined story where you have romance and music.”

Amid movie release, premieres, song launches and trailer launches, Rehbra is one of the movies which was halted due to the pandemic. As the risks of the virus subsided and life began to normal, Amin Iqbal, a veteran director who has given us major hits on Television such as Dushman e Jaan and Ishq e Laa, geared up for his first movie promotions.

creative

The cinemas for masses are very expensive. There should be local cinemas where people could watch movies. When we talk about Bollywood and Hollywood then why don’t we look at the aspects that they have entertainment for their masses and not only for the elites; they have small cinemas and cheap tickets for locals. A grand movie could also do a lot of business if masses could afford tickets to cinema

Speaking about his character, he explained that he is not that one rich guy who is arrogant but his character is quite different. “Danish is a humble and straight-forward guy. I was looking for a different character as I have done a lot of romantic characters (almost 10 years of my career) so I wanted a switch. This script had a margin to explore the full fledge romance on big screen which I was missing, to be honest.”

For Ahsan, after the script Amin was another reason to sign up for the project. “Amin Iqbal is a talented director and I didn’t doubt his choice. Also the movie has all types of music, from wedding to love songs and sad songs too. I overall thought that if I want to bring out the typical romantic hero on the big screen then this is the chance that I should not miss.” He explicated excitedly. Ahsan also shared that no matter how many movies are made, released and watched, there is still a vacuum which I feel is not even addressed. He thinks that the lack of cinema screens and cinemas as a whole is quite concerning. “The cinemas for masses are very expensive. There should be local cinemas where people could watch movies. When we talk about Bollywood and Hollywood then why don’t we look at the aspects that they have entertainment for their masses and not only for the elites; they have small cinemas and cheap tickets for locals. A grand movie could also do a lot of business if masses could afford tickets to cinema.”

A grand movie could also do a lot of business if masses would go to watch the film. Why people are hooked to TV because it’s either cheap or free. Our films fail and don’t do a lot of business because of the expense.”

The actor has a long association with TV so I asked him how does he look at the operational manners of both medi-

In June 2022, a post shared via the show's official Twitter page read: 'On your marks. Get set. Greenlight. Squid Game continues, only on Netflix.' Although the second season is still in its early stages, writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that there will be some familiar faces returning this season. Last year’s winner Gi-hun will be back with the Front Man, in addition to a brand-new character. Everyone’s favourite killer doll Young-hee is officially off the market and viewers will be introduced to her boyfriend Cheol-su. Maybe we’ll get a romantic duet from the couple right before they give you that deadly look. Will we see more of The Salesman slapping people in the face? “The man in the suit with ddakji might be back,” teased Hwang. It’s time to cue up the Pink Soldiers’ theme song because the game isn’t over yet.

In January 2021 Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos opened up about the platform's plans for a second season of Squid Game and the 'Squid Game Universe', which he believes has the potential to involve live experiences, merchandise and mobile gaming.

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ums, films and TV as people often judge a TV actor when he / she appears on big screen and generally the movies are compared with Hollywood or Bollywood.

I found his stance very clear about it. “The culture is different and viewers also. You have to cater your type of audience and not what the American audience would want to watch. Pakistan's TV industry is strong yet there are many serials that face censorship issues. However, OTT platforms have a leverage to run content without being concerned for censorship. The reason of having run-of-the-mill ideas is that the producers play safe. But I still feel that we, as an industry, have come far away and things are getting better every day, with every film.”

It was not easy to speak to Ayesha Omar, playing the lead with Ahsan Khan in the movie, since one wanted a picture with her or the other was trying to get her to make a video log with her. We, Ayesha and I, finally sat down. Ayesha’s voice was half gone as she has been speaking for good three hours. Elaborating on her character, she said, “Bubbly is a Punjabi girl who is blunt and feisty character that represents different provinces and touches many hearts. She is the only child of her parents and knows how to get her way, but she is not clever. She is impulsive, follows her heart and sometimes regret it also. I have a completely opposite character, who is free-spirited and young. Danish and I cross paths at a festival and explore what life has to offer.”

Did you miss Khoobsurat during the shoot of this film, I asked and we both laughed. “ Karachi se Lahore was my first film. I would keep asking Wajahat Rauf, the director of KSL, that whenever you feel that any shade or reflection of Khoobsurat is coming my way of my character, please stop me there. I am aware of the mannerism and stay conscious that no reflection of Khoobsurat should come my way. Because this character has become a part of me and I have been attached to it since 12 years.”

The culture is different and viewers also. You have to cater your type of audience and not what the American audience would want to watch. Pakistan's TV industry is strong yet there are many serials that face censorship issues. However, OTT platforms have a leverage to run content without being concerned for censorship

Ayesha really enjoyed playing Bubbly as there are different moods of the character (emotional, sad, and high-spirited). “It’s a journey that has all emotions and how one evolves through it.” For her, Amin again was a reason to rely on.

“The actors who get to work with him are very lucky. He doesn’t unnecessarily put pressure on any actress or actor. He would help me enhance the mood and expressions and that too on the right time, he doesn’t kill the creativity and craft of actors. This is something I have not experienced with any other director.”

“We worked like a family. Ahsan and I were like buddies and were there for each other throughout the shoot. We shot in winters wearing summer clothes which was the most difficult task. We shot in January in somewhere in Kasur and the temperature was -1 degrees and I shot in wearing a silk Kameez and Shalwar. But what kept me motivated and up was the team.”

The long-awaited musical romance, Rehbra is coming a little before Eid Ul Adha. I am certainly glad that they chose not to premiere it at Eid but rather a little earlier than that, which I think is a very smart move, so I have my eyes peeled for the musical genius that Rehbra is.

You’ve clearly been living under a rock if you haven’t heard of the South Korean series Squid Game. Since the dystopian thriller series hit our screens last September it became Netflix’s number one ‘must-see’ show across 90 countries and the streaming platform’s most successful non-English show. It soon also became Netflix's biggest ever series launch (surpassing Bridgerton’s record earlier last year), and the hashtag #squidgame had over 27.5 billion views on TikTok in weeks.

Shahzia Sikander, a Pakistan-born miniature artist, has won Fukuoka Prize in Arts and Culture for introducing innovation in the traditional art forms using the latest digital technology of miniature painting, which follows conventions dating back to the Mughal Empire. The Fukuoka Prize was introduced in 1990 by the Japanese city of Fukuoka and the Fukuoka City International Foundation to honour individuals, groups, and organisations who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation of Asian culture. The prize aims to raise understanding of Asian cultures and create a broad framework for Asian people to exchange ideas and learn from one another. The Fukuoka Prize is celebrating its 32nd year this year. The prize has been given to 118 notable personalities in their respective disciplines during the last 31 years.

Fukuoka Prize is awarded in three categories that include Grand Prize, Academic Prize and Arts and Culture Prize. Besides Shahzia Sikander, this year’s Prize recipients also include Japanese Taiko Drummer Mr Hayashi Eitetsu for Grand Prize and Historian Prof. Timon Screech from the U.K for Academic Prize. In September this year, the laureates will be invited to Fukuoka, Japan officially for receiving their respective awards. There were three Pakistani recipients of the Fukuoka Prize in the past. Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary qawwali maestro, Dr. Uxi Mufti, a specialist in the preservation of folk heritage, and Yasmeen Lari, architect, architectural historian, and heritage conservationist.

animated film Lightyear from Disney Pixar is set to visit theatres this week, and it is likely to entice Toy Story lovers from all around the world except the UAE. The UAE’s Media Regulatory Office announced that it would ban the movie’s release, based on what it said was the violation of the country’s media content standards. The feature film was scheduled for release in UAE theaters on June 16. The government authority didn't say which part of the movie violated their content guidelines but Executive Director Rashid Khalfan Al Nuaimi told Reuters that it was because of the inclusion of homosexual characters. The movie features a same-sex relationship as well as a brief kiss.

decision to ban the film gathered mixed views from fans and netizens with some appreciating the ban and others criticising it. The UAE ban comes despite an announcement last year that the country would no longer censor movies. That change was part of a broader raft of modernizing reforms to be more competitive globally and attract additional foreign investment and talent. The movie has also been banned in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Indonesia and even Malaysia. A Lightyear producer told Reuters that authorities in China had asked for cuts to the film, which Disney declined to make, and she assumed the movie would not open there either.

By Omair Alavi

Every country has a film icon who is cherished because of his body of work, the way he carries himself, and the amount of respect he generates for just being there. Pakistan is lucky to have film star Nadeem who is not just a legend but also one of the most sought-after actors the country has ever produced. Everyone knows that he came into the film industry in 1967, and debuted as a leading man in Chakori but there is more to Nadeem than meets the eye. For starters, the name his parents gave him is not Nadeem, and you can find similar facts about him below:

1. The name’s not Nadeem!

He might be known as Nadeem today but the actor was born Mirza Nazeer Baig on June 19th, 1941, in the Indian city of Vijayawada. His family moved to Pakistan after independence and settled in Karachi, where Nadeem completed his education and became a prominent feature in the music scene. Although he was friends with many actors and singers who went on to become famous, he stayed away from TV until it was inevitable. As for the name change, he was ‘Nadeemed’ when he entered films through Chakori and that stuck to him just like Dilip Kumar stuck to Yousuf Khan.

2. Began career on TV … as a vocalist!

Before entering films, Nadeem was part of the Pakistan Television Network’s Dhaka Center as a vocalist. He used to sing songs in both Urdu and Bangla –two of the most spoken languages in the country at that time – and made a name for himself, thanks to his colleagues’ support. His future father-in-law film director Ehtesham spotted him through one of these shows and asked him to enter films, but since Nadeem wasn’t fond of acting, he rejected his offer politely and told him he was content with his singing gig.

3. Used to work in an advertising agency before his film debut

At the time when director Ehtesham offered Nadeem to become part of his film Chakori, the future actor was working at an advertising agency in Dhaka and was happy with his life, since his father was working at nearby Sylhet. However, when Nadeem’s boss at the agency Zahir

Raihan (director of Sangam, the firstever Urdu film in colour) got to know of the offer, he assured Nadeem that he should try acting in films and if he was worried about losing his job, he can go on a two-month vacation, and return if he didn’t find himself suitable for films.

4. Became his debut film’s ‘hero’ by accident Nadeem might have played the protagonist in Chakori but he wasn’t the first choice to play the hero. Despite his likeness to Bollywood star Dilip Kumar, Nadeem was asked to be the villain to Azeem’s hero but once the latter went ‘missing’, the director asked Nadeem to change sides and play the hero opposite Shabana. After all, he had already sung Kahan Ho Tumko with Firdausi Begum for the movie, and it would have been surprising had the most striking face in the cast been wasted as the villain. The rest, as they say, is history!

5. Played the triple role long before Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan

Unlike his contemporaries, Nadeem acted in all kinds of films during his first four years; he was popular both in West Pakistan and the Eastern wing which was amazing since his contemporaries were either popular in what’s Pakistan today, or the part that went on to become Bangladesh. All his films produced in either East or West Pakistan are still considered classics because he chose to break barriers instead of staying within them. In 1971, he played three characters in East Pakistan-produced Jaltay Sooraj Ke Neeche, long before his idol Dilip Kumar (Bairag) and contemporary Amitabh Bachchan (Mahaan) did so in India.

6. Was the villain in not one but two flicks Usually ‘heroes’ in both India and Pakistan play villains when they are either past their prime or not getting good-guy roles. However, Nadeem

Nadeem was asked to be the villain to Azeem’s hero but once the latter went ‘missing’, the director asked Nadeem to change sides and play the hero opposite Shabana

played villains in two films in his prime and was hated for playing both the characters. In Samaaj, he played a playboy who destroyed the lives of young girls and moved ahead whereas, in Suhaag, he played breathed life into the character of a bitter ex, who wouldn’t leave the heroine Shamim Ara alone, despite her marriage to a mature and sensible Zia Mohyeddin. Both the films came out in the early 1970s but even after 50 years, people look to Nadeem’s performance when they want to play a subtle, handsome and vengeful villain.

7. Acted in 3 films with Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali During the course of his career, Nadeem has been compared to many actors across the world but his most fierce competition was at home with fellow actors Mohammad Ali and Waheed Murad. Together the trio did as many as three films together – Shama, Jab Jab Phool Khile and Phool Mere Gulshan Ka – and they all were very successful at the box office. Since Mohammad Ali was senior to both Waheed Murad and Nadeem, he got the bigger roles in three films, but Nadeem’s performance was lauded by all in each film as he stood his ground against the more senior ‘heroes’.

8. Sang over 50 songs during his career

The singer in Nadeem might not have done as well as the actor but Nadeem’s love for music continued throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s. Long before Amitabh Bachchan or the Khans in India did their own playback, Nadeem had been there and done that in style. Be it his debut film Chakori, his first as a producer, or simply as an actor, he got the job done when approached to sing. Even in the 1990s, he sang a patriotic song Hum Sab Hain Lehren for Pakistan Television and it was a huge hit. The song is still aired on national television on patriotic days and during election transmissions.

9. Sang as a playback singer, for another actor

His love for playback singing made him do something that no one had done before him – he even sang a song Zinda Hoon, Zinda Hoon in Mr. Buddhoo where he did playback singing for his colleague Qavi Khan. Nadeem was not part of the film in any capacity yet when one singer was required to give support to Ahmed Rushdi and Mala, music director Kamal Ahmed asked Nadeem to sing, and the song went on to become a huge hit. It was filmed on Qavi Khan, Deeba, and Rangeela, with Ahmed Rushdi providing vocals for the comedian.

10. Switched his hairstyle to stay relevant

Nadeem is one of the few actors who have entertained generations as the leading man; unlike his contemporaries,

he is the favourite actor of all those who grew up in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s. How he managed to stay relevant in these decades is because of his ability to adapt. During one movie in the late 1970s – Pakeeza – he changed his hairstyle for the first time because the character he was playing lost his memory. He returned to the same style when he did Nazrul Islam’s Bandish one year later and stayed with the same hairstyle. His previous hairstyle represented the 1960s and the 1970s while the current one has helped him remain cool amongst the newer generation, without doing much.

11. Shared the screen with Raj Babbar, and Parveen Babi during the 1980s

Nadeem’s popularity was not just limited to Pakistan but he was quite popular in the whole of South Asia. The way he proved his credentials in the Indo-CanadianBangladeshi flick, Door Desh aka Gehri Chot made him even more popular than the reigning actors of those countries. Not only did he stand his ground in front of Shashi Kapoor, David, Sharmila Tagore, Raj Babbar, and Parveen Babi, but also showed the audience that in order to play the angry young man, you don’t have to look angry but act like one. Some might call his character ‘minor’ but it was the most impactful one since the climax of the film revolved around ‘Tony’, the character he made his own.

12. Played young to old characters in his 40s

Actors in this part of the world continue to play leading men in their fifties because they feel that if they switch to older roles, they might lose their standing as a hero. Nadeem was one of the few actors in Pakistan who chose to play older characters when he was in his forties. He didn’t shy once while playing a father figure to Faisal Rehman (Naraaz 1985) and Shaan Shahid (Bulandi, 1990) both of whom went on to become huge names in the industry.

13.

Produced one of the most thought-provoking films

During the 1970s, Nadeem turned producer for just one film – Mitti Ke Putley – that was based on an incident that took place in Karachi, where six factory workers were killed by the police on two separate days. He played the foreign-returned protagonist in the movie which revolved around the lives of workers and highlighted their plight and issues they had to endure. The film didn’t do well at the box office because of its delay and change in directors but is now considered a classic after fifty years because of its bold theme.

Long before Amitabh Bachchan or the Khans in India did their own playback, Nadeem had been there and done that in style. Be it his debut film Chakori, his first as a producer, or simply as an actor

14. Had a stint as an actor, singer, and producer in Punjabi cinema

After a gap of more than 15 years, Nadeem once again returned to production with the Punjabi flick Mukhra which also launched him as a leading man in the regional industry. He played a village bumpkin in the movie where Babra Sharif played his love interest, while Samina Peerzada and Ismail Shah were also part of the cast. The film was successful at the box office and gave Nadeem a chance to sing a duet Munidya with the one and only Madam Noor Jehan which was recently recreated in the Coke Studio

15. Worked in two Indianinspired films that were later copied in India

Nadeem has had the distinction of working in not one but two blockbuster flicks in Pakistan, that were ‘inspired’ versions of multiple Bollywood flicks themselves. Both these films – Aaina in 1977 and Faisla in 1986 – were later copied in India as Pyar Jhukta Nahi and Paap Ki Duniya in the 1980s. The characters Nadeem played in those films were recreated without much change by Mithun Chakraborty and Sunny Deol, who might have been good but weren’t as cool as the Pakistani actor.

16. Rajesh Khanna copied multiple Nadeem flicks to save his career!

That’s not all, Nadeem and Rajesh Khanna began their careers together; while the Pakistani actor continues to be a force to reckon with, Rajesh Khanna’s monotonous acting derailed his career after a few years. In the 1980s he tried to revive his career by aping Nadeem in films like Adhikar, Oonchay Loag,

17. Didn’t stop working with his earlier heroines like his contemporaries

Contrary to popular belief, Nadeem didn’t change his heroines as he grew older but took them with him with the passage of time. He debuted in films with Shabana in Chakori (1967) and continued to be her hero till the 1990s when they both appeared in Aandhi (1991) as the leading pair. The same thing happened with Shabnam who was Nadeem’s heroine for more than 25 years – from Nazneen in 1969 to Awargi in 1995 and the two looked so good together that many didn’t notice when one of their earlier songs was fitted in the movie as a flashback!

He also worked extensively with Babra Sharif and delivered countess hits during their association from Intezar (1974) to Shehzada (1992).

18. Played leading men to actresses who were born after his film debut!

While many of his contemporaries both in Pakistan and across the border stopped playing the leading man, Nadeem continued to do so because of his charming personality. At the age of 58, he made his TV debut as an actor and shared the screen with actors like Rehan Sheikh, Nosheen Tariq, Amna Haq, and Maya Khan, in Bisaat. He played the elder brother of Rehan Sheikh and Maya Khan, and played the romantic lead opposite Amna Haq and Nosheen Tariq, all of whom were born after Nadeem’s debut in films. He also played the leading man opposite Natasha Hussain in Chupke Chupke which also featured Captain Abdullah Mehmood of Alpha Bravo Charlie fame as the second lead.

19. Won the highest number of Nigar awards during his career Last but not the least, Nadeem also bagged as many as 17 Nigar Awards for Best Actor during the first 25 years of his career, after which he requested the organisers to stop considering him for the award since it was not beneficial for upcoming actors. His feat hasn’t been broken since his last award in 1991, and is unlikely to be bettered since Nigar Awards last took place in 2003. His achievement can be judged from the fact that his contemporaries Mohammad Ali (8 wins) and Waheed Murad (4 wins) received 12 awards combined, and still fall behind by five to Nadeem.

and Alag Alag which were rip-offs of Nadeem’s Qurbani Dehleez, and Meherbani. Not only were the original dialogues used in the Indian flick, the songs were also plagiarised so badly that the films bombed at the box office.

On the legendary actor’s 81st birthday, we bring forward some facts that remain a mystery even to his ardent fans

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad - It's show time for Fahad Mustafa

A tale loaded with humour and action is set to unload in cinemas on Eid-ul-Adha 2022. Helmed by Nabeel Qureshi, the movie stars Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan, and Javed Sheikh in pivotal roles.

From the first look, we knew it was something to look forward to, but after watching the trailer, we can easily say that it will surely turn out to be a big treat for cinemagoers craving for an action-packed masala entertainer.

The film centers around a police officer - that too, a corrupt one, and his partner (Javed Sheikh), who have gotten their hands on counterfeit bills. As the story rolls on, they plan to test the money to see if it is believable, but our queen Mahira Khan pops their bubble by pointing out a big blunder; the notes didn't have Quaid-e-Azam's picture on them.

The opening line where Mustafa credits Quaid-e-Azam for being the reason why people stay in line is definitely a powerful one for the Pakistani audience and will echo in every desi household if the movie plays its cards right.

While the trailer tries to keep things a bit hush-hush, it still manages to give away most of the plot, and here's what we can say: Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad is your all-rounder masala action movie. All the elements are accurate: a cop who isn't clean cut, people questioning his all of a sudden-changed-intentions, a corrupt politician making things difficult for the pair, and a gorgeous face to guide our misguided hero to the right path. We're getting some Simmba feels here, but it's too soon to judge - let's just wait for Eid.

Considering Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi's keen eye for detail, the film will be a memorable cinematic experience for many. After giving major hits like Na Maloom Afraad 1, and 2, Actor in Law, Load Wedding, and Khel Khel Mei Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad will be no less than a blockbuster and has certainly got the potential to attract the masses this Eid.

London Nahi Jaunga - A whole lot of drama

Release date: June 17, 2022

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The surprise package in the trailer is undoubtedly Humayun showing some action moves, something we haven't really seen from the actor recently. But one thing is for sure; he knows how to bring in the box office numbers.

One can expect London Nahi Jaunga to be an emotional roller coaster from the trailer. From heartbreak to popular dance sequences, Baig's next film is touted to be a complete paisa-vasool film.

Shot in Pakistan, Turkey, and United Kingdom, the film was initially scheduled to release in 2020, but due to the pandemic, the film's release was postponed.

Two years later, the Humayun Saeed starrer is all set to hit the screens on Eid-ul-Adha in July. If you think it will be a sequel to Punjab Nahi Jaungi, you are wrong, as the story is completely new and has nothing in common except for the recurring cast and larger-than-life sets.

Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Kubra Khan, and Mehwish Hayat seem like the perfect recipe for the success of Pakistani cinema. The trailers have managed to capture our attention and we are pretty sure these film will create a unique magic on screen.

The story begins when film’s two street smart protagonists stumble into a suitably macabre mansion with its share of secrets to unlock. Here they encounter Waqar Hussain in his latest gender bending avatar, who warns them against opening a certain ominous looking door. And that’s exactly what they do. The doorway opens up and takes them back to the 60s.

Nevertheless, written

Nadeem Baig is back with another dramatic story. After super hit movies like Jawaani Phir Nahi Ani 1, and 2, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, this will be his fourth attempt to entertain the audience with a smashing hit story.

The Nadeem Baig directorial has already convinced us with the onscreen dream pair, Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat, in lead roles alongside Kubra Khan, Vasay Chaudhry, Saba Hamid, Mehar Bano, Asif Raza Mir, Mirza Gohar Rasheed, Iffat Omar, and Sohail Ahmed among several others.

theatrical trailer left us stunned by offering romance, emotions, story, music, dialogue, and grandeur altogether. It gives us a fresh take on a story that looks similar to Beyg's previous, Punjab Nahi Jaungi

king of emotional stories with razor-sharp dialogues and passionate characters, Khalilur Rehman Qamar, premises the movie in the grandeur of the feudal lords and rural setting.

get to see another love triangle of Humayun with that of Mehwish and Kubra, making us even more eager for the film to release. Moreover, with Saba Hamid and Sohail Ahmed making yet another appearance in Baig's latest venture, London Nahi Jaunga will bring back the brilliance of Punjab Nahi Jaungi

Danya Ali KARACHI

The trailers of the highly anticipated mass entertainers Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and London Nahi Jaunga are out, promising a high dose of entertainment for the audiences this Eid. This year, Eid-ul-Adha will be sweeter for moviegoers because what else do you want when you get to see Fahad Mustafa and Humayun Saeed gracing the cinema screens? After movies like Khel Khel Mein and the Saba Qamar starrer Kamli, Pakistani cinema is proving to have the capability to make movies beyond comedy.

Peechay Tou Dekho

Cast: Yasir Hussain, Waqar Hussain, Junaid Akhter

and directed by Syed Atif Ali, co-written by Mohmmad yasir, Mounam Majeed, Peechay Tou Dekho also stars a slew of lesser known faces including Aadi Adyeal Amjad, Nawal Saeed, Sara Ali Khan, Junaid Akhter, Waqar Hussain, Aamir Qureshi, Shariq Mehmood, Malik Raza, Yasir Taj, Asghar Khoso, Hammad Siddiqui among others.

Chaudhry – The Martyr

Cast: Yasir Hussain, Shamoon Abbasi, Tariq Islam, Saleem Meraj, Nawal Saeed, Adnan Shah Tipu, Azfar Ali, Sana Fakhar, Amir Qureshi

Release date: June 24, 2022

Directed by Azeem Sajjad, the movie is a tribute to the martyr for his audacious services in police department. In a career spanning around 24 years he rendered services on several important ranks and is known for eradicating target killers, gang wars and terrorists before getting assassinated in 2011. The plot revolves around Karachi throughout the decades witnessing the mafia culture, bomb blasts and everything in between.

Lafangey

Cast: Mani, Sami Khan, Nazish Jahangir, Saleem Meraj, Mubeen Gabol, Behroze Sabzwari.

Release date: Eid-ul-Adha

Plot: The upcoming film belongs to the horror-comedy genre, a combination you don't see a lot in Pakistan. The film has been directed and produced by Abdull Khaaliq Khan who also shares the writing credits for the project along with Jahangir Hussain. The snazzy poster art for the upcoming horror-comedy has definitely caught our eye. Sporting a retro-style look, it is ticking all of our boxes with its iconic horror movie promotionalmaterial conventions, sparking much interest in our minds about the film’s storyline.

Sleep is viewed as a way to heal, relax, and recover from minor aches and pains, so you likely would not associate developing acne or dandruff, as well as rashes and respiratory problems, with sleeping at night. But what if it is true?

Have you or a someone you know recently experienced an unexpected, unexplainable acne outbreak despite following a daily skin care regimen? You follow proper hygiene when it comes to your skin, body, and clothing, and you eat well and exercise often to keep your immunity robust. Yet there are certain inexplicable skin and hair problems to which you seem to have no answer to. Have you ever considered what touches your skin for a quarter of your life when you rest in bed could be the reason to the pesky breakouts and other skin and hair conditions?

Believe it or not, your bedding - from your bedsheet to pillow covers, as well as comforters, can make you sick owing to the plethora of germs.

You may find it pretty bizarre that the place where you relax and reset - your bed - could also cause acne breakouts and damage your hair. It all begins with bedding that has not been washed for a while or not been thoroughly cleaned.

How does your bedding affect your health?

It is not uncommon for people to make

their beds very seldom. We lay down a clean bedsheet on the bed, and typically smooth it over the next morning after use, and the next thing we know, we are sleeping on the same single or double sheet for two weeks or sometimes a month even and if that's the case, keep reading!

• Your skin and hair come into contact with your bed sheet each time you lie down. This means your wet or dried sweat, dead skin, loose hair, dandruff from your scalp, and even other bodily emissions are exposed to the sheet every time you do so. Each time the sheets and pillow covers are used, these remain stuck.

• There is a likelihood that whether you use a double or single bedsheet, it will absorb liquid and fluid spills. In fact, food crumbs may be present as well. These tend to gradually build up into bacterial colonies as it is used

over and over again.

• Subsequently, sheets, pillow covers and comforters get contaminated with every use, and continuing to use them after they have been contaminated increases the possibility of germs and microbes getting transferred back to your skin and hair. A variety of problems can arise from them, including rashes, acne, oiliness, boils, dandruff increase, and respiratory disorders and asthma flare-ups.

Ways to care for your bedsheet

It goes without saying that you should wash your used sheets before it gets too dirty, but how often?

• You can use the same sheets and pillow covers for two weeks in cold weather since you do not sweat as much as you would in other times of the year. In hot and humid weather, on the other hand, it is best to wash them after a week of use.

You know, all those night sweats don't just vanish. In fact, perspiration is only one of the reasons why mattresses might be ideal habitats for fungus to grow.

• You must always follow the manufacturer's instructions when washing the bedding. Many use fabric softeners without realising the harm they may do to both their bedding and their skin. Using harsh cleaning agents on your linens can similarly harm your skin (particularly those with sensitive skin). Generally, it is better to wash both small and large bedspreads in cold water. Hot water must absolutely be avoided. Use your regular detergent.

• Try to avoid dry cleaning or bleaching your bedding, as these don't clean the sheets any better than the washing machine. These end up fraying the fabric.

• And of course, lastly and more importantly, you must thoroughly wash makeup off of your face before bed. Cosmetic residue can transfer from your skin to your pillow. If you are a makeup user, you must be aware of how cosmetics are tough on the skin, so it is vital to wash your face before going to bed. While cleansing may not remove all dirt and bacteria, it can reduce your skin's contact with potentially harmful elements.

What's a few additional loads of laundry or a change of detergents if it means radiant skin, right? Taking care of your face can be as simple as cleaning your bedding. You may rest easily and wake up with gorgeous skin if you follow these guidelines for preventing any skin or hair related issues caused by your pillowcase. We hope this article proves helpful in understanding how your bedding may create skin and hair problems, as well as how to properly care for your bed linen.

Men’s health week? Sounds weird right? But it does exist to remind men to stop running around the world and take a look at their body, their health to be precise. It is common for a man to take better care of his car or his favourite gadget than their body. Many may be unaware that men around the globe may be more prone to specific disorders as compared to women.

Some men struggle to look after their health and skip checkups and screenings that can ensure they live long and healthy lives. Here I am going to talk about some common health issues among men and list a few ways through which you can reduce the risk of these disorders.

Heart diseases

In the recent years we’ve seen far too many male celebrities dying because of a heart disease at a very young age and it made us all wonder if heart disease is only reserved for the frail and old. Keeping the family history aside, men overall, are more likely to develop a heart disease than women.

You would be surprised to know that we can play an active role in maintaining and improving the heart health by managing the risk factors. This includes eating a balanced diet that should include fruits and veggies, cutting down on the smoking habits, staying active and managing stress by adding an exercise routine.

It is equally important to keep a track of your check ups and go in for regular screenings and checkups. This provides an opportunity to get screened for blood pressure issues or cholesterol which may help detect heart problems early before they become more severe.

Diabetes

We all love to eat sugary foods, and fizzy drinks are hard to resist, which can increase our risk of diabetes. Compared to women, us, men, have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes because male bodies have more belly fat which raises the risk of chronic diseases. Managing weight and getting more exercise can help reduce this risk.

Depression

The statement 'men don't cry' has killed more

men than any other diseases. There is no surprise that men's mental health is overlooked due to societal pressures and expectations. We are bound to look okay, no matter what we go through in our lives, leading to depression and suicidal thoughts in the longer run.

Some ways to combat depression include

Make time for exercise, even just going for routine walks

Writing down your thoughts is also a great idea

Open up to friends and family Seek professional help when necessary

Lung cancer

Even though women are more unlikely to live with lung cancer, men get diagnosed with the disease every year. The main danger is smoking and exposure to breathable carcinogens like asbestos. Regardless of gender, people die

at higher rates of lung cancer than breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer.

Avoiding smoking is essential to lowering this common health problem; note that staying away from secondhand smoke is also vital to preventing cancer.

Liver diseases

A healthy liver is important to keep you going for longer. Tobacco abuse can cause degradation to your liver. Moreover, spicy oily foods

can lead to many health issues that can become an obstacle in our daily lives.

Regardless of gender, a healthy lifestyle is the key to a healthier life. Taking precautionary steps is ideal to avoid developing the diseases mentioned above. You must always be watchful of early signs and not ignore prolonged sickness. Even prolonged headaches, muscle pain, etc., can be symptoms of a chronic disease. So no matter how busy you are, always find some time to maintain your health.

Zehra Batool

KARACHI

By Muhammad Ali

By Kayenat Kalam KARACHI

It’s that time of the year again when we all need a cool-girl haircut to beat the heat in this weather while looking as classy and chic as ever. Be it straight, wavy, or curly, knowing which haircut to go for can be a bit tricky as the “new look” is going to stick with you all summer long.

While getting a new haircut can be invigorating and reinventing, in summers, it’s mostly about what can keep you as sweat-free as possible, requiring minimal heat, time, maintenance, and hair products to style on a daily basis.

Whether to chop it all off or only add a few layers into your long and luscious strands, the endless loop of choosing the “right” length of your hair can drive you even crazier, especially when the weather is heating up day by day. But worry not, we have you covered!

We have rounded up a list of some cool summer haircuts for straight, curly, and wavy hair that you can opt for in 2022.

Layers

Layering the front of your hair is the easiest and most reliable way of framing your face and adding texture. No matter whether your hair is curly, wavy, or straight, cutting them in layers creates soft edges at the end of the strands. The haircut is subtle and will not completely transform your look. However, it will add a bit of style that is not only easy to carry in the scorching heat but also looks absolutely chic. People with straight and wavy hair can also consider choppy front bangs with layers to make it more stylish.

Asymmetric Bob

If you are looking for a mystique look to flaunt this summer, an asymmetric bob may be the right option for you. This elegant cut does not only take the weight off your shoulders but also gives you a soft look while framing your jawline to make your facial features prominent.

While an asymmetric bob is more sharp and evident on straight hair, those with wavy or curly hair can also get it done to make their hairstyle more interesting.

Hourglass Cut

It can be painstaking to spend hours styling your hair every day. This is where we would recommend the “hourglass cut” that is effortlessly stylish and also enhances your features. Most importantly, the haircut is well-suited in humid conditions as it doesn’t let the hair get too frizzy or beyond your control. This one's for straight and wavy hair people. However, those with curly hair can also add shape to their voluminous locks with this hairstyle.

Middle-Part Bob

A middle part blunt cut bob is suited for a short to medium haircut, sectioned in the center to frame the face and flatter your jawline. This timeless look is the “comfort hairstyle” for many, no matter the age, hair texture, or shape of their face. The addition of layers and texture to the ends gives you a voluminous yet delicate look that is super light to carry in summer.

Pixie with bangs Are you up for something daunting this summer? You may consider going for a bold yet super cute pixie cut with bangs. Taking the bold step of cutting your hair way up can be intimidating but a perfect pixie cut with layered bangs can never go wrong. It is the perfect way to frame your face while adding a dramatic flare to flaunt a distinctive look all summer.

Lob A long bob cut or “lob” is another cute look for those who don’t want to chop off all of their strands while opting for a shorter length than before. This is another ageless look that frames your face and makes your jawline and other facial features more prominent. Whether you have wavy, curly, or straight hair, you can get yourself the lob cut for a glamorous that is also light and breezy.

The Shag

Opting for jagged and shaggy layers will give you a cool summer girl vibe and a hairstyle that doesn’t require loads of maintenance every day. Depending on your face shape, natural hair texture, and length, you can customise this look in the way that suits you the best.

Face-framing layers

If you are a long hair person but want to keep the hair out of your face on hot summer days, opt for face-framing layers. The haircut will accentuate your facial features by giving you shorter layers in the front that are super easy to carry. While you can keep your gorgeous long strands at the back and experiment with different hairstyles all summer long

Finding a haircut that not only suits you the best but is also super light to flaunt in the ongoing summer season is not an easy task. However, once you land on the perfect haircut that is just right for you, your summer styling can be a lot easier. Be it curly, wavy, or straight hair, each look has its own charm that you can enhance with a bit of “chop-chop” to stand out from the rest.

Mahira Khan

Fahad Mustafa Humayun Saeed with Mahwish Hayat

By Muhammad Adil

Model, the word model literally means something that’s an example for others to imitate or follow. No one lives up to this definition quite like the women on this list below. From the way they have carried themselves through the decades to the social causes that they have pushed forward. These women really did wake up one day and decide “well, we are going to re-invent the entire profession.” These women prove that you can have it all if you put your mind to it (and if God decides to sprinkle a little extra beautiful and a big glug of sass when he makes you). The following list is as inclusive as possible so that you can draw inspiration no matter where you are in life and it also is not much of a top ten, we are beyond ranking women, each one is gorgeous in her own right and this list is mostly just to celebrate them and their success.

Top 7 models to inspire you to spice up your wardrobe

Carmen Dell’ Orefice

Any list celebrating any profession cannot be done properly without giving a nod to the OGs of that profession. So, this list would be incomplete without mentioning the oldest working model in the world at the moment. Namely Carmen Dell’ Orifice. She has adorned the covers of well-known fashion magazines such as Vogue as early as the 1940’s. She has also been very open about body positivity talking not only about how hard it was getting modeling gigs in her youth because she was considered to be too lanky, but she has also been an advocate for body positivity when you enter your golden years. She has been quoted saying that she has gotten more gigs in the last 25 years (she is 90 at the moment) than she had ever gotten in her youth. We hope she continues to shine as bright as she has her entire life and she continues to inspire the many that look up to her

Meesha Shafi

Meesha Shafi has been able to hold her head up high and through sheer star power alone been able to maintain a career that has been the envy of many. Meesha has shown to us that you can be a jack of all trades and master of them all too. She is a model, actress, singer and an artist to boot. She has been a brand spokesperson for L’Oréal, she has also worked on hit national projects such as “Muhabat Khawab Ki Soorat” and international ones such as “Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Impressed yet? No? well she is also a mother of two beautiful children. Meesha is an all-rounder in every term of the word and an inspiration to many young girls who like her are looking to follow their dreams and seeing the multiplicity of fields. She has found success and showed them that anything is possible. Meesha said once that if you can do justice to your career, you can do whatever you want. Those are words to live by.

Ashley Graham

Ashley Graham has been a forerunner in the body positive movement that is sweeping the fashion world at the moment.

She is one of the first models to call out on their “one size fits all” tagline being a sham as it only applied to a certain size of women. She debuted in 2016 on the cover of Sports Illustrated and since then has been burning the trail for many women and helping them accept themselves as beautiful.

Baemissal

Cherie Louise

Winnie Harlow

something you will ever run into in your life you most definitely have seen a cover or a runway that Winnie has graced with her presence. She stands as a testament to loving yourself because even when the world told her, that her skin makes her hideous, that she should correct it with makeup, she manifested its beauty by believing she is beautiful. .

Every woman on this list is turning the world on its head and grabbing it by the collar with their boldness and their mindset to not conform, to promote what beauty can be above a superficial level. They truly are some of the most beautiful among us and not just because of how they look but because they show that beauty isn’t just skin deep.

Ellie Goldstein

Ellie has down syndrome, she has worked with Nike, Vodafone and was even chosen by Gucci to model their beauty products. In an interview with British Vogue she said that she wants to show the world that anyone can model or act even with a disability. She represents the positive direction that the beauty industry is taking where equal representation is the new beautiful. A special mention here is also in order for her modeling agency Zebedee Management which is committed to representing models with disabilities. She is strong and beautiful. She truly proves that beauty does come from the inside.

Baemissal takes up this place on this list because she not only is an advocate for body positivity much like Ashley Garaham, she is also completely changing the fashion game in Pakistan. With bold looks and bolder choices that in a culture like Pakistan where everyone fears sticking out stands in protest. She is up and coming in the sense that she has not collaborated with any large fashion magazines or runway appearances however, she has gained great success impressing everyone with her appearances in boutique Pakistani fashion brands.

Winnie was diagnosed at a young age with a rare skin care condition called Vitiligo which effects the pigmentation of the skin, other notable celebrities to have this condition include stars such as Michael Jackson. She was bullied for this condition all her life but remained steadfast. Her commitment to making it big in the modeling world even landed her a place on the hit show “Next Top Model.” The bullying didn’t stop however, she was called a “cow” due to the patterns her condition makes on her body but this did not stop her and though the show may not be

Cherie was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was very young, due to which she had to go through a risky surgery that had her having her leg amputated along with part of her pelvis. But she took the what does not kill you makes you stronger thought process and applied it to her situation. She decided to model even though she was at first against the idea. She has slowly been growing in the ranks of Instagram models while also trying to enter the extremely competitive world of main stream modeling, having been shot for many boutique brands. She has been very open about her life and difficulties faced by being differently-abled. She has also been very open about the hate she has received but has maintained her glow.

By Fariha Rashed LAHORE

The creative juice

As it is for any artist, the creative process for birthing something exceptional is paramount.

“When it comes to musical inspiration, it can be triggered by anything. For us specifically, it is the band being in a room just playing and trying out ideas, so it can be anything from a beat, a guitar riff or maybe even a bass-line. For us melody and music arrangement are the starting points”, explains Sherry.

Reaching heights

To be featured on Coke Studio, is literally to be anointed royalty. It is therefore not at all surprising that a band of Karakoram’s caliber was brought on board for Season 14 and has done brilliantly on the show. How did it feel? “It has been surreal. Us just being a part of such a huge and well received platform and doing our own song there really changed things for us. We are a bigger family now and our fans expect a lot from us after this, which is kind of scary but that’ll be the driving force for us as we move forward”, says Sherry.

A musical collision

Karakoram, Talha Anjum and Faris Shafi came together to collaborate for 'Yeh Dunya’ on Coke Studio Season 14, delivering nothing short of a power packed performance where Urdu rap and heavy metal collided in the most delicious of ways possible. “As far as the creative process for Ye Dunya is concerned we always wanted it to have that ideal balance between rock and electronic elements. Being fused with rap gave it a new and promising direction”, reiterates Sherry.

Needless to say Sherry’s primal scream in the song is a highlight, inadvertently giving the listener goose bumps and definitely serving as an intense climax. So was Karakoram expecting ‘Ye Dunya’ to become the huge hit that it has? “Here’s the thing,” Sherry says, “You never know what to expect and how your song will be received by the audience. It can never be predicted. So it was a little nerve wrecking for us, but gladly it turned out to be amazing.”

Recently in May this year, Karakoram made a surprise move by collaborating on a song called Kyun’ with the very talented Hasan Raheem, who has been creating waves in his own right. The collaboration was unexpected owing to the fact that Hasan and Karakoram fall under two totally different, and dare I say, almost opposing genres of music. However in ‘Kyun’, the fusion of good old fashioned rock with electro-pop just works,

Us just being a part of such a huge and well received platform and doing our own song really changed things for us. We are a bigger family now and our fans expect a lot from us, which is kind of scary but that’ll be the driving force for us as we move forward

owing largely to the fact that Hasan’s part has been weaved in seamlessly, adding to the overall character of the song and giving it that extra oomph! Explaining the teaming up with Hasan Raheem, Sherry says, “After Coke Studio we were adamant that we must do more collaborations, so we started tracking demos and melodies. One of the demos had that vibe in which we could clearly see Hasan doing something, so we reached out to him and went for it!”.

Interestingly, ’ Kyun ’ touches upon the rise of mental illness, something that is affecting almost all of us to some degree, especially post Covid-19. Sherry feels that if through this song, Karakoram is able to help even one person in that state of mind, even slightly, that makes the band proud and grateful. “To break down mental blocks, positivity is the key. Keeping positive

company helps a lot, or maybe finding an outlet”, adds Sherry.

The vocals

Pretty much anyone who can hear right would agree that Sherry has a very powerful singing voice which stirs strong emotions in the listener, connecting with them deeply. Since music has been his only outlet to connect, express and emote, Sherry takes it very seriously. “Whenever I sing, I hardly open my eyes. This allows me go to a deeper level. Plus, I mean every word I sing, because I feel that I must be honest and that’s something I feel we owe to our fans overall as a band, with every performance”, he says.

Music to the soul

According to Karakoram’s front-man, music has the power to heal and his personal musical journey has helped him grow as a person. “It has shaped me in so many ways that I can’t imagine. Being more open to everyone is one of the things that I was never comfortable with, but with music, that has changed for me”, Sherry admits.

I think he hasn’t missed a single concert we have done in Karachi”, says Sherry with a smile. “It is always great to find people who are as involved in a certain project as you are, and with Fida, his skill set and his work has always been something that catches your eye”, he adds.

The business of making music

It is crucial for musicians to be consistent with their music releases and Karakoram couldn't agree more. The band has a monthly plan for song releases after ‘Kyun’ and have been working hard to achieve their goal. “We’ll be releasing a lot of songs this year”, promises Sherry. They are also planning a few more collaborations but releasing singles is their primary focus for the immediate future.

In Pakistan, it is important for musicians to be able to sustain themselves. A few years ago Sherry used to actively do session playing for other prominent artists, but later decided to start giving Karakoram his full and undivided attention. It was a tough but necessary decision for him to make at the time. “As a band we needed someone to take the driving seat and, in our case, it had to be me, or else we couldn’t have progressed the way we did”, he says. Unfortunately, more often than not, when corporations get involved with artists, music tends to get compromised. However, Karakoram has stayed true to their music. “I think it depends a lot on the producer leading the project, in our case Xulfi bhai (Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan). He was very helpful and cooperative with our sound and what we should and shouldn’t do. Plus, this time around the brand was also very open towards experimentation, especially with different genres”, recalls Sherry.

The band members feel it is important for people to stay humble when they make it big or achieve any level of stardom. In Sherry’s opinion it is also their duty to interact with fans and be grateful to them, because quite honestly an artist is nothing without them.

Onwards and upwards

As a band, Karakoram are here to make an impact, and going by their recent achievements and heightening popularity, they sure are on the right track. The idea is to keep coming out with new music “so that our listeners and fans are always with us through the process. The plan is to never settle”, confides Sherry. “I think it’s a wonderful time for our industry as it’s going through a transition phase. New artists are coming in. We are nothing but excited for everyone! It’ll just get better as we move forward, that I’m sure of”, he concludes.

Director Fida Moin did a fantastic job bringing Kyun ’ to life on screen. The creative process was somewhat unusual because Fida was involved way before the song was even made and was in an initial state of tracking. This, in the band’s opinion, helped him connect more with the process and the feel of the song, as is apparent in the resulting video. Fida has also been an amazing friend to the band. “He is someone who has been appreciating our music for a long time.

For a listener, being taken on an emotional ride when hearing a song is testament to exceptionally written lyrics, delivered by hard hitting vocals, set against a very catchy tune. With that said, the first band that comes to mind is Karakoram. Breaking out into the music scene and taking it by storm in 2018 with a song aptly titled ‘ Toofan ’, the band successfully reigns as one of the best contemporary rock music acts to be produced by Pakistan in recent history.

Together Bilawal Lahooti (drums), Omair Farooq (bass), Zain Peerzada (guitars), Annan Noukhez (guitars) and Sherry Khattak (front-man, songwriter and lead guitarist) form the band. “Technically all of us joined in different phases. The initial members were Bilawal and Omair who used to have a band named Overdose in Karachi. They later got me on board, then we moved to Lahore, changed our name to Karakoram and we found Zain and Annan here”, clarifies Sherry.

After Coke Studio we were adamant that we must do more collaborations, so we started tracking demos and melodies. One of the demos had that vibe in which we could clearly see Hasan doing his magic, so we reached out to him and went for it!

By Wania Sherwani KARACHI

My husband and I weighed two options, either to travel to Hunza for a good relaxing trip or to the stunning landscape in Skardu. We did not want any hassle on our trip, so we planned to go with a tour operator. We did some research online and asked around our friends and even the operator, whether to visit Hunza or Skardu. Almost everyone suggested that we travel to Hunza, mainly because the commute to that place was much better in comparison to Skardu – bumpy and dangerous roads. However, we decided against everyone’s suggestion and packed our bags for an exciting tour of Skardu, one of the hottest tourist spots in Pakistan these days.

The operator had told us not to worry about the weather as the places will have Karachi’s winter-like weather, which meant that it would be mildly cold, so you can imagine the kind of winter clothes we packed – jackets, cardigans and shawls. Whoever heard about us planning to travel to Skardu, asked us to wait until the weather gets moderate. But we were super excited to explore the destination hence, we did not waste a minute in further planning and took off to Islamabad.

From Islamabad, we planned to book a car that would take us to our dream destination. According to the itinerary, we planned to leave for Naran, and spend the night there. We decided to have stop-overs so we don’t get exhausted and tired. Then the next day, early in the morning, we left for Jaglot and reached Skardu by the evening.

Everything went according to the plan and how? Let’s find out:

En route to Naran

Islamabad was scorching hot. The cap ital almost had similar weather as Ka rachi, maybe even warmer. Well, our guide/driver, assured us that the weath er will get better as soon as you reach Abbottabad and Mansehra.

We were lucky as our guide, named Rizwan, is a native of Mansehra so he knew every single nook and corner from Islamabad to Skardu all throughout.

All during the journey, he kept tell ing us about the areas, the people living there, and the speciality of those local ities. We also visited countless spots on our way to Naran that I even lost count. However, I will mention those that I re member.

Kandhar River

It was the first proper stop and it was pretty amazing. As it was a beautiful afternoon, we sat on the bank of the river for a while, took some pictures and had French fries and tea from the nearest eatery. Meanwhile, we were enjoying the calm, what brought us back to the reality was those fries which were fried with skin and the tea was ridicu lously sweet. We could not finish either of those, yet paid a good amount of money. After having a disastrous experience with our food, our guide advised us to eat some thing at Kiwai Waterfall.

Kiwai Waterfall

A small waterfall, Kiwai, has freezing running water straight from melting glaciers and is surrounded by numerous restaurants. We stopped there for lunch and prayers.

As we were skeptical about our health and wanted to have light meals, we avoided meat and ordered a plate of alu ki bhujia and roti. And I bet, it was the yummiest bhujia I ever had, at least the best thing we had on the whole trip. Spicy bhujia with hot naan perfectly complemented the icy cold water flowing underneath our tables.

The sound of water was soothing, but it was so cold that we could not dip our feet in it for more than a mere few seconds. After having food, we began our journey again. We saw beautiful mountains in habited by modest houses and covered with greenery – it was truly fascinating.

With a lot of zigzag turns and up and down broken roads, we finally reached Naran, which was all overcast and extremely chilly. We checked into the ho tel, which was extremely good and the view from the window was just breathtaking.

When I opened my room’s window, I could see moun tains covered in snow with clouds hanging below and a water stream passing nearby our hotel. Just too picturesque. After the excitement of the scenic beauty calmed down, we planned to go out to shop heavy jackets, gloves and woolen caps as we had only packed for Karachi-like winters and this was nothing like the Karachi winters.

It was night by this time, while we were walking in the Naran Bazar, we had chicken handi for dinner and tea, of course.

We left for Jaglot the next morning. We had originally planned to go for river rafting as well but the bad weather put that on halt.

To Jaglot and the Lulusar Lake

Surrounded by mountains, snow and lakes the road was a smooth ride and we stopped briefly to admire the beauty of the Lulusar Lake.

It is a very popular tourist spot and is said to be a somewhat smaller version of Attabad Lake, though the latter one is immensely beautiful. We did not attempt to reach the bank of the lake as we were afraid of slipping and sliding down into the freezing water. However, it is still quite scenic from a distance.

Clean blue water, soothing breeze, mountains in the background and silence.

We spent about 15-20 minutes there and left for our next stop. The famous Babusar Top. As I said earlier, our guide was well-versed, he showed us different spots, including a lesser-known lake called Katora Lake.

Katora Lake

As the name suggests, the lake has a shape of a bowl which is no less than a wonder of nature. It is a very small lake, which has water from melting glaciers.

After enjoying that view, we again mounted on our car and left for our main destination, Babusar Top.

Babusar Top

The spot had opened just a couple of days before we started our tour as it was closed due to the snowfall and glaciers melting. On our way to Babusar, we saw a number of pieces of glaciers that were on the roads and they were cut

in half to make the way for vehicles. After driving through these glaciers and enjoying one of the hell ride in our car, as we reached the top, it was snow falling. For a Karachiite, it was a dream come true.

We picked a handful of snow and started playing with it by throwing it at each other. We took some pictures and videos to show people who were asking us not to go in this weather.

In a temperature of about -1 degrees Celsius, we Karachiites could only spend about half an hour there and then left the place.

I learned two things there, first, snowfall is one heck of an experience and second, global warming is real.

After Babusar, the journey became tiring and boring. At around 6:30 in the evening, we reached Jaglot, a place that is used as a stop for people going to Skardu or Hunza. Journey to Skardu

The commute from Jaglot to Skardu is beautiful with mountains surrounding the areas and the Skardu River flowing below us, but nothing too exciting apart from the world-famous site Junction of Three Mountains Ranges, where the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram meet. Moreover, another exciting scene was seeing the branches of the famous K2.

It took a tiring and extremely adventurous four-hour journey to reach Skardu.

All about Skardu

Skardu is a mind-blowing place and it deserves all the hype it gets. There is so much variety in there that you just do not get bored, you get to witness the best of all worlds at one place - there is desert, waterfall, lake, mountains and what not. The valley had moderate weather, warm days and chilly nights.

The day we reached Skardu, we rested. We stayed at a very beautiful hotel, which had a huge lawn in the back and the front and the hotel staff offered us free cherries fresh from the trees.

The next day, we had to visit two destinations, Manthoka Waterfall and Cold Desert.

In the beginning, we were not too thrilled to visit the place as we believed it would be something like the previous waterfalls we’d seen. Though I had seen that it was higher, it did not excite us much.

It took us around two hours or probably more to reach there and it was all worth it. It was just incredible. The wind was strong and we experienced droplets from far. We got closer to the waterfall and got almost wet but it was something we had gone for.

Cold Desert

The Cold Desert is the highest in the world and we witnessed the strongest winds there and it was freezing cold.

Moreover, we were not as prepared for these places as we were for Babusar. However, we still enjoyed it big time. There are horse rides, jeep rides and buggies there, which you can get on somewhere around Rs600 per head, depending on how good you negoThe next day, we had to visit the most talked about tourist spots of Skardu, the Shangrila Resort and Upper Kachura Lake.

Shangrila Resort

The fare to enter the resort is Rs1,000 per head and it is irredeemable. I might be bashed for writing it, but after visiting so many beautiful places, especially in their raw form, I felt Shangrila Resort was underwhelming. The vicinity is absolutely huge. Like so massive that we could not reach its view point as it required about half an hour of It is clean, controlled and a great place to just sit and relax. We also took a conventional boat ride there and thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe this place is something that is more beautiful through the camera lens.

The best thing I experienced in that resort is that I saw Markhors for the first time, which are kept in a room, and it was surely a once-in-a-lifetime

Upper Kachura Lake

This lake is just around a 15-minute drive away from Shangrila. After reaching there, you have to walk and then climb down a steep mountain, but they have stairs for that.The lake is absolutely mesmerising. We had a speed boat ride there and just loved our time there but I admit it was much harder to climb those stairs back to the top to reach

Doesai Planes

And then came our final day of the field trip. We had to visit Deosai Plains, also known as Deosai National Park, and for that, we needed a 4x4 vehicle. So another guide came to pick us up in his Prado and we were off on about a four-hour-long journey.

Deosai Plains are protected by UNESCO World Heritage Centre as it is home to brown bears and other animals. The route to reach the plains is not developed at all and is quite dangerous. However, when you reach there it is all open and you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. We once again found snowfall at the Deosai Top. We stopped there for some time, again enjoyed the weather and moved on. It was snowing heavily there and for once we considered returning, then again thought we shall never come here again, so we continued.

Our main destination was Sheosar Lake. We drove and drove and drove in the plateaus for 2.5 hours to reach the lake. Though we were tired by then, the magical view of the lake was refreshing. It is so beautiful that it cannot be expressed in words and no picture can do justice to that scene. The snow-covered mountains around and there is this crystal clear lake in the middle. It was very relaxing and since it was our last destination of the tour, we sat there for about a good one hour.

If you are planning to visit Skardu, I would suggest you open the car windows, otherwise, you will miss the smell of nature and the music in the silence.

By Kayenat Kalam KARACHI

Back in the 60s, the peak years of the Pakistani film industry, Mubarak Malik’s Deewana hit the theatres as the country’s first sci-fi horror film which had some resemblance with two of the Hollywood’s classic horror movies, The Spiral Staircase and The Invisible Man. Shortly after that, the Pakistani audience witnessed their very own version of Dracula in Khwaja Sarfraz’s Zinda Laash in 1967.

While the horror movies in the west rely heavily on graphic violence, gore, monsters, and disturbing images to evoke terror and fear among the viewers, the Pakistani horror genre, on the other hand, comes with a melodramatic plot featuring very human-like ghosts, living a very human-like lifestyle.

The concept of supernatural and extra-human is often attributed to certain religious and cultural practices in South Asia; the reason why the stories of the djinn, ghosts, and other errant spirits are quite compelling to the local audience.

However, be it the lack of equipment, limited budget and resources, religious limitations, and content constraints, the scifi horror genre failed to thrive during the downfall of the local film industry during the 70s and 80s.

It was not until 1989 that Saeed Rizvi gifted us with another sci-fi movie Shaani, the first-ever film with special effects in Pakistan. Shaani starred the veteran actors Babra Sharif, Muhammad Ali, and Sheri Malik in the lead and became widely popular for being one of a kind. Later in 1994, Saeed Rizvi directed and produced Sarkata Insan, the Pakistani sci-fi horror action musical drama film. These two films aided in the mini-revival of the local film industry in the 90s, but it was short-lived.

In the new millennium, the horror genre in Pakistan also transformed gradually and we witnessed different trends. The Pakistani slasher film Zibahkhana was released in 2007 with Omar Khan at the helm. The film also premiered at the NatFilm Festival in Denmark and was screened at various festivals worldwide.

Azfar Jafri’s Siyaah came in as Pakistan’s first independent mainstream horror movie in 2013 but unfortunately, couldn’t live up to the expectations, despite having a surreal plot. The first Pakistani psychological thriller Hotal was released in 2014 as the first Hindi feature film outside Bollywood. The film was written and directed by Khalid Hasan Khan and bagged the award for Best Film at the 3rd Delhi International Film Festival. Moreover, Meera, the lead actress in the film was honoured with the Best Actress Award. Unfortunately, the film Hotal did not perform well at the Pakistani box office and turned out to be a big flop.

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

The world of rock and roll can be divided into two parts – before and after Elvis and Up Close: Elvis Presley tackles the ‘after’ part very well. Written by award-winning author Wilborn Hampton, it features the rise and fall of Elvis Presley who came, who sang, and who dominated the music scene in the 1950s and the 1960s, before losing it all in the 1970s.

At a time when an Elvis biopic is about to be released, featuring Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as his manager Colonel Tom Parker, reading about the King of Rock and Roll would be the best way to know about him. The highlights are known to all who grew up listening to him – that he belonged to the middle-class, drove a truck before becoming famous, and married Priscilla Presley, whom he met when she was just 14 years old. But there is more to Elvis than meets the eye, and this book brings forth all those moments to the readers.

Some might not agree with the author's thoughtful account of the beloved and controversial Elvis Presley, but the truth is that the music industry in America owes a lot to Elvis. Before he entered the music scene, Frank Sinatra was a big thing both as a singer and an actor, while comedy-duo Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were a rage. However, with the split of Lewis–Martin in the mid1950s, the American entertainment industry had a vacuum that needed to be filled. Entered Elvis Presley who captured the youth’s hearts and minds with his soulful songs, and hip-shaking that no one had seen before.

Besides making teenagers scream, parents fret and his managers sweat, this biography tells us that Elvis was a youngster who wanted to be famous like James Dean.

Since his parents weren’t well to do, they kept moving around in search of work, taking the young Elvis with them. He was always a loner, especially after learning that his twin brother died at birth, and kept to himself even in school. However, after he was bullied around in the black neighborhood they resided in, his parents had enough and moved to Memphis, and stayed in a private housing scheme so that they could bring stability to their only child’s life, which they did.

Two incidents according to this biography changed Elvis’ life – one was going to church with his family on Sundays and

The following year, we came across Jawad Bashir’s directorial debut Maya however, the film neither did well at the box office nor was able to win the audience. With a cast of emerging actors including Ayaz Samoo, Shehzeen Rahat, and Danial Afzal Khan, Emran Hussain presented us with a one-of-a-kind supernatural horror film in 2016, titled Aksbandh

In 2018, when the stakeholders of the Pakistan entertainment industry joined forces to uplift local cinemas, Syed Atif Ali’s Pari was expected to be the pioneer of the modern horror genre however, the film was unable to leave the desired impact. We came across another psychological horror film in 2019, titled Kataksha. The Saleem Meraj starrer flick lacked what it takes to make a sound horror movie that we are still waiting to see in Pakistan.

However, with the emergence of new filmmakers, the future of the Pakistani horror genre looks brighter than ever. Where rom-coms rule the local cinemas, it will take more than financial freedom —- a good script, high-quality graphics, special effects, prosthetic makeup, and technical staff —- to come up with a movie that will revolutionize the sci-fi and horror genre in Pakistan.

Usman Mukhtar’s upcoming short horror film Gulabo Rani is one such project in the pipeline with the potential of raising the bars high for all future horror flicks. Written by Adil Mudar, the film has a cast of emerging stars including Usama Javed Haider, Meiraj Haq, and Danial Afzal.

The multi-talented Usman Mukhtar has not only proven his mettle as an actor but his award-winning short film Bench was also screened at the Cannes International Independent Film Festival.

“I have always loved acting but it was about time I went behind the screen and took charge of the camera”, Mukhtar shared in a press statement while talking about Gulabo Rani.

The poster of his upcoming horror film is also making rounds, featuring three boys, each with a distinctive but super-creepy look that seems amusing at the same time. According to Usman Mukhtar, Gulabo Rani is a blend of both horror and comedy and he simply cannot wait for its release.

“There were moments of extreme horror and then moments where we all just cracked up laughing. So, the chemistry between the entire crew was just amazing and I can’t wait for everyone to see this true labor of love that we have prepared for you all”, he added.

Looks like we are in for a totally different ride with a horror-comedy movie which is a rare sight in the local cinema. Given that Usman Mukhtar has never disappointed the audience or the critics with any of his projects so far, we are looking forward to his upcoming short film which is expected to be released soon.

the second was being gifted a guitar on his eleventh birthday. Both these events were instrumental in transforming him from a shy kid from Memphis to the King of Rock and Roll in a few years’ time. He not only began taking interest in music but also absorbed all kinds of music that played in the surroundings (beginning from the church) or on the radio. Music gave him wings and he even went on to challenge his music teacher who gave him a C in the subject, labeling him as the one who couldn’t sing. Elvis told the teacher that he could sing, but she didn’t appreciate his kind of singing, and a few years later proved her as well as the whole world wrong.

the Army in the late 1950s, and served in the Army and as Private Presley. During his stint as a soldier, he lost his mother and met Priscilla Presley in Germany and both these events made him a changed man.

According to this book, Elvis was very close to his mother who never left him even when his father was jailed for a forgery when he was young, while meeting Priscilla made him realise that she was the one, and he needed to settle down with her. The writer doesn’t stop here and talks about all the other girls in his life including his first girlfriend and last, alongside the many others who came and went.

Had it been someone else’s career, two years in the army would have derailed it but according to the author, Elvis was not anyone else. When he did return to showbiz after spending two years in the Army, he was a changed man – older, wiser, and mature but by then, The Beatles had taken over the music scene, and Elvis had to introduce new things to his act to attract the audience, such as karate, an act that he picked up from the Army.

Although his career came back on track after multiple hits in the mid-1960s, he started spending more money than he was earning, began to take his friends along as crew, and even fired his manager Colonel Tom Parker after one spat. Although they did patch up a week later, Elvis’ career was going nowhere and this book tackles that aspect in detail.

How Elvis met Sam Phillips, his first mentor, how he formed a band that went on to launch Elvis as a singer, and how Colonel Tom Parker took him under his wings, that’s a story worth a film! The way the author describes the story keeps the readers busy in finding out more as they get to learn a lot from this underdog story. How a trucker from Memphis became a rage all over the world is stuff dreams are made of, and Elvis Presley achieved his dream due to his passion, his work ethic, and above all, by being humble to all.

The writer explains the reasons behind Elvis's success in these pages as well. He tells the readers that as soon as his ‘hippy’ dance movements, his songs, and his aura became a rage, Elvis’ demand increased all over America. He not only became the most-loved singer but also acted in a handful of films, becoming a Hollywood celebrity as well. It was during the height of his popularity that he was inducted into

It also brings forth the story behind Graceland, the dream house that he promised his parents when he was young. Due to the constant moving around, he pledged to buy a house where his parents could live without the fear of being kicked out, and Graceland was that promise fulfilled. It was at this very house where he passed away in August 1977, but that had more to do with his off-stage activities than his music.

The book’s final few pages do tackle the ‘What killed Elvis Presley’ phenomenon as the author blames his affairs, his dependence on drugs, and his growing physique as reasons for his downfall. That’s why his wife Priscilla left him when she saw him unable to control his actions, while his father fired the rest of his team but not after Elvis disapproved of his dad’s remarriage and relocation to Graceland. Whatever killed Elvis, he will be remembered for bringing ‘music’ into the lives of his fans and will be remembered for making a sound that was all his own.

Some might not agree with the author's thoughtful account of the beloved and controversial Elvis Presley, but the truth is that the music industry in America owes a lot to Elvis

Soaring high and basking in love; Dobara toppled down with a plot twist that no one saw coming

By Ghazala Sulaiman

Last year, Dobara began its supremacy on television with a story we all thought our society needed and was worth a watch. The firecracker pair of Bilal Abbas as Mahir and Hadiqa Kiani as Mehru made it all the more promising and we started falling in love with their enticing equation.

Critics lauded it for promoting marriages with widows, condemning forced and child marriages while breaking taboos revolving around aged women marrying later in life. Drama buffs adored Mahir's character and how it was growing throughout the story. Mehru became a fan favourite, especially because it was essayed by Hadiqa and how gracefully she essayed the role of a woman whose teenage aims were killed when she married a dominating partner.

The success was too good to be true for Dobara. Soaring high and basking in love; it all of a sudden toppled down with a plot twist no one saw coming.

The unredeemable hero

We have witnessed the progression in Mahir's character as an unemployed, young boy who is madly in love with his materialistic girlfriend, Narmeen portrayed by Zoya Nasir. He even stole some gold just so he could marry her. Later, when all his tactics go south, he marries Mehru- a rich, good-looking widow to take revenge on his old flame. But somewhere, we saw hope for Mahir along the plot. While he stood up for Mehru when her family ridiculed her, took a bullet for her, and smartly handled her business; we deep down wished that Mahir falls in love with his wife. But then came a twist in the tale that led to Mahir losing all the fan love. Narmeen's entry changed the whole game of the story as Mahir forgot his friendship with Mehru and his eyes got enchanted with Narmeen's beauty. From here kick-starts a chapter of cheating in Dobara, where our hero goes on dates with his former beau and plans his marriage while including his mother in the decision. Next we see that Mehru's touch starts to disgust him and he feels appalled

From here kick-starts a chapter of cheating in Dobara, where our hero goes on dates with his former beau and plans his marriage while including his mother in the decision. Next we see that Mehru's touch starts to disgust him and he feels appalled even sitting next to her

even sitting next to her. The turn of events also created a spree of ageist dialogues in the drama that caused immense social media outcry. Time and time again, Mehru was labeled as Mahir's mom- which is surely an insult to Hadiqa. Despite the fact she is older than her male counterpart, she has poise and beauty that makes her look timeless on the television. We also hear Mahir go on a rant about Mehru's wrinkles and how she wants a younger companion for himself. Of course, this unexpected shift in the male protagonist’s character came out as a disgusting surprise for fans, who were shipping for Mehru-Mahir from the beginning. But is this all a facade by Mahir to unmask Narmeen?

Once a fraud, always a fraud

While this article is being penned as we await Dobara's ending, the drama has become the hotbed of aggressive social media conversations. Women are revolted how their favourite drama is going downhill with its profound message of wedding with widows and aged women being lost over time.

There is a possibility that Mahir might realise his mistake in the last episode or even is planning this all to bring Narmeen to book. However, none of this will justify his candid meetings with Narmeen as being loyal to his wife. What's more, his harsh comments about Mehru's age and looks cannot be vindicated by any good gesture by him. We should not forget that Mahir and Mehru's journey never started on honest terms. Mahir always had selfish motives and perhaps, nothing might change that in him. He was a con man who can never appreciate true love due to his materialistic attitude toward life.

If truth be told, characters like Mahir have become a norm on our screens. In the much-popular Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay, Aswad portrayed similar characteristics. He was a toxic chauvinist from the beginning and even his change of heart, in the end, didn't make him a hero in the eyes of the viewers.

Unfortunately, Dobara lost its essence when it began promoting the message that married men can cheat on their spouses over more beautiful women, at any time during their relationship. It also broke our faith in second marriages and the idea that widowed women too can find love in life. All in all, we hope for a happy end for Mehru, where perhaps she is an independent boss woman and content with life sans men who manipulate her and mock her for being her own person.

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Whatever goes come up, comes down but the way the Jurassic franchise came down is nothing short of ‘titanic’. The franchise that began nearly three decades back with a bang through Jurassic Park ended with a bust, with the final installment Jurassic World Dominion being the weakest one of the series. Unlike the previous installments that catered to those cinegoers who loved dinosaurs, this one tried too hard to be something in the 007, Mission Impossible, and Taken universe, and fails miserably.

The plot

Four years after the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, dinosaurs are living in metropolitans with present-day humans and animals. In such a world, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) try to protect both the dinosaurs and Sir Benjamin Lockwood's cloned granddaughter Maisie (Isabella Sermon) by living in a remote mountain area away from the city. However, when Maisie is kidnapped along with a baby Velociraptor, Owen and Claire decide to rescue them both before it’s too late.

Unknown to them, paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) are also on a mission to find out the person behind the rebirth of an extinct locust species which threatens the world’s crop and food supply. Both the teams (Dearing-Grady and Sattler-Grant) meet at the headquarters

of a very powerful organisation that runs a few public-interest projects but more dangerous ones, in secret.

With the help of Chaos theorist Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), they are on the verge of completing their missions, when something tragic happens.

The good Jurassic World Dominion plays on the emotions of all those fans who had grown up watching the entire series. Some of the parents of today were the very kids who forced their parents to buy a ticket back in the 1990s when dinosaurs were a novelty. For them, this film has nostalgic value and their kids would love it since it would help them connect with their parents.

The VFX throughout the film were first-rate as were the actors’ performances considering they had to give expressions to dinosaurs when there weren’t any at the time of the shooting.

The reunion of sorts was also an intelligent step but should have remained in the background since it was always going to be Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard’s flick. Adding new dinosaurs, taking the story of a cloned girl forward, and then merging the two together was something that needed more time, and had the film stayed to the plot that linked the first two films together, it might have helped the third one.

Add to that John Williams legendary soundtrack and you start to wonder that nothing could go wrong here, but it does because it’s a Jurassic Park flick where nothing goes right. Yes, the action sequences are expertly done, and the cinematic experience the film gives to the audience is not-to-be-missed, but only these two elements don’t make a film successful, it becomes successful when the makers cater to the audience, instead of taking them ‘for a ride’.

The bad

‘With great franchise comes great responsibility,' but director Colin Trevorrow doesn’t seem to take any responsibility regarding the film’s failure here. His urge to bring back the stars of the original Jurassic Park films and to merge them

with the Jurassic World ones was a terrible idea and should have been killed at the pre-production level, but he must have thought that if Avengers could do it, so can I. That’s where he was wrong because the moment the oldies – Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum – appeared it became Jurassic Park IV and not Jurassic World III.

Also, the script was pointless, too coincidental, and must have been written after the original cast agreed to be on board because the writers seemed to be overwhelmed, hence aimless. In an attempt to diversify the franchise’s final outing, they added a Taken angle (girl gets kidnapped, parents try to rescue her), along with some elements of Mission Impossible and James Bond series (save the world from destruction) but failed miserably. The dinosaurs were secondary to the plot for the first time in the series, and when you make the main characters part of the supporting cast, it eventually leads to destruction.

If anyone is to blame for the film’s failure, it’s the scriptwriters who came up with a mediocre script and handed it over to the director who approved it. The blame must be shared between the director who cowrote the script with Emily Carmichael, whose only feature film credit was a failed sequel to Pacific Rim before this flick. For reasons unknown, they either tried too hard to please the fans or didn’t try at all, and depended more on the VFX than on improving the script filled with loopholes.

There were more coincidences in this film than there were in the last five Hollywood films combined; for a film where a Chaos theorist is one of the main leads,

there was nothing chaotic and everything happened as it should have in an ideal world. If there was a car crash, the car landed where there were well-wishers around; if there was a heist, then not a single camera was able to detect it taking place; if there were dinosaurs around, they would fight amongst themselves than the humans and if a code was to be entered, the guy who knew it would conveniently enter it as if he knew what the issue was.

Veterans Laura Dern and Sam Neill’s chemistry might have been the only good thing about the third installment because Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard didn’t have any. They might have acted as the parents of the kidnapped ‘special’ girl but it seemed they just met each other randomly'. In a movie filled with dinosaurs of all sizes, they survived an air crash, a cave full of dinosaurs, a swimming dinosaur, and could find a helicopter as easily as finding the keys in your pocket, at a time when a grand evacuation was taking place. That’s too much of a coincidence for one movie!

The verdict: 2.5/5

Watching Jurassic World Dominion was like wasting 146 minutes of your time for something that could have been a contender, but was busy trying hard to lose the match. It was as if the writers and the director wanted

not only the film to fail but hurt the entire franchise. Had the creator of Jurassic Park Michael Crichton been alive, he would not only have disapproved of the script but passed it through a shredder so no evidence of Jurassic World Dominion remains. Sadly, he passed away a few years back, and couldn’t see how his idea was butchered into nothing respectable.

The way the director added layers to the movie in order to save it was one of the main reasons that it didn’t impress. It was certainly better than Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom which itself was a ‘fallen’ film in the franchise but now is the second-worst of the series. No explanation was given about how dinosaurs who couldn’t survive the ice age were running in a snow-covered area, swimming below thin ice, and feeling comfortable in low temperatures, and the same can be said about watching dinosaurs attack like trained animals, which was too hard to digest.

Even the makers of Netflix’s Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous used more logic in their animated series than the makers of this ‘franchise killer’ where they took every idea imaginable, threw it in a can, and executed whatever came out. It wouldn’t have been surprising had some of the dinosaurs actually talked like humans since that’s exactly what the target market –young kids – would have loved the most!