BOL NEWSPAPER | July 24 2022

Omair Rana - The villain you love to hate

KARACHI By Maheen Aziz

An actor, a teacher and a debate coach, Omair Rana has become a household name in the TV industry. He has carved out a reputation for himself as an actor and has many hit TV serials to his credit such as O Rangreza, Sang-e-Marmar, Pyaar Key Sadqay, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi and Sang-e-Mah.

In this exclusive interview with BOLD, Omair Rana talks about his entire showbiz journey that led him to where he is today and spills the beans about some controversies, his career choices and his recent film, Kamli.

When our conversation started, Omair was still doing his wardrobe for the video interviews and he had not yet eaten, but he so kind to offer me his food when it finally arrived. I sensed a bit of a restlessness in him to which he completely agreed, saying he is content yet restless. "I carry my own hulk inside", we both laughed, "But honestly, I am very fortunate as Kamli has been released and in Pinjra, I got a chance to work with Hadiqa Kiani. I loved my character Mastan in Sang-e-Mah and my character, Zulfi in ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ was a truly gray character and I took it up as a challenge."

Let's talk about the first time you encountered the camera as were you feeling anxious or calm at that moment as you usually look from the outside? "I still remember the first time when I got on the screen. It was ‘Teen Bata Teen’ and overacting would work for that sitcom, but I needed to put my theater lessons on the back burner and had to re-learn for different mediums. However, the horrible thing was that I had to build on-screen chemistry immediately and how would I do that? I needed to be casted and many directors, for some reason, won't cast me. And no one would go through and tell me about such technical points as making eye contact with the camera and the rest. Therefore, I had to learn all of it at work. I would personally not direct or teach an actor on the set, but Nauman Ijaz is among those who would do that and he would provoke me on the sets sometimes. I remember the day when we were shooting for O Rangreza and he was constantly directing me on the set, and I had to do a scene with him. It was irritating me to the extent that when a point came where I was almost exploded, but later I realised that I really needed that provocation which helped me. So, I am grateful.

Sharing his experience about his role in the film ‘Kamli’, he excitedly spoke about his character and the process of observing it for the film. "I think man don't know the process of self-discovery or they are not emotionally intelligent or maybe they do not give themselves enough time to process things which, as a result, divides them. Malik, my character in Kamli, is a divided person. He belongs to the landed gentry and his values are clear, however, culturally he has a split personality which he needs to assume, raising many questions about him as does he want to compromise what he is seen doing?

As regards the narrative and vision of Sarmad Khoosat about Malik, his character, not deliberately but smoothly, becomes an important part of the story, and that too because of a crazy eccentric wife, Zeenat, the role admirably played by Nimra Bucha. Both husband and wife seem to struggle with a rath-

er pronounced self-conflict which imparts strength to the plot being in the periphery of the story. Kamli has great music and focuses on moments and the magic that it has is quite matchless."

"I needed a strong reason to say no to Sarmad when he offered me the role. If we talk about the marketing language, he is a brand by himself and a consistent one. He is honest with his work and his understanding of the art and content is above par. He is a visionary director and I feel lucky to become a part of this project. The script was beautifully written as it was a piece of classic literature which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Omair seemed a bit confused when asked about the characters that he enjoyed

Talking about his acting prowess, he said he cannot sympathise or empathise with his characters, good or evil. Omair really enjoyed working with such phenomenal

the most. He facetiously said that he might be going through an existential crisis as he does not know which character he really enjoyed throughout his career. "I might need some alone moments to think about the number of characters I have played and which one is my favourite. I believe every character has a shade of an actor, however, the human psyche is very complex and it keeps evolving with time.

actresses as Saba Qamar and Sania Saeed.

A theatre actor does not mind walking around in bare feet or sitting on the floor

Omair has worked with Nimra in ‘Churails’ and it was also his first experience with Saba Qamar in Kamli.

"I have seen the film industry in multiple ways and as a person, who has some knowledge of art, I can firmly say that Pakistan cinema must have its own language and footing. If we ever try to emulate the standards set by the Indian film industry, we will end up doing a bad job.

"We have an added advantage that we have great crew and technicians, best performers and legendary artistes in our own 6,000 years-old soil. Above all, we have great scriptwriters and a wonderful language. We don’t need to follow a particular formula.."

Talking about the drama industry, Omair gave candid and brutally honest answer, "If I were given the freedom as an actor, I would not want my children or family to starve and I would do both theater and film. I don’t mean that I will detach myself from the TV as it has given me immense recognition, love and fame, but I am talking in terms of craft."

"We, not as performers but as traders, have cracked a formula, replicate it and think small. That is why TV works and cinema doesn't. We neither think of growing the market nor making

collaborations with others. To revive the cinema industry, we all have to collaborate; cinema owners, distributors, producers, exhibitors, and filmmakers and all have to sit on the same table to alter the existing mentality and process that rules."

"One has to admit the fact the stage belongs to the actor. TV and films, on the other hand, don’t belong to the actors and – are ruled by filmmakers, producers and other people of that category. The stage is a 100% actors medium where ’he can rehearse for days and when the curtains are drawn, there is no chance of retake or rewind, as there is a single take. More so, if someone goes through the etymology of the word 'rehearse,' it means to break something down and build again then break it down again. I am saying this with such a purposeful intent because breaking something down that you have built is quite painful. However, the truth is that you cannot build unless you break it and that is what actors must go through.

In the end, an actor, showing more of a collaborative and humble attitude, knows the ups and downs of this process and is able to accommodate with both the TV and the film industry.

A theater actor does not mind walking around in bare feet or sitting on the floor. It is all about attitude. .

And when one has an entrepreneur’s mindset, one will do both films and plays

for theater, and this is how we will have people like Sarmad and Zahid Ahmed while many of them are good-looking too (laughs).

"I am a little tired of the über-left, which is being excessively obsessed with bringing in political correctness, while a human should be more than politically correct all the time. People might have misconstrued things which I had said or done but I have never tried to be politically correct at any stage in my life.

Since almost all actors have now jumped on the business bandwagon of clothing brands, salons and whatnot, Omair thinks that this is not his cup of tea. However, he feels anxious when he thinks of royalties and he is up for being caught in controversies knowing the fact that such things may ruin an actor's career and affect his or her personal life. He says, "These things have a tremendous affect but I have a very thick skin and controversies wouldn't affect me at all as I don’t pay heed to them. One has to be careful when putting things out in the public. I sometimes think as why to feed those people who are bringing nothing but mayhem in your life. The right thing shown in the wrong manner can really disturb things."

Omair Rana at his menacing worst

Pyar Ke Sadqay Omair Rana was at his menacing worst as Sarwar in this Farooq Rind-directed play and brought Zanjabeel Asim Shah's creation to life in such a way that no one wanted him to have a happy ending in Pyar Ke Sadqay Had his character just been an abusive stepfather to Bilal Abbas' Abdullah, it would not have mattered but he had the eyes for Yumna Zaidi's Mahjabeen whom Abdullah married during the course of the play. He used his influence to destroy the lives of everyone around him, be it Mahjabeen's father, or his own step-daughter played by Srha Asgr, but in the end, his much-older wife played by Atiqa Odho finds out his true intentions, and he ends up in jail.

Since almost all actors have jumped on the business bandwagon, Omair thinks this is not his cup of tea

Sang-e-Mah Written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Saife Hasan, Omair Rana was at the top of his game in this Shakespeare-inspired tragedy. From his perspective, whatever his character Mastaan Singh did in the story was the right thing, be it killing his master Nasrullah or attempting to kill Atif Aslam's Hilmand. Add to that his brilliant portrayal as he without trying that hard helped the director hit the bull's eye. To play Mastaan Singh he completely changed his look and donned a beard, wore a turban, and changed his mannerisms. If he wasn't that well-known as an actor, many would have thought that the producers got hold of a real-life Sikh for the role.

Qurban Omair Rana played narrow-minded Qaiser Khan in Zafar Meraj's Qurban where he tortured Bilal Abbas's Jamal by kidnapping his wife played by Iqra Aziz and then making her marry his younger brother Shahmir, played by Shehzad Sheikh. Since the marriage of Shahmir and Heer (Iqra Aziz) was decided when they were young, Qaiser was doing the right thing in his mind, but after shooting Jamal dead on meeting Heer, he crosses the line. In the end, his character had to commit suicide to find the easy way out, and Omair Rana was as convincing as anyone could be even in the final scene.

An Early Artiste to Production Prodigy! Moiz Abbas Rizvi

By Bold Desk KARACHI

Having started his journey a decade earlier on television as a teenage artiste, Moiz Abbas Rizvi is now one of the emerging talents from Pakistan, making a big name for himself and for the country in the field of TV and film production and direction. Having grabbed many international awards and accolades at the age of 25, Moiz Abbas is the young gun behind such award-winning productions as Keho Do and Fruit Chaat. With an eye to the stars, he is now vying to achieve more and go a lot further.

In this exclusive interview with BOLD, Moiz Abbas talks about his passion, ambitions and frustrations and reveals how arduous it is for an iconoclast like him to become a part of the showbiz industry, which does not move beyond portraying a saas-bahu narrative time and again and relishes entangling it with run-of-the-mill ideas and pedestrian themes.

How did you enter the field of film direction and production?

This was back in 2012 when I finally called it a day and decided to quit acting and focus on learning the art of TV direction and production. Getting down to the nuts and bolts, I started off my production journey as an intern on the set of Who Dobara a Hum TV production. So that was my humble beginning and since that eventful decision I took almost a decade ago, a significant period of time has elapsed and as a dedicated and passionate learner, I feel I am yet a long way off to hone my skills in such a specialized field. Briefly put, my long yet

brief journey as a producer speaks volumes of the fact that one can always cut the mustard through consistent hard work and determination. Achieving several international awards and recognition that too at the young age of 25 is easier said than done. For me, there are miles to go and now my eyes are on winning Oscars for Pakistan.

Having jumped on the production bandwagon, how do you find Pakistan’s entertainment industry?

As a rule, things are not as simple or straightforward as they appear to be. Frankly speaking, it’s quite tricky as well as challenging to work in the country’s entertainment industry which cannot be referred to as an industry in terms of copyright rules and regulations in particular. For instance, the industry has yet to make sure the rights of crew members and support staff, a depressing reality indeed. On the other side, however, Pakistan is globally known

for its TV serials that predominantly excel in their creative and artistic genre. When it comes to cinema, we still have a long way to go and need to work hard to help the silver screen regain its lost glory. All in all, we need honest people to take the industry in the right direction.

In this regard, TV and film producers must be equal to the occasion and defy the commonplace norm by working on novel ideas and producing such stories that could bring in a positive change and add value to viewers’ lives. Here I would like to mention one of my recent projects

just mentioned that the real talent in Pakistan holds no value, do you have any bad

I have not had a sort of bad experience with the industry, however, both of my flagship projects that won global acclaim were initially rejected by producers and TV channels here in Pakistan. As an example, I produced a short film titled ‘Fruit Chaat’, which featured a young, hijab-clad Girl who is bound to a wheelchair but still defying all odds by completing her studies and living her life on her own. Though the film was all about women’s empowerment and education, but sadly one no expressed any s interest in it. In a word, whenever one dares to get off the beaten path and endeavours to project an unconventional theme other than the humdrum saas-bahu saga one receives an outright rejection, which is really unfortunate and demotivating.

In your opinion, what are the advantages of working in Pakistan's entertainment industry?

It’s fun. Working in the entertainment industry allows you to meet lots of new people regularly and this helps you learn different things from them. You also get a chance to travel a lot. In fact, working in this field tends to be a joyride because of huge monetary returns.

Tell us about your productions so far and the awards that you have won?

As of now, I have grabbed 4 awards.

Keh Do won an award from Zee5 and the Fruit Chaat, a short film, achieved three awards:

Zee5 Global Content Festival 2021, MIFF 2021 (UK) and BDB IFF 2020 (Russia).

What are you planning right now?

We were planning an 8-episode sequel of Fruit Chaat but then decided to produce a full-length feature film for the international market. Currently, we are working on its script and storyline while its official announcement will be made soon. The plan is to cast top-tier actors and actresses from Pakistan and here I can give you a strong inkling that we the cast will include a leading Indian actress as well.

Habs - Just another TV serial!

Habs aptly carries the intended message in the guise of family struggle, sibling rivalries, and a bittersweet love story

KARACHI By Ghazala Sulaiman

Habs is a new addition to the contemporary drama genre, based on a pre-defined social theme that is mostly related to women and is purposefully produced to highlight and serve the causes as encapsulated by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, commonly known as SDGs.

Thanks to foreign-funded NGOs, women’s rights activists and a coterie of soi-disant social reformers, who have been making the most of the pliability that characterizes Pakistan’s media sector, earnest efforts are being made to prove the single point that the rights of the country’s women are grossly violated and they are deprived of equal opportunities available to men.

Featuring Feroze Khan and Ushna Shah as lead actors, ‘Habs’ is directed by Mussadiq Malik.

Possibly because of its central women-oriented theme, Habs features more female characters than male ones as each woman seems to be in pursuit of exploring diverse ways to lead their lives on their own terms.

Ayesha, played by Ushna Shah, is a young, talented girl who is now vying to pursue higher studies after passing out her bachelor’s with distinction. However, her family wants her to find a job to provide for them. During the job hunt, she even faces harassment at the hands of a recruiter.

At long last, Ayesha lands a job in a private firm headed by Basit, the male protagonist played by Feroze Khan, who falls in love with her. Despite entering a new phase of life, Ayesha is fully concerned and determined about her professional growth and career development.

In so doing, she grapples with many challenges, and being a victim of office politics, she is sneered at by her colleagues, who go to the extent of maligning her reputation in the eyes of others. In spite of all these, Ayesha stands tall and single-minded, focusing on eking

out a living for her family as a leading breadwinner. Basit, on the positive side, is a strong believer in women’s rights and their empowerment. In his personal capacity, he takes every measure to safeguard the rights and respect of his female colleagues, including Ayesha, while taking unscrupulous employees to the task.

Played by Dania Anwer, Bano, who is Ayesha's elder sister, gives her full support and protects her from the wrath of a self-centred family.

Ayesha’s mother is an egocentric and self-absorbed woman who is not in the favour of her daughter’s marriage in a little while since she is the family’s sole meal ticket.

A beautician by her profession, Bobby is Ayesha's aunt, who lives in the same house. Being aged and single, she too faces tough times to make her business run. A case of different personas embodied in an individual, Bobby, overall, is a selfless woman.

Zoya, the younger sister of Ayesha, revels in attracting and enticing men towards her. Unlike Ayesha, Zoya tends to exchange her phone number with other boys and goes out on a date with them too often.

More than a prosaic love story, Habs stands out from the other plays because of its profound plot, intriguing storyline along with strong performances by the lead artistes. Feroze Khan, in particular, must be praised for playing a different role this time, compared to the ‘angry young man’ avatar he was earlier known for.

Just another TV serial hopping on the bandwagon of women’s empowerment, Habs conveys the intended message quite vigorously that too in the guise of a family struggle, sibling rivalries, bittersweet love story, and all that jazz – no more, no less.

Possibly because of its central women-oriented theme, Habs features more female characters than male ones

’Keh Do,’ a motivational series produced in the backdrop of Covid-19 pandemic. All praises to God Almighty, Keh Do managed to bag the Zee5 Global Content Festival Award just because of its unique content, which was primarily aimed at providing the people a motivational aura laced with a feeling of hope to help them stay buoyant at the time of acute stress and depression prevailing all over the world. Also, that was my second consecutive award accorded by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises, making me the only Pakistani to have won two awards from Zee.

As you

experience in this respect?

I have not had a sort of bad experience with the industry, however, both of my flagship projects that won global acclaim were initially rejected by producers and TV channels here in Pakistan

Moiz Abbas Rizvi

To vape or not to vape?

What happens to your skin when you vape?

Saggy Face

The human skin needs proper blood circulation to stay taut and lifted, stay firm and radiant. However, combustible and electronic cigarettes expose your body to free radicals and deplete the levels of vitamins A and C - antioxidants that contribute to collagen and elastin production. The result is a sagging skin, particularly on arms and breasts.

By Zehra Batool KARACHI

In days gone by, nicotine, a widely used recreational stimulant and anxiolytic, was primarily used for healing wounds, reducing pain and releasing stress. Today, it is largely consumed as a stress reliever through tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes, a battery-powered device initially consider less harmful way for breathing in nicotine. . Vape, also known as electronic cigarette or e-cigarette, provides nicotine by heating a liquid which contains nicotine along with some chemicals and a flavouring substance.

Vaping, taken as a safe alternative for smoking tobacco cigarettes, is gaining popularity day by day, giving a rise to a distinct vape culture, particularly among the youth. Many studies suggest that vaping only helps in prolonging the smoking habit and it too leads to increasing the risk of developing a litany of deleterious harmful diseases. Several health risks are associated with vaping, including many skin disorders and related complications.

Premature Aging

Nutrients are essential for the human skin. Vaping, however, causes lack of nutrients, which leads to premature aging in the form of skin dryness, enlarged pores, sagging, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture. This takes place not just around the mouth, but it also contributes to developing wrinkles around eyelids and forehead areas as well as narrow lines around the outside corners of eyes, known as crow's feet.

oily and waxy substance that clogs pores, holds dirt and dead skin, which can result in acne. Propylene glycol from e-cigarettes can cause drying of the mouth and throat, as well as skin dryness, which leads to acne breakouts. People tend to wipe away vapour that settles on their skin during vaping and may experience acne by touching their faces frequently..

Research studies reveal that vaping carries its own set of health risks, other than such commonly-known negative effects associated with smoking.

Acne

When skin becomes too dry, the human body starts producing excess sebum, an

The Periodic Table of Marvel

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Some health risks of vaping include:

Deteriorated Immune System

Vaping compromises the immune system and makes lungs more vulnerable to infections. Those who vape are more likely to fight off infections like Covid-19 and are more susceptible to the other vagaries of infections.

Lung Disease

Consistent vaping damages lungs since most vaping liquids contain vitamin E acetate, which can cause lung scarring over time. A persistent cough may also result from metals in the aerosol building up in lungs.

Cancer

Propylene glycol and glycerin are found in e-cigarettes. When a vape pen is heated, propylene glycol and glycerin produce cancer-causing substances such as formaldehyde, acrolein and acetaldehyde. Squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are two types of skin cancer that are twice as common in smokers as in non-smokers.

Brain Damage

Passive vaping, also known as second-hand exposure, is a condition where nonvapers are also exposed to the exhaled aerosol from a vaping device. Nicotine, however, is equally harmful to both vapers and non-vapers, particularly teenagers and young adults, whose brains are still developing. Vaping may also cause a neurodegenerative disease in later stages.

Heart Problems

Nicotine is present in some e-cigarettes, even those that are marketed as nicotinefree. Nicotine raises blood pressure and adrenaline levels, increasing the risk of a cardiovascular attack, blood circulation issues and coronary artery disease.

Metal Exposure

Different metals are usually found in the blood, urine, and saliva specimen of vapers. It has something to do with the fact that e-cigarette aerosols comprise a considerable amount of metals such as lead, aluminium, copper, manganese, arsenic, iron, and zinc. Inhaling these metals may precipitate lung damage and a variety of cancers. The vaping culture is continuously evolving with a huge following of youngsters and teenagers who take it as just another hobby, despite its severe, long-term effects on health.

The Periodic Table brings back the sweet childhood memories of studying in a school where knowing the properties of major and minor chemical elements was difficult for most students but easy for some. Through Melanie Scott’s The Periodic Table of Marvel, however, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will get a chance to improve their knowledge of the good, the bad, and the ugly Marvel characters, and know their elemental properties for fun.

This book contains more than 130 character profiles of Marvel superheroes, supervillains, and supporting characters who help these two in their battles. Written by resident Marvel Melanie Scott in the style of the Chemistry Periodic Table, the book reveals the previously unheard-of connections between some of the characters, in such a way that you can both read it in one sitting or consult it when your heart desires.

There is a reason why this book has Marvel's seal of approval, something that’s not available to other books revolving around Marvel characters. It expertly divides all major and minor MCU characters into different categories where they are bound with similar characters, irrespective of their heroic or villainous nature. Not only that, the author reveals the properties that bind these characters together and discusses why they have been chosen to stick together in one category and not in another one. All the characters are classified into 7 categories which are further divided into subcategories.

For instance, Radioactivity will contain heroes and villains who were hit by Gamma radiations (led by Hulk), bit by a Spider (Spider-Man, of course!), or even developed powers after coming in contact with Waste (Daredevil comes to mind!).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg for the next six chapters take you on a fun ride where you will encounter characters that are classified as ‘Evolutionary Anomalies’ (Mutants like Wolverine and Professor X), ‘Interstellar Energies’ (Fantastic Four and Captain Marvel) as well as Chemical Reactions (where the First Avenger Captain America is mentioned alongside the most humorous character, Deadpool).

With Vision and Ultron making their presence felt in ‘Synthetic Life’, Iron Man and Hawkeye getting placed in ‘Peak Humans’ for their lack of superpowers, and Thor, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther finding themselves in ‘Extra Dimensional Forces’, this book does a huge service to Marvel Comics and it’s growing fanbase around the world. Even the latest Marvel TV shows like Moon Knight and Ms. Mar-

vel are mentioned in these pages to give you the updated information that you want to know before committing yourself to those shows.

Characters in this book are accommodated as per their value in the MCU. Some characters, for instance, get a full two-page spread, others are restricted to just one page while many are cramped to one page with multiple characters. However, each entry is accompanied by a comic book panel that features the character’s image, its real name (if it has one!), its superpowers, its first appearance in a comic, and a summary that explores its origin, its relation to the category as well as its conclusion, if that character is no more alive.

There is a reason why Miles Morales (from the Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse) is not in the same category as Peter Parker, or that Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom are placed so far from each other despite being close in reality. To know about the evaluation that landed these characters in their respective categories, you will have to know about the science-based aspects of these characters, as well as a little history of their origin.

What this book is missing is a giant periodic table enclosed separately or printed on the centre spread which has all the superheroes and supervillains mentioned so that one can stick it on the wall, or consult it on the go to remember the connections between many characters. Despite the wealth of information presented here, a lot is left to be desired since Agent Carter or later Captain Carter isn’t mentioned for some reason, and neither is Wong who took over as Sorcerer Supreme when Doctor Strange went missing.

What this book does manage to do is take the readers down memory lane and refresh their knowledge of their favourite and not-so-favourite characters. You might know that Ant-Man can alter his size, but do you remember that Stilt-Man is able to reach the height of 300 feet?

You might be a fan of Captain America but what about Union Jack or Anti-Cap who have been classified alongside the Cap in the ‘Super Soldier Serum’ subcategory? From Mutants or Asgardians, Eternals to Celestials, Avengers to Inhumans, The Periodic Table of Marvel covers them all because they make Marvel, marvellous.

If you didn’t know why organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and teams like the Inhumans were created in the presence of the more successful The Avengers or the X-Men, and what is the difference between Venom and Anti-Venom, and that the current Nick Fury is the son of the original Nick Fury, then you need to brush your skills through this book. Otherwise, this guide will make your day and revise your interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has been delivering since the early 1960s, when Fantastic Four kick-started the MCU.

The vaping culture is continuously evolving with a huge following of youngsters and teenagers who take it as just another hobby, despite its severe, long-term effects on health

Disney + has become the home of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ever since WandaVision was aired in 2021. Since then, it has been keeping Marvel fans busy with one series after another, and while WandaVision, and Hawkeye may not return for a second season, the others would because of their interesting storyline, characters, and ability to grab the audience’s attention. Ms. Marvel is more than likely to come back to the screens, both in films, and TV, because its first season went well, especially in the South Asian region, which was represented for the first time in the MCU.

What makes Ms. Marvel different from all the other Marvel series (except maybe Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) is the fact that it introduces a new character as well as an actor in the MCU. You might say Moon Knight before moving ahead but it had Oscar Isaac in the lead, who has been here, there, and everywhere. In Ms. Marvel, a young actress plays the title character and shines in this coming-of-age story, where she saves her friends, meets her ancestors and discovers new things about herself, that was previously unknown to her.

Also, it is the first Marvel series to feature actors from India and Pakistan for characters based on a Pakistani family. Before this venture, only Karachi-born Kumail Nanjiani had made a Marvel debut (as a superhero, in The Eternals) but after this series, many Pakistan and Indian actors are now part of the MCU, through Kamala Khan, of course. Iman Vellani who plays the title character also becomes the first Muslim superhero in the

MCU,

The Plot

When a sixteen-year-old American girl of Pakistani descent, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) wears her grandmother’s bangles, she is granted superpowers, after which she tries to save the world just like her idol Captain Marvel. However, first, she has to learn to be a superhero, then control her powers and finally juggle between her life as a superhero and as a normal teenager. The Clandestines (led by Nimra Bucha) want to use the magical bangle for their own gain, but are defeated whenever they are close to winning the battle, thanks to the Red Daggers (led by Farhan Akhtar).

When she finally masters her powers, she becomes Ms. Marvel and sets on a journey to greatness.

Will Kamala’s family – parents Muneeba and Yusuf (Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur) and her friends Bruno and Nakia (Matt Lintz and Yasmeen Fletcher) – accept her as a superhero and help her go places or will she have to bow down to the bad guys who murdered her great grandmother Ayesha (Mehwish Hayat) when they couldn’t find the magic bangle back in 1947, watch Ms. Marvel for all the answers.

The Good Ms. Marvel will have the same special place in every Avengers fan that Black Panther has, while the Disney + series represents the Muslim population around the world, Black Panther gave the African Americans the representation they waited for. Add to that some brilliant visual effects and action sequences and the viewers had the taste of something they had never seen before. Since the 1980s, Muslims have been presented in films as backward, bad guys who want to destroy America for some reason or the other. That mindset will definitely change with Ms. Marvel, which is

a coming-of-age story of a high-school student whose parents might be from Pakistan, but who is 100% American.

Since the story takes place in the same universe as Peter Parker (of Spider-Man fame!), Ms. Marvel is likely to take more or less the same path as the webbed guy. Before she teams up with him (trust me, she will team up with him), she will have to perfect her powers and find new allies who can teach her the tricks of the trade. Some might try to use her while some will save her, and for that the Disney + folks will need new actors from India and preferably from Pakistan, opening a new horizon for the many talented folks in the country. After all, Fawad Khan and Mehwish Hayat as parents of the character that grew up to be Samina Ahmed did a fabulous job in the series, and the same can be said of Nimra Bucha, who appeared in all but two episodes.

Directors Adil and Bilall (Bad Boys for Life) and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy must also be commended for their impressive work behind the camera. The way these Muslim directors improved Muslim representation in Hollywood and infused popular Pakistani songs– including Ahmed Rushdi’s Ko Ko Ko Rina and Coke Studio hits from the latest season – is nothing short of brilliant. If Hollywood changes its stance on Muslims from now on, it will be due to their positive representation through this series.

The Bad Not everything that starts with a bang necessarily ends with one; the viewers especially from Pakistan didn’t agree with what Nani (Samina Ahmed) had to say about the creation of Pakistan. First of all, the word Pakistani use for what happened on August 14, 1947 is ‘Independence’ because they gained it. The word ‘Partition’ is used by Indians and the British because from their point of view, the country was divided into two – India and Pakistan.

Then there was the issue with the Clandestines who were underutilized; they could find the secret lair of the Red Daggers within seven minutes, but not the house of Ayesha’s daughter for over seventy years, which seems strange. Also, three love interests seemed too much to digest for a superhero and only one – Kamran – would have been fine. The addition of Kareem (Aramis Knight) after Bruno (Matt Lintz) gave the show an ‘Archies’ touch.

Finally, the way the federal agents ransacked the mosque twice seemed humiliating since they wore

boots at a place of worship. On the second visit, they could have shown a little compassion, since they knew what they were doing was wrong. Also, some people have issues with the ‘Karachi’ shown in the series, because the interior scenes weren’t shot in Karachi but elsewhere. Yes, there were some outdoor shots of Karachi in the episodes where Kamala Khan visits her Nani, but they were inserted to make it as if she was in Karachi.

The Verdict 4/5

Ms. Marvel not only gives Kamala Khan a chance to discover her roots but also a secret identity through which she can use her powers for good. The first season of the series revolved around the origin story that was followed by the coming-ofage part, whereas it seems that the second season will deal with bigger issues. Now that Ms. Marvel is a certified saviour of New Jersey; it will be hard for DODC agents to locate her or even apprehend her for being a superhero.

How will the characters of Kamala and Ms. Marvel grow, which Pakistani actors will appear in which characters, and which Pakistani songs will appear in the MCU is what matters most to the viewers at the moment. Who doesn’t love a superhero they could relate to, Ms. Marvel used that to connect with every other Muslim viewer, no matter where he or she was in the world.

They were not only happy to see a superhero that shared their roots, had similar parents as well as the same colour of skin but also the same issues. With Kamran and Kareem now on the same side, the next season could be a roller coaster ride both emotionally and super heroically for Ms. Marvel. Let’s see when and how she returns to TV because before the second season, she will be lending a hand to Captain Marvel, in The Marvels.

The superhero series on Disney + will go down in history as the first ever to represent Muslims accurately!

and just like Black Panther who represented African Americans, Iman represents brown people from Asia.

KARACHI

By Omair Alavi

Time 100 Gala 2022

Desi Fusion Wear Wear the Best of the Both Worlds!

By Mubarra Yousuf KARACHI

The fashion trends in Pakistan have been, for quite a long time, spearheaded by the traditional Shalwar Kameez, a statement which defines and introduces us in the whole world. Of late, however, we keep making funky and modern twists to stay in the fashion game but also have our options open when it comes to daily work wear or home wear. A trend that has taken the front seat, particularly in the last few years, is blending our traditional wear with those of other parts of the world, mainly the West. The ‘fusion wear’ is certainly the best term to describe this kind of attire, based on the best of the East and the West by intermixing their fashion techniques and trends together.

Historically speaking, it all started with a simple pairing of a kurti and jeans instead of the traditional shalwar, a style that prevails to this day. Striking a balance between the old and the new, the fusion wear has now evolved into adopting more Western styles and cuts and blending them together into what we have traditionally worn for ages. Usually sticking to prints and patterns, more suited to our culture and the Pakistani taste, and then fusing them with Western-style cuts or incorporating pieces of Western wardrobes as a whole, is resulting in quite a creative diversification in our fashion statements.

The fusion fashion, a whole new world by itself, can be exemplified by sarees paired with crop tops to sarees, which are paired with straight trousers. From shalwars to plazzos and kameez to tunics or dresses, fusion fashion is nothing short of examples and has taken the fashion scene by storm with a perfect balance of comfort, convenience and utility, while seamlessly transitioning from day to night wear, no matter where your plans take you.

Here are some style guide examples, which are beyond the run-of-themill pairing of shalwar and T-shirt

bring in the current fad to help you hope on the fusion bandwagon.

Pattern on pattern perfection

Going for the pattern on pattern look is not for the faint of heart. However, Sonya Hussyn has done it in a style what not many people can do. Yet, Sonya makes it look so effortless and graceful. With a Western twist on the kurta and a straight trouser, she drapes a matching dupatta to still keep that Pakistani flair to the outfit. Bold makeup and heels just carry this outfit to the very end.

Accessories that steal the show A simple outfit as a base happens to be the perfect canvas to play around with your accessories. The pairing of traditional jewellery and a vest along with simple balloon-style jeans and a long-sleeved shirt is how Aisha Azhar chooses to glamorously go about her day. The antique oxidised silver necklace and combat boots are not a pairing you usually see but one we can get more.

A modern twist on the traditional saree Saree is one of the traditional outfits that offers us great leeway to play with different styles, patterns and wearable. The traditional saree has been paired with the likes of trousers crop tops, belts and even blazers on top, and Mahira Khan has been at the forefront of saree evolution with a mix and match of patterns, colours and addons. This also helped the saree emerge as more of a casual outfit than being a centuries-old attire worn on merely formal occasions.

In hopes of nicer weather

If you are short of ideas of how to pair two different outfits together to create a new one, just throw a jacket on top of your favourite matching separates in your closet. Areeba Habib looks classy as ever in a plain black shalwar kameez and matching loafers with a denim jacket on top. You could easily swap out the denim jacket with a bomber jacket or a more airy shrug to go batter with ongoing heat. Throw on some gold hoops and a bag and you have the perfect outfit for work or hanging out with your pals or simply running to the grocery store.

to start

It’s your time

Whether you decide to make a statement or choose to be more laid back, these outfit inspirations are open for you to experiment as you desire. Go as you please but in doing so, just remember to have fun with all the new possibilities that already exist in your closet.

Amanda Seyfried

Dwyane Wade Zendaya

Jon Batiste

and

Back to Basics Looking effortlessly cool and still being über-comfortable as you go about your day can surprisingly go hand in hand and Hania Amir has definitely been following that cheat code. This basic yet stylish and comfortable pairing of an oversized kurta, gym tights and a low top converse is one you can never go wrong with. It’s perfect for the summer heat and also for the days when you just want to lounge around indoors or in the open air.

Best MET Gala looks 2022

Billie Eilish

Sarah Jessica Parker

Ashton Sanders

Thomas Doherty

Bad bunny

Rosalia

Gigi Hadid

Jhonny Suh

Kaia Gerber

Proliferation of Hindutva ‘Paap’

Considering the spectacular rise of Hindutva pop and its huge popularity among the far-right Hindu nationalists in India, this new genre of hate music is rapidly emerging as a soft but lethal weapon of mass destruction against Muslims

By Fariha Rashed LAHORE

Hate, a toxic misallocation of emotion and energy, begets nothing but more hate and polarisation. And when it is intentionally used to spread more hatred and fuel division among humans, it leads to an irreparable catastrophe. Anywhere in the world, music is considered a form of expression that is meant to heal, instill joy in people and bring them together. In today’s India, however, music is being used to spread Islamophobia, thanks to contemporary hate politics that is sweeping across the land of Ram and Sita. Since the last few years in particular, an alarming surge in ‘Bhagwa and Hinduvaadi music,’ an emerging genre of religion-inspired pop music, has been witnessed across the country. Hate music in India mainly emerged after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist party led by an RSS-activist Narendra Damodardas Modi, came into power in 2014. According to Al Jazeera, Hindutva Pop uses anti-Muslim lyrics and is meant to escalate prejudice against Muslims in India, the largest minority of the country. Pushing both anti-Muslim and antiPakistan sentiments in their songs and music, most Hindutva-inspired artists belong to rural and middle-income groups which overtly cater to the lot of die-hard Hindu nationalists and conservative Hindutva followers who happily subscribe to such hate music and give it a huge response on social media in the form of likes, shares, and comments.

Most music videos feature a mix of symbolic imagery such as a stick, sword, lynching and beating of Indian Muslims, as well as the demolition of the Babri Masjid

Taking religious hatred and ensuing violence to the next level, the most popular audio-visual format of Hindutva Pop openly incites anti-Islam sentiments and propagates Muslim genocide in the public. In April 2022, a Hindu festival marking the birth anniversary of Lord Ram became violent. A mob of Hindus threateningly waved swords while chanting songs calling for violence against Muslims. Many mosques were damaged and burned, while shops and houses of Muslims were also looted and burned to ashes.

Upendra Rana is a Hindutva pop singer from Noida city in Uttar Pradesh with over 370,000 YouTube subscribers. He is quite famous for his songs, “India is only for Hindus. Muslims must move to Pakistan, ”and Dharm ke naam zameen gayi, Islami mulk banaye” (In the name of their religion, we lost our land; they made it an Islamic nation). Many such music videos can be found on YouTube and other social media

platforms, with millions of followers mostly from the Hindu far-right who support and shar these songs with others of the same ilk.

“Insan nahi ho saalo, ho tum kasai; Bahut ho chuka Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai” (You are not human, you are butchers; we have had enough of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood) are the lyrics of a devotional song by Prem Krishnavanshi. The YouTube video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times since it was uploaded.

Krishnavanshi, a graduate in engineering from Lucknow, sings both in Hindi and Bhojpuri languages.

“I don’t think my music is Islamophobic. My music signifies truth and if someone thinks it is Islamophobic, I can’t help them feel that way,” says Prem Krishnavanshi.

Hailing from a middle-class family of Bhopal, Laxmi Dubey started her career as a part-time reporter in a local newspaper and has now become a well-known Hindutva pop singer star with about 300,000 followers on YouTube.

She is often invited by the BJP activists to perform in different cities. A lyric of her popular songs says:: “Agar Hindustan mein rehna hoga, To vande mataram kehna hoga” (If you want to stay in India, praise the motherland).

Ved Vyas, the president of the BJP Youth Wing of his city Bikaner, is yet another emerging Hindutva pop singer, who calls for the ‘saffronisation’ of India in his songs. In Hinduism, saffron is a symbol of religious fundamentalism. The introductory lyrics of his song are: “Saffron will reach every household, and the rule of Ram will return”.

Kavi Singh, a singer with nearly 1 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, initially sang to promote the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. However, as time passed by, she changed her focus and started raising religionbased issues in her songs such as claiming back ancient Hindu temples that were converted into Mosques by Muslim rulers over the period.

Most music videos feature a mix of symbolic

AFP Korean-American K-pop star AleXa has wanted to be on stage since she was a kid, but her search for fame in South Korea was also fuelled by another reason — to help her mother find her birth family.

Adopted from South Korea by an American family, her mother knows little about her birth culture nor does she speak the language.

The blue-haired 25-year-old who recently won the American Song Contest — the US version of Eurovision — told AFP that eating kimchi was one of her few cultural links to her Korean heritage growing up.

That is, until AleXa discovered K-pop in 2008.

"That kind of sparked my dream and my drive to become a K-pop artist," said the Tulsa-born rising star, who has been dancing since she was two.

Growing up in Oklahoma, AleXa said seeing entertainers on-screen she could identify with as a Korean American showed

Many such music videos can be found on YouTube and other social media platforms, with millions of followers mostly from the Hindu far-right who support and shar these songs with others of the same ilk

imagery such as a stick, sword, lynching and beating of Indian Muslims, as well as the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Ahmed, a Delhi-based music expert and researcher, says such hate songs, meant to vilify

her "an interesting path to follow".

At university, she took home the top prize at a K-pop competition — a trip to South Korea to film a reality show where she met executives from her future company and entered the gruelling star-making training so many young hopefuls embark on.

She moved to Seoul in 2018 and — having never spoken it while growing up — studied Korean at an academy for a few months, continuing her lessons by watching movies and TV shows while undergoing intensive dance classes.

Search for family

While AleXa has found success as a K-pop idol, her quest to find her mother's family is proving to be a more arduous process, foiled by South Korea's restrictive adoptive laws.

Born in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul, her mother was adopted when she was five.

Like many adoptees, she would like to trace her birth family, but "the laws here in Korea are a little strict regarding if the child can find their birth parents and vice versa," AleXa said.

South Korea places the right to privacy of the birth parent above the rights of the adoptee.

The country has long been a major exporter of overseas adoptees, with hundreds of thousands sent away since the 1950s.

After the Korean War, it was a way to remove children — especially those born to local mothers and American GI fathers — from a country that emphasises ethnic homogeneity.

Even today, unmarried pregnant women still face stigma in a patriarchal society and are often forced to give up their babies.

"The opposite party must be in search of the other in order for the first party to gain information," the singing star said.

That has not happened in their case, so her mother is still unable to find AleXa's grandma.

However, she has had some success through the internet and DNA testing, and found some cousins in other countries.

AleXa said they haven't given up hope.

"Hopefully in the future, we can find some of my Korean family here. It would be nice," she told AFP, adding that she now considers

Seoul her "second home".

Representation

the Muslims in India, will not have any effect on the Indian music industry.

“Music is an art and I don’t find any sort of art in these songs so I believe the Indian music industry will have no impact on it. On the other hand, the trend will certainly affect communal harmony in India,” according to Ahmed.

However, considering the spectacular rise of the Hindutva pop and the huge popularity it enjoys among the far-right Hindu nationalists across the country, this new genre of hate music is rapidly emerging as a soft, but lethal weapon of mass destruction, solely aimed at fomenting vitriol and inciting violence against Muslims c.

Classified as ‘hate content,‘ these antiMuslim songs grossly violate several sections of the Indian Penal Code. However, no actions have yet been taken by the country’s law enforcement agencies and no cases of hate speech have been registered against the hatemongers, proliferating the Hindutva ‘Paap’ with no hold barred.

When NBC decided to put together the American version of the Eurovision song contest, AleXa — "a Eurovision fan" — was invited to enter to represent her home state.

It gave her and her team a chance to bring K-pop to American audiences, and they immediately began planning.

"How can we do staging, what concept would work, what would really grab the American audience while staying true to the K-pop?" she told AFP of their process.

Beyond nationality or language, for AleXa, K-pop is a commitment to concept, styling and execution -- the hair and makeup, sets, staging and cinematography must be perfect.

"I really enjoy, you know, the spectacle, the art, the wonder, the beauty that is K-pop," she said.

For her American Song Contest finale,

AleXa descended from the rafters to the stage on a throne, then launched into choreography of military precision with her dancers as she sang "Wonderland".

Her win has K-pop fans applauding her for bringing the genre front-and-centre to American reality television.

She hopes the growing diversity in the industry will bring the music to more countries.

"Growing up, some of the only representation that I saw for myself was Mulan, an animated Chinese character, and I'm a Korean-American," she quipped.

But since Korean bands like BLACKPINK and BTS went global, "K-pop has become such a safe space for so many kids".

She believes the growing number of nonKorean idols within the industry is also good for her adopted home.

"Korea is a rather homogenous country. So having all of these foreign idols, I think it's a really cool eye-opening opportunity for Korea as well," she said.

Growing a green thumb – Gardening!

By Dr Khwaja Ali Shahid KARACHI

Longing for the produce or harvest from the Mother Nature can be traced back to the times when Adams and Eve succumbed to their uncontrollable desire for the otherwise forbidden fruit in Heavens. The first ever mistake, known to mankind, which ultimately brought down human race from Heavens to the planet Earth was deeply rooted and stemmed in one of the most nature-loving hobbies there could ever be, Gardening!

Over the centuries, the beginning of civilizations throughout the globe was generally centered on the proximity of the river water to the places of their dwelling, where the farming and gardening could be ensured, and hence the sustenance of the societies. With farming and societies thriving, soon, they were exchanging seeds and harvests. So far so that, the farming of unique crops, also paved way for the likes of East India Company to come and rule the Indian subcontinent for centuries, arriving just with an excuse to conduct business for local spices that was not being grown in United Kingdom.

The ultimate dependence of human, animals and livestock on the gardening resources resulted in technically improved and advanced protocols of gardening being developed and implemented over a period of time so as to ensure maximum produce within minimum space, and hence the concept of optimization in farming started to creep in.

Growing herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers can be broadly categorized into farming commercially and gardening at home. The commercial farming guarantees that the constant provision of required vegetables, fruits and herbs continue throughout the year, to meet and fulfill the food requirements of the society. To attain maximum produce output from their efforts the farmers, adhere to usage of tractors, fertilizers and pesticides. In commercial farming, the fertilizers which are used to improve the plant health and development and also to boost the fruit quantity and size being produced are mostly chemical based and inorganic. Similarly, the pesticides being used to effectively cure the plants of any bugs, weeds and insects that may otherwise be harmful for the plant or fruit growth, are also chemical based and inorganic. These pesticides may be toxic to other plants, friendly insects, birds, animals and even those consuming the fruit from the plant sprayed with that pesticide.

Many vegetables and herbs can easily be grown for kitchen gardening very cheaply, depending upon the space available. There is a wrong belief among people opting for this hobby that gardening requires huge spaces. For instance rhizomes like ginger and turmeric can easily be grown in used tubs for shallow gardening

Pesticides and chemical fertilizers can contaminate both soil and water as well. From birth defects to cancers and almost everything in between can be related to exposure to chemically formed inorganic pesticides as one of the causative reasons.

The other category is of those who are Growing Food at home. With growing awareness among masses of the plants being commercially grown with unsafe watering, toxic pesticides and inorganic, harmful chemical based fertilizers; many focused on growing food at their home in huge quantities sufficient enough to fulfill their family requirements.

Again, there was usage of pesticides and fertilizers, but that was within control. A sub category within this concept is that of Kitchen Gardening. The focus here is to grow as much an organic food as possible with usage of home-made fertilizers and pesticides that are less toxic and organically developed.

This concept of growing at home got a boost during the Covid era, when lockdowns and shortages became order of the day. Families back

home reverted back to their ancestral pastimes and the war time hobby of gardening, which in the process provided the family members an amazing opportunity to spend quality and result producing time together. They were now sowing seeds, watching their seedlings grow into mature plants, watering and taking care of their herbs and colourful flowers that would eventually turn into the fruits that they would merrily harvest together and gleefully post their gardening accomplishments on the social media; which in turn would entice many more to pick up the spade and make better use of the available free time.

Kitchen gardening ensures availability of potted herbs and those fruits and vegetables which you may have planted and are fruiting at the time of your requirement. The freshness, crispness and the actual taste and aroma of these on-the-spot harvested organic produce being used in the meals are absolutely no match to the ones being brought by a seller on a vegetable cart, bought online or from a nearby mart.

Many vegetables and herbs can easily be grown for kitchen gardening very cheaply, depending upon the space available. There is a wrong belief among people opting for this hobby that gardening requires huge spaces. For instance rhizomes like ginger and turmeric can easily be grown in used tubs for shallow gardening. You may grow tubers like potato in a rice sack and spring onion on any empty space available in pots, even around the stem of the plants which are already planted. To grow seeds and seedlings, you can use egg-trays and cups before transferring the small plants to pots and grow bags, or even bigger spaces if you have any.

When it comes to kitchen gardening, in cities and metropolitan like Karachi, there is a concern among many of the space available. There are many ways to tackle this issue. You may opt for vertical farming that is growing vegetables and fruits by spreading the vines on vertical trellis especially developed for that matter, instead of spreading these on the ground. Similarly, in areas with better, gardening conducive climate there is a concept of gardening closets where different required herbs are grown in small pots placed on shelves in open cabinets. You may use grow bags as well, other than the traditional clay pots.

There was usage of pesticides and fertilisers, but that was within control. A sub category within this concept is that of Kitchen Gardening. The focus here is to grow as much an organic food as possible with usage of home-made fertilisers and pesticides that are less toxic and organically developed

The vines that can be easily grown at home include the gourd family including cucumber, sponge gourd, round bottle gourd, long bottle gourd, bitter gourd, melons, summer squash and even the Malabar Spinach and different types of beans. The leafy plants and herbs that can be easily grown here include spinach, coriander, mint, thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, kale, spring onion, fenugreek, mustard, rocket salad and lettuce. Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli from the brassica family are easily grown here. You can grow different types of peppers and lemons in small pots. In underground plants, we regularly grow potato, baby potato, onions, sweet potatoes, turnips, red radish, white radish, carrots and baby carrots, leek, garlic, ginger and turmeric in our make shift arrangements. We have also grown aubergine or egg-plants in different colours and okra or lady fingers in grow bags. Our variety of different colourful and tasty Cherry Tomatoes is a huge success among our followers and customers. We even grew unique vegetables like Kohlrabi which is unheard of in Pakistan. Some fruits including strawberries and figs in pots, banana, sapodilla, papaya varieties, melons and much more grows at my home. All these require different types of fertilizers and sunlight requirement with direct and indirect exposure. The seeds are sown in different weathers and different months while the watering of each plant in different stages also varies.

When my mother or wife ask me to bring in a few lemons for meal or a bunch of mint; we usually do not head to the nearby market instead we fetch our harvest bowl and the harvesting shear and cultivate the freshly smelling, organic produce directly from the plant. And believe me, when it comes to meals absolutely nothing can beat that!

I have also covered my Gardening endeavours for my YouTube channel with special emphasis on how these can be done with limited resources, less expenditure along with the health benefits. We also cover how the organic fertilizers, pesticides and cheap growing alternatives can be prepared easily at home.

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

By Muhammad Adil

Top picks from the Emmy Awards Nominations

The Emmy Awards are back with a bang. Over the years, the Emmy Awards, similar to the Oscars, have been celebrating the best of the film world and has also been a go-to event for film buffs to know about the most riveting shows of each year, clue in on some awe-inspiring fashion moments and get wind of some juicy Hollywood gossip moving around.

As a rule, a team of film experts sits together to nominate the leading shows of the year. This time again, as listed below, nominations for the Emmy Awards for the year 2022 have recently been announced, giving you the best opportunity to know the crème de la crème of the film world. .

Abbott Elementary

If you liked ‘Community’, an American television sitcom, then Abbott Academy is right up your alley as both shows have a lot in common such as school/ college settings and a very diverse cast. Abbott Elementary depicts the hardships of being a schoolteacher who comes across some very difficult children in the classroom. The series is primarily based on the AfricanAmerican perspective on schooling and early education and is a fun watch for the whole family.

Drama Limited Series

Stranger things really came onto the scene and completely changed the entire coming of age spooky mystery solving genre. Its been so good and so engaging in fact that it has been nominated as outstanding drama 3 times at the Emmys including this year. The secret to this success is definitely its world building and loveable characters that bring their unique quirks to the table and make you wish you could just get more of them. The creators of the series have caught on to this and are giving fans just what they want. Though, no exact details have been divulged yet the Duffer Brothers (the creators) along with a plethora of other staff involved with making the series have given out little nuggets of hope here and there.

Is It Even Happening?

The first of these nuggets comes in the form of a statement made by Ted Sorandos the CEO of Netflix, when he said that franchises are good. The channel taking the interview (Deadline) claimed that this was Sorandos hinting towards a possible spin off as the question they had asked was related to spin offs in regard to stranger things.

This seems very convenient considering the fact that, recently the Duffer Brothers created their own production company called Upside Down Productions and have signed a deal with Netflix for films and series to be streamed on the streaming service. The production company is literal-

Squid Game Squid Game, a South Korean survival drama TV series, has made history with its 14 nominations for the 2022 Emmy Awards. Having debunked the myth that the Korean plays are nothing more than prosaic, old-fashioned love stories, Squid Game has all drama, suspense and thrill that makes it a much-watch for everybody. It is based on the story about a man who goes on a killing spree in order to win a game, specifically designed to entertain the filthy rich.

Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul, the sequel of a TV series Breaking Bad, is based on an intriguing story, featuring The which revolves around the a lawyer by profession who but he is also a conman and is not hesitant of employing illicit means to set his criminal clients free. The viewers of Breaking Bad may already have that perception of Saul, however, this series shows off his human side and the internal struggle he is fighting.

Inventing Anna

Featuring a story of lies, deceit and hunt for ill-gotten money, Inventing Anna shows how Anna, who is a young girl of no account, is able to fake her real persona until she joins the upper crust and then goes behind bars for fraud. However, the story does not end there as her web of lies untangles further and a lot more happens to keep viewers hooked to the screen.

Stranger Things spin-off: The plot thickens

ly named after the alternate dimension in stranger things. It does not get more obvious than that. But, there is more the Duffer brothers also have been revealed to have been working on a stage play with in the stranger things universe.

All in all this does mean a stranger things spin off is happening but what about is the question?

What Is It About?

Well, the Duffer Brothers being as kind as they are with the information they have given have already sort of answered the question. On the Dazed and Confused Podcast, they explained what the spin off will not be. Namely, it will not center around characters like Eleven, Dustin and Steve. This was a very popular fan theory as to what the spin off could be on reddit however, the Duffer Brothers said though, they did spend hours exploring

that possibility it was not interesting enough for them. They said on the podcast that the spin off will have the same “story-telling sensibility” but not even Netflix knows what it will be about. The only person to have correctly guessed it according to them is Finn Wolfhard the actor that plays Mike Wheeler.

There is also a chance that they will be collaborating/partnering up with another creator for the series, that’s what they explained to Variety. Claiming that they might not be able to see the spin off to the end if they do it on their own and do not want to just shoot a pilot and then leave it.

Other Information

Any other information is few and far between. What we do know is that the entirety of the cast may not be returning for the spin off. However, seeing nothing is confirmed this might not be

the case so fans of a certain character can still keep their fingers crossed. The aforementioned play is very real though, and Netflix even announced that they are working on it on 6 July. The truth is the Duffer Brothers have a lot on their plate right now and though Stranger Things is a Netflix giant at this point with fans all around the world and award nominations left and right. In order to have a spin off that actually lives up to the hype that the

news of a spin off creates will take a very long time. This in many ways is for the best as Hollywood has a history of getting greedy and trying to cash in as much as possible on a franchise even when it does affect the quality of the actual show. The Duffer Brothers are making the right move taking it slow and not getting fans hopes too high. Hopefully more news will come to light soon and it will be what the fans wanted all along.

Conclusion

In conclusion a spin off and a play are happening. So fans that cannot get enough of stranger things can rest assured that their favorite franchise is here to stay. It also seems very in tune with a series with so much lore and so many well developed characters that even after 6 seasons the series seems as interesting and climactic as ever. For now put on your fan theory hats and wait around for what will definitely be good news.

The series we all have been waiting for

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel The Marvelous Ms. Maisel features a housewife who comes to know about her latent knack for stand-up comedy and to make her dream true, she ends her marriage and decides to pursue comedy as a career. Set in the backdrop of 1950’s and 60’s, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ‘ is filled with comedy and laughter with noir vibes.

ISLAMABAD

The White Lotus

The White Lotus shows a number of “picture perfect” families whiling away on a resort in Hawaii. The plot thickens when their true lives are exposed and things start to go wrong.

To go or not to go to London!

By Bold Desk KARACHI

Humayun Saeed is undoubtedly the king of the box office when it comes to Pakistani cinema. Not only did he produce three of the four highestgrossing films in the country – Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani – he features in four (Bin Roye) of the six most successful films of all times, and five out of top 10 if you include his cameo in Actor in Law. With his latest film London Nahi Jaunga, he is all set to dominate the list as LNJ is doing great at the box office, the world over. However, the film is not as perfect as the earlier work of the director Nadeem Baig, who has called the shots on every Humayun Saeed production to date. The music isn’t as good as the previous endeavors, so much so that a track from Punjab Nahi Jaungi haad to be inserted at the credits; the selection criteria for actors looked forced among other things. Let’s go through the Ups and Downs of London Nahi Jaunga to understand whether you need to visit the cinema for the blockbuster, or wait for its TV release to take a trip to London.

The Ups of London Nahi Jaunga Humayun Saeed is definitely one of the reasons why one should go and watch London Nahi Jaunga, that too in cinemas. He has been the most successful producer since releasing Main Hoon Shahid Afridi in 2013 and has delivered more hits than flops since. In this film he plays a middle-aged hero who doesn’t want to get married to his cousin because he hasn’t felt ‘love’, and when he does feel ‘love’, it lands him more into the Romeo and Juliet situation. He is excellent in the fight sequences which are a welcome change from the Dhishoom Dhishoom scenario that dominated Pakistan’s film industry for a long time.

Director Nadeem Baig is definitely another positive aspect of the film since he carries the good work from Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 into London Nahi Jaunga. The film’s pace might not be as quick as his earlier works but one must think of the pandemic as one of the reasons for that. The way Nadeem Baig executes the script by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar must be appreciated because a good script needs a good director, and KRQ knows that more than anyone else in the world. His film Kaaf Kangana flopped because there was no Nadeem Baig at the helm and KRQ himself called the shots, while here, Nadeem Baig manages the execution perfectly.

Nadeem Baig didn’t think so and selected local girl Mehwish Hayat to play the British return girl and Kubra Khan as the local one, making the biggest mistake of the casting process. Kubra Khan looked more British than Mehwish, and Mehwish looked more Pakistani than Kubra

Had there been another director, they would have used a green screen or an alternate location to substitute for ‘London’ which was closed during the pandemic. But Nadeem Baig is not ‘another director’, he is the real deal. One can see the posters of Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in the background when Humayun Saeed and Gohar Rasheed’s characters are traveling on a tourist bus, meaning it was shot around May this year. Despite the short time, he was able to pull it off, and even added larger-than-life locations, and cinematography to be proud of.

And finally, something about the veteran actors who usually don’t get substantial roles in films in this part of the world. Sohail Ahmed, who played Humayun Saeed’s grandfather in Punjab Nahi Jaungi, is back, this time as his father, and steals the scene whenever he is in it. Be it delivering a taunt or pleading with his estranged sister, the way he delivers his dialogues hits the heart and makes you want to be on his side for some reason. Although Saba Hameed came a little late into the film, her presence was enough to make the audience sympathize with her character and her backstory. Saba Faisal carried herself with grace and played the typical wife and mother who dominated the decisions of the men in her house, be it her husband or her son, and played referee whenever one was needed.

The Downs of London Nahi Jaunga First of all, if a story revolves around

no.

Actors like Gohar Rasheed, Salman Shahid, Asif Raza Mir, Iffat Omer, and Meher Bano were wasted in the film, and although Gohar Rasheed has the highest number of scenes as the hero’s sidekick, he doesn’t have a substantial track

To expect a bigger role for Iffat Omer and Meher Bano in a Khalil ur Rehman Qamar film would have more like ‘wishful thinking', because they all follow different ideologies. Iffat Omer has been very critical of the famous writer in the past, yet she was there in an important role that could have had more scenes. The same goes for Meher Bano who has impressed the audience with her OTT projects as well as her dancing skills on YouTube. She plays Kubra Khan’s saheli in the movie and when Kubra doesn’t have much to do, how can the saheli have more to do in the picture! Before we move on to the soundtrack, let’s talk about the biggest issue in the film – the story. Khalil ur Rehman Qamar may be a great dialogue writer but when it comes to story, he makes blunders like a novice writer. In LNJ, he misses some key points that many might not remember after they are out of the cinema but will stay with the film for a long time. The backstory behind the family feud warranted a better explanation especially because one of the murdered people managed to escape alive, somehow. How did the murderer become a well-to-do person in the area with no one to question his act is another problem the audience might face, and the same can be said about many other things like forcing a feminist angle, buying a haveli from a person who doesn’t even own it and a dog race that wasn’t even important to the story.

Ad finally, something about the music which has always been a stronghold of Nadeem Baig – Humayun Saeed flicks but since all the songs are in Punjabi and targeted at the international audience/ listeners, national viewers are attracted more to Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad songs than London Nahi Jaunga numbers. For non-Punjabi listeners, LNJ has a forgettable soundtrack for a Pakistani film, and it could have been much better. Maybe the decision not to ask Sheraz Uppal for the soundtrack backfired for the makers, considering he is one of the most accomplished film composers since the revival of the film industry in 2014!

England and Pakistan, the most logical process for the selection of actors would be to cast a raised-in-England actor for the raised-in-England character and a local Pakistani actor for the local Pakistani character.

Right? Nadeem Baig didn’t think so and selected local girl Mehwish Hayat to play the British return girl and Kubra Khan as the

local one, making the biggest mistake of the casting process. Kubra Khan looked more British than Mehwish, and Mehwish looked more Pakistani than Kubra. In the scenes where she wore an Eastern dress, Mehwish looked as breathtakingly beautiful as she did in Punjab Nahi Jaungi but in Western dress, she didn’t look that hot.

Add to this the ‘Vasay Chaudhry’ dilemma and the viewers knew that no matter what happened, Humayun Saeed will end up with the heroine because no headstrong girl would marry Vasay Chaudhry’s character. He has hardly played a serious character in his career and has been relegated to playing a comedian even in films that he has

written. British-born actors Ahsan Khan or Mikaal Zulfiqar could have replaced him since they would have had no difficulty in returning to their original accent, besides looking the part. Their presence would have added suspense to the film because they would have looked more believable as the second hero than VC.

Actors like Gohar Rasheed, Salman Shahid, Asif Raza Mir, Iffat Omer, and Meher Bano were wasted in the film, and although Gohar Rasheed has the highest number of scenes as the hero’s sidekick, he doesn’t have a substantial track. Neither did Salman Shahid or Asif Raza Mir who for some reason accepted these characters when they could have said

It was sad to see Salman Shahid and Asif Raza Mir reduced to a handful of scenes, especially after making it big in international projects like Kabul Express and Ishqiya (for Salman Shahid) and Gangs of London (for Asif Raza Mir).

London Nahi Jaunga may become the biggest blockbuster after the pandemic, but it had its ups and downs!