BOL NEWSPAPER | December 25 2022

From box office hits to indie darlings, Pakistani cinema industry staged a comeback in 2022 like never before

KARACHI By Omair Alavi

When the year 2022 began, not many would have given the Pakistan film industry a chance to improve, considering cinemas had opened three months prior to the new

Ghabrana Nahi Hai

Cast: Saba Qamar, Zahid Ahmed, Syed Jibran, Nayyar Ejaz, Jan Rambo

Writer: Mohsin Ali, Saqib Khan

Director: Saqib Khan

Although more than 20 films released in Pakistan during the last 12 months, the first one to perform impressively at the box office was Ghabrana Nahi Hai, and the title had nothing to do with the success. It was not only appreciated for making Saba Qamar return to films but also for its storyline, its characterization, and the introduction of two leading men – Zahid Ahmed and Syed Jibran. Zahid Ahmed was impressive as the leading man but it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that Syed Jibran stole the show as the universal bhai in the film, one who gets dumped more often than others. The film was easily the frontrunner when it came to box-office numbers and was still playing in theatres after Eid ul Azha, while the other three releases couldn’t stick around for more than a month. Mohsin Ali’s script and Saqib Khan’s direction were the clear winners here, and although the film’s business was nowhere as groundbreaking as its successors, it kept the cinema industry alive in the first half of the year which was nothing short of a big deal.

Kamli

Cast: Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha, Omair Rana, Hamza Khawaja

Writer: Faiza Sattar

Director: Sarmad Khoosat

As if one Saba Qamar wasn’t enough for the fans, another one in Kamli came weeks after the release of Ghabrana Nahi Hai on Eid ul Fitr. Directed by Sarmad Khoosat, and adapted from a short story by Meher Bano, the psychological thriller was everything the audience wasn’t expecting from the Humsafar director. It revolved around three women – Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed, and Nimra Bucha – who were somehow linked to each other but were on a different path, with one waiting for her husband’s return, the other keeping a secret that could make her lose someone close to her, and the third was in search for a bride for her husband who wanted to take his legacy forward. How one young man rattles their lives with his presence is what keeps the audience intrigued till the final scene. Kamli played an important role in the film’s success as well, and while none of the songs in the soundtrack were dance numbers, they were still hummable once the audience left the theatre. The best part about these songs was that they carried the story forward, and taught the up-and-coming filmmakers that inserting old-style dance numbers wasn’t the only way to keep the audience engaged, there was the Kamli way too, which is closer to the right way.

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad

Cast: Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan, Nayyar Ejaz, Qavi Khan, Mehmood Aslam

Writer: Nabeel Qureshi, Fizza Ali Meerza

Director: Nabeel Qureshi

‘In a world of criminals who operate above the law’, that was in the opening line of Knight Rider in the 1980s and every country had come up with their interpretation since, except Pakistan. However, with Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad, Pakistan has entered the cop universe that has made characters like Chulbul Pandey, Singham, and Simmba household names in Pakistan. And when Nabeel Qureshi is behind the camera, the automatic selection for the title role is Fahad Mustafa who aces the character in the film, making the name Gulab in demand again. With Mahira Khan on his side as his love interest, and Jawed Sheikh as his sidekick, the film managed to give tough competition to London Nahi Jaunga and Thor: Love and Thunder at the time of its release and ended up as the third highest-grossing film of the year in Pakistan. After all, who wouldn’t be interested in the action sequence on air, at the gangster’s den, or a jump from a motorcycle onto a moving plane, which is something that hadn’t been tried on this side of the border? Add to that the tempting soundtrack that featured Ali Zafar, Asrar, Aima Baig, and Shani Arshad as the vocalists and you had a complete family entertainer for all ages.

Joyland

Cast: Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Sarwat Gilani, Sohail Sameer, Salmaan

Peerzada, Sania Saeed, Alina Khan

Writer: Saim Sadiq, Maggie Briggs

Director: Saim Sadiq

And finally, there was the film that managed to make Pakistan proud in places where not many had even heard the name of the country before. Saim Sadiq’s Joyland won accolades wherever it went, not because it was a well-made meaningful film but because it tackled a subject that was considered taboo in Pakistan’s film industry. In a country where transgenders are still looked at as untouchables, where they have fewer rights than others, and where their presence in films meant dancing on songs, the youngster used a transgender as the plot’s main character and weaved a story around the strug gles it faces in its everyday life. Featuring a cast that should only do films, Joyland was not just Pakistan’s first entry at the Cannes, it won the prestigious Queer Palm award which is only given to films that manage to hit audiences hard. With Sarmad Khoosat as one of the producers of the film, the images that came from that Cannes red carpet will forever be associated with the Pakistan film industry, since it is nothing short of a giant leap for those who have given their blood and sweat to films in a country where Muslims were initially told to not get involved with filmmaking and that it was best for the infidels to be left with the job.

year, and only one film – Khel Khel Mein – was able to do better business than its competitors. However, the second half of the last month saw the audience return to cinema screens for Spider-Man: No Way Home after which there was no going back. That momentum helped both the film and the cinema industry in Pakistan and saw as many as eight local films impressing the audience throughout the 12 months. Which films manage to do the unthinkable, let's go down memory lane and find out.

Parde Mein Rehne Do

Cast: Ali Rehman Khan, Hania Aamir, Jawed Sheikh, Munazzah Arif, Hasan Raza

Writer: Mohsin Ali

Director: Wajahat Rauf

Wajahat Rauf carried his TV success to his only film of the year which not only dealt with an important subject – impotency – but also didn’t cross the line which would have been difficult for someone else in his shoes.

Featuring a star cast of Ali Rehman Khan, Hania Aamir, Jawed Sheikh, and Munazzah Arif, PMRD tackled the taboo topic intelligently and made many in the audience teary-eyed with its execution. However, the way Hasan Raza’s character delivered Mohsin Ali’s lines (again!) made the audience laugh, proving that the film had something for everyone, and discomfort was the last thing that the film offered. Hailed as Wajahat Rauf’s best work as yet, the film became prominent because due to its brilliant soundtrack that was composed by Wajahat Rauf’s teenage son Aashir Wajahat and Hassan Ali Hashmi, who are more or less the local version of Shankar – Ehsaan - Loy. Not only did the two sing the songs but they also managed to impress all with their efforts, which was one of the reasons why the film was considered the second best of the first six months, despite being released in a cluster of four films on Eid ul Fitr.

London Nahi Jaunga

Cast: Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, Kubra Khan, Vasay Chaudhry, Saba Hameed, Sohail Ahmed

Writer: Khalil ur Rehman Qamar

Director: Nadeem Baig

Humayun Saeed – Nadeem Baig’s last collaboration

Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 went on to become the first Pakistani film to cross Rs. 70 crores worldwide, but they decided to come up with the sequel to their earlier hit Punjab Nahi Jaungi in 2022. The film was shot across Punjab and England, and its shooting was halted in 2019 due to COVID as well, but that didn’t stop the makers from coming up with a film that catered to the loyal fans of their franchise. It was the highest-grossing film of the year at the time of its release and didn’t disappoint the audience when it was screened on Eid ul Azha, Humayun Saeed – Nadeem Baig’s favorite time of the year. Penned by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar who wasn’t promoted much during the promotions because of the many controversies he has been a part of in recent years, the film revolved around a family that forgot one of their own after that person married against their wishes, and how that very person’s daughter took revenge from those who wronged her parents. Mehwish Hayat was in top form throughout the flick, as she played the London-return relative who steals Humayun Saeed’s heart. However, the presence of Sohail Ahmed, Vasay Chaudhry, and Kubra Khan can’t go unnoticed who were integral to the plot, despite not knowing it when things were going awry on screen.

Carma - The Movie

Cast: Zhalay Sarhadi, Osama Tahir, Paras Masroor, Navin Waqar, Adnan Siddiqui, Writer: Fawad Hai

Director: Kashan Admani

Move over the Fast and Furious franchise, forget Race, Pakistan’s very own version of the Need for Speed arrived this year as Carma, and with it brought the new-age thriller tag with it. If Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad had everyday stunts that entertained the audience, the plot of Carma revolved around cars. Directed by Kashan Admani, and written by Fawad Hai, who were also the producers of this Quentin Tarantino-esque flick, Carma came out as an all-out suspense thriller that takes took place on the streets of an unrecognizable Karachi where two separate car chases were filmed, something that Pakistani filmmakers had forgotten could bring the audience to the cinema. Add to that an impressive Spaghetti Western soundtrack by the director himself and the audience had a low-budget thriller that gave the high-class chillsthroughout its run.

The Legend of Maula Jatt

Cast: Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humaima Malick, Nayyar Ejaz, Shafqat Cheema, Gohar Rasheed, Faras Shafi

Writer: Nasir Adeeb, Bilal Lashari

Director: Bilal Lashari

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the year 2022 belonged to just one film, and its name was The Legend of Maula Jatt. Never before had a Pakistani film crossed Rs. 100 crores at home, never before had a Punjabi film from Pakistan been so popular that it broke records across the world, and never before had one film made the audience realize that we can make good films if we set our mind to it. Each and every film that followed Bilal Lashari’s epic flopped at the box office because they couldn’t stand the Maula Jatt wave which is still moving around, and making the audience go wow whenever they enter the cinema. Written by the same writer who wrote the original Maula Jatt five decades back, director Bilal Lashari used his imagination, and friendship to come up with possibly the grandest film ever made in Pakistan. With Fawad Khan playing Maula, Hamza Ali Abbasi as Noori, Humaima Malick as Daro, and Gohar Rasheed as Maakha, each and every actor fitted the character and gave a performance that had no match. Yes, there was Mahira Khan, Shafqat Cheema, and Nayyar Ejaz in the movie as well, but while the bigger stars did their job well, Faris Shafi outshone all amongst the supporting cast. Add to that Hollywood-style fight sequences, powerful dialogues, VFX-laced storytelling, and a dance number that took the story forward, the makers of the most successful Pakistani film ever got hardly anything wrong, and that adds as much pressure on them, as much happiness it brought to the audience.

From Angela Lanbury to Ismail Tara BOLD remembers the stars who left for their heavenly abode in 2022

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there., I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there, I did not die.

(Clare Harner Lyon)

The year 2022 might have helped the cinema industry revive after Covid-19, but it was also the same year when legends like Ismail Tara, Angela Lansbury, and Nayyara Noor breathed their last. Not only that, it was the same year that took away great entertainers like Sidney Poitier, Rasheed Naz, and Bappi Lahiri from their fans. Let’s remember those whose life was cut short during the year and whose memories will be accompanying us in the new year. Read on:

Let’s start with the biggest entertainment industry in the world – Hollywood – since their films and TV series have no equivalent. The year began with a huge loss to Hollywood as the legendary actor Sir Sidney Poitier breathed his last at the age of 94. The first Black American actor to win an Oscar for Lilies of the Field (1964) and to star in hit films namely To Sir, with Love; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and In the Heat of the Night in the 1960s may not have been active for the last couple of decades of his life but his influence was so magical that every African American who won awards or got nominated cited him as an idol.

Another Oscar winner, William Hurt, made his final exit at the age of 71 but unlike Sir Sidney, he was quite active in films and was even part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Ross, a role that would now be handed over to Harrison Ford. From Body Heat to Gorky Park, from Kiss of the Spider Woman to Children of a Lesser God, he made a name for himself in the 1980s, while carrying good work in the new century with A History of Violence, The Village, Syriana, and Robin Hood.

Veteran actor Ray Liotta may not have won an

Pakistan’s entertainment industry also suffered huge losses during the year since it lost some of the best actors, singers, and comedians in the 12 months. The first one to go early this year was veteran actor Rasheed Naz who had been a great servant of films and TV in the country

Ismail Tara, the man behind the many Fifty Fifty skits that are still popular despite being five decades old. Born Ismail Merchant in 1949, he spent the 70s perfecting his comic timing on stage and wreaked havoc during the 1980s as the lead actor of Pakistan’s answer to Saturday Night Live

al of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1976, met their maker.

Pakistan’s entertainment industry also suffered huge losses during the year since it lost some of the best actors, singers, and comedians in the 12 months. The first one to go early this year was veteran actor Rasheed Naz who had been a great servant of films and TV in the country. The 73-year-old even appeared in international projects including Bollywood film Baby whereas his work in Khuda Ke Liye and Verna was top-class as well. Another film and TV veteran Afzal Ahmad also breathed his last in 2022, and although he wasn’t active on the scene, his body of work was so rich that people from the current generation knew the Chan Varyan actor for his films, TV, and theatre work.

Winner of the Best Actor award from PTV Tanveer Jamal also couldn’t carry on in 2023 and died at the age of 62 in Tokyo, Japan. He was there to complete his first film as a director, Japanese Connection as well as for his cancer treatment, however, his life was cut short, saddening his fans big time. He gave more than thirty years of his life to the entertainment industry and was amongst those who always dared to raise the bar be it as an actor, writer, director, or even entrepreneur.

And then there was Ismail Tara, the man behind the many Fifty Fifty skits that are still popular despite being five decades old.

Pakistan lost two nightingales during the year – Rubina Qureshi and Nayyara Noor. While the latter was more popular for her Sindhi folksongs...

Nayyara Noor is known more for singing Faiz

Ahmed Faiz the way the poet would have approved

Academy Award nomination but he was a Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in Goodfellas and received multiple nominations from the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career. His death at the age of 67 saddened his fans who helped make Goodfellas a cult classic during his lifetime.

The 72-year-old Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, who gained worldwide recognition for playing Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series, also breathed his last in 2022, as did Kevin Conroy who was worldwide known as the voice of Batman, Wolfgang Petersen director of countless hits like In the Line of Fire, Air Force One and Outbreak and TV show Magnum P I alumni Roger E. Mosley. In fact, the latter’s last TV appearance was also in the show’s second coming where he played an elderly character who was related to the one, he played in the 1980s version.

It was a sad year for the fans of veteran film and TV actress Angela Lansbury who after a successful Hollywood career between the 1940s and 1960s, reinvented herself as everyone’s favorite detective Jessica Fletcher in the 1980s and the 1990s.

The 96-year-old was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in her debut film Gaslight in 1944, as well as for The Picture of Dorian Gray the next year, and finally for The Manchurian Candidate in 1962, losing on all three occasions. However, she was the eventual winner of countless fans when she decided to move to TV with Murder, She Wrote in the 1980s, and for 12 years solved cases no one else would have been able to solve.

Another yesteryear icon British-Australian singer and actress Dame Olivia Newton-John also shocked her fans with her final act when she left them at the age of 73, but not before making a name for herself through the musical film Grease as well as winning four-time Grammy Awards in a music career that included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 2 number-one albums on the Billboard 200

Another actress, singer, and dancer Nichelle Nichols may not be as famous as a film personality but on TV, she was considered nothing short of an icon, because of her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in Star Trek series, and its film sequels. Her portrayal was groundbreaking for African American actresses on US television because before that they weren't cast in major roles, after her portrayal, the barrier was broken and during her lifetime the 89-year-old saw everything change before bidding her fans a final farewell. This was also the year when Cheers alumni Kirstie Alley, film actress Anne Heche, as well as Louise Fletcher, who won the Best Actress Academy Award for her chilly portray-

Born Ismail Merchant in 1949, he spent the 70s perfecting his comic timing on stage and wreaked havoc during the 1980s as the lead actor of Pakistan’s answer to Saturday Night Live. He went on to become a successful film actor once he switched to films and died with his boots on, after being part of the most successful films produced in the last 40 years.

That’s not all, Pakistan lost two nightingales during the year – Rubina Qureshi and Nayyara Noor. While the latter was more popular for her Sindhi folksongs including Mor Tor Tille and Daachi Waliya to name a few hits, Nayyara Noor is known more for singing Faiz Ahmed Faiz the way the poet would have approved.

She also had a successful career as a playback singer in films, and her TV hits are considered classics even after a handful of decades.

Veteran playwright Imran Aslam, TV anchor Aamir Liaquat, and comedian Tariq Teddy also breathed their last in 2022 and would be missed by their fans who will continue to watch their work to pay their respects.

Bollywood also had its share of losses during the last 12 months as many of their legendary figures left their fans saddened with their exit. There was no bigger loss than that of Lata Mangeshkar who was widely acknowledged as one of the greatest playback singers of all time. The 92-year-old began her career in the 1940s and continued till her last breath and if her songs are omitted from the Hindi Film Industry, nothing would remain, such was her influence on the music scene.

Although music director Bappi Lahiri wasn’t quite as active on the musical front as he was during the 1980s, his body of work kept him in demand during the last decade of his life. His death at the start of the year at the age of 69 saddened many who grew up listening to his songs and compositions, which included some of the most famous numbers of the 1980s and the 1990s.

One playback singer’s death that was both unexpected and disturbing was KK’s shock exit, Krishnakumar Kunnath, sang in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, etc., and had sung countless hits including Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Aankhon Mein Teri from Om Shanti Om. His death occurred after he had returned to his hotel after performing live at a music event at Nazrul Mancha auditorium in South Kolkata on May 31 and suffered a heart attack at the age of 53.

Other music composers or singers like Sidhu Moosewala, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (of Shiv Hari fame), Taz of Stereo Nation, and Bhupinder Singh also met their maker during the year, leaving their fans with their legacy in the form of their impressive work.

On the acting front, comedian Raju Srivastav, character actor Vikram Gokhale, Ramesh Deo, and Tabassum also made their final exit this year, and they were followed by directors like T Rama Rao and Ravi Tandon who spent their lives entertaining the audience but saddened them with their last act.

BOLD offers a list of some of Netflix's most memorable shows in English and assesses the root of their popularity

Taha Kehar KARACHI

In October 2022, Netflix reported that it had gained about 2.41 million subscribers in the final quarter of the year. The increase in subscriptions was billed as an unexpected boon, especially since the streaming service had only anticipated another one million subscribers for the third quarter. These promising figures point towards Netflix's abiding popularity and can be construed as an indirect indicator that the quality of content on the streaming service has improved considerably. As the year draws to a close, BOLD offers a list of some of Netflix's most memorable shows in English and assesses the root of their popularity.

2The Crown Queen Elizabeth II's demise in 2022 was greeted with a bittersweet blend of sadness and apathy. Soon after, Netflix released the fifth season of The Crown. While sceptics believe that the series has lost its lustre over the years, The Crown attracted viewers who were curious about the challenges faced by the deceased monarch and the unintentional atrocities that she inflicted on those she loved by virtue of being the queen of England. Documentaries have often struggled to faithfully depict the personal struggles of notable figures. As a result, drama series such as The Crown have an edge over documentaries as they are mercifully devoid of the cold detachment that has come to be associated with the latter.

4

Dead to Me

Grief is a bleak yet inescapable facet of our lives. Any attempt to present the grim realities of the grieving process on the screen stand the danger of coming across as tragic and, at times, enervating. When it was released in 2019, Dead to Me stood out for its edgy take on the grieving process. When the third season of the series was released in 2022, viewers took it with great fervour and weren't disappointed by its denouement. The key elements that made the third season rewarding and, therefore, binge-worthy was its realistic and nuanced portrayal of letting go of the past and embracing novel experiences.

7

5 The Watcher Any listicle on the most memorable shows on Netflix in 2022 would seem incomplete without a glowing tribute to The Watcher. The Bobby Cannavale-starter spins gold from the straws of reality and comes away with a gripping tale about privacy, psychological distress and the perils of home ownership in modern-day America. Since time immemorial, we have heard that the American dream has turned into a gruesome nightmare. The Watcher signifies the sheer extent to which the dream of prosperity has faded into oblivion in fabled land of opportunities.

Inventing Anna

There is a voracious appetite for stories about people with dubious intentions who hoodwink others to further their own gains. Inventing Anna was one such series on Netflix that, though censured for its execution, presented a moving portrait of a character who would otherwise seem hopelessly unlikeable. The plot focuses on Russian-born Anna Sorokin who masquerades as a German heiress and cons New York's elite. Her ruse helps her gain access to thousands of dollars that she channels towards opening an art-themed club. Deception is Anna's weapon of choice and becomes the quality that makes her essentially human.

10

1899

With an eerie title like 1899, this eight-part series makes effective use of the key elements of suspense, horror, sci-fi and mystery to produce a story of a voyage that turns sour. A genre-busting series that pulls viewers into a whirlwind of catastrophic adventures, 1899 is a veritable tour de force.

8

1The Sandman Fantasy has become an increasingly popular genre over the decades as it allows viewers to escape the confines of reality and imagine an alternative reality. American fantasy drama The Sandman has its genesis in Neil Gaiman's eponymous comic book series. Efforts were afoot to adapt the series for the screen for over two decades and were languishing in development purgatory until Netflix stepped in and brought The Sandman to audiences across the world. The premise of the series might not instantly intrigue viewers who are drawn towards realistic storylines. Even so, the plot speaks volumes about the ingenuity of the creators. The Sandman features Morpheus, who is the embodiment of dreams, who finds himself enslaved for over a century through an occult ritual. When he finally escapes, he seeks to restore some semblance of order in his realm. Over the years, Netflix has produced a glut of action-packed shows that recycle old tropes with an alarming regularity. The Sandman breaks the stereotypical mould and pulls viewers into a narrative that is unique, unusual and entertaining.

3The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

This series parodies the new-fangled trend of using the word 'girl' in the titles of books and films. Even so, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window doesn't take itself too seriously as both a parody or a murder mystery. Instead, Kristen Bell-starrer brings with it a quirkiness that is spellbinding. The first season revolves around Anna Whitaker (Bell), a woman nursing heartbreak along with a cluster of phobias, who purportedly witnesses a murder in her neighbourhood. Owing to this wild and outrageous claim, Anna is subjected to ostracism and viewed with a mix of suspicion and fear. Undeterred by criticism, she is steered by the earnest quest for the truth. The Woman in the House stands out as a potent reminder of how predictable murder mystery series have become and offers a fascinating glimpse of what they could be.

6

Harry & Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines when they decided to bow out of their duties as working members of the British royal family. Harry & Meghan is a captivating documentary series that focuses on the highs and lows that the couple has witnessed over time. Interviews of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well as their friends and family add to the authenticity of the series. Insights from journalists and historians prevent the show from becoming a one-sided assessment of their lives. In the coming decades, copious dramatisation of Harry and Meghan's relationship will grace the big and small screen. Harry & Meghan ought to be viewed as a useful starting point for these ventures.

Inside Man

Can a detective solve a crime from behind the iron bars of a prison cell?

This is the question that most viewers were curious about when they began watching Inside Man. The series is about an American prisoner on death row who helps a British journalist understand the truth behind her friend's disappearance. As a whole, viewers were pleased to see that a concerted effort has been made to widen the parameters of detective stories.

9 Man vs Bee

Rowan Atkinson-starrer Man vs Bee is predicated upon a conflict between a superior being and an insignificant creature that mirrors the antics witnessed on Tom and Jerry. The show presents absurd situations that turn a bee into a man's greatest adversary. At the same time, the series derives its critical thrust from the now-forgotten spirit of empathy. The popularity of the series can be easily attributed to Atkinson's stellar performance. Even so, Man vs Bee offers a telling critique on tolerance and our eagerness to defend our turf against those who also have an equal right to it.

AFP

To Netflix viewers, she is among the most famous French faces of the moment, appearing in three hits: "Call My Agent", "The Crown" and "Emily in Paris", which returns for a third season in the New Year.

It is quite a turnaround for Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, 59, who never expected this level of international fame. She credits Cedric Klapisch, a director on "Call My Agent", with pulling her "out of the coffin" after her career stalled in her forties. But it is her role as Sylvie Grateau, boss of a luxury marketing agency who reluctantly takes on the young naive American, Emily that has turned Leroy-Beaulieu into a global star.

She relishes the caustic part.

"There is a type of American, like Emily, who wants to conquer the world and thinks they know how to do everything better than the rest, but then comes up against someone like me who says: 'I am Asterix and I will

not let you pass!'" said Leroy-Beaulieu with a grin, invoking the beloved French comic-book star who fights the Roman Empire.

Leroy-Beaulieu's career started strong in the 1980s, with an award-nominated turn in "Trois Hommes et un Couffin" (remade by Hollywood as "Three Men and a Baby").

But she never expected to become the embodiment of Parisian style for foreign audiences, having struggled to fit into the city after arriving from Italy as a child.

Her character in "Emily in Paris" is a joyous collection of clichés about French women: chic, thin, disdainful, perched on towering heels, cigarette permanently lodged in her mouth.

Yet Leroy-Beaulieu says the show challenges stereotypes while having fun with them.

"These characters show the importance of breaking certain rules of behaviour, that people have many facets, and you can't judge them on face value," she said.

There were moments in season two when Grateau's tough facade was broken, such as when she was mistaken for the mother of her young lover in a restaurant.

"In season three, we will see more of her vulnerability," said Leroy-Beaulieu. The sex life of older women has been a hot topic this year, featuring in "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" with Emma Thompson, and French film "La Passagere", whose lead Cecile de France recently called on filmmakers to "stop showing only young women as objects of desire". Leroy-Beaulieu is cautious about the idea that French women are more liberated.

"Compared to American women, who tend to be prisoners of certain codes, we have this reputation (for freedom)... but it is not necessarily true," she said.

Still, despite the many light-hearted clichés in the series, her character has been inspirational for many.

"Even if she is bitchy, she can handle any situation," said Yvonne Hazelton, an American writer living in Paris. She can also relate to the character's liberated love life.

"I got a divorce in my early fifties and for someone of my generation, when you get a divorce, the level of freedom is amazing," said Hazelton.

Franco-Italian actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who plays Sylvie Grateau in the series 'Emily in Paris,' never expected to become the embodiment of Parisian style for foreign audiences

French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu poses on the red carpet before the World Premiere of the Netflix Series "Emily in Paris" season 3, at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, in Paris. PHOTO: FILE

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Although comedy films, dramas, and stage plays have been there for a long time, every now and then comes one play that stands above the rest because it makes you laugh uncontrollably, unconsciously, and unabashedly. It might have something to do with the society we live in, or nothing to do with it, but whatever it revolves around, the audience exits the theatre in stitches, making it a successful play like no other.

Arts Council Repertory Theatre Company’s first production 100 Din Chor Kay is one such play that makes you believe that lying is a good thing, and if done intelligently, can benefit those in need. Not only did the stage play feature senior thespians, but it also had some of the ACP students who impressed all those who watched the play during its run in Karachi earlier this month.

The Plot

Adapted from Michael Cooney’s Cash on Delivery, 100 Din Chor Kay revolves around Aamir Hasan (Fawad Khan) who after losing his job due to COVID-19, scams governmentfunded welfare programs, and lies to his wife, and his tenant to continue receiving benefits that are clearly not meant for him. Everything is going smoothly until Nadeem (Muhammad Ghous) from the welfare program visits to check on his alter ego Amjad Bukhari who used to be a tenant but left some time back.

Enters Irshad Painter (Nazrul Hassan) who is the current tenant and who Aamir Hasan ropes in for help, once his dual identity is about to be exposed. However, the fictional death of Irshad Sr., the arrival of Aamir’s wife, the entrance of Mamoon Bashir (Muneeb Sheikh) and Irshad’s fiancée changes everything for Aamir Hasan who finally breaks down in front of his wife. But not before Irshad is made to be Aamir Hasan in front of one person, a deaf painter in front of another, and a mourning son, all at the same time so that his friend can avoid going to jail for his crimes.

The Good 100 Din Chor Kay is about making the audience comfortable in familiar settings; it takes place in a middle-class house where the husband is jobless, the tenant is hopeless and the wife is clueless about her husband’s layoff and doesn’t have any idea how he pays the bill and stuff if he isn’t working. It takes all the might of Fawad Khan to convince everyone including his wife that he is currently employed (when he isn’t), ensure that the welfare folks don’t find out how he has been scamming them, and plead with his friend (played by Nazrul Hassan) to help him

out when the going gets tough. Considering he has been around on stage, TV, and even in a few international projects (Churails and Ek Jhooti Love Story being two of them), the experience he brings onto the stage is phenomenal. He knows when the audience will clap when they will be intrigued, and when they will be bored, and uses his comic timing perfectly to cater to all those in the audience.

However, his performance wouldn’t have been as superlative as it turned out to be had there been another actor playing Irshad Painter because no

one would have done it better than Nazrul Hassan. The theatre veteran who also dabbles in films and TV was phenomenal as the guy who was deaf one minute, a mourning son the next, and then a fiancé who couldn’t break his cover by talking to the woman he was getting married to in a week. It was he was the ‘man of the match’ of the drama and shared the responsibility of carrying half of the play on his shoulders, with Fawad Khan carrying the other half. The way the two collaborated on the stage reminded the audience of yesteryear comedy pairs, most notably Allan - Nannha or Rangeela -

Munawwar Zarif where one was the smart alec, and the other was on the same platform as the audience so that his questions were their questions, and his suspicions were their suspicions. The supporting cast was also exceptionally good in their limited presence, and the best part about them was that each and every one of them – be it Bashir Mamoon, Nadeem Sahab, or even Samra, the wife - gave the audience a character that would stay for them for quite some time. Not only were they relatable, but they also reminded you of someone you knew, so brilliantly they were created.

The Bad

There were a few things that could have been avoided in the play, with the acoustic setting being one of them. Sometimes the jumbled voices confused the audience so much that they might have wished that there were subtitles available, somewhere. Also, the length of the play could have been reduced by 20 to 25 minutes, since that would have made it even crisper, and even more entertaining. Also, staging it during the FIFA World Cup wasn’t a smart move because when the football world cup is on, not even Avatar: The Way of Water is able to do well in cinemas, and if you consider that, then 100 Din Chor Ke didn’t stand a chance against the tournament that went onto be defined as the best of the modern era.

Arts Council Repertory Theatre Company’s first production 100 Din Chor Kay is one such play that makes you believe that lying is a good thing, and if done intelligently, can benefit those in need. Not only did the stage play feature senior thespians, but it also had some of the ACP students who impressed all those who watched the play during its run in Karachi earlier this month

The Verdict 4/5

The first thing that comes to mind once you exit the theater is that if stage folks can make comedies like 100 Din Chor Kay with fewer resources, then what is stopping the filmmakers from following in their footsteps?

If writer Babar Jamal can adapt a screenplay to perfection, and director Zeeshan Haider can execute it as well as he eventually did, the more experienced and more resourceful filmmakers would have no problem doing better. Either they don’t want to break the mold of success they are all following or don’t want to take the audience in a better direction, which might help the ailing film and cinema industry in the country. Either way, they should learn from stage dramas like these which keep the stage alive and give the entertainment-deprived public exactly what they should be watching instead of what they are eventually getting in the name of entertainment.

AFP "That Lorca is completely bonkers," says the actress in Spanish, prompting laughter from a group of British teenagers at London's Cervantes Theatre.

Artistic director Paula Paz, who co-founded the theatre with the actor and director Jorge de Juan, said Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca is a firm favourite with audiences in the UK.

From an unassuming corner of south London, the venue is helping to drive a growing interest in Spanish, which is now the most-studied foreign language in the UK.

The theatre, built from scratch in a former garage under railway arches, opened in

2016 with Lorca's 1933 tragedy "Bodas de Sangre" ("Blood Wedding"). One of the highlights of its forthcoming season is a seven-week run of his last play from 1936, "La Casa de Bernada Alba" ("The House of Bernada Alba").

Lorca -- killed later than year during Spain's civil war -- is not the only dramatist to be showcased at the tiny 80-seat theatre in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames.

Others include the 16th-century playwright Felix Lope de Vega as well as lesser-known and up-and-coming writers from Spain and Latin America.

They include Chilean author Isabel Allende's "La Casa de los Espiritus" ("The House of the Spirits") and "La Realidad" ("The Reality") by Argentina's Denise Despeyroux.

To reach a wider audience, performances alternate between Spanish and English, although plays have also been performed switching between both languages.

They include a bilingual performance of Cervantes' farce "El Juez de los Divorcios" ("The Divorce Judge") and Shakespeare's monologues in 2016.

In September there was a complex inhouse production based on Pablo Sorozabal's 1942 operetta "Black, El Payaso" ("Black the Clown").

The dialogue was in English and the songs in Spanish, all translated with digital subtitles.

Despite its name, the Cervantes Theatre is independent from the Spanish language and cultural body the Instituto Cervantes, from which it receives a small grant.

This month, Lorca's lesser-known "Retablillo de Don Cristobal" ("The Puppet Play of Don Cristobal") has been delighting students.

"I think it's a nice way to look at the language," said Zack Fecher, 17, on a trip from Haberdashers' Boys' School in Elstree, just outside London.

"I've seen films in Spanish but this is the first play and you have to focus on the words and they speak very fast."

Ana Zamora, director of the theatre company Nao d'Amores, which specialises in reviving lost plays, has been invited from Spain to present the production.

"You don't have to embellish the texts to make them easier for foreign audiences to access," she said.

Audiences can recognise the similarities between the puppet Don Cristobal

and the traditional English character Mr Punch, she added.

At the same time there is "an intriguing air of the exotic", she said.

For Paz, the "demand for quality" gives the theatre its audience, which she describes as a mix of people who like alternative theatre, fans of Hispanic culture, and students of Spanish.

Students studying Spanish are becoming increasingly common in England. In 2019, Spanish became the foreign language most studied in high schools.

According to the British Council's latest "Language Trends" report, last year 8,433 students took Spanish for their end-ofschool exams at aged 18.

That compared to 7,671 for French, the study of which has been declining among teenagers alongside German since 2005.

French, however, remains the mosttaught language in primary schools.

It may have taken Zack and his classmates 90 minutes to travel to the theatre but other groups come from as far as Liverpool, in northwest England, and Brussels.

"There's nothing like it in Europe," said Paz.

The three tiers of seating and small stage makes the theatre an intimate venue, where the audience can almost touch the actors and feel the emotion.

"It's a magical space, with a very special atmosphere," said Eduardo Mayo, who plays Lorca and voices Don Cristobal.

"We will be studying Lorca's plays next year but this is a good way to get started," said Fecher, who has been learning Spanish for five years.

Arts Council Repertory Theatre Company’s first production makes you want to lie, in a good way

Theatres in the UK are helping to drive a growing interest in Spanish, which is now the most-studied foreign language in the UK

By Hasnain Nawab KARACHI

To think of Pakistani art in reductive terms as simply being a canvas, sculpture or installation is to fundamentally misunderstand and undervalue the ingenuity and guile of the nation’s artists. Pakistan’s artists don’t just put their artwork on display – they put the country on view. What continues to draw people to the art galleries and particularly towards Pakistani art is – perhaps even more so than the plethora of great artists they country has to offer – the anticipation and eagerness to know which previously hidden facet of the country will be revealed to the viewer after having observed the artwork. For a paradoxical nation like Pakistan which simultaneously houses so much beauty and hardship, the art this nation produces becomes a reflection of the on-going turmoil and triumphs experienced by its citizenry, which has, once again, proved to be true, especially during the year 2022.

Salman Toor ascends to new heights

One of the artists who not only produced some of his most memorable artwork in 2022 but also climbed to even loftier heights in the international art scene was Salman Toor. Born and raised in Lahore, Toor has already established himself as one of the brightest and most sought-after artists Pakistan has produced in the past few years. While many have already become familiar with his visual vocabulary of commonplace scenes painted in green-laden hues, his exhibition in Baltimore this year further cemented his status and also brought increased attention to the art Pakistan is offering to the world. His exhibition ‘No Ordinary Love,’ which was displayed at the Baltimore Museum of Art in May, 2022 was not only well attended but also received rave reviews. Toor displayed twenty-seven of his most recent artworks at the exhibition and, given how quickly the appetite for his paintings is growing, one expects him to be back soon with another impressive collection of artwork. The artist also dabbled in the realm of film this year by designing a lucid and evocative poster for the Pakistani film Joyland, which is Pakistan’s official submission for the Academy Awards.

The return of the biennale

Naturally, the pièce de résistance of the artistic year in Pakistan was the Karachi Biennale 2022 (KB22). After being postponed in 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Faisal Anwar delivered a biennale which stood apart from previous iterations. KB22 explored the intersection between art and technology through the central theme ‘Collective Imagination: Now and the Next’ and was spread over nine venues across the city. Its panorama of exhibitions, performances, and dialogue used the “tools of tomorrow” to enrich, innovate, and celebrate Karachi’s art landscape. KB22 celebrated the mingling of the established and the new, the international and the national, with some artists further reinforcing their storied artistic careers while others used the platform to announce themselves as prodigious talents to keep an eye out for in the future.

Imran Qureshi’s work at KB22, The Sacred and the Earthly, dazzled and entranced visitors. It was a kaleidoscopic installation, comprising a cacophony of images and possessing an overriding power. The images denoting religious iconography bounced off the walls as if existing in a hall of mirrors. The Sacred and the Earthly combined religious rituals, symbolism and modern technology to create a singularly dazzling work of art. Rashid Rana’s work It Lies Beyond was conceptually reminiscent of many of Rana’s artistic endeavours over the past decade, especially his work at the Karachi Biennale 2019 (KB19). When viewed from a distance, the audience got the impression that they were looking at the cascading waves of a stormy sea. Closer inspection revealed that the cluster of images that formed the waves were telling an entirely different story. Additionally, the work Microtonal showcased the music of the borindo, a 5,000- year-old instrument, in order to explore the inextricable link between culture and music. The brainchild of the UK-based arts studio known as Invisible Flock, the work used the deep cultural and personal history of this novel musical instrument to explore the encoded symbolism held within it. This display was a continuation of Invisible Flock’s sense-based installations, many of which operate at the intersection of art and the environment. Hence, KB22 provided Pakistanis with the opportunity to view artworks produced by both national and international artists.

Looking to the future

As Pakistan’s art scene continues to evolve and thrive, artists eager to prove their mettle continue to make their way to the fore. Artists like Numair Abbasi, Shanzay Subzwari, Yasser Vayani, and many others are emerging as notable figures in the arts circle. However, perhaps one of the most exciting artistic discoveries of 2022 was the young artist Bilal Jabbar. For his work Wall of Thoughts at KB22, Jabbar had mounted numerous thaalis onto a wall which would start to rotate when they detected movement in their vicinity. The most arresting dynamic of Wall of Thoughts was how it burst into life when it detected motion within the space, hence encouraging viewer interactivity and immersion by using kinetic and sensory experiences to is advantage. Therefore, it was easy to see why Jabbar’s work deservedly won him the KB22 Engro Emerging Artist Prize. When one witnesses the work of Jabbar and his contemporaries, one can rest assured that the future of Pakistani art is in safe hands for 2023 and beyond.

Local art scene continues to deliver

In 2022, many established Pakistani artists also continued to add to their resumes by pushing the boundaries of their work. Names like Mussarat Mirza, Adeel-uz-Zafar, Fauzia Minallah, Amin Gulgee and Mona Naqsh, among many oth ers, had some stand-out displays this year. Given the limited space here, it is impossible to talk about all the memorable artworks that were displayed across Pakistan in 2022 in the detail that they deserve. However, Mirza’s exhibition ‘In the Realm of Light’ at the Koel Gallery must be discussed since it was one of the highlights of the year’s art calen dar. What was particularly memorable about this event was that in many ways it simply became a celebration of Mirza’s artistic career and served as a tribute to the Sukkur-based artist. The talk which she gave after the opening night of her exhibition had people occupying every inch of the Koel Gallery floor just so that they could listen to words of a veteran artist whose career spans more than five decades. Amin Gulgee’s show “Jagah Hai” – a performance art exhibit comprising 57 artists – also bears mentioning because it reminded viewers that no artist in the country puts on a bizarre, macabre and ungraspable show quite like Gulgee does.

From veteran artists to newly emerging talents, Pakistan’s art landscape proved yet again that it is continuing to go from strength to strength

By Isra Shams KARACHI

Constantly changing in terms of colour, style, theme, material and suchlike, the world of fashion in an ever-evolving phenomenon. However, there are always a few patterns characterise the time and year of the prevailing fashion scene. As the year 2022 now comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the numerous fashion trends, new collections, and great moments that defined the year with all its leading happenings and destined vicissitudes.

In Pakistan, the beginning of the year 2022 saw one of the most unique collaborations in the fashion industry when the Coke Studio, a music television series, joined hands with Khaadi, one of Pakistan’s leading fashion and lifestyle label. The collaboration was followed by an all-encompassing campaign that featured various Pakistani music artistes together with the lesser known people at Khaadi as they evolved through sounds, harmonies, movements, tastes, and styles. The coolest collab of the season, their association produced a variety of graphic T-shirts, tunics, dresses, and stoles. The onset of the year also heralded the strategic collaboration between Anaya by Kiran Chaudhry, a clothing brand, and The House of Kamiar Rokni, Pakistan’s leading fashion house which showcases the country’s most diverse cultural heritage in line with its enriched aesthetic gloss. The collaboration gave rise to the avant-garde festive collection named Dhanak, featuring an array of designs ahead of the their time based on a variety of schemes using bright colours to stylish cuts. Interpreted as the epitome of fashion of the year 2022, their creations were not only beautiful but also low-cost.

The welcome launch of international designer Ali Haider's debut collection in Pakistan coincided with the rise of different fashion labels across the country. Having earned global fame in New York Fashion Week, to Paris Fashion Week and many more, - Haider made no mistake in Pakistan as well, adding an edge to Eastern bridal couture the country has never seen before.

The year 2022 also saw the phenomenal rise of Zain Ahmed’s 'Rastah,' an underground brand that made its way to Vogue and Karan Johar's pick of the year. 'Debuted in 2018, 'Rastah' in just a few years has amassed a cultlike following, including many well-known artistes, musicians and celebrities. Its global impact continues to grow and expand.

The highlight of the year was the Vogue’s story about Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), who posted the feature on Instagram and received much accolade from the fashion fraternity. Indeed, being featured in Vogue, the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle monthly, was a major accomplishment for HSY.

As the year 2022 comes to its end, it’s time we took a look back at the leading fashion trends and great moments that characterised Pakistan’s fashion

'The Wrap,' a Lahore-based handbag brand, was also featured in the Paris Fashion Week 2022 series.

At the peak of the year, Pakistani fashion came across a moment of pride when designer Mohsin Naveed Ranjha was widely applauded for designing for an American television miniseries titled 'Ms Marvel'. With a festive outfit worn by an American actress Travina Springer, Disney was proud to represent Pakistan on screen in the latest episodes of Ms. Marvel. On such a momentous occasion, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha expressed gratitude to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Disney for putting Pakistanis and their culture on the world map.

This year's Independence Day was based on an all-embracing theme of inclusivity, as several fashionistas wore all white to highlight and aesthetically reinforce the inclusion of the country’s religious minorities in all affairs of life. However, two distinct outfits appeared everywhere, which included Mariyam D.Rizwan's white kurtas and sherwanis. Adorned by leading celebrities and fashion influencers, both apparels made waves on social media on August 14th for being the go-to ensembles that beautifully represented and projected the modern Pakistani woman..

This year's the Paris Fashion Week (PFW) was themed on the world's erratic climate changes, as well as an exploration of the latest fashion trends. Models strutting their stuff on the runway, Mehdi Hassan's 'Dunya Kisi Ke Pyar Mein' played at Paris Fashion Week in an exclusive slot by GmbH, a German company, thus the PFW)2022 was indeed one of the year's biggest highlights for Pakistan too..

The aforementioned were just a few of the many occasions when Pakistan’s fashion came into global limelight. Now in the New Year 2023 too, we anticipate that the country’s fashion industry will outperform its own past achievements, as high-end users will continue to spend and travel abroad. At the same time, Pakistani-originated fashion brands will offer more affordable products in the market, and we will see the local fashion grabbing headlines in the international media.

AFP Rosalia, the former flamenco prodigy who has since cemented her place at the top of the pop world, was arguably the biggest breakout star of 2022.

Growing up on the outskirts of Barcelona,

Rosalia Vila Tobella studied at the Catalonia College of Music, which accepts only one student per year into its flamenco programme.

This was the sound of her first album, 2017's stripped-back "Los Angeles", featuring Rosalia singing alone with a guitar.

It won many admirers for its new approach to a beloved genre -- as well as some conservative detractors -- but few predicted the crossover success to come.

While studying flamenco, Rosalia was listening to reggaeton with her friends and David Bowie with her mother.

The pop influences crept into her second album, "El Mal Querer" (The Bad Love), which included a reworking of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River".

"You can sense the flamenco tradition, but it's

By Danya Ali KARACHI

As the year draws to a close, the urge to debate about the past, present and future is inescapable.

In light of the eventful year that the Pakistan music industry had in 2022, we decided to take a glance back at some of the musical moments which defined the year. From an array of album releases, to a rejuvenated Coke Studio, to Pakistan triumphing at the Grammys, here are a handful of the moments which left an impression on fans of Pakistan’s music scene.

Arooj Aftab wins a Grammy

Arooj Aftab, a Pakistani singer based in Brooklyn, won her first Grammy in the category Best Global Performance for her song Mohabbat. She is now the first musician from Pakistan to lift the coveted award and rightfully received plaudits given just how impressive this feat was given the caliber of artists she was competing against. The 37 year-old, who has spent about 15 years living in New York, has been progressively earning recognition on a global scale for her work, which combines ancient Sufi traditions with some elements of jazz, folk music and minimalism.

Hadiqa Kiani releases new music

Hadiqa Kiani, a musician-turned-actor, may have made her acting debut this year with Raqeeb Se, but that doesn't mean she's done with music. The Boohe Bariyan singer released music from her latest album Vasl this year, and it showcased her unparalelled versatility.

Songs like Humsafar, Rasta Bhool Gaye and Woh Kon Hay became instant hits with listeners, and many remarked on just how soulful and emotive her voice and music has remained over the years. Despite the crop of new voices that emerged during 2022, Kiani proved that she is still at the top of her game.

Faris Shafi and Raftaar join forces

Fans loved Faris Shafi's collaboration with Indian rapper Raftaar for Jashan-eHiphop because it sounded fresh and inventive. Every line was sassy and quirky, and the fast rapping and soothing sounds blended together wonderfully. As usual, Shafi's lyrics have his unique creative flair, making them enjoyable to both listen to and dissect. While South Asia certainly boasts many rap artists now, Shafi has definitely carved a niche for himself in the rap circuit.

Coke Studio like never before Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s song Pasoori, performed for this year’s Coke Studio, was undeniably the biggest winner of the year on the music front. Pasoori has been heard almost 201 million times on Spotify, and its video has been watched over 463 million times on YouTube. The song dominated Spotify charts throughout the year and brought global attention to Season 14 of Coke Studion. Aside from Pasoori, Coke Studio also gave us hit melodies like Wahab Bugti, Kaifi Khalili and Eva B’s Kana Yaari, Justin Bibis, Hasan Raheem and Talal Qureshi’s Peechay Hutt, and Phir Milenge by the amazing Faisal Kapadia and Young Stunners. The latter was the 13th and final song of Coke Studio Season 14, making it the second song Young Stunners (Talha Anjum and Talha Yunus) performed for Season 14 and also marking Faisal Kapadia's first single since Strings parted ways.

Pakistan shines on Spotify and at Times Square

As mentioned earlier, Paksitani artists put up impressive number on Spotify this year, with many popular names from the Pakistani music industry dominating the end-of-the-year Spotify charts. In light of the growing global appeal of the music Pakistan is producing and has produced, Spotify displayed pictures of popular Pakistani musicians in New York’s Times Square as part of Spotify’s “Equal Pakistan” initiative. The campaign featured the likes of Natasha Baig, Hadiqa Kiani, Hasan Raheem, Nazia Hassan, Mehak Ali, Natasha Noorani and Arooj Aftab. This helped serve as a signal that Pakistan’s music has now come of age and has something to offer for everyone.

Bilal Maqsood goes solo

Strings may have said goodbye, but Bilal Maqsood’s musical career is far from over. The singer, guitarist and pianist released his singles Naya Naya and Zalima in 2022, each accompanied by their own beautifully shot music videos. The video of his first solo was shot in Turkey, and the music gives listeners a taste of what they can expect from Maqsood in the future. While for many Maqsood will forever be associated with Strings, he is now starting to make a name for himself as an independent musical artist.

Asim Azhar celebrates nine years in the music industry

There's nothing a fandom can't achieve when they put their hearts into it, and musician Asim Azhar's followers were determined to make the artist viral on Twitter, just in time for his ninth year in the music industry. The musician has come a long way over the years, continuously serenading audiences and steadily growing his small army of Asimates. From chart-toppers like Jo Tu Na Mila and Ghalat Fehmi to more recent songs like Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, Azhar has cemented his place in the music industry.

OSTs that made us swoon

Mere Humsafar, starring Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed, got a lot of recognition not only due to its heartfelt storyline but also because of its popular title track. The original soundtrack (OST) by Farhan Saeed and Yashal Shahid was a hit amongst all drama lovers. Other well received OSTs this year were Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Saher Gul Khan, followed by Hum Tum and Sang-e-Mah.

a whole new thing," she said at the time.

It was a sensation, winning a Latin Grammy for album of the year, and the lead song "Malamente" racked up 160 million views on YouTube.

The album tracks a toxic relationship, but also makes references as varied as poet Federico Garcia Lorca (killed during Spain's civil war), flamenco legend Camaron de la Isla and a famous sex club in Barcelona.

The collision of sounds won her an eclectic set of celebrity fans, from brash rap stars like Cardi B and pop stars like Lorde to elder statesmen of indie rock like Michael Stipe and David Byrne.

Rosalia embraced the opportunities, collaborating with some of the biggest names in reggaeton and hip-hop, including Ozuna, J Balvin and The Weeknd. Her duet with Travis Scott on "TKN" was a huge crossover hit with 218 million views on YouTube.

Rosalia took another bold step with "Motomami", released in March, delving further into contemporary urban and electro.

It has catapulted her to the very top of the music game, becoming the first album by a Spanish woman artiste to reach one billion streams on Spotify, and again winning album of the year at the Latin Grammys. Its central image of the butterfly was a nod to her own transformations.

"I'm constantly seeing this phenomenon I keep being surprised by, of women and their talent in these predetermined categories: the sexy one, the crazy one, the bossy one, the diva," she told Rolling Stone. "But those categories don't lead anywhere, they're just limiting."

Rosalia has always taken extreme care over her style, which is managed by her sister Pili.

Her videos often have strong Spanish influences, from bullfighting with a motorbike in the clip for "Malamente" to the visuals for "Di Mi Nombre" which drew inspiration from 18th-century painter Goya.

The bold colours of filmmaker Pedro Almodovar have been another frequent touchstone, and she made an appearance in his last feature "Pain and Glory" in 2019.

Here are five things to know about Rosalia, a Spanish singer who is referred to as an "untypical pop star" due to her genre-bending musical styles

This year will be remembered as one which not only brought global attention to Pakistani music but also led to the discovery of some amazing musical artists

Spain and Greece rank among the world's top vacation destinations and offer a highly desirable laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle

AFP

The number of high-net-worth individuals enquiring about investment migration options has more than doubled since the coronavirus was first reported three years ago, with record numbers of wealthy international investors now looking to diversify their residence and citizenship options amid unprecedented global volatility. Henley & Partners, the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment, has also seen a huge surge in interest and applications from citizens of highly developed countries such as Canada, the UK, and the US compared to pre-pandemic times, with Americans now the top client nationality seeking alternative residence and/or additional citizenship.

Henley & Partners CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen says with many economies now in a post-pandemic phase plagued by security, political, and economic risks, wealthy families are revisiting their priorities to ensure that their legacies, wealth, and lifestyles are protected and future-proofed. "For high-net-worth investors, the optionality of living in or conducting business in a country of their choice is a prime concern. Many are exploring residence and citizenship by investment portfolios that offer them location fluidity and the option to relocate at any given moment between two or more 'home' nations, often many thousands of miles from each other."

In terms of the most sought-after alternative residence options, both Spain and Greece have shot up in popularity over the past six months.

Applications for the Spain Residence by Investment Programme have increased by 240% this year compared to 2021, and there has also been a significant 125% spike in applications for the Greece Golden Visa Programme, with investors able to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residence. Both Spain and Greece rank among the world's top vacation destinations and offer a highly desirable laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, with vibrant, cosmopolitan cities and leading educational institutions. Each programme offers several

investment options but the most popular way to secure residence rights is through purchasing real estate: a minimum investment of EUR 250,000 is required for Greece and EUR 500,000 for Spain. As a resident of either country, you have the right to live and study there as well as free movement across the EU and Europe's Schengen Area. Henley & Partners Group Head of Private Clients Dominic Volek says because the single property purchase secures residence for the whole family, it's a legacy investment across generations. "International real estate has always been a reliable asset class for global investors due to its long-term staying power. Real estate-linked investment migration programmes have the additional advantages of enhancing your global mobility through multiple passports and expanding your personal access rights as a citizen or resident of multiple jurisdictions, creating optionality in terms of where you and your family can live, work, study, retire, and invest. The potential gains over the lifetime of the investment include the core value of the asset, rental yields, and global access as an ultimate hedge against both regional and global volatility."

AFP Doctors in Britain have hailed a pioneering treatment for an aggressive form of leukaemia, after a teenager became the first patient to be given a new therapy and went into remission.

The 13-year-old girl, identified only as Alyssa, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2021.

But her blood cancer did not respond to conventional treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

She was enrolled on a clinical trial of a new treatment at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) using genetically engineered immune cells from a healthy volunteer.

In 28 days her cancer was in remission, allowing her to receive a second bone marrow transplant to restore her immune system.

Six months on, she is "doing well" back home in Leicester, central England, and receiving follow-up care.

"Without this experimental treatment, Alyssa's only option was palliative care," the hospital said in a statement.

Robert Chiesa, a GOSH consultant, said her turnaround had been "quite remarkable", although the results still needed to be monitored and confirmed in the next few months.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is the most common kind of cancer in children and affects cells in the immune system, known as B cells and T cells, which fight and protect against viruses.

GOSH said Alyssa was the first patient known to have been given base-edited T cells, which involves chemically converting single nucleotide bases -- letters of the DNA code -- which carry instructions for a specific protein.

Researchers at GOSH and University College London helped develop the use of genome-edited T cells to treat B-cell leukaemia in 2015.

But to treat some other types of leukaemia the team had to overcome the challenge that T cells designed to recognise and attack cancerous cells had ended up killing each other during the manufacturing process.

Multiple additional DNA changes were needed to the baseedited cells to allow them to target cancerous cells without damaging each other.

"This is a great demonstration of how, with expert teams and infrastructure, we can link cutting-edge technologies in the lab with real results in the hospital for patients," said GOSH Consultant Immunologist and Professor Waseem Qasim.

"It's our most sophisticated cell engineering so far and paves the way for other new treatments and ultimately better futures for sick children."

Alyssa said in the statement she was spurred to take part in the trial not just for herself but for other children.

Her mother, Kiona, added: "Hopefully this can prove the research works and they can offer it to more children."

The researchers were presenting their findings recently at the annual meeting of the American Society of Haematology.

AFP

With one of the world's fastest aging populations and significant unmet demand for elderly care services, people in China are increasingly worried about life after retirement.

"Beyond the obvious concern of saving enough money to retire, people are worried about their health and finding meaningful ways to spend their time in retirement," said MetLife China CEO, Siyi Sun.

China is not alone with Asia's elderly population projected to reach nearly 923 million over the next few decades, making it one of the oldest regions in the world.

MetLife created 360Future to help people in Asia prepare for retirement earlier and better support them as they age.

The comprehensive solution combines retirement savings and insurance protection with health and wealth services to support customers and their elderly family members in retirement.

"The launch of 360Future is another key milestone in our transformation journey from traditional products to holistic

customer solutions. It aims to provide all-round retirement support to help our customers prepare early, protect their family and enjoy a prosperous life post-retirement," added Sun.

"As they plan for their own retirement, many people are also helping their parents navigate healthcare and lifestyle challenges as they grow older. We've designed a sharable solution that not only helps them prepare financially for their own future, but also includes benefits they can access before retirement, like medical appointment companions, homecare support and counselling to support their elderly family members," said Sanjeev Kapur, Chief Marketing Officer, MetLife Asia. The solution follows MetLife's successful roll out of 360Health in Asia, which like 360Future, is a holistic solution that combines insurance protection with comprehensive health services delivered through a simple, digital experience.

"MetLife has created a concept that can be replicated in other markets to better support our customers in Asia to be better prepared and transition into retirement with greater confidence," he added.

The 13-year-old girl, identified only as Alyssa, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2021. PHOTOS: FILE

China has become the first country in Asia to offer 360Future to help people prepare for retirement earlier and better support them as they age

Sonya Rehman, a Pakistan-based art and culture journalist and author of Wolfie, talks to BOLD this week

By Minaal Mohsin Maan LAHORE

Sonya Rehman, a Pakistan-based art and culture journalist and author, is known for her debut fiction book for children, Wolfie, which is based on the story of a dog. A Fulbright scholar with an MS in Print Journalism from Columbia University, Sonya Rehman started her writing career in 2021 with a non-fiction book, “Embroidering Dreams - 50 Years of Empowering Women and Preserving the Craft of Needlework.” She is the founder of a postcard company and culture platform, “From Lahore with Love,”, and has also launched her own jewellery line. A die-hard animal lover, she has five rescue dogs of her own.

In an exclusive interview with BOLD, Sonya Rehman talks about her writing journey and the associated details that

BOLD: Ever since its release, your book Wolfie has received a number of positive reviews and feedback. Could you tell our readers a bit about the story and its characters?

Sonya Rehman: Wolfie revolves about a little dog who has trouble believing in himself. He’s an endearing little character who is propelled into a journey of a lifetime, and it’s on this very adventure that Wolfie discovers that he’s far braver than he thought himself to be. The book is more than just a story about animals…through it I hope to foster animal empathy and self-belief (topics that I’m incredibly passionate about) in children.

What prompted you to write a book with an animal at its centre?

Throughout my childhood and adulthood, I’ve grown up with dogs. My most beloved pet dog, Bruce (who died in 2020 when he was 14-yearsold) played a huge role in my life. He was the glue who held my family together. He was sweet, intuitive and incredibly smart. Bruce left an undeniable mark in my life…he made me a better, stronger person. He was my furry sage, my best friend. My main motivation to write Wolfie was to create a small ripple in the dismal state of animal rights in Pakistan. Even if I can change a handful of minds to treat animals (particularly strays) with kindness through Wolfie, my job on this planet is done.

You are one of the Pakistani authors to delve into children's literature in English. Would you say writing a children's book has been a relatively difficult process?

Writing for children comes with a softness and a sensitivity that is initially hard to revive as an adult. This is because as adults, we forget to view the world with awe and an innocent enthusiasm, we forget that our lives can be magical and beautiful. So it was a bit of an unlearning process in the beginning. But once I got started, it flowed very naturally. I felt light, happy and hopeful while writing Wolfie. And funnily enough, I began believing in myself more – just like Wolfie – when I completed the first manuscript.

The Amazon Books Editors announced their selections for the Best Books of 2022, naming Gabrielle Zevin's novel ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ as the Best Book of the Year

AFP

The annual list of the best books of the year is hand-picked by a team of editors, referred to as Amazon Books Editors, who read thousands of books each year and share their recommendations on Amazon Book Review to help customers find their next great read. Featuring the top 100 books published this year, the editors' selections also break out the top 20 books in popular categories, including mystery, memoir, romance, children's books (by age), history, cookbooks, and more.

"We've had a bumper crop of amazing books to choose from this year," said Sarah Gelman, editorial director for Amazon Books. "But to get our passionate (read: opinionated!) team of editors to agree on one they loved is almost a miracle. ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ is that miracle - a simply perfect book about the complexities of human relationships, the importance of human connection, the innocence and optimism of youth, our journey with technology, and the many shades of love."

‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ resonates with readers, too. One of the quotes most often highlighted by Kindle readers is: "What is a game?" Marx said. "It's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever."

"I've loved many books from this year, so it is an unexpected honour for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow to be selected as Amazon's Best of the Year," said Zevin. "What a remarkable time to be a writer and a reader!"

"The optimism of a new generation is at the heart of many of our favourite stories this year, not just in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, but also in ‘Solito: A Memoir,’ ‘Demon Copperhead,’ ‘Our Missing Hearts,’ and ‘I'm Glad My Mom Died,’" said Gelman. "We're also seeing the power of connection and platonic love playing out across the pages of other picks, such as ‘Memphis,’ ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures,’ and ‘Now is Not the Time to Panic.’"

What do you do to beat writer's block?

A heart to heart talk with my family or a close friend does the trick for me. I only experience writer’s block when I feel emotionally blocked, when my heart feels heavy. A conversation with someone I love helps me unravel my mind and from thereon it’s just this frenzied writing sprint! Good music helps too.

You penned Wolfie down during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time where most people found it hard to function optimally. How did Covid-19 impact your routine as a writer?

It was terrible. But I was journaling and meditating a lot during the lockdown. That made it easier but it wasn’t the best time to be creative, I’ll admit. Then during the editing phase in 2022, I contracted Covid. I was flat out for days. I lost my sense of smell and taste for a few weeks and struggled with depression during my illness. I just wanted to give up on everything. I was done. How has your publishing journey been? Being a Pakistani author, was it relatively easy to get published?

It isn’t easy getting published, period. But I was lucky because one of my peers and mentors, Mehr F. Husain, agreed to publish Wolfie through her local publishing platform, ZUKA Books. If it wasn’t for Mehr’s encouragement as a friend and support as an editor/publisher, I would’ve never had the courage to get Wolfie published. I had no fight left in me.

What prompted you to write a children's book rather than a book for an older audience?

I wrote a non-fiction book for adults which was published in 2021. The book, ‘Embroidering Dreams – 50 Years of Empowering Women and Preserving the Craft of Needlework’ took me almost two years to complete. After the book was published, I wanted to write something for a younger audience to bring me back into a simpler, softer headspace.

Please tell us a bit about the writing journey. How long did it take you to complete the manuscript?

Even though it’s a little over 60 pages, it took me a year. Afterwards, the edits for the second manuscript took about two months.

What is your writing routine like? Do you have a set of rules that you need to follow such as a certain schedule or a designated place that you work at?

I have no routine. I’m very spontaneous. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and begin writing on my laptop, in the middle of the day, or during a heavy week full of chores and projects. I’ve tried very hard to make a routine for myself, but my process is very feral and random. I can’t write when I eat poorly though, if I eat junk food I just can’t get myself to write. So when I have to write, an article or a book, I’ll eat clean. If I stuff on pizza, I’m flat out and cannot bring myself to write for at least 48 hours!

Most writers in Pakistan find publishing to be a daunting process, especially considering the lack of representation when it comes to literary agents and publishers. How has your experience been?

Incredible. Easy from the get-go. I’ve felt like my editor/publisher has my back and always wants the best for me. What more can a writer want? When you write a book, you have a little piece of yourself out in the world. It’s very daunting. But working with the publisher has made me feel supported and safe.

Which authors would you say have inspired you the most and why?

Harper Lee, Wally Lamb, Arundhati Roy, Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter, and so many others who gave me a curious sensitivity about the way of the world, a belief in magic, the good in the world, a sense of justice for the overlooked underdog and a belief that the pen is a very powerful weapon if used for a good cause. Always for good.

What was your favourite book growing up as a child?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton!

Can we expect a sequel for Wolfie?

Yes, I’m mulling over it!

What's next for you?

I have at least two more books for children cooking in 2023.

The Amazon Books Editors Top 10 picks of 2022, as described by the editors, are:

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

"After devouring this novel, you'll walk with a bounce in your step, a full heart, and the buzzy feeling that this is one of the best books about friendshipin all of its messy complexity and glory-you have ever read, which is why we named it the Best Book of 2022. Gabrielle Zevin has written a novel perfect for this moment, when connection is what we crave and hope is what we need."

-Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

"Fairy Tale's Charlie Reade joins the ranks of King's best characters, and the story he tells-of a curmudgeonly neighbour with dangerous secrets, a parallel world ruled by an unspeakable monster, a child-eating giant, and a dog who has lived more than one lifetime-is wondrous. Fairy Tale is fantasy, coming-of-age, friendship, and adventure - it's good versus evil, a boy and his dog on a perilous quest; it's King doing what he does best: setting our imagination on fire."

-Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

City on Fire by Don Winslow

Solito: A Memoir by Javi-

er Zamora

"Neil Gaiman once said, 'Fiction gives us empathy...gives us the gifts of seeing the world through [other people's] eyes.' Solito is one of those rare nonfiction reads that achieves the same thing, and puts a human face on the immigration debate-that of a 9-yearold child making a harrowing journey from South America to the United States, and the found family who eases his way. A heart-pounding, heart-expanding memoir."

-Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

"One of the best American novels we've read in years-galloping backward and forward in time to tell a story about race and freedom, horses and art, and the lineage of not just ancestors, but actions. From Kentucky to New Orleans, from the 1850s to present day, Pulitzer Prize-winning Brooks weaves together a story cantered on one of the fastest thoroughbreds in history and the Black groom that catapulted Lexington to the front of the track. A heart-pounding American epic." -Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

"Don Winslow (Power of the Dog trilogy, Broken) is, without doubt, one of the best crime fiction writers in decades. And in City on Fire, he's written one of the most immersive, head-turning, and heart-stopping crime family novels since The Godfather. It's about loyalty, love, fraternity, family, belonging, betrayal, and survival. But no matter how epic its themes, it's Winslow's eye for the small, personal details that will sear these characters in your heart and in your memory."

-Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

"In this mesmerizing novel, Kingsolver peers into the neglected hollers of Appalachia to tell an insightful and razor-sharp coming-of-age story about a boy called Demon Copperhead. Born behind the eight ball of life, Demon faces hunger, cruelty, and a tidal wave of addiction in his tiny county, but never loses his love for the place that claims him as its own. With the soulful narration by this kind, conflicted, witty boy, Kingsolver gives voice to a place and its people where beauty, desperation, and resilience collide."

-Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

"Celeste Ng joins our Best Books of the Year list for the third time with her most gripping story yet. A mom mysteriously disappears amid a nationalistic movement that feels chillingly close to realitylaunching her young son on a courageous quest to find her, aided by everyday heroes in unexpected places. The prose sings as the pieces click. This is fiction as revolution, serving as a warning, a dystopian fairy tale, and a suspenseful thriller with moments of hope that buoyed us as we read." -Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor

Stolen Focus

Why You Can't Pay Attention-and How to Think

Deeply Again by Johann Hari: "We can't stop talking about Stolen Focus. It's vital and mesmerizing, examining why we as individuals and as a collective have lost our attention spans. Suffice to say, Hari's three-month tech-detox and his findings will make you immediately want to stop scrolling the internet, quit thinking in slogans and 280 characters, and engage authentically in sustained thought so that we can tackle global issues like poverty, racism, and climate change. Deeply satisfying and affirming and full of light-bulb moments, this is a book everyone should read." -Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

Carrie

Reid

Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins

"We revelled in CarrieSoto's fiery energy-Taylor Jenkins Reid, of Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo fame, has written another book you'll inhale in a day. Soto is a former tennis champ who returns to the game to defend her title. She's unapologetic, ambitious, and willing to put everything on the line. This is a big-hearted story about her relationship with her father, taking risks, and standing up bravely in a world that doesn't necessarily want to see strong women succeed."

-Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor

The Escape Artist

The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland: "This is the true story of one of the few people who escaped Auschwitz, but that only touches on what this book is about. Rudolf Vrba set out to tell the world about the atrocities he had witnessed in the concentration camps, but much of the world was not ready to hear it. The author, Jonathan Freedland, paints a vivid, moving portrait of what Vrba experienced, both during and after the war. Vrba was a hero, for sure, but he was human as well. This is a forgotten story that you won't soon forget."

-Chris Schluep, Amazon Editor

The Amazon Books Editors Top Children's pick of 2022 is The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander. Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor shared "Inspired by Ghanaian history, Kwame Alexander's exceptional novel-in-verse flows as easily as the water running through this young protagonist's dreams. Immersed in family, school, and the excitement of a first crush, Kofi's world spins upside down when a terrible accident turns a festive occasion into one filled with sorrow and anger-and that's just a glimpse of what's to come. The Door of No Return is a brilliant work of storytelling that moves you with joy, fear, sadness, hope, and love for the brave, resilient boy at its heart."

In this modern time and age ruled by technological wonders, many a traditional penand-paper medium, once aimed at unleashing one’s latent creative talents and artistic abilities, have entirely been lost or still are in the throes of losing their popularity and reach among the rising generation that believes in reaching the top of Everest within a moment that too at the push of a single button, and rightly so. Amidst the shifting sands of time, the fast-moving pace of well-integrated communication and connectivity outlets are giving rise to the untapped opportunities for the catharsis for personal storytelling, along with the avenues for the exhibition of one’s artistic expressions and talent exposure, as every new day welcomes the world with something out of this world, imbued with novelty, innovation and new-fangled contraption.

Though currently many television channels are resorting to a slew of reality-based programmes and traditional game shows, what makes these TV shows a run-of-themill content is the fact that such shows hinge on the physical presence of the contestants and are entirely produced within the confines of time and space, thus they do not offer a leeway to those budding performers and aspiring artistes psychically unable to appear in these pre-recorded programmes to showcase their unique talent.

BOL Network remains on top of the entertainment world.

Therefore, the virtual presence of users on social media, other than their physical participation, provides them equal opportunities to come forward, join the competition and show their talents which may help them in a big way to be in the limelight

In addition to that, most of the so-called game shows on television are kind of an offline audiovisual creation in reality. Owing to their below-the-fold approach masquerading in the guise of interactive games shows, these pre-scripted programmes do not make the most of the mainstreaming so-

cial media outlets with active users of over millions and counting. Given the abounding lot of a well-connected populace hovering round-the-clock on the social media landscape, BOL Network, the name behind the BOL Entertainment and BOL News TV channels, takes the lead as being one of the leading flag-bearers of talent promotions in the local TV industry, which is otherwise still plagued with offline, outmoded and old-fashioned ideas and obsolete formats.

From the word go, BOL stands out from the rest because of the overarching format of all its shows which transcend the spacetime continuum by allowing viewers to fully participate in these shows using merely their handy mobile phones and nothing else. BOL has given young talent a chance to showcase their skills through the channels' platforms.

This is primarily because TV channels like BOL Entertainment, along with BOL News, are not meant solely for those who have an established career, however, it allows many to prove their mettle, rise and shine as an individual and grow in career. Not only this,

but the channel has always opened its door for deserving people from around the country - even those who want to appear on TV but lack facilties. The channel introduced shows like The Tik Tok Show, The Insta Show so they can make the most of TV transmissions by employing their mobile phones as a universal access point to get themselves on air and win a pricey reward as well as instant fame in the public.

Making good use of one of the unique genres of broadcast viewing entertainment, BOL Network allows both the participating

contestants and far-flung audience sitting in their homes to enter the entire new world of competitive gaming, where mental excellence reigns supreme over hit-or-miss gamble, while a game of chance leads one to immense glory that too within a matter of seconds.

Offering both participatory as well as demonstrative space to all and sundry with no discrimination, one is always able to hit the jackpot in such shows, which are also available through scores of web streaming platforms and online channels. Competing

for a reward of course, contestants are either asked to solve puzzles or answer questions. As offered by these shows aplenty, however, the demonstrative aspect of the competition turns it into a talent show which empowers everyone to make the best use of their hidden talents on stage. Thanks to the world’s leading social media platforms and apps such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Messenger, Reddit, Snapchat, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and WhatsApp, the people are now able to directly send their entries, featuring their audiovisual creations

and artistic endeavours, to these game shows at BOL. In place of entertaining, especially the lot of couch potatoes and loungers, all game shows at BOL offer an equal space to both active and passive audiences as what they only need is a smartphone with a built-in camera with regular sound recording features. This helps them to perform, record and upload whatever they can do to get themselves on air and win the reward for their best creativity and artistic talents.

Enjoying a robust presence on the internet in general and on YoutTube in particular, BOL Network sits on top of the entertainment world. Therefore, the virtual presence of users on social media, other than their physical participation, provides them equal opportunities to come forward, join the competition and show their talents which may help them in a big way to be in the limelight.

Having cemented its position as the number 1 game show of Pakistan, ‘Game Show Aisay Chalay Ga’ is hosted by Danish Tai-

moor, Pakistan’s leading TV and film actor, model and host. Aired every Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 PM on BOL Entertainment, the show is open to all with no strings attached and those who want to participate in the show just need to download its mobile application through Google Play and App Store on their mobile phones and follow the given instructions. When it comes to catering to a vast number of audiences, the fastest-growing social media community, together with millions of users online, BOL takes the lead, which is mostly attributable to its huge variety of game shows and live reality programmes. Besides its flagship programme ‘Game Show Aisay Chalay Ga,’ BOL currently runs over 50 plus games shows and live reality competitions, such as Pakistan Star, Khush Raho Pakistan, BOL House and Champions. There are big names of the industry, such as Ahmed Ali Butt, Danish Taimoor, Faysal Quraishi, Sanam Jung and Fahim Khan, who are currently affiliated with the channel and running shows successfully. Unlike other channels, the shows at BOL Network are based on novel ideas and unique formats which enable a large number of people to participate in a number of ways and means. For example, Taxi Cash, Jeeto Ek Minute Mein, Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay, Tick Tock Show: Ghar Se Crorepati are based on such rare, yet creative and out-of-the-box ideas that attract even those who tend to stay away from such entertaining, but equally rewarding shows. The same is also true for such games shows as Bacha Log Game Show and Akhri Khilari Kon. In a word, the success of a TV game show is measured by its huge mass appeal, in place of the hundreds of precious gifts, freebies and hefty cash prizes the show offers to its small number of contestants and participants. The BOL Network, by the same token, has set a precedent for both the TV industry and online video-sharing platforms as to how a game show is made and run for the people at large with a win-win rewards for both the haves and have-nots. Take a bow!

Thanks to its variety of games shows, BOL Network takes the lead as being one of the leading flag-bearers of talent promotions in the TV industry

KARACHI By Faizan Usmani