BOL NEWSPAPER | November 27 2022

By Maheen Aziz

KARACHI

Having given more than 15 years to the entertainment industry, Saba Qamar remains unstoppable. Throughout her showbiz journey, she has proven the fact that she is an artiste par excellence and is willing to go far ahead. Saba Qamar is widely known for taking up challenging yet unconventional roles that defy the established norms and bravely challenge stereotypes, particularly those associated with women. In so doing, her versatile range remains unrivalled and the characters she has played so far will always hold a special place in the hearts of audience. Her unmatched acting skills and unsurpassed talent have made her a favourite amongst critics and audiences alike. Bosting of a talents that transcends her beauty, Saba Qamar talks to BOLD about her forthcoming projects, her views about both known and unspoken showbiz rivalries, and how she feels in being the best possible version of herself and beyond.

As things currently stand, Saba Qamar, as a leading actresses, has delivered on both the small and big screens, and the starlet has been busy shooting for multiple projects over the past year, with her web-series ‘Naina Ki Sharafat’ being shown on the Pakistani web streaming platform Urduflix earlier this year. “I believe in working for all kinds of platforms as they all hold their own importance and viewership, hence it was not difficult for me to choose a streaming service for ‘Naina Ki Sharafat’ over the traditional and more established television channels,” she revealed. Saba thinks such online streaming platforms are the future of the entertainment sectors of all kinds. “I believe that there are a lot of chances for this to become the biggest entertainment medium.”

Saba believes that her fans should eagerly wait for what else she is now working on, particularly considering the huge success amassed by her film Kamli, the commercial triumph of ‘Ghabrana Nahi Hai,’ along with her telefilm Hangor. . “There’s a lot in the pipeline that I want my fans to watch, their feedback means a lot to me. It makes the artiste feel content when their work is loved and appreciated by the masses. Feedback is everything that we need in the end after working so hard. It’s a rewarding experience and the best thing about my forthcoming projects is that they’re all different from one another,” she stated.

Since Saba Qamar has now spent over a decade in ruling the hearts and minds of her countless fans, she wants newcomers to step in, follow their instincts, keep their head held high and steer clear of all the negative things around them, just the way she does

When the most devastating Covid-19 pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill, many wondered if that global disaster would ring the death bell for the struggling film industry of Pakistan. However, the cinema industry has bounced back and did quite well, especially in the year 2022, with the Saba Qamar-starrer Kamli being one of the best films to come out of the country. “I cannot thank God enough for things coming back to normal – the pandemic was very hard on all of us but I also believe that it was a great chance for all of us to explore ourselves and work on our weaknesses. I guess we all have learned the value of thanking God for every little blessing in our life, be it to physically see someone or to step out for a mere cup of coffee, or perhaps even a hug from our loved ones that we used to take for granted,” according to Saba.

Expectedly, Saba Qamar is one of those leading actresses who has always making the headlines, and for good reason. Even when the life literally stopped during the Covid-19 calamity, she managed to rise to the occasion to entertain her millions of fans through social media and launched her own

YouTube channel where she uploads content produced by her own and reflects on general topics, ranging from current crises to satire, music, and poetry. “My workload is very hectic these days, doing projects back to back hasn’t given me enough time to work on content for my YouTube channel,” she opined.

“And as you all know that my YouTube channel is my own personal space that I use to reach my fans, therefore, I need to have time to breathe life into what I have in mind.” However, her YouTube schedule has taken a back seat because of her busy work schedule which keeps her occupied. Nevertheless, she has guaranteed bringing in something exciting to her fans, saying, “I promise I will be back soon with another amazing episode!”

After having already proved her mettle with the commercial and critical hit ‘Hindi Medium,’ in in 2017 which establishing herself as a bankable performer in the Indian film industry, we asked the actress which one of her projects has resonated the most with her. “Baaghi and Cheekh had a huge impact on my life though all the projects I did are equally important to me and I lived through all of my characters. Not to forget Hindi Medium, it was one of my best experiences I have ever had. But Naina Ki Sharafat has become very close to my heart and I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the project,” she told.

With regard to her experience working with the late Indian film actor Irrfan Khan in Hindi Medium, she compares the two industries in detail. She believes Indian cinema is well-established in all standards, while Pakistani film industry is still in its infancy stage but it will attain those heights very soon, according to her.

Saba has all the credit for doing a variety of challenging roles for both film and television, she believes there’s a lot of

Baaghi and Cheekh had a huge impact on my life though all the projects I did are equally important to me and I lived through all of my characters. Not to forget Hindi Medium, it was one of my best experiences I have ever had

been afraid to take on a challenge as a versatile performer. “I guess that’s the beauty of being an artiste who tends to be an all-rounder and I really enjoy being one. You learn from every new thing that comes to you and being a lifetime learner I would love to remain a jack-of-all-trades for the rest of my career too,” said Saba.

Being a true believer of feminism, Saba Qamar has a proven track record of picking those roles that strive to empower women, for instance, Cheekh, Baaghi and Fauzia Batool, and she describes herself as a feminist. “Being a feminist myself, I really believe that all of us need to educate ourselves on the true meaning of feminism,” she added. “Once we have understood the basics, only then can we uplift others, support them and educate them on what the feminism is, whether it’s in our social circles, our family settings or in the industry as a whole.”

People in the show industry often compare actors and actresses with one another, thus giving rise to an unspoken yet needless rivalry with no rationality. On certain occasions, some fans tend to even take these rivalries a step further and in doing so they attack other fans as well. Unfortunately, it is a vicious cycle, and Saba has her reservations about this negative trend. “I personally hate this thing because I believe every person is special in his or her own way, and we should not do such negative things to bring anyone down. We’re all here to work together and you cannot pick yourself up by bringing another actress down, so I don’t really pay heed to these baseless comparisons,” she stated. With regard to the Pakistan’s industry and various changes facing the industry, Saba would like

to see one change in the current media landscape in particular. She revealed, “If it were in my hands, I’d want every person to respect our artistes, for this is the kind of positivity and mannerism we need in our lives to thrive.”

She also shared her stance on the limitless influencing power of social media as a medium of entertainment and education which has an immense potential to both uplift and demean.

“Since everything has its pros and cons, the social media cannot be an exception. If we use it positively the way it is basically meant to be then nothing will become scary for anyone. What matters is your peace. If you’re at peace then you don’t have to worry about the negativity that surrounds you. So it is always better to focus on finding your peace of mind and the rest will be fine!” she asserted.

Since Saba Qamar has now spent over a decade in ruling the hearts and minds of her countless fans, she wants newcomers to step in, follow their instincts, keep their head held high and steer clear of all the negative things around them, just the way she does.

“I firmly believe in being a straightforward and honest person when it comes to any personal or non-personal issue. I do need to learn the art of being politically correct, but I guess that’s a little too tough for me so I’m just enjoying being who I am,” she added.

It seems Saba follows a mantra for success and a little something of it that all of us can adopt, apply and thrive in this challenging world.

thought that goes into the picking which script she wants to work with. “I am very choosy yet careful about my projects. I want to do something that grabs my attention in a matter of second and the script should be strong, convincing yet meaningful be that as it may. Honestly speaking, it has to tick all the boxes for me. I am obsessed with giving my audience something truly new every time they get to see me on-screen.”

From acting and modelling to writing and even running her own YouTube channel, Saba is a know-it-all

She describes herself as a feminist and loves doing roles that strive to empower women

KARACHI Omair Alavi

Football might not be an American thing but it’s so popular around the world that multiple films in Hollywood have been made around the sport. Contrary to popular belief, the first ‘soccer’ film was produced, released, and even appreciated by the audience way back in 1939, and since then the 'game’s afoot', literally. Let’s take a look at some of the football films that have graced cinemas and made an impact on the minds of those who, despite their love of the game, ended up visiting cinemas.

Escape to Victory (1981)

Put British actor Michael Caine, Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, and football legend Pele in a dressing room and you will have a riot. Replace the dressing room with a Prisoner of War camp from the Second World War and you have John Huston’s classic Escape to Victory. You can’t have a football film list without this movie where the Germans challenge the Allied team to a football match, long before the English did the same with locals in Bollywood's Lagaan.

The catch here was that the prisoners wanted to live a more convenient life while one of them (Stallone, who else!) wanted to use the match to escape. From Pele’s trademark bicycle kick to Stallone’s save at the climax, this film had everything a football fan wants to see in a match. Missing it would have consequences since it features English legend Bobby Charlon alongside Belgian and Argentine players as his teammates and the impressive Max von Sydow as the brains behind the game, but not the escape!

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

The Cantonese flick may neither be American or British but when its football, language doesn’t matter. The film revolves around a young Shaolin kung-fu practitioner who is very good at what he does, but not many know about his skills. That’s why he decides to team up with his depressed kung-fu practitioners, form a ‘soccer’ team, and incorporate Shaolin with 'Soccer' in such a way that people get to know about it.

However, in order to win a prestigious competition, they have to first understand ‘soccer’, since they don’t know anything about it. Only after that will they be able to play, and hopefully defeat the team that seems to have crooked players in their ranks.

A Shot at Glory (2002)

When the football club managed by coach Gordon McCloud (Robert Duvall) is asked to either accept his estranged son-in-law Jackie McQuillan (Ally McCoist) as a new player or be ready to lose the club, he decides to accept the former. But Jackie has an issue; he isn’t a team player, which is exactly what the team doesn’t need. Not only does football help Gordon connect with his daughter and her husband, but it also transforms the notorious footballer into someone who can play for the team, and does that. Michael Keaton plays the boss who wants to take the club to Ireland, but only if they don’t manage to win.

She's the Man (2006)

Before it became a fashion, Amanda Bynes did what Rani Mukerji emulated in the Bollywood flick Dil Bole Hadippa! and our very own Ainy Jaffri did in Balu Mahi i.e., dress up like a boy and play the game you excel in. Fortunately for Viola (Amanda Bynes), all she had to do was replace her twin brother Sebastian at school, so she could play football, something she had been unable to do since her football team disbanded.

However, things begin to go haywire when she finds out that her brother’s roommate Duke (Channing Tatum) has a serious crush on a girl named Olivia (Laura Ramsey), who likes Sebastian (James Kirk) who is Viola, who has a crush on Duke. Add Football to the equation and you will get a flick that makes you laugh out loud for its entire duration.

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (1939)

If you combine a Sherlock Holmes mystery with a football game, the result would be something along the lines of The Arsenal Stadium Mystery. Adapted from a novel by Leonard Gribble, and released in 1939, it is a murder mystery where the murder takes place on the football ground, right in front of everyone’s eyes.

The title is taken from the stadium’s name where Arsenal was playing against a fictional side, The Trojans, at their home ground Highbury Stadium, which is where the story takes place.

Like all yesteryear mysteries, the suspect list keeps growing until the Scotland Yard inspector finally gets it right. After all, he was distracted like the audience was, because many Arsenal players as well as their manager George Allison had cameos in the film, to give it an authentic football touch. The film might not be a Hollywood production (it was a British one, like James Bond films) but kickstarted the movement that went on to produce many great films revolving around the game.

Mean Machine (2001)

Former footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones plays a footballer stuck in prison for a minor crime, in a story inspired by The Longest Yard. Like Escape to Victory, he selects players from the modern British prison, and makes a team out of them that goes on defeat the opposition, but not before the audience is treated to drama, action, comedy, and suspense. Although it is nothing different from the many underdog films, we have all seen, it was the first instant that football was used in the plot. The success of this film revolved around redemption, and ragtag characters that added color to the plot and kickstarted a trail of films that included Dodgeball to name a few.

Watch out for Ryan Giggs’ cameo as a warden as well as former national-level diver Jason Statham (yes, he was a sportsman before becoming an actor), who plays the team’s goalkeeper with a grudge. Other footballers to appear in the film include Vinnie Jones' former colleagues Charlie Hartfield, Paul Fishenden, and Brian Gayle while Nevin Saroya and Perry Digweed also make an appearance for the opposition.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Although English footballer David Beckham doesn’t appear in this movie until the very end, it is about his influence on young minds, be it a boy or a girl, English or desi. It revolves around two 18-year-old girls – one British and one Sikh (played by Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra respectively) who want to defy the odds and play professional football, even if it means going against their traditional families. That’s exactly what they do in the movie with the help of football and whatever happens on the field from jealousy, bonding, and racial tension. How sport changes their lives and reunites them with their loved ones is what makes this movie a mustwatch, even if you aren’t a fan of football.

Kicking & Screaming (2005)

Kicking & Screaming revolves around three generations of the same family where the grandfather tries to beat his son’s football team where the grandson plays. Interesting, isn’t it? The best thing about this underdog flick is that Will Ferrell plays the central character who is given a Kindergarten Cop kind of situation – to train a bunch of losers into winners. His father is played by the same guy who terrorized his son-in-law in A Shot at Glory – Robert Duvall – who is not the good guy this time. With the help of American football player Mike Ditka (playing himself), he transforms the team but winning changes him, and affects his own relationship with his son, which is exactly what he didn’t want to happen. How the father and son join hands to win back their pride is what this movie is all about.

Playing for Keeps (2012)

It might not have done well at the box office but Gerard Butler leads a star cast that could do no wrong. He plays a former professional football player who moves to Virginia to be closer to his ex-wife and son and ends up teaching football to kids whose mothers fall for him.

Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, and Uma Thurman besides Butler, this film is all about second chances, and how they can be used, both as a professional soccer player and a father who doesn’t want to disappoint his son.

Ryan Reynolds is in love

AFP

From subversive superheroes to sports documentaries, Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, best known for playing the Marvel Comics character Deadpool, is now focused on exploring new forms of storytelling, as he received a prestigious film industry honour.

The star of comic-book films such as "Deadpool" and "Green Lantern" made headlines last year when he bought lowly Welsh soccer team Wrexham, along with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.

Their takeover and the fifth-tier team's subsequent bid for promotion was the subject of hit docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham," the latest in a booming trend of behind-the-scenes sports documentaries.

Sport "is storytelling happening in real time. So I love applying that to Wrexham," said Reynolds at a Beverly Hills gala held in November.

"I've fallen in love with not just Wrexham but with the people of Wales. I knew I'd be entrenched in the town, I just didn't know that it would go this deep this quickly."

"It's been amazing. It's been truly one of the great privileges of my life."

An American sports documentary series, Welcome to Wrexham is unusual because its stars and producers took ownership of the club -- despite admitting to knowing almost nothing about soccer -sports documentaries more generally have soared in popularity in recent times.

"We live in a world that moves incredibly fast. If you can move at the speed of what people are talking about, when they're talking about it, you can move mountains — and sports is that," said Reynolds.

Reynolds received the American Cinematheque Award, a "mid-career achieve-

We live in a world that moves incredibly fast. If you can move at the speed of what people are talking about, when they're talking about it, you can move mountains — and sports is that

ment" prize given to one star at the event each year. Previous honourees have included Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, and Steven Spielberg.

The actor, who also has extensive business dealings including stakes in a gin brand and a cell phone company, is working on "Deadpool 3," another instalment in his smash-hit, R-rated movie series about an ill-mouthed superhero.

"I think what made 'Deadpool' special and the reason I loved it is it subverts the genre," he said.

"When you can subvert a genre like that, particularly one that is as robust as the superhero genre, you jump at the chance."

Guests at the glitzy event included Oscar-winning director Ron Howard ("A Beautiful Mind") who said Reynolds is "proving himself to be a really great allaround storyteller and producer as well as film star."

Actor and Wrexham co-owner McElhenney said Reynolds is "incredibly entrepreneurial" and "just looks at the world and business, and our particular business, in a completely different way."

AFP Elon Musk, the world's richest man, tech tycoon and now a social media mogul, goes by many labels. However, Musk is also the inspiration for Netflix's new whodunnit

"Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"? In the film, a detective played by Daniel Craig investigates a murder on the private Greek island of tech billionaire Miles Bron.

Bron, played by Edward Norton, is a brash entrepreneur and self-proclaimed genius who has made multiple fortunes with different companies. He delights in confounding those around him with his latest whims and riddles.

Since the mystery-satire first premiered at the Toronto film festival in September, critics have noted parallels to Musk, who founded SpaceX, runs Tesla and recently bought Twitter. Vanity Fair said the film skewered "the foolish, and at times dangerous, messianics of the tech industry," calling Miles a "melange" of Musk and Steve Jobs.

Meanwhile, Mashable noted the film's "none-toosubtle scathing and silly send-up of Elon Musk."

"If you think the shoe fits, then they were probably in our conversation," teased Norton at a Los

Dead to Me will be remembered for using the knotty issue of grief to understand the spiritual and emotional connections that can liberate us from misery

By Taha Kehar KARACHI

The hype surrounding the third and final season of Netflix's Dead to Me was eclipsed by the heart-breaking news that Christina Applegate had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. News reports indicate that she might be contemplating a long hiatus from acting and the third instalment of the series may be her last onscreen performance. If that's the case, Applegate's curtain call comes through as undeniably memorable and perhaps even a veritable tour de force. Through her flawless, awe-inspiring performance, Applegate carries the Netflix series towards a satisfying denouement with panache.

For many years, Dead to Me has stood out for its quirky take on death, grief and the value of forgiveness. The premise, though, remains abysmally derivative and resembles the implausible narratives that Hollywood has been guilty of churning out since time immemorial. In the first season, Jen Harding (Applegate), who is grieving the loss of her husband, encounters Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini) at a support group. In a rather predictable turn of events, it is revealed that Judy and her problematic husband were responsible for the death of

Jen's husband. Even so, the separate destinies of women converge after a series of unusual circumstances steer them toward an unlikely friendship.

As the first season draws to a close, Jen and Judy undergo an unexpected role-reversal after the former kills the latter's husband in self-defence. The much-vaunted second season, which was marred by a bizarre series of events, focused on Jen and Judy's clumsy yet triumphant efforts to conceal the crime. Steered by subterfuge and a healthy dose of mischief, both women become each other's confidante, allies and -- to borrow Armistead Maupin's term -- "logical family".

The third season painstakingly attempts to cement their bond by raising the emotional stakes.

Grief, the original yet long-forgotten muse of the series, is revived as a means of reminding Jen and Judy that life is governed by a heady mix of arbitrariness and serendipity. The motif of loss isn't introduced in a reckless, run-of-the-mill manner but is weaved into the narrative in a characteristically humorous vein.

As expected, secrets form the crux of this season's drama. The two protagonists initially attempt to hide things that are exposed in an explosive fashion. The third season starts in the wake of the cataclysmic hit-and-run accident that wounded Jen and Judy at the end of the previous instalment. As

part of their prescribed medical treatment, both women are required to get a CT scan. One of them receives unpleasant news about the other and bears the emotional burden of concealing the truth. At first, viewers may find themselves irked by the dramatic twist as it seems to add a fresh layer of sadness to the bitter ordeals that Jen and Judy have already encountered. Over the next few episodes, the audience steadily begins to accept another cloud of adversity looming over the women's lives. The friendship enters a new, meaningful phase and viewers may eventually find Judy and Jen's undying devotion to each other to be endearing.

Amid these developments, the criminal investigations that were the guiding force behind previous seasons fall away and become practically dormant.

The creators make a conscientious effort to retain their relevance by reminding audiences about a murder weapon that changes more hands than the Kohinoor diamond. However, these are merely cosmetic steps at preserving the unresolved strands of a show that has shifted its direction.

Audiences who expected Dead to Me to become yet another hilarious romp where a criminal duo hoodwink the authorities, may be somewhat disappointed. The attempt to deceive the cops, though laced with hilarity, are overshadowed by an impending tragedy that casts a shadow over the

entire season. Even the inane exchanges between law-enforcement officials do little to alleviate the pall of gloom.

Be that as it may, it is refreshing to see this change of tack as it extricates the series from its usual plot-driven shenanigans and explores Jen and Judy's emotional trajectories. Female friendships have remained at the heart of copious sitcoms and dramas. However, the depiction of this theme on Dead to Me is far more poignant, if not entirely plausible. At its core, the series takes a swipe at the invisible scars of a patriarchal system that confines women in imperfect marital arrangements.

The creators have sensitively portrayed Jen and Judy's struggles instead of passing judgment on their past misdemeanours and dubious choices. The two women possess the distinct ability to forgive each other and accept the flaws that have made them accomplices to a crime of passion. Their willingness to courageously defend each other's choices is a rare but commendable sign of the power of meaningful friendships.

At times, Applegate and Cardellini's characters receive a disproportionate amount of attention while the rest of the cast seem like props.

Jen's sons and her love-interest remain oblivious to the chaos that has laid siege to her life.

Everyone else who is privy to Jen and Judy's

Angeles press conference.

"But I also think Miles is kind of like the Carly Simon song 'You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you'," he added.

"I think a lot of (tech billionaires) will think it's about them. And that's fine!"

Writer-director Rian Johnson ("Star Wars: The Last Jedi") said the character was not based on just one real-life figure. But, he said the film was about "our relationship as a society to these Willy Wonka characters who we, on the one hand, want to throw elephant poop at, but on the other hand... have some weird childlike wish that they will actually create a chocolate factory and solve all our problems."

Musk has recently drawn widespread criticism over his troubled purchase and controversial revamp of Twitter.

"Glass Onion," a sequel to 2019's "Knives Out" -- which was loosely inspired by Agatha Christie's novels -- will be the first Netflix film to play in major US theatre chains for a one-week run, as the streamer experiments with new revenue sources. It comes out in theatres on November 23, and will be available on streaming a month later.

wrongdoing unwittingly follows their dictates as if they're part of an elaborate puppet show. These lapses can, however, be overlooked as the two women are the primary catalysts for Dead to Me.

The new season begins at a relentless pace and audiences who are returning to the show after a long interlude may find themselves a tad puzzled without a roadmap. Before beginning the new season, viewers are advised to read a synopsis of the previous seasons to refresh their memories if they can't take out time to binge-watch old episodes.

At the same time, the audience must suspend disbelief at some of the most critical junctures of the new season. The final instalment of the Netflix series is filled with miraculous, if not perplexing, discoveries that allow Jen and Judy to reinvent themselves. Even then, some viewers might raise concerns about the fact that both women are provided convenient solutions to their distress.

An entertaining and memorable series, Dead to Me forays lightly into themes that we struggle to confront without being burdened by an overpowering sadness. The Christina Applegate-starrer will always be remembered for using the knotty issue of grief to understand the spiritual and emotional connections that can liberate us from misery. The series ought to be valued as a gentle yet potent exposition of how we can heal from trauma.

Since the Netflix's new whodunnit "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"? first premiered at the Toronto film festival, critics have noted parallels to Elon Musk

Director Sunil Shankar’s adaptation of Ariel Dorfman’s play is entertaining, yet very complicated at the same time

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

You may have seen films or TV dramas that require a second viewing, because of the complex nature of their plot. Theatre plays aren’t different and Sunil Shankar’s Reader is one of those plays which are not easily understood because of their twists and turns. Maybe that’s why the NAPA management has decided to give it a run till 27th November (today), so that those audiences who couldn’t grasp it at first would be able to do it before it’s too late. Thankfully, it's entertaining otherwise the audience would have been bored to death, had it tried to be more preachy than the final version.

The Plot

The play revolves around a censor (Fawad Khan) who finds out that somebody out there knows his secret and is trying to pen it down in the form of a novel. He has the power to ban it but decides against it because if he censures it, it might have an adverse effect on his son’s well-being, who is friends with the author. With the Director (Osama Tahir) monitoring his every move, the censor tries to hunt down the author and ask him how he got the information that is not known to many before it’s too late for both him and his son (Hassan Raza).

The Good

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that Sunil Shankar’s play is an amalgamation of George Orwell’s 1984, and the TV show A Handmaid’s Tale and takes place in multiple timelines with which the audience is familiar, thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The stage is designed intelligently, breaking it into multiple timelines, so that the audience doesn’t get lost in transition, literally. Each and every actor does a brilliant job, especially Fawad Khan who was at home as both the characters he played, one with a limp, the other without it. It was his show

from the word go and had he not been brilliant as usual, many might have left the theatre, dazed, confused, and bored. There are many layers to the story, which one peeled reveal that not all is well with the perfect household, where the father is in love with someone at work while the son is in search of the truth about his mother’s demise. Things turn for the worst when the son finds out that there is more to the death of his mother (Kulsoom Aftab) and that his father is somehow responsible. How Hassan Raza, the actor playing the character, reacts to the information is something only a talented individual would have been able to pull off, and he does so with flying colors. Supporting actors like Bazelah Mustafa as the mistress, Naveed Kamal as the friend, and Osama Tahir as the Director do their jobs well and keep the audience glued to their seats, with their superlative performances. The way the characters go from one timeline to another, and then back to the first one is also what doesn’t bore

the audience who wants to find out the truth, just like the protagonist. Moving the stage may not be a new phenomenon for the theatre but the way it has been used here doesn’t disappoint the audience who seem to wonder when the next time the stage will

Little Prince' with an afro

not what the audience needs. Had the runtime of Reader been less than 90 minutes, it would have done wonders for the audience but it exceeds two hours. People including this scribe were perplexed by the story but were also checking their watches, which isn’t a good sign. Too much was happening in too little time, which didn’t help the drama at all, since the audience was wondering which timeline they were in, half of the time.

If the protagonist was in the second timeline, then what was the Director’s doppelganger doing in the same, or why was he even necessary in the first place?

If some people reminded the censor of his family, how were they in the same timeline? And then there was the end which left more questions than answers and came out as shock than surprise.

move and the timeline will change.

The Bad

In a world where the attention span of the audience is shrinking with every passing day, directors should realize that a play of more than 90 minutes is

Unlike Hollywood films, the format of which they might have followed, a theatre play that lets the audience assume doesn’t do itself any favors, and had the end been a little simpler, it might have helped all those involved, the audience and those entertaining them.

The Verdict 3/5

Like Orwell’s masterpiece 1984, Reader revolves around the theme of fear, where everything is controlled by

the government, from getting married to laughing without a reason, and of course reading what the government wants you to read. The play tells us that one way or the other, our lives are controlled by others, and only when the brave try to take a stand, luck favors them. But does luck appear too late in this play, that’s one of the questions the audience asks themselves once they are out of the theatre.

The social commentary this play mentions is something we Pakistanis are quite familiar with, however, the way it is mentioned could have been simplified. Involving the audience wasn’t needed, especially after the introduction of the magnificent set, and the same could be said of the mind-bending ways to make the attendees reflect on their lives. Trust me, they have bigger things to worry about and the complex conclusion was the last thing on their mind when they did get the chance to think about something. It wasn’t there on my list, and I wasn’t the only one who came out without a clue as to what happened in the end. For some reason, the plot of Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om came into my mind as soon as I stepped into the real world, or maybe it was the revenge element that made me go in that direction.

a two-act dramatization, scrutinises the fall of Robert Moses, an urban planner and master builder who shaped New York

AFP

Was he a visionary or a corrupt racist with a god complex?

The troubled legacy of Robert Moses, the master builder who shaped New York, comes under scrutiny this fall in a new play starring Ralph Fiennes.

Robert Moses was an urban planner who, despite never holding elected office, launched building projects in the early 20th century which transformed New York and inspired cities across the United States.

While his vision lives on in New York's vast network of parks, roads and bridges, Moses' name became synonymous with the racist undertones of "urban renewal."

AFP

narrator: "Please... draw me a sheep."

in Brazil, which celebrated Black Consciousness Day in November.

As fans young and old know well, the titular character in "The Little Prince" has golden hair.

Nine-year-old Levi

Asaf has an exuberant afro instead. But with his sparkling eyes, infectious smile and pint-sized charm, the Brazilian actor is Antoine de Saint-Exupery's "extraordinary little fellow" to a T, in a ground-breaking new stage production of the beloved children's book.

The musical starring Asaf, which opened in September in Sao Paulo, is the first production of "The Little Prince" in Brazil to cast a black actor in the title role -- something the star says SaintExupery would have found "cool."

"I think he would have liked it," Asaf, a bubbling phenom from the northeastern state of Bahia, said of the late French aviator-author, who published his fanciful tale of the planet-hopping young prince in 1943.

"I think he would have thought it was really cool to see his little white prince with golden hair, now played by a boy with a black-power afro," he told AFP.

Decked out in the Little Prince's signature teal tunic, Asaf sings, dances and bounds through the production, from his famed introductory request to the pilot-

It is a rewarding role for a child actor who has already been a victim of racism at his young age.

At school, classmates used to harass Asaf, calling him names such as "steelwool head," said his mother, Rosane Luiz Eloi.

"That was one of the less offensive remarks," she said.

"But I'm very proud of him. He never let it get to him."

She said she herself finds inspiration in her son's career, which started in 2018. The following year, when he was six, she was diagnosed with cancer.

"It was a battle to beat it. And I have to say, seeing him fight and overcome the way he has, it's given me so much strength," she said.

"I hope he'll inspire other black children like him who need more opportunities."

Asaf says the role is more than just an entry on his growing resume, which already includes modelling, commercials and a Netflix film.

"By playing the Little Prince, I'm representing black people," he said.

"Respect my crown!" he added, laughing, with a dramatic toss of his afro. Racism remains deeply rooted

In the sprawling country of 215 million people, which abolished slavery in 1888 -- the last in the Americas to do so -- more than half the population is black or mixed-race.

But Brazilians of colour are vastly under-represented in positions of power in politics, business and the media -- a reality young audience members at "The Little Prince" are all too aware of.

"You almost never see black actors in films," said 11-year-old Alex Imoto Mendes.

"Seeing a nine-year-old boy play the starring role in a classic like this is super important."

Another audience member, 33-yearold Naira Ribeiro, said: "I saw a lot of little eyes shining in the crowd. I think a lot of the kids identified" with Asaf's performance.

To associate director Daniela Cury, the diversity of the cast is "the most important aspect of this work."

The production features playful touches that match the poetry of the book, such as orange-hued planets and stars that come to life and dance.

For Asaf, it is a dream come true.

"I auditioned for 'The Little Prince' on my birthday. It's been a great present," he said.

The city's ambivalence about Moses gets a fresh airing in "Straight Line Crazy," a two-act dramatization of Moses' decades-long tenure atop the New York power jungle.

Fiennes depicts a Moses who cajoles politicians, outmanoeuvres opponents, and shrugs off doubters in his insatiable quest to fulfil his ambitious vision for the city.

"Our job is to lead, not to follow,"

Moses tells an underling who worries about pleasing the public. "People don't know what they want until they have it."

Written by the British playwright

David Hare, "Straight Line Crazy" was originally presented in London.

It marks the latest effort to reckon with Moses, who amassed unparalleled authority from holding posts on as many as a dozen municipal bodies simultaneously in a career that spanned four decades.

Moses was celebrated for much of his professional life for his building projects and the leading role he played in bringing the United Nations to New York and in developing the Lincoln Centre.

But in 1974, the journalist Robert Caro lifted the veil on the underside of Moses' imperial-like reign in a book that won the Pulitzer Prize. He depicted him as a ruthless and

corrupt dictator who held grudges, smeared opponents and hoodwinked allies while running a municipal machine of monumental proportions.

Caro exposed how Moses marshalled massive public funds to favour suburban elites.

Poorer, non-white communities were displaced from condemned neighbourhoods and suffered from Moses' lack of support for public transit as he promoted mammoth highway projects that championed the car.

Hare has called Caro the authoritative expert on Moses, but views his subject differently.

"Caro believes that... what corrupted Moses was power and that he became sort of crazed with power," Hare said at a panel discussion at The Shed theatre, where the show runs through December 18.

However, Hare believes his life "was about pursuit of an idea that was too rigid."

Compared with Caro's monster-like figure, the play humanizes Moses, while still zeroing in on significant character flaws.

Dan Doctoroff, a former deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding and a board member of the Shed, said Moses' story offers some clues for policy makers on how to tackle ambitious projects, such as the need to

back up a vision with detailed plans.

"He did magnificent things. He did terrible things, and the reality is you're never going to get everything right," Doctoroff said during the panel conversation. "But at the end of the day, his disdain for the common person tarnishes the legacy forever."

The play, based on real events but with invented dialogue and some fictionalized characters, spotlights two moments in Moses' career, riffing on a rise-and-fall narrative arc.

In the first act, he casually flouts governance norms as he outwits Long Island gentry to push through the construction of the Jones Beach State Park in 1926.

However, Moses meets his match in the second act, when grassroots opponents mobilize in 1955 to ultimately derail his plan for an expressway in lower Manhattan.

A long-time aide warns of waning patience with Moses' autocratic style and calls out his favouritism of "clean people... well-off people... white people."

But Moses says he knows that "people may not like me, but they need me."

"Now, of course, it's suddenly fashionable to dislike me, because I'm a bad man who pushed through the things democracy needed but which democracy couldn't deliver."

The musical starring Levi Asaf, a nine-year-old black child, is the first production of "The Little Prince" in Brazil to cast a black actor in the title role

The play ‘Straight Line Crazy,’

AFP

The oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS will begin his military service on December 13, becoming the first in the band to enlist.

All able-bodied South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform about two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.

That means the age cut-off is approaching for 29-year-old Jin, senior member of the hugely popular septet.

He will begin his mandatory five-week training at Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi province before being deployed to a "frontline unit.”

The singer had previously hinted on social media that he had been assigned to the front line. The news left fans overwhelmed and emotional, with some even expressing concern about Jin's safety.

"My heart literally dropped when I read that he will be deployed to the front line," one fan tweeted, adding: "This military thing that surround BTS for years NEVER really concerns me until now. Why front line?? Why??"

Another fan said: "I can't help but think they're sending him to the hardest scariest place as punishment."

BTS are credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, and their label enjoyed a

surge in profits despite holding fewer concerts during the Coronavirus pandemic.

But the prospect of mandatory military service has long hovered over the K-Pop superstars, and has triggered years-long debate in South Korea over whether they deserved exemptions -- which are given to classical musicians and Olympic medallists, for example.

Last month, it was reported that band members would carry out their mandatory military service, starting with Jin. Seoul's defence minister had said in August that BTS might be allowed to continue performing and preparing for international concerts even while undertaking military duties.

The musical version of 'Monsoon Wedding' drops alcohol, kissing for Qatar run

AFP

A musical adaptation of "Monsoon Wedding," one of the biggest made-in-India international hits starting in November in Qatar, had to remove alcohol and kissing. However, the hit film's director Mira Nair insists it has not lost its "soul".

The 2001 film recounts the chaotic preparations for the Delhi wedding of an Indian girl to an Indian-American man. The musical version of "Monsoon Wedding" has already played in Berkeley, California.

But just as its plot exposes cultural clashes when an extended Indian family comes together, bringing an adapted version to Qatar on the margins of the football World Cup has also meant some upheaval.

"With respect to Qatari society, we have made some adjustments that are superficial because we do not mean to offend anyone," Nair said in an interview ahead of opening night.

No More Hooch or Hugs

Alcohol is largely banned and public displays of affection are also forbidden, leaving viewers in Islamic Qatar without some elements of a typical Punjabi celebration.

"But at the core, what you are seeing in the musical is what it is," the award-winning director said.

"The soul is there. I will not touch

the soul."

Nair, 65, said that in her family, alcohol is "very ordinary for us, it is part of life. It is not in Qatar". So it had to go.

"We have just not made it the centre of attention, and it never was in the play. It's just that we live with it," said the director. Actors will say "give me an or-

ange juice" -- instead of something stronger. "The whole joie de vivre that we want to have in this mad, crazy family is completely unaltered, but we

are respectful to the place we are in," Nair stressed. The hugging and kissing that was seen in the earlier version has also been toned down.

"There is romance," said the director. "But romance can be done in several very elegant ways, and very artful ways. The film is about love, and love comes with romance."

Performances will go on until November 27 -- a week after the World Cup kicks off in the tiny Gulf country.

"Monsoon Wedding", winner of the Golden Lion top prize at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, is now 21 years old and few Indian movies since have come close to touching its popularity abroad.

Nair did not want to discuss why, but said she was proud the screenplay written by Sabrina Dhawan has retained its universal appeal.

"I never expected it to be so popular, to win the Golden Lion... and be in the pantheon of cinema, and also be popular from the streets of New York or Delhi to Belgium" and elsewhere.

Nair said it told "the eternal story" of "how we navigate this challenge of love... the desire for it, but also how we keep secrets around it." That delicate balancing act, she added, "is always something that erupts when a family gets together or two families get together in their wedding."

Nair had been a sought-after director before "Monsoon Wedding", but it has certainly boosted her reputation.

AFP Rats move to the beat of music just like humans, Japanese scientists have discovered. The rodents don't exactly tap their feet, but their bodies got into the groove of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust". They even picked up on the subtler tempo of Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major". The "bopping" effect was most pronounced for music from 120 to 140 beats per minute -- the same as humans -- researcher Hirokazu Takahashi said.

BY Bold

Desk Maddie Ziegler, an American actress and dancer, has appeared in films, television shows, concerts, advertisements and on various magazine covers. She started her showbiz career at the age of 12 and first appeared in Dance Moms in a reality television show in 2011. In 2014, she starred in a series of music videos by Sia, for instance "Elastic Heart" and "Chandelier,” which have attracted over 5 billion views on YouTube. From 2015 to 2017, she was included by Time magazine on its list of the "30 Most Influential Teens.”

On the 2016 season of So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, Ziegler performed as a judge and along with her sister Mackenzie, she toured with Sia in Australia and North America in 2016 and 2017. The Maddie Diaries, her memoir, became a New York Times Best Seller of the year 2017. Her film roles include Mia in the high school drama The Fallout (2021), Velma in Steven Spielberg's 2021 West Side Story, Christina Sickleman in The Book of Henry (2017), and Camille Le Haut in the animated film Ballerina (2016). Her Instagram account is followed by over 13 million people.

Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the uncrowned champion of African fashion, brings together designers from across the African continent with the aim of setting them up for the global stage

AFP

South African Precious Moloi-Motsepe, one of the richest women in Africa, is a staunch promoter of fashion designers from the young, vibrant and culturally diverse continent.

Style has coursed through her veins since she was a young girl growing up in Soweto township, and for her the time is ripe for "African designers to shine" on the international platform.

A decade-and-half ago, she founded the Johannesburg and Cape Town fashion weeks that bring together designers from across the continent with the aim of setting them up for the global stage.

Her goal is now starting to bear fruit..

"Now more than ever, African designers are getting recognition here at home," said the 58-year-old, elegantly wearing her make-up and a flowing black trousers with a silk blouse.

"At big events on the continent, musical awards, football events, you will find celebrities wearing local designers," said the wife of Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe.

"They definitely have become household names".

With her husband, Africa's the 9th richest man according to Forbes, they are South Africa's most prominent "power couple".

Elsewhere, "celebrities, Michelle Obama or Beyonce, now wear African brands," she said, adding that the Wakanda phenomenon, linked to the Black Panther film has "spread our culture, our heritage, to the world. That has an impact on driving fashion as well".

Moloi-Motsepe grew up in Soweto, a poor township that was a hotbed of resistance to apartheid regime. It was there where she acquired a sense of style.

"My grandmother made her own clothes, and she wore that so elegantly," she said. Soweto "people loved to dress up", albeit closely shaped by and following American trends and brands.

Later on she had an opportunity to travel and attended a Paris fashion show by the talented designer, John Galliano.

It was a shocking eye-opener, realising that designers "get their inspiration from history, heritage, culture, which I thought

Africa had plenty of".

Africa seemed to be a source of inspiration for Western designers, "but I didn't see many African designers on runways," she said. That was the trigger to create a space to "propel the best of African creators to global acclaim" a project that the medical doctor-turned philanthropist and creative art financier, set about with vigour.

"First I had to make sure that they were well-recognised here at home, that we

changed mindset, make people appreciate and value African fashion designers," not just as tailors but as respected designers. That was an ambitious challenge, not yet realised but well underway.

"African consumers are now recognising their own designers are as valuable any of the brands they buy globally," she said.

One of those showcasing at the fashion week in Johannesburg last week was Cameroonian fashion designer, Anna

Ngann Yonn whose label Kreyann is making a name for itself in Afrialsoca and beyond. The fashion weeks she launched in South Africa, featuring super models such as South Sudanese Alek Wek and prestigious guests from New York, Milan and Paris, have enabled designers to "showcase their work, network with other designers, get attention from media".

The next leg of the mission is to take them to "international platforms" to ensure the presence of Africa in the global fashion dialogue. Africans in the diaspora are serving key role as ambassadors.

The entrepreneur remembers taking some African designers to exhibit in Paris on the sidelines of fashion shows a few years back. Some the feedback, was "positive, some not so positive," she said, laughing softly. But "we took that as step in the right direction".

"What was important for the young designers and what we thought were established designers back then, and still now, is the voice," said Moloi-Motsepe. Africans remain under-represented among the major global brands. And in many parts of Africa, sporting foreign brands is still a symbol of social success, she agreed.

"We have a lot of work to do," she said, but the African fashion advocate is not discouraged.

Morgan Wallen

Sarah Drew

Kelsea Ballerini

Carrie Underwood

Bold Desk

By

Referred to as Pakistan’s first courtier, Maheen Khan changed the fashion game in the country. Her years of service to the industry along with continuous evolution of style speak volumes of the fact that she has remained relevant in the fast-changing world of fashion for more than four decades now. The hand-stitched embroidery which adorns the clothes produced under her labels is what truly sets her clothes apart from any of her competitors.

The fashion pioneer and design director of Gulabo is always eager to push the boundaries of Pakistani fashion and change public perceptions about what items of clothing can suit them. Her latest collection titled ‘The Complete Woman’ was successfully launched at Boulevard One’s shop in the Dubai Design District. However, while she is renowned primarily for her contribution to women’s fashion, her recent foray into men’s fashion symbolises her constant evolution and hunger to push herself and her craft. With regards to this, she revealed that, “I launched a men's line for the fashion savvy, only because I'm so bored with the way they dress. Those tight body-hugging kameezes where every seam is stretched to bursting point or the poorly cut kameez that rides up in the front. Like it or hate it, this has to be said.”

Hence, Discover Gulabo for Gentlemen, an unparalleled collection for those interested in the avant-garde, is aimed at those who dare to go against the mainstream. In many ways, this philosophy encapsulates the ethos which has served Maheen Khan throughout her fashion journey from her humble beginnings in her garage to dressing celebrities like the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and Jemima Goldsmith. It is thus evident why the veteran fashion designer is fondly known as the Coco Chanel of the East. Yet, the fashion mogul is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, to the contrary, she almost seems to be getting more adventurous as the years go by. Since she is the chairperson of the Fashion Pakistan Week (FPW), her reach and influence is not only limited to her own fashion ranges but stretches across all of Pakistan fashion.

Half a century after jazz great Thelonious Monk, an American jazz pianist and composer, appeared on a French television program, a new documentary titled "Flips the Angle" revisits outtakes from the 1969 interview to cast light on the racism and exploitation of black musicians.

When Monk met fellow musician and French TV producer Henri Renaud at a studio in Paris, it was a chance for the renowned pianist and composer to promote his music in Europe.

Previously unused footage from their interview features in "Rewind and Play", a new documentary that French-Senegalese director Alain Gomis says "Flips the Angle" on the power dynamics between the men.

"I wanted to show the machine that manufactures points of view, which are anything but neutral — and how TV portrayed black musicians at that time," he said in an interview following his film's screening at the Marrakech International Film Festival.

In his day, Monk was one of the United States' most celebrated black musicians.

The film's most revealing footage comes as he tells Renaud he believes he is being economically exploited.

"I was the star, people were coming to see it, but I wasn't getting the money," Monk says. Visibly upset, Renaud tells his producer to delete the scene and asks the question again. "I had no idea I'd made my popularity in

By Bold Desk

The Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, recently held a three-day long Pakistan Music Festival to pay tribute to the rich tradition of Pakistani music and its various genres. Muhammad Ahmed Shah, President of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, said that such events are important because they provide people with avenues through which they can enjoy the culture of Pakistan and take a break from the constant cycle of political and economic news. About 200 artistes from different cities of the country participated in the event, showcasing a broad range of music. Sanam Marvi enthralled audiences on the first day of the festival alongside musicians like Mustafa Baloch, Imran Ali, Imran Ilyas, Iqrar Waheed Ali, Imran Abbas and Rustam Fateh Ali Khan. Popular for his fusion of qawwali and contemporary music, Hamza Akram Qawwal had listeners swaying to his music. The young qawwal paid tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan during his performance.

Mumtaz Sabzal, Faqir Zulfiqar and Ustad Salamat Hussain also showcased their mastery of folk instruments at the festival. Zulfiqar in particular captured the hearts of the audience with his masterful command over the historic instrument known as the borindo. Wahab Bugti and Khumariyaan were also among the notable performers at the ceremony due to their contemporary spin on folk music. Muhammad Zubair presented a tribute to legendary folk singer Tufail Niazi, while singers Jahanzeb Ali, Imran Javed, Aziz Warsi, Sagheer Ahmed, Akhlaq Bashir, Intizar Hussain and Ustad Mahmood Ali Khan paid homage to the king of ghazal singing, Mehdi Hasan. Folk singer Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi’s performance on the final day of the festival was the perfect capstone to what was a great tribute to the beauty of Pakistani music. As stressed upon by Ahmed Shah during his speech, more such events are needed to bring people into the fold of music and remind them of the rich musical history of this country

Zahra Paracha is not only a talented guitarist but also very able when it comes to music production. She is a singer, songwriter and plays the guitar, drums and mandolin. After being inspired by bands such as Call, Entity Paradigm (EP) and Jal at a young age, Paracha has now made a name for herself in Pakistan’s indie music scene. She has performed with and produced music for bands and artistes like Risham Faiz Bhutta, Sikandar ka Mandar, Towers, Takatak and Biryani Brothers (her own band with fellow band member, Natasha Noorani). She is also the co-founder of the annual Lahore Music Meet (LMM). She already has some notable songs under her belt like ‘Tum Kaafi Ho’, ‘Khatt’, ‘Bekhudi’, Roshni’ and ‘Baat Bann Jaye’. Paracha is currently working as an audio post production engineer for Citrus Studio. Paracha is also busy working on a few projects with local artistes, including a few of her own songs that are in the pipeline. The indie musician has also spoken openly about the fact that it took a long time for her to be taken seriously as both a musician and a music producer since the industry is primarily dominated by men. Her collaborations are always ones to watch out for, especially since she has already worked with established musicians like Wooly and the Uke, Rutaba Yaqub featuring Nayab Batool and Ustad Yousaf, producing and mixing their song, ‘Throne’. Paracha and Noorani, who are the duo behind Biryani Brothers, rose to prominence with their songs Sab Theek Ho Jaye Ga and Ikisvi Sadi. Their unusual approach to music and lyrics earned them a following and drew attention to their different approach to music. With an impressive resume which already boasts of popular solo tracks and varied collaborative efforts, it is easy to see why Paracha is considered a rising star in Pakistan’s music industry.

AFP International music icon Céline Dion will star in a romantic comedy called Love Again, which will be released in theatres in 2023 — and in which she will play herself.

Directed by Jim Strouse, the film Love Again tells the story of a young woman who continues to text her fiancé after his death. A romance is born with the new owner of the phone number, a journalist, thanks to Celine Dion, whose profile he must write.

In April, the 54-year-old star had postponed to 2023 all the concerts of her "Courage World Tour" scheduled for Europe this year, due to persistent health problems.

In recent years, the Canadian diva has been forced to cancel and postpone numerous performances for medical reasons and because of the pandemic.

"See you at the movies!" wrote the Quebecer on social networks, noting that she will act alongside Indian film star Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Scotland's Sam Heughan, known for his role in the drama series "Outlander."

Dion also said she will unveil new songs for the Sony-produced film, which will hit the big screen on May 12.

France until I got over here," Monk says, while seated at a piano.

He explains he only understood his fame when seeing his photo on the cover of a jazz magazine.

Despite that, he continues, he struggled to find musicians to play with.

"I was getting less money than anybody," Monk says, chuckling. "That's what happened."

After translating the comments for the camera, Renaud says: "I think it's better to erase this bit... it's disparaging what he's saying, best not to talk about it."

When Monk begins to tell the story for a third time, Renaud asks him to talk about something else.

"It's no secret, is it?" Monk asks.

"No, but it's not nice," Renaud responds. As a pianist, Monk was a talented improviser and was credited with helping to develop the bebop style. He produced a string of hits in the jazz standards library, including "Round Midnight" — famously interpreted by Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

But the interactions with Renaud are little short of cringeworthy. Gomis, whose previous work "Felicite" won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival, offers a critique of how Renaud selected which footage to use.

"He builds an embarrassing, subjective representation of (Monk) and doesn't let him break out of that framework," Gomis said. The film opens with Renaud leaning on a piano and introducing Monk, who sits at the keys sweating profusely and looking awkward.

"It's like he's saying, 'Why are you spitting in the soup?' (biting the hand that feeds). Throughout the interview, you can feel that condescension."

Gomis says Renaud reveals his privileged background when he asks incredulously why Monk put his piano in the kitchen.

Monk responds that it was the only place in the home that it would fit. For a musician of his background, "putting a piano in a kitchen was not a fantasy," Gomis said.

Monk was born in North Carolina in 1917 but grew up in New York's San Juan Hill — a poor district that was later demolished and became Manhattan's exclusive Upper West Side.

Gomis plans to make a full-length biopic on Monk and hopes "Rewind and Play", due to hit French screens in 2023, will help "deconstruct" the exchange.

"We often think of the archive as objective testimony," he said. "But it puts across the point of view of the one who makes it."

2023 Trends Report

AFP

If 2022 was the year of the changed traveller, 2023 is the year of the evolved traveller, as Hilton releases its latest global Trends Report: The 2023 Traveller: Emerging Trends that are Innovating the Travel Experience, A Report from Hilton. The reports reveals the latest consumer expectations following a year when travellers showed up in record numbers. Based on a global survey and analysis of current travel trends, today's travellers are looking for a balance of technological and human innovations, deeper connections and care, embedded wellness experiences and more.

"In 2022, motivated travellers sought out new experiences around the world and reconnected with the people and places they love," said Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton. "The 2023 Trends Report showcases travellers’ evolving preferences and how eager and optimistic they are about their future adventures.”

According to the study, 84% of global consumers hope to travel just as much - or more - in 2023. The research also uncovered four consistent themes for 2023 travel, driven by traveller experiences over the last three years.

People will turn to travel for deeper, more engaging, human experiences and connections. Travel is a gateway to discovering different perspectives and rich traditions. In 2023, travellers will focus on travel to create deeper connections with family, friends, colleagues, customers, cultures and the planet. Nearly half (49%) of survey respondents want to be immersed in local culture and products while traveling - this applies to travellers from China (65%) and Australia (54%) in particular, and Japan (23%) to a lesser degree. Meanwhile, 40% of consumers globally want personalized access to unique experiences or activities, such as performances, events, spa treatments, or classes. That proportion is higher in China (74%), Australia (46%), and just slightly lower in Japan (30%).

From destination-focused culinary travel packages to impactful programs like Hilton's Travel with Purpose, which helps guests positively impact the communities they visit, travellers are looking to create meaningful change through more immersive travel experiences. In fact, Hilton is witnessing signs of this growth through its reimagined Hilton Honours Experiences, which saw a 77% year-over-year increase in Hilton Honours Point redemption during the first nine months of 2022, allowing members to connect with their

passions through new, exclusive experiences.

People will recognize travel as an essential part of their wellness routine. Overall wellness remains a priority for travellers as half (50%) of respondents seek travel experiences in 2023 that align with their holistic wellness goals and priorities.

"Travellers in Asia Pacific now desire experiences that truly ingrain themselves into the culture of the destination in every shape and form - including mind, body, and spirit, to rejuvenate the senses," said Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, Brand Management, Hilton, Asia Pacific. "Experiences need to be authentic and immersive; allowing travellers to disconnect from the daily grind and develop a deeper cultural understanding of the destinations they visit."

Find out the best ingredients for making a tasty and healthy salad

By Bold Desk Summer, winter, autumn or spring, salads are meant to be eaten during all the seasons and for all the right reasons. A light meal like this is exactly what you crave for after consuming a heavy lunch or dinner. However, salads are not as easy to make as they look because there should be a balance of ingredients to ensure the perfect combination. Let’s find out what are the best ingredients to make a healthy salad which has both nutritional value and is also light on the stomach.

Lots of vegetables

Some people often turn this food item into a full fruit salad by adding only fruits into it. But this could be quite boring. You can always change the recipe and add vegetables such as cucumber, avocado, black and green olives, and onion to add extra nutrition.

For about 1 in 2 (47%) travellers, physical wellness and accessibility to fitness amenities like centres or activities will be top of mind when it comes to traveling in 2023. For instance, healthier food and beverage options are top of mind for 66% of travellers from China. Guests will also seek moments of connection with their communities, as well as insights and solutions that improve their mental and emotional health. Addressing mental health on the road will be prioritized by 35% of global survey respondents. Meanwhile, another 49% of those employed will be looking to travel to disconnect from work.

Travellers will want to be taken care of more than ever. Personalization will continue to be a significant priority for travellers, with 86% of survey respondents indicating they want recognition

and personalization while on the road. The trend is significantly more pronounced in Asia Pacific, with nearly all respondents in China (99%) wanting personalization, and 84% in Australia and 70% in Japan. Nearly half in China (46%) even look to travel and hospitality companies to accommodate their personal needs. This also corresponds with their interest in finding personalized food and beverage options - with respondents in China (69%), Australia (50%), and Japan (38%) specifying so.

Travellers know the importance of wanting to feel valued for their loyalty - both in their wallet and as an individual. In fact, 42% of survey respondents indicate that loyalty perks - such as earning/redeeming points and loyalty benefits - will matter to them when traveling in 2023. Among these respondents, travellers from China value rewards the most, topping the list at 52% "In Asia Pacific, the pent-up desire to reconnect with loved ones as travel takes on a deeper meaning is resulting in today's leisure traveller emphasizing quality time with family," said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Hilton, Asia Pacific. "Exceptional hospitality and innovative guest experiences that anticipate this need go a long way in giving families the peace of mind knowing that they will be taken care of on every level, including helping them to create more shared moments and memories together."

Travellers want frictionless travel innovations that are both technology- and human-led. The year 2022 uncovered unexpected friction points in travel. Hilton's global research found that more than half (56%) of all travellers surveyed will prioritize adopting solutions that make travel easier in 2023 and among them, respondents from China (59%) prefer to have friction points reduced the most. Overall, 26% of respondents also anticipate hotel technologies will be important to them for a seamless stay.

To reduce travel's strongest tension points, guests will seek out the most logical and purposeful solutions. They will look for the hospitality and service that they expected pre-pandemic, whether that's personalized dining recommendations or reservation adjustments. Within the technological innovations, they will continue to embrace efficiencies like Digital Key in the Hilton Honours app, which allows travellers to bypass the front desk and go straight to their rooms.

The new report is the result of evaluating both quantitative and qualitative data research paired with insights collected by more than 7,000 travellers across the world in a survey commissioned by Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Julie Powell's project inspired scores of food bloggers who followed its template and tone apparent in the later successful web and social media projects of cooks

AFP Julie Powell, the writer whose yearlong mission to cook through Julia Child's "French Cooking" masterpiece was immortalized in print and film, has died of cardiac arrest in New York.. She was 49 years old.

Disillusioned with her low-level administration job in New York and seeking a creative outlet, Powell launched her Julie/Julia Project in the nascent era of internet writing, detailing her kitchen adventures using spiky humour in a direct, diaristic tone.

The project involved cooking all 524 recipes from Child's 1961 classic "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1" from her tiny, broken-down apartment in Long Island City, Queens that she shared with her husband.

Add good fats

Add a couple of tablespoons of roasted seeds like pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and ground flax or chia to your salad to add some good fats to your diet. Avocado is also a good source of fats which could add flavour to your salad.

Dress with oils

Sounds unconventional? Not at all. Olive oil dressing on the salad is another source of healthy fats. One tablespoon is enough for one bowl. You can also add a pinch of salt to make it extra delicious.

Broccoli can steal the show

Yes, broccoli. Even though it’s not frequently used in desi households, adding broccoli, cooked or raw, roasted or unroasted, will add not only flavour to your salad but also ensure a healthy meal. It might be a little expensive but the price you pay is worth it.

Go nuts for nuts

Nuts can be a game-changer in salads. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts can make your salad delectable by adding an unexpected crunchy element to the meal.

The self-deprecating drama of her mishaps and disappointments both in and out of the kitchen struck a chord with a crop of primarily Gen X readers, and the blog gained hundreds of thousands of views at a moment when many people still used dial-up.

By Bold Desk

In a city like ours, the arrival of winter is always thrilling. However, the season of winter also brings with a whole slew of skin problems since the human skin is exposed to dry and cold environment with low humidity. Read on to find out the easy ways to keep your skin healthy this winter.

Use moisturisers

During the winter, the best way to have a glowing and fresh skin is to moisturise it. Your skin can tell if you are well hydrated or not. If you’re not drinking enough water, you skin will become dry, cracked and itchy. Moisturisers are not meant to be used once in a day and must be applied after every two hours to avoid dryness. In doing so, avoid using old moisturisers. If you can’t find a suitable one for your skin or find it heavy on the pocket then you can also use coconut oil or aloe vera to soothe skin with rose water as a toner.

In 2005 the project was published as a book: "Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524

Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen."

For her final film the late writer and director Nora Ephron adapted the book into an Oscar-nominated feature film, starring Meryl Streep as Child and Amy Adams as Powell.

Powell's project inspired scores of food bloggers who followed, its template and tone apparent in the later successful web and social media projects of cooks including Dorie

Greenspan, Ina Garten, Deb Perelman and Alison Roman.

"I was shocked to learn this morning of the passing of Julie Powell, the original food blogger," Perelman tweeted under the account of her famous social media and cookbook brand, Smitten Kitchen.

"Cooking through Julia Child's books, she made Child relevant to a new generation, and wrote about cooking in a fresh, conversational, this-is-my-real life tone that was rare back then."

Stay hydrated

From winter acne to skin rashes, every skin problem starts with your pores, especially when you are dehydrated. During the winter, people usually don’t drink enough water because they don’t feel thirsty most of the time. However, the human body requires the same amount of water in winter as it does in summer. That’s why, try to keep your body hydrated as much as you can. Drink plenty of water and eat seasonal fruits which also help in dehydration.

Use lip balms

Using lip balms are essential in winter to avoid having chapped and cracked lips. Have a lip balm with you and apply as soon as the lips start drying. There are many colours and flavours available in the market and that too at affordable prices. If you can’t afford buying a lip balm, you may go natural and organic by applying coconut, jojoba or castor oils on your lips to protect against the dry weather conditions.

The

showcases travellers’ evolving preferences and how eager and optimistic they are about their future adventures

Omair Alavi KARACHI

The release of the fifth season of The Crown may not have had the same effect as its predecessors, but it surely made the audience aware that Royals and Scandals can exist together. Author Nigel Cawthorne’s The World’s Greatest Royal Scandals further cements the seed of distrust in the readers’ minds since it doesn’t miss any scandal that took place in the world of monarchy.

Before you read ahead, you must know that this book is part of a series that examines real-life stories that have made newspaper headlines around the world. Since the royals are different from their subjects, so are their activities that seem unreal at times. Updated till the last century, this book deals with everything scandalous you need to know about the Royal families of the world. The information this book has isn’t taught in any school, college, or university, making it a must-read if you are into controversies, conspiracies, and gossip.

If you thought that Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage was a sad one, in which he involved a mistress while being married to a good-looking lady, then this book will make you reconsider your assumption about the current King, to say the least. It will explain to you that how Prince Charles (now King Charles III) treated his wife was nothing compared to the deeds of his forefathers who had a long list of mistresses, who bore them kids and were usually married off to someone closer to the King to avoid embarrassment.

There have been countless kings in the world who despite marrying into royalty, were disloyal to their wives. This book begins with the last such case – Prince Charles, now King Charles III – and then keeps moving backward in a novel way of taking the readers down memory lane. First, the author dissects the British monarchy with a text that doesn’t bore the audience and then moves on to why Queen Elizabeth had to term the year 1992, annus horribilis. From the divorce of her son and her daughter to the fire in Windsor Castle, everything and anything royal can be found on these pages.

Although The Crown hasn’t tackled everything scandalous in the British Royal family, this book has. After all, Queen Elizabeth II and her family’s history would be incomplete without the mention of her uncle King Edward VIII who abdicated the throne when he wasn’t granted permission to marry a gold-digging American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. The same goes for her sister Prince Margaret who wanted to marry her lover and her father's equerry Peter Townsend but her elder sister put a stop to it. How she married Prince Philip herself and how Lord Mountbatten fit into that is a story worth mentioning, and this book does justice to it.

AFP

By Bold Desk

The UBL Literary Awards recognises emerging talent in seven different categories to help foster the love of books in Pakistan. The UBL Literary Excellence Award was introduced by the bank in 1967 as a commitment to elevate the literary standards of the country. The recently held 10th UBL Literature and Arts Awards was attended in large numbers by the media, socialites, literati, and celebrities. With this edition, the UBL Literature Awards announced its plan to give out awards for excellence in music, acting and singing in the future. This year it introduced the category of Drama Script, thus making it the most comprehensive Pakistani awards celebrating the field of literature and arts in the country. The programme, hosted by Khalid Malik and Yasra Rizvi, officially commenced with a video presentation celebrating 10 years of UBL Literary Awards, followed by UBL President Shazad

G. Dada’s welcome address. The Urdu Fiction winner was Mehmod Ahmer Qazi while Ahmed Saleem won in the Urdu Non-fiction category for Jab Aankh Say Na Tapka. The Urdu Poetry award went to Sabir Zafar and the Translation in Urdu trophy was presented to Saeed Naqvi. Interestingly, the Urdu Children’s Literature had two winners, Tasneem Jaffery for Zindagi Khobsurat Hai and Mukhlis Dost, and Mohammad Shoaib for the book Babloo Aur Chanda Mamoo. Sindhi writer Khalid Kunjhaar was awarded the Literature of Regional Languages prize. Fasi Bari Khan won the inaugural Drama Script award for the TV show Ghisi Piti Mohabbat. The prestigious award for best Debut English Book was given to Osman Haneef for his book The Verdict. Lastly, the Excellence in the World Literature in English was posthumously awarded to the late Zulfikar Ghose. The show also featured an enthralling recitation of poetry by Zeeshan Mehboob and Nazish, and a classical dance performance by Kaif Ghaznavi.

You must have heard about Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Victoria, and their reign in which their countries were able to conquer the world. However, what this book tells us about them is something you might never have even associated with their names. If you think that I am talking about the Victoria and Abdul romance, then that’s only one of the many stories about these ladies. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to British Royals who might seem sophisticated from the outside but in fact are nothing more than rich lecherous individuals.

If you thought that Diana and Charles’ marriage was a sad one, in which he involved a mistress while being married to a good-looking lady, then this book will make you reconsider your assumption about the current King

Not only does it cover royal scandals from Britain but also from other lands where monarchy reigned supreme. Not far away from Pakistan, the Shah of Iran was doing things that would have brought shame to his subjects, and the same goes for Prince Farouk of Egypt who was forced to abdicate because his leisure activities were nothing short of a disgrace for the country. It also brings forth corruption tales from Europe where one King took bribes to endorse products, and another joined hands with the opposition to prolong his reign but neither stayed long on the throne to enjoy the fruits of their corruption.

And then there is the chapter about Hollywood actress Grace Kelly who according to the writer was exactly the opposite of the characters she played on screen. In what comes out as a shocking development, she was described as a nymphomaniac in her days as an actress and is said to have had affairs with everyone from Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and David Niven to name a few. She was even subjected to a fertility test by her future husband the Prince of Monaco before their marriage in 1956 and had to lie to pass the test.

Although this book doesn’t have any colored pictures, the details of some of the affairs add color to the narrative. Don’t be surprised to know that enemies used beautiful women as spies when they were told of the King’s weakness for the fairer sex, or that there was a King who was in fact a Queen. Add to that the information about those monarchs who had several wives, and you will not be able to put down this book for sure.

France's Marcel Proust, is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time -- but few can truthfully claim to have read his 2,400-page masterpiece "In Search of Lost Time".

In 1909, Marcel Proust, who died 100 years ago, launched himself into what would become his masterwork, a novel about memory and the essence of art. The project grew from one book to a second in 1912 and a third the following year.

"In Search of Lost Time" eventually grew into seven volumes, four published in Proust's lifetime and three after his death at the age of 51 in 1922. But finding a publisher was not easy. After receiving three rejections for the first volume "Swann's Way", Proust decided to self-publish, with the help of Grasset publishing house.

Nobel-winning novelist Andre Gide, who was an editor at the time at NFR publishing house (which later became Gallimard), was among those who passed on Proust's dense prose.

"The rejection of this book will remain the NRF's greatest mistake," Gide later wrote to Proust, calling it "one of the most bitter regrets of my life".

Gallimard managed to lure Proust back with his second novel in 1916, "In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower", which won the Goncourt Prize, France's top literary award.

'Oh': on winning top prize

When the Goncourt jury announced Proust as the winner in 1919, Gallimard rushed to give the author the good news. Arriving at his home near the Champs-Elysees, Gallimard found Proust, an inveterate snoozer, asleep in a room filled with steam treatments for his asthma.

"Oh?" said the author flatly, on hearing he had won the literary equivalent of the jackpot. His win sparked an outcry by the French left which backed Roland Dorgeles' epic account of life in the trenches in World War I over what they characterised as Proust's self-indulgent ruminations on the passage of time.

Proust's critics further argued he was too old -- he was 48 at the time -- and too rich to win the award which came with 5,000 francs in prize money.

On and on and on

"For a long time, I went to bed early...",

is how "In Search of Lost Time" begins, and it's also how the story ends for many a reader, who find Proust's prose to have soporific qualities.

Poetic and dreamy, sprinkled with dashes and parentheses, his sentences are exceptionally long -- on average 30 words, twice that of most novelists.

The madeleine was nearly toast

The madeleine or mini sponge cake that has become the most famous detail in all seven volumes makes its appearance early in the first book.

For the protagonist, Marcel, tasting the little cake releases a flurry of vivid memories, giving him access to the "lost time" he is searching for.

"As soon as I had recognised the taste of madeleine dipped in lime-blossom tea that my aunt used to give me...," he swoons. And yet the mighty madeleine was nearly a humble piece of toast, as early drafts of the scene discovered in Proust's notebooks reveal.

Maternal mollycoddling

Proust suffered most of his life with severe asthma, and although he liked to socialise -- he had some torturous secret love affairs -- he also spent long stretches in bed, writing with a tray on his knees.

His neurologist father urged his sickly son to get out in the fresh air and play sport, noting that asthma was not contagious.

But Proust's mother was prone to mollycoddling, and from 1906 he followed her counsel, staying cloistered inside like a hermit, with a steady supply of caffeine and aspirin.

His respiratory problems would finally get the better of him. He died after pneumonia that turned into bronchitis and then an abscess on the lungs.

If you thought that The Crown was juicy, think again because wherever they are royals, they are bound to be scandals!

By Hassan Naqvi and Minaal Mohsin

LAHORE

Humaira Ali is a noteworthy name in Pakistan’s entertainment and fashion industries and has managed to capture the hearts of millions of people through her charismatic personality. She has numerous achievements under her name, the most recent one being her role in the reality TV show, Tamasha. The diva has also appeared in various other productions such as Dasht, Bol, Dastaan, Kankar and Lagaao. Apart from contemporary TV serials, she has also delved into theatre productions. An art enthusiast, she is a skilled painter, sculptor and a graphic artist. The Tamasha star is a brilliant chef and is also known for her numerous charity projects. This week

BOLD talked exclusively to her.

BOLD: What is your most memorable project to date?

Humaira Ali: Tamasha is the most memorable project since is the biggest reality show of its kind and required multitasking.

Which project do you think is underrated?

Roshani Ki Dastak for PTV.

Anything that you would never let anyone take?

Hope, motivation and courage.

What do you usually wear in daily life?

Jeans and T-shirts or anything casual which is comfortable.

What is your favourite thing in your closet right now?

Gucci exclusive collection’s high-end jacket.

Hollywood, Indian or Pakistani film industries?

Hollywood because they have unique ideas with innovation, creativity coupled with more leeway for acting.

Last call that you made?

My mom.

Annoying habits of most of the actors and models?

Punctuality when it comes to fashion models and among actors they don’t rehearse their dialogues which wastes a lot of time.

Awards or rewards?

Rewards of awards.

Extremely possessive about?

Work. Nobody should stop me from doing it.

What’s your annoying habit?

I am a perfectionist and I also drink a lot of water which at times annoys others.

What is your biggest/weirdest fear?

Acrophobia, or in simple words, an intense fear of heights.

Two things that you don’t understand about the entertainment industry?

Two-faced people and unpunctuality.

What bores you the most?

A monotonous routine.

Acting, modelling or hosting?

Acting as you can play with facial expressions, dialogue delivery and come up with something creative that could add value.

Are you a workaholic or shopaholic?

Workaholic.

Our drama industry needs…?

New stories.

Last time you lied?

I lied to my mother.

Any relationship lessons that you have learnt so far?

Sincerity, honesty and respect for one’s personal space.

Which habit do you want to get rid of?

I don’t sleep much.

What are your healthy habits?

Workout and healthy eating.

Your fitness formula?

Exercise.

Emotional or practical?

I am becoming more practical with the passage of time.

Romantic or not?

Romance is a part of the human psyche.

Happiness is…?

When you are in love with your work

then every day is full of happiness.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Shaan Shahid, Amitabh Bachhan, Hritik Roshan and Al Pacino.

Which superstar inspires you the most?

Amitabh Bachhan.

Your wish that didn’t come true?

I want to work on some good projects in Hollywood.

What’s the last thing you bought?

A Victoria’s Secret perfume package.

Anything that you took for granted and later regretted?

I don’t have regrets in life and you learn lessons from bad experiences.

The last film that made you cry?

Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

You feel uncomfortable when…

When stinky people are around.

If you could become invisible for a day?

I would travel around the world.

First pay cheque was? Rs10,000.

Something you miss about the life you had before becoming an actor/model?

A care-free attitude.

Anything that has changed your life?

Once I moved to Karachi for work, my life has completely changed. In Karachi, I have groomed myself and become independent as in my hometown in Lahore I was a pampered child.

A rumour that you would wish to spread about yourself?

That I can stitch clothes although I hate to stitch.

One thing that you think people pretend to be in the industry?

That they are really concerned about you and care a lot.

Worst rumour about you?

In May this year when people confused me with a TikToker who set Margalla Hills on fire.

Who would you consult for relationship advice?

No one.

The best secret keeper in the industry?

No one.

How do you like to spend the days when you are done with a shoot?

Exercise in gym and travel.

Three things no one knows about you?

I am very simple and crazy about music, painting, singing and dancing.

First thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

3 to 4 glasses of water.

Chai dhaaba or restaurant?

Restaurant.

Have you ever flirted with a fan?

There was one foreign fan in London.

What is one thing that always cheers you up when you are upset?

Getting called for a new project.

What would you be if not an actor?

A fulltime painter.

Luck or hard work?

Hard work with luck.

What do you think this country needs the most?

Imran Khan and honest leadership. Going to the past and undoing a mistake or going to the future and seeing how your life would be? Going to the future.

Lessons that you have learnt in the industry?

Personal and professional life should be completely separate.

Any director’s film you would love to act in?

Shoaib Mansoor, Steven Spielberg and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Your skin care routine?

I eat a lot of fruits and also use half of them on my skin.

Any message that you would like to give to your fans?

Fight for your rights and never lose hope and remain focused and courageous and try to learn from your mistakes.

Humaira Ali has already made a name for herself in a relatively short span of time and is now well positioned to take on bigger projects