BOL NEWSPAPER | February 12 2023

ٓEvery year Valentine’s Day takes place on 14 February, and couples very much in love celebrate it by going out on romantic rendezvous, for candle-lit dinners, or simply for a walk on the beach. However, this year, we will try to make you opt for another activity that doesn’t involve you taking a step outside your home. In fact, once you are through reading about the 14 romantic flicks mentioned below, you might not want to spend the next Valentine's Day away from your home theatre, because each film will make you fall in love, all over again.

Casablanca (1942)

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

Director: Michael Curtiz

In the first half of the last century, there were hardly a few films that dealt with human emotions as Casablanca did. Set during the early days of the Second World War, it featured Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, a cynical expatriate American who owns a nightclub in the Moroccan city and is happy with his life until his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) approaches him to help her and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis. His struggle within himself is easily the film’s highlight as he is unable to decide whether he wants to help his former flame or not. The catchphrases like "Play It Once, Sam. For Old Time's Sake." and "Of All the Gin Joints in All the Towns in All the World, She Walks into Mine." are still popular even after eighty years!

Roman Holiday (1953)

Cast: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn

Director: William Wyler

Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) is an American reporter settled in Rome; Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) is royalty roaming around in the same city while on a goodwill tour of Europe. Bored with their lives, they both want to escape from their responsibilities, and when they get the chance, they do. While Joe recognizes the princess who is posing as Anya Smith and wants to interview her without her knowing it, something else happens. He falls in love with her, and she for him, and with the secret service in tow, they have a great time on their roman holiday. Although the film’s story resembles that of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert’s It Happened One Night (1934), it was the sparkling chemistry between Peck and Hepburn that added the sizzle to the William Wyler classic.

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

Director: Leo McCarey

Ever wondered how the Empire State Building became a symbol of romance in Hollywood? It all began with this Cary Grant –Deborah Kerr flick where love meets tragedy before the eventual happy ending. The film revolves around two already-engagedto-others characters - playboy Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) and nightclub singer Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) - who after falling in love decide to take a six-month break and reunite atop the Empire State building so they can start their new lives together. However, fate has other plans in mind for them and misunderstanding replaces the love before fate again comes to their rescue but in the end. The film was later copied repeatedly in India as Arzoo (1965) and Mann (1999), while in Pakistan, it was made as Mann Ki Jeet (1972), without, obviously, the Empire State Building in all three unofficial remakes.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

Director: Rob Reiner

Unlike Hollywood films where the story takes place in the present only, When Harry Met Sally revolves around Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) who grow as a couple and as individuals over a period of time. Both Billy and Meg

are on top of their game in this flick which still seems fresh and timeless despite being more than thirty years old. Spend your valentine’s day this year by meeting Harry and Sally, if you haven’t seen this classic, because all those who have seen it love every scene. Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma-starrer When Harry Met Sejal has nothing to do with this classic, and must not be mentioned in the same sentence as the Hollywood flick!

Pretty Woman (1990)

Cast: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere

Director: Garry Marshall

It has been thirty-three years since bachelor businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) hired a relatively new hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) to be his escort for social gatherings. However, after the two spend time with each other, they start falling in love with each other despite the class difference. What makes this modern-day fairy tale succeed is their brilliant performance – he as the Prince Charming to her Cinderella. Not only does love triumph in Pretty Woman, but the viewers also get to see the megawatt smile that made Julia Roberts an overnight star.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan

Director: Nora Ephron

He is a widower taking care of his only child after his wife’s death; she is in an unhappy relationship and wants to be rescued. They are brought together by the child who calls the radio station so that his father can find a partner and their family can be complete. If that sounds like Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to you then drop everything to watch Sleepless in Seattle because you are missing one of the best romantic classics of all time. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as Annie Reed and Sam Baldwin respectively are on top of their game and keep the audience guessing as to whether they will get together or not.

Thanks to Sam’s son Jonah (Ross Malinger), the film has a happy ending but not before the familiar Empire State Building comes into play.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Cast: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell

Director: Mike Newell

It takes Charles (Hugh Grant) four weddings and an unfortunate

funeral to finally realize that he is in love with Carrie (Andie MacDowell) in this classic British rom-com. Despite being a story about a beauty and a loser, suspense is the highlight of this movie. The flick was later unofficially remade in Pakistan as Paray Hut Love where the plot remained the same (it had one less wedding) but Sheheryar Munawar and Maya Ali did exactly what Charles and Carrie did!

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman

Director: John Turtletaub

When Lucy (Sandra Bullock) gets a second chance at love, she grabs it by not accepting that she isn't the fiancée of her crush (Peter Gallagher) she saved from an accident, but by going along with his family while he was in a coma. The younger brother of the comatose guy named Jack (Bill Pullman), however, gets suspicious of Lucy and her goals but is unable to prove anything. Things go haywire when Lucy actually falls in love with Jack and the patient wakes up from the coma. The story might not seem new in 2023 but when the film came out, it was so fresh that Bollywood filmmakers and Pakistani TV directors were not able to stop themselves from getting inspired by it.

Titanic (1997)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet

Director: James Cameron

Whenever a list of the greatest romantic flicks would be made, Titanic would be on top of the list because it is a classic love story laced with all kinds of emotions. It revolves around a 100-year-old Titanic survivor Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) who narrates the story of the unsinkable ship that met her fate in April 1912 to a group of youngsters who found her necklace underwater while searching for the ship’s wreckage. How the young Rose (Kate Winslet) met the drifter Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) on the ship, and how they fell in love is known to all, as are the reasons behind the ship’s fatal accident that took the lives of many, including Jack. If while reading this text you didn’t hum Celine Dion’s Every Night in My Dreams, then you need to watch the film again, and be mesmerized this Valentine’s Day!

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan Director: Nora Ephron

Power couple Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan reunite for director Nora Ephron again after Sleepless in Seattle, and although they didn’t meet in the former flick till the end, they are constantly at loggerheads in You’ve Got Mail. However, while in the real world, they play rival bookstore owners, Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, in the online world, they exchange emails, and unknown to each other fall in love slowly, and gradually. The film sparked many remakes in India and Pakistan with the latest one being Meri Jhooti Love Story in which Bilal Abbas Khan and Madiha Imam become Facebook friends using their friends’ identities and even though they get married to each other, they still love the 'other' version they haven’t met.

Notting Hill (1999)

Cast: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant

Director: Roger Michell

William Thacker (Hugh Grant) might be an unsuccessful Notting Hill bookstore owner but when film actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), considered the most beautiful woman in the world, drops in for a visit, his luck changes. The two meet up again and again before finally falling in love, but that makes things harder for them instead of easy. The paparazzi don’t seem to like their union since she is a Hollywood star and he is an ordinary guy but love always triumphs when the going gets tough and that’s exactly what happens in this film. The scene where Will encounters her ex-boyfriend must be one of the most copied scenes in the world because it has been executed so well.

50 First Dates (2004)

Cast: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore

Director: Peter Segal

Ever since Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) met the beautiful Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her. However, Lucy suffers from a form of short-term memory loss which is why she forgets meeting him once the date ends. What makes this film sweeter than the rest is Henry’s resolve to keep dating Lucy and his exhaustive attempts at recreating their perfect first date until she gets better, which somehow, she does in the end, after fifty such dates!

Hitch (2005)

Cast: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin Smith

Director: Andy Tennant

Those who are able to find love at first sight are lucky, for the unlucky ones there is Hitch (Will Smith) who imparts his wisdom to those who can't help themselves. Not only does he teach love techniques, he sort of guarantees that a man can get the girl of his dreams if he overcomes his fears and of course listens to him. Using Albert Brennaman (Kevin James) as his latest student, he helps him become desirable in the eyes of the rich, beautiful, and available heiress Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) but in the process becomes the target of gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) who considers him a villain than a hero. Will Hitch be able to save himself this time or will his game be over, that's what makes the film better than the rest! And if the plot seems like Salman Khan and Govinda's Partner, then that's because it was lifted from this flick.

The Proposal (2009)

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds

Director: Anne Fletcher

She is the world’s most terrible boss and he is his dutiful subordinate who wants to succeed in life by publishing a novel. However, when the workaholic editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is about to be deported to Canada for an expired visa, she bribes her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to ‘fake’ marry her so that she can gain US citizenship and he can end up as a published author. However, she forgot to take Andrew’s family into account who host the two for a weekend. Things go from bad to worse as nothing seems to go right in the Paxton household, where all the family members are gathered to celebrate grandmother’s 90th birthday, and everyone has a story to tell to the new bride and the groom!

KARACHI By Omair Alavi

When Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Fantastic Voyage meets Avatar,

World

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Disney animated flicks are usually considered entertaining as well as educational but when the makers take them way too seriously, Strange World is born.

The animated movie featuring a star cast could have done well had the producers stuck to a couple of things but when you add generational differences, saving the world, LGBT characters, and a frequently used plot, the net result isn’t successful and that’s why Strange World came and went without anyone noticing it.

The plot Legendary explorer Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid) deserted his family a quarter-century back when he chose to carry on a mission than accompany

his son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) back home. However, when the world Searcher, his wife Meridian (Gabrielle Union), and their son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) live in, is in danger for its existence, the father and son have to bond together to save their people. Things go awry when Grandpa returns and instead of helping his son and grandson, he makes them pursue his mission which he thinks he is finally about to complete.

Add a pet dog Legend, and an unknown blue species Splat and you have a team that wouldn’t stop until they save the day, but after solving its own issues.

The good Strange World revolves around the importance of family which sets it apart from most of the animated flicks released last year and also looks fantastic on screen. It has a stubborn grandfather,

an insecure son, and a grandson who is more like the father’s father, making it an interesting take on the Circle of Life. Due to breathtaking animations and a free hand to design any world, the animators have done a great job. The pace is neither slow nor fast, taking the audience on a journey to the unknown where underwater life makes you wonder whether there could be something like that in real life.

The voice-over cast is chosen smartly as well; both Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal have loads of experience and they use it to add life to their characters. They are helped in this regard by Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu while Jaboukie Young-White perfectly fits the mixedrace teenager who has issues of his own. The eco-friendly storyline, the Jules Verne feel, and the chemistry of three generations don’t let the viewers fall asleep, which is

something that makes it different from the Avatar sequel.

The bad

Although Strange World might be marketed as a family movie, it is more of a ‘been there, done that’ kind of flick. It is one of those flicks where you neither remember a dialogue once you are through, the background score, or are unable to relate to any character. The plot has more issues than the last five Disney flicks combined and will only appeal to avid National Geographic followers more than fans of animated flicks. Which kid or grownup who loves movies will understand that a land named Avalonia works on a fossil fuel Pando, and when it’s running out, they go to the ‘center of the problem’ to solve it. Yes, neither could I understand it! The thrill of meeting new characters

By Fakeha Kausar

KARACHI

Living in 2023, mental illnesses are no longer concealed. With times transposing, depression is something that is metastasising at an alarming rate. Now, wouldn’t you want to consume content you could relate to? Or perhaps connotations with so much understanding about how you truly feel about the world and your interactions with people?

Meet the most cherished and prized sitcom horse of the ‘90s, BoJack Horseman, who happens to be a star of the hit TV show “Horsin’ Around”, reemerging after 20 years. The Netflix series revolves around BoJack being a washed-up star as he stumbles through the entertainment industry and fighting his inner demons. En voyage, we also observe trials and tribulations of some of his closest friends; Diane, a writer who ghostwrites BoJack’s memoir; Todd, being a high school dropout living in BoJack’s living room (ain’t that a life?); Princess Carolyn, BoJack’s agent and former lover; and Mr. PeanutButter, BoJack’s buoyant rival.

What makes BoJack Horseman so distinctive?

What is something you take into consideration when you decide to watch a TV series? Is it the plot? The characters?

Or perhaps something you could relate to? BoJack Horseman compensates your yearning for whatever you’re looking for in a show. The show has superlative animation, visuals, acting, but one of the conspicuous features is the close to perfect writing. It’s hard to believe but the show has consonantly been able to nail many difficult-to write episodes. Now as you go on the journey of watching this series there will be multiple occasions where you’re going to think to yourself; “why does nothing make sense?”

“Where is the palpability I was promised?”

“This seems like another comedy show with no good plot.”

My dear friends! Just hold on a little longer, don’t miss out on the good parts the series has to offer.

Build a connection with the characters of the storyline

At first what comes across as just another Family Guy or South Park like show, fortuitously turns into a much deeper, dingy, and emotional cartoon. BoJack Horseman, somehow, copes to be more real and verité than 90% of other shows with similarities in portrayal of depression. Yes, you read that right! We have all been there. This shows what it’s like to be a millennial today, hustling, struggling, and wanting to be happy while not knowing what happiness really is, means, or how it’s achieved. Did the vibe get a little too dark? Still looking for the catch? Well, excitingly, it never gets boring because the show has five different main characters with almost very different approaches and points of view that give the

viewers opulent perspectives and angles.

This show is your dive-into-the-puddle of abundance of human muddles, both emotional and practical snags, with happy characters like Mr. PeanutButter who is round the clock energetic, caring, loves meeting new people and overall gives a very happy aura. That gives us a very good example of how happiness is also a choice.

You allure what you are.

Mental illness, depression, addiction, human condition, sexuality, trauma and selfdestructive behavior

BoJack Horseman covers a handful of issues commonly found in humans. The addictions and his mental state not only affect him, but also those around him. That's right, his toxicity and perversive nature are best embellished through the character of

The short-form video app changed the way record labels find new talent

AFP

After several years of Grammy ceremonies with clear frontrunners for Best New Artist, many of the nominees have TikTok to thank.

The short-form video app has been a powerful force in music for years now -- a jumpoff point for artists looking to make it and a means of promotion for those already established in the industry.

And though the Recording Academy is not exactly known for reflecting the zeitgeist -- its voters routinely favour legacy performers and throwback acts -- the Best New Artist category has grown increasingly eclectic and representative of the internet age's impact on popular music.

"Social media over time has made the music industry a lot more reactive to what people are raising their hands for, rather than taking this top-down approach of kind of deciding, okay, this is the star of the moment," said

Tatiana Cirisano, a music industry analyst at MIDiA Research. It's not new for artists to come up through social media -- Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube, and Shawn Mendes gained traction on the video app Vine -- but "TikTok has just really exploded," Cirisano said.

"It's clear that it's an integral part of pretty much every artist's strategy."

TikTok named three of this year's artists vying for the Best New Artist prize -- Latto, Muni Long and Omar Apollo -- as top emerging artists on its app. Also up for the coveted Grammy are Brazil's Anitta, who found viral TikTok fame with a dance challenge to her smash "Envolver," and Italy's Maneskin, the Eurovision rockers who saw their cover of "Beggin'" strike algorithm gold.

The past two Best New Artist winners, Olivia Rodrigo and Megan Thee Stallion, also found resounding success on TikTok.

jazz duo JD

act

and Domi, rap-

per-singer Tobe Nwigwe, bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle and jazz singer Samara Joy -- all also boast strong followings on the app. Joy told NPR last year she had recently joined "because that's where my generation is."

"I posted a couple of videos, and a month later, 100,000 people -- I was like, I can't," she said with a laugh.

"People now are, like, coming up to me like, 'I found you on social media. I found you on TikTok, and I just had to, you know, come see a show.'"

While most Grammy awards have little to nothing to do with fan base or commercial success, the primary eligibility requirement for Best New Artist is breaking into the public consciousness -- and thus it's the award "that the people have the biggest impact on," Cirisano said.

"These days, 90 percent of artists' breakthroughs into public consciousness is happening on TikTok," the analyst said. Cassie Petrey, the founder of the digital

might have been entertaining had the film not been released anywhere near Avatar:

The Way of Water and while the multigenerational track holds the viewers’ interest for some time, in the long run, it isn’t that catchy. For a movie that’s nearly 100 minutes long, it moves in 100 directions before ending on a happy note, which isn’t that happy, to be honest. Co-directors Don Hall and Qui Nguyen could have done a better job but just like too many cooks spoil the broth, too many agendas spoiled what could have been a memorable film.

The verdict: 2/5

Nothing in Strange World is strange because the viewers have seen it in Hollywood films in the last fifty years.

Like Fantastic Voyage, the team has to fight monsters they have never heard of; like Avatar they have to survive in ‘alien’ conditions; like The Guns of Navarone

they have to complete the mission before it’s too late and like Godzilla, they have no idea who they are up against. Using an openly gay teen might be a first for Disney but it isn’t significant at all, and if the character would have been straight, that wouldn’t have mattered at all. The film might be an end-of-day environmental disaster flick but it has too much on its plate which doesn’t help it at all. It ends up like a product that wants to be everything but ends up lifting pieces from everywhere. Also, its release clashed with that of Avatar: The Way of Water which was a far superior and much-anticipated flick and nearly drowned Strange World in its own set of expectations. Had it stayed on the course of being an entertaining movie it might have had a longer run at the box office, but it ended up being something that you would like to forget before it's even over.

Diane who happens to be BoJack’s friend and ghostwriter. Now it is fair to say, you are wondering where this is going, am I right?

You see, with regards to mental illnesses it is indispensable to show growth. Diane’s personal growth in every bit of the show is contemplated by her physical appearance.

Diane is shown suffering from severe depression ‘Spoiler Alert’ due to her work and other calamities, she begins to take anti-depressants that results in her gaining weight. The elegance of the show is how this alter is never broached or in any way indicated, it instantiates self-furtherance, acceptance and improvement. Diane is noticeably more felicitous and confident when she takes her medication.

BoJack Horseman gracefully breaks the stigma around mental illnesses and the notion around the intake of serotonin inhibitors. If you have already seen the show, you can tell how perceptibly happier Diane is after taking medication. Sure, she may have put on some weight, but hey? Its 2023, we should be benevolent of acceptance.

The exigency for separation to become healthy and sane The show also highlights important issues related to childhood traumas, something that is bequeathed from parents to child. Another salient lesson to learn is how to let go when recovery is needed. After a very candid conversation on a rooftop with BoJack, Diane says, “I think there are people that help you become the person that you end up being and can be grateful for them, even if they were never meant to be in your life forever.” Impartially, this addresses toxic relationships but also the requisite for separation to become healthy. Who knew anthropomorphism could describe human issues so accurately? BoJack Horseman delineates that on some occasions, for you to tweak your mental wellbeing, it really means you just must cut some people off for you to grow and flourish. Part of the recuperation process is finding the problem, and sometimes some friends are invisible problems. And no, that is not a defeatist oddity, at times it is okay to lose to heal.

marketing company Crowd Surf, agrees: "TikTok is the new MTV."

"When I was younger, all the artists in the Best New Artist category generally would have been on the radio or on MTV... TikTok is one of those mainstream media platforms of our time."

And Cirisano says it's changed the way record labels find new talent in the first place.

While scouts used to check out local shows, find potential artists and then cultivate them, labels now are "looking for them to already have an audience, and already have had sort of a breakthrough moment on their own," she explains.

In some ways, Cirisano says, this has been democratizing, opening doors "for so many artists that maybe never would have had the means or the resources, or just by luck been able to get the attention of anyone in the industry."

But it's also left some artists bemoaning the mental health toll that a robust online presence can have, or the stress they feel over

spending too much time on social media instead of making music.

Marketer Petrey said that while promotion is important, it's not the job of artists to figure out strategy.

"You just have to stay focused on art -that's your job," she said. "We're reminding people of that all the time."

And though there have been complaints among some people in the industry that artists are tailoring their music to make it more

social media-friendly, Cirisano thinks those concerns are overblown, noting that past developments like Auto-Tune or ringtones triggered similar worry.

"I would just encourage people to recognize how every new technology has been met with a similar reaction," she said. "I tend to think that those concerns are a little bit overstated." "I think that good music will always shine through at the end of the day."

it’s definitely a Strange

BoJack Horseman gracefully breaks the stigma around mental illnesses and the notion around the intake of anti-depressants

By Samir Tounsi MAXICO

And the winner is... a 16-year-old Colombian whose videos of his life in the countryside landed him an award at TikTok's answer to the Oscars for social media influencers.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Carlos Alberto Diaz posts social media videos depicting his farming work in the Cundinamarca region, surrounded by lambs, goats and other animals. His TikTok account lagranjadelborrego has around 16.5 million followers.

The high school student won the category of "best creator of knowledge" at the TikTok award ceremony for Spanish-language influencers last week in Mexico.

"Every day I record videos. I watch trends, what people like," said Diaz, who aims to earn money from his content, like the roughly 100 other nominees at the awards.

With his shirt collar open like a film star, Ruben Tuesta, a Peruvian living in Argentina, won the "LOL" (laugh-out-loud) category with his parodies of ordinary scenes of family life.

The reward "motivates me even more," said the 25-year-old, who explained that he is paid to produce content for international corporations. "The brand relies on you, trusts you. You make them a video. They pay you

‘Think Like A Monk’ by Jay Shetty is much more than a self-help book

By Sara Danial KARACHI

When one hits 30 and begins the fourth decade of life, a lot of people and the surrounding world begin to make sense. In this usually questioning phase of life, one is keener to pick up self-help books that you can go back to for reference, to answer your questions, and every time you re-read its content, it allows you to think differently, with a fresh perspective through a new lens. Such is the case with one of the best-sellers, Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty. The book is a result of the author’s experiences he learned during his 3-year stint of living a monk-life in India, to delineate how we can overcome our obstacles in times of distress; how it is important to rise above it all and realize our true potential and power. Having gathered wisdom by way of old scriptures and conversations with sage monks, he sheds light on the practical way to look at life. Although a lot about the book can be read on the website with engaging and interactive podcasts and videos, the book has no parallel. Jay Shetty is a storyteller, and a podcaster. His vision is to Make Wisdom Go Viral. He aims to share the timeless wisdom of the world in an accessible, relevant, and practical way. He has successfully created over 400 viral videos with over 5 billion views, and hosts the #1 Health and

Wellness podcast in the world, On Purpose.

In this inspiring, enlightening book, Shetty combines his own rich experiences in the ashram. Achieving peace and calm within ourselves, despite the constant chaos we live through, is a lesson that this book is centered on. Overcoming negative thoughts and habits to stay composed and contained is an art to practice, and it can be achieved overtime.

This book is not a regular self-help piece of literature, with clear dos and don’ts in black and white. It transforms the lessons into intriguing tales and stories. It relays abstract lessons into guidance and counsel that all of us can easily apply to mitigate stress, mend relationships, and realize the smaller pleasures that are easy to ignore but must be prioritized. Although all of it sounds difficult, Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk, without being too preachy.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

“Salt is so humble that when something goes wrong, it takes the blame, and when everything goes right, it doesn’t take credit.” This line goes on to explain how minute, mere efforts do not apparently create a difference but in the broader scheme of things, the positive habits maketh man.

At another instance, Shetty shines a light on the essence of locations in building up our routines. Like words, every location has its own energy. If a certain locale is dedicated to a purpose with few distractions, the probability of us doing it is more. According to him, it is easier to follow a routine if we visit those places regularly rather than

trying to struggle though them at home. He says, “Location has energy; time has memory. If you do something at the same time every day, it becomes easier and natural. If you do something in the same space every day, it becomes easier and natural."

Perfection is a myth that we all aim to achieve. Some qualms about the book: it mentions that after three years, one of Shetty’s instructors told him that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk's path to share his wisdom with others. After all, what is knowledge if not shared to better the world? He moved back home with his parents in north London. This section plays an integral role as it left the author with an impactful imprint. I believe it could’ve been written a tad bit more vividly as we can't entirely comprehend what happened and why the author suddenly decided to leave his path of becoming a monk.

Furthermore, it is also tragic to see the author criticizing Marie Kondo. Countless in the USA, such as several talk show hosts, found enjoyment in jesting over her. However, it was a bit unpleasant to have read it in a book written with the sole aim of making us think like a monk.

Final verdict

All in all, an enlightening read. It will enable you to question. It will provide the answers to some. Certain parts may be confusing and lead us to ponder and contemplate. Regardless, the book brims over with a lot of information that might prove to be helpful.

Day

By Omair Alavi KARACHI

Ever wondered why romantic comedies have been popular for so long? They added color to the audience’s lives in the black-andwhite era and have been changing lives ever since color became a part of rom-com flicks around the world. Pamela Jaye Smith’s Romantic Comedies tells the readers why romantic comedies are still popular for over ninety years and why this genre is not slowing down in the fast-changing world.

This rom-com movie guide is one to consult any day of the year but since Valentine’s Day is right at the corner, not talking about it would be an injustice. Reading it this weekend could be a lifealtering experience since it brings forward those rom coms to the fore which will offer you advice, impart love lessons or even make you fall in love, depending on what you desire. In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that this book might be your ticket to a better life if read in an effective manner!

Divided into five sections, every section in this book houses five chapters, which means that you can choose any topic you like from ‘Am I Good Enough to be loved’ to ‘Mistaken Identities’, or ‘Commitment issues to ‘Worlds Apart’. Each film in this book gets two pages to sell itself to the readers and make you realize what the makers wanted you to know. By pointing out the Lover Types, and the Love Lessons, as well as a synopsis of the plot, the book makes you ‘want to be a better man’, in Jack Nicholson’s iconic words.

Unlike film guides where films are either cataloged in a chronological manner or alphabetically, this guide makes the readers understand what they need. With the help of scientific studies, it catalogs similar films placed together in chapters designed to bring both the heart and the mind to the same page. Don’t be surprised if you feel strange at home with no one to talk to, this book will make life choices easy for you with its recommendations, and will surely keep the love doctor away.

or how could Christopher Plummer be Diane Keaton’s father when they both are professional actors? One hopes that the next edition addresses this issue and uses the artists’ names in parenthesis and the characters outside the brackets. Don’t be down if you are going through a tough time, or consider yourself a loser because that’s not what you are meant to be. This fun and colorful rom-com movie guide can help you forget your troubles by taking you down memory lane and understanding life through films. It will just tell you that when a Hollywood superstar, an older brother, a princess on the run, and a runaway bride can find love in unexpected places, so can you. The lessons it will impart to the readers will not only pave the way for a better tomorrow but also guide you to the romantic bliss you deserve.

for the video, so that their brand is visible to my subscribers."

The second edition of the "TikTok Awards" for Spanish-language influencers was held at the studios of Latin America's largest television network, Televisa, which broadcast the ceremony live.

Like in Hollywood, social media stars walked the red carpet in front of fans gathered to see the winners, which were chosen by social media users. Similar ceremonies have been held in Europe and Asia.

Last week, also in Mexico City, thousands of people attended the ESLAND Awards for the best Spanish-language streamers on You Tube and Twitch.

"Cinema has the Oscars, music has the Grammys and content creation has the ESLANDS," the organizers said on their website.

The awards come as TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is Chinese, fights for its survival in the United States with rising calls from mainly Republican lawmakers that the company should be outright banned for its links to Beijing.

TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew will testify in March to US lawmakers in Washington where the Chinese social media app faces accusations that it is beholden to the Communist Party in Beijing.

Last month, the European Union warned TikTok to respect EU law and ensure the safety of European users' data, as Chew met with top officials in Brussels. —AFP

This book caters to all kinds of people from all walks of life, making it a perfect solution for those who fall in the category of grumpy old men, independent women, have a passionate personality, are on the rebound from heartbreak, or are even as insecure as insecure could be. Consider it as a friend who has a story for every situation, and even delivers it with a quotable quote, a lover type as well as a love lesson or two.

Don’t be surprised to not find An Affair to Remember or One Fine Day in this list because more deserving candidates get their chance. After all, there is no denying that if there had been no Sabrina, Hitch, or even Mamma Mia!, life wouldn’t have been this interesting. Add to that It Happened One Night, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, You’ve Got Mail, and Grumpy Old Men and you would thank me later, for referring this book.

Laced with film stills featuring some of the most famous stars in the world from Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, and even Kevin Costner, the book is meant to be read no matter what your mood is. If you are down, some of the films can cheer you up while if you are happy, others can give life lessons that you thought were nonsense. And if you are a movie buff, then there is no better way to make you get your hands on this book, because all your favorite actors have something to say here.

The biggest flaw in this book seems to be the writer’s laziness because at times she confuses the character with the actor and the actor with the character. How can Tom Hanks be in love with Meg Ryan when they are playing characters in a film,

This rom-com movie guide can save your love life this Valentine’s

Cinema has the Oscars, music has the Grammys and content creation has the ESLANDS

By Bold

Desk

Mushk Kaleem is enjoying a stratospheric rise in the world of modelling, be it walking the ramp of a leading fashion show or appearing in a TV commercial of an established brand. Hailing from the city of lights, Karachi, she completed her early primary and secondary level education at Mama Parsi School, and did her intermediate from the St. Joseph’s College in Karachi. After completing her college education, she pursued a four-year degree in Business Management from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. With a dusky complexion and measuring 5 feet 11 inches in height, Mushk Kaleem is riding the crest of fame as a supermodel and to date she has appeared in myriad fashion campaigns and TV commercials.

Having won two Lux Style Awards as a fashion model, she is the recipient of awards in the categories of ‘Best Female Model’ as well as ‘Best Emerging Talent in Fashion.’ Other than regularly appearing in top fashion shows, she has also performed at the Milan Fashion Week for designer Stella Jean in 2019. Having rejected a lucrative offer for a TV commercial of a fairness cream, Mushk Kaleem is one of those few fashion models who adhere to the ethics of modelling and are making their name in entrepreneurship too.

By Bold Desk

Zainab Shabbir, the young TV actress, is second to none when it comes to stepping up her fashion statement in a variety of colour combinations, be it the most vivid shades to rather lacklustre hues. Now and then, the Mehar Poshstar sets social media on fire by donning a red outfit and the next moment her lady-in-red avatar is transmuted into a sultry siren, wearing an ocean blue attire to overwhelm the lustrous translucence of the sea-water with a dazzling glint. Adding another laurel to her polychromatic fashion wreath, the dressed-to-kill diva recently posted online some of her behind-the-scenes images from a Mayoon ceremony, and what else one could say out loud other than

an impromptu ‘wow.’ Zainab Shabbir, a Libra by her zodiac sign, stays true to her birth sign as the style hunter lurking in her takes no moment to come out for the public view with all its glam and glitter, and that too in an exhilarating colour that signifies the Basant festivity and denotes the onset of the spring season infused with a freshening waft, along with a surpassing floral fragrance of budding plants and multi-coloured flowers all around.

Optimizing the classic beauty and genuine bridal glow typical of a mayoon belle, the yellow dress of Zainab Shabbir, which was designed by Minahil Umar, stole the show. Accessorising with lots of glitzy bangles and an Eastern-style braided haircut, she was simply the lady of the night, pulling off immortal looks with her long-standing charm. No doubt, yellow is your colour, Zainab!

Tinashe Noah Cyrus Madison Pettis

Alessandra Ambrosio

A name to be reckoned with in the world of fashion, Amna Ilyas exudes umpteen conviction and confidence in her showbiz abilities and is an eager beaver to chart her own path and live her dream, and rightly so. Laced with a well-earned excess of certitude, her alluring persona is not merely restricted to her physical grace or subjective beauty. More than a pretty face, she is a woman of substance and is dead set on excelling in a field that hinges on idolizing stardom and is smitten with the fugitive fame and glam of a world called showbiz

AFP Music streaming giant Spotify reported a total of 205 million paying subscribers at the end of 2022, beating expectations, but its losses deepened.

The Swedish company, which last week announced it was cutting almost six percent of its workforce to reduce costs, posted a net loss of 430 million euros ($465 million) for the year compared to a loss of 34 million euros in 2021.

Analysts had forecast a loss of 441 million euros, according to Factset.

Around 1230 GMT, shares in Spotify, which is based in Stockholm but listed in New York, were up five percent in pre-market trading.

Revenue for the full year also slightly beat forecasts, coming in at 11.7 billion euros or a rise of 21 percent from a year earlier.

The number of paying subscribers climbed by 14 percent to 205 million, beating analysts' expectations of 202 million, which the group attributed to strong growth in all regions, especially in Latin America.

It is the first time Spotify has surpassed 200 million paying subscribers.

Spotify founder and chief executive Daniel Ek said the company had "delivered great platform growth."

"We ended 2022 strongly despite a

By Bold Desk

Adnan Siddiqui, a versatile TV and film actor, is one of those Pakistani artistes who are very active on social media and are often seen expressing their views on matters other than showbiz and entertainment. However, this was for the first time when Adnan Siddiqui was spotted singing a song, that too in a language other than his mother tongue, Urdu. Exhibiting his singing talent in public, the Mere Paas Tum Ho actor recently participated in a TV show ‘The Mirza Malik Show,’ hosted by Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza. When asked by the duo to sing a song in any language other than Urdu, Adnan Siddiqui sang the lyrics of an Italian song “Cose della vita,” which was originally sung by Eros Ramazzotti, an Italian singer, songwriter and musician. In another video clip, Adnan was shown singing an Indian film song ‘Pholon ka taaron ka.’ Despite his adequate singing skills and vocal abilities, however, the 53-year-old actor looks hell-bent on taking his acting career to the next level and is mainly focused on performing in TV serials.

Nasida

AFP

At a packed festival in central Jakarta, hijab-clad sexagenarian singer Rien Djamain bursts into an upbeat track about nuclear destruction to a crowd of thousands, mostly young Indonesians. Behind the frontwoman of the all-female Nasida Ria band are her fellow musicians, dressed in silver and black sequined dresses, backing up her velvety vocals with bongos, violins, mandolins, bamboo flutes and tambourines.

"O cursed creator of the nuclear bomb, why do you invite the day of judgement?" she sang on the track "Bom Nuklir".

Young concert-goers swung from side to side during the macabre ditty, shouting "mother!" at their favourite band members.

Originally formed 47 years ago as a Koran recital group, the band now numbers a dozen performers, fusing Arabic and traditional Indonesian dangdut music, which was once thought tacky and dated in cosmopolitan circles.

Their humorous pop tunes about serious themes, such as justice and human rights, have caught on with social media-obsessed young people looking for some levity in their playlists.

Riding the wave of Indonesia's increasingly vibrant music scene, the band's droll lyrics have gained them a certain notoriety.

Their songs are laden with similes and metaphors, comparing womanisers to "seditious bats" or describing how "monkeys like to carry rifles, humans like to show nipples".

Twenty-three-year-old Fathul Amin said he thinks the band is "more than just cool".

"Why? Because all of the members are women who can play more than three mu-

musical group in Indonesia, is riding the

scene

brate music with a sense of humour. They are attracted not only to the musical aesthetics but also musical comedy," he said.

Dangdut music has been increasing in popularity, with acts now playing at festivals across Indonesia, performing for young audiences alongside rock bands, in addition to gigs for their usual crowds in smaller villages.

"A lot of youths in... Jakarta are re-embracing local music. Now, these types of music are what they call a guilty pleasure," Alpito said.

"Islamic songs are usually serious, with lyrics carefully quoting Islamic teachings. However, Nasida Ria have charmed broader society through a language style that is easy to understand and amusing."

The group capitalised on the demand for entertainment while the world was stuck indoors and concert venues were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nasida Ria's youngest member, 27-year-old Nazla Zain, attributes their success to modern technology allowing people from all backgrounds to be exposed to their music.

"We are keeping up with the trend by using YouTube and other music applications," she said.

"So now youths with mobile phones can listen to our songs. That might be a reason why they like us."

They have seen their YouTube subscriber count surge six-fold since March 2020 to nearly 500,000.

are well accepted," Djamain said.

sical instruments," he said.

Screen grabs of Nasida Ria's expressive words have been widely shared as memes, forging a connection between the band and the younger generation.

"That is how youths communicate nowadays, and that is OK. More importantly, it shows that our messages through the songs

"I am grateful that despite the mostly old members, Nasida Ria is still loved by the youths. That our music is still enjoyable to them."

Music consumption in Indonesia is evolving, experts say, with listeners adding combinations of genres that include more

traditional sounds -- such as dangdut with Javanese lyrics or reggae-pop sung in eastern Indonesian dialects -- to their Western favourites.

That growing trend has made Nasida Ria more relevant than ever, according to music journalist Shindu Alpito.

"The younger generations tend to cele-

They also boast of nearly 50,000 listeners every month on streaming platform Spotify and 38,000 followers on Instagram.

"They are so cool as they still perform at a not-so-young age," said 32-year-old metal and punk fan Ricky Prasetyo.

"No wonder many people call them the indie mothers."

challenging year," Ek said in a post to Twitter.

Among other things, the company also said it had benefited from promotional campaigns, a strong holiday season, and robust growth among Gen Z users.

The total number of monthly users, including subscribers using the free version, totalled 489 million at the end of the year and should hit the 500 million mark in 2023, Spotify said.

The platform has only occasionally posted a quarterly profit since its launch.

It has regularly posted annual losses, despite strong subscriber growth and having had a head start on its rivals such as Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Ek last week announced the group was cutting around 600 jobs out of around 10,000, following similar moves by other tech industry giants.

Spotify has also invested more than one billion euros into podcasting in recent years, but analysts say the company has yet to prove the investment is bearing fruit.

Its venture into podcasts has also been a source of controversy, with US star Joe Rogan accused of spreading misinformation in his shows.

Doubts around the platform have also been reflected in Spotify's share price, which has lost almost two thirds of its value over the past two years.

Ria, an all-female

hijab-clad

wave of the country’s vibrant music

The total number of Spotify users will hit the 500 million mark in 2023

By Asra Ali

Cereal

Take 1 tablespoon of mixture in a clean saucepan.

Add 1 cup of water and whisk the mixture to make sure there are no lumps. Place the pan on a low flame and stir continuously.

Cook for around 10-12 minutes or until the mixture thickens and is cooked completely.

Finally, serve the baby food prepared from homemade cereal, which is good for babies 6-month old and above.

Oatmeal

• Boil ½ cups of water in a non-stick pan.

• Once the water starts boiling in the pan, add 1 cup of powdered oats slowly to the water and stir continuously to make sure there are no lumps. You can add the date paste to give a nice flavour to the dish.

Fruits Purée

Fruits should be steamed, and mashed or pureed while giving babies this kind of homemade food for the first time. Pureed fruits like apple, ripe bananas, pear, chiku (Sapodilla fruit), peach, etc., can be given to babies above 6-months of age. A small amount of dates puree can also be given to infants.

Vegetable Purée

• Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, bottle gourd (lauki), beetroot, spinach, etc., can be steamed and given as a puree. Vegetable purée can also be given as finger foods.

By Bold Desk

The Sindh Board of Films

Censor (SBFC) has stopped the illegal public screenings of Pathaan, an Indian blockbuster starring Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.

The SBF took action immediately after a news report appeared in some local newspapers about the unauthorised screenings of the Indian film at different venues in Karachi, particularly in areas in Defence Housing Authority (DHA). After publication of the news story, the SBFC carried out its own investigation and found some social media accounts selling tickets online for private screenings of the film.

As per the policies of the Sindh Board of Films Censor (SBFC), only those films are allowed for both private and public viewing that are officially certified by the SBFC. “No person shall make or arrange a public or private exhibition of a film by means of cinematograph unless the film has been duly certified for public exhibition by the Board.” In the light of the aforementioned provision, and citing the relevant laws and punitive measures including a fine of Rs. 100,000 along with a 3-year imprisonment, the board warned and instructed the company responsible for the screenings to immediately cancel its shows. Acting upon the warning, the responsible company Fireworks Events cancelled the screenings of the film Pathaan.

By Bold Desk

Aimed at providing high-quality video streaming experience to all data users in Pakistan, SHOQ, an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, has recently been launched by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

Hosting a rich repository of selected content, SHOQ is going to deliver high quality content at affordable prices through its collaboration with Evision. The partnership will provide PTCL and other data customers with access to media and entertainment content, blockbuster films and seasons from major Hollywood studios such as Warner Bros, Paramount, 20th Century FOX, among others. SHOQ will also host one hundred most watched local and international live TV channels, Pakistani films and originals to cater to the entertainment needs of the entire family.

SHOQ is a subscription-based streaming app that works on the BYOD model (Bring Your Own Device) and PTCL-provided TV dongles. Users can enjoy the multi-screen services from any place, anytime as long as they have internet access and a digital device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Android Smart TVs Android TV Boxes, etc. SHOQ allows registration of up to 5 devices with 2 concurrent sessions at a time. The platform will continue to expand based on user activity and viewer engagement to cater to the evolving media and entertainment requirements of its customers.

SHOQ is available for all Pakistani data users at affordable daily, weekly, and monthly with two variants that are Lite & Premium and the packages have prices as low as Rs. 8 per day. Data users can visit www.shoq.com. pk and subscribe to the service. They can also download the SHOQ App from Google Play and Apple Store for the highest quality and seamless streaming experience.

By Bold Desk

Despite its heaps of positive aspects, the world of social media is not free from its negative impact too. This is particularly more valid for female actors and celebrities who often bear the toll of baseless criticism, defamation and round-the-clock trolling on social media.

Sarwat Gilani, Pakistan’s leading TV and film actress and fashion model, has recently drawn critical attention to the toxic and invasive trend of online trolling, which is all about spewing negativity and spreading hatred against the leading celebrities and well-known people from various walks of life.

Denouncing habitual sceptics and hate-mongers, Sarwat Gilani said that such baseless, nonstop trolling affects the artistes very much as they are also people with deep emotions, while those who are behind the hate-mongering must introspect and avoid the temptation to spread rumours and hostility online.

The Qaatil Haseenaon Ke Naam actor recently appeared on a podcast and said, “Let’s call out trolls because I feel that a lot of celebrities go through a lot of tough times, they almost fall in depression, insecurity and shame.”

“It’s so important to speak your truth as a personality out in public because people assume everything about your life, which is possibly not true,” Sarwat Gilani said.

Calling online hate-mongering a lethal trend, she said that such things lead people to stay away from social media “because it creeps under your skin”.

Citing her own experience of being a defiant

victim of excessive trolling and bullying, the Churails actor said that she stands strongly against all kinds of bullying. “I am the bully, I can’t be bullied. I will be a bully to people who are bullying me, always. I’m never a bully with weak or meek people. I feel that just because you have an internet connection and a keyboard, it does not give you the entitlement to put people down.”

According to her, it has become our collective culture as most people here tend to focus on the negative sides of others in place of highlighting their positive points. “That has become such a cultural thing for us. We don’t raise anything, be it a leader, a political figure or someone from the entertainment industry. If someone is doing good, we will not talk about it. The one who’s doing something wrong, we will talk about them. It’s our culture,” Sarwat Gilani said.

“We saw this very clearly during Joyland’s time, people hadn’t even seen the film, the film hadn’t even been released and [they said] ‘This is against Islam, this is LGBT, etc.’ — watch the film first? And then when they watched it, they went like, ‘Oh, this had nothing worth banning in it.’ So you spread poison without even knowing. ‘Oh, okay sorry’ — what? So all these trolls, who might even pen tales under this conversation of ours, first look within and learn to control yourself and resist the negativity,” the Jawani Phir Nahi Aani star stated. She said that people tend to act this way because of some reasons. “[It’s] because we aren’t happy and content in our own lives. We’re very pathetic. We are because we judge, we bring people down, we want to come out as the right person and we are not even honest with ourselves. We’ll never correct ourselves, we will never say sorry. It needs to change,” she added.

The video steaming platform brings a high-quality OTT service at prices as low as Rs 8 per day

Trolling affects the artistes very much as they are also people with emotions

The mob harassed female actors and stole mobile phones, wallets, and filming equipment

By Bold Desk

Film director Nabeel Qureshi along with his other cast members and crew were “attacked by a mob” in PIB Colony in Karachi on February 6. According to a tweet by Nabeel Qureshi, he along with the cast — Mani (Salman Saquib), Hira Mani, and Gul-e-Rana — and crew were attacked at their film set by a violent mob who robbed them of their valuables, including filming gear, mobile phones, and wallets.

The police have registered an FIR against the attackers and arrested six people in connection with the incident.

Writing in his Twitter handle, Nabeel Qureshi said a mob of around 100 people broke the door down and entered the house where they were shooting a scene. After breaking in, they started shouting and beating up the filming crew along with the owner of the house. The mob also harassed the women and female actors and stole three mobile phones, wallets, and several pieces of filming equipment - C-stands, avenger stand, one 2k light, 10kg jib weight, cables, bulbs, and set pancake.

The FIR was filed at the PIB Colony police station by producer Ali Hussain. According to him, the house at the PIB

By Bold Desk

In the last week of January, a bomb blast inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area claimed more than 100 lives and left several others injured. In response to such a tragic event, Pakistan’s leading artistes and celebrities, such as cricketers Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Iftikhar Ahmad, along with actors Faysal Quraishi, Adnan Siddiqui, Ahmed Ali Butt and Saba Qamar prayed for the victims and shared their deep condolences with the families of the deceased.

In his message, actor Adnan Siddiqui expressed his deep disgust for the perpetrators who attacked innocent people that too at a sacred place of worship and prayer. TV and film Actress Saba Qamar prayed for the victims and posted a heartbreak emoji on her social media handle.

Asking for such incidents to stop, Pakistan’s leading fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi wrote in his Twitter account

that his heart was crying. “My heart cries seeing people of my country in pain, praying for the quick recovery of all the victims and my thoughts go out with the affected families. This must stop!” according to Afridi.

Pakistan’s number one batsman and skipper Babar Azam tweeted, “Devastating news from Peshawar. My sincere condolences to the families of departed souls and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured ones. May Almighty have mercy on our beloved country.”

Cricketer Mohammad Hafeez prayed for the deceased and the affected families. Pakistan’s T20 player Iftikhar Ahmad requested the concerned authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators and make those pay who are behind this heinous act. In his message of condolence, actor Faysal Quraishi prayed for safety of the country and reminded people that the perpetrators will be punished in the hereafter. According to actor Ahmed Ali Butt, the Peshawar bomb blast was kind of a welcome back to the “old, SCARY Pakistan.”

By Minaal Mohsin Maan ISLAMABAD

Over the years, numerous game shows have surfaced on the TV screen in Pakistan, but, we have not seen any game show that is especially produced for children.

However, BOL Entertainment, Pakistan's number 1 entertainment channel, is an exception, as it is the only TV channel in the country that has launched a first-of-its-kind game show ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay,’ exclusively for the younger audience. Having launched on October 1st, 2022 on BOL Entertainment, the game show ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ has emerged as the new rock and roll as it has successfully been offering children truly a fun-filled entertainment, replete

Colony had been rented out only for filming purposes. One room of the rented house was in use by the house owner while the other three rooms were used mainly for shooting. The FIR mentioned that the attackers came in with iron sticks, damaged the filming equipment and also injured five crew members, while one of the members of the crew was seriously hit on the back of his head with the butt of a pistol.

The FIR stated that the owner of the house Shakir told them that the mob was led by his neighbours, Muhammad Ali and Qasim, while three other people assisted his neighbours. The police have registered a case under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint to the committing of the theft), 337, 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs. 50 or above) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Nabeel Qureshi said he is still traumatised over what happened on the set of his forthcoming TV serial. “We had kids like 6 to 7 years of age, and Hira kept on requesting them to behave from inside the door. They were not listening, they broke the door. It is so disturbing,”. In another tweet, he said that they were “attacked

like anything,” which had never happened to them before. “They were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles, wallets. They do not care about ladies. They raised their hands, etc.,” he tweeted.

The Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad filmmaker tweeted that he wants the Rangers and Sindh Police to take punitive measures against the attackers to “make an example out of it.” Nabeel Qureshi also made a request to the showbiz fraternity to make sure that such incidents don’t happen to any of them again.

Child actor Falak Shahzad Khan, who was also present on that occasion, wrote, “We were at the shoot… they attacked the team. Got into the house. All of us, Mani, Hira Mani, Nabeel Qureshi, Gul-e-Rana and Khushi Maheen and other team members were locked in a tiny room. Then the police and Rangers came and we were able to go back home.”

Actress Hira Mania took to her Instagram account and wrote, “It was a very unfortunate event to witness today and I wish and pray no one face[s] that ever in their life. I want to thank my team members who fought till the last [end] with the culprits to save us and are in very bad condition in the hospital right now.” She also asked people to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured crew members.

By

Bold Desk Umair Jaswal, a multi-talented singer, songwriter and music producer, is going to release his new music album this week. Titled ‘Dance Kerain Saari Raat,’ the album is being released in two volumes. Comprising over a dozen songs, the first volume is being launched in the month of February, while the 2nd volume of the album will be released in April this year on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

“Through these songs my musical sensibilities have taken on a whole new direction, enabling me to deconstruct my perceived notions, and open up to limitless creative possibilities. It's been a highly rewarding experience collaborating with Ahsan Pervaiz, an absolute genius. It was like two mad scientists working in a lab willing to push the boundaries with each track,” according to Umair Jaswal. In order to fit in with the funky mood of his new album, Umair

has tried his best to appear as a new version of himself by giving himself a new, yet refreshing look. Produced in collaboration with Ahsan Pervaiz Mehdi, a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer, the album has a variety of songs, such as ‘Disco Diljala,’ ‘Aunty let me go,’ and ‘Mamacita.’

“This album is very close to my heart. It's been quite a transformative journey and now I’m ready to share this raw, uncut side of my personality with the world. I will be embarking on a 10-show album launch tour across Pakistan, the dates will be revealed soon. I can't wait to perform for my fans and for you all to enjoy my forthcoming album,” he added.

Being ahead of the music curve, the album “Dance Kerain Saari

Raat” by Umair Jaswal is aimed at charting the new territory by resorting to genre-bending music. After the official launch of the long-waited album, its songs will be released across all leading online music platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, etc.

with knowledge and wisdom. More than an educational game show meant to boost children’s knowledge, ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ has made its place as a family show.

In addition to developing critical thinking skills, these kinds of educational game shows also help children in building their confidence. Thanks to such TV programmes, the young participants now have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and demonstrate their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment. This can help to pursue knowledge in a more disciplined manner, build their self-esteem and give them the confidence they need to tackle the other educational challenges in future.

The show, hosted by a multitalented artiste Ahmad Ali Butt, is based on a simple format. Although it draws its

inspiration from an American quiz game show ‘Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?’, the show ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ enjoys the unique distinction of being an entirely Pakistani production. The show covers a total of twelve categories, including English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Animal Kingdom and many others. Notable celebrities such as Ahsan Khan, Faysal Quraishi and Mathira have made an appearance in the show.

“What inclined me towards hosting the show is the fact that it is solely designed for children,” says Ahmad Ali Butt.

“It is very rare to see this kind of game show produced for kids, particularly in our entertainment industry. Through this programme, we are focusing on the mental capabilities of children and trying to enhance their knowledge about their own country and the rest of knowledge disciplines. Though ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ is inspired by an English show, it has been customized to cater to our local audience,” he added.

The show has been very well-received since it first episode, drawing admiration from parents and children alike, especially on social media. According to Ahmad Ali Butt, the team has received thousands of messages from children who watch the show regularly to answer the questions. Further commenting on how he personally connects with the show, he said, “Since I am a father now, I try to look for shows that play a part in mental growth of children and challenge them both mentally and physically besides exploring our national heroes and culture.”

Aired every Saturday at 5 p.m. on BOL Entertainment, ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ is a trendsetter, being a flagship game show for children and young learners.

The game show ‘Chatti Ke Bachay Apse Achay’ is a trendsetter