The prevailing paucity of television quiz shows these days could be a matter of surprise to some people.
However, given the current state of affairs in today’s electronic media, it does make sense to have more time for popular visual content and splashy broadcast at the expense of quiz programmes or similar game shows that are based on intelligent content and matter to a handful of audience of high-brow television.
Promoting education and learning, many quiz shows have internationally emerged as a distinct, highly popular as well as a bestselling genre in the world of television. In marked contrast, the TV industry in Pakistan seems to be hell-bent on taking a retrogressive path in the guise of entertainment, recreation and education. Long past are the days when quiz shows such as Kasoti, Jahan Numa, Sheeshe Ka Ghar, Neelam Ghar, Zehni Aazmaish, Zauq-e-Aagahi and That’s It were household names, and so were their scholarly and studious hosts and intellectual figures like Obaidullah Baig, Iftikhar Arif, Zia Mohyeddin, Ghazi Salahuddin and Quraish Pur.
Despite over a hundred TV channels, the number of quality quiz programmes has drastically been reduced over the last two decades, and currently, only the BOL Entertainment is especially focused on producing a bunch of quiz programmes. For example, Inam Ghar, hosted by Aamir Liaquat Hussain, was also a riveting quiz programme which amassed much popularity, particularly among the young people. As things happen now, whatever is aired on television in the name of TV quiz shows is not basically aimed at testing one’s knowledge or examining one’s mental agility and memory skills. In place of producing intellectual content to engage the mind and cerebral faculties, the current format of quiz programmes has reduced them into a gift-dispensing spree, based on a hodgepodge of riddles, funny acrobats, weird gimmicks, tongue twisters and slapdash action-based performances that amuse, entertain and make the audience laugh in stitches under the cover of a knowledge-sharing and learning TV programme targeting the whole family.
It does not suggest that there is a dearth of quiz shows in today’s TV channels or efforts are not being made to produce hit quiz programmes. However, the format of modern shows is not chiefly designed to test the participants’ knowledge and mental abilities as today’s quiz shows, especially when compared with classic quiz programmes, happen to be a kind of mixed bag, featuring several games, sitcom and musical performances, and the ilk, other than having merely a question and answer session intended at putting the participants’ knowledge to test. Ostensibly, the blanket approach relegates these otherwise serious, highbrow programmes to a piece of light entertainment vying to get a laugh out of both participants and viewers sitting at home in order to keep them interested, entertained and not bored or fed up to the back teeth. Most importantly, the air-time allotted to quiz shows plays a pivotal role for their large-scale commercial success. Despite immense potential to attract an audience, however, most quizbased game shows are not aired during the prime time and thus are unable to win heavy viewership.
This also speaks volumes of the numerous risks involved with airing quiz programmes during peak
viewing hours as these shows are not considered right up the audience’s alley, especially in a society like ours where most people crave a kind of entertainment, which is interesting and intelligible in the first place as well as equally electrifying and exhilarating right from the beginning to make them feel relaxed, rewarded and entertained after an eventful day. On the other hand, the quiz programme, as its genre suggests, is considered as dry as dust to the average viewer as if it is something unusual which oozes intellectualism and puts one to sleep within a moment, which is not true.
For most of the TV audience, quiz shows are a source of learning solely produced for the young students with the aim of education and do not have the quintessential spice to entertain the lowbrow audience to the point of making their time well-spent, as it is done by the rest of the prime-time shows revolving around love, hate, dance, romance, vengefulness, together with other entertaining attributes, laced with cheap titillation that characterise the entertainment world.
An all-encompassing ‘boring’ element is indeed a point of concern for today’s TV audience as well as for the emerging lot of TV directors and producers putting their best efforts to make their game shows a hit with the audience. No doubt, it has become the most difficult task to cater to the new tech-driven generation with a considerably less attention span as well as reducing appetite for educational content, compared to the people of the offline world of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Be that as it may, what could be a more herculean task other than attracting those viewers who have plenty of such entertainment sources at their fingertips round the clock that don’t require them to engage their cerebral crannies? When it comes to a yawn-producing quiz programme in particular, it becomes more challenging to make it truly a prime-time family show able to grab the most viewership along with increased consumer engagement and high TV ratings.
‘Kon Banega Crorepati (KBC),’ an international TV game show franchise of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ is the most successful TV programme in India. On the contrary, the KBC franchise in Pakistan ended up as a flop show and discontinued after its first season
Most of all, those who are at the helm of media institutions tend to live in a binary world, ruled by clashing dualities and polar opposites in all respects. In reality, for instance, the audience consumes what they are offered by the media, however, most media outlets claim to feed the content to the audience they only want. Amidst such contradictory statements dotted with imprecise observations and sweeping assessments, a flurry of TV programmes that rule the prime-time television are mostly shallow to the core and are tinged with a superficial theme which may work miracles in terms of earning them more TRPs and ad revenues. However, in marked contrast, such mainstream, yet dumb programmes do little to add to the cognitive abilities and intellectual development of viewers in general and children in particular. As things currently stand, mainstream TV shows chase after commercial success and are more focused
on entertaining the audience with cheap tactics. Although the most popular current affairs programmes and talk shows are primarily aimed at informing the audience of current political developments along with grave socio-economic issues facing the country, the selected chunks of information disseminated through these shows are highly subjective and are bereft of any piece of information and rich knowledge which may lead to enlightenment and edification, creating general awareness about the world we live in as well the life led by our forefathers the year dot, in caves, rock shelters and wattle-and-daub huts.
Overflowing with political updates and current happenings, these talk shows and news programmes, from the word go, have less to do with the enhancement of viewers’ intellectual capacity and more to do with making a politically aware mindset inclined towards a particular narrative. Thus, creating political awareness is the most sought-after objective that too within a predefined line that is mostly achieved at the end of the day, while no such efforts are undertaken to build up one’s intelligence quotient (IQ), stimulate creativity, and increase one’s general and special knowledge about various fields of study and the world at large.
The point of fact is that most TV channels in Pakistan are struggling to produce a hit quiz programme by all measures and if truth be told, no Pakistani channel in the past two decades has been able to launch a flagship quiz show in particular. Running continuously for the last 23 years, ‘Kon Banega Crorepati (KBC),’ an international TV game show franchise of ‘Who Wants to Be
Quraish Pur and Tariq Aziz were erudite, literature-savvy and knowledgeably more equipped to anchor their quiz shows and thus were able to run their programmes all alone for a number of years, even decades without a break, which is no mean feat by all accounts
history, science, art and classic literature through conventional ways and thus fails to comply with outmoded intellectual recreational activities. Keeping in view content consumption preferences, a considerable amount of effort must be devoted to design and produce TV quiz programmes, which are based on cerebral content and are informative, entertaining and rewarding for a large number of Pakistani audience.
The other major reason behind the poor consumption of quiz content in the country is not related to the lack of hefty awards and lucrative prizes. Straight to the point, most anchors are less qualified and incompetent to host quiz programmes since they don’t have the much-needed intellectual knack, scholarly aura and literary prowess, as required in these kinds of TV shows. Moin Akhtar and Aamir Liaquat Hussain were good entertainers and so are Ahmad Ali Butt and Fahad Mustafa. Having had previously no proven artistic credentials, stardom or mass popularity, however, Quraish Pur and Tariq Aziz were erudite, literature-savvy and knowledgeably more equipped to anchor their quiz shows and thus were able to run their programmes all alone for a number of years, even decades without a break, which is no mean feat by all accounts.
a Millionaire?’ is the most successful TV programme. On the contrary, the KBC franchise in Pakistan ended up as a flop show and discontinued after its first season. The same fate occurred to many other talent shows in Pakistan which were heavily inspired from the most popular international TV shows such as ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.’ Does it have something to do with the lack of talent in Pakistan? The answer is in affirmative to a large degree, since with a rapidly regressing socio-economic situation of the country coupled with its poor human development indicators, worsening law and order and demographic challenges, the people of the country, particularly its youth, are not living in the same world where they were living some decades before. With most efforts geared towards ensuring their basic survival on a day-to-day basis, only a very small percentage of people are now able to focus on what they are capa ble of doing in order to fulfil their individual dreams and achieve the optimum level of self-actualisation.
Bereft of a supportive environment, diminishing reading culture and with scant avenues to elevate, en hance, and express their talents, today’s young genera tion is at a loss in relation to the human development in dicators. Other than talent deficit, the young, tech-savvy generation, which is smarter than those of the previous generations, can also be referred to as the lost genera tion, because it is more into employing modern com munication tools and exploiting technologi cal advances. However, the new breed has lesser interest in learning about
In addition to that, it is quite rare for contestants of a quiz show to earn nationwide fame as it was done by Hafiz Naseem, a blind contestant from Karachi, who won the car, the biggest prize of the TV show ‘Neelam Ghar,’ which was later rechristened as ‘Tariq Aziz Show.’ In a similar vein, Asim Siddiqui, a student of the NED University, Karachi, achieved recognition through quiz programmes, mostly anchored by Quraish Pur. Asim Siddiqui even represented Pakistan in an international TV quiz show held at the SAARC level. Also, such well-known TV anchors of today as Iqrar Ul Hassan and Waseem Badami rose from quiz programmes.
Similar to melodramatic TV serials, never-ending soap operas and eye-candy drama series, intellectual content merits a primetime slot cate and entertain most of the audience. Based on intelligent content and a well-researched format, TV shows can serve as a nursery for young talent. In the end, is it too early to tellectual television’ in Pakistan? Your guess
Where have all the great quiz shows gone? BOLD delves deep into the matter
Marvel bounces back with an Ant-Man adventure that entertains folks of all ages, not disappoint
By Omair Alavi KARACHIMarvel’s latest offering Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania is not your regular MCU flick which comes and goes without making its mark. Contrary to his size, Ant-Man is an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, without whom Avengers might not have been able to return from ‘the blip’. His latest adventure not only opens the door to the fifth Phase of MCU but also unleashes an antagonist who until now was not that huge, but who will eventually grow as big as Thanos in the coming years. And we know how that ended up for the Earth Mightiest Heroes, right?
The Plot Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a regular guy who is often mistaken for Spider-Man, but thanks to his Ant-Man suit that former S.H.I.E.L.D scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) gave him, he is able to save the world and then write a book about it. He is dating Hope (Evangeline Lilly) who is Hank’s daughter and together they are a team to reckon with. However, when Scott’s teenage daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) reveals that she is able to send a signal into the quantum realm where Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) spent 29 years, Janet asks Cassie to shut down her before it's too late. The happy family finds itself stuck in the Quantum realm where a power-mad Kang (Jonathan Majors) shares a history with Janet, and wouldn’t rest until he gets what he thinks is his. The Good
Although MCU's humor is definitely among this film’s strong selling points, it is to be remembered as Michelle Pfeiffer’s second coming as a superhero character. Thirty years back she showed the world how to play Catwoman and today she tells comic book fans that age is just a number. She has more action scenes in this movie than Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly who play her husband and daughter, and that’s what makes this film worth its money. In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that she is the Wasp from the film’s title and not her daughter who inherited her suit. As for the first part of the title – Ant-Man –Paul Rudd does his job effortlessly. He is still the
regular guy who once worked at Baskin Robbins, who is mistaken for a more popular superhero and has to look after his daughter who grew up while he was stuck in the Quantum Realm, and if that makes him appear mature here, then that’s his character’s development. One must also mention Jonathan Majors for standing tall in front of an already-established Ant-Man and sending chills down the viewers’ spines without doing much action.
Kathryn Newton as Scott’s tech-savvy daughter and Bill Murray in a surprise cameo are also worth mentioning, as are the many trademark Marvel action moments and Marvel comic moments. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself taking sides with characters who aren’t relatable or available in most of the movie, but that’s how Ant-Man works. He isn’t visible much but packs a powerful punch, just like the film.
The Bad
Although director Peyton Reed and screenwriter
Jeff Loveness tried too hard to make this film noticeable, no one was more missed in this Ant-Man flick than the man who made the franchise entertaining - Michael Peña's Luis. He might not be a superhero but he has power and that’s connecting with the audience via a flashback where everyone is talking in his style. He was part of the first two Ant-Man flicks but was unceremoniously dropped from this one, and that will hurt the franchise big time. Secondly, the return of Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka MODOK was a decision that should have been scrapped in the first draft because the CGI version reminded one of Krang the villain from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons. Had it been presented as a well-executed CGI character; it would have gone well with the audience but the special effects were awful, to say the least. Every time he appeared on the screen, you wanted him to disappear so that the viewers could spend quality time with the other cast members.
Talking of the other cast members, reducing Wasp, and Hank to side characters was a wrong move, especially when the former’s name is part of the film’s title. It would have been acceptable had the film been released before the sequel AntMan and the Wasp because before that movie, Wasp wasn’t that big a superhero and neither was her father. However, since this film is the third flick in the franchise, not giving respect to two of
the most important characters (three, if you count Luis) will dent the franchise big time.
Also, the film features ants in a limited appearance and despite their making a grand entry, they arrive very very late. And if you aren’t surprised by the mature attitude of Ant-Man, then you need to be surprised because what made him stand out was his ability to disarm the audience with humor, and his enemies with his quickly changing appearance. Instead, here he isn’t the little guy who does big things but is also a father looking out for his daughter and is anything but a simple charming guy next door type of person.
The Verdict 3.5/5
First of all, let me clear the confusion – Ant-Man is nowhere as bad as Eternals, in any universe! While the former stands out as the most needless Marvel flick (second only to Morbius), Quantamania is a complete family flick that targets people of all ages and delivers. It may not be as huge as The Avengers saga but since it introduces the next big Avengers villain to the audience, it has to be taken seriously. Critics and viewers who didn’t like the film should be asked what their reasons were for not liking the film, and if their answer is vague, then you don’t have to worry much.
The film had huge shoes to fill, especially since it was Ant-Man’s first outing after saving the world from Thanos. It had the difficult job of going into an already scattered MCU and then making sense of it, by introducing new characters, most notably Kang the Conqueror. At times it does get boring but that’s only for those who had not seen Loki where Kang made his first official appearance in the MCU. Why he is dangerous was explained in Tom Hiddleston’s series and once you are through it, it will all start making sense.
Considering it has come after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania is Knight Rider fast compared to the last MCU flick which spent most of the time doing nothing expect taking the audience underwater into a villain’s lair. Yes, it isn’t as visually exciting as The Avengers flick or the Civil Wars but it is a light diversion just like its predecessors. Watching Paul Rudd in action with Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Evangeline Lilly is a treat any time of the year, and watching them battle it out with someone who is more powerful than their combined might is fully satisfying.
By AR Malik LAHOREThe core constituency of Faizsocialists, poets, authors, labourers, and women - has marked the legacy of Faiz Ahmed Faiz with this little-known event. From 1986, when the Faiz Aman Mela began commemorating the revolutionary poet's birth anniversary on February 12, its typical setting has been the openair theatre, where the audiences would sit on mats and sing Faiz's poetry and dance to drumbeats with human rights chants. The site was changed to the Cosmopolitan Club in Lawrence Garden this year because of the growing attendance, which the openair theatre was unable to handle. In the run-up to the Awami Mela, activists go on a one-of-a-kind Bighi March through the streets of Lahore.
They once again rode a bhighi from Shimla Hill to Charing Cross while mounting a public address system to advertise the Faiz Aman Mela. Two horses pulled the cart, which was adorned with banners and posters advertising the Faiz Mela. Farooq Tariq, Syeda Deep, Tahira Habib Jalib, Sara Jalib, Samson Salamat, Khalid Butt, Nazli Javed, Rafat Maqsood, Hasnain Jameel Faridi, and other notable social and political figures toured several roadways along with members of the Faiz Aman Mela Committee.
Using the sound system, the marchers performed the poem "Hum Dekhenge" by Faiz Ahmad Faiz while simultaneously using the microphone to invite the public to the fair.
The power of traditions
The mela ran the programme in front of diverse audiences under the theme ‘Umeed-e-Sehar Ki Baat Suno”. The occasion was graced by Farooq Tarar, Salima Hashmi, Sohail Goindi, Imtiaz Alam, Prof Razi Haider, Anjum Rasheed, Chaudhry Zulfikar,
Afzal Abbas, Mustafa Nazir, Arshad Amin, Khalid Mansoor, Sufi Khawar and Shaukat Bhatti. Renowned dancer Sheema Kirmani performed on Faiz’s poetry, while, singers Tarranum Naz, Mohan Bhaggat and Adeel Barki sang his poems.
Something about the Faiz Festival
In Alhamra, the three-day Faiz Festival's seventh edition featured a star-studded lineup. Every time Faiz was remembered, we were reminded of romantic and revolutionary literature. The festival's major highlight of the festival was the participation of prominent Indians, including poet Arvindar Chamak, lyricist, screenwriter and poet Javed
Akhtar, producer Atul Tiwari, historians Munish Singh and Bobby Sachdeva, and author and blogger Amy Singh.
Much to the dismay of the audiences who had anticipated hearing Javed Akhtar speak about his life, work, cinema, and, of course, the future of India-Pakistan relations. Javed Akhtar sat with Adeel Hashmi and spoke on poetry and language during a session titled "Jadunama" on the second day of the festival. Nevertheless, on the third day, he was considerably more open about his interactions with Pakistani citizens and regional politics. He occasionally presented himself as a fervent supporter of Indian nationalism and a
part-time peace campaigner. He also discussed his personal life and his relationships with his wife Shabana Azmi. He told BOLD on the festival's sidelines that obtaining a visa was not difficult for him. This can be the result of his great status and/or the fact that the Faiz Festival is a well-known gathering. His four-day tour to the city, he said, had a strict timetable with most of the time devoted to various interactive sessions.
"I should have extra time to stay in Lahore the next time I come here," he joked. "Well, we're all the same people; I feel extremely joyful, therefore, my heart wants to return here again
and again," he replied when asked how he felt when interacting with Pakistanis.
Javed Akhtar stated that he loves Lahore because of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Lahore loves him because of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. "Pakistanis have shown me more affection than I deserve," he stated.
Earlier in the discussion, he stated that Faiz is immensely famous in India. The Faiz Festival brought together people of all ages, and the ancient bond between Faiz and Kitab was rekindled.
On the last two days of the festival, the three halls of Al Hamra, Adabi Baithak, the art gallery and the lawns gave out the feel of spring. The events started at noon and more than 30 performances and discussion sessions were held each day.
Among the gate-crashing sessions included a discussion on different aspects of culture, in which artists Salima Hashmi, Danish Hassan, Atal Tiwari and Mehtab Rashidi spoke. Also, sessions titled ‘Aaj Tum Be Hisab Yad Aaye,’ ‘Dharti Ki Malkain,’ ‘Murre Dil Murre Masafari,’ ‘Faiz Ka Faiz,’ ‘Daak to Lahore,’ ‘Punjab @75,’ and ‘Reviving the old Lahore.’ Music also brought life to the festival while painting masterpieces, calligraphy samples and many different sessions were also organised.
The festival could have been more promising had the organisers also brought regional literature into the discussion. Moreover, Adeel Hashmi should have given a chance to someone else too to sit with Javed Akhtar. He held two sessions with Javed Akhtar, and every time, he was short of expectations.
Then, it is only the Faiz Festival among the long lineup of literary festivals, which hosts ticketed programmes. The festival had a ticketed session of the concert of Shafquat Amanat Ali. When the festival organisation has a long line of sponsors, ticket-selling leaves a bad taste in visitors’ mouths.
Last week saw two events in Lahore celebrating the revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Dive into the depths of Avatar: The Way of Water and find out unrevealed details behind the most visually striking cinematic experience
By Omair Alavi
KARACHI
It might seem like a tie-in book for the super-successful sequel to an uber-successful film, but Avatar: The Way of Water – The Visual Dictionary is more than just another book. It takes the readers into the world of the Avatar sequel which is currently running successfully in cinemas all over the world. The book shows that director James Cameron not only put his heart and mind into making the film but also his soul because that’s what made the film stand out from many other recent releases. If you want to dive into the depths of Avatar: The Way of Water then this definitive guide is your go-to book.
With a foreword by renowned actress and Avatar alumni Sigourney Weaver, Avatar: The Way of Water: The Visual Dictionary is a treasure trove of information. Created in close collaboration with James Cameron, the visionary director behind the franchise, and written by experts who actually worked on the film, this guide is a perfect gift for Avatar fans, no matter how old they are. It not only features the names and details of the protagonist, the antagonist, and others in between, but it is also packed with stunning details that weren’t revealed elsewhere.
Through this guide, you will be able to meet the next generation of Jake Sully and Neytiri’s family, especially the mysterious Kiri who will for sure be a central character in the next films. You will be able to discover a new species that isn’t found on our planet but also explore Pandora’s oceans which seemed nonexistent in the last film. Add to that, the latest RDA vehicles including the ships, the return of an enemy who seemingly had perished in battle, and the inner workings of Bridgehead City where the sky people operate and you have a book that will surely keep you awake for some time.
If you didn’t know the exact details regarding Pandora, the year the first war took place, the reasons why humans were so adamant about taking over Pandora,
and how did the two species evolve between the first and second films, then you must have this visual guide in your possession. Not only does it talk at length about the characters, but also the creatures, the vehicles, the weapons, the locations as well as the new allies and foes from the latest Avatar flick.
The book is divided into several chapters and while the first one deals ideally with Jake Sully and his family, the second one talks about the Omatikaya clan and their way of life. In both chapters, you get to know everything there is to know about the residents of Pandora and even if you have watched the film, the details mentioned here will make your day. Who are Jake’s family members and how are they different from each other, what do the mem bers of Omatikaya clan eat, where do they reside (or hide), and what is Spider’s story who seems to be the one who links the Sully family and the few humans left in Pandora, this is what is discussed in these chapters.
The third chapter is the most important one in the book since it discusses The RDA aka the Resources Development Administration. Everything from their Landing Module to their Shipyard factory that uses 3D printing to construct things, gets a mention in this chapter.
Many things that might have seemed confusing to the audience while watching the film were made unconfusing in these pages includ ing the new technology that can track your brain function as well as the current Expeditionary Force Commander General Frances Ardmore and her toys, as Sully would like to call them.
Don’t be surprised to see Colonel Quartich’s name being mentioned here in the fourth chapter titled The
Recom Program, especially since he met his fate in the last Avatar. He is here in the form of an avatar but with the same mission, to kill Jake Sully and aid the RDA in conquering Pandora. It doesn’t matter whether he succeeds or not, what matters is the technology that he has at his disposal which dominated the next chapter titled RDA Vehicles. After all, who doesn’t want to know about the S-76 Seadragon that is designed to hunt Pandora’s whale-like tulkun. How the Matador and Picador (other vehicles) support the bigger ship and why Mako Submersible and Crab Suit are vital for the ‘hunt’ is exactly what this chapter will tell you.
And if you are fortunate enough to watch Avatar: The Way of Water, then you might have questions regarding Jack Sully’s new allies who help him in his hour of need. These folks –the Metkayina Clan – are basically the Reef people who reside around the water in Pandora. Who is their leader, how are they connected to the tulkuns and how are they different from the tribe Sully’s family belongs to, this chapter clears up all the misconceptions you might have had. Last but not least, the seventh and final chapter of the book The Ocean takes you from land to sea, where you get to meet the Tulkuns who are integral to the film’s plot as well as other animals.
The beauty of this book is the illustrations, the pictures, and the attention to detail which covers every aspect of the successful flick, and makes the readers realize that there was a reason why James Cameron took so long to come up with the sequel. He didn’t want to return with a half-baked project and that’s why he invested all his energies into the film, and this guide is proof of his dedication and his vision which is second to none.
AFP
The Berlinale, Europe's first major film festival of the year, opened with a comedy starring Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei and Peter Dinklage ahead of a packed programme spotlighting Iran and Ukraine.
The 73rd annual festival, which traditionally has the strongest political focus of the three big European cinema showcases, will mark the Russian invasion's first anniversary as well as anti-regime protests in Iran with new feature films and documentaries.
A series of special events is planned including panel discussions and red-carpet protests in "solidarity" with the people of Iran and Ukraine.
The festival's artistic director Carlo Chatrian said the Berlinale would be a celebration of the "catalysing and revolutionary notion of cinema which unites even when it divides". Hollywood actor Sean Penn, who was in Kyiv at the start of the Russian onslaught, will present "Superpower", tracking Volodymyr Zelensky's transformation from comedian to president to war hero, based on a series of conversations. "Zelensky was two completely different creatures from one day to the next," the two-time Oscar winner told film industry magazine Variety this week. "He was a spirit in waiting."
The Ukrainian leader addressed the festival by video link. The Berlinale has barred filmmakers, companies and reporters with direct ties to the Russian or Iranian governments from taking part in the event, including its sprawling European Film Market, a key movie rights exchange for the industry.
"She Came to Me" by US director Rebecca Miller, about a New York composer portrayed by Peter Dinklage fighting writer's block, will be the first of nearly 300 new films from around the world to screen during the 11-day event.
French-Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani ("Paterson")
will serve on the jury for the Golden and Silver Bear top prizes headed by Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, at 32 the youngest president in the festival's history.
Nineteen films will vie for the main awards, including British-US co-production "Manodrome" featuring Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody in a thriller about an Uber driver who is expecting his first child and lured into a cult.
Two Asian animated pictures will also join the running, "Art College 1994" by China's Liu Jian and Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume", the first Japanese anime to compete at the Berlinale since Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" clinched the Golden Bear in 2002.
Three-time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg is due in the German capital to collect an honorary Golden Bear for his life's work, spotlighted in a retrospective. British actor Helen Mirren will premiere the keenly awaited "Golda" in which she stars as Israel's only female prime minister, Golda Meir. And Vicky Krieps, the acclaimed Luxembourg-born
actor from "Phantom Thread" and "Corsage", will unveil her turn as renowned Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann in a biopic by veteran German director Margarethe von Trotta.
One-third of the films in competition are by women, who make up 40 percent of all directors represented at the festival. "Love to Love You", a documentary about disco queen Donna Summer, who defined an era on the dance floor and helped inspire Beyonce's latest album "Renaissance", will have its world premiere. The film was co-directed by Summer's daughter, Brooklyn Sudano, and features never-before-seen home videos. The Berlinale ranks with Cannes and Venice among Europe's top film festivals. It will award the Golden and Silver Bear trophies at a gala ceremony before wrapping up the next day with screenings of popular movies from this year's selection.
By Bold Desk
It seems actor and singer Farhan Saeed is another keyboard warrior who leaves no stone unturned when it comes to making the most of his widely followed social media handle in order to speak his mind and record his protest for the sake of it. Donning the avatar of an angry young man, for instance, the Udaari actor took to his Twitter account merely to find fault with the country’s general public for not protesting against the on-going hyperinflation spree. "Pakistaniyon, tum Rs.
500 litre bhi dalwa loge. Afsos!” Farhan Saeed said in a tweet.
Owing to the substantial devaluation of the Pakistani rupee against the U.S. dollar, according to the Ministry of Finance led by Ishaq Dar, the petrol price recently shot up by Rs35 per. Notwithstanding the historical hike in petroleum prices, the people of the country have not yet come to the streets and can be found making a beeline at petrol pumps to top up their fuel.
“The nations that don’t stand up for themselves, deserve this and worse," Farhan Saeed added.
The film festival is a celebration of the catalysing and revolutionary notion of cinema which unites even when it divides
The nations that don’t stand up deserve this and worse
AFP
Some of the most iconic fashion looks have emerged on music's biggest night Music's brightest stars brought their fashion A-game to the Grammys red carpet, strutting their stuff in bold and striking colours, slinky styles, and major bling and barely-there gowns.
While the Oscars are known for embracing a certain brand of Hollywood glamour, the Grammys are in your face: some of the most iconic fashion looks have emerged on music's biggest night, like Jennifer Lopez's plunging green Versace gown in 2000.
Here's a look at what the A-listers wore to the Grammys:
Rainbow effect
If you want to get noticed on the red carpet, a pop of colour does the trick.
Lizzo — who won Record of the Year honours for "About Damn Time" — served up major fashion drama in a voluminous orange Dolce and Gabbana cape with huge floral blooms, over a sleek corseted gown in the same vibrant hue with peach eye shadow, fingerless mesh gloves and nail art to match.
Taylor Swift, who won the Grammy for best music video for "All Too Well," stunned in a two-piece bejewelled bluishpurple Roberto Cavalli number — a long-sleeved crop top and long skirt — in keeping with her album title "Midnights."
Adele, who won for Best Pop Solo Performance, wowed in a full-length Louis Vuitton burgundy gown with sculptural shoulder ruffles and a plunging neckline, her hair cascading in soft waves. At the gala, she was seated with Lizzo — a major power duo.
Super-producer Pharrell Williams rocked up in a quilted red leather ensemble — with a (faux?) fur coat over the top and uber-cool blinged out sunglasses.
And pop dreamboat Harry Styles — who won Album of the Year honours and the award for Best Pop Vocal Album — obviously couldn't choose which colour to go with, so he wore them all.
The British singer donned a glittering Harlequin-patterned sleeveless jumpsuit in every hue of the rainbow encrusted with Swarovski crystals, leaving his chest bare to show off his body ink.
Country folk rocker Brandi Carlile donned a sparkly black Versace suit with a long coat and a pop of colour — a fuchsia
blouse that was more readily visible during her performance of her Grammywinning song "Broken Horses."
Bold in black
Of course, some stars went for basic, but sexy, black.
Olivia Rodrigo, last year's Grammy winner for Best New Artist, adopted the naked dress trend seen on several recent showbiz red carpets in a sheer floorlength black gown.
Brazilian superstar Anitta, up for Best New Artist honours this year, also understood the assignment — she slayed in a strapless Versace gown with seethrough detailing and a long train.
And Doja Cat, who wowed fashionistas at Paris fashion week with her exuberant looks and wild makeup, showed up in another Versace dress — hers was a one-shoulder latex frock that hugged her curves, finished with long gloves.
As the new all-time Grammy winners with 32 statuettes, Beyonce is in a class by herself, and that applies to her fashion as well.
The 41-year-old superstar arrived at the gala more than an hour late — due to traffic, host Trevor Noah said — in a strapless Gucci corset gown with a silver skirt cut up to her hip and rippling out in shimmering ruffles to finish in a train.
Elbow-length gloves finished off the look for the new reigning queen of the Grammys.
BY Bold Desk Naimal Khawar, based in Islamabad, is a renowned TV and film actress and fashion model. A Scorpio by her zodiac sign, she was born in Peshawar on November 17, 1992. She did her Bachelor’s at Roots College in Islamabad and earned a postgraduate diploma in Visual Arts from the National College of Art, Lahore. Fascinated by the showbiz world since her early childhood, Naimal kick-started her showbiz career with fashion modelling and made her acting debut in 2017 with the film ‘Verna’ opposite Haroon Shahid and Mahira Khan. The film was directed and produced by Shoaib Mansoor who by himself approached Naimal Khawar through her Instagram handle. She took a one-year break for the completion of her education, and in 2018, she appeared in a lead role in the TV serial ‘Anaa’, starring Shehzad Sheikh, Umer Mukhtar and Hania Amir. Reportedly, Naimal Khawar is no longer into showbiz, but prior to leaving her showbiz career, she did many photoshoots for the cover pages of the leading fashion magazines and also appeared in various TV morning shows. Other than being an actress and model, she is also a visual artist and professional painter.
Sumbul Iqbal stays true to her name from the word go. Boasting of intricate delicacy imbued with natural charm and gifted grace, she is an emerging artiste with a big dream of ruling the roost. In the infancy of her showbiz career, she seems to have an artistic maturity coupled with a relentless passion to groom and grow herself as an established icon. A down-to-earth diva with an eye to the stars, she is much more than her young and adorable appearance. Emanating an enticing and alluring aura, Sumbul is simply a beauty personified.
This is long overdue for us to promote our neglected, forgotten regions and cultures, says Aima Baig
By Bold Desk Singer AimaBaig is about to release her new song titled ‘Washmally’ opposite Sahir Ali Bagga. The song, according to her, is a tribute to Pakistan’s biggest province, Balochistan, and to its rich culture, traditions and customs.
Taking to her Instagram, Aima Baig wrote, “I wanted to make this song as a tribute to the Baloch culture, their meethi (sweet) language and beautiful traditions.
[This is] to celebrate the rich culture of our largest province.”
She further said, “I’ve always supported our own cultures, let it be Punjabi or Seraiki. I personally think that this is long overdue for us privileged individuals to promote our long neglected, forgotten regions and cultures.”
Aima Baig and Sahir Ali Bagga recently posted an official poster online in order to share a sneak peek of their new music
project. As per a press release, the song Washmally is going to be one of Bagga’s most ambitious and challenging ventures, featuring lyrics in Balochi, Punjabi and Urdu languages as well as boasting of a ‘magnificent combination of our three great languages.’ The music video of the song is directed by Adnan Qazi.
“Washmally encapsulates a sweet yet civil interaction between two lovers complemented by a special beat we call the Pakistani or ‘Leva’ beat. We have somewhat modified the beat for listeners,” according to the official presser.
Bagga further said, “The song is a festivity in its own right. The music video is larger than life as well, showcasing and promoting our amazing culture in the best possible way. Even the lead singers, that being Aima and myself, are grooving in a way that’s very much authentic to our culture. It’s truly amazing what we have created, and I hope our fans will enjoy it.”
The animated music video is a treat to watch as it depicts avatars of both singers
By Bold Desk Ali Zafar and Danyal Zafar have recently released a new song titled ‘Raat Din.’ Presented in the most unusual style, the animated music video is a treat to watch as it depicts the most amazing avatars of both Ali and Danyal.
Recently shared on Ali Zafar’s YouTube channel, the description of the song ‘Raat Din’ reads, “Is reality [really] what it seems? [Is there] any truth to our dreams?
Awaken and embrace the mask behind the face. Question everything you see; we are far more than we believe. Introducing, AZX – the revolution begins!”
Setting a new trend in Pakistan’s music industry, the song beautifully represents the dichotomy of day and night and rightly depicts their inevitable effects on human emotions. The music video takes viewers into a dream world, showing both singers going through the throes of life characterised by love and a sense of loss, while familiarising themselves with another harsh reality that is ruled by prevailing solitude and emptiness all over the place.
Rihanna's musical performance on the world's biggest stage offered a nostalgic tour of past
AFP
Rihanna made her long-awaited return to the stage at the Super Bowl with a career-spanning medley of pop bangers, but it was her baby bump that dominated the conversation.
The megastar appeared in the stadium mid-air on a floating stage, donning a clingy, all-red ensemble featuring a moulded bustier -- and a belt below what many viewers deduced was another mini RiRi in the making.
Representatives for the singer confirmed the speculation to trade magazines Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter: Ri-
hanna is pregnant with her second child.
The 34-year-old welcomed her first child, a son, with rapper A$AP Rocky in May. Musically speaking, fans who hoped for some fresh tracks were disappointed: Rihanna's night on the world's biggest stage offered a nostalgia tour of hits past. She delivered her club smashes including "Where Have You Been" to "Only Girl (In the World)" and the time-tested "We Found Love."
"Rude Boy," "Bitch Better Have My
Money," "Work" and "All of the Lights" were also on the setlist, as a sea of dancers performed stunning acrobatics.
"Wild Thoughts" "Run This Town" and, of course, "Umbrella" and "Diamonds" rounded out the show.
She did not, as many stars do, bring out any guest artistes, commanding the stage all on her own.
The evening marked a reversal after Rihanna had previously turned down the gig in protest of the National Football League's handling of race issues.
But in accepting the coveted slot this time around, the Barbados-born singer said it was "important for representation."
"It's important for my son to see this."
Since releasing "Anti" in early 2016, Robyn Rihanna Fenty has taken a break from recording but has by no means taken it easy: she's become a billionaire, parlaying her music achievements into successful makeup, lingerie and high-fashion brands.
Since her last album Rihanna has performed occasional features and more recently recorded music for the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack.
But the album she's been teasing for years remains the stuff of myth -- and seemed it would stay so awhile longer.
Find here some of the most famous songs of the deceased songwriter Burt Bacharach, one of the most influential figures of 20th-century popular music
AFP American composer and pianist Burt Bacharach, who has died aged 94, wrote dozens of songs with lyricist Hal David which have gone down in pop/soul history.
Here are some of the most famous:
- "Baby It's You" (1961) - with its "Sha-la-la-lala, Sha-la-la-la-la" refrain, it was recorded by both American girl group The Shirelles and The Beatles.
- "24 Hours from Tulsa" (1963) - a hit for pop baladeer Gene Pitney.
- "(They long to be) Close to you" (1963) - the breakthrough hit of the American brother-andsister duo "The Carpenters".
- "Walk On By" (1964) - one of soul legend Dionne Warwick's best-loved songs, which lurches between stoicism and anguish.
- "What the World Needs Now is Love" (1965) - first made popular by Jackie DeShannon, reached the top ten of the US Hot 100.
- "Alfie" (1966) - theme song of the film of the same name starring Michael Caine. It was a major hit for Britain's Cilla Black and later Dionne Warwick.
"I Say a Little Prayer" (1967) - first recorded
by Warwick but Aretha Franklin made the definitive version a year later.
- "The Look of Love" (1967) - a favourite of husky-voiced divas Dusty Springfield and Diana Krall.
- "Do You Know the Way to San José?" (1968) - another Warwick hit which won her first Grammy.
- "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969)Bacharach won an Oscar for this cheerful ditty for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", which topped the US charts for four weeks.
- "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (1969) - both Warwick and Jones scored with this heartbreak tune.
- "Arthur's Theme (Best that you can do)" (1981) - one of the most recognisable film theme songs of all time, which won Bacharach another Oscar.
- "That's What Friends Are For" (1982) - first recorded by Rod Stewart but better known for the AIDS charity cover made by Dionne Warwick & Friends, including Elton John and Stevie Wonder, in 1985.
- "On My Own" (1986) - a love song Bacharach composed with ex-wife Carole Bayer Sager which was a power duet for Patti La Belle and Michael McDonald.
Kashmir Valley is globally renowned for its natural beauty and vibrant culture while Kashmiri jewellery is one of the most captivating aspects of its culture. A testament to the skill and artistic excellence of Kashmiri artisans, the exquisite piece of jewellery are worn by girls and women often on such special occasions as weddings and religious festivals.
Known for their intricate designs and outstanding craftsmanship, the pieces of traditional jewellery are often made with gold or silver, and are adorned with precious and semi-precious gemstones, such as rubies, emeralds, and pearls. The jewellery is often handmade using traditional techniques that have been passed down through the generations, and each piece is a unique work of art
that reflects the culture and traditions of the Kashmiri people.
One of the most iconic pieces of Kashmiri jewellery is Dejharoo, a pair of earrings that are traditionally worn by a Kashmiri bride on her wedding. Made with gold or silver, these earrings are encrusted with gemstones, often in the shape of a flower or a leaf, and are passed down from generations as a cherished family heirloom.
Hath Panja, a hand bracelet made with gold or silver, is another iconic piece of jewellery. Similar to Dejharoo, Hath Panja is an essential accessory, which is often encrusted with beautiful gemstones or pearls, adding elegance and sophistication to any outfit. The other pieces of jewellery include necklaces, bangles, and rings, adorned with intricate designs and gemstones and reflection the rich culture and traditions of the Kashmir region.
According to Emin Raja, a fashion advi-
Kashmiri jewellery, crafted along traditional lines,
work of art dying a slow death
sor, Kashmiri jewellery adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any outfit and make one feel more confident and beautiful.
Dr. Shama Rizvi, a doctor by profession with an eye for style and beauty, believes Kashmiri jewellery is distinguished by its elaborate design, timeless grace, and remarkable versatility which suits every unique taste and personality type.
Embodying the rich culture and traditions of Kashmir, each piece of jewellery is craft-
ed with utmost care and attention to detail, making it truly a work of art.
However, these kinds of jewellery are becoming rare, as modernisation continues to shape the world of design and craft. In modern time and age, most women are moving towards the Western style. Be that as it may, there are still many artisans dedicated to preserving the long-cherished traditions by creating beautiful pieces of jewellery that truly reflect the Kashmir and its heritage. However, they must be given state patronage in the form of financial and training support before the Kashmiri style becomes extinct or lost with the sands of time. The government may step in by providing the industry with sufficient funds, especially for the purchase of high-quality materials and equipment, as well as by conducting workshops and training programmes to help artisans develop their skills and learn new techniques. In addition to that, efforts can be made to promote their works within and outside the region in international trade exhibitions and cultural events and through social media platforms and mainstream online channels. . Forming strategic collaborations with local businesses and jewellery designers may also help preserve the dying Kashmiri art.
Television is rapidly becoming an obsolete medium, accounting for merely less than half of daily viewing
AFP
For the first time ever, US adults will spend more time this year watching digital video on platforms such as Netflix, TikTok and YouTube than viewing traditional television, Insider Intelligence forecast said.
In the historic first, the market tracker expects "linear TV" to account for less than half of daily viewing, dropping to under three hours while average daily digital video watching climbs to 52.3 percent with 3 hours and 11 minutes.
"This milestone is driven by people spending more and more time watching video on their biggest and smallest screens, whether it's an immersive drama on a connected TV or a viral clip on a smartphone," Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna said in a release.
"Given teens' preferences for social and streaming video over TV, we can expect these trends to continue to shift in favour of digital."
Netflix and YouTube are "neck and neck" leaders when it comes to digital video audience attention, with US adults tuning in for about 33 minutes daily on average at each platform, according to Insider Intelligence.
Live sporting events becoming available on video streaming platforms is also helping power the shift away from traditional television, as is the popularity of shared video clips on apps, the market tracker said.
TikTok is a key driver with the average amount of time
AFP
After a starring role in last year's Super Bowl broadcast, cryptocurrency firms are expected to sit out the 2023 game.
But the annual advertising extravaganza -- a kind of competition among marketers that runs parallel to the American football championship -- features an array of beer and car companies, along with other familiar brands like M&M's candies, which has been teasing its spot since last month.
This year's slate of commercials revives the cult hit "Breaking Bad," whose cast reunites to pitch PopCorners chips, as well as a collaboration between General Motors and Netflix that shows an electric car navigating "Squid Games" and other settings from streaming hits.
The spots garner top dollar, typically $6 or $7 million for 30 seconds of air time. That's roughly 10 times the cost of an ad during the 2022 World Cup match between the United States and Britain.
Last year's game generated $578 million in advertising revenues for NBC, up $143.8 million from the prior year's telecast, according to Kantar, a data analytics and brand consultancy.
This year's game is being telecast by Fox Sports.
"It's a lot of money for a media spot," said Derek Rucker, a marketing professor at Northwestern University. But "where else can you get 100 million people to see an ad at the same time?"
The ads have become such as big component of the game in the United States that among "a massive number of people, you have consumers who actively watch and discuss the commercials" at gatherings, Rucker said.
Held each year in the dead of winter, "Super Bowl Sunday"
marks an occasion for families and friends to gather for several hours of competition, revelry and entertainment.
This year's game will be between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. As always, the show includes A-list half-time entertainment, this time headlined by Rihanna.
Over-the-top ads are an old tradition and include such epochal spots as Ridley Scott's minute-long commercial for Apple in
1984 announcing the Macintosh computer.
The spot, which features a female athlete smashing a screen showing a "Big Brother" figure, riffs on the famous novel by George Orwell, concluding with a vow that the computer's arrival will show "why 1984 won't be like '1984.'"
This year's most anticipated commercial may be for M&M's, which began tiptoeing into the US cultural wars a few weeks ago.
spent there daily by US adults climbing sharply, according to Insider Intelligence.
"TikTok versus Netflix will be a major trend to watch this year," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Jasmine Enberg.
"The lines between social and entertainment have blurred, and TikTok is now coming for the bigger-screen video players."
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify in March before US lawmakers in Washington, where the Chinese social media app faces accusations that it is beholden to the Communist Party in Beijing.
TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is Chinese, is fighting for survival in the United States with rising calls from mainly Republican lawmakers that the company should be outright banned because of its alleged links to Beijing. Insider Intelligence noted that while Twitter is not primarily a video platform, overall time spent on the platform by US adults is expected to drop this year and next year as its ranks of users decline.
"The problem is that Twitter's efforts to encourage more original videos, from Vine to Fleets, have so far been unsuccessful," Enberg said.
"Twitter owner Elon Musk's attempts to bring more video to the app, including potentially incentivizing YouTube creators to post to Twitter, will be futile at improving time spent among all US adults unless he also manages to stave off a user decline."
On January 24, M&M's, which is owned by Mars, announced it was freezing a publicity drive featuring cartoon mascots of the collared candies after the campaign was criticized as "woke" by US conservatives because of stylistic changes, such as the introduction of a purple character, a colour associated with the LGBTQ community.
M&M's announced an "indefinite pause" of the "spokescandies" and unveiled a new brand ambassador -- the popular comedian Maya Rudolph -- in a shift that was timed perfectly for grabbing public attention ahead of a splashy Super Bowl ad.
Andrew Frank, an analyst at Gartner, does not expect politically controversial ads this year, predicting brands will navigate carefully in a divided country where strident messages can backfire.
"The antidote to backlash is humour, keeping it light," Frank said. "I think they would like to deescalate all of the toxicity around culture wars and things like that."
Last year's game featured several prominent spots on the emerging cryptocurrency market, led by the then-titan FTX and its founder Samuel Bankman-Fried.
Since then, FTX has collapsed and Bankman-Fried has been indicted for fraud.
The fall of FTX and Bankman-Fried has created "an appropriate time for them to take a pause," Frank said.
Countering that loss of advertising, broadcaster Fox can count on revenues from a wider range of beer companies following the expiration of a longstanding exclusivity deal with AnheuserBusch, the owner of the Budweiser brand.
Frank expects most spots will go after "leisure spending with light-hearted messages of escapist entertainment," he said.
The aim is to "impart a sense that everything is okay and that you don't need to be so frugal about your discretionary spending."
is a
"Super Bowl Sunday" has emerged as an annual advertising extravaganza, a kind of competition among marketers that runs parallel to the American football championshipBy Omair Alavi
KARACHI
If you ever had any doubt that Pakistan wasn't a good host, then just take a look at the recent visit of Indian screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar. He was in Lahore at the invitation of the organisers of the Faiz Festival and had a session with the grandson of the legendary poet Adeel Hashmi over the weekend, however, he spoke his mind without realising that it wasn’t the time and the place. Letting him go back unharmed the next day was something only a gracious host would do because he not only broke the trust of his hosts, crossed the line but also hurt the sentiments of his audience.
What he spoke at the event might have been correct in his mind but he forgot the three simple rules of public speaking – know your audience, know your material, and know your passion. The audience at the Faiz Festival was there just to see someone from across the border and even if a mediocre Bollywood actor had been invited instead, they would have graced the venue just for a glimpse. Since he spoke about Pakistan’s inability to invite Lata Mangeshkar for a concert while being at a literature festival, he proved that he had no clue about the audience.
Moving ahead, he said that Mehdi Hasan and Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan repeatedly performed in India but forgot to mention that the first time NFAK went to India was on an invitation from veteran film actor and director Raj Kapoor, to perform at his son Rishi Kapoor’s wedding celebration. The government didn’t invite him then and later, especially when he became a world-renowned personality and performed in the West more than in the East. As for Mehdi Hassan, he was always willing to perform anywhere provided he got paid for it, and I have met people who saw him perform for merely nothing except a few hundred rupees, privately in Pakistan.
What Javed Akhtar tried to say was that Lata should have been invited to perform in Pakistan like Mehdi Hassan and Nusrat were invited in India, but the Pakistani duo went to India because there was no one like them across the border; in the case of Lata, we had her mentor Madam Noor Jehan and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for either Lata or Asha to perform in Pakistan during Mallika Tarannum’s lifetime. Noor Jehan was so popular even in
India that once veteran film actor Pran told Pakistani students that India would gladly hand over Kashmir to Pakistan only if they hand over Noor Jehan to India.
Javed Akhtar might have been hibernating in a cave when Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Jagjit Singh, Sukhbir, and even Abhijeet came to Pakistan to perform, sometimes at private functions, sometimes in a concert, and sometimes in films. It would have been great had someone told him that Sonu Nigam in fact sang two already recorded songs in a Pakistani film Salakhein two decades back before he performed in the historic concert in Karachi while Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Jaspinder Narula, Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet, and Sadhna Sargam did playback singing for Pakistani films during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Mehdi Hassan and Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan went to India because there was no one like them across the border; in the case of Lata, we had her mentor Madam Noor Jehan
Moving on to actors and actresses, many Indian actors have worked in Pakistani films and TV, including Sheila Ramani and Meena Shorey in the 1950s to Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah in the current millennium.
Besides the A-listers such as Poonam Dhillon, Vinod Khanna, Arbaaz Khan, Kirron Kher, Johhny Lever, as well as Neha Dhupia, and Kanwaljit Singh, even B-listers like Amna Sharif, Nausheen Ali Sardar, Pooja Kanwal, Shewta Tiwari, Sara Khan, Amrita Arora, Preeti Jhangiani, Deepti Gupta, Hrishitaa Bhatt, and Kim Sharma had worked across the border without any issues. Had Javed Akhtar known that it was Bollywood that sent back Pakistani actors and not the other way around, he would have kept his mouth shut. Hence proven, that he didn’t know his material and failed the second rule big time.
As for the third rule – passion – he did seem passionate enough while blaming Pakistan for everything bad that was happening in India but forgot that first Pakistan is too small compared to India and usually bigger countries create problems for the smaller ones, and not the other way around. Javed Akhtar kept blaming the host country (Pakistan) for creating problems in his country (India) when in fact, his own country was behind everything bad happening in the country where he was a guest, a visitor, and someone who was supposed to diffuse tension, not create tension. While saying that the attackers allegedly behind Mumbai attacks weren’t from Norway and Egypt, but are freely roaming in Pakistan, he must be having brain fog as he forgot that Pakistan shot down an Indian plane, but sent back the pilot named Abhinandan for the sake of humanity and even has one Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadav in custody, for spying in Pakistan. This isn’t the first time Javed Akhtar has said something completely nonsensical while in Pakistan. He has made a habit of saying his mind without realising that he usually doesn't carry the smart section when he crosses the border. There is no denial of his creative prowess but his brainless statements has made him a discourteous person. He should learn some ethics from his former writing partner Salim Khan who has never said anything controversial about Pakistan. In fact, in his first hit film since splitting with Javed Akhtar - Naam – the character that bails the hero Sanjay Dutt out of prison is shown to be a Pakistani. It would have been great had Javed Akhtar shown grace and said something that mended bridges between the two countries, instead of proving that he is just an orator, who doesn’t have research to help him out.
Javed Akhtar must thank his stars that he was sharing the stage with Adeel Hashmi who seemed to be in awe of him, and that famous Pakistani filmmaker, politician, author, and advertising guru Javed Jabbar wasn’t there in the audience to counter him. Because the last time the two met, JJ showed to the world that the writer behind Sholay, Shaan, Shakti, and Deewar wasn’t even wellversed in his country’s own history, let alone the history of the region. And yet, we keep promoting stooges from across the border when many intellectuals are still waiting to be invited to an event, in their own country.
By Bold Desk Jemima Khan, an English screenwriter and producer, has recently shared her candid views on the central theme of her forthcoming film, What's Love Got To Do
With It? In an interview with the Gulf News, Jemima Khan talked in detail about the old-age concept of arranged marriages, modern love and romantic-comedy (rom-com) films.
Sharing her opinion about rom-coms, Jemima said, "I'm ruined by romantic comedies, I feel like they have destroyed my whole life and that includes all my friends' lives too!"
Talking about the central idea behind the story of her new film, she said, "It originated from an idea that I had ten years ago when I came back from Pakistan to London at the age of thirty. I spent a lot of time reflecting on marriage after seeing many successful arranged relationships in my ex-husband's extended family, which was pretty conservative. Our marriage was only the non-arranged one," she added.
She further said, "At that time, I had a lot of friends who wanted to settle down and have children but were finding the process quite difficult. So, it really started from there. I would go up to them and say, 'Okay, so who would your parents choose for you? And if that doesn't work out, let me set up your marriage for you'. This also got me thinking, 'What if I hadn't gone to Pakistan at the age of 21 and instead had an arranged wedding?' How would I even get to the point of accepting this? How many heartaches or frogs would I have to kiss to get to the point where I would tell my parents that I've messed up and it's their time to shine now?"
"Well, I think there is a huge difference between forced marriages and assisted ones. There is no place for the first one in the modern world. Whereas you can call anything an assisted marriage. It's everywhere around us, it's basically a set-up by the ones who hold you dear and know you the best. It's not that far different from your friend setting you up with someone or a dating application. It's just a different style of courtship, helping you meet the right person,’ according to her.
Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) is not just an event, but a movement that aims to spread the joy of reading and the light of learning
By Bold Desk
Held from February 17 to 19 at Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi, the 14th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) ended on a high note last week, with a record turnout of literature lovers and art enthusiasts. The 3-day festival provided a fitting finale to a celebration of literature, art, and culture that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on all those who attended. The exciting line-up of sessions ensured that attendees did not want to miss out on any of the engaging discussions and thought-provoking conversations.
Commenting on the 14th edition of the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, Oxford University Press, Pakistan, said, “I am humbled and inspired by the overwhelming response we have received from our attendees. KLF is not just an event, but a movement that aims to spread the joy of reading and the light of learning across the country. I am grateful to all our speakers, panellists, and performers who have travelled from far and wide to be with us and inspire us with their thoughts, ideas and lively performances.”
This year’s festival commenced on an exciting note as cricket took to the stage as an opener on the final day. The session captivated the audience as the panel of distinguished speakers, including legendary cricketer Waseem Akram, Ali Khan, Ahmer Naqvi, and Hadeel Obaid, engaged in a thought-provoking discussion. Moderated by Nadeem Farooq Paracha, the session explored the intertwined relationship between cricket and Pakistan's national identity and political landscape. The session also saw the launch of two books by Wasim Akram titled “Sultan” and Ali Khan’s book whose title was of the same name as the session, ‘Cricket in Pakistan: Nation, Identity and Politics.’
During the same time another part of the venue was abuzz with intellectual stimulation as the distinguished panel session of ‘Faith and Intellect’ engaged in a riveting discussion moderated by Ghazi Salahuddin. The panel consisted of leading bankers such as Kaiser Bengali, Syed
Salim Raza, and Syed Shabbar Zaidi, who delved deep into the intersection of faith and reason as well as the role of intellect in religious practices.
The pressing issue of climate change and its impact on Pakistan was given the attention it deserved at the KLF, with the session ‘Climate Justice and Embedded Injustices.’ Moderated by Maha Husain, the panel of experts, including Ahmad Shabbar, Zoha Tunio, and Afia Salaam, explored the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address this looming crisis.
A number of sessions also took place titled ‘Untangling South Asia,’ ‘Searching for Peace and Security among Neighbours,’ and ‘Evolving Geopolitics: Impact on Pakistan’ that saw interesting discussions on the complex dynamics of the region. These sessions delved into the issues of security, economic development, and political stability, providing a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing Pakistan and the South Asian region.
One of the highlights of the day was the session called ‘From Silver Screen to Mini Screen: Goldmine of OTT Media,’ which featured Safinah Danish Elahi as the moderator and joined by panellists Faseeh Bari Khan and Sanam Saeed.
The panellists highlighted how digital streaming platforms especially OTT platforms have expanded the possibilities for content creators by providing more creative freedom and a wider audience reach. They also discussed the massive
potential that Pakistan has for new forms of storytelling and the democratization of the media industry through these platforms. Senator (R) Javed Jabbar and Shamim Ahmed, both prominent figures in Pakistan's political and
intellectual landscape, participated in a talk on ‘The Equitable Tax.’ The conversation cantered around issues related to tax reform and its potential impact on achieving economic equity and social justice.
In the session titled ‘Doosri Mulaqaat,’ renowned playwright Anwar Maqsood and his wife Imrana Maqsood sat down for a conversation with Ahmed Shah. The audience was thoroughly entertained and amused by their lively banter, which showcased their unique style of humour and storytelling. Without their presence, the KLF would have been missing a key component of its entertainment and engagement.
The session ‘Saints, Sufis and Shrines: The Mystical Landscape of Sindh’ drew special attention from the crowd as it explored the rich history and significance of Sufism and its impact on the culture and society of Sindh. The panellists discussed the role of Sufi saints, their teachings, and the significance of their shrines in Sindh.
As the evening drew nearer, a number of sessions took place involving renowned international intellectuals including Rassheedah Watts, Krisha Kops, Shehan Karunatilaka, Damon Galgut and Sinan Antoon.
The talk titled ‘Pakistan's Economy: Depth and Resilience,’ led by Samiullah Siddiqi and joined by Miftah Ismail, Akbar Zaidi, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Azfar Ahsan, explored the challenges and opportunities in Pakistan's economy. It also highlighted the potential of sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services in driving economic growth and pulling the country out of its current predicaments. The panellists discussed the investment potential in Pakistan and emphasized that with the right policies and incentives, Pakistan could become a highly attractive destination for foreign investment, creating opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
During the closing ceremony, Noori's electrifying performance left the crowd in awe. Ali Hamza and Ali Noor's memorable hits and high-energy stage presence kept the audience engaged and entertained, making it a truly unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance.
Indian poet Javed Akhtar has not only hurt Pakistani's sentiments on his recent trip to Lahore but also proved that he is a classless person