It’s Time We Announce Eid As A National Film Release Day!

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February 12, 2020

In 2007, Shoaib Mansoor released his debut film Khuda Kay Liye which brought back the audiences to Pakistani cinema. The film released on 7th July 2007, which surprise, was not Eid but shockingly that film turned out to be the biggest money-spinner since 1998’s Choorian. 4 years later another landmark for Pakistani cinema came out in the form of Bol which released on 24th June 2011 and clocked a grand total of around 12 crores despite not releasing on Eid.

Shocked? There’s more. Another wake-up jolt to the industry was delivered 2 years ago in the form of Teefa in Trouble which managed to gross well over 30 crores despite not releasing on Eid. The question here remains for all stalwarts of our industry that how did these movies even work since they were not Eid releases? Forget for now the fact that they were all blockbusters for their times!

The perfect date?

Over the years we have seen every production house in Pakistan prefers to lock the Eid release date before anything else, even the script, is finalized. Audience and exhibitors crave good movies all throughout the year, but the situation is such that cinemas have had to rely on television dramas during the rest of the year to earn some money. And when they turn out to take a monstrous opening, as witnessed for Meray Paas Tum Ho’s finale, it is nothing short of an embarrassment for the film industry which wants to adhere quite maniacally to its Eid-release mantra.

While it makes sense for weak content and filmmakers to take advantage of the holiday period, filmmakers and actors with solid box office credentials and projects with hype should have nothing to fear when it comes to releasing films on non-Eid dates. However, such is the state of affairs that no one really makes an effort to announce that they are thinking of an Eid release, it is simply to be presumed. Whether it be a recently released teaser of a film or a project which just got cleared by the censors or the big superstar’s next grand production — we take it as a given that practically all these films will come on one of the Eids this year.

Even if only one may have formally announced, we know the rest will follow like a hoard of flies to all that mithai on Eid.

The craze is contagious

Though films in Pakistan have always enjoyed a good opening on Eid, the craze on part of filmmakers to release their pet-project on the date is a somewhat recent phenomenon. Believe it or not, certain stars and filmmakers have actually marked the holiday as an exclusive release date for their projects. Why? Well, because they have always done so, year after year, so now they quite literally own it. The trend gained some prominence across the border when their stars like Salman Khan started to release films on Eid, and now even there, it’s sort of has become the default release date for many. Talk about catching the virus.

Although, Bollywood is small potatoes really given that the grand-daddy of all film industries, Hollywood is now jumping on to the Eid bandwagon, too. Guess what, Vin Diesel with Fast & Furious 9 has exclusively chosen Eid as his release date — so why are we even questioning our heroes and producers? Business decisions are more important than art because that is how it works one cannot use exceptions like Bol or Teefa in Trouble to justify non-holiday release.

Perfect solution?

Cinemas perhaps can accommodate the Eid craze by running 3 month-long extended Eid-only shows, and close the theaters during the remaining period. Given that we produce about 20-25 films every year, 10 or more films can be accommodated with ease for each holiday, even if that means a single 4 AM show for a non-starrer – I mean, hey, who cares, it’s still Eid!

We urge the Government of Pakistan that along with the national sport, national flower and national animal, a category also be created for national film kabaddi day – errr, we mean a national film-release day i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, where practically all the filmmakers can showcase their projects without getting into the usual dangal which precedes each Eid.

With the measure in place, getting your film that coveted Eid-ul-Azha slot will finally end up being less trouble than getting that darned bakra on Chand Raat.

To all our readers, looking forward to seeing you at the movies on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha! Until then Netflix and chill.

Note from the editor: In case you were wondering, this article is at least in-part satire.

Iman Ali Gets Candid About Her Long Battle With Multiple Sclerosis

By

Faisal Ali H

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February 11, 2020

While Iman Ali is oft noticed for her gift of lighting up the silver screen with her natural grace, elegance and charm, what many are not aware of is the star’s prolonged battle with a neurological ailment that in itself would be worthy of being showcased in celluloid. Initially making her presence felt in the glitzy world of fashion, Iman rose to stardom with 2007’s Khuda Kay Liye. She has been battling Multiple Sclerosis for well over a decade now and opened up about her struggle with much eloquence recently.

Telling it like it is

Baring one’s soul about debilitating personal struggles can be a challenge for most, especially when facing the camera, thus it’s all the more heartening that a major celebrity came out in the open to raise awareness for early diagnosis of the condition. “My body started to get numb during the shoot, I thought it was the usual fatigue, but the reality was something else,” revealed the Mah-e-Mir star. “It was 2006, everything was perfect, but then Multiple Sclerosis happened, and it became the biggest challenge of my life,” she added, describing her ordeal. “Not many people know what it is – It is very difficult to live with Multiple Sclerosis. Sometimes while reading a script, things start going blurry…and the fatigue doesn’t go away after even 8 hours of sleep.”

“One has to live in constant fear about how each day will pass.”

While receiving medical treatment, the actress has continued to work in select projects, appearing in films such as Bol, Mah-e-Mir and the forthcoming Tich Button. “The saddest bit is that no one has ever acknowledged that despite the condition, I never gave up.”

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressively debilitating disease for which no cure, unfortunately, exists at present, although the progression of its symptoms can be significantly managed with modern treatment. It can be a life roadblock as it has the potential to leave a person without physical mobility within a decade. That Iman has come so far battling the neurological condition while successfully managing her career, and “even getting married,” as she puts it, is something we can all truly draw strength from and appreciate.

Thought to affect about 5 in every 100,000 people in the country, MS remains tragically underdiagnosed, and Iman in the public service message urged those with any noticeable symptoms to consult a neurologist immediately, as early detection can make all the difference.

Final word

All of us in our different capacities are going through our daily struggles, however not many have the courage to bare their imperfections for the world to see. That a popular celebrity is taking up the cause for bringing more awareness to the condition is praiseworthy, and all the more inspirational given how far Iman has come battling it. Here’s wishing more power to the star, and we look forward to catching more of her in her upcoming film Tich Button!

Soch Band’s Hit Song ‘Bol Hu’ Makes Its Way To Bollywood’s ‘Malang’!

By

Uzair Anwer

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February 10, 2020

Soch has made waves with its soundtrack for Pakistani films such as Dekh Magar Pyar Se and Sherdil and it doesn’t surprise that the craze for the band’s music extends all the way across Wagah. The band’s music collaboration for Bollywood project Malang shows that even bans placed by the Indian government on Pakistani actors and musicians cannot curb Bollywood’s love affair with Pakistani musicians. Despite all the hot air blowing from the corridors of power in New Delhi, Indian filmmakers continue to woo our musicians with prestigious projects.

The movie in question, Malang, is an action thriller directed by the Aashiqui 2 fame filmmaker Mohit Suri which released last weekend. While the film opened to a mixed response, the critics and audience are all praises for the film’s musical compositions, which also feature Soch’s soul-stirring Bol Hu playing at key moments during the film. While not credited in the official soundtrack, it features quite prominently in the film and social media has been abuzz with raves from the audience for its effectiveness during the movie’s important action and emotional scenes. The song is an original composition that went viral on YouTube last year in February.

Soch comprises of Adnan Dhool and Rabi Ahmed, and the phenomenal duo collaborated with an 8-year-old, Hada Hashmi for the soulful melody. The band described this song as “a soul searching trance of belief and devotion, braving the test of time as it has within it and the strength of the universe.” About Hadia’s haunting alaap and verses in the song, the band said: “She triggered goosebumps everywhere and stole the show with her vocal mastery.”

This is not the first time that the band has lent its music to a Bollywood film. Their song Awari from Ek Villain was a chartbuster and received much airplay. Interestingly Awari also marked the supremely talented Momina Mustehsan’s foray into Indian cinema. The band bagged a prestigious award nomination from IIFA for the song.

Despite the ban on Pakistani artistes which has been in place since late 2016, Soch’s Bollywood endeavor has managed to create quite a stir across the border as is evidenced by commentary over social media. While the Indian restrictions have been near absolute since last February, previously a few other Pakistani singers and musicians have been credited for working on Bollywood films. They include Quratulain Baloch in Pink (2017), Atif Aslam for Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and the veteran Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for Simmba (2019).

Singer Aima Baig was also approached for the Indian version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss 13 but the Kalabaaz Dil fame singer politely turned down the offer. Pakistani musicians have overwhelming popularity in India and most of Mohit Suri’s films have featured music by Pakistani artistes, including his debut film Zeher which featured an uncredited remake of Iqbal Bano’s popular ghazal ‘Agar tum mil jao.’

We hope that collaborative efforts across the nations increase in near future.

Wait What? Legal Issues Resolved And ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ Finally Clear For Release!

By

Faisal Ali H

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February 9, 2020

The mother of all legal battles that was blocking the release of Pakistan’s most expensive production to date has finally been resolved. Yes, you read that right, the whole courtroom brouhaha which created headlines ever since Sarwar Bhatti of Bahoo films launched litigation against the producers of the Bilal Lashari film has finally come to an end. This latest development would pave the way for the much-anticipated The Legend Of Maula Jatt to finally hit the theaters on Eid-ul-Fitr, after a delay of almost a year.

The makers sort it out, finally

Speaking to Galaxy Lollywood, Amara Hikmat, the producer of The Legend of Maula Jatt confirmed the development and said: “With the intervention of few elders, Mr. Bhatti resolved his differences with us and extended his support in the larger interest of the film industry, and we are grateful to them.”

Meanwhile, Sarwar Bhatti, CEO of Bahoo Films and producer of the original Maula Jatt stated in an interview with EPK: “Ammara Hikmat and Bilal Lashari are like my children. Someone misguided them however all kids tend to make mistakes and therefore I am willing to put everything behind me. I am doing this for their welfare, for the revival of cinema and for giving the much-needed boost to the Pakistan film industry.”

Bhatti initiated legal proceedings in 2017 against Bilal Lashari and Amara Hikmat, makers of The Legend of Maula Jatt for alleged copyright infringement in relation to the original Maula Jatt that came out in 1979. While the modern reboot’s first look trailers have been out since late 2018, and an Eid-ul-Fitr rollout in 2019 was almost certain, Bhatti upped his litigation challenge by filing a petition last April which effectively blocked the planned release of the film. More pronouncements from the courts followed in the subsequent months, with each side claiming victory despite the film remaining stuck in the cans.

That the never-ending, heated court battle over the film has finally been concluded is music to our ears, although after years of endless anticipation, we can’t help but feel that the whole development rings a bit too good to be true. Till this Hamza Ali Abbasi, Fawad Khan, and Mahira Khan starrer finally hits the theaters, all bets are off given that this is the fickle world of showbiz that we are dealing with.

Final word

With more details about this story beyond the official public announcements still pouring in, we would like to congratulate the makers of both the 1979 original as well as TLMJ on this welcome development. The next hurdle for Amara Hikmat and Bilal Lashari will be to re-energize the publicity blitz for the film to ensure it takes the thunderous, earth-shaking opening it deserves this Eid-ul-Fitr. Interestingly though, its release window also opens the possibility of Fawad Khan facing off with another Fawad Khan venture, Money Back Guarantee. Stay tuned for more on that, and a lot more on Galaxy Lollywood!

Did Bollywood Get This ‘Thappad’ From Pakistan?

By

Hammad Akbar

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February 8, 2020

As they say, art transcends boundaries, and there have been countless instances where Bollywood artists have sought inspiration from Pakistani content and vice versa. Last year, Alia Bhatt said in an interview that she drew references from Sanam Saeed’s Kashaf in Zindagi Gulzar Hai for her role in the movie Kalank, whereas many celebs from across the border were all gaga over Pakistani serials before shock bans imposed by the Indian government in late 2016.

With tit-for-tat restriction coming from the Pakistani side as well, movies from Bollywood are all the more under the microscope given the predilection of that industry for drawing ‘inspiration’ from random uncredited sources. And as goes the popular aphorism that imitation is the best form of flattery, we couldn’t help but notice some parallels with Fahad Mustafa-Sanam Baloch starrer Kankar when a preview of the upcoming film Thappad was released. Although we have to admit, our mouths were not exactly agape given how this famous Bollywood diva too had tweeted being completely smitten by the television show. Seems like it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

Uncanny similarities?

Taking a peek at Thappad, its trailer reveals its female protagonist Amrita (played by Taapsee Pannu) leading a happy life with her husband until one day, he slaps her in front of everyone. After Amrita’s decision to file a legal complaint, she is met with the usual criticism in typical society. Amrita’s mother is afraid that her daughter will be divorced while her mother in law asks her to be more tolerant. Depicting the prevalent social norms that treat abuse of women casually, the trailer also has a disturbing clip where a male character says ‘When you are truly in love, a little bit slapping is an expression of love.’

Now, coming to Kankar, the show was aired in late 2013 with direction by Aabis Raza and a powerful script penned by celebrated writer Umera Ahmad. The serial was noted for its realistic treatment of the issue of domestic violence against women and its strong female protagonist who refuses to be intimidated despite strong social pressures. The story revolves around Sikandar (Fahad Mustafa) who falls in love with Kiran (Sanam Baloch), and the two get married. However, soon after their marriage, Sikandar is shown to be a person with anger issues as he keeps insulting Kiran’s parents and eventually starts to physically manhandle her, even slapping her blue at one instance. All this while, Kiran’s mother in law also criticizes her for being outspoken. Naturally, the relationship breaks down but Kiran’s parents blame her for ruining her marriage and do their best to convince her to go back to Sikandar, but she remains adamant about seeking a divorce.

Not just a slap

The strong-willed female lead in Thappad bears strong undertones of Sanam Baloch’s Kiran and even the punch-line of its trailer ‘Just a slap? But he can’t hit me’ is strongly reminiscent of Kankar’s many memorable dialogues. As in the show, the film too revolves around an upper middle-class set-up, whereas the female protagonist is also shown hailing from a relatively less privileged household. When faced with domestic abuse courtesy her husband, both leads are shown to be adamant about not caving in to domestic pressures and seeking justice.

Coming to Pakistani entertainment industry, the theme of domestic abuse of women is certainly not a novelty. The social issue has been extensively covered in dramas such as Zun Mureed, Yahan Pyaar Nahi Hai, Diya Jalay and Khaas as well as films such as Khilona, Khuda Ke Liye and Bol.

The question remains, will the film treat the issue with the same level of realism and sensitivity as Kankar? The verdict will be out in late February when the movie hits theaters.

Are PISA Awards 2020 An Elaborate Scam?

By

Galaxy Lollywood

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February 7, 2020

The Pakistan International Screen Awards (PISA) are scheduled to be held in Dubai today, with the purported aim of celebrating Pakistani talent from the entertainment industry internationally. The event first came into the limelight a few weeks back when celebrity shoutouts started making rounds and it seemed as the who’s who of the entertainment industry would be getting together in Dubai for what seemed to be a grand award show.

Things took a slight hiccup when the makers announced Mahira Khan as one of the performers and the actress took to her Twitter account and issued a public denial to the news that she will be performing at the ceremony. However, this was soon a thing of the past as swanky images of a private jet en route Dubai with some starlets and Farhan Saeed started making the rounds and everything seemed to be going great, but let’s just say this was the calm before the storm!

At this point, it is pertinent to mention that our founder Momin Ali Munshi too had been contacted by the event’s PR firm for coverage of the event and details of the arrangement were locked and the required information for logistical details had also been exchanged. Then, later on, due to some additional unreasonable demands by the PR firm, it became increasingly apparent the makers had other ideas up their sleeves and taking our journalistic credentials and ethics seriously we declined to serve as the show’s PR team.

Anyhow, back to the main story. Last night reports of questionable treatment started pouring in from multiple quarters in the industry with many veteran artists of the industry accusing the awards show of being a sham, with one senior actress even calling the event organizers “professional frauds.”

The skeletons started coming out of the closet, and how.

It started with Nabeel of Bulbulay fame posting on his Facebook that he had been nominated by PISA for Bulbulay and was invited to attend the award. What ended up happening was that the management team failed to fulfill their promises to Nabeel regarding his attendance due to which Nabeel said he would not be attending the awards. He called out the award for using his name to promote the show by luring in the audience under false promises. Nabeel was not the only one.

https://www.facebook.com/nabeel.zafar.98/posts/10221705663376980

His post triggered responses from other industry veterans like Bushra Ansari, Hina Dilpazeer and Nadia Afghan expressed similar stories of being mismanaged. Bushra Ansari used her stance as an industry legend and questioned the very credibility of the award shows that completely mistrust the very same seniors of the industry which they claim to support and promote. But more importantly, she questioned the desperation of her industry fellows who willingly fall for the tactics of these award shows.

“I tell the artists to avoid these professional fraud businessmen who make money with our names and sell tickets. But I don’t know why these artists run for just a trip for free as if they never traveled abroad or stayed in a hotel. They are exploiting artists and making money. They don’t pay us, why should we give them business?”

Nabeel and Hina weren’t the only ones who were meant to attend the awards and couldn’t do so because of the PISA team’s failure of providing them the promised air tickets. As more details about the highly mismanaged affair come to light, it has now emerged that Osman Khalid Butt and Ahmad Ali Akbar, leads in major films last year, as well as Usman Mukhtar, Ali Safina and filmmaker Saqib Malik were also left hanging high and dry by the organizers despite being listed as nominees.

Osman Khalid Butt took to Twitter to vent his frustrations about being at the receiving hand of the shoddy treatment, noting: “Please add Saqib Malik, Ahmed Ali and me in the list of non-influencer nominees deprived of private jet pictures. Seriously, though, the level of disrespect is astounding. None of us were gagging for a Dubai trip, all of us were kept in the dark and on standby till today.” Meanwhile, Ahmad Ali Akbar was furious at the organizers not “having the decency to answer back calls.”

Please add Saqib Malik, Ahmed Ali and me in the list of non-influencer (💔) nominees deprived of private jet pictures.
Seriously, though, the level of disrespect is astounding. None of us were gagging for a Dubai trip, all of us were kept in the dark and on standby till today.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 7, 2020

Ali Safina describing his ordeal hilariously quipped about receiving the visa for a salesperson from the event organizers. Importantly, he also pointed fingers at the showbiz fraternity for patronizing such dubious events. “It seems like any Tom, Dick and Harry can organize an awards show and all they (the artistes) need to be there is a ticket and a hotel stay to be there.”

Moreover, celebrities such as Iqra Aziz, Yasir Hussain, Asim Azhar, Hania Aamir among others whose names were used for promoting the event via shoutouts will also not be a part of the show due to mismanagement on part of the makers.

Industry insiders are also questioning the criteria for selection as some of the people present at the show don’t even have work to their credit which has raised serious doubt on the authenticity of the show.

Interestingly, there are also claims that certain nominees have been changed at the last minute, something which has raised concerns about favoritism. All of this brings into question the selection criteria for the show. One of the jury members of the show Omair Alavi took to Facebook, posting “Jab Dubai lay ja nahi saktay toh jury main rakhtay kiyon hon” meaning the journalist was also left in the lurch.

Galaxy Lollywood reached out to PISA organizers for their comments. However, no response was received till the filing of this story. As of now, the event is all set to take place as per the schedule and a lot of Pakistani celebrities such as Hira Mani, Adnan Siddiqui, Momina Mustehsan, Ali Zafar and Mahira Khan have reached Dubai for the show.

Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for more on this developing story.

”Zarrar’ Will Take Representation Of Women To Another Level’, Says Kiran Malik

By

Ozair Majeed

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February 6, 2020

Thousands aspire to be a part of the glamorous world of movies. Many come to try their luck, sadly though, not all succeed. With the revival of cinema fresh faces without any godfathers or are now getting ample opportunities to grace the silver screen. Story of model turned actress Kiran Malik making it big in the world of cinema is nothing short of an exciting plot within itself. She is just a film old, but already has a huge fan following. Malik has carved a niche for herself, there is something about her that leaves us swooning an attracted towards her. If Pinky Memsaab had viewers swept by her prodigious histrionics, Shaan Shahid’s Zarrar and Faisal Qureshi’s Money Back Guarantee seem to be the perfect vehicles to showcase her talent.

In a tête-à-tête with Galaxy Lollywood, she opens up about the response to her debut performance, her experience of working with Shaan in Zarrar, her role in the film and much more.

You are an HR consultant, model turned actress; when were you bitten by the bug of acting?

I am always keen on exploring my capabilities when it comes to create art. Acting is one of all that I can do.

Your debut film Pinky Memsaab won the audience choice award at the UK Asian Film Festival. What was your biggest take away from the film?

Pinky Memsaab became very close to my heart as it portrayed the realities of life. Also a person like me based in Dubai could relate to it to a large extent. The subject of the film also complimented my work ethic, as I prefer to be real with my art & lifestyle.

Pinky Memsaab got you a massive response. Did you anticipate it?

Yes! The response was overwhelming, and it added up to my fondness towards the script.

For someone who never planned on being an actor, what is the easiest and most difficult thing about acting?

Being an emotional person, it’s always easy for me to cry on camera (smiles). The difficult part is to find a way around patriarchy that is detected in the media industry.

You met Shaan Shahid at a café in Karachi and the next day he offered you Zarrar. Wasn’t that too filmy?

They say life imitates art, so yes definitely (laughs).

Tell us about Zarrar. What’s your role in the film?

There are a lot of dimensions to my character; I feel like my role in Zarrar will take the representation of women in Pakistani cinema to another level.

How would you describe Shaan? How is he as a person, actor and costar?

Shaan is an extremely professional person. Being on set with him made me realize, that he’s not just an actor but more like the jack of all trades.

Do you share the screen with Nadeem Baig? If yes, how was the experience?

I can’t share much about it; however, the experience of working with Nadeem Baig has been overwhelming; it was like a dream come true.

Tell us about the music and action sequences?

All I can say is, every scene of the film is thoughtful and articulate.

The million-dollar question, when is Zarrar releasing? When is the trailer coming out?

Keep your fingers crossed (smiles) it’s surely releasing this year.

How did you manage to get pass through your dialect? Are you comfortable at Urdu?

I feel like there’s a misconception that I am from UK. It isn’t true; I would like to clear that I only went there for my higher studies. I was born and brought up in Lahore; I have been a Lahori through and through. My dialect is Urdu and it’s not hard for me to manage at all.

You’ve bagged an important role in Money Back Guarantee. How did that happen?

Well, life happened! (Laughs). Money Back Guarantee will play a vital part in my acting career.

What will you be doing now by way of roles and which mediums are you open to for new assignments?

It really depends on how much I feel; the amount of work I can produce. If a particular role or medium clicks, I am up for all sorts.

‘A married woman can’t be a film heroine’. You’ve successfully managed to change this notion. Does it feel a sense of achievement?

All women in Pakistani media industry are trying to normalize the idea of a married working woman, let alone an actress. As much as it makes me feel proud and happy, it also makes me realize my privileges.

You are effortlessly balancing motherhood and work. What’s the trick?

I look forward to learn every day; to be better at striking a balance between my professional and personal life.

Tell us about your future endeavors?

For me to know and you to see; lots of wise work.

Another ‘Do Takay Ki Aurat’ Takes Center Stage With ‘Jhooti’

By

Uzair Anwer

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February 5, 2020

The much-anticipated television show Jhooti starring Iqra Aziz Hussain, Ahmed Ali Butt and Yasir Hussain finally took to the airwaves last week. The television serial had grabbed headlines earlier when its provocative teasers received flak for seemingly tone-deaf content that trivializes domestic abuse against women. Many media commentators called out the drama’s team for maligning women and justifying misogyny, putting the show in the spotlight.

Written by Ali Moeen, Jhooti is about a woman who is a compulsive liar. The serial’s pilot episode gave us a sneak peek into the world of its titular character Nirma (Iqra Aziz) who is a compulsive liar — and also an ambitious girl who would go to any extent in order to get what she wants.

Nirma dreams of a rich life and wants to live her life on her terms. The character seems to have a wicked streak, even going as far as conning her own family without an iota of guilt. Ahmed Ali Butt plays her obsessed lover who is desperate to marry her even if he has to sacrifice all his assets. The supporting cast features names such as Tauqeer Nasir, Shaista Jabeen, Asma Abbas and Madiha Rizvi.

First Impressions

From the very first scene, we get a glimpse of Nirma’s obsession to be rich and successful. She even tells her mother that it will be a sin if she dies poor. During these initial reels, we are also introduced to other important cast members, primarily the families of Nirma and Nasir (Ahmed Ali Butt) and Nirma’s friend, Samina who encourages her to be a rebel.

Nirma turns out to be quite a spoilt brat (or so the show would have us believe), as despite her middle-class upbringing we see her drinking and partying in a shady party set-up with some unpleasant camera work.

That all of this adds to the script’s overall problematic tone is unfortunate — it is surely disappointing to see how partying culture is depicted in our television plays, and Jhooti decidedly sticks to the societal stereotypes. Moreover, why does a woman who is ambitious and has dreams always have to be shown as indulging in morally compromising activities? The gender politics regarding consuming alcohol is also regressive and a tad misogynistic. With the female protagonist being the most problematic character throws any kind of relatability for the show out of the window.

Despite these glaring shortcomings, Jhooti has an engaging screenplay; the scenes are short and crisp, and the editing is sharp. Multiple location changes make the viewing experience refreshing since the narrative is not limited to the four walls of a house. The art direction also adds much to the viewing experience.

Problematic Writing

Noor Mahal famed Ali Moeen manages to write an engaging narrative that has undertones of patriarchal social commentary, reflected in some of the key dialogues. In one of the scenes Samina tells Nirma that “Agar tumhe aag lagani hai to pehle tumhe khud aag bana hoga.” This is a multi-layered dialogue which reflects several patriarchal norms, and also encourages such reprehensible behavior.

In one of the scenes Nirma is seen fretting over her cousin’s wedding, she is shown getting angry for the reason that the “ugly lady” got a good spouse. She goes on to add a few derogatory adjectives such as “Gol Muun, Pakora naak” for the lady in question. Setting beauty standards and deeming certain facial features undesirable should be a definite “no” for prime-time television.

In another scene, Samina tells Nirma that she doesn’t know how to use her beauty, in the context of wooing men for financial benefits (“Tumhe khoobsurati ko cash nahi karna aata”). These dialogues objectify women and play into the same patriarchal standards that see women being dependent on men for a better living standard.

In a confrontational between Nirma and her brother Majid, the former refuses to get married as she wants to explore different spectrums of her life, however, her brother shouts at her and taunts by saying if she wants to join modeling. Why do writers paint their own fraternity in a negative shade? This profession is still discussed with a negative connotation which is disappointing.

Performances

Iqra Aziz is actually quite good as Nirma. The actress has gotten into the skin of her character who deals with compulsive lying. The actress should be appreciated for not making this character a caricature or outright negative. Her little nuances in scenes with her friend show her vulnerable side and her insecurities. The actress lets her eyes do the talking and uses her vocal tone to express aggression and anger instead of going overboard with her expressions.

Ahmed Ali Butt makes you feel for him. The actor has layered his character with innocence and charm to curb his comic aura. He also elevates the humor element in an otherwise dramatic narrative. Veterans Asma Abbas and Shaista Jabeen bring their A-game to the forefront. Other cast members provide ample support. Yasir Hussain’s character will make an entry in the upcoming episodes, who plays a con man and will make Nirma taste the dose of her own medicine.

Final Verdict

Jhooti has a compelling screenplay but the writing has problems with misogynistic dialogues that hamper the entertainment factor of the play. It would not be surprising if Nirma’s character arc takes the same course as Meray Paas Tum Ho’s Mehwish, who also happened to be a negative gold digger through most of the show. Coming back to the play, Iqra Aziz and Ahmed Ali Butt’s performances are pretty much the redeeming factors so far.

Upcoming episodes will reveal more about Nirma’s plans and will also mark the entry of Yasir Hussain’s character, Ali, which will make the narrative exciting. We will be following the show to see how it charts its course through some misogynistic themes.

Sarmad Asks Industry and Media To Take A Stand For ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ As Film Remains Stuck

By

Maisooma Batool

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February 5, 2020

It is certainly an unfortunate state of affairs for the Pakistani film industry as one of its visionary directors has been forced to put the fate of his film in the hands of outside forces. Sarmad Khoosat’s film Zindagi Tamasha, which has already won accolades internationally, still shows no signs of getting a Pakistani release and it is all thanks to the agitation created by a certain religious party.

Zindagi Tamasha was all ready to be released in January but after the protests from Tehreek e Labaik Pakistan (TLP), the federal government had issued the notice for the delay in film’s release. Then the film was sent for review again by CBFC and The Council of Islam Ideology (CII) was invited to sit in for the film’s review. The review was meant to be held on 3^rd February and it did not end up happening.

Stuck in red tape

A source close to the film disclosed to Galaxy Lollywood that the review was delayed by the Punjab Censor Board and since then there has been a complete silence both from CII and the censor boards. On the other hand, the parties involved in the film’s review are all busy pointing fingers to each other instead of getting on with the review and announcing the film’s fate.

The CBFC says that it is waiting for the provincial censor boards to arrange their review meetings. The Punjab Censor Board says that they are awaiting the CBFC and the IIC to their conclusion. Whereas the IIC says that it has submitted a letter mentioning its four-member bench for the film’s review to the CBFC Chairman and are waiting to get their reply. The CBFC denies getting any such letter from the IIC.

This entire situation is not only absurd but is a big blow to any future voice in the Pakistani film industry who would dare to step out of the conventional storytelling mold and make films of the uncomfortable truths of the society. Sarmad Khoosat is an established director of the industry and his years of work have gotten him huge accolades not just within the country but internationally as well. He has one of the finest visions of the country that prove that Pakistan does have sensitive voices and visions that can match with the global standards of good filmmaking.

Sarmad Khoosat responds

Last time Sarmad talked about the film publicly was when he talked about the death threats he had been getting and urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take notice of the situation. Since then, Sarmad has kept silent about the film’s affairs. When we reached out to Sarmad, he maintained his silence and said that everything that has been happening is all for the public to see.

“I don’t have anything to add to the matter. Whatever that has been happening, everyone can see it. Instead of asking me for any quote, I’d rather our industry and media to stand up for this issue and make commentary about it,” stated the Manto filmmaker.

Galaxy Lollywood staunchly stands by Sarmat Khoosat and Zindagi Tamasha. We hope for the film to get it deserved released with all the respect and dignity that the film deserves. It is a complete disgrace for the official censor boards of our country to keep the fate of a film hanging in balance due to their hidden issues and agendas. Pakistan is a free country and a country’s liberty is best reflected in the freedom of its art. This tamasha has gone on for way too long than necessary now and it is high time it ends so that the Pakistani artists can be assured that this is a country where art is respected.

Alizeh Shah Allegedly Falls Victim To A Leaked Data Scandal

By

Uzair Anwer

-

January 31, 2020

Social media users went berserk over starlet-to-be Rabi Pirzada’s leaked content scandal in late 2019, which resulted in the Mujhe Ishq Hai fame bidding farewell to the media fraternity. Later, Rabi claimed to be a victim of cyber hacking.

Well, here’s more unfortunate news: Social media has been abuzz today with leaked content, allegedly belonging to none other than the Ehd-e-Wafa starlet, Alizeh Shah.

Alizeh has been much in the limelight of late, riding high over her recent success in plays such as Ehd-e-Wafa and Ishq Tamasha, with the latter also landing her a Hum award last year. She also has an active social media following on Instagram.

However, what is concerning is the manner in which the story unfolded. An entertainment portal on Twitter shared the pictures allegedly attributed to Alizeh, which supposedly show the actress getting all cozy in her personal space with rumored boyfriend Noman Sami. As usually is the case with such stories, this generated an overwhelming response on the microblogging platform with majority Twitteratis considering it a breach of privacy.

Fans criticized the media portal for attempting to damage the actress’s reputation and professional image by sharing such content, which too was unverified and somewhat dubious in nature. Meanwhile, the sanctimonious moral brigade jumped in and bashed the Kun Faya Kun famed actress for her alleged intimacy with her beau.

Over the last few years, the incidents of leaked content from celebrity’s phones have increased quite a bit, be it Meera, Mohsin Abbas Haider or Rabi Pirzada. While some actresses have managed to brave the media scrutiny they entail, others have chosen to bid adieu to showbiz altogether.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7-XZnRJtuq/?igshid=1bu660cat37bl

Meanwhile, Alizeh and Noman chose to be tight-lipped about the controversy until today when the Maa Sadqey actor posted a cryptic note about supporting his lady love through all ups and downs, to which Alizeh responded saying that she is blessed to have him. The two have never shied away from sharing their PDAs (public display of affection) on their Instagram handles.

Hopefully, this is the last we would see of such incidents as we strongly believe that celebrities like everyone else are entitled to their privacy, which their fans and the audience should fully respect. As for Alizeh and Noman, they will be seen together in Yasir Nawaz’s Mera Dil Mera Dushman.

Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for the latest on Pakistani showbiz and a lot more!