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MPTH Finale Will Not Stream On YouTube: Here’s How To Watch It Free

By
Uzair Anwer
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meray paas tum ho

Meray Paas Tum Ho has been setting one new standard after another for television serials since it started airing in August. Among the show’s notable achievements is the kind of traction it has generated on the online streaming platforms. On YouTube alone, all its episodes and related videos have crossed the 250 million views mark. The digital audience was rather upset when news broke that show’s grand finale will not be uploaded on the popular video streaming platform.

The final episode is eagerly anticipated by the show’s many fans and has become a hot topic of discussion and speculation. It will be aired on television and also screened simultaneously in theaters, whereas the digital audience will be able to catch the show on ARY’s free mobile app ARY ZAP.  With the finale not being uploaded on YouTube, many netizens voiced their dissatisfaction with the makers and broadcaster ARY Digital. Some even went as far as to accuse the makers of profiteering from the serial’s humongous popularity by not streaming it on a free popular streaming platform like YouTube.

It’s worth noting that the channel’s app, which is being given a strong marketing push through the play, is free to download and digital viewers of the play will be able to catch it with the same experience that is offered by YouTube, without any fee or payment. While a YouTube release would have gotten the episode unprecedented YouTube views, the makers and the channel have zeroed in on ARY’s own ZAP app to stream the finale.

In 2018 HUM TV’s Aangan starring Ahad Raza Mir and Sajjal Ali was also not released on YouTube to keep the television ratings soaring and also to keep the exclusivity for a future digital deal, however, the results were somewhat mixed. With Pakistani plays garnering global attention, production houses are now monitoring their digital releases in order to get a solid deal with bigger digital streaming portals such as Netflix, however, this does not seem to be the case with Meray Paas Tum Ho.

The expectations for the Humayun Saeed and Ayeza Khan starrer’s last episode are sky-high, and we will be providing you with the latest updates, as they happen!

Three Endings Have Been Shot For ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’: Here Are The Details

By
Uzair Anwer
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meray paas tum ho

Meray Paas Tum Ho is all set to create history by releasing its final episode in cinemas across the country on 25th January, with a record number of shows allotted for a television serial in Pakistan’s history.  While advance booking reports suggest a blockbuster opening for the Humayun Saeed starrer, some in the audience were left disappointed as the finale episode was postponed by a week.

While there have been all sorts of speculation regarding what the ending could be — or how it ideally should be — the makers apparently still have not zeroed in on the ending of the play. Galaxy Lollywood has learned that MPTH’s team has shot three different endings for the play, however, they are yet to decide on which should make the final cut.

We reached out to the leading man, Humayun Saeed for his comment on this and the actor confirmed the development saying; “Indeed, three different endings have been shot and we are yet to decide on the final one.” As the play has received an overwhelming response, it’s climax has become a hot subject of debate and discussion on social media.

Fans have been divided on how the finale episode should conclude. A chunk of the audience wants Danish (Humayun Saeed) to embrace his former wife, Mehwish (Ayeza Khan) while a section wants Danish to not forgive Mehwish. Fans of other cast members such as Adnan Siddiqui and Hira Mani have also expressed their desire for various possible endings. There has also been immense speculation on whether the ending should be tragic or hunky-dory.

Final word

If the ending for the play is changed from what was originally planned, it would not be the first time. Previously, Humsafar had its tragic ending changed to a happy one due to massive audience expectations and pressure. While the ending for MPTH is not finalized, we trust the writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar to surprise us once again with his compelling storytelling. The finale episode premieres this Saturday in theatres across the country along with TV screens and digital platforms.

‘Zindagi Tamasha’ Release Delayed, To Be Re-Screened For TLP And Government Representatives

By
Faisal Ali H
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zindagi tamasha

The battle over the theatrical release of Sarmad Khoosat’s socio-drama Zindagi Tamasha continued today, with the director’s father and veteran actor Irfan Khoosat filing a petition on Monday in a Lahore court against TLP, the main agitator against the film, for “unlawfully harassing pressurizing and blackmailing” the makers. Additionally, in an important move, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided today to intervene, and the film’s release is now likely to be delayed by over a week.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has now decided to have the film re-screened for board members, at which a representative of TLP and the ministry will be present. In light of this arrangement, the fringe group has decided to call off its protests against the film, scheduled for tomorrow. Reports suggest that the film will be screened only if it is approved by the representatives of TLP and the government.

https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1218883372375838721

Interestingly, despite being cleared twice already by CBFC and the provincial censor boards, the film had not been issued a censor certificate so far. That is now likely to happen in the following week, in the scenario where the film is green-lit by MOIB and TLP. In this regard, the CBFC has specifically instructed the provincial boards to delay the completion of the certification process till February. Meanwhile, legal proceedings for the petition filed by Irfan Khoosat are already underway, with the court hearing the opening arguments today. Khoosat has also fired for an injunction from the court to give an authoritative warning against the group interfering with the film’s release.

Previously, the director had drawn the Prime-minister’s attention towards what he called a ‘campaign of interference and harassment’ against his film, and later also tweeted another note to all Pakistanis where he stated that he is considering not releasing the film at all.

With the intervention of the MOIB, we hope that the controversy and intrigue behind the release of the film shall be settled soon. Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood to follow the latest developments on the release of Zindagi Tamasha!

Celebrities Rally To Support ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ In Face Of Release Uncertainty

By
Faisal Ali H
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zindagi tamasha mahira

The uncertainty over the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s upcoming film Zindagi Tamasha has escalated with the director sharing disturbing threats he has been receiving over the past week. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the Manto filmmaker said: “Getting dozens of threatening phone calls and msgs. Should I withdraw Zindagi Tamasha?” Following his open letter to the prime minister, he penned another note in the same tweet addressed to “anyone whom it may concern”, where he described the sustained campaign of threats and harassment against his film.

https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1218883372375838721

In the note, Sarmad quite emphatically stated that that people should not be allowed to “spew hate, fear, and anger in the name of religion,” and that he “did not make Zindagi Tamasha to hurt, offend or malign anyone.”

Prominent celebrities and journalists rallied to support Sarmad and the film, with many voicing their concern for protecting the voice of independent filmmakers in the country. Mahira Khan, star of the director’s hit show Humsafar tweeted “Time and again we are made to realize our power and our influence. A film (that people haven’t seen) can make some this scared.”

Star Humayun Saeed, who is witnessing a career-high with Meray Paas Tum Ho urged the government to “address this (i.e. concerns raised in Sarmad’s letter) at the earliest.”

Sanam Saeed tweeted: “Zindagi vaqai tamasha hai. All this effort to ban thought-provoking stories despite censor boards giving it the go-ahead, despite it being edited time and time again to appease sensitive sensibilities of a certain few, why?”

Journalist Mahwish Aijaz, also the writer of upcoming Yaara Vey tweeted:

Activist and journalist Beena Sarwar also rallied to Sarmad’s support, saying “This choked me up. With you Sarmad in solidarity. Stay strong. This too shall pass.”

 

With the country’s leading showbiz personalities and progressive voices echoing the sentiments of many fans of Pakistani cinema, who want to see more diversity and depth in content, Sarmad seems to have brought the issue in the public spotlight it deserves, for it to be urgently addressed by the authorities. Here’s hoping better sense prevails!

2019 In Review: 50 FTW And WTF Moments From The Year!

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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The year 2020 is over half a month old now. This provides us with an opportunity to look back at all that happened in the world of Pakistani showbiz in 2019. And a lot did happen in 2019. While some instances had us saying WTF, others could easily be called ‘for the wins’ of the year.

Here, Galaxy Lollywood takes a look back at all the major WTF and FTW moments of Pakistan’s entertainment industry from last year.

1. Showbiz heartthrobs tie the knot (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oxmlgAGIB/

Between marriages of actors like Yasir Hussain-Iqra Aziz, Hamza Ali Abbasi-Naimal Khawar, Iman Ali, Sanam Chaudhry, and Mira Sethi, producer Imran Raza Kazmi, and fashion powerhouse Ali Xeeshan, 2019 was full of celebrity marriages that kept the Instagram timelines alive and buzzing throughout the year.

2. Celebrity sweethearts break-up (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6NM6z9HaOI/

2019 gave us many unions, expected and unexpected. And it also gave us many breakups, all of them rather unexpected. Industry power couples like Amna Sheikh-Mohib Mirza separated, and so did the beloved couple Shahroze-Syra. One of the IT fashion model couples Sabeeka Imam-Husnain Laghari broke up too, as announced by Sabeeka herself. The popular on & off-screen pairing of Sarah Khan-Aagha Ali also broke up. Sheheryar Munawar got engaged to a non-celebrity and then that engagement too ended within a few months.

3. Pakistani films score big at International Film Festivals (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tu8iTh89Z/

2019 was the year when Pakistani content won big time at the international film festivals. First, it was the short film “Darling” directed by aim Sadiq which won the award for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival. Then Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha premiered at the prestigious Busan film festival in South Korea, where it won the coveted The Kim Ji-Seok award. Making the win all the more notable was the fact that prominent directors Mohsen Makhmalbaf from Iran and Huh Moon-young from South Korea were featured on the jury. Zindagi Tamasha releases nationwide on January 24.

4. Cinema Industry suffers bigtime as not enough content to screen (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuLxdB0jWGl/

Post Pulwama, Indian films got banned in Pakistan and the cinema industry has been suffering bigtime. Cinema chains all over Pakistan have reportedly been downsizing, operations have been decreased and the industry is going through a rather rough patch due to a lack of content for screening.

5. JPNA2 and ‘Teefa In Trouble’ wrap their spectacular global business (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmC8kXVBNjG/

The 2018 blockbuster movies Jawani Phir Nahin Ani 2 and Teefa In Trouble continued their successful run at the box office in 2019. Their run ended on a hugely positive note with JPNA2 making over 70 crores at the worldwide box office with TNT crossing 50 crores mark globally.

6. ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ faces legal troubles (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrF8jnblpXO/

Fans kept waiting throughout the year for any headway regarding the release of The Legend of Maula Jatt however the film’s never-ending legal saga stumbled on. The movie’s first look trailer came out in December of 2018, and a release was even planned for Eid-ul-Fitr, only to be delayed at the last minute supposedly to tie in with a more lucrative international release date. As of now, the film’s legal travails continue and a Netflix release has been rumored.

7. A plethora of projects announced for 2020 (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B37WBhpF6sm/

While 2019 saw a lot of big names missing from the big screen, 2020 seems to be a packed year where a whole lot of biggies are set to release. The last few months of the year saw many announcements being made notable among them Humayun Saeed’s next with Nadeem Baig, Fahad Mustafa-Mahira Khan Nabeel Qureshi directorial, Sarmad Khooat’s next with Saba Qamar, and many more such promising projects.

8. Crowding of film releases around Eid continues (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiUvLYFvN0/

Pakistani films tend to open well over the festive Eid period, and now literally every filmmaker with a major production wants to bank on the lucrative holidays to release their projects. 2019 served to highlight the problematic clashes with 5 of the year’s biggest films hitting over the two Eids. The number would have been higher but The Legend of Maula Jatt backed out at the last minute on Eid-ul-Fitr.

9. Film and television serial music returns to glory (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3RZnZ4AgeU/

Film soundtracks returned to the spotlight in 2019, with composer Azaan Sami Khan contributing much with two popular soundtracks for Parey Hut Love and Superstar. Tracks from the two films got much mileage on satellite television and video streaming platforms and generated a positive buzz for both the ventures. Among dramas, the OST of Do Bol and Meray Paas Tum Ho became hugely popular as well.

10. Industry disputes 2019’s highest-grossing film (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TT4SoFNP6/

The absence of a legitimate box-office tracking system continued to haunt the nascent Pakistani film world in 2019, its absence being crucially highlighted when both Superstar and Parey Hut Love claimed to be the highest grossers for the year. Despite the issue being brought to the notice of the Pakistan Film Producers’ Association as well as the government’s Ministry of Culture, no action has yet been taken and the final tally of movies remains a game of smoke and mirrors.

11. Meera makes a sensational comeback (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B50M3XGnBWp/

Meera gave the phrase ‘never say never’ an all-new meaning when following a string of duds, she made a comeback of sorts with the tinsel-town thriller Baaji. Noted for her strong performance in 90s hits Khilona and Inteha, the actress delivered a power-packed performance playing the aging former star Shameera. Baaji fared decently at the box office and Meera was back in the limelight. Besides Baaji, the actress was also noted for her special appearance in Parey Hut Love.

12. Danish Taimoor’s ‘Sirf Tum Hi Tou Ho’ turns out to be a career-low (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QthYZlCQs/

Danish Taimoor was the hot new kid in tinsel-town – once, that is. The Wrong No. star’s box office credentials sank further in 2019 with 90s director Sangeeta’s much delayed Sirf Tum Hi Tou Ho finally releasing and bombing at the box office. More than anything, we were left wondering about Danish’s wisdom in signing the project, which had sloppy production values and a non-descript cast.

13. Mehwish Hayat awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZ3JENBOeg/

Mehwish Hayat was awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for her contribution to the Pakistani entertainment industry as an artist. There is no denying the impact and stature of Mehwish as one of the top artists of the country and the government officially acknowledging that was definitely a major win.

14. Mehwish Hayat and Amir Liaqat continue their Twitter feud (WTF)

Mehwish Hayat winning the Tamgha e Imtiaz, unfortunately, made her a target of a lot of some petty industry bitching. One of the figures at the forefront of it was Amir Liaquat who criticized Mehwish multiple times on twitter, even going so far as to say he would sue her and her film Load Wedding. Their feud continued on social media with Mehwish not pulling back any punches.

15. Yasir Hussain proposes to Iqra Aziz at Lux Style Awards (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzoQY2Cl22b/

When Yasir Hussain publicly went down on his knees to propose to Iqra Aziz at the Lux Style Awards, it instantly went viral. In a country where public displays of affection can raise eye-brows, this open display of love and commitment was something to be celebrated. Despite facing some expected backlash as well, we choose to look at the positivity of the gesture instead of the alleged scheming behind it.

16. Yasir Hussain’s ‘daanedar’ comment about Hania Amir (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxaxoHpjXbu/

Speaking of distasteful behavior, Yasir Hussain made a joke about Hania Amir’s acne problem by calling it “daanedaar”, and rightfully earned criticism for joking about something that was sensitive for Hania. But when the fight continued on, that too on their social media platforms, with both sides refusing to be mature about the issue and talk it out among themselves, too many cooks ended up spoiling the broth with everyone of the social media pitching in with their hot-takes. 

17. Galaxy Lollywood crosses new benchmarks, launches new shows (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5nG5sVFNRw/

Galaxy Lollywood went through some developments as well as kept up with old traditions. The trendsetting host of the entertainment industry Momin Ali Munshi made a comeback with his very own celebrity talk show The Munshi Show on Galaxy Lollywood’s official Youtube channel. The channel also features regular movie review series under Sach Sach Review with What’s The 411 feature updating the audience about the happenings of the industry. The 5th edition of the Luxus Grand Galaxy Lollywood Awards 2019 was held and was a huge success, as always.

18. Shaan Shahid’s ‘Zarrar’ experiences endless release snags (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7WEsHzDBfu/

Shaan Shahid’s directorial Zarrar, in which he is also playing the main lead, has been in the pipeline for the last few years now, and many were anticipating to catch the film in 2019. However, that did not happen, despite the actor tweeting throughout the past year that the film’s teasers and character posters were set to be launched soon. Apparently, the Waar actor attaches a different meaning altogether to the word “soon.”

19. Armeena Khan exposes Priyanka Chopra’s Hypocrisy on Twitter (FTW)

Following India-Pakistan tensions last February, Bollywood’s Priyanka Chopra posted her now infamous ‘Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces’ (i.e. victory to India) tweet, which received a swift response from Sherdil star Armeena Khan, who highlighted Priyanka’s hypocrisy for advocating war despite being a UNICEF ambassador. And Armeena didn’t just stop there – later, she petitioned UNICEF to strip the Bollywood actress of her designation. Armeena’s tweets were instrumental in highlighting problematic postures some celebrities tend to take, and the incident further reinforced that jingoism and peace-advocacy simply don’t mix.

20. Khalil-ur-Rehman shocks with controversial statements (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4UyfgrFiNL/

Khalil Ur Rahman Qamar was in the news almost throughout the year. First for his film Kaaf Kangana that was supposed to create a clash but then got delayed, then through the controversy his statements about feminism and what it means to be an “aurat”, and then with the underlying misogyny in his hit drama Meray Paas Tum Ho. The artiste was not separated from his art and rightfully so. KRQ’s position in the industry definitely makes us question just how progressive our industry actually is. Answer – it is not as much as it deludes itself to be.

21. Quite a few celebrities blessed with newborns (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7TTsabBNJx/

The blessing of parenthood was bestowed on some newly married celebrities. Aiman Khan-Muneeb Butt had a baby a girl, Feroze Khan had a baby boy, Aisha Khan had a son. Even Atif Aslam celebrated the birth of a son. Congratulations to all of them!

22. Mohsin Abbas Haider’s wife came forward with shocking allegations(WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Jxx_xFX1l/

Mohsin Abbas Haider was embroiled in controversy when wife Fatima Sohail came forward with domestic abuse allegations. The matter became he said she said situation when both the parties placed their hands on the Quran and shared their versions of the story. The controversy resulted in Mohsin Abbas Haider being ousted from Mazaak Raat and a general ostracisation by the industry whereas Fatima Sohail made a comeback to television via acting and hosting gigs. Moreover, Moshin later made a comeback via a music video too.

23. Jami comes forth with rape claims and names Dawn’s Hameed Haroon as the alleged rapist (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6pnSD7lgP8/

Art-house film director Jami created an online stir when he claimed that a ‘prominent media tycoon’ raped him thirteen years back. Following much online speculation, he later named the alleged perpetrator as CEO of Dawn group Hameed Haroon. The Moor director complained bitterly about the media silence around his case, which he said served to prove the legitimacy of the #MeToo movement.

24. Rabi Pirzada’s private data leaks online (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4WsAhpA8ua/

Rabi Pirzada finally ended up making headlines in 2019, although not for the best reasons. The perpetual starlet-in-waiting’s private data was apparently leaked online, which generated a social media frenzy of the kind that has been rarely witnessed. Pirzada later claimed that she contacted the cyber-crime wing of FIA, however, we have yet to receive any update on any headway in solving her case.

25. Fawad Khan finally starts work on his new film and launches script competition (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6DPAKkFmDo/

Fans of Fawad Khan have been waiting since forever to watch their favorite star on the big screen. With The Legend of Maula Jatt facing its endless legal battles and Fawad not signing on to any other film, much uncertainty prevailed around the star. However, Fawad finally signed and started shooting for Money Back Guarantee in October of last year, and what’s more, he even launched a scriptwriting competition for a film he will be producing.

26. Experimental films ‘Gumm’, ‘Project Ghazi’, and ‘Durj’ bomb (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3zg3rOh0Nd/

2019 saw a few experimental films such as Gumm, Project Ghazi, and Durj hitting the big screen. The three films starred major players from the entertainment industry, however, that didn’t seem to help their sorry fate at the box office despite being well-produced productions. The only experimental film that received some box office traction was Laal Kabootar.

27. Shehryar Munawar and Maya Ali shine during promotions for ‘Parey Hut Love’ (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzqGUu4HxF_/

Sheheryar Munawar and Maya Ali made sure that their chemistry was the talk of the town while promoting their film Parey Hut Love. The beautiful couple left no chance of showing their explosive chemistry both during magazine photoshoots as well as via their candid interactions. They took their chemistry not only to different cities of Pakistan but internationally as well. They hands-down won the promotions game because the audience was eager to see the magic they were showing offscreen to be exhibited onscreen.

28. Shamoon Abbasi rails against the makers of ‘Gumm’ (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsi0u7Sha_m/

A few days after the release of his film Gumm, actor Shamoon Abbasi took to the social media to voice his allegations of mistreatment by the director-producer duo of the film Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani. Interestingly throughout the entire squabble, Sami Khan, the film’s lead chose to remain silent, and we are yet to hear whether any of the many grievances voiced were resolved.

29. Pakistani dramas score big on digital platforms (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4kT94glejO/

Whether it was Ehd-e-Wafa or the phenomenon that is Meray Paas Tum Ho, 2019 it seemed was the year when Pakistani television broke big on the digital streaming platform. We at Galaxy Lollywood had estimated that Pakistani shows were now garnering over 200 million monthly views online, which means that besides television, local productions can now look to effectively bank on the lucrative digital market as well.

30. Hamza Ali Abbasi quits acting to focus on religious activism (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B44NBjfFxSf/

Hamza Ali Abbasi posted a long video message in November where he announced that he was quitting acting to focus on a new path towards religious enlightenment. Interestingly, the Parwaaz Hai Junoon star stated that he will continue to direct and produce films and dramas, which are his passion. He subsequently launched a YouTube channel where he is yet to post any content.

31. ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ ends up being a humongous success (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Ty2ztAeJN/

A drama that both rocked and shocked the nation. Mere Paas Tum Ho pushed the boundaries of the impact a Pakistani drama can have on the audience. With every episode instantly trending and the dialogues of the show going viral, MPTH has set benchmarks and made records that would definitely be looked up to.

32. ‘Aangan’ not released on YouTube, serial flops (WTF)

https://www.facebook.com/humtvpakistan/posts/10151071507859991

One of Hum TV’s mega serials upon which the channel was counting so much on, Aangan finally aired on television after months of delay. However, the show did not get a digital release on YouTube and that contributed majorly in the show flopping. The show was just not good enough for the audience to watch on television every week and while the international audience could’ve saved the show somewhat with the YouTube views, HumTV sabotaged that chance for itself by not giving it a digital release to begin with.

33. ‘Laal Kabootar’ chosen by Pakistan’s Oscar committee for Best Foreign Picture nomination (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3WyS6FB_-1/

Laal Kabootar was 2019’s black swan, a film that came out of nowhere to receive unprecedented critical praise. The Mansha Pasha and Ahmed Ali Akbar starrer was selected by Pakistan’s Oscar selection committee to be the country’s nomination for the best foreign picture slot at the Academy Awards, a feat which undoubtedly will be a feather in the cap for debutante director Kamaal Khan.

34. ‘Kaaf Kangana’ experiences prolonged casting feuds (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nAL8UHj6r/

Turns out the casting process of Kaaf Kangana had even more over-the-top drama than the much-panned film itself. For the female lead, Sohai Ali Abro was initially signed, but the Motorcycle Girl starlet later left the production for Urwa Hocane to take over. Urwa quit the film too after a few weeks, and both these women, along with veterans Saba Hameed and Mahmood Aslam had to face the verbal wrath of director/writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, who frequently took to his preferred entertainment portal to vent his anger.

35. Mawra Hocane, Uzair Jaswal, and Rahat Fateh Ali receive their academic degrees (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmakwJIAJuK

Mawra Hocane and Uzair Jaswal successfully finished their studies at the University of London. The pictures and videos of the young graduates with their degrees and gowns definitely sent a positive message about the importance of education. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Music by Oxford University.

36. Feud between Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi drag on (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ygK-WF54r/

The court case between Ali Zafar and Meesha Shafi continued on with the social media buzzing with all developments regarding it. It was all too ugly and too much and there seems to be no end of this issue as of yet. 

37. Dating no longer taboo as celebrities open up about their personal lives (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5fLp0wFMau/

The decade ended with celebrities being more open about their dating life. It is no longer a surprise to see celebrities being in a relationship before making it official with a marriage. Whether they announced it officially or not, we saw many celebrities such as Hania Amir and Asim Azhar openly showering love and affection to their partners.

38. Hamza writes an endless note saying relationship with Naimal was ‘platonic’ (WTF)

Hamza Ali Abbasi has opinions and he loves sharing them, we all know that. But when Hamza announced his marriage with his then “platonic” friend Naimal Khawar on social media with a rambling, endless note that talked about how he was marrying to fulfill God’s commandment more than anything else, it all became a little too much. Hamza fiercely defended his relationship with Naimal by calling it anything but “dating” as it is in layman’s terms. The intentions were good but it gave rise to many jokes. 

39.  Celebrities join Youtube and become Vloggers(FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B34tX1tFzc8/

Gone are the days of lengthy Facebook posts as many celebrities turned to Youtube as a way of sharing their life and connecting with their fans. Iqra Aziz, Hania Aamir, Hina Altaf, and Yashma Gill were a few of the many celebrities who started their youtube careers this year.

40. Hamza Ali Abbasi and Naimal Khawar’s honeymoon comes under public scrutiny (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B39d78Rjqry/

Hamza Ali Abbasi and Naimal Khawar’s simple marriage was praised a lot for setting a positive example of not indulging in extravagant festivities to celebrate weddings. But when the duo decided to go on a luxurious honeymoon trip in Europe, they were criticized for being hypocritical. Going on a honeymoon is a personal choice that is not obligated by the religion so anyone can choose to spend their honeymoon, or not do it at all, as per their convenience. This scrutiny in the couple’s private affairs was definitely too uncalled for.

41. Celebrities launch their designer lines, Mikaal opens his hair-salon (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4t_WjyA69j/

Some of the popular celebrities ventured into new avenues apart from acting. The Hocane sisters Urwa and Mawra launched their own clothing line UxM. The most famous twins of the industry Aiman and Minal Khan also launched their clothing line A&M. Mikaal Zulfikaar opened up his own men’s salon Headlines.

42. Reema Khan versus Meera, version 2.0 (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7TIqo5lYAP/

Well, some things never change. Earlier in 2019, Reema Khan stated in what some interpreted was a jibe at rival Meera, that a certain prominent actress attempted to poison her during her heydays in the 90s. Later, the two divas had a physical altercation at the Lahore Press Club, which was followed by some vicious verbal barbs by Meera on her arch-rival. More to follow in 2020? We hope not.

43. Bushra Ansari and Asma Abbasi come up with hit song on India-Pakistan tensions (FTW)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IffLUlwY0AE

The dynamic sisters Bushra Ansari and Asma Abbas made a song that is a conversation between a Pakistani and an Indian woman who are neighbors. The song talks of the similarities between the two women and their way of living and is a message about how as humans we are all the same; man-made boundaries do not make us different creatures. 

44. Saboor and Saheefa’s unfunny on-set jokes (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3WZaFEAxDi/

Not everything is supposed to be shared on social media as proven by Saboor Aly and Saheefa Jabbar Khatak who posted a video about fooling around on their sets. The duo was seen laughing and making fun of an everyday laborer, which the social media awaam did not find funny. When called out for their behavior, the two quickly apologized and clarified that it was all done without malice. However, the damage was already done.

45 Celebrities embrace the 10 year challenge (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6c8sNNhLsA/

2019 marked as the end of a decade and like the whole world, Pakistani celebrities too were seen posting throwbacks to the start of the decade. It was heart-warming sightseeing various 10-year challenges of our favorite stars. The journey of a decade and all the transformations it brings surely was a good way of marking new beginnings.

46. Coke Studio Season 12 turns out to be dull, dull, dull (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mh5nyFK77/

The previous installments of Coke Studio faced some backlash so when it was announced that the man who started it all, Rohail Hayat, was coming back on the platform as a producer, expectations were bound to rise. However, the 2019 edition of Coke Studio came and left without leaving a significant mark. Plus, the copyright strikes the songs got on YouTube which got some videos removed only added to the season’s troubles.

47. Mahira Khan walks the ramp for L’Oreal (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B294_h8DT1c/

Mahira Khan is definitely the face of Pakistani entertainment industry on a global level. She has been representing Pakistani positively at an international stage for a while now. Another feather added to her hat of achievement was when she walked as a global brand ambassador for L’Oreal at the Pakistan Fashion Week, making her the first Pakistani to do so.

48. Firdous Jamal ends up being banned by Hum TV following controversial comments (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0nl8zGBz-g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Firdous Jamal’s ageist remarks about Mahira Khan earned him backlash, and rightfully so. The veteran actor was called out for having a regressive mindset especially considering Mahira’s stature in the industry. But when Momina Duraid, head of one of the biggest channels and production houses of the industry as well as a very close person to Mahira Khan, announced that Firdous Jamal would be “banned” from ever working with any project by her, things took a turn for worse. Many questioned the decision and even expressed their concerns about Mahira because it came across as using her clout to take revenge. There are better ways of handling these situations and may the new decade teach the industry that.

49. Mehwish Hayat speaks up about villainization of Muslims (FTW)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZbR_7Hv0c/

Mehwish Hayat used her voice, especially after being bestowed the Tamgha, to speak about the gross villainization of Pakistan at the hands of Bollywood. The years of showing Pakistan in a negative light in Bollywood movies contributes much to the negativity and bitterness between the two countries and also adds to the war drum-beating on the Indian side. It was about time someone spoke up about it and we are glad Mehwish did so, not just on her Twitter but also on a reputed platform like BBC.

50. Stars shock with ‘bold’ statements (WTF)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7JVpk_FdEt/

Various morning shows and talk shows were successful in creating controversies. In the guise of giving “bold answers” and being undiplomatically honest, some celebrities made statements that earned them severe backlash. The highlights were Firdous Jamal’s ageist remarks against Mahira, Nadia Khan not considering Mahira Khan and Mehwish Hayat as actors, Sadaf Kanwal’s remarks about Mansha Pasha, and Hina Altaf’s comments calling Muneeb Butt a bad actor. The behavior exhibited was not in good taste.

 

Zindagi Tamasha’s Release In Trouble: Attracts Attention Of Fringe Group

By
Faisal Ali H
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zindagi tamasha

The release of Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha is just around the corner, with a nationwide rollout planned for January 24. The film, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Busan Film Festival, was originally passed by the Central Board of Film Censors and the two provincial boards earlier in 2019, but subsequently attracted attention of a far right fringe group, after which its trailer was taken down and a re-edited version uploaded in its place.

On Thursday, Sarmad wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to draw his attention towards the obstacles that being created for his film. He shared the letter on Twitter in which he stated “Like any other film, made in any part of the world, Zindagi Tamasha is a reflection of its setting. My team and I explored themes around gender constructs, class divisions and complex human experiences. There was never any intention to attack, to point fingers at or humiliate any individual or institution.”

https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1217818381149229062

In the letter, he noted that the film had been cleared by the three censor boards (2 provincial and CBFC) already, however a ‘complaint’ had been registered against him, the producer and the writer based on the content in the trailer. Following the ‘complaint,’ the film was submitted again to the three censor boards, and was cleared by all three after minor cuts. The Humsafar director vouched with “full conviction that there is nothing offensive or malicious in the film.”

The latest on the film is that the same far-right group which originally lodged the complaint has now called for a protest rally against the film days prior to its release. It should be noted that the same group had previously been involved in creating unrest throughout the country as well. According to the filmmaker, “Just a week before the film’s release, another attempt is being made by the same group to stop the release of the film and this time they are hell-bent on using pressurizing tactics.”

With the film scheduled to hit theatres in less than a week, the coming few days will be crucial towards how the government addresses this issue. Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for the latest on Zindagi Tamasha and a lot more.

Director Azfar Jafri Is Back This Year With This Grand Looking Project

By
Faisal Ali H
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azfar jafri

Azfar Jafri commanded the megaphone for two prominent projects in 2019 – the air force flick Sherdil as well as Eid-ul-Azha release Heer Maan Ja, capping his successful five-flick run at the box office. Now, he is all set to return this year with a grand animated project directed by Allahyar and The Legend of Markhor’s Uzair Zaheer Khan. The movie is expected to hit the screens this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Galaxy Lollywood, Azfar stated: “We are attempting to make what will inshallah be Pakistan’s best animated film. As with Allahyaar, I am handling the animation of this project, too.” A first look teaser from the project was released on new year’s day, which hints at an animated film with some sci-fi content revolving around robots.

Shedding more light on the film, director Uzair Zaheer Khan explained: “With this film, we are trying to raise the bar, in terms of both entertainment quality as well as the production level. We learned much through our experiences making Allahyaar, and have applied all of that on this project, through which we hope to make up for any shortcomings that were present in our previous film.” He further added that the promising animated film belongs to the “sci-fi action-adventure genre,” the name for which will be revealed soon.

With a good chunk of work having been wrapped up already, the team at 3rd World Studios is planning to release the film this summer. Following the blockbuster success of The Donkey King in late 2018, it seems the market has opened up for animated content, not just in Pakistan but internationally as well, which 3rd World Studios will surely be looking to capitalize on.

Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for the latest on this venture as well as the best of Pakistani showbiz!

Here’s How ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ And ‘Kabir Singh’ Are Both Similar Success Stories

By
Uzair Anwer
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meray paas tum ho

The hottest show of the season, Meray Paas Tum Ho is finally about to reach its conclusion, and the buzz around the show is at an all-time high. The Nadeem Baig directorial is not just the most successful drama in recent times but has also become a hot topic of discussion, especially regarding content some think promotes misogyny. The kind of brouhaha the show has managed to create over the course of its run reminds one of masala-flick Kabir Singh that sparked a similar conversation across the border. Beyond the kind of buzz both the projects have generated, there are interestingly even more parallels, and here we take a detailed look. 

The similarities

Kabir Singh featured a not-so-hot cast but stunned with its theatrical business in its domestic market, grossing about 250 crores. While it received an overwhelming endorsement from the masses, it polarized the critics and media alike since the film’s heroine is shown to be treated rather harshly by the male lead. Be it the infamous slap scene or the extremely possessive and entitled behavior of the male protagonist towards his girlfriend, the film received its fair share of criticism from prominent Bollywood critics such. Even the online community on various social media platforms voiced its concerns about the toxic content of the film.

Meray Paas Tum Ho too is an extraordinary success, earning TRPs that are the highest in Pakistani television’s history. Like Kabir Singh, it too has received backlash regarding its content from a certain section of viewers and entertainment commentators despite breaking TRPs with literally every episode. The drama’s take on gender relationships and its alleged advocacy patriarchy has come under much scrutiny and has been seen some prominent media personnel to be stereotypical, even though the show packages it in an intriguing storyline and top-notch production values.

AYezaDepiction of women

Meray Paas Tum Ho has faced some flak for lacking nuance and is seen by some to be one dimensional in depicting its characters. It is narrated through the lens of Danish’s character, and his wife Mehwish played by Ayeza Khan is shown as a gold-digger who leaves her family for a wealthy man. Although Ayeza’s understated and nuanced performance saved Mehwish’s character from being a caricature, the role on paper seems to be dark and has few redeeming qualities. On the other hand, Kabir Singh has been panned by naysayers due to its depiction of violence and abuse towards women as being a legitimate part of romance. The fact that the male protagonist raises his hand on his lady love in the name of affection has been seen as highly problematic.

Both these projects have their infamous slap scenes. In Kabir Singh, Preeti, the female protagonist gets slapped in the name of love. In Meray Paas Tum Ho Mehwish is slapped by Shehwar’s wife essayed by the veteran actress Savera Nadeem for her extra-marital affair with the latter’s husband. The question arises — Why was Shehwar spared the slapping ordeal? Is only the female character involved to blame? These are the questions that the writer has brought to the forefront. 

Writers share similar controversies

Interestingly at the time of the Bollywood film’s release and MPTH’s telecast, the writers of both these projects got involved in heated controversies due to their misogynist remarks. Sandeep Vanga (writer of Kabir Singh) was bashed by feminists for stating on record that if a man can’t hit his girlfriend in a relationship, it’s not love. Similarly, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar irked a large section of the media and audience for ridiculing industry’s respectable female personalities such as Saba Hamid and Urwa Hocane and also made comments where he stated that women should “rape” men, too, since it’s in male psyche to be entitled to women.

Despite receiving criticism, the writing has been the biggest asset of both the projects. Writers Sandeep Vanga and Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar have penned down compelling scripts with well etched out characters and dialogues which have worked well with the audience. Some of the dialogues have become mired in controversy, though.

Meray Paas Tum Ho’s “Do Takkay Ki Aurat” line was thrashed by progressive online commentators and critics for being derogatory towards women. Similarity Kabir Singh has a monologue by male lead Shahid Kapoor in which he warns his on-screen girlfriend’s classmates to stay away from her as she is his “property”. Interestingly, the tone of both scripts is in sync with the off-screen statements of the writers. That doesn’t come as a surprise since the writer of Kabir Singh stated that the film is based on his experiences. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar has also stated that the character of Roomi is drawn from his life.

The two projects also have to their credit some popular music, with MPTH’s title track being all the rage these days.

Final Verdict

While some comparisons can be drawn between the two projects, it’s fair to say that Meray Paas Tum Ho is relatively more subtle when it comes to controversial content compared to the heavy-handed treatment of Kabir Singh. MPTH’s writer has stated that the play draws some influences from his own life whereas Kabir Singh was a fictional story and a remake of a South Indian film Arjun Reddy, hence it could have been handled with more sensitivity. 

Both these highly successful ventures started a debate in their respective countries and received polarizing views for content. With the last episode of Meray Paas Tum Ho coming out in a few days, we hope that the conclusion of the script allays some of the concerns that have been raised about the play.

Saba Qamar Has Signed Her Next Film And Here Are All The Details!

By
Maisooma Batool
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Saba Qamar

2020 has officially started. And that means all eyes are turned on all the movies that have been announced for this year, and there are many. But apart from those films which are already in production, new projects are also being announced. Like this new film that stars Saba Qamar as a lead!

The details

Saba Qamar posted a snippet of a film’s script on her Instagram story which made us reach out to her to find about this new project. Saba confirmed that she has signed on a new film and she shared her excitement with us about the project. She talked about how the film is a complete mass entertainer with lots of commercial elements in it. From the sound of it, it looks like this film will be a different genre than that of Saba’s other 2020 release Kamli.

We had previously reported about Bilal Ashraf being in talks with Hassan Zia for a project but back then, nothing was confirmed. Turns out this is the very same film of which Saba is now a confirmed part. The film is being produced by Jamil Baig and Hassan Zia under the banners of JB Films & Mastermind Films. However, Bilal Ashraf’s involvement in the film is not officially confirmed yet. It is yet to be announced whether he or some other actor altogether, will sign on to the film as a leading hero.

The script which is penned by Mohsin Ali is not of the run of the mill variety. In fact, sources close to the project informed us that the film will be somewhat hatkay. Handling the megaphone is director Saqib Khan who has several advertisements and documentaries to his credit and runs a company by the name of Hazaar Dastaan Films.

Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for all updates related to this project!

Mere Paas Tum Ho Gets A 2 Hour Finale Which Will Be Screened In Cinemas!

By
Uzair Anwer
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MPTH

Mere Paas Tum Ho is undoubtedly the biggest blockbuster of the past few years when it comes to television serials. The craze for this Nadeem Baig directorial has hit the roof with every episode garnering more viewership than the previous one, both on television as well as digital platforms. Now the MPTH team has decided to add another feather in its cap. Hear this: The finale episode of the Humayun Saeed starrer will be screened in cinemas across the nation. 

Theatrical extravaganza

The finale episode is set to be a real treat for fans of the show as it will be a double episode as revealed by the makers. The episode will bring the star-studded cast boasting of big names such as Humayun Saeed, Ayeza Khan, Adnan Siddiqui, Hira Mani, and Savera Nadeem to the big-screen for viewers to enjoy the show in true cinematic glory. The dialogues and situations that have been penned by renowned writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar are said to be truly worthy of the silver screen experience.

The screenings will be held across the country next week on Saturday (25th January). While unusual, this is not the first time that a Pakistani drama will be screened in theaters. In 2012 the Turkish Drama, Ishq-e-Memnun which broke the rating record and became a household favorite was the first play to get its finale episode a theatrical screening, although that was limited to one theatre in Lahore.

In 2014, another drama penned by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, Pyaray Afzal starring Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ayeza Khan, Sohai Ali Abro and Sana Javed had its last episode run across theaters in the major cities, such as Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. 

However, MPTH is going to be screened on an even larger scale and more screens. ARY Digital has decided to screen the finale in all the major cinemas in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad from 8 pm-10 pm. The cast of MPTH will also attend a special screening of the show at Nueplex cinemas in Karachi, with notable members of the showbiz fraternity said to be in attendance. 

Final word

This is surely great news for the fans of the hit show and cinema lovers as well who will get to see a gripping finale episode of the most talked-about drama in the country on the big screen. With still over a week to go, we are sure the wait will be worth the while. 

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