Ready Steady No (Review): An unfunny drag fest!

By

-

Movie Name: Ready Steady No

Release Date: 19th July, 2019

Director: Hisham Bin Munawar

Review by: Hassan Hassan

It’s always exciting to see films made by débutante directors for they, potentially, could bring a new vision and film-making style with them, thus bringing something fresh at the table. Just two examples of filmmakers who brought freshness to screens with their debut projects are Nabeel Qureshi, who brought socially relevant slapstick comedy with his debut film Na Maloom Afraad, and Asim Abbasi who explored impressionism and symbolism via his debut film Cake.

In Ready Steady No‘s case, the opening credit scene involving a puppetry sequence gets you intrigued, hoping that the otherwise low budget affair may have something fresh in the offering with regard to its content, however, the excitement fizzles out sooner than the carbonation in your cola drink.

What could have been another Zinda Bhaag for local cinema turns out into a sitcom/stage drama like sequences that masquerades as a cinematic affair, that too a lousy one.

The Story

The story follows Raziya (Amna Illyas) and Faisal (Faisal Saif), two middle class lovers from different Punjabi castes. Razia’s widowed father (Salman Shahid) is as reluctant to get his daughter betrothed outside his community, as Faisal’s fierce and bossy mother (Nargis Rasheed). Unwilling to give in, the couple keeps protesting, until they land on a decision to elope when all negotiations are futile.

While the basic plot depicts a redundant theme in south Asian cinema it’s always the treatment and storytelling technique that decides the ultimate fate of the film. The director shows spark at some places but unfortunately that’s not enough to ensure an entertaining watch.

An Amna Ilyas and Salman Shahid show altogether

The only thing that gives a cinematic believability and feel to the film is Ilyas’s presence. The fact that she gave a stellar performance in Saqib Malik’s masterpiece Baaji, only adds to the assertion. The film was shot a few years ago before Baaji but still, she shows maturity as an actor and effortlessly managed a wide range of emotions.

Such is the extent that, in most of the frames she manages to overpower pretty much every co-star with her pleasantly conspicuous presence. The observation could be made till the end credit shaadi number, despite it being a low scale and poorly choreographed song.

Amna Ilyas is surely the next big thing of Pakistani cinema and it’s time she gets acting jobs in films on a regular basis.

The veteran Salman Shahid shines as Ilyas’s widowed father. His comic timings are effortless and spot on. He manages to evoke some laughs despite the dialogues given to him being bland at most of the places.

The film’s main protagonist Faisal Saif, however, turns out to be the biggest disappointment. He seems unenthusiastic in scenes where energy and assertiveness is required. For example when he tries to convince his parents in the film’s start or when he confronts Razia’s father. There are hardly any variations in vocal and facial expressions, even in the extremes of the scenes and situations.

Supporting cast does what is expected of them

Like the film itself, the supporting cast offer moments of fun with their acting. The film’s cast boasts of a supporting cast of many veteran actors. Muneer Ahmed plays Detective Muneer. While he remains funny at the start, like the film itself, his scenes become dragged and repetitive to say the least. Ismail Tara, Ashraf Khan, and Nayyar Ejaz, do what is expected of them but the poor script does not allow them to give a memorable performance. Nargis Rasheed as the bossy and fearsome matriarch looks convincing with her body language and dialogue delivery.

From the new lot, Marhoom Ahmed Bilal (Billu Butt in Teefa In Trouble) as a lawyer cum grocery delivery guy deserves a special mention amongt the supporting cast. He provides a lot of fun moments and perhaps remains the most amicable supporting character in the film. Afzal Zain as the cleric is, again, funny in bits. Had he been given the lead role of Faisal, film could have been salvaged in part for its lack of chemistry between the lead couple.

Unfortunately the cast alone, isn’t able to save the film from being a disastrously boring affair.

Relevant themes let down by poor writing

The director and writer Hisham Bin Munawar has glimpses of Shoaib Mansoor’s style in his writing and direction, whom he had assisted earlier. He follows his content templates like casteism, religious bigotry, manipulating, self righteous clergy, lack of respect for artists, media vigilantism, inefficient police system etc. Similarly well infused satire and avoidance of unnecessary sex jokes gives the film a ShoMan vibe.

The themes may be brave and laudable to explore, but there are more let down moments than the ones which he excels at. Most of the times, the product turned out to be bland and half baked, thanks to poorly written dialogues and scenes, and in an attempt to sound funny the film becomes caricaturist.

Especially the unrealistic and bizarre climax sequence which aims to make the antagonists realize the fickleness of caste system is against the whole realistic tone of the film. Save for another puppet sequence, the film actually mocks viewers, and itself, in the last 20-30 minutes for being a no-brainer.

Music and Editing does not help the film

The songs and background music are just adequate and nothing to shout about. Dekho Dekho, a romantic number, does generate interest in the start though.

Apart from the poor script writing the biggest drawback in the film is its poor editing and cinematography. The are 10-15 minutes long scenes in claustrophobic settings which gives an impression of a sitcom or a stage play. You may feel as if a telefilm was unnecessarily released on cinemas. I doubt most of the viewers would maintain interest by the time the second half kicks in.

Final Word

For a new, independent director it is indeed courageous and encouraging to make a social film on a shoestring budget but at the end of the day the film is supposed to entertain and not bring boredom. Being a first time director or having a low budget doesn’t suffice to gain local viewers support/ encouragement.

Getting a good story and well written script is very much possible in a low budget. The sooner the Pakistani filmmakers, specially the aspiring ones, realize it, the better it is for the industry. The “support Pakistani cinema” slogan is wearing off and there are very few viewers left to buy it.

Verdict

Is Ready Steady No socially relevant? Yes, it does contain themes which fit the bill. Is it entertaining or bearable in cinemas as a feature film? The answer is a big NO.

Rating 1.5/5

“Har Roti Hui Aurat Sachi Nahin Hoti,” Says Mohsin Abbas Haider In His Press Conference

By

Atiqa Ali

-

July 22, 2019

The internet has been ablaze after pictures of Mohsin Abbas Haider’s bruised and battered wife, Fatema, surfaced on the internet and she accused Mohsin of subjecting her to domestic violence.

Fatema Sohail’s account of what happened has gone viral all over the social media, with support pouring in from the general public as well as the fraternity. Mahira Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, Sajal Aly, Ushna Shah, and many others have spoken up against domestic violence and directly or indirectly, expressed their disappointment in their colleague Mohsin Abbas Haider.

Witness Accounts

As the entire fraternity rallied in support for the victim of domestic abuse, it also brought to light another piece of evidence in the form of three witness testimonials that supported Fatema’s allegations.

The first of which comes from Dua Malik, who shared that she has, “seen [Mohsin] beating the shit out of his wife on the road and where not.” Dua also referred to Mohsin’s affair with Nazish Jahangir in her statement and talked about how Fatema always tried to salvage the situation and making her marriage work.

Gohar Rasheed also bore second hand witness to Mohsin’s misdeeds. He recalled that a friend of his would take Fatema to the hospital after she was beaten by Mohsin. He also said that he maintained his silence because of her wishes to try and save the marriage.

Another testimony came from budding actress, Yashma Gill, who commented on Nazish Jahangir’s character rather than Mohsin’s. She said that she had been friends with Nazish in the past and although she keeps her distance from her now, but from some of Nazish’s previous deeds, she didn’t doubt that Nazish could have a hand in ruining Fatema and Mohsin’s married life as a homewrecker.

Mohsin’s Press Conference

After all the noise on social media, Mohsin Abbas Haider finally sat down for a press conference a while ago. He begun the press conference by placing his hand on the Quran and said that his hand would be on it for as long as he was speaking and being a Syed, it would be very shameful of him to lie in such circumstances.

Mohsin explained the dynamics of his relationship with his wife by saying that the marriage was a hasty decision and that only after a few months, he and Fatema both realized that they were not mentally compatible.

He further said that Fatema had a habit of telling only one-half of the story and that he was aware of her habit and had proofs to back it up as well. He recalled that during her first pregnancy, Mohsin had received messages from Fatema’s own siblings that said the baby wasn’t Mohsin’s, thus rendering their opinion of him moot.

Mohsin that in fours years of their marriage, they had only stayed together for about a year, and that too in pockets of time, never consecutively.

He then narrated the incident from the night of 16th July, and afternoon of 17th July, where Fatima came to his house and started creating a ruckus, demanding the house be in her name. Mohsin said he left the house soon after.

Mohsin went on to recount other incidents of escalations where her family threatened him, abused him, and how this entire situation made him vary of what he now calls, “the toxic relationship.”

Allegations Denied

Mohsin denied allegations of accepting 50 lac from Fatima’s family and highlighted a lack of any proof saying so. Instead he said that he could show proofs of sending her monthly allowances, and taking care of all pregnancy bills even during their separation. He said that he never ran away from his responsibilities as the father of their child.

After giving details of his relationship with Fatema, Mohsin then shifted his attention to the charges of physical abuse. He started by saying he grew up in a female dominated family and listed off all the women in his family and how he had a good relationship with them all.

Mohsin said that the picture under question, the one with Fatema’s bruised face and hand, was from 2018 and taken after she fell off the stairs. He then invited Fatema to come to the press club or to even go to the police and submit a medical report of any recent injuries. Mohsin fleetingly mentioned that he had nail marks on his body from their recent altercation, not the other way around.

Later, Mohsin opened the floor for questions from the press. In the answer to the question where he was asked the reason behind these allegations, Mohsin stated that he had high hopes from the marriage but due to the separation, still lived a bachelor life. Their relationship had reached to the point where they were considering a divorce but after the baby, decided on a separation instead. Yet, after the situation got increasingly worse, he thought about a second marriage. Mohsin said that the entire situation stemmed from Fatema’s jealousy and her inability to let him go even then.

Mohsin said that the picture under question, the one with Fatema’s bruised face and hand, was from 2018 and taken after she fell off the stairs. He then invited Fatema to come to the press club or to even go to the police and submit a medical report of any recent injuries. Mohsin fleetingly mentioned that he had nail marks on his body from their recent altercation, not the other way around.

Conspiracy Against Mohsin

He further said that Fatima would tell tales about his life to his colleagues and ruin his chances of working with them. Mohsin then said that she was being exploited by some people and it was all a plan.

“Hum humesha aurat card he kyun kheltay hain? Har roti hui aurat sachi nahi hoti.” Mohsin went on to explain how his family had a very strong perspective of women and how they should be treated.

Mohsin explained that he was currently not on any social media platform. People are constantly trying to hack his Instagram and that his Facebook password was known to his wife.

When Nazish Jahangir’s, Mohsin’s alleged girlfriend, name came up, Mohsin said that it was a different allegation andthat Nazish was a mutual colleague. He also provided an alibi for the allegation that he had been with Nazish at the time of his child’s birth.

“Izzatain uchalnay ka riwaj khuda ki qasam main ne nahi seekha”, he said that Fatema brought their matters to the world and he would never do that. He said time and again that he was not here for her character assassination, that she was a good woman but they weren’t compatible.

“Unhon ne keechar uchala hai. Main un ke haath dhulwanay aya hoon.” said Mohsin.

When a reporter asked about his famously violent anger fits and how they affected Fatema, he simply said that he had become a lot calmer now, but there had been some verbal sparring when he caught her in her lies.

The press conference ended with the admission that there was nothing left between the two and they would be, undoubtedly, heading towards a divorce now.

Final Word

We have brought you both sides of the story. While we are in no position to pass any judgement on who is right and who is wrong, we strongly condemn vile actions like domestic violence. No amount of anger or toxicity justifies physical abuse, in any situation. We sincerely hope this situation concludes with the victim getting justice and the abuser getting due punishment.

Wife Of Mohsin Abbas Haider Comes Forth With Shocking Domestic Violence Allegations!

By

Maisooma Batool

-

July 21, 2019

In today’s day and age, the power of social media cannot be denied by any individual. In terms of the entertainment industry, it has made stars out of ordinary people and also exposed the ugly truth beneath the glamorous image that these stars have adopted for themselves. The latest celebrity to be exposed of allegedly exhibiting abusive behavior is Mohsin Abbas Haider, and the accuser is none other than his own wife, Fatema Sohail.

In a public Facebook post made by Fatema, she has accused her husband of subjecting her to domestic violence.

Harrowing accounts of domestic violence

Fatima has given a detailed account of the two instances when her husband, Mohsin Abbas Haider, subjected her to domestic violence which included physically abuse i.e. beating her while she was pregnant.

According to Fatima, she caught Mohsin cheating on her on 26^th November 2018 to which Mohsin reacted physically beating her instead of being embarrassed. Fatima writes that Mohsin, “pulled me from the hair, dragged me on [the] floor, kicked me several times, punched me on the face, and threw me on the wall.” She was pregnant at the time of this incident and the violence led her to become hospitalized.

She further writes that her child was unharmed by the violence, but burdened by societal pressure as well as her lack of confidence, she chose to not report the incident and instead gave her marriage another chance.

Serious allegations of cheating

Then on 20^th May 2019 she was rushed to the hospital for her delivery and writes that while she was in the hospital going through an operation due to complications, Mohsin was in Karachi “sleeping with his GF”.

Fatema even names this girlfriend as Nazish Jehangir, who is an emerging model and actress. Fatima claims that Mohsin visited her two days after the birth of their son and only stayed to click pictures with him for his social media and did not check after his wife or son’s well-being.

The second incidence of violence happened on 17^th July 2019 when Fatema went up to him to take responsibility for their son which led to Mohsin beating her again. Fatema says that it was after this that she decided to take a stand and posted the details of the incidents. With her Facebook post, she attached pictures of her bruised face and hand, as well as a copy of the official complaint she has registered against her husband.

We reached out to Mohsin Abbas Haider for a comment and the actor stated that he will soon share his side of the story via a press conference. Watch out for this space for all the developments in this case.

Here’s How ‘Ishq Zahe Naseeb’ Is Portraying A Difficult Subject Flawlessly

By

Amna Zubair

-

July 18, 2019

It won’t be wrong to say that Pakistani dramas have started shedding light on some of the lesser-discussed, taboo issues in our society, but this new Pakistani drama is a venture on a whole new subject. ‘Ishq Zahe Naseeb’ is based on an issue that a lot don’t have a clue about, especially in a country like Pakistan.

It’s not jaadu, it’s an illness

We are talking about the new Farooq Rind directorial, ‘Ishq Zahe Naseeb’. A topic that revolves around, something that has never been touched upon in dramas, the psychological issue of a split personality. Zahid Ahmad plays the role of Sameer who suffers from this disorder and becomes Sameera sometimes, due to his split personality.

Since this drama has started airing, it is seen that only Sameer’s step mother and a house helper know about his issue. Apparently his disorder has taken over his mind to such an extent, that it even leads to the death of a girl who gets engaged to him, leaving Sameer/Sameera alone and more vulnerable.

Split personality disorder is not recognized by most people, especially in our country where people would refer to it as attention seeking, black magic or more conveniently, a jinn ka saya. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist and causes for such behaviour. Making a whole drama serial on this issue was risky in itself, but the support and love this drama is getting is proof that changes are taking place in our society. People are much more open to such topics now, which is great and does its part in creating mental health awareness too.

Zahid’s responsibility to Sameer and Sameera

Even though doing justice to both aspects of his role can be a big challenge for Zahid, so far he’s doing a great job. Both, Sameer and Sameera, are portrayed by him flawlessly – from his expressions to wardrobe – everything is on point. For his role as Sameer, who is a feudal lord, he has to show masculinity and influence. For Sameera, however, he is bound to illustrate feminism in his speech, expressions and body language.

The contrast in both the characters and how effortlessly Zahid is pulling them off is great. We’re just hoping he stays true to both his characters, especially to when he turns into Sameera, so that audiences feel the impact of the illness that he is dealing with. It is important for it to come across how Sameer sees himself when he transitions into Sameera. The drama also shows us Sami Khan’s and Sonia Hussain’s love story on one side, but how Soniya and Zahid come to meet is still to be seen.

All in all, an amazing new story line with a never-before-seen character, ‘Ishq Zahe Naseeb’ is sure to make more headlines, and for this reason it should be on everyone’s watch list right now.

10 Celebrity Brothers We Really Want To See On Screen

By

Uzair Anwer

-

July 17, 2019

There’s always excitement surrounding a celebrity’s family members. The fans and general audiences are always intrigued and curious to know how the sibling fares in comparison with their established family members. In recent years, we have seen a crop of new faces in the industry who are doing well for themselves, however, we wanted to shortlist some of the most anticipated celebrity brothers we can’t wait to see on television or film!

Abdullah Javed

Abdullah caught the internet’s attention on his sister Sana Javed’s birthday. The actress posted pictures with her brother and her Instagram followers went berserk over Abdullah’s looks. Abdullah is a model and thanks to his public mention a few of his photoshoots also went viral. We think Abdullah has it in him to make it big in the world of glitz and glamour.

Adnan Raza Mir

The youngest member of the Mir clan, Adnan, is a face to watch out for. His father Asif Raza Mir and brother Ahad have always been appreciated for their craft and good looks. Guess the Mir family might get lucky the third time as well. Adnan also shares a good rapport with to-be sister-in-law, Sajal Aly. He also often posts pictures of his brother and himself on social media.

Afnan Qureshi

Maya Ali recently experienced a double whammy; the actress got to celebrate her brother’s wedding and also got a blockbuster like ‘Teefa In Trouble’ in her bag. When her brother, Afnan Qureshi, got married, his wedding pictures came forth and he gathered a lot of fans. Afnan can be venturing into films and TV, and if he does, we’re all here for it.

Ali Syed

Sajal and Saboor Aly’s 20-year-old brother, Ali Syed, is the closest to both his sisters. He made his morning show debut on Sanam Jung’s morning show a while back and also showcased his acting chops by performing a skit with Sajal. We surely think he can polish his skills further and get ready to be in the race of being the next big thing in Lollywood or even the television industry!

Danyal Zafar

Of Bekhabar fame, Danyal Zafar is Ali Zafar’s youngest brother who debuted on Coke Studio 10 opposite Momina Mustehsan. Before his singing debut, Danyal became a known face thanks to his Sprite ads. Danyal has been working on his single EK Aur Ek 3 but we can’t wait to see him acting in films and television serials. We heard Ali Zafar is making ‘Teefa In Trouble 2′, how about a fresh character for Danyal in the film?

Haider Mustehsan

Momina is already famous for her melodious voice and her ravishing looks, but little did we know it’s in the genes. Momina’s younger brother, Haider Mustehsan, became the talk of the town when his Instagram pictures went viral and Haider had his first media exposure. Haider is a musician and has spent most of his life in the U.S. With those looks, he has it in him to be the next kid on the block.

Hissaan Khan

The reigning queen of Lollywood, Mahira Khan, is a dream lady for many. While we know her son to be the only man in her life, that isn’t true. There’s also her brother, Hassaan, whom we know very little about. Hassaan is a journalist, and also the creative force behind Mashion and HEF clothing, which means he’s super clever. Even if he isn’t aware, he has his sister to root for him and pave the way for a great acting career. Mahira describes him as the turtle from Finding Nemo and Lip from Shameless.

Ins-e-Yazdaan

The Hocane sisters always call their iklauta bhai (only brother) the apple of their eyes. Ins-e-Yazdaar recently got married to a friend of his in a fancy ceremony. Yazdaar is a private person but we’ve heard he has a knack for acting. Surrounded by celebrity sisters, Mawra and Urwa, and brother in law, Farhan Saeed; Yazdaar surely must know the rules of the game. In fact, he even appeared for a cameo on ‘Udaari’ but we want to see more.

Manoucheher Munawar

Manoucheher, the younger brother of Shehryar Munawar, is fortunately blessed with the same dapper looks like that of his elder brother. Manoucheher is a banker and a philanthropist, and on top of that, he’s pretty creative. He surely has an actor or an artist hidden in him, which we can’t wait to explore. Now that the Munawar tribe has a home production company, Manoucheher doesn’t even have to go too far.

Shahbaz Abbas

Bilal often terms Shahbaz as his partner in crime and the sibling he is closest to. Bilal has made a name for himself in a short period and we are rooting for his younger brother, Shahbaz to join the fraternity soon as well. We are sure Shahbaz, who’s in his early 20s, will be a talent to look out for. After all, it runs in the family.

Galaxy Lollywood in no way endorses nepotism but believes in supporting talents which have the potential and the ability to entertain us.

5 Jodis We Want To See Together On Our Televisions Again!

By

Kahkshaan Ismail

-

July 17, 2019

All television shows today have pairings between actors but some Pakistani actors are just too hard to forget. Due to their on-screen persona and chemistry, the couples usually get etched in our minds.

Some actors naturally share great on-screen chemistry and when they do, there are fireworks. Here’s our list of a few lovable jodis we’ve had in the past whom we wish would work together in dramas again:

Fawad Khan – Mahira Khan

The much-loved pair of Fawad and Mahira Khan debuted together on the much-acclaimed show, ‘Humsafar’, back in 2012. The duo became an instant hit and have been seen numerous times together either in advertisements, photo shoots or on the ramp. While they were all set to make their silver screen debut in ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, the film was delayed. I, for one, really want to see them together on television, in a romantic drama, once more.

Farhan Saeed – Urwa Hocane

The real life couple have starred together in two popular dramas namely, ‘Mere Ajnabi’ and ‘Udaari’, and have managed to deliver stellar performances both times. Their crackling chemistry has proved to be a hit with the masses as they went on to appear in various music videos, photo shoots, advertisements. They, too, have walked the ramp together and wowed audiences. Late last year, there was news of Urwa and Farhan coming together for the film, ‘Tich Button’, but sadly they do not star opposite each other. Guess we’ll have to wait a little more to see this duo together.

Osman Khalid Butt – Maya Ali

Even though Obi and Maya have starred in four dramas together namely, ‘Aik Nayee Cinderella’, ‘Aunn Zara’, ‘Diyar-e-Dil’, and ‘Sanam’, they are arguably one of the couples the audiences want to see time and again. Lovingly called “Osmaya” the couple share a camaraderie like no other whether they attend talk shows together, become show stoppers for fashion shows or even in their personal capacity, when they support and shower love and praise towards each other. They manage to win hearts, yes, even ours.

Imran Abbas – Sanam Jung

Sanam Jung made her debut opposite Imran Abbas in ‘Dil-e-Muztar‘ which turned her into a household name. Due to their much-loved chemistry in ‘Dil-e-Muztar’, Imran and Sanam went on to star in ‘Alvida’. Coincidentally, both of the dramas revolved around a similar theme of ek tarfa pyaar (one-sided love) which, I guess, kind of worked for the pair. Sanam took a break from acting after ‘Alvida’ while recently returning to the screen with a new project. On the other hand, Imran has paired up with many other actresses repeatedly, but we believe his on-screen presence with Sanam shines through and through like no other.

Hamza Ali Abbasi – Ayeza Khan

Hamza and Ayeza starred together in the romantic drama serial, ‘Pyarey Afzal’, which went on to become a huge success mainly because of the unrequited love story line shown in its rawest, purest form. Even though the dynamics between the two characters were poles apart, Afzal’s innocent nature and Farah’s selfish yet somewhat caring attitude made them a treat to watch together.

Who would you like to see together on-screen again?

Haye Dil Bechara From ‘Parey Hut Love’ Is Out And We’re Loving It

By

Uzair Anwer

-

July 16, 2019

Parey Hut Love has been in the news ever since it got announced. Be it the interesting ensemble cast, the grand production scale or the recently released trailer, the film has had the news mill abuzz. And PHL’s music album has further upped the excitement for the film. After the shaadi number Ik Pal featuring Meera in a special appearance, and the romantic track Behka Na, the latest song to be out from the film’s music album is Haye Dil Bechara.

The peppy song

Sung by Jimmy Khan and composed by Azaan Sami Khan the track opens with Sheheryar Munawar grooving to the peppy beats of the song which has been penned by Asim Raza. Sheheryar and Jimmy reunite after Baarish for ‘Ho Mann Jahan’ and take things a few notches higher this time.

The song is a total mood-lifter with Sheheryar courting attention thanks to his dancing, which makes you want to get up and start dancing alongside the actor. His wardrobe is on-point, as well as the hair. His moves and expressions really make the video noteworthy.

The choreography of the song is in-line with the music and rather interesting. Especially, the juggal-bandi between all the characters looks like a lot of fun. Moreover, the use of instruments such as guitar, piano, and drums in the music further add to the novelty of the song as does the added layers of synth music.

The set design and art direction of the video deserve a special mention. The color contrasting, the props, the art direction all make the visuals more appealing and grand thanks to which the video looks straight out of a Karan Johar film.

What doesn’t work

There is no easy way of saying this but Zara Noor Abbas’s wardrobe is just off. She is a pretty face and knows how to dance, but her wardrobe in this song is questionable. The colors in the song are neutrals where Maya, Parishay and practically everyone else is wearing golden, silver, beige dresses and then there’s Zara’s horrifying coral pink Anarkali frock. Passe!

Moreover, the number of people in the song is just overwhelming. They’ve stuffed everyone and anyone in and that makes it really difficult to point out who is who. It blurs in the important stars with the extras. Montage shots at some points make the narrative slightly confusing too.

Overall team Parey Hut Love has another winner song from the album. The film releases on Eid-ul-Azha.

Here’s the video for Haye Dil Bechara:

https://youtu.be/8g9ay6wuz34

Ali Rehman Khan Steals The Show in Addi Maar from ‘Heer Maan Ja’

By

Hassan Hassan

-

July 16, 2019

The first song from IRK’s Eid-ul-Azha film, ‘Heer Maan Ja’ has been released today featuring the main protagonist of the film, Ali Rehman, alongside Lollywood diva, Zara Sheikh. The song, Addi Maar, is performed by Sahara UK and Nindy Kaur, and its music is done by Manj Musik.

It’s a bhangra song

Addi Maar is the second collaboration between Sahara UK and IRK after the resounding success and popularity of Billo Hai from ‘Parchi’, which featured Hareem Farooq and Ali Rehman Khan alongside the rest of the film’s lead cast.

Coming to Addi Maar, the song has potential to become a hit mehndi track amongst the considerable number of Pakistani film songs released this year. The song is a bhangra number and is as catchy as its predecessor, Billo Hai, with elements like electro and hip hop infused.

Ali Rehman looks fresh

Ali Rehman Khan steals the show as far as performances are concerned. He looks fresh, energetic and pulls off Faizanuddin’s choreography effortlessly, thus oozing an infectious on-screen energy. The actor has proven time and again that apart from looking handsome he can both, act and dance. His parrot-green kurta shines and compliments his blue eyes, complexion and hair.

Zara Sheikh is a let-down

As for Zara Sheikh, while her entry scene is interesting and her presence in the song brings about a nostalgic feel especially for the audience of the 1990s and 2000s, one can’t help but notice her low energy when it comes to her dance. Dance has never been Zara’s forte even in her heydays in Lollywood so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to her old fans.

The newer audience, however, may find it difficult to digest. Her makeup, hairdo and wardrobe are other let downs which should have been given proper attention since she’s a diva from the past and she should have looked the part. After all, if Meera can look good in a ‘Parey Hut Love’ song, then why not Zara in ‘Heer Maan Ja’?

Nothing special about the dance

The steps aren’t something we haven’t seen before, and honestly, it is Ali Rehman’s presence that make them work. The visuals are, indeed, colorful and the mehndi-shaadi setting does the song justice despite it being on a smaller scale. Addi Maar as a potentially hit mehndi song would surely contribute positively to market a family entertainer like ‘Heer Maan Ja’.

With this catchy number we are keen to see what other songs have the film in store for us.

You can watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/cEpaV9AQVLM

Box Office: Weekend 3 Numbers For ‘Baaji’ Are In And She Is Not Holding Back

By

Sinwan Maryam Zahid

-

July 16, 2019

It has been three weekends since ‘Baaji’ graced the big screen. The film has been gliding easily and successfully through Pakistani cinemas, whether it was a weekday or a weekend full of cricket.

‘Baaji’ is unstoppable

‘Baaji’ has proven itself in the past few weeks. The film is packed with powerful moments conveying all the truths and hardships that come with being part of the film industry. The film gave audience a realistic look into actors’ lives, gaining even the sympathy of those who previously were not supporters of their fame, the glitz and glamor.

The film owes much of its success to strongly cut-out characters and a linear plot, with barely any disturbances other than the disappointing climax. The climax, however, isn’t something that can’t be forgiven considering how solid the movie is otherwise.

As for the numbers

We reported at the end of week 2 of ‘Baaji’ at the box office that it made Rs. 7.5 crores. Weekend 3 for the film came in and changed that, and the film is closer now to making 10 crores and becoming the sixth film this year to hit the 10 crores mark.

As week 2 ended and the film progressed into weekend 3, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the film made a combined Rs. 8.9 crores. It also became the biggest third weekend for a movie this year, proving that it is getting a consistent audience.

Here are Baaji’s estimated box office numbers till now:

Week one: Rs. 4.5 crores
Week two: Rs. 3 crores
Weekend three: 1.4 crores

Total: 8.9 crores

With two local movies releasing this weekend, let’s see what the next weekend has in store for ‘Baaji’.

Three Pakistani Comedians To Star In Punjabi Indian Film ‘Chal Mera Putt’

By

Atiqa Ali

-

July 15, 2019

After the entertainment ban between the neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan are now witnessing some more talent exchange. Three veteran comedians from Pakistan have recently appeared in a Punjabi Indian film trailer set to be released at the end of this month, and honestly, we’re delighted for them.

Pakistani actors in an Indian film

Iftikhar Thakur, Nasir Chinyoti and Akram Udaas are big names in Pakistani stand-up comedy. They have given us years of entertainment, first in stage shows and now, on various television shows such as ‘Mazaak Raat’, ‘Siasi Theatre’, ‘Khabarnaak’, etc.

While Iftikhar Thakur and Naseem Chinyoti have played comedic roles in Pakistani movies before, the Indian venture will be a first for all of them. Iftikhar Thakur sahab was also recently awarded the Husn-e-Karkardagi civil award.

About the film

The film is called ‘Chal Mera Putt’ and revolves around two friends living in the UK.
The friends are handling labor jobs and then suddenly find themselves homeless after a police raid.

This brings us to Iftikhar Thakur, who’s found posing in the middle of a square as a gold-painted moving statue. Nasir Chinyoti and Akram Udaas are also introduced as recently homeless immigrants. The four men then move into Iftikhar’s house on rent and the adventure begins.

What to expect

The main character is played my Amrinder Gill, with Simi Chahal playing his love interest. The trailer follows his story, as a newly migrated Punjabi munda trying to ‘make it’ abroad.
While he acts well, our trio of funny men outshine him.

Iftikhar, Nasir and Akram bring a liveliness to the trailer with their effortless wit and dominate the screen mostly. The three share ample screen time among themselves in the trailer and we won’t be surprised if it’s a similar case throughout the film.

Final words

Since the content ban, this trailer is a breath of fresh air for entertainment buffs on both sides of the border. Having three of our veteran comedians acting in an Indian film brings back hope of better cultural exchange between the countries as well as a step towards peaceful relations.
We wish team ‘Chal Mera Putt’ best of luck and hope to see a more fluid exchange of content and actors between India and Pakistan.