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In Defense Of Ahad And Sajal And Their Right To Privacy

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Social media was set ablaze recently when after a string of rumors and hushed whispers, Sajal Aly removed “Ahad Mir” from her Instagram handle, reverting to her maiden name, Sajal Ali. This came at a time where speculations regarding the relationship between Ahad and Sajal had been circulating for quite some time.

The Arguments Made

Given that Ahad and Sajal had inarguably been a couple that amassed a thoroughly invested fan following, both as a collective, and individually, this became fodder for conversation within the digital realm (and otherwise).

However, amongst this conversation, one argument seemed to stay consistent – an argument presented by many within the entertainment industry. All these statements revolved around how Ahad and Sajal must be left alone to heal at such a trying, testing time.

Public Vs Private Life

One can state that being public figures, their lives are open for dissection and critique. However, one must stop and ponder: is it their art that one can limit critique to, or does the relationship between the audience and star burrow so deep that personal comments must be taken in stride by these public figures?

An artist is not a criminal presented in court before a judge and jury – unless they’ve committed heinous acts, in which case, accountability is a must. However, what are we holding Ahad and Sajal accountable for?

A Need For Reflection

In a world that is becoming increasingly virtual, many of us share our personal lives on social media as well. While we may not garner massive followings, or hold the level of influence that stars do, we are all, in many ways, presenting our lives to the general public. Must we then be held accountable for every falling out? Must our moments of joy be revisited then when clouds of gloom hover over us?

Entitlement is an incredibly legitimate ordeal that many stars, and now influencers, deal with. One can argue once again that should one decide to live their lives publicly, space must be held for opinions shared on that method of living. To that, one can counter – is the bar really that low?

Can we, as a collective, not measure levels of sensitivity, and hold back judgment at low moments of those who may be giants, but are still human? Are we really that desensitized to the complexities of human emotion?

The Art And The Artist

When a couple separates and chants of the ex-wife’s name ring out in front of the ex-husband in a foreign land while he is onstage, these questions must be asked: where does art end and the artist begin? How much of the artist is owed to the audience?

Choosing Sensitivity

Perhaps, paving a path to being a more sensitive consumer of any form of art is not the worst suggestion. Empathy is a key operative tool that must be inculcated in our minds as a whole, where we do not become triggers, or causes of pain to those who are, behind the glitz and glamor, individuals, much like us.

What is your opinion on this? Let us know in the comments.

All That Happened At Humayun Saeed & Adnan Siddiqui’s ‘Cast & Crew’ Launch

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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The premises of the larger-than-life Frere Hall in Karachi lay amongst a plethora of lights on 22nd March, with vibrant, celebratory shadows cast upon the structure itself. The magnanimous commemoration seemed to be fitting of the occasion at hand – the launch of ace actors Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui’s clothing brand, Cast & Crew.

The Location

A sea of black greeted one upon arrival, with only a handful of those visible who had chosen to stray from the all-black formal theme.

A counter where one could refresh themselves with a variety of drinks framed one corner of the mingling area, and a 360° camera brilliantly lit up yet another end of the large space. This particular asset made for some splendid visual treats, as one had the pleasure of watching attendees maneuver their way through the enthralling mechanism.

A brilliantly lit J. booth ornamented one side – that doubled as a photo booth later into the night – with a pristine black carpet placed on the other end for the arrival of stars.

And arrive they did.

The Attendees

Star-studded to the core, some of the industry’s biggest names showed up in support of Cast & Crew, and to commemorate the men behind the brand as well. Huge names, such as, Bilal Abbas Khan, Feroze Khan, Hania Aamir, Fahad Mustafa, Shoaib Malik, Aijaz Aslam, Ahsan Khan, Ushna Shah, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Feroze Khan, Iqra Aziz, Mohib Mirza, HSY, Nida Yasir, Yasir Nawaz, Amir Adnan, and numerous others were in attendance. The night sky remained perfectly juxtaposed with the trail of stars that graced the black carpet.

The Black Carpet

Described by Momin Ali Munshi as a “relaxed” evening, the black carpet, albeit immersed in a flurry of activity, was, indeed, a serene experience in terms of attendees communicating with each other. However, it did seem to border on being overwhelming for Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, who not only had to oversee the entirety of the event, but also had to be ever-present for all the photo-ops.

A large chunk of the time was spent on the black carpet itself, as members of the press clicked pictures of the varying combinations of stars as they posed in front of the Cast & Crew banner. It was around 11 PM that the event within the larger seating area began, and even then, one could spot stars trickling in and out, being photographed from time to time.

Talking About Cast & Crew

With the great Anwar Maqsood speaking about the brand and the men behind it, spurts of humor were to be expected. While he wished Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui well, he joked about the “&” in their label’s name.

HSY took over as well to quiz the two superstars about clothing and the reason behind the inception of the label, and it was a testament to the camaraderie between these influential giants. Banter and philosophical musings ensued, and as a collective, the crowd welcomed “Cast & Crew” with open arms and deafening applause.

The Verdict

Celebrities with entrepreneurial minds and the creative grit to plunge into the world of business double as a welcome breath of fresh air. All elements related to Cast & Crew – from the branding, to the vision, to the line itself – have a unique, elegant, and grand feel to them, and there could not have been a better way to encapsulate the very spirit of the names behind the label. For this, and for all future prospects, one cannot help but wish Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui nothing but the absolute best.

The Case Against Ali Abbas As Zain In ARY Digital’s Angna

By
Ifrah Butt
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Even though the narrative on television has changed plenty in the past few years, and we are pleased to see diversity in content and infotainment being presented on the screens, still, there often come dramas that bring about subjects and characters that you dislike to the core, owing to their toxicity and manipulative nature. The character of Zain, in the drama serial Angna, on ARY Digital is currently one such character. Although Ali Abbas is doing a splendid job making his character convincing to the T, his character, Zain, is absolutely gruesome.

The Troubling Factor

No, Zain isn’t outright negative and he cares for his wife Eshaal, played by Rabab Hashim, but he is still a sadistic husband who makes his wife shed copious tears, all because he cannot take a stand against his mother. There is a backstory to it, and the makers are trying to bring that to the front. Perhaps, this is an issue of childhood abuse by the mother that is being highlighted through Zain’s narrative.

Zain’s obsessive obedience to his mother and his consequent harassment of his own wife isn’t really winning hearts amongst the audience, as many have spoken up against the many scenes which show Zain oppressing Eshaal and physically assaulting her only because he cannot answer back to his mother.

The Viral Clip

The clip that has recently gone viral in particular is extremely troubling. Where, on one hand, society is fighting for the rights of women, at the same time, we have drama makers and writers who insist on showcasing a husband slapping his wife out of sheer fear of, and obedience to his mother. What exactly is the lesson here?

Perhaps it’s the makers and writers who ought to be questioned, for constantly churning out toxic narratives, instead of the actors playing the character. Perhaps, there is shared accountability.

A lot of the ensuing negativity is being directed towards Ali Abbas on the internet for this one scene, but it is also important to ask why showrunners – most of them – keep churning out these tired narratives.

Poor Taste

What we fail to understand is the fact that even if the makers had to show a grown-up man obsessively controlled by his mother, showcasing abuse in a landscape where abuse is rampant was not the only way to do so. The narrative could have had a different depiction altogether. In a society where women are tormented physically for a plethora of reasons, was such an abusive depiction of a husband in good taste?

Rubina Ashraf portrays a mother who is controlling her son psychologically. His behavior is constantly admonished without any praise and that has made him subservient to his mother’s desire. He blindly follows each and every command and panics if he cannot control the situation that ensues.

Red Flags

Often, it is relatively easy to pick out negative characters on television, because they usually happen to be the ones behind all the chaos. But what about characters, that slowly and gradually poison the lives of others without coming into the limelight? Negative characters are selfish, and their selfishness seeps into the lives of others without them showing any remorse for their actions.

However, this Zain is from another breed of characters, that stay away from being the main antagonist, come across as fairly positive, but turn out to be equally manipulative, self-serving, egotistical, and uncaring because they are under constant ‘pressure’ from others. Zain has remorse; he appears to be caring and appeasing and yet, it is him who is absolutely destroying Eshaal’s life in ‘Angna’.

What do you have to say about the entire narrative? Share your opinion in the comments below.

Everything That Happened After Asim Azhar And Merub Ali Announced Their Engagement

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Asim Azhar and Merub Ali have made things official, with both the stars sharing the news of their engagement in twin posts on Instagram.

The Announcement

Both, Asim Azhar and Merub Ali, shared pictures from the engagement, where the pair were beaming with happiness. The caption read: “Shukar Alhamdulillah. With the grace of Allah Almighty and our parent’s duas, we announce our Imam Zamin – engagement. May Allah SWT and Ahlebait keep us protected and this happy forever, Aameen. Keep us in your prayers.”

Past Drama

While the model and now actress, who is debuting in Sinf e Aahan has been a part of the singing sensation’s life for quite some time, owing to the relationship shared between the families, time and again, the couple has had to provide justifications.

For instance, people within the audience were unaware of how Asim Azhar and Merub Ali know each other. This led to many believing that they might be related. Others thought they were just friends. Some even believed they had been in an official relationship all along.

Merub clarified the matter in an interview back in December that the pair were, in fact, neither siblings, cousins, nor related in any other way whatsoever. She stated that they are family friends and have known each other since they were children. Moreover, she shed light on the fact that her brother is Asim’s best friend and their mothers are best friends as well.

Further Rumors

Despite this being an incredibly joyous occasion for the couple and their families, Asim Azhar and Merub Ali have had to provide further justifications with regards to their relationship.

A tweet posted by Asim, where he shared an earlier post about a fake screenshot, doubled as another clarification.

Now, as news regarding the engagement began making the rounds, Asim reshared the tweet and stated the following:

Current Drama

Furthermore, Merub Ali has had to speak up regarding rumors, referencing a screenshot that highlighted that the couple had already gotten engaged on 27 July 2021, and are sharing the news now, with Hania Aamir also being dragged into the situation.

She took to Instagram to ask people to “refrain from spreading false [information], fake dates, and ESPECIALLY refrain from bringing other humans down” to celebrate the couple.

Undoubtedly, the entire fiasco is highly unfortunate, given that this is a time of celebration for Asim Azhar and Merub Ali. Amongst all the noise, here’s hoping that the young couple embark upon this journey with nothing but well wishes and prayers.

Dear Bushra Ansari: Haleem Pakane Wali Are Your Audience

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Oftentimes, a general belief follows the line of thought where unparalleled talent and relentless gratitude must go hand-in-hand for all those who carve a name for themselves in the fabric of mainstream society. Everyone is human, and everyone can and will make mistakes. However, it is when hints of pride begin to seep in that the entire ordeal becomes tricky – especially when one is a superstar in their own right. Such is the case with renowned, veteran actor, Bushra Ansari.

The Pitfalls Of Fame

Oftentimes, when one reaches a certain level of fame, regardless of who they are and where they come from, an innate sense of elitism finds its way into one’s orbit. This is not to assume that Bushra Ansari is an elitist – with no personal affiliation or interaction, she may as well be a remarkable human being.

However, it is when she passes comments on the very audience that stands in awe of her – that places her on a pedestal, only for her to utilize it as a stepping-stone to look down upon those who elevated her – that it becomes ever-so-slightly irksome.

The Remarks In Question

“Haleem pakate pakate koi humein criticize bhi kar leta hai.” These are the exact words that Bushra Ansari used to discuss the idea of critics on a talk show, with Naumaan Ijaz as the host. While she seems to say this in jest, and the audience erupts in laughter soon after, there is a lot to be unpacked here.

Amma rightfully shared her thoughts on the same, stating that it is these “haleem pakane waleen” who watch the dramas that Bushra Ansari stars in. For one to make their own audience the punch line of a joke is distasteful, and inherently reeks of a latent sense of classism.

In Defense Of “Haleem Pakane Wali”

After all, it is these women who labor for hours in the kitchen in a society set to turn the tide against them, who make up a large, if not the biggest chunk of the audience that engages with the kinds of dramas that are telecast. It is these women who turn on their television sets to find traces of solace as the sweat drips from their brows, immersing themselves into a reality in which they find themselves represented in one way or another. It is these women who make stars the monumental names they are, showering them with love and prayers, engaging with the content that is produced.

The statement by Bushra Ansari begets the question: can “haleem pakane wali” women not be critics? Are their opinions not as valuable as those who converse in the language of our colonizers? Are they inherently invisible, simply because they have been reduced to the labor they may put into their homes?

To say that this is problematic would perhaps be an understatement. The Pakistani woman, in all shapes and forms, has been discredited, ignored, overseen, and unheard for far too long. Why must they then have to prove themselves to be worthy of simply possessing an opinion or criticism?

Power And Accountability

It is said that with great power comes great responsibility. Perhaps, with great influence, great humility must come alongside as well. While Bushra Ansari can and does share her opinion often – and is welcome to do so, for truly, she has been a great source of pride for Pakistan – when that opinion hurts the sentiments of the very audience that showers love upon her, this, too, must be addressed.

Accountability comes in numerous shapes and forms, and often, when it is dodged through unnecessary means, a far greater reckoning brews over the horizon.

Here’s hoping that Bushra Ansari reciprocates the love and respect shown to her, and accommodates constructive criticism towards her by one and all, regardless of whether or not they cook haleem.

Ahad Raza Mir To Star In Netflix Series Resident Evil

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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With a refreshingly astounding wave of Pakistani actors starring in international projects, yet another superstar is ready to make their mark yet again. Everyone’s beloved Ahad Raza Mir is all geared up to make an appearance in the Netflix original series, Resident Evil, as confirmed by Variety. While details of the character are yet to be revealed, this is undoubtedly stellar news nonetheless.

The International Ahad Raza Mir 

This news comes at a time while Ahad Raza Mir is currently involved in the HUM TV project, Hum Tum, which is geared up to comprise of a comedic premise. 

However, the Parwaaz Hai Junoon, Ehd-e-Wafa, Yeh Dil Mera, and Yakeen Ka Safar (among many more) star has made a name for himself in Canada already as a theater actor, having featured in Romeo and Juliet (2014), Macbeth (2015), and Hamlet: A Ghost Story (2019). Moreover, his take on Hamlet led him to winning Canada’s Betty Mitchell Award for outstanding performance by an actor.

The Series

For those who may not follow Resident Evil yet, (but surely will, now that Ahad Raza Mir will star in it), it is a live action series based on a popular video game franchise by Capcom. 

The cast includes names such as Lance Reddick, Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, Adeline Rudolph, and Paola Nuñez.

Produced under the studio banner of Constantin Film, the series consists of Andrew Dabb wearing multiple caps as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Mary Leah Sutton is working alongside behind the scenes as the writer and executive producer as well. The CEO of Constantin Film, Martin Moszkowicz, is producing the series.

Other Projects

Keeping himself rather busy, Ahad Raza Mir is living the global icon life, co-producing a thriller film alongside Hamid Hussain, who represents him for international projects at Action Consultancy alongside Muhammad Yaqoob.

This project is set to star a renowned Pakistani actress and while all details are rather hush-hush, we can’t help but keep guessing as to who this might be. His debut production, Kalasha, is also currently filming.

Making Pakistan Proud

It is no surprise that when an actor as brilliant and talented as Ahad Raza Mir serves his nation, while also immersing himself in global projects, it doubles as a ray of positivity for Pakistan. While the superstar has won innumerable hearts back home, and has been acclaimed internationally, we look forward to seeing him continue to climb this ascending ladder of success.

Cola Next Levels Up With Esra Bilgic In An Empowering Campaign

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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Cola Next has consistently pushed the envelope when it comes to extraordinary campaigns, and it is back to deliver with a TVC that is all sorts of breathtaking, starring the inimitable and unbelievably gorgeous, Esra Bilgic.

One quick look at the TVC highlights how Cola Next is evidently celebrating women, creating an aura of empowerment in the process. Esra Bilgic is fierce and daunting as she intensely immerses herself in action sequences, radiating charm and confidence, all while looking absolutely beautiful.

With leveling up being a key motto for Cola Next, the Turkish actress is not only seen performing exhilarating antics – she is also fearlessly bold, and uninhibited – a remarkably leveled up avatar of the Esra we’ve seen in the beloved Ertugrul.

Perhaps the best part about the Cola Next TVC is when Esra Bilgic speaks in Urdu at the end, encouraging people to level up in their lives with the drink. The color red is a clear-cut motif throughout the advertisement, and makes for an inviting, hard-to-refuse offer, especially when Esra, too, is decked in red time and again.

If one were to ponder over the message the TVC is conveying to Pakistanis, that, too, becomes an excellent point of conversation. Truly, far too many of us spend our lives stuck in a routine of monotony and sameness, and perhaps, this vibrant drink is what we need to jolt ourselves awake and seize the day.

Being an authentic Pakistani brand, Cola Next truly has leveled up the quality of TVCs and set a benchmark, with its unique ideation, and brilliant concept execution.

Bringing Esra Bilgic, the “next level star” on board as the ambassador is truly a stroke of creative genius as well. The beloved Turkish actress not only fits perfectly into the action-packed TVC, but will also be able to impact the decision making power of all those Pakistanis who have already fallen head-over-heels in love with the star.

All in all, Cola Next has hit it out of the park (and box) with this advertisement that elevates the very crux of what Pakistan is, and can offer, to its own people, and the rest of the world.

Here’s Why Jo Bichar Gaye Didn’t Work Commercially Despite Its Brilliance

By
Maisooma Batool
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Jo Bichar Gaye was a stellar show. Here are some possible reasons why it may not have worked.

The year is 2022. Pakistani dramas continue to make and break records in terms of TV ratings and online viewership. Judging by the numbers that many of the mainstream dramas are raking in on a weekly basis, it would be no hyperbole to say that the global interest in Pakistani dramas has never been greater. Yet, the criticism and conversation around the content of Pakistani dramas remains the same – it is not near enough the standard that is being set by dramas being produced internationally.

The State Of Dramas

The predictable storylines that are either hinged on sensationalism or melodrama, the length of the dramas that keeps increasing unnecessarily, the overall presentation of the dramas with repeated visuals, cliched soundtracks, and a style that is just so passé; Pakistani dramas seem to be produced following a set template.

The commercial aspect of drama making has completely overshadowed the fact that drama is foremost a form of art. And art is supposed to be bold, it is supposed to be risky, it is made for the purpose of shaking its intended audience and make them introspect, to show them the truths they are unaware of; art is created for the explicit purpose of bringing a change.

Jo Bichar Gaye – The Plot

The recently concluded 14-episode long drama Jo Bichar Gaye is an astounding reminder to the Pakistani drama industry what drama as an art form is all about.

Directed and produced by Haissam Hussain who made his return to the small screen after six years, Jo Bichar Gaye revolves around the events of the year 1970-1971 that led to the Fall of Dhaka, one of the most gruesome events of modern human history as well as one of the darkest parts of Pakistan’s history since its independence.

Haissam Hussain has weaved his magic and transformed locations in Pakistan into those of East Pakistan in ’70-’71 to tell the rarely ever told Pakistan’s side of story about the events that led to the Fall. And in doing so, Haissam and his team of spectacular artists onscreen and creatives working behind the camera have given the Pakistani drama industry a project that can be proudly boasted as truly the finest that our industry has to offer.

The Commercial Aspect

However, despite the technical finesse of the drama, Jo Bichar Gaye failed to perform commercially. The YouTube views for the drama are abysmally low compared to the brilliant content it provides. The drama also failed to make any mark on the TRP table.

In its 14-week long run, the drama garnered much critical acclaim but it couldn’t make its presence known in the mainstream drama circle.

Who Should Be Blamed?

It is definitely unfortunate, but the question that arises here is this: who should be blamed for the commercial failure of the drama? Should the onus of the drama’s commercial failure fall on the drama itself, or were there other factors that contributed in the drama failing to make a mark commercially?

For starters, Jo Bichar Gaye was not promoted properly by the channel, Geo Entertainment, at all prior to its premiere. The drama went on-air on Sunday, 12th December 2021, and the first teasers for the drama were aired on 8th December, 2021 – just four days before the show’s premiere date.

That is quite unprecedented behavior from a channel like Geo Entertainment that is know to heavily promote all its new projects often weeks in advance. It could be because unlike almost all the other Geo Entertainment dramas, Jo Bichar Gaye was not a 7th Sky Production and was produced under Haissam Hussain’s home banner H2 Films.

Either way, the lack of any initial promotion and buzz around the drama definitely contributed in the show failing to attract attention of the audience in its initial weeks.

The Ensemble Cast

The drama boasts of an incredibly talented ensemble cast including Maya Ali, Wahaj Ali, Nadia Jamil, Adnan Jaffar, Sajid Shah, and Fazal Hussain alongside introducing terrific new talent in the shape of Talha Chahour, Omar Cheema, Rana Majid Khan, Aurangzaib Mirza, Usman Zia, Umer Darr, Zaheer Taj etc.

While Maya Ali and Wahaj Ali are two of the most popular mainstream actors of Pakistan, the rest of the cast is not as known by the regular audience. The fact that almost half of the show’s cast is made up of newcomers also gave the drama a more “parallel cinema” touch.

That is not to say that any of the cast failed to impress in term of acting. Maya Ali has given her career best performance as Sonia. Wahaj Ali completely transformed himself as Rumi and has given a performance that will go down in the actor’s history as being a career-defining role.

Talha Chahour makes his mainstream debut as Captain Farrukh but the man’s screen presence, portrayal of emotions, dialogue delivery – in fact, each and every aspect of his acting is completely on-point; what other actors might take years to accomplish, Talha has done so with just this one project.

Nadia Jamil made the audience laugh out loud and then completely shatter them by her portrayal of Begum Shabnum. Adnan Jaffar is powerful, and Fazal Hussain portrays the naïve innocence that you mourn for. However, these known faces only make up a portion of the entire cast. Despite the gripping performances of the entire cast, it is understandable how a regular member of the audience would feel the urge to switch to dramas with faces that they are familiar with instead of a show that is full of relatively new or unknown faces.

The Subject

The subject of Jo Bichar Gaye is dark. To the show’s credit it hasn’t presented the story in a boring, lecture-style manner. The drama makes use of creative reenactments of actual events as well as show real newspaper clippings, national and international news reports from the time, and where necessary, small explanation from write-ups about certain events of history for the sake of increasing knowledge of the viewers, essentially making Jo Bichar Gaye both an entertaining and informative show.

This is a style of drama making that is completely new for an average Pakistani drama viewer. Jo Bichar Gaye adopts a style of storytelling that is subtle. It doesn’t waste its time and energies into spotlighting every emotion. Rather, it creates the appropriate mood of fear, anxiety, impending doom, destruction knocking on the door; in hints and glimpses, the drama gives the audience a taste of the loss that was the reality of countless of people.

Jo Bichar Gaye doesn’t show death but it makes the audience mourn regardless. It is gripping but it is not the style of typical mainstream melodramatic way of storytelling that the audience has gotten used to due to the repeated offerings by the drama industry.

Jo Bichar Gaye is most definitely a drama that was made to show the Pakistani army in a sympathetic light in the midst of the chaotic time. But unlike the other pro-Pakistani army dramas like the currently airing Sinf e Aahan or Ehd e Wafa, there is no chest thumping patriotism screaming from every frame of the drama. Jo Bichar Gaye has humanized the Pakistani army and like every human being, the army’s weaknesses and messiness is not glossed over. If the army men stationed in East Pakistan were bold and courageous, they were also shown to be powerless when faced with a mighty enemy which cornered them from places they couldn’t control.

They had to fight hidden agents wearing the same uniform as them as well as new enemies that were mightily supported by old enemies. Stories of victory are easy to make and present; Jo Bichar Gaye is a story of loss and that is not an easy pill for many to swallow.

The Verdict

Nevertheless, the factors that made Jo Bichar Gaye not click with the mainstream audience are also the reason why this drama will go down in the history as setting a new benchmark for what it means to make a quality Pakistani drama.

Oftentimes the excuse many Pakistani drama makers give as to why they are unable to come up with new and different kind of content for the audience is the limitation of resources. Jo Bichar Gaye proves that it’s not the resources that limit the makers, it’s the intention. Haissam Hussain and his team have proven a point that there is more than enough talent and natural resources in the country, to aptly tell any kind of story a maker wants to tell without having to rely on outside help. All that it requires is having both the intention and the strength to struggle to search for them without compromise.

It would have been great had Jo Bichar Gaye gotten more vocal support from the industry folks. It definitely would’ve worked in favor of those artists who demand change in the industry’s drama making standards because it is a perfect manifestation of that change. But alas, that didn’t happen.

Regardless, it is not Jo Bichar Gaye and the team involved in its loss. Haissam Hussain called the drama’s audience as “small, but it’s an audience that matters.” It was this audience which promoted the drama when the channel failed to do so by making sure to trend it on Twitter for all 14 weeks of its run. And it will be the show’s audience that will keep reminding any ardent fan of Pakistani dramas to not miss out on a gem like Jo Bichar Gaye. The art of this drama will not be lost to time.

Review: Saba Qamar & Naumaan Ijaz Redefine Love In Mrs. & Mr. Shameem

By
Armaan Shehreyaar
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Could anyone else do justice to Umaina as Saba Qamar does? Who else could nail Shameem’s character the way Naumaan Ijaz has? While I have a bunch of similar questions after completing ‘Mrs. And Mr. Shameem’, I decide to review the series with less words and more emotions flowing in my head.

A Zee5 project produced by Kashif Nisar and Misbah Shafique, this phenomenal web series stars two of the most talented performers of our entertainment industry. However, Saba Qamar and Naumaan Ijaz’s performances are not the only good thing about this show. It also has an ensemble cast including Irfan Khoosat, Gul e Rana, Uzma Hassan, Faiza Gillani, Saqib Sumeer, Haseeb Khan, Hamza Sohail and Agha Mustafa, among others.

Here, I give you 7 reasons why you should binge watch this masterpiece over the weekend.

The Script

Penned down by the maestro Saji Gul of O Rangreza, the story revolves around Shameem, the only man in a household full of women. Shameem has a responsibility of four sisters and a mother whom he’s been handling post his father’s demise. Despite being the “hero” of the plot, Shameem’s simple yet intricate character challenges several societal norms as it redefines masculinity in a beautiful manner.

Shameem is effeminate but he is only bothered about the protection and respect of the women he is surrounded with and not for his unconventional personality which is not accepted by society. 

The makers have done marvellous characterizations here, as we see several stories knit beautifully through complex characters that are neither black nor white, but grey in their respective natures. Sensitive portrayal of emotions and the fine commentary on the psychological aspects of each character prove it to be an absolutely well written script.

The Direction

Mrs. And Mr. Shameem is directed by Kashif Nisar, a creator who is already celebrated by television viewers who are inclined towards a certain kind of storytelling. Kashif has several projects to his credit including Raqeeb Se and Dil Na Umeed Tou Nahin most recently. Just like his conventional work which is unlike the usual camera work we see, Kashif Nisar has done a remarkable job here as well. 

From the breathtaking visuals of Old Lahore, to all those captivating Dargah sequences, the captain of the ship instantly grabs your attention with his cinematography and direction. To look at the simpler areas, the director nails the set designing as well as very straightforward scenes quite effortlessly. 

Crisp direction, sound quality, and camera work is another such reason which makes it an unmissable one!

The Lead Pair

The viewer gets to witness a chemistry hotter than any other seen before and a couple in love with each other more than our conventional on-screen pairs. Umaina and Shameem share a bond that is unbreakable. Their relationship is formed during tough times and has the strongest fundament of respect and mutual understanding. 

Despite being two polar opposite individuals, Shameem and Umaina decide to respect each other with their strengths and weaknesses. This partnership redefines love for the viewer and provide a fresh idea of “Ideal” in the most subtle manner. 

Naumaan Ijaz and Saba Qamar give a chilling performance in their respective roles which invests the audience in the narrative completely as they start relating to these characters. 

Their Delightful Journey

As we delve into the premise of the series, Shameem and Umaina – the star couple of the show take us on a roller-coaster ride of their journey of partnership. Beginning with their younger selves, their trip to being called Mrs.& Mr. is heart warming. Makers create a window to their lives as the elderly couple is shown giving a detailed interview about the ups and downs they have dealt with together in life. 

The Supporting Cast

No project can do well without a strong supporting cast and Mrs and Mr Shameem has a stellar one, with some of the most talented artists who give their best in respective roles.

The tragedies the main couple go through are in one way or another related to the characters belonging to them. In fact, in many moments, the viewer feels connected to the side characters equally, if not more than the lead actors. Saqib Sumeer, Uzma Hassan, Gul e Rana and Ahmed Hassan often induce goosebumps with ascendant performances.

The Music

Without good music, it is often hard to digest a good show, but this one certainly has all the ingredients that make it an enjoyable watch. If not for anything else, one should definitely watch it for the way good music has been inculcated in it. The makers added some of the most soulful voices to the show with melodious compositions that only elevate its tendency to arrest the viewer.

While Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Tumhein Dillagi’ and ‘Nami Daanam’ create a spiritual enviroment, Sami Khan’s ‘Ishq Bina’ amplifies the magical romance of the entire journey. 

Social Issues

Apart from all that it serves, Mrs and Mr Shameem highlights some sensitive social subjects while challenging several social taboos. Male infertility, infidelity, child abuse, and bullying are among such issues that the series talks about.

The most daring attempt that the makers took here is to start conversation about HIV/AIDS. The lead pair of the show is shown to be dealing with this, and all the haplessness it may bring alongside. The show not only shows how this illness is treatable but also manages to highlight the cruelty such patients have to deal with, due to the ruthlessness and unacceptance of society.

Verdict

Mrs. & Mr. Shameem is a commendable effort by the entire team to start conversations over several untouched issues. The direction, production, cinematography and performances make it well worth watching this brilliant show.

Everything That Happened At The Star-Studded Ruposh Success Bash

By
Sajeer Shaikh
-

Pulling up to Alliance Française de Karachi on the rather heated eve of 13th March for the Ruposh success bash, I am a tad bit taken aback by how decked up in lights the venue is, ornamented to the nines in hues of red. Immediately, I suspect I am under-dressed, for I initially believed the event to be an intimate affair at Cote Rotie. Entering the premises, my suspicion is confirmed.

The Setup

An entire red carpet – studded with stars and makers of the film, all of whom have arrived in their Sunday best – greets one upon arrival. I swiftly slink to the back to better orient myself.

The Haroon Kadwani and Kinza Hashmi starrer is the celebration of the night. Neon signs related to the film ornate the space right next to Cote Rote, whereas the wider, open space hosts not only a plethora of seating spaces, but also a gigantic screen upon which clips from the film play.

The Kadwanis

Haroon, dressed in all black, beams from the red carpet as he is periodically photographed – sometimes alone, and at other times, with his family, or members of the cast and crew of Ruposh. Kinza is the epitome of beauty and grace as she often poses alongside Haroon, with photographers specifically requesting for a frame with the two stunning leads.

The larger-than-life Abdullah Kadwani makes an appearance in almost all the pictures, and continues to be an omnipresent, active host throughout. The soft-spoken, yet charming Asad Qureshi makes conversation with the multitude of guests as well, and is a remarkably poised co-host.

I am immediately recognized by Muskan Kadwani, Haroon’s sister, who turns out to be my sister’s friend. Finding a sense of familiarity with each other, we briefly converse about the film, her own passion for cinema which she is pursuing through her studies, and how she might eventually enter the Pakistani film industry in hopes to one day grasp directorial reigns.

The Film And Its Milestones

Ruposh falls under the romance genre, where a young, guarded, often arrogant man from an upper-class family finds himself falling for a simple-minded woman from a middle-class set up, despite an unpleasant first encounter. With opposing worldviews, Salaar and Zunaira find hints of solace in each other’s love, till emerging secrets begin impacting their relationship, paving a path to the question: will their love survive all hardships?

The 7th Sky Entertainment telefilm has already made history by surpassing a whopping 100 million views, as was also made evident at the event by a neon sign towards the back where the cake-cutting ceremony eventually took place.

A Star-Studded Affair

The event itself was inundated with stars. Feroze Khan made a swift appearance, meeting the primary cast and crew and conveying his well wishes. Imran Ashraf made an appearance with his wife, and was the very picture of grace throughout the event, periodically checking in with everyone and ensuring that they had eaten.

Faysal Qureshi and his wife, Sana, were seen mingling amongst the crowd, where I eventually camouflaged, immersing myself in conversation with Sana, pitching the Lollywood version of Bollywood Wives. She showed interest, stating that she was already pondering over setting up her own vlog.

Momin Ali Munshi conversed with Faysal, discussing ‘Sorry,’ a project of the star’s that has been stuck for quite some time, where Faysal shed light on the various obstacles that began posing as roadblocks for the the release of a project into which he has actively put immense resources.

Nadia Hussain, Saboor Aly, Zara Noor Abbas and Asad Siddiqui made an appearance as well. Amar Khan asked me for chewing gum at some point, and I have never despised myself more for not carrying any extra.

The Standout Moment

Most events have that one moment where everyone breaks character and hilarity ensues. At this event, Momin suggested that the heads of leading publications take a picture together.

As Momin, Aamna Isani, Raheel Rao, Maliha Rehman, Rabia Mughni, and Hassan Choudary posed together for a photograph, the actors crowded around, teasing that this was the real photograph of the night. Amar Khan began making a video of the moment which she went on to post on her Instagram story. Imran and Haroon grabbed camera phones as well to capture the moment.

Celebrating Ruposh

The night eventually cascaded into everyone gathering around the lead team of Ruposh as they cut the gorgeous celebratory cakes. Shortly after, dinner was served, and an intense catch-up session between the various actors, producers, and leads of publications began within the confines of Cote Rote which lasted well past midnight.

As the telefilm continues to hit milestone after milestone, having reached nearly 104 million views at the point of this being written, one marvels at how far the industry has traversed.

Whilst struggles to create content remain persistent, commemorating such achievements, perhaps, becomes all the more pertinent. With the spirit of that very sense of jubilation in mind, here’s hoping that the industry celebrates numerous more, and keeps consistently thriving.

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