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“It Was All From My Wardrobe,” Sajal Aly On Her DIAFA Outfit

By
Maisooma Batool
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The Distinctive International Arab Festivals (DIAFA) honored Sajal Aly with an award for her contribution to film and television. It is a truly well-deserved achievement for this talented actress who has been wowing the audience with back to back stellar performances for some years now and has cemented her position as one of the top A-lister actors of the country.

Any actor getting recognition on international platforms is truly a momentous occasion. Previously, DIAFA had honored Mahira Khan with an accolade in 2019. The Superstar actresses had dominated social media on the night when she was awarded. Sajal Aly being the next actress from Pakistan to get the accolade also had social media buzzing in a similar style. However, when the night was over, more than Sajal’s achievement it was her sartorial choice that was being discussed by the netizens.

Disappointing Look

Sajal Aly had opted to wear a velvet pantsuit for the night. A wardrobe choice by no means unusual as there have been many celebrities around the world that have made head turns by showing up at events in a finely tailored pantsuit. But the suit that Sajal wore for the night did no favors to the beautiful and petite actress. It was ill-fitted and practically hung on her body because of how oversized it was.

Needless to say, the actress’s fans were left disappointed by Sajal’s look of the night. Some even demanded that Sajal’s stylist be fired for dressing her up so carelessly on such a big night for her career where not only was she awarded for her own achievements but was also representing the country on an international stage. However, it appears that the yet-undisclosed stylist isn’t the one to be blamed at all.

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Making A Statement

Speaking to Dawn Images, Sajal had confessed that she had deliberately not opted for any designer wear for the night.

“It was from my own wardrobe and no, it wasn’t designer wear,” said Sajal. “I decided to wear something simple, something that I could wear again and again. This year has been strange for all of us and I am increasingly beginning to feel that we need to place less focus on material things like clothes. We need to start thinking about sustainability and prioritize what we consider important in our lives.”

While Sajal’s sentiment makes sense and might appear to be laudable, one cannot refute the reality that it becomes necessary for a celebrity to make an extra effort to look their best on important nights. Award shows where the glitz and glamor of the red carpet are heavily discussed and scrutinized fall under that category. And when the award show is happening on an international level and the celebrity is present there as the representative of their entire country, the responsibility to put their best foot forward multiplies.

Mahira Khan looks mesmerising in blue at DIAFA 2019; see photos | PINKVILLA | Mahira khan dresses, Mahira khan, Fashion

Part Of The Job

When Mahira Khan had attended DIAFA last year, her glamorous icy blue Labourjoisie gown was the talk of the town. Naturally, there were some expectations from Sajal Aly, who was practically Mahira Khan’s successor this year at DIAFA, to pull off a similar level of red carpet appearance. But her decision to go simple and comfortable did her no favors. What was supposed to be a night where Sajal Aly should’ve gotten nothing but praise and positive attention from all around, turned into one where the social media discussed her wardrobe more than her achievement.

While an actor can choose not to be necessarily concerned about putting up a glamorous appearance when it does not benefit their craft, a celebrity cannot escape it. It is a part of the job for a celebrity to present their best possible appearance at events where all eyes will be on them. Important statements about sustainability and not being obsessed with material things can be done so without opting for ill-fitted suits. And many celebrities around the world have made such important statements on red carpets while making sure that their sartorial choices are not criticized for being all kinds of wrong.

Looking at Sajal’s impeccable craft as an actor, we are sure of the fact that this wouldn’t be her last time she’ll be awarded such an accolade on an international platform. We can only hope that the next time Sajal will be representing her country on an international stage, she’ll put some effort into her styling. Sajal Aly is not just a talented actress she is also a gorgeous woman. She deserves to be seen as such.

Teasers For ‘Raqs-E-Bismil’ Offer Romance, Drama, And Thrills

By
Uzair Anwer
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The much-awaited small screen biggie Raqs-e-Bismil (literal translation: dance of the wounded), has been keenly awaited by the audience ever since its announcement in August. Produced as a joint collaboration between Shazia Wajahat and MD Productions, the drama has all the ingredients of a potential success; from the fresh and an exciting lead pair of Imran Ashraf and Sarah Khan, a stellar supporting cast which includes the Lollywood superstar Zara Sheikh, Wajahat Rauf’s directorial vision, and a script written by the Khuda Aur Muhabbat fame writer Hashim Nadeem.

The initial teasers of the drama have been released by Hum TV and they give a glimpse of what to expect from the story.

A Story Of Contrasts

Producer Shazia Wajahat has described the drama as, “an intense story of love and passion between two souls from different worlds.” And judging from the teasers, Wajahat Rauf appears to have hit the right creative chords in his treatment of what looks like a love story that include some high-intensity thriller elements to it.

Most of the focus of the teasers was on Moosa, the character played by Imran Ashraf. He appears to be a man who doesn’t hesitate in getting physical to get his point across. Some bits of Moosa manhandling the character played by Anoushey Abbasi, going so far as to tie her up to a tree as a form of punishment, is a preview of the limits the character can go to.

Interestingly, there is also a softness to Moosa that the teasers have made a point to show. His interaction with the heroine of the drama played by Sarah Khan show Moosa to be a man completely devoted to the woman he loves. This is in contrast to how the character appears to punish others for falling in love. There is also this intriguing dialogue said by Anoushey Abbasi where she curses Moosa to fall in love with someone only to end up never be united with them.

The biggest win for the teasers is their background score. It elevates the mood of the teasers, making them more engrossing and impactful. The teasers have definitely piqued the audience’s interest because they are promising a love story that appears to be both unconventional and intense.

Casting Win

Fans of Imran Ashraf and Sarah Khan are in for a treat as the two-promise spectacular on-screen chemistry judging by the teasers. The characters that they are playing hail from two different worlds and this stark contrast in their characters make the pairing even more dramatic and intriguing.  

The supporting cast of Raqs-e-Bismil includes big names like Zara Sheikh, Saleem Mairaj, Mehmood Aslam, Anoushey Abbasi, Momin Saqib, Nida Mumtaz, Gul-e-Rana, Javeria Abbasi and Furqan Qureshi. It is definitely a stellar cast that is known for always delivering their A-game when it comes to performing their characters on screen. The audience are likely to be in for a treat with such reliable actors coming together for a project of this magnitude.

Problematic Writing?

Dialogues penned by Hashim Nadeem seem to be impactful and are staying true to the drama’s cultural set-up. Some of the dialogues with patriarchal content have been presented with gusto, like the character played by Mahmood Aslam’s saying, “Larki ke qadam aik martaba ghar se bahir nikal jayen to phir usay badnaami ki rahon par agay bharnay se koi nahi rok sakta,” displays the misogynistic mindset existing within the society.

It would be wrong to judge an entire story as being problematic based on one dialogue shown in the drama’s teaser. However, we will be looking forward to seeing whether the drama manages to justify and balance this kind of patriarchal misogyny with something progressive.

Final Word

Raqs-e-Bismil promises to be a gripping tale of two contrasting worlds blended together through diverse characters, superlative performances, winner background score, and impactful dialogues. The drama is expected to go on-air soon on Hum TV.

Mohib Mirza And Sana Javed To Pair Up For ‘Neeli Zinda Hai’

By
Maisooma Batool
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The majority of the Pakistani drama serials have been following a rather conventional path when it comes to their genres. Apart from a few dramas here and there, most of the Pakistani dramas tend to revolve around the same old domestic affairs. Therefore, it is always exciting news when a drama is announced that promises to be something new and different.

Mohib Mirza and Sana Javed will be pairing up for an upcoming drama serial titled ‘Neeli Zinda Hai’. Produced by Six Sigma for ARY Digital, Neeli Zinda Hai is said to be a drama serial of the suspense-thriller genre.

Interesting And Challenging

Senior Vice President of ARY Films, Irfan Malik, revealed some details about the project to Galaxy Lollywood.

“Neeli Zinda Hai is a thriller-suspense-horror kind of a drama. By horror I mean it is more of an anticipatory horror instead of the usual supernatural one. It is an interesting story and the project is quite challenging for us as well.”

Written by Adeel Razzaq and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed, Neeli Zinda Hai promises to be a different genre for the audience of Pakistani dramas. The show also stars Sonia Mishal alongside Mohib Mirza and Sana Javed.

Sonia Mishal Biography, Dramas, Height, Age, Family, Net Worth

A New Pairing

This is the first time Mohib Mirza and Sana Javed will be pairing up for a project together. Mohib got much praise for his drama serial Dushman-e-Jaan earlier this year where he played a guilt-ridden man who sets out to atone for his sins by marrying the sister of a woman whose death he inadvertently causes. Sana Javed has had many successful TV dramas to her credit. Her last drama Ruswai got Sana unanimous praise for her performance as a survivor of a gang-rape. Her next drama serial opposite Bilal Abbas titled Dunk is one of the anticipated upcoming Pakistani drama serials.

It will be interesting to see what this pairing will offer in Neeli Zinda Hai to the audience. According to Irfan Malik, the show has already started shooting. So far the shoot has been going on well, leading the team to be quite confident about the project.

Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for all the news and updates.

Zeb Bangash Brings Iqbal’s Poetry To Life With The Majestic ‘Shaheen-O-Mahi’

By
Galaxy Lollywood
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Zeb Bangash is one of the most celebrated singers of Pakistan. Her discography includes successful albums, singles, soundtracks, features, and collaborations. Zeb’s fame as a singer has crossed boundaries as she has worked with many acclaimed musicians not only in Pakistan but internationally as well.

And now for the first time, PAF collaborated with Zeb Bangash and Sarmad Ghafoor to produce a beautiful song from Iqbal’s Persian poem Shaheen-o-Mahi as a tribute to Pakistan’s national poet. With Zeb Bangash’s soulful voice bringing to life Iqbal’s inspiring poetry, this song Persian song mixed with Urdu narration has sent waves throughout the nation.

An Honor

The project was conceptualized by the Pakistan Air Force Media and PR wing as the motto for the PAF. Sharing her experience of working on this song, Zeb Bangash revealed how she was approached by Hassan Naeem from Bling Studio Motion Pictures for this project. The PAF Media Team had been wanting to work on Iqbal’s Persian poem for a couple of years and wanted Zeb to sing it.

“I was honored that they had specifically asked for me,” said Zeb when she was approached for the project. With Sarmad Ghafoor producing the music and Hassan Naeem being the director for the video, for Zeb the project was a no-brainer right from the start.

“Working with Iqbal’s work in Persian has been a dream of mine for so long that it felt like a no-brainer, and I said yes immediately.”

Talking about the collaboration, Zeb Bangash revealed that she was initially a bit apprehensive about working with PAF as she had never worked with the institute before. However, after meeting with the team that was responsible for the song, Zeb was very impressed with them and said that the entire process of producing Shaheen-o-Mahi was a truly collaborative effort.

Directed by Hassan Naeem, the music video was shot at the magnificent Pakistan Monument in Islamabad. The song puts Iqbal’s poetry and his philosophy center-stage to produce an awe-inspiring rendition.

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The Majestic Sound

The song, which has a very majestic feel to it, was deliberately produced in the way to maximize the impact of the inspiring and uplifting message of Iqbal in the poetry. Pakistan Air Force’s motto “Sehra ast me Darya ast Tahe Baal O Pare Mast” (the deserts and the seas are all under my wing) also comes from Iqbal’s poem Shaheen-o-Mahi. So, it was quite important for the team to present the poetry in a song that captured both the simplistic dialogue of the poem as well as its profound lesson.

“While I was still in the US, Sarmad sent the main riff of the song, which was very beautiful and had a classical feel to it. I thought of some melodic ideas, but we didn’t finalise the melody until we got together in Islamabad. Sarmad and I were grappling with how to musically address the spectrum of simplicity and majesty [of Iqbal’s poetry]. Initially, we came up with a more meditative rendition of the same melody. But later, we decided that the song needed to have an elating impact.”

And thus, Shaheen-O-Mahi‘s final version came to be which is filled with tons of vocal parts, and rhythmic and orchestral portions that give it that richness. Zeb said that the final version of the song had given her goosebumps when she first listened to it as the way all the various elements came together in the song is both magical and mind-blowing.

“Sarmad Ghafoor is such a talented and accomplished producer, and I am so lucky that I got to do this song with him,” said Zeb Bangash on her experience of working with him on the song.

Nominated for two Lux Style Awards, Zeb’s collaboration with Rameez Anwar for Wo Umeed Ki Manzil proved to be a roaring success earlier this year. In the melodious and powerful voice of Zeb Bangash, this homage of Allama Iqbal has won the hearts of the nation, as well as Iqbal lovers internationally.

Here’s Why We Think The Sheheryar And Syra Shoot Was A Stroke Of Genius

By
Maisooma Batool
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The last crucial matches of PSL were held over the weekend, which gave cricket fans some exciting and tense moments that culminated in the long-time rivals, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars, reaching the finals of PSL V for what promises to be a historical match.

But we are not here to talk about that.

While excitement for the PSL matches was real and quite evident on social media, another major talking point that took the internet by storm was a photoshoot. Sheheryar Munawar and Syra Yousuf graced the cover of a Pakistani magazine in a sizzling shoot that has gotten the attention of everyone. It is beautiful, it is classy, and the chemistry these two are sharing in the shoot has everyone talking about them and if you ask us we think it is a stroke of genius!

A Statement

What exactly is so special about this photoshoot? After all, stars pairing up together for photoshoots is not an unusual thing. Sheheryar and Syra have worked together in the past, so it is not the first time people are seeing these two together. From being part of the same drama in Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay and being the leads of the film Project Ghazi, it’s not like this pairing is a new discovery of the industry.

But oh, that’s not all there is to this photoshoot. It is more than just two old co-stars pairing up together once again. Sheheryar and Syra have had quite an eventful year individually and we can’t help but wonder if this photoshoot is just as much about two old friends and co-stars teaming up together once more, as it is about two individuals pairing up to make a statement.

Rebranding

Syra Yousuf’s divorce from Shahroz Sabzwari was quite a discussed affair. While no official reason that led to the divorce was ever disclosed officially, there’s no denying that the public sentiment was more on Syra’s side especially with Shahroz remarrying, fairly soon after the divorce was announced.

On the work front, Syra had always been picky about her projects, she had limited her work even more so after her marriage and motherhood. Her status as someone’s wife and the mother of a child had become the more defining part of her identity in the eyes of the general public.

But lately, Syra seems to be making conscious efforts to re-brand herself.

In the past few months, Syra has signed on deals and has done TVCs that present the younger, more youthful side of her. This photoshoot with Sheheryar Munawar, in a similar vein, also makes people forget about who Syra was in the past and instead focuses on who she is at the present: a strong, single, beautiful woman who can make jaws drops and head turns. Could the beautiful white dress Syra Yousuf is donning in the photoshoot be her own version of the iconic “revenge dress”? One can only speculate.

Here To Prove

As for Sheheryar Munawar, he too has been the subject of many discussions regarding his personal affairs. His engagement to a non-celebrity which barely lasted a few months is still gossiped about because of how short-lived it was. Add to it the timing of the whole relationship which clashed with Sheheryar’s heavily promoted film Parey Hut Love, and the gossip-lovers really had much to say.

Adding fuel to the fire were the linkup rumors between Sheheryar Munawar and his Parey Hut Love co-star Maya Ali, with whom he is also doing his comeback drama Pehli Si Mohabbat. The chemistry between the two stars was so electrifying that it led to many fans speculating about whether or not there was something real going on between them. However, nothing was ever confirmed by the stars.

And now, this photoshoot of Sheheryar and Syra has the social media already shipping these two beautiful and officially single stars. The sheer amount of beauty and the chemistry is really too much for people to handle as questions of where was this pairing hidden all this time continue to float on social media.

So, whether by a conscious decision or purely by coincidence, Sheheryar Munawar has definitely made a statement that he has it in him to create sizzling chemistry with any female co-star. The reactions to the photoshoot appear to have wiped off his chemistry, and the speculations it gave birth to, with his previous co-star from people’s minds.

Final word

The photoshoot has been a win-win situation for both Sheheryar and Syra. Either it was a lucky coincidence for the duo or it was all designed and marketed to get the maximum attention, we can’t be too sure of the truth. What we do know is that the photo shoot is a smash hit and that it has done wonders for this duo both individually and as a potential ‘next big jodi’ of the industry.

Zee5 Can No Longer Be Subscribed In Pakistan

By
Hassan Hassan
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Following a few months after its launch across 190+ countries, the Indian digital entertainment platform Zee5 had steadily made its presence known not only on its home ground but also in the SAF region that includes Pakistan. The OTT platform aimed to create and produce content that transcended borders and would appeal to the south Asian diaspora across the globe.

It seems, however, that the network won’t be having smooth sails as far as its voyage in the Pakistani market is concerned, despite having commissioned five original Pakistani series to exclusively stream on the platform. Amid the “ban culture” prevalent and followed so dearly in the Indo-Pak region, and cherished by the right-wing populist-nationalist elements on both sides of the borders, there comes a notification from the State Bank of Pakistan that has ordered to block any kind of payment meant to get a subscription to access Zee5 content in Pakistan.

Pakistani content being inaccessible in Pakistan

The notification, addressed to the CEOs/Presidents of banks, EMIs ,PSOs and PSPs working in Pakistan, states that the instruction is being forwarded in the light of decisions made by the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan.

The news may come as yet another disappointment for Pakistan based fans of Zee5. The platform had just started zooming in on specific priority markets like Pakistan. Now viewers in Pakistan won’t be able to pay to get the subscription needed to watch the content available on the platform, which also includes shows created exclusively for the platform by some notable Pakistani artists and directors.

The network had commissioned five original series from Pakistan, two of which have been released on the platform for streaming – Asim Abbasi’s Churails and Mehreen Jabbar directorial Ek Jhoothi Love Story. There are three series that are yet to be released – Dhoop Ki Deewar, Mann Jogi, and Abdullahpur Ka Devdas. This ban brings up the question that whether or not the Pakistani audience will be able to view those series in the country or not.

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Loss for creators

Apart from a matter of disappointment for the Pakistan based viewers, this move would definitely cause a certain level of irritation at the management levels in Zee5. They had deliberately designed campaigns ‘Dil Se Desi‘ in APAC, MENA, and Africa targeting the Indian, Pakistani, and other South Asian diasporas; as well as customized campaigns, like ‘Share the Love’ for two important neighboring markets: Pakistan and Bangladesh. Now that viewers from Pakistan won’t be able to subscribe, the platform might have to redirect and redesign such strategies.

The biggest loss, however, is incurred upon the already constrained artist community and entertainment industry of Pakistan. which has had limited space to flourish due to a myriad of internal and external, natural, and man-made disasters that include the COVID pandemic and PEMRA’s interference. Talking to Galaxy Lollywood, veteran media person and CEO of EPK, Mr. Rashid Khawaja maintained that this decision will ultimately harm the Pakistani talent.

“It’s going to be Pakistani artists, directors, and producers who would be at loss at the end of the day,” said Mr. Khawaja. “Whoever has made the decision has definitely not consulted any stakeholders in the process. It appears to be a purely bureaucratic decision by the government without taking into consideration the effect it will have on Pakistan’s content creators.”

He went on to say that Zee5 would be affected to the least possible extent because he doesn’t think the revenue they generated from Pakistan is big enough to affect their overall income. He also pointed out how all payments were being made through a Pakistani telecommunication company so it’s not like all the money was going outside the country.

In a response to whether he thinks there will be a backlash against this sudden decision, Mr. Rashid Khawaja responded that he personally doesn’t think anything major would happen.

“There has never been any action taken against such decisions in the past in Pakistan so the status quo is going to be likely maintained this time too.”

Final word

The ban on Zee5 subscriptions from Pakistan is surely going to affect Pakistani content creators in a negative way. It could go on to demoralize a certain section of the artist community, who had found a new platform to showcase their talents, narrate their stories, and generate income, without needing to compromise on their creativity. Zee5 gave Pakistani content a chance to go global on a large scale. It is quite unfortunate that this blockage put by the Pakistani government might be the reason why Pakistani content will have to let go of this one golden opportunity to compete in the global market.

‘You Cannot Let The Responsibility Overpower Art’ – Mawra Hocane

By
Maisooma Batool
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Mawra Hocane has delivered one of her career-best performances in the recently finished drama serial Sabaat. The drama was highly praised for having a female protagonist that was truly progressive and empowering. Anaya, the character played by Mawra in the drama, gave the Pakistani audience the kind of female lead that had been missing from the screens lately. Educated, sensible, well-loved and supported by her parents, and being empowered enough to face all the challenges life threw her way without compromising on her self-respect, Anaya was a rare character and Mawra did complete justice to her with her performance in the drama.

In an interview given to BBC Asia, Mawra talked about how she felt lucky to have been given the chance to play Anaya as it was a character that the audience could look up to for positive influence. However, she also thinks how the burden of always playing the progressive and ideal characters shouldn’t always fall on the actors.

Art and responsibility

The host Haroon Rashid talked about how Mawra herself is an independent and liberated individual in her real life and questioned whether that puts a responsibility on her to choose the roles that reflect her real-life individualistic traits? Mawra replied that as she is growing as an actor, she is starting to realize that there is a responsibility that she has to fulfill on her part. She talked about her roles in Sammi and Aangan where through Sammi, the drama gave an important social message, and Aaliya (Aangan) was a strong character for the time period the drama was based in. So, she is well aware of the responsibility of an actor.

“But you cannot let the responsibility overpower the art. You also have to enjoy the characters that might not have a big lesson to teach to the audience but just entertain them.”

Mawra further elaborated how the time at which a person chooses which character to play also matters.

“Sabaat happened at a time where I really connected to Anaya. But similarly, I had fun playing Zoe (Jawani Phir Nahin Ani 2) and there was not any lesson I was giving with that.”

Freedom to play different characters

According to Mawra, it matters more about how an artist presents themselves as an individual on social media or the practical things they do for the betterment of society. But when it comes to their artistic endeavors, actors might not always want to do the right and progressive kind of a role, and that they should be allowed to choose characters that they want to play.

“I may want to do a negative character with no values whatsoever. But that does not mean I want to influence society in the wrong way. That just means that I want to play different characters.”

Mawra said that artists shouldn’t always be expected to do the right things and that they should be given the chance to experiment.

Meera Proves To Be A ‘Real Life Heroine’ At A Press Conference

By
Hassan Hassan
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In the current era of booming social media, there are few stars who possess the same persona both on and off-screen. However, the one star that inarguably exhibits the same kind of dramatic flair both on and off screen has to be the Lollywood star Meera. The actor surely knows the art of staying in limelight and has perfected it over the course of years especially when there are fewer work opportunities at the dwindling Pakistani cinema front.

In what looked like the “real-life sequel” to Saqib Malik’s critically acclaimed Baaji, the leading lady of the same film went on to have a rather emotional and out of the blue press conference at the Lahore Press Club.

Clearing the air

In a rather hasty and emotional press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday, veteran actor Meera decided to clear the air regarding some accusations made at her character through a source unmentioned.

The press conference proved to be a trip down memory lane for the fans of yesteryear Lollywood superstar in many ways. It offered a heavy dose of bizarre emotions and disjointed narratives, a feature of many Lollywood flicks, especially when nearing its inevitable apoptosis. Whether you love it or hate it, there is no denying that much like those notorious flicks, Meera managed to steal the spotlight.

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Talking to a group of rather noisy journos who would chuckle every now and then throughout the conference, Meera stated in an emotional manner, “My house is not a shelter home, it is my house, I live in it. I’m the superstar of Pakistan, I’m the heroine of Pakistan. In films and in real life, I live in the character of a heroine.” The actor left most of the participants clueless as to which particular incident she exactly referred to.

As Meera read through a scripted speech, there came a moment where she found it difficult to read and discern the word. The moment sparked a chuckle across the crowd however the actor turned into her favor by maintaining that the laughs would make to the headlines. The actor wasn’t wrong.

All the drama

Meera kept on jumping from one topic to another during the conference, much like the screenplays of 90s Lollywood. At one instant she said that she is “a good daughter, a good friend, a good sister, pure, virtuous, innocent, and an extremely good human being.”

The Inteha actor then claimed that she was “accused of fund-raising and using the money for personal use.” Exactly who made these accusations in the first place was not clarified by her. She continued that if the allegations against her were proven as true she would “hang herself publicly”. She made this claim twice and reiterated that she is a heroine — both on and off-screen, and her struggles across her film career and real-life has entrusted her considerable experience for her to claim the title of being a “real-life heroine.”

And much like a heroine, Meera made a hurried and frantic exit from the venue after she finished addressing the media, leaving behind her father and domestic help at the press club and rode off with her driver.

‘It’s The Lowest Form Of Art To Take Clothes Off A Woman’ – Hamza Ali Abbasi

By
Uzair Anwer
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Hamza Ali Abbasi is one such celebrity who manages to create headlines with his every statement. Despite taking a break from the industry, Hamza continues to grab the limelight thanks to his unapologetic nature with which he expresses his opinions.

Recently, the actor yet again became the subject news headlines when a teaser of an interview he gave to a private news channel was released. The short clip featured Hamza talking about his stance on item numbers and it naturally got much attention on social media.

Questioning the need for item songs

Hamza’s views on item songs in Pakistani films are not a secret. He has always been frank about his stance that such things are not necessary to make a good film. During the interview when the topic of item songs in movies was discussed, Hamza cited cultural and religious reasoning for his strict stance against item songs.

“What could possibly be wrong when the dance moves based upon the utter objectification of the woman who is dancing?” Hamza sarcastically asked the interviewer when he was questioned whether he is against item songs because they are un-Islamic in nature.

“It doesn’t matter if she wants to do it or not,” Hamza continued as he clarified that his question is more for the makers who insist on including such songs in their films. “A song which focuses on the sexual appeal of the woman, the lyrics also focus on the sexual appeal of the woman, and then that song is being played on television and social media and kids watch it. Of course, it’s all wrong!”  

He further elaborated that growing up on such songs thanks to Bollywood, our sensitivities have been altered. Hamza claimed that the item songs have had a negative impact globally.

“We don’t need it. It is the lowest form of art to basically take off clothes off a woman. People will come watch it but it’s not art, it’s just nonsense.”

Distinction between art and other things

Talking about how there’s this perception that all kinds of art are prohibited in Islam, Hamza said that he intends to clarify that not all art is prohibited in Islam. Item songs of course are but it’s hard for him to defend the artistic endeavors from an Islamic point of view when Pakistani filmmakers continue to make films with such objectionable content. There should be a clear distinction between what is actually “art” and what this kind of content is.

“We don’t need it. You don’t demean a woman onscreen and call it art,” Hamza stated.

Concluding his stance by saying that he doesn’t understand how we as a society have come to a point where such content has become so normalized that we can easily watch it with our family, Hamza said that then there shouldn’t be any complains about the negative impacts this kind of content has had and continues to have on the society.

Have Channel Content Heads Ended The Era Of Classic Dramas In Pakistan?

By
Hammad Akbar
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The quote ‘Art imitates life’ suits the Pakistani drama industry perfectly. Since most of the people living in Pakistani society are a part of the joint-family system, our dramas have always been family-oriented. And within that family-oriented space, Pakistani dramas have told many classic stories that continue to be relevant and worth watching years after they initially aired. That is precisely why people all around the world, especially those belonging to the desi diaspora, gravitate towards watching Pakistani dramas.

As the world is evolving, the Pakistani drama industry has evolved too by exploring unconventional genres. However, it seems like the Pakistani drama industry has hit a roadblock when it comes to having classic stories that completely grip the audience’s attention. Relatable family stories that used to be part of the classic Pakistani dramas have seemed to stopped existing. Apart from love triangles, sister rivalries, marriage problems, and extramarital affairs, the dramas just aren’t exploring any other kind of family stories.

Classic family dramas

Pakistani dramas have a long history of showing quality content that people have watched with their families. Classic PTV dramas Alpha Bravo Charlie, Dhuwan, and Waris are still hailed as examples of quality Pakistani dramas because of the stories they told. The audience continues to relate to the stories of these classic dramas to this day.

Of the more recent dramas, Diyar e Dil, Durr e Shahwar, Aangan (ARY Digital), Qaid e Tanhai are a few names that explored the complex dynamics of joint family systems. Dramas like Aunn Zara, Akbari Asghari, and the Baraat series are some of the recent examples of the dramedy genre. All these dramas were focused on a family.

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Maat was perhaps one of the first dramas that included the now-hated sister rivalry trope. However, it was handled in a decent and realistic manner. The audience didn’t have a hard time connecting with the grey characters in Maat. Mera Naseeb had a very unique story revolving around two sisters. Dramas like Meri Zaat Zarra e Benishan, Main Abdul Qadir Hoon, and Sheher e Zaat dealt with the topic of an individual’s connection to the Almighty. Kankar talked about domestic abuse but unlike the dramas these days, the female protagonist was shown to have self-respect and decided to separate ways from her abusive husband.

These are all just some examples of dramas that, despite dealing with different topics, all had the kind of content that makes them an enjoyable watch. Despite some of these dramas dealing with sensitive issues, they were all presented in a manner that was subtle than being too dramatically in-the-face and dragged beyond its limits. And that is why they continue to remain some of the beloved Pakistani dramas.

Who is responsible?

The audience has always criticized actors, writers, directors, and channels for producing monotonous storylines. However, they don’t deserve the blame alone. People responsible for forwarding scripts should also be scrutinized. And in the current situation, it is the designated content department of every channel that is pushing forward and approving the scripts that are filled with problematic tropes and storylines than quality ones.

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Actors, writers, and producers are being vocal about how any attempt at creativity is squashed by these so-called content heads who only want scripts that can fetch them the highest ratings. Fahad Mustafa has talked about the channels and the content heads demand the scripts be filled with dramatic situations. Faysal Quraishi had revealed in an interview with Sohail Javed about how the content is being approved by young people that mostly read monthly digests and want stories that have the divorces and the domestic abuse in them.

Umera Ahmed gave a quote to Instep News recently that echoed Faysal’s statement about how content heads of various channels are not competent enough to identify good stories that can double as family entertainers. Sanam Saeed noted that while there have been groundbreaking dramas, she can’t remember the last time she saw a classic drama since Daam, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Humsafar, and Dastaan days.

A precarious situation

With streaming platforms slowly taking over the television industry, Pakistani drama makers need to do better. If they continue showing generic dramas, it wouldn’t be far when television becomes obsolete. They should also allow content creators to have creative liberty, without restricting them for the sake of higher ratings. The recently premiered Ek Jhoothi Love Story had all the rights ingredients of a perfect family drama. However, due to the pressure faced by directors from TV channels, Mehreen Jabbar chose to stream the web series on a streaming platform and not on the small screen.

Pakistani dramas have always managed to tell classic stories while being family-friendly. However, the dramas that are being approved nowadays by the current content heads of channels focus too much on generating ratings than telling good stories. This is why the number of classic Pakistan dramas being produced has lessened so much in recent times. The content heads of the channels need to do better lest the number completely disappears in the coming future.

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