The night is quiet and the huge haveli appears eerie in the cloud-filtered moonlight that blankets everything in a slight purple shade. There is a heavy winter mist hanging over the fields between the haveli and the river.

Taking advantage of the cover of darkness and the mist, a shadow appears along the outer wall of the mansion and disappears amongst the tall grass in the field. The shadow re-appears on the edge of the river Chenab across the field, revealing itself as a young woman of striking beauty. Using an earthen vessel tightly pressed against her body as a floatation device, she enters the icy cold water of the river which has swelled due to recent winter rains. Risking her life, she fights with the current to cross the river to get to Mahiwal, her lover, who is waiting anxiously for her on the other side. Something goes wrong; her vessel begins to take in water and soon dissolves in the unforgiving waves. As she begins to drown, her lover jumps in and dies trying to save her. Such was their union. “But what went wrong?” asks a bewildered voice. “Her sister-in-law had come to know of her little escapades and replaced her regular kiln-baked vessel with an unbaked [kacha] one”, croaked the raconteur. “Her who?” asks another astonished member of the audience. “She was forcibly married but never gave-in to the arrangement,” explains the old nomad narrating the story. “So what? This is beyghairti,” argues another voice. Thus continued a night of bonfire-lit story-telling on an almost empty railway platform, where only a handful of people were still optimistically waiting for a Pakistan Railway train to arrive.

It is hard to believe that Pakistan, today viewed as a breeding ground for extremism, is a land where once stories of love and romance were not only omnipresent but also celebrated and cherished by the masses. No, we are not talking about Nadeem and Shabnam’s motorcycle acrobatics on the deserted Clifton roads of the 1970s. Nor are we discussing Waheed Murad swaying by a tree as Zeba looks on shyly. Romance has featured in the folklore and literature of the Indo-Pak subcontinent, Persia and Afghanistan for millennia. Incredible as it sounds, the sufis who graced this land immortalised many a famous romantic stories in their poetry — the same poetry which is said to have played a pivotal role in the spread of Islam in this region. One such sufi poet was Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai. The very-much-married-to-another-man and very-much-still-in-love-with-Mahiwal, Sohni, happens to be one of the seven heroines of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai who feature in Shah jo Risalo. It is strange to think that, in the land of Shah Saein, today, Sohni would probably have been declared a Kari and buried unceremoniously in the infamous graveyard of the Karis.

Heer too was married off to another man while her beloved Ranjha became a “Jogie”. She refused her marriage and then was set free. Today, Sohni Mahiwal, Heer Ranjha and others like them would probably have to face the Hudood Ordinance or perhaps would have been stoned to death.

But both Heer and Sohni were lucky that they lived in another time when love was generally accepted as a divine gift. It was a time when people thought that it is only the chosen few who tread the path of love and they have to pay a heavy price for it.

“Khali dil naiyo, Jaan wi aye mangda

Ishqay di gali ich koi koi langda”.

(Not only the heart, but it asks for life as a toll too

It is only a few who can tread the road of love)

Sohni-Mahiwal, Heer-Ranjha, and many other romantic couples from our folk stories, are all hailed as heroes and heroines. In some cases, they were even revered as saints. Sassi from Bhambore, and Punhu, a visiting prince of Makran, fell in love and decided to marry. Their marriage never got approval from Punho’s brothers who, helped by Sassi’s jealous friend, kidnapped Punho. He broke free while being forcibly taken back to Makran. Meanwhile Sassi left Bhambore in search of him. After many hardships, the two lovers met in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. Mother earth is said to have provided them refuge by splitting up and enclosing them in a single grave, which to this day is visited and revered by thousands. In the collective conscience of our society, the verdict on characters such as Punho’s brothers, Sassi’s jealous friend, Heer’s uncle Kaidu, who was the main cause of tragedy in that lore is very clear. They were all labeled as villains and their names are sometimes used today to express contempt.

One such villain from the folklore of Shireen Farhad has a tomb dedicated to her near the single grave of Shireen Farhad at Lak Jao in Balochistan, but a particular ritual is performed at her grave regularly by devoted visitors — they throw stones at her grave in contempt! This then, summarises the reaction of the masses, towards such uninvited intrusions in romances.

In recent years, the advent of February creates an interesting situation across Pakistan’s urban centers and increasingly, even rural areas. The society gets polarised around whether to celebrate Valentine’s Day or not. Die-hard Romeos and Juliets believe that the day is meant for the expression of their “eternal” love for a special someone. On the other hand, there are those who believe that having anything to do with the festivities will guarantee a one way ticket to hell.

Both the Cupid-struck and the V-day haters ignore some aspects. Whether invented in the non-Muslim West or Timbuktu, Valentine’s Day is an occasion to express the universal emotion of love. Its universality not only refers to space but time as well — why confine love to a single day? Why not honour our loved ones every single day of our lives? Secondly, love, even the romantic variety, is not a copy-righted invention of the West. Heer-Ranjha, Laila-Majnu, Sohni-Mahiwal, Sassi-Punho, Hani-Shehmurid, Mirza-Sahiban, Yousuf Khan-Sheherbano were all romances that had taken place before Valentines was even heard of in this part of the world!

Room for romances and love stories has certainly shrunk over time and they have come to be accepted as a foreign influence both by conservatives and liberals. Even the Middle Eastern romances of Aladdin and the adventures of Sindbad gain legitimacy only when dished out by Disney and Dreamworks. Interestingly, people know so little about indigenous love stories and romances that they often believe that Omar and Marvi were lovers. Whereas, the fact is that Omar, the ruler of a state in Sindh, fell for the beautiful Marvi and upon her refusal, had her kidnapped and locked up in his palace! To Omar’s credit, he did not force himself upon her beyond this, hoping that Marvi would give in. Marvi remained defiant, and the impressed Omar set her free — with no love lost between the two.

Amusingly, in today’s age of fundamentalism co-existing not-so-peacefully with liberal ideas, the Baloch love story of Hani-Shehmureed would probably not invoke the Hudood Ordinance but would certainly invite the ire of women’s liberation folk and feminists. Shehmureed had been tricked into giving away Hani, then his fiancée, as a reward to a group of musicians. Respecting the prevailing customs, the honorable Shehmureed lived up to his word and backed off from Hani, while she accepted the arrangement to keep his honour. Such selfless “love” is incomprehensible today. On the other hand, in Yusuf  Khan — Sherbano folklore from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sherbano was close to receiving the ire of her father and brothers after  she attended to the injured Yusuf Khan by placing his head in her lap. Yet the menfolk of her family were sensible enough to calm down and accede when Yusuf Khan’s mother declared to send a proposal following proper protocol. This is a surprising display of understanding and restraint by the menfolk of tribal areas.

Meanwhile, far from these debates, at Sohni’s shrine in Shahdadpur, Sindh, a faqir sings…

Mainu Paar Laga dey way .. gharya mintan teriyan kardi

Huwa wail naseebon say gharya yaar na mera chootay

O! earthen float, help me across, I beg thee

O! earthen float, I fear losing my hard earned love

Here, Sohni is revered as “Maa Sohni” by some. This is how the masses own romance and love throughout Pakistan. From the rugged hills of the Hindukush through the Indus plains right down to the sands of Makran and the coastal ruins of Bhambore, lovers have been hailed as heroes and heroines of this land. Here, indigenous versions of concerts are performed complete with music and dance; songs of Heer and Sur Sohni ring out loud at the urs of these characters, which are usually public fairs. Can we call these celebrations our versions of Valentine’s Day?

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, February 10^th, 2013.

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Call it folklore or call it a myth, but the story of one courageous woman battling a storm at sea, searching for her lost husband when no man would, is really what legends are made of. She found him safe, having been given shelter by a local chief, but the fact that she did not give up and faced her fears earned her the title of the head of her village and today, her spirit embodies the spirit of the city that grew out of it — the city of Karachi.

This city has opened its arms to Sufis, traders and travelers alike who came, saw and settled. With influences as diverse as Greek, Arab, Persian, Turk, Portugese and English, this little town has evolved into a cosmopolitan city where Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians have owned it with equal pride and passion. Adding to its eclectic mystery is the presence of the shrine Abdullah Shah Ghazi, built in all its glory by a Parsi merchant named Jahangir Kothari. Having lost his fleet and cargo at sea, he prayed at the then humble shrine, and upon his prayers being answered, spared no expense in giving back to the city through its patron saint. Over the years, people have attributed many miracles to this sufi presence — of Karachi being protected from aerial attacks with bombs falling into the sea, and being saved from tidal waves and cyclones that have wrecked other ports along the Arabian Sea. But amongst all the legends, the real miracle has gone unnoticed — the living, breathing spirit of the people of Karachi.

Along the coast of the recently developed creek is one such place that families throng to night after night — a terraced gem called Kolachi! It is not just the mouth-watering Lahori fish and karhai they serve that makes it work, it is also its ambience and a system that works like clockwork! The wooden structure, with its multiple decks and strategic lighting, is the result of an accomplished carpenter, an ustaad in the real sense. The courteous and efficient service, the quality of the food served and the sheer logistics of managing an establishment as large as this, is the hard work and vision of a group of young men — graduates of a local university, with no desire to flee abroad but with all the passion to give Karachiites what they want. Sitting by the sea, hearing the sound of the waves, watching the moon reflected in the water with seagulls flying along the horizon and boats sailing in the distance, the gentle Karachi breeze is what these young men have harnessed. Owais Rahim and Haider Jafri (two of the men behind Kolachi) believe that this city has immense opportunities, talent and potential — all it needs is to be channelled in the right direction and executed with honesty, commitment and hard work.

Karachi is truly representative of Pakistan, having embraced people from all over the country and even the region. Its vibrancy comes from being the hub of financial and media institutions, a city of thriving educational institutions, of working people, men and women, who are professionals, labourers, businessmen, traders and philanthropists that love Karachi and own it—and refuse to leave their land for greener pastures! Every tragedy that befalls this city brings forth hope of a better tomorrow, through its citizens that come forward to help their own. Whether they are volunteers driving ambulances, rescue workers defying death, reporters facing dire situations, cultural activists battling to keep the arts alive, civil society banding together for a cause or entrepreneurs who believe in creating job opportunities for their own people, these are the real Karachiites — from enterprising young men like Owais and Haider, to their polite maitre d’ Aftab, the skillful sheesha waiter Mujeeb and the entire staff of cooks, waiters, cleaners and managers, the human resource, the real miracle that reflects all of Pakistan and makes every evening worth living!

This is perhaps what Lord Napier saw in the future when he said — “You will be the glory of the East, would that I could come again to see you, Karachi, in your grandeur!”

The writer is an actor, anchor and a columnist with 17 years of experience in the media industry. Human development and social issues are her area of expertise and she is actively involved in related causes.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2013.

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Rickshaws have their own hierarchy; there are the broken down ones with ‘meters’ that last functioned when dial-up was the best way to connect to the internet and then there are the newfangled ‘CNG’ rickshaws that sport sound systems and LCD screens. And sometimes even disco lights.

Over the years, rickshaws have been used for everything from advertising television shows to spreading hateful messages against India courtesy of the Jamaatud Dawa and other groups. Both inspired and alarmed by this latter phenomenon, an enterprising group of youngster calling themselves the Pakistan Youth Alliance (PYA) decided to counter the messages of hate by designing rickshaws around the theme of peace.

The PYA plans to send out 50 rickshaws — refurbished and emblazoned with a message of peace into the streets of Karachi. Five of these rickshaws have already been redesigned at Nusrat Iqbal’s chamak patti workshop in Sohrab Goth. Iqbal is the man who designed the W-11 buses being displayed across the world and also has a decorating commission in Dubai to his credit. He agreed to take on the project as a ‘good deed’.

The pimped up rickshaws scream for attention. Decorated in the truck art style, the rickshaws are not adorned with the usual poetry about love, spirituality, women and flowers but instead bear a message of peace. Mohammad Tariq Shah, who has been driving a rickshaw for around six months, is now behind the wheel of an eye-popping fuchsia rickshaw with the potent slogan: ‘Rickshaw chala raha hoon, goli to nahin!’ (I’m driving a rickshaw, not firing a bullet). Another rickshaw’s cover has been replaced with a print of an Urdu newspaper’s editorial page; with headlines like ‘deen mai jabar nahi’ (there is no oppression in religion).

“We wanted to counter extremism by using art as a medium. Rickshaws are always on the go, everyone sees them,” says Maria Naqvi, the director of art and advocacy for the PYA.

The PYA doesn’t take credit for the designs and the slogans though; these were decided by children from government schools all over Karachi, who were part of a workshop that preceded the rickshaws project. “We talked to them about the problems in their area and in the country. We were amazed at how much they knew about the ground realities,” Naqvi says, “they knew words like ‘firqa variyat’ (sectarianism).”

Over the course of the workshop, the students came up with the catchphrases, playing on existing slogans and advertisements like: ‘Pappu yaar jang na kar’ and ‘aman ko phaila dala to life jhingalala’.

Though the jazzed up rickshaws have only been on the road for a few weeks, people are already showing interest. Curious rickshaw drivers have approached Iqbal to redo their rickshaws in the same style. “It has become more beautiful than before,” Shah says of his newly refurbished ride, “the other day I had a Pathan passenger who claimed that there wasn’t another rickshaw like this in all of Karachi!” A pick-up driver also approached Iqbal, and said that he wanted the same peace messaging since he travelled throughout the country. This is exactly what PYA co-founder Maryam Kanwer hopes to achieve — that the slogans go viral and spread the message of peace.

The drivers of the five redesigned rickshaws come from what Kanwer describes as the ‘conflicted areas’ of Lyari, North Karachi, Korangi and North Nazimabad. The drivers were found via a member of the organisation; one was a distant relative, who brought along a cousin, and thus the word spread. Naqvi says that they picked rickshaws that operated in different parts of the city, and ones that were pretty rundown to begin with. Each rickshaw cost Rs6,000 to Rs10,000 to redesign and to refurbish, and if you haven’t spotted one yet don’t worry, the PYA is planning a peace march in the coming months which will feature all the rickshaws and the students from the workshops along with (hopefully) the citizens of Karachi.

The PYA is very careful in terms of the messages they put on the rickshaws as they can be easily misconstrued. “We understand the concerns of the rickshaw drivers,” Naqvi said, “one of them, whose rickshaw has ‘aman’ [peace] written on it, got threats from some Pathans in Lyari who thought that this was a message from the People’s Aman Committee!”

But can five or even 50 rickshaws counter the messages of hate being spread by other groups, who have more resources, manpower and reach than the PYA? Kanwer believes they can. “I have faith that even in the darkness there is light,” she says.

The PYA is not alone, and over the past few years the deepening crisis in the country has served as an inspiration for local artists, who are actively trying to spread the message of peace through t-shirts, street art and paintings.  Kanwer’s faith is also shared by the rickshaw drivers, who are excited about spreading peace and, of course, about the shiny, happy interior of the vehicles. They hope that this will not just attract customers — “people turn around and stare at the rickshaws in traffic,” says one driver — but also help change people’s mindsets.

One of the drivers of the rickshaws, Mohammad Yousaf, best describes their intentions with a Seraiki poem from his childhood:

‘Wafadar haan mai wafadar rahsaan,

Wafavah di nagri da sardar haan

Aman wandawan gunah hai jai kar

Gunahgaar haan mai gunahgaar haan’

‘I am loyal,

the lord of all those who are loyal.

If spreading peace is a sin,

then I am a sinner’

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, February 10^th, 2013.

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Correction: An earlier version of the article had incorrectly translated the word ‘jabar’. The error has been rectified.

“Haal was my graduation project at the London Film School,” says Khan, who was humbled by the success of his film. “I was greatly influenced by the political struggle against Zia in the ‘80s so I felt it was important to catalog that on screen; for me, this film was a form of catharsis.”

Haal shows the story from the standpoint of a kathak dancer — played by classical dancer Nighat Chaudhry — and a journalist; it explores how Zia’s rule affected liberal arts and media.

“I filmed it in Lahore right after the assassination of Shaheed Salmaan Taseer and that added meaning to the production as his murder was a shocking reminder of how Zia’s Pakistan is still alive and flourishing,” he adds regretfully.

He feels the reality of militancy depicted in the film, which is prevalent in Pakistan today, and the politics that have been revealed simultaneously, is what allows the audience to relate. “I think that is what resonated most with the viewers — these issues are parallel with our situation today,” says Khan, adding that militancy is a sad reality of our lives. “The catalyst for this virulent Islamism, if I may use that term, was Zia and his era. And since the film speaks about this, I feel that works for the audience.”

The 22-minute short film, which released in 2012, has been played in numerous film festivals internationally before making its way to JIFF. It was screened at The Second Floor café (T2F) in Karachi in July last year.

Indie films in Pakistan

Speaking about film-making in Pakistan, Khan emphasises that film-makers shouldn’t limit their abilities and should always try to improve. “Film-makers shouldn’t limit themselves to a Pakistani audience. It’s important to remember that the whole world is an audience,” he says. “Pakistani directors can find a way to speak to them also and shouldn’t just assume that audiences in Pakistan are the end of the market.”

In an attempt to support independent film-makers, Khan has started his own production company, Mono No Aware Productions, with film-maker Junaid Malik. “I want to remind film-makers that films that do well internationally are those that are honest,” Khan continues. “As a film-maker, you should make films which mean a lot to you — they tend to work a lot more than other film-making formulas.” He feels the success of Haal would prove to be a launching pad for indie film-makers in the future.

Working on feature films is part of Khan’s future agenda and, currently, he is working on one as an associate producer, which is being filmed in Britain. “I am also writing a couple of scripts and, hopefully, if I am done soon, I will start filming my own feature film by the end of the year,” he says.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2013.

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MUMBAI: Bollywood star Salman Khan has said that he would undertake a long-delayed trip abroad for treatment of a painful condition, which he had put off because of his acting schedule and the blackbuck poaching case in court.

“I had to delay going due to the acting schedules and the court cases. But now I will go,” he told the media at a Celebrity Cricket League match in Kochi Saturday night.

Salman Khan is charged under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly poaching a blackbuck in Rajasthan in 1998.

Asked about the case, he said: “I cannot talk about it right now.”

The 47-year-old is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and aneurysm. In this condition, the patient suffers acute pain in his head, cheeks and jaws.

He had revealed to the media that he had the first attack of pain in the left side of his face during the making of his 2007 film Partner and that the pain came back while he was shooting for Veer (2010).

While 2012 was dominated by the warmth and vivacity of tangerine tango, it’s time the world shifted towards the relaxing radiance of emerald green. Pantone, the world’s leading authority on colour, has initiated the green revolution by naming emerald green the colour of 2013. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Colour Institute, says, “Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world.”

One of the most relaxing colours to the human eye as a result of its direct association with nature, green is said to symbolise growth, harmony, freshness and fertility, and to bring balance and prosperity into life.

Renowned fashion houses and designers have already started incorporating the colour in their collections.  So what’s the 101 on How to Dazzle in Emerald Green?

1. Simply go casual or glitz it up for a party. Emerald green has the power to make that much-needed impact at any time of the day. Be it a regular day at your office or a night out with the girlies, emerald green can be the perfect style pick. Upcoming designer Aysha Anees says, “Emerald is casual enough to be worn as prêt wear and at the same time, elegant enough to be worn as formal/luxury wear.”

2. Good news for all you sun-kissed beauties, emerald green complements our natural complexion. Ayesha Jafar, brand communications specialist for SHEEP™, believes, “It is a colour that looks fabulous on every skin tone.” For those of you with a naturally bronze complexion, the original shade of emerald green or one with a hint of python green, would be the best choice to enhance those beautiful features while lighter-toned women can experiment with shades like forest green or pine green with a tinge of blue.

3. Have you ever thought of painting your face green? Relax, I don’t mean it literally. Pantone has also partnered with Sephora, a leading make-up brand, to launch a limited edition ‘colour of the year’ beauty collection in March. With 2013 bringing back those dramatic, bright eyes, an emerald green eye shadow or nail colour can be a great addition to your beauty collection.

4. For all eastern girlies, a green coloured kurta with gold embellishments paired up with neutral tights or palazzo pants can do the trick. And if you favour prints, a green lawn suit with maroon or muted orange piping and buttons should make bang on trend outfit.

5. Finally, accessorise it! While Jafar suggests bright pink and corals, Anees sticks to the trendy, metallic gold accessories and embellishments. An eye-catching emerald green plain dress with a chunky metallic gold necklace paired with a pair of black heels is a sure way to make a splash on Glamour Street!

So, What are you waiting for? Make that trip to your nearest mall or make a call to your personal designer and get on board with Green because it’s got the glamour street rolling this season!

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 10^th, 2013.

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The B-town diva Malaika Arora Khan is most famous for her item songs Chaiyyan Chaiyyan, Anarkali Disco Chali and her famous number Munni. Malaika always manages to impress us with her dress sense on or off screen. Here’s how Malaika was spotted in two different sexy looks:

When Malaika walked on the red carpet of Zee Cine Awards with her family, she knew she sparkled in the spotlight. Her confidence could be seen in her eyes as she wore a short, poofy white dress that only a few can pull off. Kudos to Malaika!

Hair & Make-up

With her bangs parted to cover her forehead, Malaika had the rest of her hair in a pony-tail. Malaika’s smokey-eyes, bright red lipstick, and a light blush gave her a soft glowing look.

Clothes

She wore a stunning white Alice and Olivia Corrine ballerina dress. She looked Barbie doll like in her fairy tale dress!

Accessories and shoes

That diamond encrusted bracelet is a stunning piece of jewellery, we do wish she had worn some earrings though, a little more bling is always welcome. Her black leather clutch, when paired with her sexy gladiator stiletto’s are a nice complement to the dress.

This munni is not afraid of bright colours. She knew exactly how to dress in the afternoon for the launch of Chef Rakhee Vaswani’s Palate Culinary Studio in Santacruz, Mumbai. From head to toe, this look was screaming sexy.

Hair & Make-up

Malaika flaunted her luscious locks as she swept them to one side. Without any teasing on the top, she let her loose curls give off a casual look. Her lips were a rusty rose colour and her eyes carefully lined. The dark pink blush on her cheeks was all she needed to complete her look.

Clothes

We love the one shoulder yellow dress that ended just above her knees. Malaika has a beautiful glazy tan all over and she made sure to show off her well-toned arms by pushing her hair all to one side.

Accessories and shoes

The dress was accessorised with a green belt and a big bling watch. That’s one massive wedding ring, however, she could have afforded some bangles too.  The mustard coloured peep-toes are beautiful against her bright orange nail polish.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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Actor Jennifer Lawrence is having a rough month. First she ripped her dress right off her legs at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) and now she’s tripped and fallen at an event in London on Febuary 8, losing her shoe in the process! She really is a clumsy one!

According to hollywoodlife.com, Lawrence may have taken a tumble to support her film Silver Linings Playbook, but the glamourous star handled it with grace. The Oscar-nominated actor was attending a dinner in honour of her film at Little House in London, guided by security, when she tripped and fell. In the process, she lost her shoe, but she never lost her dignity!

The charming starlet tends to address moments of humility with grace and humor, much like when she appeared on Piers Morgan Tonight on January 31, to joke about her SAG Awards blooper!

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Neha Dhupia, whose career has been a mixed bag, admits she has made mistakes in her career but says she doesn’t regret any of them. “I have no regrets and I don’t want to talk about my mistakes,” Neha told IANS in an interview.

Talking about her film career, Neha said, “A mistake could be not waking up in the morning and going to the gym, or if you are rude to someone or someone misunderstands you. I am not perfect. So there are no regrets.”

The actor, also the former Miss India, has been a part of popular films like Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Shootout at Lokhandwala and Singh Is Kinng. However, her films Sheesha and Paying Guest failed to do any business at the box office.

“There is no such thing as ‘wrong films’,” said the 32-year-old, while admitting that she turned down many offers that she thought did not suit her. “I got many opportunities, but I didn’t want to be a part of them. It is not like I reject work, but I don’t agree with some things at times. I just feel that roles should add value to me. If it’s a great role and even if there is one scene, I will do it,” she added.

Neha entered the film world after she modelled for a few years. She confessed that models are not good actors and that there are better actors than her in the industry. However, she does not think she’s competing with anyone.

“There are better actors than us [models] in the industry. Everyone has a [different] magic and I feel that helps an actor last in the industry for many years. Maybe my magic doesn’t come across that much. There is something special about me, maybe not as much as someone else though,” she said.

She believes that having a star parent would have made her struggle in the fraternity easier. “It is easier when you have a parent in the industry — someone who is selflessly guiding you. If I had a godfather, things would have been different, but it is okay even if I don’t have one,” she said.

The actor also added that she doesn’t agree with stereotypical assumptions about the industry being tough on girls.

Expressing how she loves being a part of the film industry, Neha said, “I have never encountered anything that makes me feel that the industry is tough on girls. I have very high morals,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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NEW DELHI: Superstar Shahrukh Khan has said women are the future and they must be respected. “It is important to talk about women who are making progress, taking our country forward and it is time to celebrate a little bit of brightness and positivity. You need to have women to have men,” the 47-year-old said on Thursday at the launch of the Link Lady collection of watch brand Tag Heuer.

The evening also celebrated the power of women by felicitating four Indian women achievers, who have excelled and contributed tremendously to their respective fields. Among those commemorated were Sara Pilot, for her contribution to charitable causes through her organisation Cequin; Pia Singh, for her work in the country’s luxury retail sector; Ritu Beri for being the pioneer of Indian fashion; and Olympic Bronze medalist Saina Nehwal for excellence in the field of sports.

SRK kept to his late-coming tradition and turned up two hours later than the scheduled time, looking dapper in a black suit. He said it’s time to celebrate the women “who are the leaders of India”.

“It has been a few months now since we are witnessing all the news against women in India. Now everyone wants to come out and vehemently oppose the atrocity that happens with women in our country and around the globe,” said the superstar. He also feels that with all the negativity that is around, it becomes more important to have a few sparks of brightness, beauty and goodness.

The evening started with aerial and ground ballet performances, followed by the unveiling of the watch collection by Khan and TAG Heuer president and CEO, Jean-Christophe Babin.

Those who attended the event included Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Shashi and Sunanda Tharoor, Sachin Pilot, Manav Gangwani, Anupama Dayal, Varun Bahl, Rohit Gandhi and Sanjay Kapoor.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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MUMBAI: Pakistani actor Veena Malik says her role in Zindagi 50-50 is more realistic than bold.

“I think this character is realistic rather than bold. This is a true story of a girl and I have given more than my 100 percent, thanks to Madhuri, the character I am playing,” Veena said on Friday at the music launch of the film.

Veena plays Madhuri, a prostitute in the real-life inspired film. She even met the real prostitutes as part of her preparation for the role.

“I met her. Had I not met her, I would not have been able to play this character with such ease,” she said.

Meanwhile, Veena who has shown a keen interest in working with the Khans, said: “I love all three Khans, be it Aamir, Shahrukh or Salman. I would love to get a chance to work with them. But I think even if Veena Malik does not work with any of them, she will still remain Veena Malik.”

Zindagi 50-50 also features Riya Sen, Arya Babbar, Rajpal Yadav and Rajan Verma.

A group of 17 Pakistani artists showcased their work in Mumbai alongside four leading Indian artists, in an exhibition organised by Gallery 6 which opened on Wednesday at the spacious gallery of PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy.

Being the first collaborative exhibition with any country, Gallery 6 aims to make it memorable. The show has been organised in partnership with an independent organisation International Creative Art Center (ICAC) in Mumbai is being led by Ravindra Mardia, a former industrialist who has now focused his attention towards the promotion of art.

ICAC excels in showcasing the work of artists belonging to various age groups and genre and has been consistently supported and encouraged by the senior Indian artists in doing so.

The Pakistani artists which taking part in the exhibition are Abid Hasan, Abrar Ahmed, Akram Spaul, Aqeel Solangi, Arjumand Faisel, Hajra Mansoor, Irfan Gul Dahri, Mussarrat Nahid Imam, Masood A Khan, Mughees Riaz, Mudassar Manzoor, Mutaib Shah, Mansoor Rahi, Omar Farid, RM Naeem, Sana Arjumand and Wahab Jaffar. The Indian artists are Jatin Das, Lalita Lazmi, Vinay Sharma and Vinod Sharma.

Gallery 6, which was established in March 2008, is the largest private art gallery in Islamabad, showcasing a large collection of paintings, prints and sculptures by established and amateur artists.

Pakistan and India, which have many common cultural grounds, have been exchanging artists belonging to different fields of art. Being Gallery 6’s first exhibition in collaboration with any other country, this exchange is aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. The exhibition ends on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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For most Pakistanis, the aroma and flavour of juicy, browned meat does not fail being a very recent memory. In addition to the ubiquitous barbeque set-ups, most big cities in the country have witnessed a surge in the popularity of char-grilled meat, particularly in the form of char-grilled burgers. As such, the work of Kristen Anderson at the University of Minnesota may have come just in time for us. Anderson, who is an expert on the ‘rapidly fatal’ pancreatic cancer, followed individuals for a nine-year period and identified over 200 cases of the former. She found that those who frequently consumed burned or charred meat were almost 60% more likely to develop the condition.

How come?

• As explained in a publication in the Harvard Health Letter, ‘Cancer risk from BBQ meat’, cooking meat in any form at high temperature causes creatine (a substance found abundantly in red meat) to form chemicals known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs.) HCAs are widely believed to be potent ‘carcinogens’, ie cancer-causing substances.

• Grilling is ‘double trouble.’ On top of the thriving HCAs, when meat is barbequed or char-grilled, an additional type of compound known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is also found. PAHs are produced in the smoke from fire. When fat and juices from the meat being grilled drip into the burning coal, those thrilling flames cause the PAHs from the smoke to adhere to the surface of the meat.

PAHs will also be found in meat that has been smoked. According to the National Cancer Institute, other researchers have identified high consumption of meat that is ‘well-done, fried or barbequed’ as associated with increased risks of colorectal and prostate cancer, in addition to the work on pancreatic cancer by Anderson.

What can be done?

Increasing reliance on low temperature cooking methods. The Better Health Channel in Australia suggest steaming, boiling, poaching, stewing, braising, baking or stir-frying as some of the options.

No, really!

Fortunately, for the barbeque enthusiast facing denial, experts have provided some tips to minimise formation of HCAs and PAHs. Cooking on low heat and not exposing the meat to flames is primary. Other things that can be done include:

• Using smaller cuts of meat. Larger portions such as a whole steak will take longer to cook than smaller ones and also require more heat. Dietician Leslie Beck recommends swapping them for kebabs.

• Harvard Health recommends choosing leaner cuts of meat because less fat will reduce flames when grilling. Another thing that should be done is to ‘flip frequently’, which substantially lowers HCA formation by not letting any one side of the meat get too hot. Marinating meat first is recommended by many but the evidence that it helps is weak.

But you’re only the guest!

If none of the above is useful because your experiences with barbeque are being dictated, there are still some measures that can be taken. Make absolutely sure you cut away any charred portions. And if the meat is fowl, you might be saved if you can desist from consuming the skin. An article in Time Healthland reported that while roasted chicken meat was found to have only 1.9 ng/g of HCAs, the skin had over eight times more with 16.3 ng/g. So don’t be shallow, for the heterocyclic amines are only skin deep.

Or maybe you’ll just stay back home with your daada-daadi and gorge on the unfailing goodness of home-made salan!

The author is the head of Scholars by Profession, a local research-initiative. Find out more at www.facebook.com/scholarsbyprofession/info

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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The plot involves a set of convincing con artists who belong to different age groups and ethnic backgrounds. Posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers, they barge into the homes of affluent ministers and businessmen to seize all their money, lecture them on patriotism and then disappear with complete protocol much before the real CBI officers find out about the scam. The film is based on a true story of four men who pulled off several robberies in the ’80s in India.

Akshay Kumar plays the lead role as Ajay, who is cool and confident. The other members of the group include an aging bald man, and two other simple men, out of whom one hides the fact that he does laundry the at home. The group successfully fools people for some time, but the game changes when an angry CBI officer Waseem (Manoj Bajpai) gets involved in the case. The movie picks up pace as the real chase begins here.

Special 26 portrays original and smooth action sequences with character appearances in an ’80s setting — a pleasant change for the viewer. Director Neeraj Panday proves once again why fresh minds like him are needed in a growing cinema industry like Bollywood. In recent Indian film productions, it’s hard to see any difference between some mainstream films, which are more “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”, in the words of Shakespeare. Film-makers like Panday bring real hope in the industry. His writing/direction debut A Wednesday was more current, aggressive and socially relevant and every word of Naseerudin Shah’s ending monologue is still remembered by fans. Panday’s screenwriting and the mastery in his craft are reflected in the narrative construction of Special 26. It is one of the most thrilling low budget films made in the recent past.

The director has used visuals more than dialogues — a rare approach in Bollywood, so the audience is forced to use its imagination. His direction leaves room for the viewers to connect pieces in their minds and make sense of everything; yet moving fast enough so you don’t spend too much time piecing the puzzle together.

Unfortunately, Akshay Kumar’s love story in the film made no sense at all and seemed like it was a strategy employed to include needless songs. Kajal Aggarwal, who plays Kumar’s love interest by the name of Priya Chavan, is a waste of talent in Special 26. One has to agree that Aggarwal needs to polish her acting skills even though her pretty face and decent screen presence also made Ajay Devgn fall for her in Singham. The other performances are awe-inspiring; including the angry Bajpai, the suave Kumar or the silent Jimmy Shergill — who flawlessly play their roles in the film.

The intensity of the film takes you on a roller coaster ride; full of twists and turns, and fortunately no accidents. The climax might let some down, but the journey up to it is worth the time. Do look for clues in the film that will help understand the plot at the end — you will probably walk out smiling.

Verdict: it’s a must watch! The action sequences keeps you glued to your seats, so don’t go late or take breaks during the movie, or you’ll lose the plot.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2013.            

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LOS ANGELES: Singer Taylor Swift, who has had a string of boyfriends, insists she never yells at any of them.

“I don’t think I have ever yelled at an ex-boyfriend. Ever. I am not a yeller. I am not a fit thrower,” contactmusic.com quoted Swift as saying.

While Swift’s songs are inspired by her former boyfriends – Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, Harry Styles and John Mayer, she insists she is not trying to get back at them through her lyrics.

“To me it is just writing songs the way I always have. It’s me sitting on my bed feeling pain I didn’t understand, writing a song, and understanding it better,” the 23-year-old said.

If people want to dissect the lyrics, that’s their right, but it’s all coming from the exact same place as where I started. It’s just something I do to feel better,” she said.

Swift said her middle school was to blame for making her insecure.

“I didn’t fit in… I would stand on the outside of the circle (in school) but I was never really in. That’s when I started to understand there’s this thing called rejection,” she said.

“Nothing is holistic. Sometimes the first impression keeps us from deeper understanding of subjects,” said Siddiqui, who teaches Fine Arts at Beaconhouse National University, from where she graduated in 2010 as a video artist.

The exhibit, Ways of Deceiving, was inspired by John Berger’s Ways of Seeing, a textbook on visual art, and is Siddique’s first solo exhibition of sculptures.

Two large installations  Window I and Window II  make a statement about time and space. “I have created an installation of a window and have installed it before a real window. The changing imagery behind window panes does not do justice to the image of the actual window. This creates a more flexible, multifaceted understanding of the real image,” said Siddiqui.

In another piece, an image of a lamp is deconstructed to show shadow and light. Images of a kite, a dressing table, and a corridor have been segregated and then layered using polyester resin.

Asad Hayee, the curator of Rohtas II, said that the artist had used the resin in a unique manner. He said that dissecting each layer of an image and then the putting it in layers is “a tedious process”. One needs to let the plastic dry before applying another layer, he said. Kites alone has about 20 to 25 images layered together.

The artist took over six months to finish the nine pieces on display. During this time, she was supported by the Zohra & Z Z Ahmed Foundation. The exhibit will stay on display until February 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.

Carrie Underwood

Country singer Carrie was a picture of elegance in a stunning strapless Roberto Cavalli gown at the Grammys. If her perfect figure-hugging gown was not enough, the singer was also wearing a 381 carat diamond necklace that cost a whopping $31 million! Talk about glam.

Beyonce

Entertainer Beyonce was working an effortlessly chic Osman jumpsuit and a simple, low ponytail. It was a nice change from the glammed out, hair-flipping Beyonce we saw last Sunday at the Super Bowl. Her outfit was complemented by a Swarovski clutch, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Lorraine Schwartz jewellery.

Carly Rae Jepsen

Singer Carly Rae’s hit song was up for two awards at the Grammys! She walked in hand-in-hand with boyfriend Matthew Koma and was wearing a mouthwateringly gorgeous Roberto Cavalli dress with Jerome Rousseau shoes. Carly was a sight for sore eyes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole looked washed out and boring in this gold Vera Wang dress. Her L’Wren Scott shoes, Fred Leighton jewels were not too flattering either. Could have done better with the hair too!

Taylor Swift

We have spotted this singer at too many events in the same boring white, beige or cream-coloured outfit — her stylist is probably colour blind. The singer went on to win a Grammy for Best Song that night. She performed on stage and was wearing a J Mendel dress with Jimmy Choo shoes on the red carpet.

Rihanna

This 24-year-old singer stole the spotlight at the red carpet in this red hot custom-made Azzedine Alaia dress, Neil Lane jewelry, and Manolo Blahnik shoes. We have to say that we have never seen her look better. The red lips are fabulous!

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.            

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Indie pop band Fun., The Black Keys and Australian-Belgian singer Gotye bagged the most grammophone statuettes. Overall The Black Keys won the most Grammys, with four awards — Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album for the band, and Producer of the Year, non-classical, for singer Dan Auerbach.

Gotye took home three trophies — Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Alternative Album — as did Jay-Z and Kanye West, who triumphed for Best Rap Performance, rap/sung collaboration and rap song. New York-based band Fun. won Song of the Year for We Are Young as well as Best New Artist.

British rockers Mumford & Sons took Album of the Year with Babel, while Gotye won Record of the Year for Somebody That I Used to Know, featuring Kimbra.

Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka also accepted a Grammy on behalf of her late father Sunday — in a category in which she had also been nominated.

What wardrobe guidelines?

US television network CBS may have warned stars prior to the event to avoid showing too much skin on stage, but A-listers pushed the limits on the red carpet in revealing gowns. Singer Jennifer Lopez, whose plunging barely-there green Versace gown at the 2000 Grammys provided a red carpet moment for the ages, pushed the dress code to the edge with an asymmetrical Anthony Vaccarello ensemble that covered most — but not all — of her. “They didn’t say anything about leg!” she told the presenter on the red carpet ahead of the main event.

Singer Katy Perry clearly did not get the memo and arrived at the red carpet strutting in a skin-tight, cleavage-baring mint green dress. She said that she was inspired by the retro glam of Priscilla Presley’s look in the 1970s. Singer Rihanna opted for a body-skimming sheer red dress by Azzedine Alaia, with bright red lips to match.

Adele, the big winner at last year’s Grammys with six trophies, left her usual basic black at home but followed the rules, opting for a bold red floral Valentino dress with long sleeves and a conservative knee-length hem.

There was a little bit of drama on the eve of the Grammys, but nothing like Whitney Houston’s shock death last year; Brown wrecked his Porsche in Beverly Hills on Saturday, and blamed the paparazzi for the crash.

As well as helping provide security for the Grammys, the LA Police Department (LAPD), have been involved in a massive manhunt for an ex-cop accused of killing three people and threatening to kill more officers. Thankfully there were no incidents to disrupt Sunday evening’s show, which went off as smooth as glamorous as expected.

Top category winners

Album of the Year: Babel — Mumford & Sons

Song of the Year: We Are Young — Fun. featuring
Janelle Monáe

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Somebody That I Used To Know — Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Best Pop Instrumental Album: Impressions — Chris Botti

Best Dance/Electronica Album: Bangarang (Skrillex)

Best Rock Performance: Lonely Boy — The Black Keys

Best Rock Album: El Camino (The Black Keys)

Best Rap Performance: N****s In Paris — Jay-Z & Kanye West

Record of the Year: Somebody That I Used To Know — Gotye featuring Kimbra

Best New Artist: Fun.

Best Pop Solo Performance: Set Fire to the Rain (Live) — Adele

Best Pop Vocal Album: Stronger — Kelly Clarkson

Best Dance Recording: Bangarang — Skrillex Featuring Sirah

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Kisses on the Bottom (Paul McCartney)

Best R&B Performance: Climax – Usher

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.            

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Who is he?

Move over Fawad Khan, we’re putting another actor on our hottie throne.  He’s the brand spanking new face on TV who’s giving the tired faces a run for their money. He’s smart (went to IBA for his bachelor’s degree in Finance), extremely talented (watch him in Kahi Unkahi and Zindagi Gulzar Hay), humble (did not do the typical I’m-too-busy-with-shooting routine when we called him for an interview). And did we mention he’s smoking hot?

Why we’re crushing on him

If we went to high school with him, we’re pretty sure he’d be prom king. He was the captain of his debate team, played in the cricket team and didn’t let his grade point average get affected at all.

Unlike other actors who live, breathe and dream of acting, Sheheryar just stumbled on it. He was sitting on a job offer from an excellent multinational after completing his bachelors programme. But instead of just going the normal 9-5 route, he thought he’d take a year-long break and do the kind of fun stuff that he’d reminiscence about when he turns 40. Acting turned out to be one of them. When he told his family, including his elder sister who went to Harvard, there was a lot of trepidation. It was only after he’d promised that he’d act only for a year and then head off for a postgraduate degree that his family agreed. Within that year, he managed to not only work on more than a few drama serials, he’s scored a role in an upcoming Pakistani film Kambakht. We’re now hoping his parents will extend that year to forever, maybe?

Ideal woman

Although he’s single right now, he has a pretty tall order for his future significant other. The attributes come in this order: “She has to be smart, witty, a people’s person; should be sensitive, care about animals and you know, the kind who cries at the end of a movie. She doesn’t have to be typically good-looking but the kind who carries herself amazingly well.”

His celebrity crushes

Shehryar is koo-koo for Fatima Bhutto. So if you’ve ever been told that you have the remotest resemblance to Fatima Bhutto, holla’ back at our hottie!

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 10^th, 2013.

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Correction: The original online article mistakenly had Shehryar Munawar Siddiqui added as the author of the post. The error is regretted. 

LAHORE: After the launch of Home Couture earlier this year, Lahore’s interior decoration market has witnessed a significant stir as more people look for diversity and a unique take on interiors. Gone are the days when people were satisfied with a generic sofa and side tables, people now express their individuality with the help of the interior in their house.

With the soaring cost of materials, new designers are now coming out with collections that allow clients to get the interior they desire without getting out of budget. Nothing in the furniture market appealed one such designer Nyla Amjad Asghar, and that’s when she decided to launched The Lounge in the bustling Barkat Market of Lahore.

“There was nothing that appealed to me when I moved from Karachi to Lahore six years ago,” said Asghar. “I enrolled myself for an interior designing course at National College of Arts in order to pursue it professionally.”

Inspired by the Balinese aesthetic, Asghar adds a classical twist to contemporary styled furniture so that pieces can be used in both traditional and contemporary environments. Vibrant colors and structured designs is what The Lounge offers its clients. While some pieces, such as ottomans upholstered with thickly woven Multani embroidery, represent the fusion of East and West, most of the furniture comprises straight lines and simplicity of design.

Priced between Rs15,000 to Rs60,000, Asghar’s furniture, including original cow skin upholstery and snake skin trays, caters to the young couples who are in search of something unique for their new house. The piece that stands out the most is the monochromatic, harlequin print console that will add an extra flare to any setting it is placed in.

The designer’s bold take on the iconic Fendi-boxed chairs by adding very Missoni-esque fabric is very striking. “From lamps to trays, all pieces are hand-made and mostly exclusive since we use limited edition fabrics,” said the designer, who promises to create something for everyone who enjoys her aesthetic.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.            

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