The film’s first screening in Pakistan showed how the medium of films, abandoned in Pakistan over the years, finally seems worthwhile. The low-key inauguration only emphasised the fact that times have changed and a new sense of film-making has arrived.

“People have asked how I made something different from Bollywood,” says Meher Jaffri, the film’s producer who is also the CEO at Bodhicitta Works. “We need a revolution in film-making, audiences are smarter now and there is room for a niche audience,” she adds.

“I guess when the journey began, we had no corporate interest until after the festivals, my only advice to film-makers is to make films that you believe in, there is no formula,” says Jaffri.

The Seedlings team is like a family that has struggled. In fact, the project Seedlings was launched only after the team’s much hyped sci-fi thriller Kolachi was delayed.

Unlike mainstream commercial films, the Seedlings show didn’t open with an array of other trailers. Instead, the screen showed another Bodhicitta Works production, a short film directed by young musical sensation Usman Riaz.

The story involves three separate lives trying to connect after one tragic event. It revolves around a couple played by Aamina Sheikh and Mohib Mirza, who after a year of losing their son, are trying to come to terms with life. As everything around them deteriorates, madness prevails. The film is dominated by fleeting emotions and flashbacks, keeping the viewer engaged.

Gohar Rasheed gives a standout performance as a broken-down rickshaw driver, who is also trying to cope with the accident. The screenplay rolls smoothly with succinct and solid dialogues, the great camera work and sound which make up for the flat acting.

The cinematography showcases a different side to Karachi, a metropolitan city with flashing scenes of markets and the suburbs. More importantly, it sets a tone in the film where Usman Riaz’s musical score has a strong impact.

The film’s commercial release is yet to be confirmed, but Jaffri admits that despite its festival success, issues regarding distribution have prevailed. She says that creating a market for independent and like-minded film-makers is needed.

“Negotiations are under-way, but these things basically come down to the best deal,” adds Jaffri.

Director Mansoor Mujahid, who made his directorial debut with Seedlings, says, “The film is not constructed as a commercial film.”

“A lot of films have used some of the techniques we employed but I never looked at this through the narrative; I thought this was a collection of fleeting images that projected emotions on to the screen,” says Mujahid. “Viewers expect more action, but when you are stuck with low-budgets, you’re forced to make character-based films,” he adds.

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

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“I have wanted to do retail for a very long time now,” says Chaudhri, thrilled about her new endeavour. “When Bonanza’s flagship store opened at Dolmen City Mall, Frieha Altaf introduced me to Hanif Bilwani [of Bonanza] and the next thing I know, voila! The label approached me to design their prêt collection.”

Chaudhri will be working on 10 designs with two colourways; out of 10, eight will fall in the casual clothing line and the remaining will be formal wear. With a price ceiling of Rs4,000 on casuals, the entire collection will be out in stores by the end of March or beginning of April.

“I’m doing a prêt line for Bonanza in order to reach a broader and larger audience,” she continues, talking about why she took the step to work with the label. “I’ll be using bright colours such as corals, greens, pinks, blues as well as black and white for the sake of relief.” She admits her hemlines went up over a year ago and she will stick to shorter shirts with this collection as well; some will have volume and some structure. “The designs would mostly be solid but some will be printed as well,” she adds.

Apart from prêt wear, Chaudhri says she would love to do lawn. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says. “But to be honest, no one ever approached me. And secondly, I need a financier.” Excited with the idea, she says she wouldn’t stick to the conventional three-piece suit when she enters the lawn industry and would take it to another level.

In her career, Chaudhri has worked with numerous designers. Starting her career off as an intern for Shamaeel Ansari to becoming a young interior designer at Asad Tareen and Naheed Mashooqullah; with mentors Zahir Rahimtoola and Maheen Khan, she entered the realms of retailing as well.

High-street fashion

Chaudhri says high-street fashion needs to be promoted in Pakistan. “High-street fashion is so well-groomed internationally but not in Pakistan,” she says regretfully. “Clothes are supposed to be fun and I want to keep it that way — there should be no fuss. That is my style philosophy.” She feels her prêt wear collection is all about having a distinct style. “People are always fussing about something or the other and then they start doing it with clothes as well,” she says.

She believes the concept of such clothing lines in the country needs to be remodeled. “Fashion needs to be affordable as well,” she continues. “Everyone should have variety in their wardrobes.”

Recalling the controversy that arose at the showcasing of her collection Bitten at FPW3, Chaudhri –when Mathira had a wardrobe malfunction that revealed a little more than was planned — Chaudhri says, “Mathira turned it into a fuss— no one is racier than her.”

“A malfunction happened on the ramp which was not intended and was greatly unfortunate. Having said that, the collection still received a good response.”

Speaking about Kage, which she describes as a collection meant for a woman who is “powerful and a warrior”, Chaudhri says, “I just cannot resist tie-and-dye fabric. I’ve had a long love affair with this art.”

She currently stocks her collections at Labels and Fashion Pakistan Lounge (FPL). The future seems bright for this designer as she has interior design projects in the pipeline and is also planning to start a luxury prêt wear collection under her own label.

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

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Actor Kaley Cuoco looked fab and chic on the eve of the 55th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Hair

We are totally digging her centre-parted messy locks! As soon as you head out of a shower, spray your hair with Tresemme 24-Hour Body Root Boosting Spray (Rs650) to pump up the volume and dry your hair upside down. Loosely curl your hair with a curling wand leaving about an inch of the ends of your hair straight to make it look more natural.

Make-up

With her stark black slightly exaggerated gold embroidered jacket, Cuoco made the right move by sporting that barely-there look. Get her dramatic eyes by lining your eyes generously with Kryolan Aqua Colour liquid liner in black (Rs350). Put on some Maybelline Shiny Licious Pink Sorbet gloss (Rs550) and rouge your cheeks with The Body Shop’s Ginger All-in-one Blusher (Rs1,700). To complete your look, paint your nails black with OPI Nail Lacquer (Rs800).

Accessories

For the minimal look this Hollywood beauty is sporting, buy the multi-layered chain with a pendant (Rs900) and a chunky ring to rock the uber chic look like hers. To match the outfit, look for a similar clutch (Rs1,200) at WalkEaze or Samia & Azmay Shahzada (Rs5,500).

Outfit

To get your hands on a similar pair of black disco pants, make your way to Zainab Market. Pair it with a plain white tee to tone this striking jacket down (which can easily be found if you rummage through the aisles and shops at Sunday Bazar).

Shoes

We are in love with her plain black velvet pumps which are complementing her stylish ensemble well.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Singer Justin Bieber unveiled a rough version of a new song You Want Me after failing to conduct a live chat with his fans due to poor Internet connectivity.

He was scheduled to have a live chat with fans Sunday night, but could not get a good Internet connection as he is currently on holiday. So to compensate, he posted a video and a preview of his unfinished new song, reports contactmusic.com.

The 18-year-old appeared shirtless in the clip and apologised, saying, “My fans are just overpopulating the sites and I don’t think it’s going to work. So I am just going to make a video and play some new music.”

He later posted a link to the song and said, “It’s not finished, but here’s a little part of a song I am working on.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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The perfect bouquet of flowers can lighten up any woman’s day. Flowers do have the ability to make you feel special and just a little more cheerful on a dull day. Research shows that smells and scents can impact almost everything, from dreams and emotions, driving and stress, to pain, concentration, memory and romance. While a whiff of lavender releases feel-good hormones and makes us happier, the scent of roses lowers blood pressure and a hint of eucalyptus improves alertness. So here are a few tips on how to keep those buds blossoming for a happier you.

Imported flowers available in the market are twice the price of your regular roses and are known to last and stay in bloom for at least 10 days. However, the downside is, these pretty ones have no smell if any, because of being chemically treated to look nicer for longer.

According to the Reader’s Digest, there are a few simple ways to preserve the freshness and aroma of your flowers.

Bleach

Freshly cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add a quarter teaspoon of bleach into a vase of water. Another popular recipe calls for three drops bleach and one teaspoon sugar in one vase of water. This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Coins

Your posies and other cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase water.

Hair spray

Just as it preserves your hairstyle, a bit of hair spray can preserve your cut flowers. Stand a foot away from the bouquet and give them a quick spray, just on the undersides of the leaves and petals.

Aspirin

It’s a tried and tested way to keep roses and other cut flowers fresh longer: put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Don’t forget to change the water every few days, as it tends to develop a bad smell over time.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Roses

Local roses that cost Rs15 a stem on any regular day increase to Rs115 on Valentine’s — florists have this one specific day to inflate the prices as much as they want and still sell their product out. “This is our time to make some money,” says an excited Javed Mansha, a florist in Liberty Market. “The demand is so high that the imported rose which is for Rs110 on any normal day is easily sold for Rs250 to Rs300!”

Prime Edibles

Lahore’s latest sensation of edible arrangements has come up with a wide variety of assorted truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberry bouquets and candy arrangements. What is really exciting about Prime Edibles is that they have something for everyone. If all hope fails and you can’t decide what to get, a small box of home-made truffles might just save the day. Or even a small bouquet of chocolate dipped strawberries for Rs1,200 is not a bad option.

Ideas Guild

A small enterprise that focuses on novelty items is offering a faux pearl necklace set with crocheted flowers. They might not be for everyone’s taste but for Rs800, they make a cute gift for Valentine’s Day.

Cupcakes

As cliché as it may sound, everyone loves cupcakes! Cakes Matter by Zara Abbas is offering a fun deal which includes five personalised cupcakes in a decorated basket just for Rs1,200. Who says cupcakes are girly? Boys love cupcakes just as much and what better way to start off the day than devouring some delicious cupcakes.

For him:

Movie night

It is always fun to spend the entire day with your special one and if your Valentine is a movie-lover or enjoys TV shows, you could always make a movie basket. Get a season or a couple of movies, add some popcorn, candy and other food items he or she might like and tuck in for a fun night watching shows or movies.

T-shirts from Stoneage

T-shirts are something guys adore and simply do not get sick of no matter how many they have lying around in their closets. Stoneage offers a variety of cool shirts to give away and all under Rs1,000. Go an extra mile and buy yourself the same one and be the cute couple wearing the same tee on the block!

Spa treatment

Yes spas are for women, but men love the ideas of massages and being pampered too. Why not give him a gift voucher to go and pamper himself at the spa? Arammish Spa offers a wide array of services for men and within Rs1,500, you can give him a great deal.

Other Options

Dinner and dessert

With fancy hotels offering dinner and dance combos and restaurants displaying high-priced extravagant menus to celebrate, date planners also have cafés to choose from. Espresso’s Valentine Day platter for two, which includes a full meal and red velvet cupcakes, is under Rs1,500. Café Zouk has their dinner specials starting at Rs1,700 with complimentary red roses before 7pm. A French dinner with a romantic setting at Café Flo is priced a little higher between Rs2,000 to Rs3,000.

From big chocolate heart cakes and small red cupcakes to chocolate truffles, they are all delicious heart stealers. The Muah Ferrero (Valentine edition) by The Riding Hood Bakery tops the list and The Cakery’s Mr & Mrs Cuddles with a teddy couple decorated on the cake is another favourite. Butler’s Chocolate Café is also offering gift boxes between Rs700 and Rs6,000.

Flowers

Flower bouquets can be the best way to express, strengthen or heal your love. A few of the Karachi flower shops made it to our top picks:

Buds n’ Blossoms uses black net and fancy ribbons with their bouquets. Their shop not only offers floral arrangements, but also includes a large number of gift options. All of their products are imported including their fresh flowers; single rose for Rs200 and a dozen for Rs2,400 and a velvet rose for Rs300 and a dozen for Rs3,600.

At Zerritta Flowers, a single rose on a regular day costs Rs150, but on Valentine’s Day, it’s priced at Rs350. Punjab Florist offers floral arrangements at a price of approximately Rs2,500.

Online

Okay, so if you don’t want to step out of your home or office to buy something special for someone, then use the following websites:

www.tohfay.com: Tohfay has a special tab for Valentine’s gifts, including chocolates, candles, oil burners, accessories, gift hampers and clothing.

www.emarkaz.com: Emarkaz delivers anywhere in Pakistan, and their gift list includes flowers, cakes, handy crafts, perfumes, and stuffed toys.

www.sentimentsexpress.com: TCS Sentiments Express is one of the oldest personalised gift delivery service. Their options include floral arrangements, sweets, cakes and numerous gifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Assorted ties

Buying a present for a man is always confusing. However, there are some shops offering Valentine’s special sales for men’s wear. Ties from Next and Pedro are priced under Rs1,400 and customised ties by All Tied Up start from Rs1,000.

Polo shirts

It was refreshing to see that Gul Ahmed carries quality men’s western wear. The bright and single coloured polo shirts are a great addition to the Ideas store and are priced at Rs1,050.

Phone accessories

Who doesn’t like to jazz up their cell phones? Make sure you know the model of your significant other’s phone when you look for earphones, covers or cables offered at Good Luck Computers (Boating Basin).

Wallets or key chains

If there’s nothing anywhere else, go to Zainab Market in Saddar. Step over to the most affordable leather shops and buy a wallet for under Rs1,500 in brown, black or camel colour. Most shops also offer a set of wallet and key chain.

Books

If you have a man who loves to read, there’s no better place than to find his favourite books at Liberty Bookstore. Located in various points in the city, you’ll definitely find interesting books under Rs1,500.

Pens

A pen is still a precious gift, especially for the office-goer. Pen World offers a variety of classy and affordable pens under Rs1,500. Wrapping it in a nice case along with a personalised card, makes it even more special.

For her:

Spa service

Women love to be pampered, and many salons like Blush and Zara’s are offering deals for Valentine’s Day. While Toni&Guy is offering a 20% discount, Saman’s Salon has a mani-pedi combo for Rs1,500.

Jewellery

A small section at Accessorize is under Rs1,500, but QnH (Dollmen City Mall) has a large selection of jewellery to choose from. If you’re looking for something with ethnic beauty and glamour, check out Tariq Center on Tariq Road and Gulf Shopping Center in Clifton.

Candles

A good scent puts one in a good mood. Scentsations, Candle works and Buds n’ Blossoms are offering assorted candles ranging from Rs600 to Rs1,500. A candle paired with body lotion is always nice to give.

Assorted scarves

QnH (Dollmen City Mall) carries beautiful printed scarves ranging from Rs800 to Rs1,200. While most of Khaadi’s silk scarves are overpriced, their cotton scarves are Rs1,500 or just above.

Make-up

Women love to dress up, so you can never go wrong with make-up. A set of nail polish, lipstick and liner by Color Studio will cost Rs1,200.

Gift basket

Buds n’ Blossoms on Tauheed commercial is offering a special gift basket for Rs1,500. This includes Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a teddy bear and a range of candles to choose from in a heart-shaped basket which makes a great gift.

Other Options

Dinner and dessert

With fancy hotels offering dinner and dance combos and restaurants displaying high-priced extravagant menus to celebrate, date planners also have cafés to choose from. Espresso’s Valentine Day platter for two, which includes a full meal and red velvet cupcakes, is under Rs1,500. Café Zouk has their dinner specials starting at Rs1,700 with complimentary red roses before 7pm. A French dinner with a romantic setting at Café Flo is priced a little higher between Rs2,000 to Rs3,000.

From big chocolate heart cakes and small red cupcakes to chocolate truffles, they are all delicious heart stealers. The Muah Ferrero (Valentine edition) by The Riding Hood Bakery tops the list and The Cakery’s Mr & Mrs Cuddles with a teddy couple decorated on the cake is another favourite. Butler’s Chocolate Café is also offering gift boxes between Rs700 and Rs6,000.

Flowers

Flower bouquets can be the best way to express, strengthen or heal your love. A few of the Karachi flower shops made it to our top picks:

Buds n’ Blossoms uses black net and fancy ribbons with their bouquets. Their shop not only offers floral arrangements, but also includes a large number of gift options. All of their products are imported including their fresh flowers; single rose for Rs200 and a dozen for Rs2,400 and a velvet rose for Rs300 and a dozen for Rs3,600.

At Zerritta Flowers, a single rose on a regular day costs Rs150, but on Valentine’s Day, it’s priced at Rs350. Punjab Florist offers floral arrangements at a price of approximately Rs2,500.

Online

Okay, so if you don’t want to step out of your home or office to buy something special for someone, then use the following websites:

www.tohfay.com: Tohfay has a special tab for Valentine’s gifts, including chocolates, candles, oil burners, accessories, gift hampers and clothing.

www.emarkaz.com: Emarkaz delivers anywhere in Pakistan, and their gift list includes flowers, cakes, handy crafts, perfumes, and stuffed toys.

www.sentimentsexpress.com: TCS Sentiments Express is one of the oldest personalised gift delivery service. Their options include floral arrangements, sweets, cakes and numerous gifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Cupcakes and cookies

Mint To Be, a place that makes personalised cakes in Islamabad, has something special in store for people in love this Valentine’s Day. A number of exclusive goodies are available; from red velvet cookies (Rs125) to tiny metallic mailboxes filled with five assorted cake pops (Rs1,000 a box).
And that’s not all. A take-away box with ribbon handles filled with six red velvet cupcakes cookies or five cupcakes for Rs1,000, metallic pails filled with six cookies again for Rs1,000, mugs filled with either red velvet or chocolate fudge cake (Rs1,000) and white roses with Red Velvet cake (Rs3,000) are other options.

Ottoman Turkish jewellery

Ottoman Jewels brings authentic Turkish ornaments to Pakistan, which include precious and semi-precious stones in silver and bronze; hand-made mosaic lamps and other Turkish handicrafts are also available.

Give her a bracelet with the Tughra (Ottoman signature) inscribed into bronze and encircled with zircons around it for Rs950 — this signature was used by the sultans to add that extra factor of royalty. Or gift her a brown leather bracelet with emerald and ruby stones studded in the front for Rs1,100.

For Rs1,200, a necklace with a whirling dervish made on a bronze pendant is also available and if you spend a little more (Rs1,450), you can get your hands on an evil-eye pendant made of authentic 925 silver. The Nazar Boncuk charm (or Evil Eye Bead) is an “eye”, often set on a blue background. It stares back at the world to ward off the evil spirits and keep you safe from harm.

Pampering voucher

Salon@Latelier in F8 offers a range of services for Valentine’s Day as well. With a Rs1,500-voucher, girls can get a whitening facial, hairstyling, blow dry, express manicure and pedicure, eye make-up, hot oil treatment, shoulder massage and protein treatment and look great for this special day.

Pashmina scarves

If she is into traditional gift items, then a nice Pashmina scarf is an ideal present for her. Maharaja in F6 Super Market has a wide range of Pashmina scarves with traditional prints and patterns in all colours and costs upto Rs1,500.

Shoes and accessories

Haroons Gift Shop in F6 Super Market has a wide range of trendy shoes, bags and accessories all under Rs1,500. One can mix and match and pick up a pair of shoes up to Rs1,000 with a bracelet or pendant for Rs595 as well.

For him:

T-shirts

Guys can never get enough. As summer approaches, a good gift for Valentine’s could be a nice t-shirt for him. Good places to pick one up in Islamabad would be Levis or Breakout, which would cost up to Rs1,500 or maybe less.

Customised zippo

A good gift for a smokin’ boyfriend could be a customised zippo from Shams or illusions F6. A wide range of zippos with different patterns are available at the special zippo counter in Shams and Illusions in F-6 Super Market.

Go-karting ticket

If he is adventurous and loves outdoor activities, then a go-karting ticket at Lake View Park Rawal Dam would be an ideal. A single ride costs Rs2,000 but if two tickets are purchased, a discount can be availed with one ticket costing around Rs1,500.

Play Station games

A wide range of new games are now available in Illusions and Famous Toys F-6 and Spiral in F11 Markaz. Play Station 3 games can start from Rs300 and go up to Rs1,000. Good games right now for Xbox include Call of Duty, Dead Space 3, City of Gangsters and Halo4.

Wallet

Leather wallets available at Traditions in F7 Jinnah Super Market are a good pick for Valentine ’s Day. Pure leather wallets are available in black, grey and brown for up to Rs1,500. Other leather items in this range are also available, such as key chains and dairy covers.

Other Options Online

Okay, so if you don’t want to step out of your home or office to buy something special for someone, then use the following websites:

www.tohfay.com: Tohfay has a special tab for Valentine’s gifts, including chocolates, candles, oil burners, accessories, gift hampers and clothing.

www.emarkaz.com: Emarkaz delivers anywhere in Pakistan, and their gift list includes flowers, cakes, handy crafts, perfumes, and stuffed toys.

www.sentimentsexpress.com: TCS Sentiments Express is one of the oldest personalised gift delivery service. Their options include floral arrangements, sweets, cakes and numerous gifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Under the auspices of the legendary writer Anwar Maqsood, who is also the playwright for the original drama, young and passionate actors brought new life to the characters of a drama that is a part of our national archive. Yasir Hussain as Akbar, Hareem Farooq as Jehan Ara, Khalifa Sajeeruddin as Chaudhary Sahab, Nurjis Jafri as Hamsheera/Sultana and Talal Jilani as Mehboob Ahmed in the main roles left no stone unturned in giving us fresh rendition of Aangan Terrha.

Late Salim Nasir’s unforgettable role of a servant and former classical dancer in the drama is played by Hussain, who feels the role was a part of him. After witnessing his performance, veteran actor Bushra Ansari, who was a part of the original cast, gave him her blessings by saying: “Tum to Akbar ko ghol kay pee gaye, bohat achay”. While Farooq played Jehan Ara Begum, who appeared a lot like a younger version of Ansari, Sajeeruddin played the energetic Chaudhary Sahab.

The play Aangan Terrha is a pleasant break from the thumkas and item numbers that have infested Karachi theatre, and incredible one-liners by the master of satire himself are worth the watch.

While the class and charisma of the original drama has been retained, a bit of reinvention was expected and also needed for stage which unfortunately was not seen. Perhaps the only flaw was the lack of a theatrical feel, since the director has chosen to replicate on stage exactly what was on TV. Similar to the transitions in a TV play, the lights and music faded in and out as a changeover of wardrobe and props were needed, which was uninteresting for the audience.

A few issues in the venue gave way to some murmurs within the crowd. The number of people invited on media night exceeded the available seats at the Arts Council. This resulted in organisers requesting some children to vacate their seats for adults. Despite the fact that children under 12 were not allowed, a few crying babies were admitted into the auditorium, which became a source of disturbance during the performance. It would have been better if the audience had followed the rules, or the organisers had stuck to theirs.

A ticket worth Rs1,500 is certainly steep for Aangan Terrha, which is a play that people from all income groups would like to watch. This also casts a shadow of doubt on whether or not Aangan Terrha will complete a running of a 100 shows. Theatre is an industry that needs money, but it’s unreasonable to expect all income groups to pay such a price. The organisers would have had more ‘house full’ nights had it been a Rs500 ticket.

Verdict: Do watch Aangan Terrha for Anwar Maqsood’s hilarious one-liners, the incredible resurrection of Salim Nasir’s character Akbar and a nugget of how Urdu was once written and spoken. For the oldies, the play will bring back fond memories; for young members of the audience, it is a valuable lesson in culture and literature.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.            

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Usually in the news for all the wrong reasons, actor Veena Malik was spotted at the music launch of her upcoming film Zindagi 50-50 in Mumbai, looking like a geisha gone wrong.

The Charge Sheet

Hair

Veena’s hair, although neatly tied-up, is just not complementing her attire. Maybe open straightened hair would have done justice to this cocktail of an outfit.

Outfit

With this carelessly ironed outfit, it seems like Veena was planning to join a parade after the music launch! The ruffled hem of the shirt with that knee-length black skirt is making her look pear-shaped. Had she worn black leather tights and a funky belt instead of this boring black skirt, she could have saved her look.

Makeup

From her face and neck, to her arms and legs, Veena looks like she’s been plastered in foundation that is too light for her skin tone. With that sparkly top, the actor should have avoided that shrieking red lip and those green snake eyes. The contacts are a big no-no.

Accessories

We are glad Veena opted to sport only those pearl-studded earrings — the only breather in her whole ensemble.

Shoes

The black pumps are not bad, but she could have gone for some sky high metallic heels to add funk to her look.

Wore it better

Angelina Jolie

Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie, who has paired this black leather skirt well with that white silk top, looks uber chic. She has the right amount of make-up and accessories to complement her outfit.

Diane Krugar

Actor Diane Krugar, who played Helen in the film Troy, looks like a million dollars in this Calvin Klein outfit. We love the midriff-baring top and sling bag.

Selena Gomez

Veena should take a lesson from singer and actor Selena Gomez who pulls off this glittery gold dress with elegance and looks feminine and trendy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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The royal family is protesting yet again against Italian magazine Chi which has published the pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a bikini, baring her baby bump on a public beach in the Caribbean island of Mustique. Last year, Kate Middleton’s topless photographs were taken while she was relaxing on a sun lounger and were published in French magazine Closer.

Following the release of Middleton’s pictures, Australian weekly Woman’s Day, announced that it will also publish the pictures. “It wasn’t a hard decision to run these photos. She is on a public beach and she was mingling with holidaymakers,” said the editor of Woman’s Day, Fiona Connolly, reports the Guardian. “There are other holidaymakers in the photos as well. It’s a very different situation to the nude photos, there is no photographer hiding in the bushes and she is not inside a private villa.”

A St James’s Palace spokesperson was quoted expressing the royal family’s anguish, saying, “We are disappointed that photographs of the duke and duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas. This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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MUMBAI: Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt reveals that his nephew Vishesh, who is making his debut as a director with Murder 3, pointed out to them that the movies being made under the Vishesh Films banner have started lacking in quality content.

“Murder 3 is a product with which we have re-invented the Murder franchise. It has become the most popular franchise for us and has generated a lot of revenue,” Mahesh Bhatt told reporters on Monday at an event to celebrate the success of Murder 3 music. “It has seen us through for almost a decade. But it is Vishesh Bhatt, the young nephew of mine, had the courage to challenge our entrenched ideas.”

Murder 3 has been produced under the banner Vishesh Films, co-owned by Mahesh and Vishesh’s father Mukesh Bhatt.

“While we have undoubtedly risen from strength to strength and our box office collections have touched dizzying heights, there was deterioration as far as content goes,” he continued. “The emotional sub-text of our films has withered and with that he made us look at a painful truth. And he said that having said this now, let me take charge and correct it.”

The senior Bhatt is in complete awe of Vishesh.

“Vishesh has inhaled this film, made it a part of his entire being and he has metabolised it and given a product which has made me wake up to an awesome talent this kid has,” Bhatt said.

The fate of Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sara Loren-starrer Murder 3 will be decided on Friday when it hits the screens.

But Mahesh feels Vishesh has already struck a double century with Murder 3.

“He comes from our genetic stream — my father was a film-maker, his father is a film-maker, I am a film-maker. But he has something which the new India has. He has the understanding and the depth, which is the need of the hour,” he added. “So Vishesh has made a great beginning and I can undoubtedly say in his debut he has scored a double century.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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Syed paints nature albeit with a bizarre and melancholic twist. Dark Hues of blue, brown and purple dominate the canvas in his work. Contrary to most South Asian artists, his work is more blurred and smudged with lesser use of bold colours and heavy textures.

Be it a river slowly snaking through valleys or green pastures tucked under mountainous ranges, his work draw the viewer in. Syed has worked mainly with acrylic on canvas. His work defines images or objects coming together as whole of otherwise discrete parts.

“Artists need to undermine their own nature, comprehend the grand design that is manifested in all the creation and creatures. They need to decompose themselves to penetrate the visible surface and then transform their feelings into images,” said Syed.

Interestingly, all of Joern’s works at the gallery comprise the private collection of the Swedish Ambassador Lars-Hjalmar Wide that he gave to the gallery.

“My father was Joern’s doctor and he became an avid collector of his work,” said Wide while talking to The Express Tribune.

Born in Karistad in 1902, Joern studied at an art college Mora where renowned Swedish painter Anderszon was his drawing teacher. However it was not until 1946 that Joern had his breakthrough at the “Modern KonstiHemmiljo” art gallery located on the high-end Strandvagen street Stockholm. He died at the age of 66.

Heavily influenced by Picasso and Van Gogh, hid work depicts disarray. With heavy brush strokes and layers, the work exudes an eerie feel even with the dash of bright yellow or red across the canvas.

“His work is just fascinating, with a variety of emotions cut across each other and overlapping,” said the gallery curator Nageen Hayat. The exhibition continues till February 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.

With a few shows returning with their mid-season premieres and some with complete new seasons, the lineup for spring 2013 looks exciting. The must-watch quality dramas will surely be the subject of many conversations for the rest of the year from chronicles of Don Draper in Mad Men to the gruesome power feuds in Game of Thrones. Here’s a look at some of the best TV series making a return with gripping plots and shocking twists that fans are breathlessly looking forward to.

Game of Thrones (season three)

Coming back with a new season, Game of Thrones shows the violent struggle among noble families for the control of the Iron Throne. The show adapted from the fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire has made a fan out of all and drew quite a healthy viewership from Pakistan.

Twitter raved with plaudits last year when season two was starting. Season three premiers on March 31 and is already generating quite a buzz in the blogosphere and media circles. It has been touted as the most anticipated season of the series from the beginning of the show.

Mad Men (season six)

As we saw in season five, marriage has calmed and tamed Don Draper to great heights and it seems that he left his old wild and infidelity — at least for now. Lane Pryce is dead while Joan is the new partner at the advertising firm Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (SCDP).

As it is with each season, nobody can anticipate what’s in the cards for Draper and SCDP. It remains to be seen whether Draper sticks his new and improved self or ricochets back to his old savage ways now that his marriage with Megan is out of the honeymoon phase. However, going by previous seasons, one can be assured of new riveting stories and plotlines and 13 hours of brilliant TV with season six of Mad Men. Fans need to hold on just a bit longer since the next season premieres on April 7, with a two-hour episode.

Suits (season two B)

The show is centred around a legal firm in Manhattan — Pearson Hardman. Suits is all about snippy lawyers, multi-million dollar lawsuits and shrewd power politics aided by a very crisp plot. The one thing guaranteed about this show is that it never has a dull moment; the thrilling drama always keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats.

Suits season two had its mid-season premiere a few weeks ago. The vicious power battle between two managing partners has temporarily weakened Pearson Hardman. This gave rise to factions and groups inside the firm and rival firms that are crouching around Pearson Hardman with their claws out, hurting the firm’s reputation. It remains to be seen how the new managing partner Jessica Pearson and her right-hand man Harvey Specter are going to tackle the situation and shoo away competitors.

Suits airs every Thursday in the US and each episode is an exhilarating ride in itself.

Girls (season two)

Fresh off two wins at the Golden Globe Awards this year, season two of comedy-drama Girls premiered last month on HBO. The show, which won for best TV series and best actor, circles around four girls in their ‘20s trying to make a living in a cut throat New York City. While the show is a bit too Hannah (Lena Dunham) centered and disconcerted, it has seen unprecedented critical and popular success. Girls consists of 10 episodes, and airs every Sunday on HBO. 

What else?

Californication, Cougar Town and the prequel Sex and the City: Carrie Diaries have already premiered last month while Smash, Community, Walking Dead, Spartacus and House of Cards are set for showing in February. The good news for those who missed UK’s airing of Downton Abbey is that now it is being aired on PBS in the US every Sunday.

Watch this space for more on your favourite TV series and share your thoughts with us about your favourite series.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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KARACHI: Did the flowers you gave her not provoke any excitement? The chocolates didn’t make her happy either? Well then, you must be doing something terribly wrong or maybe s(he) is tired of receiving the same gifts every year.

To save you from making a crash landing this Valentine’s Day, we have gathered ideas that will get you a guaranteed ear-to-ear smile from the one you love.

Instagram coasters to be remembered

A great Instagrammed date is a day well spent! Who doesn’t Instagram their photos, especially when it makes you look attractive. Refresh good times by printing your best Instagram moments and making these DIY Instagram beverage coasters. It may be simple and cheap but a guaranteed heart-melting moment.

Things that you will need:

- White glue

- Instagram photo prints

- Flat cork rounds

- Cardboard paper

Cut your photos and cardboard paper according to the size of the cork rounds. Put glue on both sides of the cardboard paper. Stick one side to the cork round and the other to your picture, making sure the glue isn’t oozing. Let it dry and voila! You have your own, personalised beverage coasters — perfect for his/her office desk.

Cost: Rs150 a piece (for him and her)

Love is in the air? So are balloons!

Balloons can brighten anyone’s day. So take a big box or carton, and wrap it with plain gold or silver paper. Paste or draw a heart on the front face, and write a message if you want to go all out expressing yourself.

A heartfelt message taped with a bunch of balloons in her will say a lot than just a box filled with balloons, so make sure you personalise it. Write to your heart’s content to make sure the words stay with her forever. She will open the box at her doorstep and call you to shout a big thank you!

Cost: Rs250 for a bunch of balloons and a carton (For her)

Love grows in a potted plant

What else would be better than waking up to flowers, not ones you picked out from the roadside florist, but from a small potted plant you surprised your Valentine with? It’s sweet to also include a message saying that you wish your love grows as the plant grows (and pray the plant doesn’t wilt!). If it sounds too cheesy, just know that Valentine’s Day is the one day when cheesiness is forgivable.

Cost: Approximately Rs400, but depends on the plant (For him and her)

Dive into the sea of love

If your Valentine is adventurous, plan a trip to Churna Island, which is tucked 60km away from Hawkes Bay, for scuba diving. Just dive into the water and surprise him/her with a rose or thoughtful message when you are both submerged — it will bring a smile on anyone’s face.

Cost: Approximately Rs5,000 (for him and her)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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ISLAMABAD: Flowers say it all on Valentine’s Day and banking on this opportunity, florists earn up to eight times the amount that they make rest of the year. With special arrangements and wrapping papers, flower markets in Islamabad are set to make an ample sales bonus.

While talking to The Express Tribune, florist Mohammad Shahzan Ayub at the capital’s F-6 flower market said, “We wait all year round for this time.” He said that prices start fluctuating a week before Valentine’s Day, however on February 14, prices double or even triple according to the quality of the flower. “If a flower is fresh, then its price will be higher,” Ayub continued.

The florist said that a local rose bud which costs Rs40 to Rs50 becomes as expensive as Rs200 on Valentine’s Day. He added that gladiolus which is normally sold at Rs20 to Rs25 is sold for Rs40 each and the price for a red gladiolus goes up to Rs50.

Flowers and buds are especially imported for the V-Day in large amounts, while local roses are brought in from Karachi. “To fulfill the demand for good quality, flowers are imported from Kenya and India via Dubai,” informed Ahmed Khan from F-7’s flower market. Khan said that the prices of these flowers vary and such soaring prices lead to higher profits at this time of the year. “We earn up to eight times more on this one day,” he said.

Imported flowers such as lilies which can be bought for Rs300 are available for Rs350; chrysanthemum, which is priced at Rs100 on a normal day, is sold between Rs120 to Rs150. Dicot which costs Rs150 is sold for Rs200, while jabra which is sold for Rs70 or Rs80 is sold for Rs100.

Despite the neck to neck competition, florists refuse to reduce prices on Valentine’s Day. “If the customer goes from my shop to the next, he will get the same price,” said Ayub.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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“I read a lot, including romance, and have always wondered about the women that were present in the books — I realised they had nothing in common with me,” says Hassan, adding there were stories of blue-eyed blondes being chased by Italian millionaires. “But I, dark-haired and certainly not blue-eyed, found it quite difficult to relate to them. I longed to read love stories from my part of the world — about people who look and speak like me.”

Indirom is an ebook publishing website that hopes to revolutionise the romance and popular literature genre in South Asia, while also providing an avenue for South Asian writers to share their love narratives. Hassan says the inspiration behind this venture came from the complete dissatisfaction with romance reading options available.

Dominic adds to the notion and says, “Indirom will showcase South Asian romance which has unique characteristics and is very different from the western concept of romance.” She feels the world has seen Bollywood romance and now it’s time to enthrall a global audience with South Asian love stories.

While Hassan has been a part of managerial and social development projects across Africa, Dominic, has spent her career in Switzerland, South Africa and UAE designing and implementing software solutions for banks. One thing these two achievers have in common is that they are avid readers and with their passion for books, then joined hands to launch their ebook publishing venture, where the novellas are solely rooted in South Asian culture and tradition.

A South Asian love abode

Indirom will serve to be a global platform to connect readers with writers — a channel for self-expression with an authentic voice for the South Asian spirit and soul. “Our tagline ‘Romance for the South Asian Soul’ symbolises this vision,” says Dominic. “The compelling stories will appeal to young, modern and urban South Asians across the spectrum as the plots are reflective of their ethos and culture.”

“We will be competing with traditional publishers of romance; we believe that the reader today is smarter and more discerning and won’t easily fall for formulaic writing that is produced in a writers’ workshop,” adds Hassan, referring to Indirom becoming the Mills & Boon of South Asia. “Every story comes from the heart so hopefully our readers will view us as a premium location for local, authentic, modern and captivating stories.”

Dominic feels Indirom will do much better than Mills & Boon and says, “Our authors are supported by a highly experienced editorial team and have a creative license in terms of stories and voice — without any formulas or rules.”

“Our aim is to nurture new South Asian writing talent that presents modern narratives, reflective of the strong, independent South Asian woman of today,” says Hassan, adding most of the authors are first time writers. “The books are very different; they span a gamut of emotions and situations from slums to monasteries and retirement homes to everything in between.” She adds that while inspiration may have been taken from the authors’ personal lives, the books are an output of their creativity and imagination.

Indirom has approximately 40 authors from all over South Asia with many of them being global citizens and second generation immigrants. The ebooks are all priced under Rs100 each.

Hassan is confident the venture will receive a positive response. “We have a strong vision for Indirom — technology has allowed us to create modern, innovative content experiences,” she says, adding she hopes women are able to stand up and admit they enjoy romance-based narratives. “We know women today want to read about love and relationships of women like themselves and we hope our books will provide an alternative to the escapist brand of western romance writing.”

While desi romance was their main entry point into the market, Dominic reveals they will be expanding into other genres as well over time.

An informal launch of Mamun Adil’s ebook Seasons of Silences, published by Indirom, will take place at the Roadside Café in Karachi at 8:30pm on February 14. The book is about Nadeem, a man whose marriage is disintegrating because he is unable to let go of his past.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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Tinseltown diva Anne Hathaway who recently starred in Les Miserables has become an overwhelming favourite for awards ceremonies. This actor is a treat to the eyes and commands praise from all quarters. Hathaway has a way with fashion and adds oomph to every outfit she wears. She was spotted in two different sexy looks:

Anne Hathaway

Hair & Make-up

She gave the elegant outfit a trendy twist with that funky hairdo. Her spikey bangs covered most of her forehead and her eyes were lined generously with kohl. Hathaway’s subtle pink lips completed her look.

Clothes

Hathaway looked comfortable as she posed for photographers eager to capture her in their lens at the Berlin Film Festival, flaunting her midnight blue Chanel dress with crystal embellishments and a flowing trail. She wore sheer tights along with her spectacular outfit.

Accessories & Shoes

The actor, who looked classy from head to toe, wore navy Casadei pumps and her gorgeous onyx stud earrings and silver jewels provided the finishing touches. There is not a lot of bling in her ensemble, but the actor still manages to shine!

Hair & Make-up

Hathaway looked stunning in her pixie hair swept sideways. Her hazel eyes complemented her perfect pink pout and lightly pink cheeks. She painted her nails a dazzling light pink shade.

Clothes

All eyes were on the Oscar-nominated actor as she walked down the red carpet for the premiere of Les Miserables in Paris, wearing a flamboyant fuchsia Prada gown. The strapless satin gown with red crystal embellishments was a hit at the premiere. Hathaway’s less-is-more look did wonders for her.

Accessories & Shoes

Sticking to her minimal look, the actor adorned stud earrings and a silver bracelet. We wish we could see her shoes, but that long gown covered her feet.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

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Murder 3, a film which is bold in its theme but traditional in its message, is set to release worldwide on Friday, February 15. A directorial debut of Vishesh, Mukesh Bhatt’s son, the third installment to the Murder franchise, is an official remake of Spanish film, Hidden Face. It delves into the world of a couple discovering each other’s dark secrets.

“Time has changed and attitudes towards bold scenes require to be redefined in the modern era,” says Sara Loren, who stars in the film. “As an actor, I need to keep reinventing myself with different roles because actors are supposed to do all kinds of roles and scenes which carry the story forward.”

Sara Loren is planning on entering international cinema as well. “Today, almost every film includes one or more such [bold] scenes,” she adds. “And to prove my versatility, I need to work in every kind of film and perform different roles.”

Go grab a ticket and a bucket of popcorn!

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

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Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji is in favour of making martial arts and other self-defense methods compulsory for school children to help them protect themselves and also stay fit.

“Like we learn Hindi, chemistry and other subjects, I think we should get karate, taekwondo or any other kind of martial arts and make it compulsory for school children right at the age of three or four,” she said on Tuesday at the Mumbai Police — Women Interface, a programme organised to increase self-awareness about safety among women.

Mukerji said most cases of sexual abuse happen within the family or friends circle. Hence, women need to know the importance of fighting back which should be taught at an early age. “This self-defense that we learn from childhood will help us be fit and it would also impart a self-defense skill in times of crisis,” she said. “What we get to see on crime shows tell us that criminals are cowards; if they do something to us that means we allow them to do it. But if we stand up and hit them, then something can happen. The biggest weapon is to kick them between their legs,” Mukerji added.

Other celebrities like Shabana Azmi, Karisma Kapoor, lyricist Javed Akhtar and an ad film-maker Alyque Padamsee were also present at the event.

Veteran actor Azmi feels victims of sexual harassment often avoid filing complaints because the police officers make them feel uncomfortable with bizarre questions. According to Times of India, Azmi suggested that the police needs to work on changing their approach to tackle such issues and create an “encouraging atmosphere” at the police stations so the victims feel secure.

Since the Delhi gang-rape case, the Mumbai police department has taken the responsibility to educate the youth about women’s safety by organising awareness campaigns.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2013.            

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