Actor Mahira Khan took classy and elegant to the next level at the premier of Main Hoon Shahid Afridi at Atrium Cinemas, Karachi. Her low key outfit and accessories, along with simple hair and light make-up, make for an understated statement, and we love it.

Hair

Mahira went for a simple blow dry at the event. Do the same at home or at your local salon to achieve a similar look of grace. If you are in a rush, just paddle dry your hair upside down for volume.

Make-up

With practically no eye make-up, dewy skin, and a light lip, Mahira is literally glowing, and her barely there make-up is doing wonders for her. To achieve a similar look, apply ample amounts of Rimmel’s Scandaleyes mascara to your eyelashes (Rs1,200). Use a cream blush on your cheeks to get a more dewy effect. We love the cream blush by Bourjois in Rose Tender (Rs1,200). For a light lip that will last you all night, try Rimmel’s Apocalips lip lacquer in Celestial (Rs1,600).

Outfit

Transitioning an outfit from spring into fall can be a trying task, but Mahira pulls this sleek grey jumpsuit off with ease. The colour is perfect for fall, while the style still keeps her cool in the heat! By cinching her waist with a belt, Mahira manages to show off her great figure without coming off as revealing — another plus point. You can get a similar jumpsuit at Mango (Rs7,000).

Accessories and Shoes

Mahira’s clear shoes are bang on trend, and her clutch does a great job of complementing her outfit. You can buy a similar pair of shoes at Charles & Keith (Rs4,000), along with a clutch. Going for nominal accessories, Mahira is wearing a darling pair of silver dangly earrings, along with a few statement rings, all which can be found at Accessorize (Rs2,500).

Overall, we think Mahira’s minimalist, elegant look was refreshing, and her jumpsuit was a great choice for the premiere of the film.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2013.

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The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, earned $17 million in ticket sales from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates. Jennifer Aniston comedy We’re the Millers came in second with $13.5 million.

Among three late summer newcomers, Mortal Instruments: City of Bones landed in third with $9.3 million, comedy The World’s End finished fourth with $8.9 million, while low-budget horror film You’re Next only managed the seventh slot, with $7.1 million.

The Butler, which also topped movie charts a week ago, is inspired by the real-life story of an African American man who served as a White House butler for eight US presidents. Whitaker stars as the title character and Winfrey plays his chain-smoking, hard-drinking wife.

The movie distributed by The Weinstein Company has rung up sales of $52.3 million through its first two weekends, far surpassing its $25 million budget paid by 28 investors, and is drumming up buzz as an awards season contender.

Mortal Instruments, which stars Lily Collins as a teen who works to protect the world from demons, performed best among the weekend’s new entries. The movie, another bid to reach the teen audience that made Twilight a blockbuster, is based on a popular series of young adult novels written by Cassandra Clare.

Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures’ president of worldwide distribution, said that as the weekend progressed, the film saw increasing business from its base of teenage girls, and had performed within the studio’s expectations.

“People like this film, so there’s more to this story as far as the future of the film goes,” Bruer said.

British sci-fi comedy The World’s End, which was accurately projected to haul in about $9 million, tells the story of five friends who re-unite for a pub crawl and become the planet’s only hope for survival from an alien invasion.

You’re Next, the latest entry in the inexpensive horror film genre, performed the weakest among the new entries, falling far short of pre-weekend forecasts for a $15 million opening.

The movie, which tells the story of a gang of ax-wielding murderers who wear animal masks and terrorise a family re-union, was shot for under $1 million, with Lionsgate reportedly acquiring the rights for about $2 million.

Woody Allen comedy Blue Jasmine expanded to 1,200 theatres and earned $4.3 million over the weekend. The film stars Cate Blanchett as a woman falling apart after her husband’s financial misdeeds cause her to lose her posh New York lifestyle. Cumulative sales since its July 26 release have reached $14.8 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2013.

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Lose yourself to rapper Eminem’s hottest single Berzerk, off his latest album MMLP2, to be released November 5. The rapper took to social networking site Twitter on Tuesday to announce that his single was available on iTunes.

Using the widely televised VMA’s as a platform, rapper Eminem slipped the release date of his new album MMLP2, according to E Online. MMLP2 stands for Marshall Mathers LP 2, and is a sequel to Eminem’s MMLP, The Marshall Mathers LP, which is his highest selling album to date, with 27 million copies sold worldwide. MMLP churned out a number of hits such as The Real Slim Shady and Stan.

Eminem has “retired” a number of times, with a hiatus following the death of his best friend and fellow rapper Proof, of band D12. Eminem has also had problem with prescription pills, and has been in and out of rehab a number of times, according to Mtv.com. While Eminem’s been knocked down by life on more than one occasion, he’s always managed to come back, bigger and better. We’re looking forward to his new album, and are hoping he continues making music that will be around for years to come. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: The multiple award-winning feature film Lamha (or Seedlings) will be released by The Platform at the Atrium Cinemas in Karachi on September 20, according to a press release.

The much-awaited film, which stars Aamina Sheikh, Mohib Mirza and Gohar Rasheed, won the ’Best Feature Film’ (People’s choice) awards and ‘Best Lead Actress’ awards for Aamina Sheikh both at its World Premiere in The New York City International Film Festival 2012 and the annual South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit’s film festival.

It also bagged the ‘Best Feature Film’ award at the DC South Asian Festival in Washington in May 2013.

Producer Meher Jaffri said, “We are so thrilled that we are able to finally show the film at home for the people it was made for. Due credit goes to the stellar cast and crew of our film and kudos to initiatives such as The Platform, leading the charge on the distribution and exhibition front, a segment of the industry that was previously under-developed.”

The story of Lamha revolves around a happy couple whose lives are changed forever after a devastating accident leaves them reeling for stability. Sheikh and Mirza, the lead actors, have have been heaped with generous accolades for the way they have depicted their painful journey.

While commenting on the film’s official release, Sheikh said, “The project getting international recognition and now the much-awaited release in Pakistan is surely a reflection of such unwavering commitment and dedication of all those who ‘literally lived every moment of Lamha.‘”

Lead actor Mohib Mirza remarked that it was “heartening to finally know the much-awaited release date” and that its release was “a major step towards the revival of Pakistani cinema.”

Before speaking about Laut Aa, Shaukat expresses his remorse for the current scenario in the music world. “There is so much talent here and sadly, there is no help available. You really have to fend for yourself in this industry,” says a disheartened Shaukat. “I wish there was a way for new musicians to get structure as to what to do and how to do it.” He feels it’s heartbreaking because there are “amazing underground musicians who don’t see the light of day because there’s no guidance.”

Although Shaukat’s music can be classified as alternative rock, he reveals that he has no restrictions or hesitations when he’s making music. “I don’t like characterising myself because while I make alternative rock music, I also have pop singles,” admits the singer.

Making of Laut Aa

“If I have to sum it up in one word, it would be intezaar,” says Shaukat, about the number. “It is this endless wait that has inspired me to write this song and the same theme encapsulates the essence of the video too.” Although he only recently released both his singles, Shaukat admits that music always had a special place in his life. “I always enjoyed singing and would do covers for my friends growing up,” he explains. “But I never took it up professionally. I feel there are certain moments in life that inspire you to take that leap of faith.” And Laut Aa, revolves around this very idea of waiting.

The music video does not convey a story but rather a feeling and a state of being, and elements of earth, water and fire are ultimately depicted to epitomise this desire. “In every scenario [of life], everyone is alone. They are stuck in time or a particular moment and are waiting to achieve something or for something they lost,” says Shaukat, explaining the context. In the video, a classical dancer continues to dance near a body of water — it appears that she is longing for her long wait to finally end; there’s an old woman who is pining over what her heart desires as she is no longer young; the singer himself has a snake wrapped around himself which symbolises the waiting he has endured.

“It [the video] is not a clear story with a beginning or an end but rather, it has to be viewed like it’s an abstract piece of art,” explains Shaukat, adding, “The audiences will have their own interpretations.”

When asked whether his fans should expect a new single by the end of the year, Shaukat says, “People don’t have the attention span for albums anymore,” and producing good singles is a more viable option for singers.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2013.

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A contestant from MasterChef Australia’s fourth season, Amina is hands down the most loved contestant on the show, possibly because viewers can relate to her. We have seen her laugh, cry and stand through the test of time to create flawless dishes from the simplest of ingredients. Be it innovative octopus pakoras or her Masterclass-worthy salmon sashimi with Korean dressing, each invention is a delight to watch.

After some globe-trotting, the fan-favourite landed in Pakistan last week. While the news of her arrival swept many off their feet, Amina too, has had a rather exciting trip. “It’s been a really great experience — doing so many activities with the High Commission and meeting new people. It was surely filling,” says Amina, adding that she is in complete awe of the “simply stunning” Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.

She also got a chance to flex her fingers with some traditional Pakistani cooking alongside Chef Anjum Javed at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. Considering that the main dish of the evening was Chicken Karahi, it is rather a brain-teasing surprise that she found Pakistani cuisine to be mild! “Compared to what I had in India, Pakistani cuisine is actually mild. Nonetheless, the flavours, herbs and sauces are truly delicious and wholesome despite being minimalistic in presentation,” says Amina. Out of all the ingredients used in Pakistan, gourd (loki) seems to have caught her attention and is highest on her list of food to experiment with.

Amina may well have been taken aboard to add a hint of cultural diversity to the reality show, but she asserts that she was welcomed with open arms. A devout Muslim, Amina’s elimination right before the top 10 selections caused quite a stir across the globe with fans taking on social media to express their sheer disappointment. Many even concluded discrimination to be the primary cause. However, the cheerful Amina negates any such assumptions. “I did not face any kind of racism on the show. I was welcomed with a whole lot of warmth. Even all the meat, except pork, was Halal certified so there wasn’t a problem at all,” she says.

So how did she cope with the use of pork and alcohol in some dishes? “I wouldn’t say I was at a disadvantage in any respect. During celebrations, I could easily take another drink while my friends drank wine. And to be honest, I did experiment with pork but of course, I did not taste it or anything,” she shares. “Utensils, on the other hand, were shared between all of us but I tried my best to be careful and not have mine contaminated.”

With a personality as fresh as the dash of parsley on her signature dish of delicious lamb koftas, Amina not only juggles between two different cultures in her family (Arabic and Korean), but also two demanding jobs — a pediatric nurse and a chef. “There is not much of a difference between the two but the commonality is that both of them are madhouses! They come with a great deal of pressure but of course, cooking is nothing like someone dying in an emergency room,” she giggles.

Her story is an example of a dream in the making. Can one then assume that having the drive and passion is enough? “Anybody can become a splendid cook if you have the drive for it, but there is a distinction in being a cook and being a chef. For the latter you need to go through a process of training and learning. But I must say all Pakistani women are great cooks in their own right,” adds Amina, who advises aspiring chefs to learn the basics first and then move on to complicated stuff.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2013.

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According to the study, 39 percent of people rely heavily on dieting and weight loss phone and tablet applications in order to make informed decisions about their food choices. Also, 81 percent have seen more successful weight loss results through the use of dieting apps than they did before using them, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“I think it is an absolutely fantastic sign that so many people are using their mobile phones to help aid them with weight loss, and seeing effective results from it. It must be hard to try and stick to a diet or a low-calorie menu when on the go or out at a restaurant, so being able to track food intake in situations like this on a mobile device must be a godsend to some,” said Adam Cable, director of mobilephonechecker.co.uk.

Some of the reasons for using dieting apps included:

-  Easier to track calories and food intake at the push of a button

-  Can check calorie content of items before deciding to eat them

-  Helpful for planning healthy and nutritious meals in advance

-  Cheaper and easier alternative to diet books and magazines

There are a number of free apps you can download from the Android or Apple store to help facilitate weight loss, such as:

-  Lose It!

-  Diet2Go

-  The Eatery

-  WeightBot

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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“Thanking God for so many blessings tonight,” he tweeted in the hours after the VMAs, according to the Guardian. “Continue to pray for world peace. More love…less hate.” But the 52-year-old later explained that he wasn’t referring to Miley’s performance — he was talking about Syrian war crimes. “FYI … late last night, I was watching devastating news out of Syria. Chemical weapons used on innocent children is unacceptable!”

However, an organisation backed by Billy Ray has criticised Miley’s tongue-waggling performance, but chose to not mention Billy Ray anywhere. The Parents Television Council has accused MTV of “falsely manipulating the content rating” for their programme, encouraging children to watch “adults-only material” such as Cyrus’s twerking routine with singer Robin Thicke.

“MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate ‘twerking’ in a nude-coloured bikini. How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?,” it said in a statement.

Miley, a little overboard?

Taylor Swift for one, definitely was not ready for all of Miley’s jelly. During the entire over-sexualised show, cameras caught her in states of disbelief, at one point even snatching a friend’s drink to wash down her befuddlement, according to hollywoodlife.com. Drake kept his head down, perhaps unable to watch the insanity that was happening in front of him. And when the camera panned over to Rihanna and Harry Styles, both singers’ faces were glazed over as if to say, “Um, what?”

Real World: San Diego star Ashley Marie tweeted, “The faces of everyone during this Miley Cyrus performance are epic. I think people are actually frightened.”

But Miley had her fair share of critics. “Just saw a couple performances from the VMAs last night. Two words…. #pitchystrippers,” Kelly Clarkson tweeted. One Direction’s Liam Payne chimed in too, “My thought was that it was very nice. It was a nice performance. It was cute… timid.”

“Say what you want about Miley Cyrus, but she is very disgusting,” comedian Josh Malina tweeted.

Some viewers took to Twitter to express their disgust after watching the performance on television.

One person, according to mirror.co.uk, wrote, “Miley Cyrus completely embarrassing herself at the #VMA awards. Jesus have some self respect, there’s [something] called being sexy, than just darn ugly.”

Another tweeter added, “I really want to go to sleep but I’m really worried Miley Cyrus might be hiding in my closet.” And another person simply wrote, “Miley Cyrus that was disturbing.”

However, Miley still hasn’t said a word about the controversy she seems to have clearly sparked!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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The ever-so-popular designer duo of Sana and Safinaz never fails to impress us with sophisticated and red carpet looks. The divas showed up in super stylish formal pants paired with elegant silk tops at the Veet Celebration of Beauty event amidst a crowd full of sheer flowing gowns and subtle colours. Here is a breakdown of what they wore:

Safinaz Muneer

Hair and make-up

Safinaz styled her hair with a voluminous blow-dry and loose inward curls from the ends fitting well with the glamorous evening. However, loose blow-dried locks have started becoming a usual on her list of hairdos so we would love to see her pull-off something slightly different. The dewy, plush make-up adds the perfect glow to her pretty face.

Outfit

The dynamic designer looks chic in a pair of formal black pants and a Kimono-style, bright-coloured, printed silk top. It is interesting to see a pop of colour on the pink carpet.

Accessories and Shoes

Kudos to Safinaz for choosing the right kind of accessories — they are definitely adding the funk to her overall look without an overpowering bling! Her chunky beaded necklace is definitely a statement piece. Though, we can’t really make out what shoes she is wearing thanks to the oversized flare, we sure hope them to be as uber-chic as the rest of her ensemble.

Sana Hashwani

Hair and make-up

Sana, too, had left her hair open with a perfectly layered effect. We love how she has balanced her make-up well with subtle pink lips and well-defined, kohl-rimmed eyes. She truly looks refreshing.

Outfit

Sana sported a pair of white palazzos and a one-shoulder, asymmetrical grey top cinched at the waist with a gorgeous, crystal leaf-like brooch. The balance of light and dark shades was perfect at an event dominated by pastels.

Accessories and shoes

Sana keeps it simple and elegant with minimal diamond accessories. Her diamond twisted hoop earrings are scoring high on our style-o-meter. That antique beige clutch  by Bottega Veneta is a standout.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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Method

For the kebabs:

•  Add all the ingredients for the kebabs and mix them with your hands.

•  Take a ball of meat and shape it into a long roll.

•  Repeat the process for all of the remaining meat.

•  Fry the kebabs at medium heat, until they are cooked completely (usually takes 4-5 minutes)

For the tomato puree:

•  In a pan, heat some olive oil and add the tomatoes, parsley and seasoning.

•  You can also blend the tomatoes for a thicker consistency.

•  Allow it to cook for some time, until the oil separates from the tomatoes completely.

Serve the kebabs on a bed of tomato puree and garnish with some pine nuts and parsely.

Note: Fry one kebab first, taste it and adjust spices accordingly.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, August 25^th, 2013.

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Lee Daniels’ The Butler is a hit movie starring Forest Whitaker in the lead role, which is loosely based on the real life of African-American Eugene Allen, who served presidents from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan, at the White House. Oprah Winfrey plays the butler’s hard-drinking wife and Cuba Gooding Jr. is a friend and White House colleague. The movie is set in the tumultuous times of the civil rights movement.

“You know, I did see The Butler, and I did tear up,” Obama told syndicated radio hosts Tom Joyner and Sybil Wilkes in an interview broadcast on Tuesday, a day before the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement’s, March on Washington.

“I teared up thinking not just about the butlers who have worked here in the White House, but an entire generation of people who were talented and skilled, but because of Jim Crow (segregation laws), because of discrimination, there was only so far they could go,” he said.

President Obama says that the acting in the movie was terrific and Oprah Winfrey can surely act. PHOTO: FILE

In the movie, Whitaker’s character attempts to persuade his bosses at the White House to give black employees pay equal to that of white employees. He finally achieved a breakthrough with President Reagan.

Obama said his favourite part of the movie was some of the jokes told by Gooding and added that “all of the acting was terrific, and I thought Forest Whitaker was wonderful. And Oprah, my girl, she can act”.

Obama, the first US African-American president, says he has a special bond with the employees who take care of the executive mansion.

“I think for them to have a sense that we’ve come that far was a powerful moment for them, and certainly a powerful moment for us. We love them to death. They look after us just wonderfully,” asserted the President.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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Yet another film that has received immense critical acclaim internationally will finally see the light of day in Pakistani cinemas. Lamha (English title: Seedlings) starring Aamina Sheikh, Mohib Mirza and Gohar Rasheed has been slated for a September 20 release this year, under The Platform at Atrium Cinemas.

Despite receiving numerous accolades including the People’s Choice Best Feature Film award and Best Lead Actress award at the New York City International Film Festival, the film has long been waiting for a local theatrical release. “Choosing the film Lamha is another step towards the realisation of The Platform’s goal — to encourage and promote new film-makers who are creating their mark and presence in the international market and getting critically acclaimed,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, according to a press release.

The story of the film revolves around a happy couple whose life turns upside down after a terrible accident. It is produced by Bodhicitta Works in association with Ice Animations. “We are so thrilled that we are able to finally show the film at home for the people it was made for. Due credit goes to the stellar cast and crew of our film and kudos to initiatives such as The Platform, leading the charge on the distribution and exhibition front, a segment of the industry that was previously under-developed,” said Meher Jaffri, the producer.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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From the ceiling to the tiled floors, the academy, which can accommodate 40 students at one time, is decked in pure white, courtesy of Tariq Qaiser Associates. Set to welcome its first batch on September 1, it has opened registration for applicants, with five local salons already showing interest in having their employees trained. “Our motto is to provide cost-effective training,” said Education Manager L’Oreal Pakistan Ambreen Merchant, adding that the institute’s curriculum is “closely linked” with curriculums of international level. “[It will] provide exposure for those who can’t train abroad.”

Concerning fee-structure, Merchant explained that a basic one-day course for hair-colouring will be between Rs1,000 to Rs1,500. However, charges will vary based on the level of difficulty of the course.

Salons owners have welcomed the initiative. Stylist Daulat Rahimtoola of Pivot Point said she feels relieved. “This is the need of the hour. Until now, salons were training and teaching on their own,” she said. “In the past, a stylist would have taken over the chotay ki job [if there was a mistake]. Now, the academy will groom everyone.”

The Academy can train up to 40 individuals in hairstyling and hair colouring techniques at a time. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The launch event opened with a red carpet meet and greet, featuring salon professionals such as Ruhana Iqbal of Bhabi’s Beauty Clinic, journalists, media personalities and members from the Consulate General of France, namely Christian Ramage. Along with these personalities were L’Oreal’s very own, General Manager L’Oreal Professional Products Division Sadia Shah, and Education Manager L’Oreal Pakistan Ambreen Merchant.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Managing Director Musharaf Hai talked about why the academy is necessary. “This is the first professional academy in Pakistan — this whole industry needs to be professionalised and this requires training,” she said. She explained that the academy will offer classroom-based education, as well as practical hands-on training. “Today’s world is all about technology, and the academy will be inspired by such training.”

Thanking the L’Oreal team, Ramage said L’Oreal is a success not only in France but worldwide. “It has changed the perception of hair-dressing globally. I am a mere Consul General, but the L’Oreal team based in Pakistan is the true ambassador of French taste and style,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Song: Gharoli

Cover Artist: Mooroo’s Music

Original Song: Abida Parveen

Taimoor Salahuddin aka Mooroo’s Music is a dynamic talent. He’s bold enough to take an Abida Parveen song like Gharoli and experiment to such a daring degree that one can’t help but marvel at the innovation.

Released earlier this August, Mooroo’s Gharoli hits you with just the first listen. It’s got thick, heavy bass lines, a whole lot of funk and groove happening and a certain musical frenzy that adds to the song. Rest assured, Mooroo sounds different, edgier and it totally fits.

Special mention: Aaroh’s cover of Gharoli is another popular cover with fans. With its grungy and slightly metallic feel and Farooq’s feisty vocals on display, it’s a fabulous effort.

Song: Pyar Ka Jadu

Cover Artist: Mauj

Original Song: Zoheb Hassan

Pyar Ka Jadu is one of the most popular songs in the history of modern pop in Pakistan. The groove-funk nature of this song mixed with a surreal music video, makes it a memorable song for millions of Nazia-Zoheb Hassan fans around the world.

Covering it took courage but Omran Shafique is nothing if not a fearless musician, always willing to push the musical envelope.

And he did just that with this song. Reinventing the sound of this song completely, Mauj’s version has certain grit and an edgy rock flavour to it mixed with a grungy singer who breathes life into this classic in his signature style.

Song: Ajnabee

Cover Artist: Aaroh

Original Song: Vital Signs

Artists, both old and new, regularly cover Vital Signs songs. So, it’s no surprise that the defining pop act in modern music history of Pakistan makes a second appearance on this list.

Covered by the original Aaroh — not the new and revamped lineup minus Farooq Ahmed — the song is as different from the original as possible.

While the original song is bluesy, haunting and heartbreaking, Aaroh’s version is mixed with distorted riffs on top of wild drums, angry emotions and a majestic singer. This song is Aaroh at its best. Whoever steps in place of Farooq Ahmed now has some seriously big shoes to fill.

Song: Mera Bichra Yaar

Cover Artist: Zoe Viccaji feat. Strings

Original Song: Strings

Zoe Viccaji may have featured on Coke Studio but it was her beautiful rendition of this Strings tune that made us pay undivided attention to her.

Zoe went with Mera Bichra Yaar — a hugely popular number from Strings’ album, Dhaani — and chose to sing the song in acapella, a rarity in our music scene or so it seems.

In a sense, this cover leaves behind the original song because Zoe’s cover also features Strings.

With final polishing by Omran Shafique, Mera Bichra Yaar is crisp, sweet-sounding and comes attached with a moody music video from Adnan Malik, which picked up a Lux Style Award for Best Music Video Director in 2012.

Song: Yeh Shaam

Cover Artist: Kaavish

Original Song: Vital Signs

There are countless covers of Vital Signs’ classic number, Yeh Shaam but no one sings it better than Jaffer Zaidi. And that’s saying something because Junaid Jamshed brought such conviction and conflicting emotions to the song that it remains a fan favourite even today.

While the sound is signature Kaavish with gorgeous piano notes at the forefront, its Jaffer Zaidi’s interpretation as a singer, full of heart that makes it a cut above every other cover.

Forget surpassing the original, to even match up is sheer pop ballad wizardry and Kaavish pass with flying covers.

Song: Pyar Di Ganderi

Cover Artist: SYMT

Original Song: Naseebo Lal

Naseebo Lal can sing, there’s no doubt about it. But if you hear the original version of Pyar Di Ganderi by the said singer, you might find the sound overwhelming, partly futuristic and partly bhangra-esque loud. It’s chaotic.

SYMT, led by Haroon Shahid, reinvented this strange song with such playfulness and bounce that it surpasses the original. The innuendo behind the song is obviously not lost. What makes it remarkable is that Haroon doesn’t sound vile or vulgar — just in his musical element alongside band member Hassan Omer and guest musicians Farhad Humayun and Mahmood Rehman. This is pop-funk and it puts a cheeky smile on one’s face upon listening.

Song: Saeen

Cover Artist: Usman Riaz

Original Song: Junoon

Junoon has an extensive catalogue of magnificent albums and singles. One of those singles is Saeen which featured the original Junoon line-up of Ali Azmat, Salman Ahmed and Brian O’ Connell.

Saeen was Junoon’s version of sufi rock and it made waves all across the board, resonating with fans of Pakistan’s biggest rock band all over the place. Salman Ahmed’s majestic guitar riffs mixed with haunting bass and an inimitable singer like Ali Azmat — Saeen commanded attention every time.

To create a cover for such an accomplished song is a herculean task, but the prodigal Usman Riaz, lived up to his talent.

Usman went for a complete instrumental with strong Middle-Eastern ethos and a hint of melancholia that made his version just as strong as the original.

Usman wrote and/or played ‘almost’ all the instruments on the song including the mandolin, certain darbuka parts, guitars, harmonium, tanpura and ceramic drum. Consequently, Usman’ Saeen totally works as a moody orchestral piece and a fine one at that.

Song: Mera Pyar

Cover Artist: Arooj Aftab

Original Song: Aamir Zaki

The defining song in Aamir Zaki’s career, Mera Pyar remains popular to this date. From featuring as a soundtrack to Marina Khan’s telly serial Tum Hi To Ho to covers from acts like EP and Hadiqa Kiyani, it doesn’t get old, ever.

Call it a heartbreaking ballad or unabashed love song, the original is tricky to beat because Aamir Zaki doesn’t show-off his guitar genius, but let’s the words and music come together in a seamless blend.

The closest anyone has come to doing justice to this timeless track is Arooj Aftab. Arooj gives the song a more upbeat vibe and takes away the morbidity. She reminds one of Candy Perira (The Milestones) from time to time but never as a copycat. Arooj gives her own spin on the song. It’s less dramatic in nature but has enough musical flair to demand infinite listening. 

Maheen Sabeeh is a freelance journalist. She blogs at maheensabeeh.wordpress.com and tweets@maheensabeeh

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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Ms.T investigates the world of celebrity moms and the pressure they face to lose weight 

At the Cannes Film Festival 2012, in her first public appearance after becoming a mother, Bollywood’s beauty queen Aishwariya Rai Bachchan was flayed by blistering criticism on her post-pregnancy weight gain. An unfortunate photograph of the international star sporting chubby cheeks and a double chin ignited a vicious scrutiny of her post-partum body. While some suggested that she was not fulfilling her ‘duty’ as an international icon to look good, others admonished her to learn from the likes of Victoria Bekham and Angelina Jolie, who were back to their waif-like figures weeks after delivery. It was only after new images of the former Miss World actually looking the part surfaced that the critics’ party came to an end.

The scrutiny faced by Bachchan in the wake of her Cannes appearance crystallises not just the pressure on female celebrities to lose weight but the rise of a strange fascination with motherhood and the new expectations attached to it. No longer is it acceptable to retain a few maternal pounds after giving birth; the yummy mummy must lead her brood of impeccably attired children while looking chic, svelte and virginal herself. And this is the standard we expect from ordinary mothers. From the celebrity mom, the expectation of post-partum weight loss is even more dramatic, with fans anticipating the return of  pregnant models and actresses back on the ramp or on screens just weeks after delivery, so we can gasp in amazement at their figures and marvel at how a human being could possibly have gestated in that slim torso.

Such is the astringent reality of the showbiz industry. For all the ‘girl power’ chants by feminists, the ‘size zero’ debate and ‘real beauty’ marketing gimmicks, society by and large is hung over the slim and slender ideal with anything bigger considered unattractive. “There is indeed great pressure on us to look good,” confesses Vaneeza Ahmad, one of Pakistan’s leading models, who gave birth to daughter Inaaya in Febuary 2012. “During and after pregnancy, I ate very healthy food but there was no time for exercise and I was not working properly so naturally I gained weight.” Nonetheless, Vaneeza modelled for the April 2012 cover shoot for Libas magazine, just a few weeks after giving birth. Although her post-pregnancy weight was appreciated by many who claimed she had been ‘too thin previously’– a rare occurrence in the world of fashion – the sad fact for most women is that though they can return to a healthy weight, the post partum body is, to an extent, permanently bigger and stretched.

Sumeha Khalid, senior editor of Lifestyle magazine, cites model Nadia Hussain as the pioneering Yummy Mummy of Pakistan. The Amazonian model has returned to modelling soon after the birth of each of her three children and even walked the ramp while heavily pregnant. Khalid finds this inspiring. “Nadia has made us realise we can be yummy mummies if we just take good care of ourselves after pregnancy,” she says. “Nadia started this trend which has been followed by other models and actresses who balance both family life and thriving careers.”

With magazines and gossip websites regularly publishing features such as ‘Celebrity baby fashion’ and ‘Celebrity families’, never before has there been more interest in celebrity mothers and their babies. The ever-increasing rush between media firms to publish the first photos of a celebrity new-born is another manifestation of the same phenomenon. The example of Angelina Jolie’s cover photo in the November 2008 issue of W Magazine is memorable. The photograph, taken from her husband Brad Pitt’s private photos collection, featured Jolie smiling into the camera whilst breastfeeding her little one. The media was ablaze with how thin Jolie looked just a few weeks post-delivery. Blogs and columns devoted to tracking the progress of a celebrity’s pregnancy have also mushroomed. First, we obsess over the growing bump, then the baby and then the post-baby weight, focusing always on appearances and ignoring the other realities: the emotional changes and the psychological transformation.

The pressure trickles down to ordinary women who struggle trying to look good at all times while dealing with the challenges of motherhood. “It is not fair on the new mother!” complains Sahar Harris, mother to a beautiful baby boy. “If a woman doesn’t lose her pregnancy fat within three months, she is given the stares when in reality, proper and healthy weight loss takes about a whole year. The pressure shouldn’t be so intense, especially at such a stressful time of her life!”

But with the media routinely publishing lists of the most attractive ‘yummy mummies’, the pressure is very much there. “The idea of yummy mummies comes from Hollywood and Bollywood,” says Uzma Mazhar, editor of This Fortnight Pakistan. “It is a standard for a celebrity to look good and we want to emulate that.” In other words, celebrities want to be thin to look good to us and we want to be thin because we want to look like the celebrities.

But while celebrities have personal trainers and dieticians to ensure they transition quickly back to their pre-partum weight, ordinary women rarely have such recourse and yet they want to look like celebrities. “This is because the media reinforces the thin ideal in our minds repeatedly,” says Sahar.

All this hype surrounding weight-loss and body image leads one to wonder if women are ever going to be more than just pretty wall-hangings to feast one’s eyes on. Says one newly married woman planning to have a baby soon, “We need something to pin our hopes on and regard these celebrities who champion post-pregnancy weight loss as inspirations. These women give us hope that if they did it, we can do it too!”

Zainab Sikender, Creative Director and Strategist at Expert Parenting and Pregnancy magazine, warns against taking the yummy mummy ideal to heart. “Crash diets have documented adverse affects on one’s health. You simply can’t eliminate all fat from your body in just one month! A woman requires patience and will-power to maintain her weight,” she says.

As for the showbiz world, not only is beauty skin deep, it is also waif thin. “Of course, I will ask my model to go back to size zero after delivery!” says fashion coordinator Umer Mushtaq. “What on earth would be the point otherwise?”

Photographer Tapu Javeri takes a softer stance: “Anybody who has a child has rebelled against the industry,” he says. “I think they have enough guts to challenge such norms and ideas.”

One may argue that it is ‘liberating’ or even ‘empowering’ for a woman to regain her natural and youthful body once it has undergone the trials of a pregnancy. The desire to banish the baby bump feeds into the ‘if you look good, you feel good’ ideal and makes us obsessed with looking our best at all times. What is sad is that female empowerment, be it for celebrities or regular women, boils down to weight and body image, not to mention the unrealistic expectations it gives us that we can achieve the same drastic weight-loss celebrities can afford. If we could simply curtail our preoccupation with weight and become happy in our own skin, we will save each other a lot of trouble.

Celebrity moms who didn’t rush to lose weight

Amy Adams: “I have a muffin top, and that’s OK right now,” says The Muppets star.

Jennifer Garner: The actresses’ motto is “Kids before cardio” and we’re totally down with that.

Selma Blair: The actress revealed that two months after giving birth she weighed only one pound less than she did at the hospital. “I have not been exercising yet but I will now,” she says – which sounds exactly like something we would say!

Hillary Duff: The singer believes it takes around 10 months for the body to get back into shape after delivery and calls women who did it more quickly ‘freaks of nature’.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, August 25^th, 2013.

We couldn’t think of a worse collaboration. Miley Cyrus, the former Disney sweetheart who went off the rails during her recent VMAs performance, is teaming up with none other than Canadian superstar Justin Bieber. Their new song is called — do you even have to guess? Twerk.

According to E! News, a source confirmed that Cyrus and Bieber had recorded the song together, which also features Justin’s friend Lil Twist. Produced by Maejor Ali, the track hasn’t been officially released as yet, but has been leaked online. There’s no way to know for sure if this is the final version of the song, in which Miley can be heard singing “I came up in the party, time to twerk”, while Beiber can be heard in the backround repeatedly rapping “twerk it, twerk it”.

Miley has truly taken the tweaking fest to a whole new level. With countless performances of the “booty shaking” dance move, along with a new song, the word twerk has also been added to the Oxford dictionary. Looks like twerking is here to stay.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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“We are a great musical nation, but we need to look at music as a profession. This tour will spearhead a nationwide movement to build the right kind of momentum in the live act and music industry domain,” said Rahman in an interview. “It will bring to light how as a nation we are very well-equipped to promote homegrown talent on local soils.”

The tour will include cities like Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur and Ahemdabad. With a wide variety of hit numbers to his credit, including Chaiyya Chaiyya, Taal Se Taal Mila and Jai Ho, the concerts will offer something for every age group.

“It’s more like a mash-up. We are packaging my hits from the past 20 years and putting it together into a three-hour long capsule show for an audience that will range from teenagers to senior citizens,” he said.

Rahman adds that he had been wanting to do something like this for a while now. “I have been desirous of executing something of this magnitude since a while now but with my hands full, I was unable to do so. I believe in giving my 100 percent to every project I implement. Each tour brings forth new experiments and catharsis,” he said.

He recently gave a very well-received soundtrack for the Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush starrer Raanjhnaa, which was banned in Pakistan. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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This weekend’s VMA’s brought with it an onslaught of media activity, from social networking websites to TV channels. While there were unfortunately no outrageous outfits, there were some slight mishaps. We bring you the lowdown on the best and worst red carpet looks of the night.

Ellie Goulding

The British singer was another face pulling of the thigh high slit beautifully in her Furne One Amato dress. We love the metallic detailing on the collar, along with the multitude of spikes adorning the dress. Ellie looks like she forgot to brush her hair and it looks unkempt, and positively chaotic. Her dewy, peachy make-up complements her dress, and tones down its edginess.

Ciara

While we can’t deny that Ciara definitely has the body to pull off this Givenchy gown, it was too revealing for our liking. Ciara leaves little to the imagination, with the intricate embroidery on her gown barely covering her assets. Her hair and make-up are both flawless, with soft curls framing her face. She’s practically glowing!

Selena Gomez

While we can’t get enough of her thigh high slit, we feel she may have forgotten to button up her Atelier Versace gown. The lace bustier peeping through is a treat for the eyes. Her clear heels are bang on trend, and her sleek, straight hair paired with blood red lips looks absolutely divine.

Taylor Swift

Going for the same colour as her best friend Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift wows in this navy blue Herve Leger by Max Azria gown with a plunging neckline. The dress hugs her perfectly, and really shows off her slim figure. Her look was finished off with retro curls, and her signature red lips.

Miley Cyrus

Ah Miley, where do we begin? While Miley looks great in just about anything, even she can’t pull off this particular Dolce and Gabbana nightmare. The shoes look like they were made for a stripper. As for her make-up, Miley’s stolen Taylor Swift’s bright red lips, and pulls them off beautifully. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for her hair, which has inspired a number of memes comparing her to a giraffe.

Katy Perry

Katy’s latest single Roar is all about embodying the spirit of animals, but she didn’t quite manage to come through successfully at the VMA’s. Her leopard print Emanuel Ungaro number didn’t do justice to her figure, and while the slit was trendy, it made her legs look thick. Also, her strappy heels managed to make her look even chunkier. We do like her hair though; the sleek high ponytail really brings out her features.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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Written and directed by William C Riead, The Letters — which depicts 50 years of Mother Teresa’s life — is based on the real-life treasure trove of letters she wrote to a spiritual director over the years. The content of these letters revealed that she often suffered a feeling of isolation and abandonment during the years she was working for the poor in India, said a publicity release, according to shootonline.com.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner (1979) used to slip out of her cloister to help the poor against the rules. The film is said to be a work of love and passion for Riead, who sold his house to make this project real, according to the Times of India.

Actor Juliet Stevenson, known for her role in Bend It Like Beckham, will play the pivotal role of Mother Teresa and two-time Academy Award nominated actor Max von Sydow, will play the spiritual director. Golden Globe award winner Rutger Hauer will also star in the movie and the film’s DOP is Jack Green, who has been director-producer Clint Eastwood’s longtime cinematographer.

Indian actors who will be seen in the movie, which was shot mainly in India and London, include Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal, Kaizaad Kotwal of Inkaar fame and Tilottama Shome. “Working with William Riead and Jack Green was an unbelievable experience and, of course, working with the hugely-talented Juliet Stevenson, was just such an honour,” Mahabanoo told the Times of India.

“I play this woman who is antagonistic towards this strange, foreign lady and how a very human, intimate contact leads to a change of heart,” says Tilottama. “What really made me think in this movie, is how we live in our respective groups, suspicious and antagonistic towards the ‘other’.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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Getaway explores a more intimate setting by trapping your character in a car. Did it put pressure on you to convey more emotion?

What’s fun about this movie is that in any given take, there were 12 cameras mounted on this car to get all these crazy angles, and it’s something I’ve never done before. It’s a hard balance inside any action movie, to try to bring any authenticity of emotion and human behaviour to these outlandish circumstances. One thing I enjoyed about the simplicity of being stuck in this car is that it let Selena and I have fun.

How different is Hollywood today compared to when you were Gomez’s age, in your early 20s?

I think it’s much more difficult today to be a young person and grow up. The constant buzz, pressure, noise and static of the Internet, and the way it makes young people feel makes it difficult to grow up and develop the way one might want to. I’m very grateful that when I was first going through this in the early ‘90s, it was much easier, but that said, the basic facts of it have always been dangerous. It’s so hard for every young person, trying to figure out the adult you want to be.

You made Before Sunrise when you were in your mid-20s, Before Sunset in your mid-30s and Before Midnight in your early 40s. How does it feel to have these films mark different decades in your career?

In his new film Getaway, Hawke is stuck in a car with Selena Gomez. PHOTO: FILE

It’s a very strange feeling, it really is. These aren’t just movies to me — I co-wrote them, so much of those movies are so unique to issues that Julie (Delpy) and I are both interested in. Having people relate to them is such a wonderful feeling; it’s the reason why I wanted to be an actor.

You are now in your fourth decade acting. Do you still have any dream roles you would love to play?

Oh yes, I’m getting to do one right now. I’m about to start rehearsals for Macbeth at Lincoln Center in New York. It’s something I’ve longed to do my whole life — to do one of the big Shakespeares in a really serious production.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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