Well-known menswear designer Arsalan Iqbal has now stepped up in the scene as a women’s wear designer, and in due course will have a complete design house under one roof. He is super excited about the Arsalan Iqbal-Woman collection, which will be unveiled on September 5, 2013 at all Arsalan Iqbal outlets. He promises to showcase the new collection at upcoming fashion weeks separate from menswear.

The collection promises to be high street and luxury prêt for “an internationally metropolitan woman, who is fashion savvy”. It consists of silks and chiffon, with lace in malai lawn and tweed fabric. Judging by the teaser shoot, the collection is doing what many others are, trying to bring back the short shirt. It flirts with pastels and prints, and also bears jeweled stones and earthy tones.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal said there was a need to enter this domain, “The brand is evolving into a complete design house now and women’s wear is obviously a big market.” When asked about his current strength in menswear, he said: “I’m still going to continue designing menswear, and due to my lack of experience with women’s wear, I deemed it appropriate to bring in the most technically and aesthetically sound team together.”

One question that’s been on our minds is if entering the designing domain for women’s wear has anything to do with Iqbal’s recent split from fellow designer Yahseer Javed. When asked about this possibility, Arsalan refuted the statement, “First of all, the idea of the complete design house has nothing to do with my split from Yahseer. The idea of the complete design house rose from my sheer ambitious nature,” he said. “In this context, the split from Yahseer is irrelevant. I have set myself goals that I need to achieve in my career, and expanding my brand into a complete design house is just a next small step,” Iqbal stated.

When asked about his design philosophy, Iqbal had the following to say “We are inspired by everything colorful, and we are following international trends. The brand is new and at an evolving stage.” He also said that “The label is going to be bringing innovative and unique, out of the box ideas to the market. The inspiration behind this sub-brand is the woman of Pakistan.” Also, he tells us that with “design dynamo Fayez Agariah behind the cutting table and fashion critics watching every move, he plans to make it a better project”.

Iqbal thinks there is something lacking in Pakistan’s fashion industry, “We are lacking moderately plausible imagination. My colleagues are either going over the top, or being run-of-the-mill.” He said. “With AI Woman we aspire to break that monotonous cycle and create a style which is edgy yet timeless.”

Prices of an average prêt outfit at competitive stores

Arsalan Iqbal Woman

Rs6,000

Junaid Jamshed Pret

Rs5,500

Maheen Karim for Bonanza

Rs4,000

Sanam Chaudhri for Bonanza

Rs4,000

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

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“Once you go and search the net for sufism and anti-sufism, you will see a stark difference and realise how risky the path I have treaded is,” says Rafique, who has raised his voice many a time for the revival of Pakistani cinema. “The Taliban sector is totally against sufism and doesn’t accept such interpretations of Islam.”

The film, which stars Shaan, Ahsan Khan, Meera, Saima and Wiam Dhamani, revolves around the idea of finding true love amidst an environment of spirituality. The film questions the idea of the cleric and is based largely on sufi teachings. It even draws its ideas and conclusions from Tahirul Qadri’s fatwa against suicide bombings. Naturally, Rafique has been paranoid and worried about the film’s implications, since it can ruffle feathers in the atmosphere of terrorism as quite a lot of prominent groups disagree with such notions. “These are risky things to do in today’s time — criticising the maulvi is putting yourself at risk,” says Rafique, who has surprisingly not filed any reports or sought protection.

Assistant director Hasnat Afridi points out that making a Punjabi film that challenges intolerant viewpoints is a completely new idea. “For the Rs100 crowd, which is inclined towards commercial Indian films that are bred on item songs, a drama solely on sufism would have been never accepted,” says Afridi. “However, we presented a different side and challenged the so-called ‘maulvi class’and its interpretation of Islam and its teachings. The core idea of the film was to shed light on a peaceful aspect.”

Gwendolyn Kirk, a doctoral student from the University of Texas Austin, who is researching on Punjabi cinema in Lahore, tells The Express Tribune, “Ishq Khuda is above all a film of aspirations — it represents a desire for change in society and in Pakistani film industry in general but especially for Punjabi cinema itself. We see the rejection of the old-style gunda/thug character and also his redemption.”

“I think audiences have responded to this in a largely positive way. I went to see the film at Lakshmi Chowk well after its release, and was pleasantly surprised to see that there was still a good turnout, and moreover that there were more families in the audience. This is the kind of positive change that Lollywood has been looking for,” stresses Kirk. “As far as the moralistic or political connotations of the film are concerned, I think that some people may connect with it and some may not, but the important thing is that audiences are seeing new and different themes which celebrate local traditions and local languages,” he adds.

Apart from challenging perceptions, Rafique highlights that his intention was also to negate the stereotypical view of Punjabi culture being loud. “Punjab is a central place, and getting such a message across is important due to the province’s conservative tendencies,” says Afridi.

The mass element surely has not spared the film critical reviews. Despite this, the idea that regional cinema is bringing progressive themes may have a long-standing impact. Actor Ahsan Khan says that Rafique’s venture is a lot different from other projects. “This was a film built purely for the masses, where people come from less educated backgrounds. This is just one way of exploring an important topic,” he says.

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

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Actor Karisma Kapoor may have been away from the film scene for quite a while now but she surely hasn’t forgotten how to look stylish. The light-eyed beauty looked classy and elegant in a simple black pair of pants and a contrasting top at the launch of the Driver’s Day campaign in Mumbai. Here’s a breakdown of how you can mimic her look.

Hair

Karisma looks totally en vogue in a stylish braid with a side-parted, twisted puff on the front. She surely made quite an effort at that one and boy, are we glad.  For a similar hairdo, backcomb the front of your hair and twist and tie with clips or bobby pins on the sides of your head. Now tie the rest of your in a low-lying braid..

Make-up

When you have flawless skin like Karisma, there is not really a need for make-up but the actor looks fresh with the lightly blushed cheeks and kohl-rimmed eyes. Try out Rimmel’s Volume Flash mascara to enhance those lashes along with Rimmel’s Scandal Eyes Waterproof eye pencil for perfectly defined eyes. Apply MAC’s Prolong wear powder blush in Whole Lotta Love shade for such shiny pink cheeks and MAC’s Right Image Lip gloss for lips like hers.

Outfit

Karisma tops our list of casual hot with this chic ensemble. The black lace and bead detailing on her nude bubble top by Cherie D adds the perfect touches to her overall simple yet uber-classy outfit. For a similar pair of cropped pants, check out Next (Rs3,500) or Debenhams (Rs4,000). A top like this can be found at Mango (Rs3,800) or if you are one of those creative minds, try hitting your local bazaars and get it stitched for half the price.

Accessories and shoes

While her overall look was bang on attractive, Karisma sported minimal accessories with a strappy black watch and a pair of diamond studs. We would have loved to see a couple of string bracelets or a statement clutch. Patent black peep-toes seem to have become the safest fashion option. A similar pair can be easily found at Charles and Keith (Rs4,000) or even your local shoe store for cheap.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2013.

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There are three dimensions to this album; in the first, Bagga persuasively reincarnates the brilliance of AR Rahman through the grand and uplifting treatment of Dekhein Ge. Not only that, Mohammad Hanif also provides a pertinent social commentary through his lyrics in Dekhein Ge. Bagga has also found our own parallel of Sukhwinder Singh in the voice of Jabar Abbas, whose treatment of scales is so similar to that of Singh’s, it’s difficult to differentiate between the two.

In the second dimension, Bagga tilts to the more Vishal Bharadwaj side of his influences. With all due respect to the quirkiness of the melody and colloquial lyrics, Kuri Yes Aai is one track you can’t help but compare to Bharadwaj’s recent hit Totay Urr Gaye from Ek Thi Dayyan. The interesting choice of instruments, such as a heavy base line topped with a pinching use of Shehnais, Kuri Yes Aai can be termed as a very catchy tribute to Bharadwaj by Bagga.

With the voices of artists such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Zinda Bhaag’s soundtrack is worth a listen. PHOTO: FILE

The third, and by far the most dynamic dimension of the album, is where Bagga serves us his own rendition of contemporary Punjabi music. The best sound track of the album is a high on adrenaline, but soothing qawalli called Pata Yaar Da, penned beautifully in Punjabi by Hasan Mujtaba, and rendered to perfection by none other than Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. After Garaj Baras in Coke Studio Season 1, this is perhaps the most effective use of Rahat in recent times. Rahat’s strength in qawalli has been eclipsed by the rather half-hearted use of his voice in the semi-classical and often pop melodies of Bollywood. For fans of Punjabi poetry, the use of metaphors in this song will give you goose bumps, and above all, a very different take on longing for your beloved. The second best is undeniably, the larger than life folk tune Paar Chanaa Dae, the grandeur of which will take you into another universe, due to the entrance of a deadly combination of flutes and matkas. Apart from picking one of the most underrated, but immersive pieces of folk poetry, Bagga brings forward the raw voice of Saleema Jawad, along with Arif Lohar.

Pani Da Bulbula is one Punjabi classic that has been reinvented by a number of different artists such as Yaqub Atif and Saira Naseem, to name a few. Every time it’s been revisited, it leaves an entirely different smile on your face. The composition remains the same, but Bagga has given it a more contemporary arrangement, while remaining in the realm of Pakistani film music.

Saari Saari Raat and Taariyan, however, don’t match the kind of innovation Bagga has put into the rest of the album.

To compile a music album for a film, especially in times when no one’s taking the medium seriously, means it’s essential for producers and composers to get the right people. The attention to detail is where Zinda Bhaag surpasses expectations. It’s been a while since we’ve seen genuine artists at work, and not the likes of Meesha Shafi, who for some odd reason has become the emblem of Punjabi folk in Pakistan. Be it the voices of Saleema Jawad or Jabar Abbas, or the piercing lyrics by Mohammad Hanif or Hasan Mujtaba, the choice of artists is what makes the album of Zinda Bhaag an entire constellation, and not just a star or two wandering somewhere in space.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2013.

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Just when Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’s success had increased the anticipation of more Pakistani films, it seems that cinema enthusiasts will have to wait a bit longer for their wishes to come true. The next film in line, Zinda Bhaag, that raised our expectations with the awards it bagged at the Mosaic MISAFF festival in Toronto, will not be hitting the screen on September 6, as expected.

“The primary reason is that a backlog of unreleased film titles and delays in releases has pushed the whole schedule of cinemas ahead,” Mazhar Zaidi, the director of the film, told The Express Tribune.

The announcement was made through a joint statement by ARY Films, Footprint Entertainment and Matteela Films on August 29.

However, it has been reported that the delay is not from the producer’s end.

Zinda Bhaag stars actor Naseeruddin Shah, model Amna Ilyas and Khurrum Patras and has now been scheduled to release on September 20. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2013.

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Best known for her role as Serena van der Woodson on the CW TV show Gossip Girl, Blake Lively has evolved into one of the most breathtaking beauties of Hollywood.

With ads for the biggest names in fashion such as Chanel and Gucci under her belt, Blake truly is a star to watch out for. Leaving a string of broken hearts in her wake, including heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, she has now bagged one of the most eligible bachelors in the industry, actor Ryan Reynolds. The pair tied the knot last year after a whirlwind romance.

With her endless legs, infectious smile and sun kissed skin, Lively is the dream of every man. What makes her a style icon is the fact that while other celebrities have an army of personal shoppers, Blake prefers to bring out her individuality by being her own stylist.

Be it a night on the red carpet, or a coffee run during the day, Lively always manages to look breathtaking. The star loves experimenting, and always looks different at every event. Intricate hairstyles, such as fishtail braids and buns, tame that gorgeous head of hair, and the star loves showing off her long legs.  Her casual attire consists primarily of boots and blazers, which she sports effortlessly.

Overall, we think Blake’s got the whole package — the body, the career, the man and most importantly, the wardrobe.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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“[Back] then, I [just] sang my song, that’s all – no acting required,” he said. “It was the same in all the previous movies I appeared in – Jalwa and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha.”

“Bombay Velvet is the first film where I’m not singing a single song. I have a purely acting and speaking role and that is what I’m thrilled about, as it is my first-time experience as an actor,” he added.

Known for hit tracks such as Humma Humma, O, Meri Munni and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Remo said he always saw himself as a musician.

“I was too shy and self-conscious to act. It never even struck me to try out for an actor’s part, even when I was younger,” he said. “But now, on being offered this short, but intense and significant role by Kashyap’s casting director out of the blue, I feel that acting would be a great new adventure to go on once in a while.”

He is already thrilled by Kashyap’s “compliments and praise” on his acting skills. In the film, Remo plays a Portugese musician.

It has been “beautiful” working with Kashyap, said Remo. “I love his actor-handling, and I love the kind of films he makes. The most satisfying bit was to hear him say a couple of times after my shots, ‘Great! You are a very natural actor. You must act more from now on,” he added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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“I don’t understand where these rumours come from. I am very disappointed,” Nawazuddin, who doesn’t believe in unnecessary arguments, told IANS. “Irrfan is my senior; he is 10 years senior to me. I can’t even think of fighting with him for any reason.” The two share screen space in Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.

“I have learnt so much from him and such rumours will only affect our relationship. I have immense respect for Irrfan,” Nawazuddin added further.

The makers of The Lunchbox asked Irrfan – known for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and The Namesake – to supervise the film’s international marketing campaign and this is said to be the cause of the row between the two. Nawazuddin rubbished the rumours saying, “I don’t believe this. Irrfan is not only popular in India but also on an international level. So there was absolutely no fight on this.”

The film was previously screened at the Cannes International Film Festival and according to Nawazuddin, it was quite well-received by the audience. “I am proud to be associated with this product,” he said. The Lunchbox is set to release in India on September 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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“Even a bad TV show – if that’s where I have got to go at the end, I will go there if it’s comedy,” she said the day after Gravity, in which she co-stars with George Clooney, got its world premiere at the Venice film event.

Bullock and Clooney, however, weren’t Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron’s first choices for the roles of space scientist Ryan Stone and her country music-loving mission commander Matt Kowalsky, but Bullock went at the part with a vengeance.

One of the ways she prepared was by putting in a call to the astronauts on the International Space Station. “I was asking silly questions, ‘Where do you go to the bathroom?’ and in the end, I got a viewpoint of these people who we’ve idolised, these astronauts,” Bullock said.

“And the viewpoint is that they care about life, our life and what we’re doing with it so much – that’s why they’re up there. They are normal people who do extraordinary things.”

Bullock said she has suffered setbacks in her career but she sees them as learning experiences. “I’ve handled adversity and I’m sure there’s a lot more to come,” she said. “I haven’t always acted or reacted in a way that made me proud but I didn’t make the same mistake twice and I think that’s what I love about adversity – it always reminds me of what’s really valuable in life.”

She said her performance in Gravity, which required that she spend time in an LED-lighted box to help produce the film’s stunning special effects, had been demanding, physically and mentally.

“It wasn’t a walk in the park for anyone involved, especially Alfonso,” she added. “I mean the immense pressure that he was under, the technicians were under; no one knew if this would work until the day I got into the first contraption.”

“Even then, they didn’t know if it would work technically or if the actor in the contraption could pull it off. It was a great unknown every single day because we were all in the same boat,” she continued. “Everyone was in it together. There was no one-upmanship in this film.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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The Google generation of school kids needs a radically different set of skills. While you or I might remember trawling through encyclopedias or library books to complete school projects, generation X, Y and beyond, of course, seek answers online. Even ignoring the issue of inappropriate sites that pop up for innocent key words, they soon realize not all websites are equally reliable. Search engine optimisation techniques used by commercial sites mean that the top sites resulting from a search may be sites looking to sell you something or earn dollars from clicks. They may be sites pushing a particular agenda and may not be impartial. Students have to learn at a much earlier age to question sources, look for corroborative data and sift through misinformation. In our internet-dependent age, these may be some of the most important skills they learn in school.

Programming is another area that is rapidly becoming more and more mainstream. You may not know how to program a computer, but learning to code may be invaluable to your child. From creative fields such as animation and journalism to supposedly geeky computer science and math, the ability to code will give your child an edge.

Just as writing compositions teaches children multiple skills, writing code develops a variety of aptitudes. Various forms of writing teach students how to organize their ideas, elaborate, synopsise and express themselves. According to MIT professor Mitchel Resnick, learning to code is useful on many levels. “In addition to learning mathematical and computational ideas (such as variables and conditionals), they are also learning strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas. These skills are useful not just for computer scientists but for everyone, regardless of age, background, interests, or occupation,” he says.

MIT is responsible for one of the best programs for teaching children to code. Scratch is a programming language and online community designed to introduce coding to children through simple drag and drop blocks. It can be used to make interactive stories, animations, games as well as a host of other projects. The best schools in Karachi already introduce their children to Scratch as part of their computer classes. Using Scratch is free and easy – you just log onto the website and after watching some simple tutorials even an 8 year old can start doing animations.

There are various other programs and apps available. Hopscotch is a great free iPad app that gives a visual introduction to coding for 8-12 year olds. Stencyl and App Inventor are kid-friendly programming tools that allow users make their own Apps, though Scratch is perhaps the best starting point for newbies.

So what about all the studies that suggest time spent on the internet or playing video games stunts brain development and social skills? The programs that help children learn to code may seem like games, but they are easy to justify as educational experiences. Similarly, blogging is simply great for developing writing, editing and photography skills. What about other computer use? Considering how much socialising takes place digitally nowadays, via smartphones and tablets, it may just be that the social skills required in the future may be somewhat more complex than we realize. furthermore  interactive video games can nurture abilities such as memory, dexterity, forward planning, perseverance and problem solving. Surgeons, for example, play video games to keep their skills sharp. This doesn’t mean that you can park your child in front of any old shoot-em-up game. However, it does mean that even simple entertainers like Super Mario Bros do have their benefits — not least of which is giving your child something to talk about in the playground. No one wants to be the kid that doesn’t have a clue about something that all his or her friends are talking about.

With issues such as cyber bullying and the prevalence of porn online, parents definitely have to monitor their children’s computer usage. However, they must be aware that their children are growing up in a digital environment. They need visual analytical skills that were unnecessary a generation ago. When we were growing up we never dreamt of the likes of Facebook or YouTube. Our children are similarly preparing for a future that neither they nor we can imagine. While reading, art, music and sports are as important as ever as pastimes for children, time in front of the computer shouldn’t automatically be seen as wasted time.

Oxford-grad Salima Feerasta is a social commentator and lover of style in any form or fashion. She blogs at karachista.blogspot.com and tweets@karachista 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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After five days of relentless collections by as many as 89 Indian designers made up of both novice talents and veterans, Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2013 came to an end with a finale showcase by the great Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

While there were dozens of noticeable micro trends in the mix, by and large there was a slightly more androgynous feel to many of the creations. This could be a result of the penetration of the next generation of designers as part of the process to self discovery.  However, even the greats, such as Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi, had slightly toughened up their collections with military accents and collared-shirts over ghagras.

Cholis, usually centre stage, took a back seat to a twist on the style with modern midriff crop tops seen at Payal Singhal, Shehla Khan and Global Desi, among others. At times, they were layered with diaphanous gossamer fabrics and paired with both full skirts and pants. The sporty trend that first came out in the ‘90s has had a style moment globally for more than a year now and hit the Lakme Fashion Week runway in a big way.

Jackets over lehengas, saris, and shararas have been a running trend we picked up on at India Bridal Week and Delhi Couture Week. However, Ritu Kumar took it one step further by presenting flowing ‘red riding hood’ capes tied around the neck with prints inspired by Bhutanese culture. Another prominent mini trend in the same family was the kotis or vests, both long and short, seen at Anita Dongre.

Finally, rural village art was best performed at Gaurang Shah with gorgeous tukri and ajrak patterns in primal colours set against white to make them jump out even more in celebration. It was a festive, timeless collection that, although presented on traditional ghagras and chaadar dupattas, could easily be replicated on any silhouette with equal charm.

Gold statement pants in brocade and metallic fabrics were spotted at Vikram Phadnis and were used mostly with whites. They were complimented by matching gold tailored jackets and blazers for the runway. However, we liked the idea of a pair of gold pants, especially in brocade, assembled with simple neutrals.

Boat necks went missing a while back with the onset of Nehru and shirt collars, but fortunately Manish Malhotra reminded us of their elegance with his repetitive use of the neckline throughout his beautifully understated pastel shararas and mirror work saris. The use of sheer tulle and back buttons was particularly lovely.

Dupattas and pallus were wrapped interestingly around the neck in twisted crushed scarves at Nikhil Thampi, Krishna Mehta, and Global Desi to create a stronger statement than the feminine shoulder drop. An equally effective styling technique to convey a tougher fashion image was the use of belts enveloping military sash like dupattas around the waist and adding on shoulder lapels. These were principally observed at Sabyasachi.  Known for his passion of honouring and celebrating the femininity of women through his creations, Sabyasachi balanced this by infusing delicate wide net lace on the bottom half of his saris.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

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Poverty, and the effects of the 2008 economic crash on people and society, as well as the film industry, were emerging themes at this year’s festival, which opened on Wednesday and will conclude on September 7 with the awarding of the Golden Lion trophy for best film.

On Wednesday, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron said his big-budget space disaster drama Gravity, the festival opener, had almost been derailed by the crash.

Director Paul Schrader, who made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and other big hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s, said on Friday that economics had pretty much transformed the industry.

“The film business is undergoing a systematic change — not systematic [in fact], a systemic change. Everything we know in this from the past doesn’t apply,” Schrader, who made the latest Lindsay Lohan movie Canyons on a low budget, told a news conference.

Poverty and consequences of the 2008 economic crash were emerging themes at this year’s film festival. PHOTO: FILE

In Joe, directed by David Gordon Green and based on a novel of the same name by Larry Brown, Cage plays a hot-headed, bourbon-swigging southerner who befriends a young boy who comes from a violent background.

Poverty oozes out of almost every scene, from the battered GMC truck Joe drives and pick-up black workers he employs to poison a forest for clearance, to his neighbours in tumbledown shacks who eat wild animals they find by the side of the road.

“I was very careful in the selection of the movie. I hadn’t worked for one year and then I found this script,” Cage said at a news conference with his co-actors and the director.

“For me, it was a chance to return to some very in-depth character analysis, character building and to work with David,” said Cage, who won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter drinking himself to death in the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas.

For that film, Cage said he learned how to portray a drunk by videotaping himself after a few drinks. This time, he said that he and co-actor Tye Sheridan, the teenage boy for whom Joe becomes a surrogate father, simulated the feeling by spinning around to make themselves dizzy.

Die Frau des Polizisten (The Police Officer’s Wife) shows a young family in provincial Germany whose seemingly carefree life descends into violence.

Director Philip Groening, who made the 2005 art-house hit Into Great Silence about Carthusian monks in the Swiss alps, said that while the film was mostly about the emotional and psychological triggers for abuse, economics also played a role.

“The film does not deal with domestic violence only, the film is also dealing with the love between the mother and the daughter,” Groening said. “There is also the poverty aspect to the film.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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The poll also found that over half of the motorists drive in unsuitable footwear. Also, one-in-every-five people continue to wear shoes that they have had a near miss or accident in, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Another alarming find was that one in four motorists has gotten their shoe stuck under a pedal whilst driving. This can have disastrous consequences, resulting in accidents and even death.

“It’s worrying that so many drivers out there do not realise the impact their footwear choices can have on their safety at the wheel. Millions may think they can drive safely but may not realise the shortcomings of the flip-flop until it’s too late  — putting themselves, their passengers and other drivers at risk every time they get in the car,” said Jacky Brown of Sheilas’ Wheels car insurance.

Top five summer footwear women struggle to drive in:

- Flip flops

- Bare feet

- Wedge Heels

- Espadrilles

- Sandals

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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Actor Sana was recently spotted on the pink carpet at Veet Celebration of Beauty event looking like a devastating blast from the past. Considering that monochrome dresses are the hottest trends of this season, we wonder why Sana would completely ignore that and step out in this B&W disaster.

The charge sheet

Hair and make-up

Either she was too lazy to blow-dry her hair after taking a shower or she burnt her ends while using the curling iron. Whatever be the reason, this is probably one of the worst hairdos in the history of fashion events. That tangled up, side-parted puff looks like a bird’s nest. While matching your make-up with your outfit is not a fashion no-no but when the outfit is black, your make-up should not be literally black too! Sana has really beautifully structured eyes and it’s a shame that we can’t even make them out thanks to the overpowering black eye shadow.

Outfit

If only that skirt was black, Sana would have directly resembled Morticia Addams from the Addams Family. Instead, she did her own twist on the Addamses –a black and white polka dot skirt! She could have managed to save herself from a disaster by wearing a fitted black top but instead she wore an unflattering kaftan-inspired top with a pointless diamond badge on the side. There also seems to be a red dori popping out from the side of her waist. Thank God there were no other surprises!

Accessories and Shoes

Thankfully the actor wasn’t sporting too much bling. Her silver glitzy box clutch and silver bracelet were acceptable. However, those extra-long silver earrings are more appropriate for a wedding than a red carpet event. Her flowy skirt seems to have covered her shoes completely but we are hoping that she did not make any mistakes there though considering her overall look, we doubt it.

Bail out!

Aishwarya Rai

The light-eyed beauty looked elegant as ever in a black Zac Posen mermaid skirt and white Saint Laurent shirt during her interview session at Cannes 2013. She keeps it simple, balanced and at the same time glamorous with tamed wavy locks and subtle make-up.

Deepika Padukone

The INR1billion-club star Deepika looked stunning in a beautiful flared skirt by Naeem Khan at the music launch of Chennai Express. The actor paired the plain simple skirt with neutral-coloured, sequined top along with minimal, pristine make-up. Sana really needs to take some pointers from that one!

Marisa Tomei

If there could be one best way to dress up in a black and white skirt and top with a vintage style, actor Marisa Tomei’s look at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards was a picture-perfect example. She dared to take a risk and succeeded looking fabulous in this Victorian-gothic attire.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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However, it seems that the age-long barrier will finally be broken. According to Times of India, producer Feroz Nadiadwala and director Anees Bazmee are in talks with Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha for the sequel of their hit 2007 movie Welcome. While Big B has been approached to fill in Feroze Khan’s shoes, Rekha has been offered the role of a wealthy fashionista. “Bachchan saab has done almost every role in his life but I can assure you that this one will be something terrific and special for him. The role will also be much longer than what Feroz saab essayed,” said Bazmee.

“Nadiadwala has bounced it off Rekhaji too. I have yet to meet both of them, which I plan to do in the next seven-eight days,” he added. Another source also highlighted, “Neither Amitabh nor Rekha have expressed any apprehensions so far about working together in Welcome Back. And yes they do have scenes together.”

Altogether, the two have worked alongside each other in 18 films that include popular films like Kasme Vaade, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Khoon Pasina, Chashme Buddoor and Mr Natwarlal. The sequel also features John Abraham and Shruti Hassan as new additions with Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor reprising their roles. The film is expected to go on floors in a month’s time from now.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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Madras Café is a bold, interesting combination of fact and fiction that is intricately layered around a real-life conspiracy and packaged in a blood-bathed, spy thriller. So, if your sole purpose of watching a movie is to take a break from reality and delve into a three-hour long, light-hearted, musical melodrama, then this riveting war adventure is not meant for you at all.

The movie is structured as a narrative of RAW agent Vikram Singh (John Abraham) to a priest, which in all honesty, is probably the most confusing flaw in the film. It even seems extremely irrelevant once you progress deep into the crisp and intense story line. The first half of the story focuses on the political history of the Sri Lankan civil war in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and the controversial and ambiguous role of India which intervenes as peace-maker. However, despite rigorous efforts, the chief of the ethnic rebel group LTF, Anna (Ajay Ratnam) is hell-bent on taking full control over the region and shed blood, bearing direct resemblance to the real-life LTTE Chief Prabhakaran.

The plot kicks off when the intelligence agency deploys Agent Vikram on a covert mission. He goes to Jaffna to persuade other dignitaries about forming an alliance to fulfill the Indian agenda of holding peaceful elections in the region. From there on, the audience is taken on a compelling journey of corruption, brutality and a chilling revelation — the assassination of India’s ex-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi — that ends in a lose-lose situation for the country as bombers win the race against time. From the fierce background score to realistic cinematography, every element of the film supports the story in the right direction. But flaws do exist.

The film’s first half is a bit of a drag. The story also misses out on an audience’s emotional attachment to the message since it is framed in flashbacks. John Abraham does justice to his role as an agent torn between victory and loss, yet adamant to fulfill his duty. However, it is the supporting cast that stands out. Prakash Belawadi, who plays Abraham’s nemesis Bala, is superb as the drunkard, corrupt colleague leaking internal information. Nargis Fakhri’s role as a well-informed foreign journalist, who tries to pave the way for Abraham through her tricky dialogues, is vague and ill-fitted. Nevertheless, the fact that she had to speak in English most of the time worked in her favour. While the screenplay is gripping, Abraham’s survival in the end unfortunately allows fiction to take command over realism.

Overall, Madras Café is a must watch because of its guts to portray such gritty reality in form of pure fiction. The director’s job in bringing out real-life violence on screen is truly commendable. However, audiences at large still have a long way to go before they can accept these bold, ethnic-centered moves.

VERDICT 3.5/5

If you enjoyed Hollywood flicks like Blood Diamond and Black Hawk Down, you are in for a similar, engaging Bollywood surprise. Madras Café takes you on a compelling ride of real life mixed with historical events.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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 Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Rahul Gandhi as India’s former prime minister. 

Despite controversies, unnecessary delays and the overwhelming and continuing success of Chennai Express, Humayun Saeed’s Main Hoon Shahid Afridi has earned Rs22 million in its first week of release (exact figures: Rs21,836,941). This is more than the total business of the much-hyped Chambaili but less then what was expected of the film.

However, excitement generated by word of mouth coupled with the fact that there are no pirated copies available in the market will give the film a good second week. A total business of Rs60 million is expected from the film. However, anything above that figure would be quite an achievement. On the other hand, Shahrukh Khan’s blockbuster comedy, Chennai Express, has already grossed Rs85 million. With a constant run at the multiplexes to regular audiences, the film might just reach the R90 million mark. Nevertheless, Race 2 is still leading the tally of Indian films in Pakistan with a total business of Rs92 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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While the drawing room rishta setting is still the norm for arranged marriages today, a miracle has arrived to save single ladies and gentlemen the pressure and awkwardness of a blind-arranged-marriage-rishta-setting. Single people in arranged marriage settings now have a way to gather intel on prospective spouses through Facebook. A family poring over a candidate’s Facebook profile is an all too familiar a scene. Going through profile pictures, education networks and seeing which friends you have in common with your prospective partner is the norm. But is it good enough to satisfy one’s curiosity and judge someone based on their social network profile? Consultant psychologist and counselor at Dr Mughal Health Centre Nasim Mughal sheds some light on the matter.

“If you are judging someone on Facebook, it is because they are there. If you want privacy, you should not be on Facebook,” she stresses, adding that there are thousands not using the social networking website because they don’t want to be public. She also said that despite all this, she believes that Facebook is a “good source of information, one way or another”.

One mother confesses that she hardly uses Facebook and prefers the way things were done in the good old days.  “We need to have family weddings instead of hearing that young Pakistani boys from good families are marrying Japanese or Turkish girls!” says Sara Shahzad. Describing how arranged marriages traditionally work, she says, “It used to be what one calls a blind date. But the surprise element has now vanished,” she laments. “The old times were better, divorce rates were lower, weddings were more fun, and relationships were exciting.” She strongly feels girls’ parents are better off finding their partners since they “know children’s tastes better”.

Anoushey Hassan*, a young single girl begs to differ. “Facebook is a productive way to find a spouse. An individual’s profile gives you a better idea of their personality and life.”

But not everyone agrees. Young Faiza Khan* does not approve of the practice. “A friend of mine got a good rishta, but because of the content on her FB profile, she got rejected and couldn’t get a rishta for a very long time. This becomes an issue.”

No one can deny that people are interested in doing extensive research on a suitor. But bachelor Hassan Khan points out that Facebooks security settings can put a damper on things. “FB changes its privacy settings every now and then, making it difficult to keep track of when pictures will go public.” It also leads to wrong assumptions. “If a guy is standing too close to a girl in a photo, you might think they’re dating, but she could be his sister,” he adds.  Khan also points out that girls who have recently tied the knot or got engaged make sure to change their FB accounts entirely, “removing any pictures with previous partners, as they don’t want to open up about past relationships”.

As a final word, we asked match-maker (rishta aunty for hire) how social networks work in the arranged marriage circuit. “Facebook is a good thing, but one shouldn’t absolutely rely on it,” says Mumtaz Qureshi. She also stresses that Facebook is not the only way to communicate, and interaction on a personal level is essential. She also urges young people not to seal a marriage proposal based solely on a “decent Facebook profile”, as there are no guarantees. “What if someone has a limp,” she says. “It’s something Facebook will never tell you.”

*Names have been changed to protect identity.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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LOS ANGELES: Concert film One Direction: This is Us, a Sony Pictures/TriStar release featuring the red-hot British boy band One Direction, won the weekend box office race with ticket sales of $17 million, edging the civil rights drama Lee Daniels’ The Butler which had been the top film for the past two weeks.

The Weinstein Company’s The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker as a long-serving White House butler, generated $14.7 million in ticket sales at domestic theatres from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates, which did not include projected sales for the US Labor Day holiday on Monday.

Its sales have totaled more than $74 million and the film is generating awards season buzz, including for co-star Oprah Winfrey, who plays Whitaker’s wife.

Warner Bros’ Jennifer Aniston hit, We’re the Millers, starring Jason Sudeikis in the drug smuggling comedy, was third with $12.6 million at US and Canadian theatres.

For One Direction, Sony worked with sister company Sony Music, which distributes the group’s music, to make the film, and signed Oscar-nominated director Morgan Spurlock to direct.

The clean-cut five-singer group, which finished third in the British version of the musical competition show The X Factor in 2010, has sold more than 10 million albums and 19 million singles, according to its management company’s website.

“We are thrilled with our result,” said Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures’ president of worldwide distribution. “It exceeded our expectations not only domestically, but everywhere, worldwide.”

The film’s opening looked to fall just shy of industry expectations of $22 million in ticket sales over the holiday weekend, with hollywood.com’s box office division projecting a $20.5 million total.

The film added another $14.5 million in 53 international markets, led by the United Kingdom.

Disney’s 2008 film Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert holds the record opening for the genre with $31.1 million, according to hollywood.com. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, released by Paramount Pictures in 2011, opened with $29.5 million.

Walt Disney’s animated film Planes was fourth for the weekend with ticket sales of $7.8 million.

The fifth slot was a strong $7.5 million opening for Instructions Not Included, starring and directed by Mexican television star Eugenio Derbez. It was the biggest Spanish-language opening ever in North America, and positioned the film to become one of the highest-grossing Spanish-language films ever, hollywood.com said.

Another new film opening widely, Getaway, Warner Bros’ low-budget high speed action film starring Ethan Hawke as a former race car driver racing to save his kidnapped wife, managed only ninth place with $4.5 million in ticket sales, according to data made available by the hollywood.com.

Mortal Instruments, which stars Lily Collins as a teen who works to protect the world from demons, had weekend sales of $5.2 million for seventh spot. 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.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2013.

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MUMBAI: Actor Om Puri, who was accused by his wife Nandita of domestic violence, breathed a sigh of relief when he was finally granted bail. In addition to bail granted Saturday morning, he has been allowed to leave the country on professional assignment.

The beleaguered actor was expected to leave for Britain late Saturday night for the shooting of his new international film The Hundred-Foot Journey, also starring distinguished British actress Helen Mirren. This brings to an end a week-long drama and trauma in Om Puri’s life, which began with his aggrieved wife Nandita accused him of domestic violence.

Nandita was insistent that Om not be allowed to leave the country for his shooting.”Luckily for me the legal system in our country is rational. Yes, I am able to leave for my shooting albeit one day late. Yesterday, on Friday, when I expected bail, the honourable judge was preoccupied with some other case, so he could look into my case only a day later,” said Om Puri.

He has to provide a surety bond of Rs15,000 before he leaves for Britain.” “I also have to get myself an international driving license, since I am shown driving in the film that I am currently shooting. So, there’s a lot to do before I leave. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to getting away from the nightmare of my life in India. I promise you I am going to do well in The Hundred-Foot Journey,” he added.

The actor was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting his wife, who claimed he had assaulted her with a wooden stick on August 22 at their suburban residence after they both had an argument.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2013.

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