Lipata, who is a prodigy in the world of Japanese cuisine and has mastered the art of Teppanyaki cooking, brings 24 years of experience to the hotel. He started his career in 1989, and continued gaining culinary experience, holding various chef positions in top kitchens at a number of executive hotels and restaurants, such as Intercontinental Hotel Dubai, Marriott Hotel & Suites Doha and Radisson Sas Hotel, Jeddah.

While tossing vegetables and slicing and dicing chunks of meat, Lipata shows off his cooking skills at the Teppanyaki grill. “Live cooking keeps customers entertained and engaged till the meal lands in their plates,” he says. His freshly made meal is created with a dash of spices that satisfy the desi taste buds but at the same time keep the flavours authentic and rich.

As a trained Japanese chef, Lipata is also an expert in Thai food, and understands Far East cuisine well. Pilipino by origin, Lipata said that he has traveled the world enough to understand the cuisine and requirements of different places and their people. He seems excited to learn traditional Pakistani cuisine as well. “I am from the Philippines so I understand strong spices and flavour just as this part of the world does. From salads to curries, rice and chappati, I want to learn as much as I can while I am here,” he says excitedly.

With just two weeks in the kitchen at Marriott, Lipata has been prompt to develop a strategy to run it, and has requested to make changes to the menu as well as the Teppanyaki grill. “I need some spotlights at the live cooking station on myself while I juggle ingredients,” he jokes. Sous-chef Imran Akbar, who has been working at the hotel since 2004, says that he is eager to learn new dishes and tricks from chef Lipata.

Keeping in mind the fish and vegetables of the season, Sakura plans to introduce a monthly menu.  The diversified menu will offer a wide variety of sushi and other signature dishes introduced by the chef. Moreover, from salads to main course, the new menu will be upgraded every month.  “I will be adding a twist to some of my dishes — it will be an experience for many. Each month customers will have something new to look forward to,” emphasises Lipata.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Fancy a night out at the movies? The cinema has become one of Karachi’s favourite past-times in recent years. With the opening of Nueplex in Phase 8, Karachi now has four family-friendly premium cinemas. But how do they compare and which offers the best experience to movie-goers?

Cineplex

The first premium family cinema in Karachi, Cineplex, opened in 2005. However, it is now in  dire need of refurbishment. One cinema-goer described the experience as being like going to see a movie in someone’s basement home theatre.

Location: Seaview, Defence near The Village Restaurant

No. of Screens: 5

Ticket Price: Rs400

Pros

Convenient for Clifton and Defence, Cineplex is not that busy. The more popular cinemas have a higher turnover of movies, shunting even popular films to bizarre screening times very quickly. Cineplex is good for catching films that you’ve missed elsewhere.

Cons

The seats are poky and the screens are fairly small — you’ve had it if someone tall sits in front of you. Cineplex has no 3D screens and apparently, also periodically has electricity problems. It also has only one exit and no cell signals, which isn’t great from a security point of view.

Verdict: Only worth going if you’ve exhausted all other options, and maybe not even then..

Atrium Cinema

Location: At Atrium Mall in Saddar, close to Zainab Market

No. of Screens: 3 

Ticket Price:

Rs350 Cinemas A&B (Rs450 for 3D)

Rs450 Cinema D (Rs550 for 3D)

The first 3D Cinema in Karachi, Atrium, has been a runaway success ever since it opened. Despite a less than ideal location and a sometimes dodgy crowd, Atrium is most people’s first choice in premium cinema.

Pros

Atrium has roomy seats and large screens. It has excellent 3D, a great ambience and clean bathrooms. Last but not least, it has the best popcorn in town.

Cons

Atrium’s biggest downside is its terrible location. While convenient for both Defence/Clifton and the KDA side of town, Atrium has minimal parking and awful valet service. The mall and cinema attracts a very mixed crowd, and women by themselves are prone to getting ogled at by packs of young men. Atrium is also a victim of its own success. It has only three screens and limited capacity, so getting seats is difficult and can involve repeated trips to the mall. The telephone booking system tends to get inundated quickly and hence, is unreliable.

Verdict: The best overall movie experience in town, but location and limited capacity are both issues.

Cinepax

Located in Clifton, Cinepax is convenient for the Defence/Clifton crowd. Smaller than Atrium and Nueplex, Cinepax aims for a more luxurious experience with premium screens, recliner seats and quality snacks.

Location: At Ocean Mall, Clifton near 2 Talwar

No. of Screens: 3

Ticket Price:
Silver Screen Rs450 (Rs600 for 3D)

Gold Screen Rs750

Platinum Screen Rs1,000 (Rs1,200 for 3D)

Pros

Cinepax has a great location and huge snack selection including burgers and fries. It offers recliner seats and blankets to counter the chill factor in the premium screens. It has lovely bathrooms and is the only cinema to offer online booking. It’s perfect for a girls’ night out due to location and crowd quality.

Cons

Screens sizes aren’t huge and the 3D, while good, is not as great as Atrium and Nueplex. The seats in the silver screen are not very comfortable. The escalators to the cinema are not conveniently placed, which is annoying as the lift service is sporadic. You can sometimes hear movies in adjoining cinema halls, and low capacity means it’s difficult to get seats. Crucially, many people have complained the popcorn is always stale.

Verdict: Great location, but silver screen should be better. The premium screens offer a better experience but are pricey if you go the movies often. Thankfully, Cinepax say they’ve fixed the popcorn — stale popcorn ruins movie night.

Nueplex

Nueplex is part of The Place, a dedicated entertainment complex that has just opened in Phase 8. It has a huge capacity and state-of-the-art equipment.

Location: Phase 8, Defence

No. of Screens: 5

Ticket Price:

Rs500 Cinema 1-4 (Rs600 for 3D)

Rs1,000 Royal Screen (Rs1,250 for 3D)

Pros

Nueplex has huge screens, a good 3D system, efficient telephone bookers and an attractive ambience. The royal theatre offers food service, a dedicated waiting area and recliner seats. The popcorn is delicious.

Cons

The bathrooms are clean but very small. Nueplex is the priciest of the cinemas, for everything from tickets to snacks. It is very far for those not living in Defence, and is in a quite unpopulated area. The standard cinema seats are just a tad less comfy than Atrium.

Verdict: It is a little far for those who don’t live in Defence, but in terms of screen size and overall cinematic experience, it is only rivaled by Atrium.

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

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2013.

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Stars wowed at the Venice Film Festival last week. Well, most of them did at least. Actor Rebecca Hall left us with dropped jaws, but not in a good way.

The charge sheet

Hair

Hall’s hair looks like an upside down mop. In fact, it doesn’t even look like it’s been brushed. A simple blow-drow or a chic updo would have looked so much better.

Make-up

What make-up? The actor seems to be wearing none, other than maybe a slight hint of lipstick. A dewy look would have looked so much better, with some blush to accentuate those cheek bones.

Outfit

Where do we begin? The patterned dress by Christopher Kane is giving us a headache, and the collar would have been better suited for a men’s shirt rather than a dress fit for the red carpet. The length of the dress is also awkward which does not complement her petite figure at all.

Shoes and Accessories

Rebecca chose to go accessory-free on the red carpet, which seems fine as the print on her dress is so busy. Unfortunately, she should’ve gone without shoes as well. These sandals are made for senior citizens taking walks in the park, not actors on a red carpet. A simple pair of peep toes would have done wonders for her entire look.

Bail out!

Dakota Fanning

Looks like the Twilight star is all grown up, and she proves it in this sparkly blue Elie Saab gown, and is the first star to step out in a dress from the Fall 2013 collection! Her sleek, blonde locks frame her face beautifully, and the gown shows off her great figure.

Sandra Bullock

The actor looks classy and sassy in this J Mendal red showstopper. She contrasts her dress wonderfully with black shoes and a black clutch. She lets the dress speak for itself with minimal accessories.

Scarlet Johansson

The newly engaged starlet looks ravishing in this black off-shoulder Versace gown, although everyone’s eyes were on her engagement ring! With a statement necklace to finish off her look, along with a chic up do and soft make-up, the actor looks divine!

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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Designers from around the world began unveiling their latest looks at New York Fashion Week on Thursday, as fashion buyers and editors assembled to see what will be au courant for spring, with trend watchers expecting a season of simple silhouettes.

Hundreds of shows are slated in New York over the coming week, displaying looks for spring 2014, before attention moves on to events in London, Milan and Paris.

The range on New York catwalks can be vast, from Custo Barcelona’s joyous prints to Carmen Marc Valvo’s beaded evening wear, Diane von Furstenberg’s lush colours and Ralph Lauren’s polished classics.

Longtime designer Carolina Herrera can be relied on for sleek sophistication and veteran Michael Kors for his clean lines. Mathieu Mirano has made a name for himself at the age of 22, designing for pop singer Lady Gaga.

Others are harder to figure out in advance. Roseanne Morrison, fashion director at The Doneger Group, who specialises in retail trends and forecasting, said she expects an abundance of skirts, A-line sheaths, cropped tops and soft pants in a departure from skintight looks of recent years. “I think we’re just moving into this whole mood of simplicity … almost unencumbered,” she said.

Tadashi Shoji, one of the first designers to appear on Thursday, showed an abundance of sleeveless sheath dresses and cropped tops, separately or by pairing abbreviated tops over sleek A-line silhouettes.

Giving a boost to the simpler clothes are innovations in fabrics such as latex and neoprene, Morrison said. Clothes now can be minimally cut or draped without losing character.

“It’s finally advanced to the level where it’s got softness too, but it still has substance,” she said.

Shoji’s runway proved Morrison to be on target. The Los Angeles-based, Japanese-born designer brought out dresses of neoprene, some bell-shaped or square-necked with a full skirt, topped with embroidered tulle overlays and lace detail.

Shoji said his spring 2014 line of chiffons, rosettes and frosted pastels was about “sweetness and liberation.”

Husband and wife team Max and Lubov Azria of BCBGMAXAZRIA presented flowing dresses and gowns in pastels and block prints in cool cottons and silks. Tailored chic but with an urban edge and a touch of sexiness, BCBGMAXAZRIA accented solid-coloured dresses with sheer panels above floral hems, adding linen/leather open-toed booties for a smart daytime look. The sheer panels appeared in the designers’ dresses, trousers and gowns, a repeating theme in a show that featured oversized trousers and cropped tops as well. A Fashion Week fixture, Azria founded the company in 1989 and has been showing in New York since 1996.

Fashion Week in New York, a twice-a-year event, runs until September 12, closing with shows by Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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MUMBAI: Off-screen or on-screen, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan make for one of Bollywood’s most romantic couples. But whether she romances other actors in films or sizzles in saucy item numbers, Kareena says she makes sure she never gives her “liberal” husband a chance to be “possessive”.

“Saif is a very responsible man and he knows his responsibility. I have never given him a chance to be possessive. He is quite liberal in his thinking. Possessive is a very wrong word in a way. I could be more possessive than Saif,” the 32-year-old told IANS in an interview. From doing films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, 3 Idiots and Bodyguard to offbeat films such as Chameli, Dev, Fashion and Omkara, she has proved her mettle in the last 13 years.

Kareena and Saif tied the knot in elaborate wedding celebrations last October after a five-year relationship.

Many feel love tends to fade away post marriage, but Kareena believes this is a cliche. “I hope it never changes. I mean cliches are always there. Things and men change after marriage — these are all cliches. I think I am lucky because Saif is not a typical kind of Bollywood actor. That’s why I think it works for us better,” she said.

While many female actors have limitations post marriage, Kareena says she will always do what she believes is right. Quitting acting is not even on her mind.

“I am an actor and I will always do what our part requires us to do. I think every actor does that and Bollywood is changing. We are quite progressive in our thinking. If I like a role and if it requires me to do certain thing, if I believe in it, I will do it. And if I think it’s not required, I’ll not do it.” She added, “I have always been like this and it’s not just now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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LOS ANGELES: For Oscar – and Grammy-winning actor and singer Jennifer Hudson, the decision to play anti-apartheid activist Winnie Mandela in her first lead role was no easy matter, especially when she saw what the former South African first lady meant to the nation.

In the biopic Winnie Mandela, which opened in US theatres on Friday, Hudson plays the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela from the time she met him as a young woman through decades as the public face for her imprisoned husband’s fight against white rule.

The film also depicts Winnie’s fall from grace when she is embroiled in murder and human rights violations before her husband is released from prison after 27 years in 1990 and goes on to become South Africa’s first black president.

“It was very intimidating for me, actually,” said Hudson, who came to understand the pressure of her role when she arrived in South Africa and heard people talk about Winnie.

“This is something they clearly treasure and take very seriously,” she added. “I thought if I am going to do this, I have to be all in. I thought maybe I should go home. And then I thought, this is a story that I would want to be a part of and tell.”

Hudson, 31, plays opposite fellow Chicagoan Terrence Howard in the role of Nelson Mandela. She spent four months in Africa for the film, which was shot in 2011 by South African director Darrell Roodt. “I had to lose weight for the film and also learn the accent,” said Hudson. “Everyone was worried about the physical [aspect]. I was like, I am not worried about the losing weight part. I am more concerned with the accent.”

To conquer the accent, she immersed herself in South African culture and spent time where the Mandelas lived “just to be absorbed by their surroundings.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Call it an ode to the Mughal era or simply an individual’s sheer love of traditional arts and culture, Sonia Rehman Qureshi’s furniture exhibition at the Sadequain Galleria on Thursday evening touched the hearts of many with its exquisiteness and historical elegance.

Her collection, which was aptly titled ‘Subcontinent’, included a variety of intricately handcrafted antique pieces belonging to the ancient civilisations of the subcontinent. A blast from the past, the collection was unique and well-preserved.

The three-day exhibition ended on September 7. Qureshi claims that her love affair with signature antiques blossomed when she was only 13 years old. “As a teenager, whenever my uncles, aunts and parents would give me money to buy something for my birthday, it would always be furniture for me,” she tells The Express Tribune.

Collecting pieces for over a really long time, Qureshi shares that there eventually came a point when she had no space left in her house. “There was no place left in my house and my husband Farhan was kind enough to tolerate my indulgence. It went to a point that I asked my mom if I could place some furniture in my old bedroom and then eventually, I also grabbed the opportunity of placing it in my brother’s room too!” she says.

With the rise in modernism and preference for contemporary culture, people who appreciate artifacts are a rare find. “[Sadly] nowadays, people don’t value antique in Pakistan, though it is still considered priceless world-over.

I believe in the revival of these old pieces, and I became very serious about it all, when I had kids of my own. I thought that when I am gone, my daughter needs to look back and say ‘this is our heritage’. The key word remains preservation, here,” asserts Qureshi. She adds that nowadays, the quality of wood and standard of craftsmen is not such that similar pieces can be re-created and people don’t seem to realise that.

The collection consists of 85 pieces altogether including desks, chairs, cabinets and even a grand size bottle bar. With interesting labels like Padshanama chest, Davenport desk, Voyage chair and Haram chest, each piece of furniture has its own story to tell. “Each one of these pieces is a genuine antique that I have tried to preserve,” stresses Qureshi. “With them, I want to evoke passion in people and make them consider old furniture as treasures. Each piece has a story to tell, some as old as 200 years. Let us share these pieces till we are here and after we are gone and let the young ones enjoy.” Qureshi has collected many pieces from rural areas in Sindh like Nagarparkar while some belonged to old Parsi families based in Karachi and those residing in areas of Saddar, Gurumandir and the Parsi colony.

The big Bottle Bar is one such piece that has been in a Parsi family for four straight generations and was thrown out for being too old-fashioned. In an attempt to preserve the sanctity of these antique pieces, Qureshi has toyed with solid colours and used cow-hide skin on sofas to add a bit of contemporary touch. Her all-time favourites are Padshanama chairs and the Haram Chest, which took six months to re-paint.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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The prestigious Prince Claus fund has been supporting the freedom of cultural expression in developing countries for 17 years. Each year, the fund selects 11 dedicated and outstanding artists, and even organisations, whose work has had a significant impact on the development of arts and culture in their respective countries. This year, amongst the 11 names is Pakistani visual artist Naiza Khan from Bhawalpur, according to a press release.

Naiza’s work represents a deep analysis of the crucial paradoxes of Pakistani society, notably the social position of women in the country.  She co-founded the Vasl Artists’ Collective, which is a vital hub for contemporary art in Pakistan.

Definitely lending another proud moment to the country, Naiza is the third Pakistani to have received the prestigious award, after architect Arif Hasan and theatre personality Madeeha Gohar. The award was announced on Thursday, September 6 in Amsterdam. However, each laureate will receive the award from the Dutch ambassadors in their country of origin.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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This is one of the main reasons why the shop has always managed to hold its own in malls where it stands neck-and-neck alongside local and international designer hotshots. Mantra’s Dolmen City outlet is right next to the uber-popular Khaadi and the shop in Park Towers has international brand Next to contend with. But that window display — psychedelic, eye-catching, putting together chic looks that showcase the best of what’s inside the shop — hardly ever fails. And once you’re inside the shop, there’s a good chance you’ll get hooked.

Tunics, jumpsuits and dresses hang alongside pants, jeggings and the very much in demand printed jersey leggings; florals mix in with neons, whites and classic black and white; chunky gold rivets, quirky tees and wild prints; knuckle-dusters, beautiful neon clutches, platform shoes and statement jewelry, mostly priced around Rs5,000 — this is one cost-effective store for the young, the fashion-savvy and for the many Page 3 celebrities that one sees wearing Mantra at events. It’s like a walk down a mall in Bangkok, one without the tacky side-stalls, stocked with a keen, discerning eye on international trends.

“Most of our stock is from the Far East,” agrees Mantra’s Creative Director Soha Hafeez. “But a lot of the jewelry is Australian and there are some items sourced from Europe and USA — there are things here from all over the world!”

The job, then, of traveling ‘all over the world’ falls upon Soha, who makes umpteen trips abroad to select and bring back stock for the brand’s three stores — two in Karachi and another, which is currently being relocated in Islamabad. Is that like a massive, all-paid shopping trip where she roams malls and just picks up what she likes?, I ask her. Apparently, yes, but it isn’t as much fun as it sounds. “I do go to malls but a lot of my work also involves meeting up with agents, checking the quality of products, whether the fabric would work well in Pakistan and then ordering what I like,” says Soha. “We draw up extensive trend forecasts at Mantra and when I shop for the store, I often try to follow the trends and colour schemes that we had identified earlier.”

Once she’s back home, there’s the tedious task of sorting, itemising and figuring out the best way to visually merchandise the products — the window displays are all Soha’s handiwork. “It’s important to stock things in a way that different separates complement each other,” says Soha. “It’s much better to hang particular pant styles next to tunics that would look good on them. Customers often prefer to buy into entire looks rather than just separates.”

It’s simple clever retail. Flashback to 2003, when the brand started out, and the shop did not know any better than to stow its pants on one side and tunics on the other. It’s taken time — and a succession of talented creative directors — for the benefits of visual merchandising to seep in. Maliha Chaudhary, now the brains behind ready-to-wear brand Daaman, handled Mantra in its earlier years and stylist Maha Burney was the creative director back in 2010, when the brand began to reach out through social media. “From about 20,000 fans back then, Mantra now has over 100,000 fans,” says Maha. “Facebook and Instagram are a very effective way of advertising what’s in store and figuring out the items that are more in demand.”

One of these hot-selling items are Mantra’s printed jersey leggings, that are now produced in-house rather than sourced from abroad. “As the brand has expanded, we have observed that many of our shoppers are also interested in buying Eastern wear,” explains Soha. “To this end, we have set up a manufacturing unit — for production of in-demand items such as leggings and our East-meets-West fusion line.”

Thankfully, unlike most brands, Mantra’s ‘Eastern-wear’ doesn’t equate to hackneyed embroideries, A-line shirts and voluminous dupattas. The tunics are there, but a lot of them are in silk print and refreshingly short; there are cotton scarves instead of dupattas. Some women — the lawn-loving ones come to mind — may not find them conventionally formal, but trussed up, they can easily be translated into evening-wear. It’s a lesson for the myriad designer brands that are slipping by following routine silhouettes that sell well but lack imagination. Mantra’s separates are certainly a par above — and why look like all the other A-line wearing women in the room when you can wield your own individualistic ‘mantra’?

Maliha Rehman is a fashion and lifestyle journalist with an obsessive, compulsive need to write. Log on for more updates on Twitter @maliharehman

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.

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The Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremony was recently held at the Castle of Sao Jorge in Lisbon, where five environment-friendly buildings from different countries, mostly Islamic, received awards from Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of the Portuguese Republic and His Highness, the Aga Khan. According to a press release, the five winning projects include the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum, Sudan; Revitalisation of Birzeit Historic Centre in Birzeit, Palestine; Rabat-Salé Urban Infrastructure Project in Morocco; Rehabilitation of Tabriz Bazaar in Tabriz, Iran and the Islamic Cemetery in Altach, Austria.

The Award was established back in 1977 and is given every three years. It recognises all types of building projects that affect today’s built environment — from modest, small-scale projects to sizable complexes.  According to one of the recipients, the Award’s mandate is different from that of many other architecture prizes as it selects projects that not only exhibit architectural excellence but also improve the overall quality of life — from innovative mud and bamboo schools to state of the art ‘green’ buildings.

Like previous award-holders, this year’s recipients also have a story behind their existence. For example the Islamic cemetery in Austria was built as a result of a movement by NGO to allow funeral rights to Muslims in Austria. It is inspired by garden design and features roseate concrete walls, five staggered rectangular gravesite enclosures and a structure housing assembly and prayer rooms. The principal materials used were exposed reinforced concrete for the walls and oak wood for the ornamentation of the entrance facade and the interior of the prayer space.

Similarly, the Birzeit Historic Centre is part of a rehabilitation master plan initiated by the Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation. The project has transformed the decaying town of Birzeit, creating employment and reviving traditional crafts.

The one million dollar prize, which will be divided among the five recipients, does not necessarily go to the architect only. The Award also identifies municipalities, builders, clients, master craftsmen and engineers who have played important roles in the building of the project. A jury is given the job of dividing the money amongst all stakeholders as it sees fit.

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

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DURBAN: After bagging numerous awards on home turf, Anurag Basu’s Barfi! received international acclaim by winning the Best Film award in the first edition of the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA), held on Friday. Even Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra won the best actors awards for their performances in the movie.

The award show kicked off with a special Madiba Award for ailing former South African president Nelson Mandela, which was received by his granddaughter Ndileka Mandela. Organised at the International Convention Centre, counted among one of the world’s best convention centres, the show featured scintillating dance performances by Bollywood stars. While actor Siddharth Malhotra performed to songs from his film, Student of the Year, actor Ranveer Singh rocked the dance floor with his energetic dance act on a medley of Indian songs. Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit also wowed the audience with her performance on her hit songs including her recent item number Ghagra from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.

As many as 150 film and TV personalities from India and 30 South African film and TV personalities were present at the event. Designer duo Alpa and Reena showcased their collection at a special fashion show, while TV host Manish Paul revealed the promotional trailer of his upcoming film, Mickey Virus, alongside co-actor Elli Avram.

The event was host to an audience consisting of around 7000 people. Holding the evening together with his inimitable wit was film-maker Karan Johar, accompanied by the beautiful Dia Mirza, former Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar and the charming Simba.

On the Indian television front, popular soap, Pavitra Rishta, of Zee TV picked up the Show of the Year award, Gurmeet Choudhary was adjudged lead actor of the year, while Kratika Sengar of Punar Vivaah fame won the lead actress award.

Those from South African film and TV industry were also honoured at the gala. 7De Laan won the TV show of the year, and the TV actor of the year awards went to Robert Whitehead for Isidingo and Baby Cele for Zabalaza.

SAIFTA was organised by the Mumbai-based event management company Celebrity Locker in collaboration with the Kwa Zulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism of Durban. Its focus was to enhance the exchange of cultural elements between Indian and South African entertainment industry.

Winners List — Film

Best Film: Barfi!

Best Actor (Male): Ranbir Kapoor

Best Actor (Female): Priyanka Chopra

Best Director: Abhishek Kapoor for Kai Po Che

Best Supporting Actor (Male): Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Gangs of Wasseypur

Best Supporting Actor (Female): Divya Dutta for Special 26 and Rani Mukerji for Talaash

Best Debut (Male): Siddharth Malhotra for Student of the Year

Best Debut (Female): Huma Qureshi for Gangs of Wasseypur

Best Youth Icon: John Abraham

Song of the Year: Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2

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

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Stars of Maneesh Sharma’s Shuddh Desi Romance Parineeti Chopra, and newbie Vaani Kapoor joined stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma on the set of his weekend prime time show, Comedy Nights with Kapil. Here’s a breakdown of what they wore.

Parineeti Chopra

Hair and Make-up

The Shuddh Desi Romance star, who is also actor Priyanka Chopra’s cousin sister, kept her medium-length hair down, and opted for a simple inwards blow dry, which showed off her layers. Parineeti also kept her make-up light, with bronzed cheeks and coral lips. We wish she had done her nails though — a coral shade matching her lips or even red, would have really put the whole look together.

Outfit

Parineeti played it safe in a little black dress with polka dot detailing. A little too safe we think. While the thin black belt accentuated her waist, and the polka dots added a fun vibe to the otherwise bland outfit, the actor looked quite ordinary.

Accessories and Shoes

Adding to her black ensemble, Parineeti stepped out in black high-heeled pumps and a black statement ring. How we wish she had spruced up her LBD with some fun, eye-catching accessories. They would’ve taken her entire outfit from drab to fab!

Vaani Kapoor

Hair and Make-up

Newcomer Vaani kept her hair simple and sleek, straightening it to add length. Her make-up ended up looking oily instead of dewy unfortunately, as she was shining onstage. We do like her structured eyebrows though, as they add dimension and depth to her face.

Outfit

Kapoor pulled of this halter dress beautifully and looked quite graceful in it. The print speaks for itself and her look seems so effortless.

Accessories and shoes

Vaani realised that less is more, and opted for no accessories. This was a smart decision, as an abundance of accessories would have clashed with the print of her dress and ruined the look. Unfortunately, her shoes weren’t visible, but we think she went with a basic pair of pumps, so as to let her dress stand out.

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

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LOS ANGELES: Vin Diesel’s return as glowing-eyed space traveler Riddick won the weekend movie race, ringing up $18.7 million in US and Canadian ticket sales, and knocking three-time box office queen Oprah Winfrey to second place.

Lee Daniels’ civil rights drama, The Butler, starring Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and media mogul Winfrey, slipped to second, bringing in $8.9 million from Friday through Sunday.

Instructions Not Included, a Spanish-language film directed by Mexican television star Eugenio Derbez, was third with $8.1 million in its second week of release in US and Canadian theatres.

Jennifer Aniston comedy We’re the Millers took in $7.9 million for fourth place, followed by animated Disney film Planes with $4.3 million.

Concert film One Direction: This is Us, about the popular British boy band, fell to the sixth slot with $4.1 million, according to studio estimates.

While Riddick fell short of industry forecasts for a start between $21 million and $24 million at domestic theaters, distributor Universal Pictures had predicted a lower opening between $18 million and $20 million.

“We’re very comfortable with that total,” said Nikki Rocco, president of distribution for Universal Pictures. “We were realistic about this project,” she noted, adding that “the fan base is here for Diesel, so we’re hoping it hangs in there” in the coming weeks.

Diesel promoted Riddick to the huge fan base on his Facebook page, which has scored more than 46 million likes. The actor is best known for his role in the popular Fast & Furious car-chase franchise. Fast & Furious 6, that released in May, raced to nearly $790 million in global sales, ranking as one of the year’s biggest blockbusters.

Riddick is a sequel to 2000 release Pitch Black and 2004’s The Chronicles of Riddick.

In the new installment, Riddick, an ex-con who can see in the dark, leaves his comfortable world as leader of the ‘Necromonger’ race to seek out his homeland. Once double-crossed and left for dead, he battles beasts and bounty hunters while he works to rebuild himself, physically and morally.

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

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Lollywood seems to be on a roll. Recently released commercial film Ishq Khuda — which fared well at singe-screen cinemas in the country — will be screened at the Bollywood Film Festival in Norway on September 11.

The admiration this movie has received from across the border will definitely boost the confidence of other film-makers in Pakistan, says film’s director Shahzad Rafique. The star-studded cast includes Shaan, Meera, Ahsan Khan and Wiam Dhamani.

“This is a premier film festival which has been known to screen top films from South Asia,” film’s assistant director Hasnat Afridi tells The Express Tribune. He reveals that Ishq Khuda is the only Punjabi film which has been selected for screening alongside popular Bollywood movies such as Kai Po Che! and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

Festival’s director Nasrullah Qureshi invited Ishq Khuda’s team and decided to screen the movie due to the media attention the film has received in Pakistan and other countries. The festival has developed a strong fan following amongst Bollywood buffs and according to Afridi, getting an invite was an achievement in itself. Due to short notice however, it is still unknown if members of the cast and crew will be able to attend it. “We are waiting on the visa but I think it might be too late,” Afridi adds.

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

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The event was the result of a project initiated by the Brazilian embassy in 2011 — the embassy had invited Rokni, creative director of Verve Events Arsalan Khan (organiser of the event) along with others to visit Brazil and experience the country’s cultural life. The show was postponed due to timing and date issues and the collection which was created over a year ago, was a bit of a disappointment in today’s time. Coral and pastel colour-blocking on cotton was more of a ‘been there, done that’ style. With a few patterns thrown in occasionally, limited use of fabric and basic shift cuts, the cotton-based collection didn’t seem to pick up pace at any point.

Speaking about his collection, Rokni says it’s all about the ‘mix’ — the mix of European and African culture, the mix of Brazilian and Japanese culture and the mix of urban sophistication and natural beauty. These contrasts and collisions specifically inspired him. He further explains that the collection’s starting point was “mid-century modernism and from there, we move on to Bahia and the African influence and then, we end with a touch of nostalgia and an interpretation of the glamour that the name Brazil itself evokes.”

He feels he brought back lots of colour from his trip to Brazil. “Brazil has a vast range of swimwear which we don’t have,” he says, adding that he tried to incorporate that in his collection. “There is a touch of swimwear in each piece. It’s sexy in an elegant way.”

Apart from the actual collection, make-up and hair by Juju Haider, the creative director of Toni&Guy Islamabad, was a hit. Shimmery bronzer and volume-filled hair beamed inspiration and boldness of Brazilian fashion. The collection is supported by headpieces made in collaboration with Hashim Ali who has kept the same influence in mind — they’re also a nod to Japanese culture that is very much a part of Brazil.

Islamabad-based fashion designer Pashmina Ahmed of Plush wasn’t too impressed and wanted something more. She tells The Express Tribune that she had pictured the collection would be bursting with beautiful festive prints and colours. “There was no movement in this collection — no textures and no life,” she says regretfully, about the clothes which seemed to focus more on the ‘60s mod cuts. “I waited for the wow factor or a showstopper, but that never popped out. And the hair and bronzer seemed to be the main focus.” She was expecting a signature Kamiar Rokni show with unconventional detailing and beautiful embellishments. “But he didn’t show his craft off this time,” she adds.

Another member of the audience Sana Kalim expresses her grief, saying “I was expecting a line of flowy gowns, florals and corals which can be worn all year round in Pakistan. [But] it seems like he is still stuck in time.”

While the music was essential to keep the upbeat tone of the evening alive — traditional Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova with electronic beats — the dull décor didn’t impress. Organised by the Brazilian embassy and Verve, the dimly lit room didn’t seem to follow the theme and was the opposite of what Brazilian embassy’s events are normally all about — festivities, bright colours and full of life. However, the hall was able to accommodate at least 400 people so there was ample room for fashionistas to gather, gossip and enjoy the show.

The collection was a couple of seasons old but with Bridal Week coming up, we hope Rokni strikes back with a bang!

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

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Pakistani artists often travel abroad either on a cultural tour or simply to export their talent and settle down. However, philanthropist and pop artist Shehzad Roy has always been a true patriot, trying his best to contribute towards society — Zindagi Trust being his most significant effort.  The trust works to reform public schools, educate working children, and lobby the government to improve the education policy in Pakistan.

Simultaneously, Guns N’ Roses’ drummer Matt Sorum has been working towards the promotion of arts education in the US. Adopt the Arts is a foundation that unites public figures and celebrities to help in fostering creativity in public schools. In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 50% of elementary schools are not receiving arts education due to budget cuts. Also, 80% of its students live at or below the poverty line, so they do not have access to arts outside the school either. Hence, Adopt the Arts came to the fore with the mission of saving arts education.

Considering the renowned artists have a similar aim, what could be better than a musical collaboration? “Separated by 8,000 miles — Adopt the Arts and Zindagi Trust — are two non-profit organisations with similar missions founded by musicians [Sorum and Roy]. This led Adopt the Arts co-founder, Abby Berman, and me to collaborate on the Gala to build bridges between different cultures,” says Sadia Ashraf, senior publicist of the Prenner Group, which is managing event.

“We are more alike than different. Our present and future generations are becoming a global village due to a universal culture of social media and communications. They need to be shown that regardless of race, religion and culture, how alike we are and that we need to respect other cultures to march towards peace,” asserts Ashraf. “Having entertainers and celebrities are an end to a means — it attracts people’s attention to the plight of children in Pakistan who deserve quality education and also many parts of America where children are poverty-stricken.”

Clearly, it is an exciting venture for fans of both the artists and surely an exciting one for Roy as well. “It’s a big honour to perform with such names. Guns N’ Roses is the number one band in US. [Sadly], Pakistan is known internationally to export other items however, this is something different and way beyond it,” says Roy, adding that music is a powerful medium for driving change.

While for a Pakistani artist, it is a huge opportunity, Storum, too, feels that is a great, peaceful effort to bridge the gap between the two countries. “I feel this collaboration is a solid step towards building bridges of peace between the East and West. Music is the universal language of humanity. If Shehzad and I can join hands to help children, then maybe others will join us in a global effort to educate younger generations about each other’s cultures,” says Storum.

Roy’s line-up consists of songs like Apney Ulloo and Kangna. However, he will also be performing on a new song called Land of Pure, in collaboration with the band called.

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

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TORONTO: Set in the plantations of sweltering southern Louisiana and based on the 1853 memoir of a free black man sold into slavery, 12 Years a Slave is unmistakably an American story. And yet, much is being made of the provenance of a film that has won widespread acclaim from critics and audiences at festivals in Toronto and Telluride and been touted as a top early contender for Oscars.

Director Steve McQueen, whose idea it was, is British. “It’s strange that it took a Brit, Steve McQueen, to ask a question, ‘Why are there not more movies on American slavery?’ And he’s absolutely right,” Brad Pitt, a producer on the film who also has a role in it, said at its Toronto premiere on Friday.

After a surprise screening of the movie in the Colorado mountain town of Telluride in late August, trade publication Variety wrote a glowing review, but said it was a “disgrace that it takes a British director to stare the issue in its face.”

McQueen plays down the role his nationality might have, as does the actor who plays the lead role of Solomon Northup, Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is a Briton of Nigerian origin. Both have slavery in their family histories and believe in the global nature of the story.

“It was just one of those stories that I felt needed to be told,” McQueen said. “My ancestors were slaves, of course. I come from West Indies. I went through the whole Americas, South America, West Indies and I got the idea of North America and the idea of this free man.”

“The reason I got the idea of the free man is that you could identify with him,” said McQueen. “When he is captured and put into slavery, you go on this journey with him, you go through this assault course of slavery, you are with him.”

McQueen first won over critics with his two dramas Hunger and Shame. 12 Years a Slave opens in North American theatres on October 18.

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

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MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is looking forward to his next release Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, says like his character, he too, used to dream of having his face on huge posters and hoardings. In the film, Shahid’s character Vishwas Rao aspires to become an actor. “Just like my character says in the film, ‘Ek din mere bhi bade bade poster lagengey [One day, there will be huge posters of me]’, I also used to dream of becoming an actor, and used to think someday I will have [my face on] such huge posters,” Shahid said.

“I still remember when I used to stand beneath hoardings and think whether or not I would ever have such posters of myself. So definitely, I too, have been through those moments. I too, have gone for the auditions,” he added.

Before foraying into acting in 2003, the 32-year-old actor worked in quite a few music videos and commercials. Later, he joined Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts and was seen as a dancer in 1999 film Taal. The 32-year-old made his Bollywood debut with Ishq Vishk and later churned out hits like Vivah, Kaminey and Jab We Met. However, he also faced a tough time at the box office with films like Teri Meri Kahaani and Mausam.

He also believes an actor should do films for the audience.  “Every actor has hits and flops but the most important thing for an actor is whether the audience wants to watch you on screen,” Shahid said. “If the audience likes or rejects your films, you can change, but if the audience doesn’t want to see you, then that’s a big problem,” he stated.

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

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On the other hand, accountant-turned-designer Munib Nawaz recently took a risk, and stepped into designing costumes for some of the party scenes in the much-hyped Lollywood film, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi. “Munib is affordable, professional and actually enjoys working on such projects,” says actor and producer of the film, Humayun Saeed. “He knows what looks good on screen and is always available to help whenever you call him. It’s so easy to work with someone like him.”

However, for Nawaz, who recently created quite a stir with his controversial Karachi Fashion Week collection, wardrobe designing isn’t a first-time experience. Rather, it was almost eight years ago when he designed singer Sajjad Ali’s wardrobe for his music video, Ek Gham Ke Siwa. “I wanted to completely re-do his look and since the song was sombre, I gave him a sober look that complemented the tone of the song,” says Nawaz. “From there on, it really took off. I feel that our talent is this country’s greatest asset and therefore, it desperately needs to be promoted.”

After working with Sajjad Ali, Nawaz went on to give singer Rahim Shah a Ricky Martin-styled, fancy boy look for his video Tere Ishq Ne. Now, Nawaz has almost 114 music videos under his belt and has worked with most of the known video directors in the country. Music video director Sohail Javed, reveals that out of 400 of his videos, Nawaz has done the wardrobe for at least 100. He feels that Nawaz is not only a thorough professional but also has his own unique flavour in clothes. “I love the fact that we disagree and argue over things because that is what allows creativity to come out and opens up room for improvement,” says Javed. “He listens and does a lot of research on what the character requires.”

In order to understand the essence of a character better, a costume designer needs to figure out where the character is acting as the protagonist and where, as an antagonist and then balance out the colours accordingly. “There are various different shades of every colour that can depict antagonist and protagonist characters,” asserts Nawaz. “There are almost 60 different shades of grey – certain emit positivity and others, have negative connotations. While lighter shades are for protagonists, charcoal greys going towards black are considered antagonist.”

Recently, Nawaz has designed the entire wardrobe for upcoming Shaan-starrer, Waar. “I took charge of the production design and created the overall look for each character,” he says, adding that he had a great experience working for the film.

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

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There’s no denying that Izzie was one of the most loved characters on Grey’s Anatomy, and fans along with industry insiders were shocked when Katherine Heigl, who played the character, decided to leave the show. Heigl wanted to concentrate on the big screen and, in turn, came out with movies such as The Ugly Truth and 27 Dresses.

The former star of the critically-acclaimed medical drama is now returning to TV, but this time she will be armed with a gun instead of a stethoscope. Katherine will be starring in, and executively producing, an untitled CIA drama, according to E Online.

TV channel NBC has acquired the rights to the show, and the series will follow Heigl as a CIA officer who takes on a role of communications liaison for the US president. Secondary plots will focus on worldwide CIA operations, along with Heigl’s character’s complicated personal life.

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

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