Streets and parks are covered with flags, garlands, little models of Minar-e-Pakistan and portraits of the Quaid, while not a single patriotic song is left unheard. With great enthusiasm and pride, which is sometimes missing within Pakistan itself, these non-resident Pakistanis send best wishes for their motherland.  Here we take a look at some of the celebrations that take place across the globe.

United States of America

Residents in cities which host large Pakistani communities are preparing to commemorate their country’s independence with annual parades and festivals.  Celebrations are to take place on August 26 in San Francisco and Brooklyn and on September 2 in Chicago in which proud Pakistanis try to do the best they can while living far away from home.  Their spirits fly high as they sing patriotic songs and flaunt national colours while participating in festive activities, waving their flags in the air.

Canada

Celebrations are also in full swing in Toronto and Mississauga. A traditional Independence Day ceremony will be held on August 14 in Vaughan, including flag raising while singing the national anthem. The Pakistani community, with the help of the National Association of Multicultural Canada (NAM) has also succeeded in planning a two-day celebration festival from August 25 to August 26 at Mississauga Celebration Square. Their aim is to bring humwatan Pakistanis together to rejoice in the spirit of national pride and love while sending best wishes to their country.

Australia

In the land down under, a function organised by the Pakistan Association of Australia, Inc will be held on August 25 at the Grand Westella Reception Centre, in New South Wales. Members of the Pakistani community in Melbourne have also planned a ghazal night on August 27. Although the Pakistani community in Australia is relatively small, people manage to bring forth their patriotism and represent love, unity, and freedom in celebrating Pakistan’s birthday from a far away land.

Norway

Looking over to Oslo, the Pakistani community has arranged a multicultural event featuring world music, exhibitions, ethnic food, and entertainment on August 24 through August 26. The Pak-Norwegian community also recently held a mela, in which they presented Pakistani artists, games, and food stalls for the guests.

United Kingdom

Preparations to celebrate this auspicious event in different cities like Manchester, London, and Birmingham are also on the rise. Celebrations are usually held outdoors with live music, Pakistani food stalls, and flag-raising ceremonies. However, with the Olympic Games taking the spotlight this year, Independence Day celebrations have been pushed back to late August and early September.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Special prayers and a flag raising ceremony will also be held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the city of Muzaffarabad. Additionally, members of “Aman Ki Asha” have arranged for friendly celebrations at the gates of the Wagah-Attari border on August 14 and 15.

Thus, it is seen that the Pakistani spirit lives on in the hearts of Pakistanis across the globe, who take pride in representing their country wherever they may be. From decorating homes and waving flags, to screaming “Pakistan Zindabad” and singing patriotic songs at the top of their voice, Pakistanis celebrate their homeland’s 65th birthday globally with pride.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2012. 

Rewind 20 years, and the men went to the local barber, ignored grooming, dressed rough and tough, and avoided their sensitive side. The classic need for being the bread-winner with a moustache was the preferred trait. The credit for this revolution in Pakistani men goes to the media, higher education, and mixed gender work environments. In the late 90s, the masculine “maula jutt” image faded and brought forth the “pretty boy” personality, health awareness, and fashion sense — all of which Pakistanis welcomed fervently.

Gender-based products, pampering salon services and the male fashion industry are now on the rise in Pakistan (there’s even going to be a Men’s Fashion Week!). Men’s grooming has gone mainstream, with the “look-good, feel-good” motto.  From local to international companies, the range of products for men’s skin-care, hair-care, and body-care have grown significantly due to demand. The Body Shop, Gillette, L’Oreal, and many other companies have expanded product ranges including beauty products for anti-aging, sun-care, skin-whitening, and face-lifting. Companies like Unilever, Luscious Cosmetics, and Sunsilk Men have been advertising fairness creams, exfoliating scrubs, and nourishing hair gels have become part of the daily regimen.

Heart-throbs like Fawad Khan, Imran Abbas and Shahzad Sheikh have become role-models, and men of all age groups want to feel desirable and confident. This leads to men booking appointments for body waxing, face peels, and laser treatments. Bald men want to get hair transplants, and hairy men want to get permanent body hair removals.  Step into a men’s salon and notice the comfort zone men are in getting their mani-pedi sessions, massages, waxing or facials. One of the most widespread salons, Depilex, has four branches for men, along with 30 for women. Massarat Misbah, the owner, states that men have responded very well to the services Depilex offers. “The problem with men is that they feel shy. But now things have changed. Men want to have healthy skin and body and they are becoming conscious of it,” Misbah says.

The awakening of the modern man could be explained by the growing acceptance of homosexuality in some circles, Hollywood celebrities, and of course the attraction to women.  As Khalid Malik, RJ and TV actor explains, “Credit goes to the number of women in the business world these days. Everyone wants to shape up and feel good!” With increased interaction between men and women in the work-force or universities, men have become very particular about their looks and behaviour.  Being in the television industry, Malik has seen tremendous change in the way a story “hero” is classified.

The change in the Pakistanis’ mindset also changed lifestyles, considering healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and routine doctor’s visits have been recognised. Memberships at fitness clubs and gyms have also become affordable for the working man, who now can even get help from personal trainers.

If you’re not with the programme yet, here’s a brief guide to being a metro-sexual male in Pakistan:

1. Be clean-shaved (or have a light stubble to give a somewhat rough look)

2. Wear trendy clothes (skinny jeans, bright colours, and classy shoes)

3. Think about body care (nails, skin, hair, and odour)

4. Observe how you speak  (soft, well-mannered, and smiling)

5. Have confidence, but don’t ignore your sensitive side.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2012.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip, entertainment

“Whatever you see here, is entirely my mother’s idea,” says Bokhari, speaking about her own mother Siddiqa Hussain, the woman behind the brand now being run by her daughter and granddaughter (Bokhari and Khan, respectively). “Mom [Hussain] has always been in the clothing business. She is very talented and skilled.”

Bokhari revealed that about 20 years ago, Hussain bought out the only baby store in the city, Bambi, and transformed it into a one-stop shop for parents. Naming the brand Cuddly, she stocked it at Zubaida’s Mother Shop while simultaneously taking customised orders as well. Last year, Bokhari and Khan took over the business and opened an outlet on Zamzama calling it Cradle Boutique as Hussain was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“We make gift baskets and depending on your budget, we can add stuffed animals, bib sets, blankets, quilts or even clothes,” says Khan, commenting on the services they provide. “A lot of nani’s old contacts are still our clients and we are the only ones in Karachi who make customised items.” She added that 80 per cent of their customers are walk-in buyers and being located next to the bakery Pie in the Sky, has been a crucial advantage for them.

Describing the challenges they face while running the business — difficult customers, shortage of material, delays due to security issues in the city — Bokhari added there were some positives as well. “We still have the workers my mother hired 14 years ago. The reason they are so good at detailing, replicating and stitching is because they are professionals.”

“We learn quite a lot from our clients as well, when they ask us to customise or design something exclusive or specific for them,” says Bokhari adding that the idea eventually becomes a part of their collection or business. “Some customers want bedding, crib sets, nappy bags and quilts which all need to match a specific theme — we make sure we deliver exactly what they want.”

When it comes to quality, Khan says Cradle Boutique never compromises: “Quality is not a premium, it’s an essential factor.” Almost all items are hand-made and created using pure material/fabric. “We normally choose everything from materials to colours, stitching, embroidery and designing,” she said, adding “unless the client suggests otherwise.”

After running the business for almost a year now, Bokhari and Khan are pleased with their clientele. “The majority of our sales are for children between the ages of zero and two,” says Khan. “We have grown so much by word of mouth and our clients continue to give us a positive response by their comments and reorders.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2012.

Like Life & Style on Facebook and follow at @ETLifeandStyle for the latest in fashion, gossip, entertainment

For Shakeel, at the Arts Council on Friday night, this was the challenge. For 35 uninterrupted minutes, he delivered with pitch-perfect timing the serious script, ‘Us gali na jawin’ (Don’t go down that road) by Sarmad Sehbai, in an event that was commissioned by the Sindh culture department. By the end of the evening, the audience took to its feet and gave him a standing ovation.

Shakeel plays an elderly man, who appears to be down and out on his fate, made explicit by his costume: brown trousers, a ripped grey kurta and a white rag flung over his shoulder. The setting is an abandoned street and the only other ‘actors’ on stage are invisible pigeons who he has come to feed.

It becomes clear that the unnamed character has been driven mad by society and his experiences in this world. The empty stage drives home the point that he has been left alone as well, with only the pigeons to talk to. And such is the relationship that he has even named them. They are almost real people to him. “Why hasn’t Nikku come home yet,” he says at one point, almost like a worried parent, as the youngest pigeon fails to return to the coop. The subtext is clear: Nikku is the elusive peace in our world.

The pigeons are given advice on life in full conversations which allow Shakeel to touch on subjects like war, poverty, suicide, greed and pride. “Jang, jang, aur jang ke baad bhook aur nang,” he warns them. (War, war and more war only results in hunger and poverty).

At one point, he reminisces about a time when people were full of love, honesty and concern for each other. The only path to take is that of your ancestors, he tells the pigeons. “Jo maal yahan loota tha, wahaan lutta rahay hain,” he cries, referring to the corrupt who stole from the land and frittered it away abroad.

“Us gali na jawin,” the pigeons are warned. The message is hammered home. Don’t go down that road.

Sehbai’s script relied on double entendre, which is one of the delights of Urdu. “Jitna ooper jaatay jaao, zameen se naata chutt-ta jaata hai,” the old man tells the pigeons. The higher you fly, the less you remain in touch with the ground realities.

In the end, a poetic kicker as Shakeel scatters in the air, what is left: the feathers of his beloved pigeons.

Shakeel has performed this script many times before, but it was clear that he gives each appearance on stage everything he has got. The tears rolled down his cheeks at the end, and it was difficult to tell whether it was the old man or the actor behind the emotion.

“Words fail me — I really don’t know what to say, what not to say,” he said afterwards as he thanked the culture department and the audience. “My performance was a tribute to my colleague Talat Hussain, jo apna saani nahi rakhta.”

Playwright Fatima Surayya Bajia and dramatist-scriptwriter Haseena Moin were invited on stage to say a few words. Indeed, the auditorium was packed with the who’s who of theatre, television and film, including names such as Badar Khalil, Bushra Ansari, Anwar Maqsood, Sajid Hasan, Shahid Shafaat and Nimra Bucha.

Actor-producer Sania Saeed said she couldn’t believe Shakeel’s energy at his age. “I saw him on stage after a long time,” she told The Express Tribune. “Solo performances are difficult with nothing else to help you.” But it appears that Shakeel saheb needs no props to put on a good show.

Remember Uncle Urfi?

If Shakeel is associated with one role, that is Uncle Urfi, the Pakistani-Canadian who returns home in the 1970s drama series of the same title.

Born as Yusuf Kamal in Bhopal, India, in 1938, Shakeel migrated to Pakistan in 1952. After completing his education, he made his first appearance in the 1966 film Honehar, alongside legendary Waheed Murad. His first television play was “Naya Raasta,” written by Haseena Moin and aired in 1971. Since then, he has been in many memorable plays, including “Ankahi,” “Aangan tera,” and “Meri zaat zara-e-benishan.” He received the Pride of Performance in 1992.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2012.            

Like Life & Style on Facebook and follow at @ETLifeandStyle for the latest in fashion, gossip, entertainment

It was a full house at T2F on Wednesday. Kothari walked in wearing a sapphire blue and emerald green outfit. As she sat on the chair near the projection screen, she welcomed the guests with a smile and a limited introduction which was then followed by a showing of her films.

The first film, titled Fleeting Beauty, has been directed by Virginia Pitts and stars award-winning Indian actor Nandita Das as the protagonist. Kothari intended on showing a powerful narrative using a woman’s voice and a man’s body. In the film, Nandita sprinkles spices on her lover’s naked back describing the unofficial history, exploration and exploitation of India. Kothari explained that her inspiration came from the amazing stories and myths she heard while traveling.

Directed by Zia Mandviwalla, her next film, Clean Linen, touched upon a story of an adolescent brother and sister growing up in New Zealand in a conservative Indian family. They are assigned household chores, but when their parents step out, both of them watch pornographic films which belong to their father. The family portrays a clean family picture, yet lacks communication and closeness. Kothari said she talked to several Indians who grew up abroad and said their families never touched upon subjects like sexuality and puberty or coming of age. “They all got it from porn,” said Kothari.

The third film, titled Coffee and Allah, has been directed by Sima Urale and revolves around a fully covered Ethiopian woman who lives in New Zealand. She seems like a lonely woman who loves Allah, coffee and badminton. Every day, she wears her blue burqa and walks to a café where she buys coffee beans from a cashier who knows exactly what she wants and tries being friends. Her normal routine is to pray, brew coffee and play badminton with her unknown neighbour. “My intention was to show this woman in a hijab being playful,” said Kothari. She explained how the refugees that are living in New Zealand are often ignored and not acknowledged. “These women become quite visible on one level, but on another, they’re quite invisible because no one has any access to them,” said Kothari. “We have to be understood,” she said.

Kothari was disturbed about the London bombings in 2005, which is why she chose to highlight the Muslim refugees; she wanted an Ethiopian woman so that the West would understand and see that Muslims exist outside of South Asia.

After the screening, a conversation began during which Kothari said she was overwhelmed by the love she has received in Karachi. Originating from Ahmadabad, India, Kothari married an Englishman of Pakistani descent, and settled in New Zealand. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and simultaneously juggles her schedule to write and produce short films. Her award-winning short film Six Dollar Fifty Man, along with Firaaq and Apron Strings, are all based on real events and people.

“I’m never going to stop making short films,” said Kothari as she explained that an idea or a statement can be expressed with short films better than feature films. Although Kothari works closely with the director to get the right message out and co-produces her films, she will never opt for directing an entire project. The writer also included that she hates being the “control freak” or the “boss”. “I may direct documentaries, but never a fiction film,” she said.

The biggest challenge that Kothari had to face was the funding of her films. “From a kabab shop to my friends, I asked everyone to help fund my films,” said Kothari as she explained her struggle with Fleeting Beauty.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2012.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment. 

Reel life

In June, Bollywood released Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai, starring Veena Malik and Jackie Shroff.

Veena also shared her excitement in May for the remake of The Dirty Picture in Tamil titled Silk Sakkath Maga which will star her. She was concerned that her character requires her to gain weight. “I have to put on weight for the film and I am not a foodie at all. I have never had three complete meals in my life but now I will have to,” said Veena.

Spy games and politics

Since her FHM photo shoot, she made a few statements saying she is not an ISI agent. However, in February, the Indian courts ordered officials to investigate the possibility of Veena being a Pakistani spy.

In August, Veena was quoted saying “Politicians are the biggest comedians”. According to her, veteran politician Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was the biggest comedian amongst politicians.

The love life

It seems that Veena can never really forget her former lover cricketer Mohammad Asif. In May, when she was visiting Fiji, Veena shared how happy she was to hear that Asif was released from jail and sent a message for him: “I hope he has learnt his lessons in life. Firstly, never betray a girl and play with her feelings and secondly, not to fix matches and play with the entire nation’s emotions.”

Astaghfar

Veena wanted to repent for her sins on a Pakistani television show; but the people protested. In July, however, the show was subsequently aired. “If they want ratings, can’t they get scholars with good reputations instead of fuelling extremism by bringing such controversial figures on TV?” A Pemra official asked, adding that Veena and other televangelists are “hypocrites”.

Homesick Veena

September came, and Veena was homesick. “I do miss Pakistan a lot. After all it’s my home.”

Veena believes she has kept her roots intact and had not ended the relationship with Pakistan. “When you are a celebrity, there is propaganda and controversies related to you which are often exaggerated, but I have never crossed my boundaries. Pakistan is my country and I will go back,” she said.

Channo-ing

In March, Veena entertained us with her item song Channo from Indian movie Gali Gali Chor Hai starring Akshay Khanna. She informed her audience that it was a “beautiful song and concept”. The exaggerated thumkas in her mini ghagra-choli were enough to get your attention, but she went a step further to show off that glow-in-the dark bra.

Veena’s reaction to naysayers: “Who will determine whether it is vulgar or entertainment? The same thing another actress does, is entertainment, but if Veena Malik does it, it is ‘something else’.”

An ode to herself

Veena released her debut single Drama Queen, affirming that every girl will relate to it. “People do call me a ‘drama queen’, and to some extent I am one. I feel every girl is a drama queen. The lyrics of the song represent every girl out there,” she said.

Affairs and rumours

Veena dismissed her affair with film-maker Hemant Madhurkar as a rumour. She said Madhurkar is just a friend and a talented director, and they were just good friends despite the leaked pictures of them together.

In March, Veena dismissed speculation that she was going nude for her new film Zindagi 50:50. “I have never gone nude nor does the film have such scenes. There are a few bold scenes, but they are aesthetically shot,” she confirmed.

(Yet another) scandalous photoshoot

Before we could forget India’s FHM magazine photo shoot, Veena shocked us again in July. She stepped out in Bangalore for a shoot for her upcoming Tamil version of The Dirty Picture titled Silk Sakkath Maga.

In December, Veena shocked us with two more attention-seeking moves. She posed for a raunchy bathtub photo shoot titled Dry Clean.

Endorsements

In August, Veena endorsed an Indian aphrodisiac product Power Prash for men. “If Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan could sell a pressure cooker, why can’t I sell Power Prash?” she asked. While she wants the critics to just relax, she added: “I have a bright future ahead of me. I am an actress and I am going to give my 100% in promoting my endorsed products.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2012.           

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Every year, more than 1,500 film-makers, directors, producers, actors and press reps from around the world attend the 11-day festival. It has become a place to network, educate, participate and entertain while recognising the work being done in the global film market.

Pakistani film-maker Sabiha Sumar, along with 12 of GMK’s cast and crew including, was present to support the film. Model Amna Ilyas, who made her debut in the film and actors Beo Rana Zafar and RJ and actor Khalid Malik, who played supporting roles were also seen.

Based on the novel Rafina penned by Shandana Minhas, the film is about an underprivileged young girl who dreams to become a model and live a lavish life. The film received positive feedback and all of the three showings were sold out.

Co-ordinator and programmer of the festival Ulf Sigvardson explains an increase in the number of international feature films in the last 10 years. “This year is the biggest festival with 300 feature films and documentaries,” he says. “GIFF granted funds which encouraged international film-makers to produce films without restrictions.”

“Unfortunately, the Swedish government has stopped this funding and if we can’t start a new fund, we will lose some international films.”

GMK was also one of the films supported by the fund, which helped Sumar. GIFF’s decision to end this type of financial assistance means independent film-makers like Sumar will not get the opportunity to showcase their work. “The funds would help produce films that show parts of the world we haven’t seen yet. The film-makers can bring awareness to issues in their country,” explains Sigvardson.

Sigvardson also commented on how insightful it was  watching GMK. “It is a good film, with absolutely brilliant acting. It has been shot in difficult conditions with a minimum budget,” he says. “In the Swedish news all we see are bomb blasts, destruction, and people crying in Pakistan.”

At the screening, model Amna Ilyas said, “I want to do more movies — maybe even in Hollywood, I felt so proud being one of the few to represent Pakistan. I wasn’t expecting so much love and appreciation from the international audience.” She added, “It’s important to fulfill your dreams despite what gender you are. It’s not necessary to take your clothes off to show your freedom in society, it’s important to work towards your goals.”

Actor Khalid Malik felt privileged to be a part of a Pakistani film that is being recognised internationally. “I feel proud, but at the same time, sad that Pakistan is embarrassed of owning our product. We need to own, stand up and support our products,” says Malik.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Assorted ties

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

Polo shirts

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

Phone accessories

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

Wallets or key chains

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

Books

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

Pens

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

For her:

Spa service

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

Jewellery

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

Candles

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

Assorted scarves

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

Make-up

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

Gift basket

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

Other Options

Dinner and dessert

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

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

Flowers

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

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

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

Online

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

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

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

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

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

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

KARACHI: Here’s a tongue twister for you: Nine years of success celebrated with nine photographers on March 9. Got it? Good.

Upon completing nine years of her brand Kiran Fine Jewellery (KFJ), jewellery designer Kiran Aman celebrated her success in an unconventional manner; she asked nine extraordinary female photographers to exhibit their work and compiled it in a book Kam Sukhan — a must-add to the coffee table collection.

Launched on Saturday, March 9 at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecure and distributed free of charge, Kam Sukhan is an arrangement of nine photographers’ images and stories behind them.

The theme of Kiran’s work, the book and the celebration was the essence of women. “From her inhibitions, struggles, and fears, you’ll learn of patience, forbearance and resolve; and in time you will find that her spirit, ever-daunted, is a pearl made of steel,” said Kiran.

She designs jewellery pieces calling them “extensions of her” and works only in gold as its strength, warmth and malleability are authentic representations of the women who wear her brand.

The dexterous clickers were each given a white, diagonal wall to showcase their images and a chance to speak about their work. While each lady had her own style, some that stood out were mirror, cloth and canvas printing; projections, reflections and papers were also used; and every single photograph was excellent in its own way.

The team of Kam Sukhan welcomed guests and directed them to the temp photo gallery bustling with people, including celebrities like Mahira Khan, Feeha Jamshed, Nida Azwer, Misha Lakhani, Maheen Khan, Tofiq Pasha, Adnan Pardesy and Amean J.

Every once in a while, a server offered hors d’oeuvres and cinnamon iced-tea, and an apology for the delay was announced. The guest of honour, model-actor Aamina Sheikh also appreciated the photography of each woman. She spoke in length about womanhood and how the work displayed in Kam Sukhan captures the beauty of women. “To me, this [Kam Sukhan] was an awakening; I felt that the fate of womanhood and this planet is one, also because it is the woman who channelises life on earth,” said Aamina.

Farah Mahbub (Khaamoshi Sunn) :

”It took me seven months and I got to meet people and students in a different light. She describes her collection as the sound of silence: esoteric, intimidating and perfect.

Lali Khalid (With each of us inside me) :

”Lali explains her collection: “Building a language from expressions, emotions and moments, my photographs are a reflection of my inner personal qualities.

Shalalae Jamil (Big time sensuality: Women and the camera) :

”She describes her work as: “A rumination of how the female body or face projects itself towards the camera, each image creates its own [potential] narrative.

Qurat-ul-ain Khalid (Ummeed-e-Subh) :

”People weren’t just looking at the photos and liking the ‘pretty’ images. They were interested in the thought behind those images which covers the purpose of the event.

Mahwish Rizvi (Constant bad faith) :

”My experience was surreal. The exhibition space was brilliantly designed — I was the youngest amongst all nine; but Kiran Aman had faith in me.

Insiya Syed (Unabridged and unpublished) :

”The experience of being a part of this project was personal for me — from observing my grandmother really closely and trying to make sense of the dynamics of her relationship with my father.

Nazia Akram (Compass) :

”It was my first exhibition and book launch in Pakistan. The exposure was great, and the event was well organised. Every woman’s work was different from the others; it had individuality even though it was the same theme.

Adeela Badshah (Ghunghat) :

”I was a part of the project from inception as project manager and one of the photographers. The night of the event felt magical and full of incredible positive energy. All of the photographers were unique and each talked about a different aspect of the subject matter.

Khaula Jamil (Shana Bashana) :

”Every woman in my pictures has a story of love, dedication, inspiration and resilience. They smile and bid you a good day, working in careers which, until a few years ago, were unheard of for women to pursue.

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

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Directed by Farhan Alam Siddiqui, the play is an adaptation of an Italian play by Dario Fo titled Accidental Death of an Anarchist. It revolves around a maniac Jaali, played by Shahjehan Narego, having some sort of a personality disorder, yet overly smart. Other characters include four policemen, Inspector Roshan (Sayyid Hammad Sartaj), Havaldar (Fraz Chhotani), Inspector (Hammad Khan), Superintendent (Farhan Alam Siddiqui) and journalist Faiza Khalili played by Syeda Maha Ali.

It was set in a small police station with a green and white picture of Quaid-e-Azam with words “Freedom For Free” written on it, hanging upside down. Lao Tou Qatl Nama Mera focuses on law enforcers who cover up minor or major criminal activities, and find ways to protect themselves from getting caught.

In the first act, Jaali is seen being interrogated by the heavy-set and bald Inspector Roshan who seems annoyed by every single gesture of Jaali. Soon enough, there’s chaos in the scene, with arguments, screaming, running around and continuous witty dialogues by Jaali. In the second act, the story goes into something more interesting; Jaali learns that a judge is due to appear in the police station to investigate a death case of a railway worker. From there on, we see the maniac turn impersonate a judge, go back-and-forth with the case details and forces the truth out of the policemen.

The full Napa auditorium heard laughter on-and-off as the audience was impressed and entertained by the dialogue delivery. Although, the play was about corruption and exploitation issues, there was strength lacking in the story. While the graduating class gave their best performances, Inspector Roshan was the life of the play. His anger and irritation at Jaali was apparent by his facial expressions, but it was his behaviour and dialogue delivery that made him the star of the show. Jaali had the humour timing right, but the performance seemed unnecessarily exaggerated. And while the Inspector and Superintendent both fit well in their roles, it was the Havaldar that played his character to perfection. The journalist (Maha) was out of her character; she lacked facial expressions and the dialogue delivery style, which made her character weak.

“There was some over-acting by Jaali. And the girl [journalist] was smiling while talking, which didn’t seem right,” Syeda Rehmat from the audience said, after the play.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

The masters of story-telling Saife Hasan, Asma Mundrawala and Mahvash Faruqi call their project Zambeel Dramatic Readings — which has gained popularity over just a few years. They work towards reviving Urdu literature and recite works of notable writers with the use of dramatic readings, gestures and background music.

While most people would prefer to spend their weekend nights elsewhere, a large number of guests were seated in the open hall of T2F to hear the story of Taoos Chaman Ki Mayna read by Ehteshamuddin along with the trio of Zambeel. The hall was fully occupied by enthusiastic listeners from ages 10 to 65, waiting for the story Taoos Chaman Ki Mayna — which lasted 90 minutes.

The tale is based in Lucknow, during the last years of Vajid Ali Shah’s reign in the mid-19th century. The main character Kalay Mian (Ehtishamuddin) is a single parent raising his daughter, who wishes that her father would bring her a mayna when he returns at night. To fulfill her wish, Kalay Mian took several days to plan and steal one of the 40 maynas from the king’s royal garden where he was employed. The story is full of wit and beautiful dialogues penned by Masud, narrated as a first-hand account by Kalay Mian.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Directed by Nida Butt, Carnage is an adaptation of the French playwright Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage. It was a perfect satirical battle between so-called civilised parents who hide their bad intentions and selfish sides behind masks of decency.

The story is about two married couples who come together to talk about an incident that took place between their children (Henry and Benjamin). Though we never get to meet the 11-year-old trouble-makers, the parents are played by Faraz Lodhi (Michael) married to Sanam Saeed (Veronica) and Momin Zafar (Alan) married to Nida Butt (Annette).

The wildly funny play was around 80 minutes long, without a break. The set was a formal living room area in Veronica and Michael’s home; a well-decorated room with a bar in the back and contemporary style furniture. Veronica is obsessed with art and books which reflects her African-inspired décor of the room. Alan and Annette are invited to discuss their son Benjamin’s behaviour since he broke Henry’s teeth with a stick.

As the story develops, we learn that Michael is a wholesaler and Veronica is writing a book about Darfur; Alan is shown as a busy lawyer, addicted to his cell phone, while his wife Annette is a wealth manager. While all four pretend to discuss the issue in a mature manner, they end up bickering like children and mimicking one another until they exhaust themselves physically and mentally. Without any resolution for their kids, the couples behave to show how they really are: uncivilised, brutal and unhappy. With copious amounts of rum, each and every one of the cast members becomes untamed.

The sound was a bit low for the full auditorium; perhaps a fixed mic would have helped. Nida was spectacular, from her outfit and facial expressions to her mannerism and actions. Momin was stiff and expressionless in the beginning, but proved otherwise towards the middle of the play. Sanam’s acting was a bit over-the-top in most areas and her accent seemed to be a struggle between British and American English. However, Sanam’s timing and actions were just brilliant. Faraz was the star of the show; funny and sarcastic — he called himself the “f***ing Neanderthal!”

“The chemistry between the four of them worked well. The tensions between husband and wife scenarios were true,” said Irshad Abdul Qadir from the audience. “The lawyer seemed wooden in the beginning, but the two women were both good.”

Overall, Carnage was a success in terms of direction, set and performances by all four cast members.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

A chaotic, colourful mess, the film is a remake of the 1981 classic hit of the same title (different spelling) directed by king of comedy David Dhawan, who has a reputation of remaking Hollywood and South Indian films. To remake an old Bollywood gem, it is crucial to do justice to the original — which Dhawan clearly failed to do. Still, if you are in for mindless entertainment and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, this is the film to watch.

Director Sai Paranjpye’s 31-year-old film Chashme Buddoor (note spelling) starred veteran actors Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval in the lead roles with Rakesh Bedi and Ravi Baswani in the supporting roles. While the original bro-com film was a bagful of laughs with a story of three friends and the new girl on the block, followed by everything that happens when a boy meets a girl; the remake which follows the same plot, goes overboard with cheap jokes and double meaning dialogues, written by Sajid Farhad.

The movie begins with three cheesy friends living in Goa, two of which are struggling to strike gold in their careers — a flop poet Omi (Divyendu Sharma) and a miserable actor Jai (Siddharth Narayan). Besides their over-exaggerated stupidity and shameful acts, they also try their luck with girls, however they never succeed. The third friend Sid (Ali Zafar) is a physics student, shown as an innocent and respectful boy who is loved by everyone. Sooner than expected, Seema (Taapsee Pannu) moves into their neighbourhood after running away from a pathetic army officer father (Anupam Kher). After trying their cheap antics with Seema, the two friends back away while Sid accidentally meets her and their romance begins.

It was refreshing to see the South Indian actor Taapsee Pannu as the lead girl. She had a spark in her eyes and a bright smile throughout the film. But the film-makers definitely needed some weight and variety for the audience to stay in their seats for the story that was almost dragging to an end. Thankfully, there were other supporting characters like the legendary Rishi Kapoor as Mr Joseph, opposite the sexy LIlette Dubey in a romance of their own. Bharti Achrekar is brilliant as an obnoxious and controlling mother of twins (Anupam Kher).

While the lead role is a notch up in Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar’s career, the movie itself is less than average in terms of entertainment and experience. His acting skills were no different from any superstar in Bollywood, with a noticeably Indian tinge in his English dialogues. With his pretty-boy looks and Salman Khan-inspired no-shirt tricks, Ali is probably the only reason to watch the film.

The sound track was entertaining, with most songs in Ali’s voice and fun dance moves. The film made references to old songs, movies, veteran actors, army-civilian quarrels and terrorists. There were some hilarious moments, however most humorous lines were just word-play like: “Kamre me matlab camera me qaid ho jao”, “Ki gal hai, girl hai?” or “When you can’t change the girl; change the girl”.

Veteran actor Farooque Shaikh was right when he said people are often tempted to revisit something popular because you don’t need to put much effort into it.

Red Carpet

Ali Zafar’s Chashme Baddoor premiered at Atrium Mall in Karachi on April 4. To show support of their fellow Pakistani actor, numerous celebrities were spotted including actors Behroz Sabzwari, Mohib Mirza, Komal Rizvi, Hasan Rizvi and Danish Nawaz.

Verdict: If you want to see a Pakistani actor in a lead role in an Indian film, then do go watch Chashme Baddoor. It’s light, and the songs are brilliant!

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Are Pakistani models also going to shocking lengths to become underweight? Yes, but sadly, nobody wants to talk about it. Like any other part of the world, designers in Pakistan use size zero mannequins to make clothes and then want the same effect on the ramp. The scenario results in a model’s ultimate desire: becoming rail-thin.

According to model Fayezah Ansari, who recently came clean on her drug addiction, a lot of new models who come from humble backgrounds feel intimidated and are desperate for fame. Fayezah is careful about her words when asked if models are victims of eating disorders. “It has never happened to me or any other models I know,” she says. “All my life, people have said I’m too thin and that I must be bulimic or anorexic. But that’s not true. I just fit into everything.”

“If the clothes don’t fit, then designers get upset,” admits Fayezah. Right after that slip-of-the-tongue, she adds, “If a girl has put on some extra weight, nobody is rude to her. They just tell her that she should wear a different outfit. The designers work with us and know what Pakistani women look like.”

A former model, who chose not to be named, tells us that our worst fears are in fact a reality. “Drug abuse is the biggest problem in the Pakistani fashion world,” she says. “Drugs are used to dehydrate the body and kill appetite.” She gives examples of naturally thin women in the industry and also of models like Iraj, Nadia Hussain and ZQ who maintain their figures by exercise and diet control.

“Real men don’t want skeletons — it’s the other men [photographers and designers] in the industry who want to transform a girl into a stick. They pressurise women to become ultra-thin,” she says, referring to photographers, make-up artists and designers who create outfits for unrealistic models. “The industry is cut-throat. Models opt for tummy-tucks, full body liposuction and most have eating disorders,” she adds.

“Models stay thin by eating right and working out,” says former model Frieha Altaf, who is now the CEO of event management company Catwalk Productions and also a judge on Veet Miss Super Model Contest. “The pressure to stay thin is part-and-parcel of the job. We don’t have plus size models in Pakistan but our models are not ultra thin either. Most countries’ girls are one size — since we don’t have too much competition our girls vary.”

She also says the backstage weight conversations include gossip, jealousy or sharing tips. “Poor Ayyan is always a topic of discussion. She is so lovely, but struggles with weight issues,” says Frieha. She believes ambition and drive makes you a model, like model Saima Azhar. “She is a prime example of a girl who shed 40 pounds to become the most wanted print model,” shares Frieha. “There was a contestant who was too thin in Veet Miss Super Model Contest. The nutritionist has put her on a plan; she was disqualified for Fashion week on being too thin.” Then she adds that the lazy contestants are told to work-out and lose weight.

When Ayyan was asked to comment on the speculations regarding her weight, she became furious. “I don’t have any weight issues. I am a size zero and I’m the top model,” she says. In an interview in February, she had said that size zero figures are banned internationally. “I’m not skinny and I don’t even want to be,” she had said.

While underweight models are banned in some countries, in Europe the ill-looking, under-age models have set the standards for the fashion world. Model Nadia Hussain says it’s not the girls who criticise each other about weight; it’s the designers and photographers. “They force us to lose weight,” says Nadia. “Some models will starve themselves or throw-up, but a lot of them are naturally skinny so they eat everything,” she shares. “We do tell each other if someone has put on some extra pounds. Amongst my lot, Rubab has always had weight issues and we would give her tips on how to lose it.”

It’s sad that despite the truth about drug abuse and eating disorders within the industry, those connected with it want to put a cover on it. For an arena widely known to be cruel and ruthless, ironically, here there is unity in silence. It’s high time fashion councils took health initiatives and discouraged underweight and unhealthy looking models.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Well, ladies, let’s get some facts straight about PCOS. There are no specific tests to diagnose it, not all PCOS cases are the same and there is no cure for it in allopathic medicine. But, what most of the diagnosed women don’t know is that PCOS can be kicked to the curb naturally.

Here’s what you need to know about PCOS and how natural treatments can save you from side effects of needless medicines and expensive tests.

What is PCOS?

PCOS affects more and more women each year starting from an adolescent age. It is one of the leading causes of female infertility, which has no cure in modern medicine and is still under research. This syndrome is defined by the menstrual and hormonal abnormalities of ovaries with cysts. If left uncontrolled or unmanaged, PCOS leads to diabetes, cardiac diseases, obesity, high blood pressure and infertility.

Understand PCOS

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, you need to be well-informed of the hormonal imbalance. Hormones are like chemical messengers, and if their production or process alters, they get out of balance and make more androgens (male sex hormone) and that’s when symptoms of PCOS appear.

In this syndrome, the pancreas secretes excessive insulin and contributes to the underdevelopment of eggs during ovulation.

Eating habits

While recognising the syndrome and taking control of the situation, there are many ways you can control and eventually get rid of PCOS. Remember to ignore the symptoms, and get to the root of the problem so you can win this battle. Make the mandatory changes to your lifestyle.

Diet and nutrition adviser Manal Aly Khan believes losing weight for women who have PCOS can be challenging but not impossible. “A balanced diet is important,” says Khan. “But PCOS patients need to include less carbohydrates than normal people in their diet.”

Khan says PCOS patients need to eat foods with a low glycaemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after certain foods. “Low GI food items include vegetables, fruits and nuts,” says Khan. “Go for brown sugar, brown rice, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It’s important that coffee and tea intake is also in moderation.”

Say ‘no’ to white stuff

Whether it’s sugary desserts, breads, rice or pasta — reduce, if not eliminate them out of your diet completely. Carbohydrates need to be limited and replaced by foods that will help end PCOS. Eat smart, eliminate saturated and trans fats, and choose smaller amounts of healthy unsaturated fats. “Avoid all products made with refined sugar,” says Khan.

Fiber forever

Eat more fibre to maintain blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Your best options are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Protein power

Protein helps you feel full for longer which is great for controlling weight. This includes meat, chicken, turkey, fish, legumes, soy and nuts.

Get off that chair!

Exercising is crucial! You can only break the cycle of insulin resistance by regular workouts. So you must get serious about physical activity and work out like it’s medicine.

Sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep, your body will release hydrocortisone (cortisol), which increases blood sugar and suppresses the immune system, affecting your overall metabolism.

Alternate treatment

According to homeopathic doctor and acupuncturist Dr Seema Shahab, diet changes, acupuncture, yoga, exercise and homeopathic medicine for three months, along with exercise will most definitely cure PCOS.

“Allopathic treatment doesn’t have a cure, but their medicines to manage PCOS leads to numerous side effects,” says Dr Shahab. “If you stop the medicines, PCOS comes back.” She believes that the root of the problem should be treated and allopathic medicine fails to do that.

“Homeopathic medicine is only required for the first three months,” says Dr Shahab. “During that time, we also advise the patient to exercise regularly including yoga, make diet changes and get acupuncture three times a week.”

Yoga

“Each asana [yoga posture] affects you at different levels,” says Yoga Alliance certified instructor Aisha Chapra. “It has been discovered that specific poses really helped the reproductive system either by removing any blockage, creating energy and helping hormones balance.”

Chapra believes that with various yoga positions, when practiced regularly, PCOS completely disappears. There are also positions that help thyroid balance. “Some patients said they got off their medicines and controlled their symptoms,” says the instructor. “The combination of a controlled diet along with yoga can treat PCOS.”

Symptoms

Absent or highly irregular menstrual cycles

Weight gain

Infertility and miscarriage

Acne

Facial hair

Ovarian cysts

Blood sugar imbalances/insulin issues

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

MELBOURNE: It’s been a super busy year for Bollywood actor Jimmy Shergill and we’re not even half way through 2013! With over 50 Hindi and Punjabi films under his belt, Shergill has proven himself as the versatile actor he always dreamt of being, even if it took him 17 years.

While he loves to do Punjabi films, Shergill says his bread and butter comes from Bollywood films. The Mumbai-based actor shares his experiences and thoughts with The Express Tribune in an interview during his tour for his new Punjabi film Rangeelay.

“I graduated in commerce and the idea was to get into business,” says Shergill who had never thought about acting. “But I feel everything is destined. I took acting classes for a year which landed me a small part in Maachis.”

“It’s been a slow but steady journey in Bollywood,” says Shergill, who doesn’t have relatives in the industry to push him up.

He proved his acting in films like Munna Bhai MBBS, Yahaan, A Wednesday and most recent films Special 26 and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns.

“I’ve made plenty of mistakes and I have nobody to blame,” says Shergill, who also feels he has learned from his decisions. “But, I have worked with some very interesting people.”

When asked how he feels about being underrated, he says, “I take that as a compliment. At least people aren’t saying ‘you’re such a sh***y actor’! I see that happening to other actors all the time, and then I say — thank you God! I’d rather be underrated than overrated.”

The actor confesses that he got labelled after Mohabbatein. “People who hadn’t seen my other films would call me a ‘chocolate hero’. That used to irritate me, so I would respond by saying ‘Boss that’s a film. I’ve done other roles in films like Haasil or Dil Hai Tumhara’.”

The actor will soon be seen in Hindi film Bullet Raja  with actor Saif Ali Khan. “Saif and I have worked together before, but never got the time to bond. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much as  I did while I worked with Saif,” he smiles.

Jimmy Shergill — the Pakistani theatre fan!

While there aren’t many ardent lovers of local films outside of Pakistan, Shergill says he is a fan.

“I have seen a lot of Pakistani films. When I was in school, my parents used to watch a lot of Pakistani stage dramas like Bakra Qiston Pe — the whole series on VHS tapes,” he recalls.

“There is a huge amount of talent in Pakistan, especially in their drama and theatre, which are inspired by real stories.

Talking about a possible Indo-Pak “co-production,” Shergill says “Somewhere in the future the two industries will merge. With so many festivals taking place and films being made outside of Pakistan and about Pakistan, there is a lot of talent coming into the foreign limelight.”

Shergill says that Hindi and Punjabi films have a huge audience from Pakistan — especially in Canada. “They go see the first day, first show. Whenever I go to Canada, I make sure I attend the Pakistani live radio shows. It’s great to talk to Pakistanis and get their feedback.”

At the end, the actor adds, “I would love to be in a co-production. I have some amazing stories to make big films. It would be a great bond to show people. I’ve been planning to go to Pakistan for a long time now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

This summer, add a tinge of brightness to your outfits — whether they are formal or casual — without the ‘oh so tacky’ look. From shoes, bangles and bags to sunglasses, scarves and nail colour, you can find anything and everything in neon shades! Some of you may already have these eye-popping shades in your collection while others will welcome the opportunity to shop for this season’s must-haves. Here are some innovative ideas on how you can mix sexy electric hues into your everyday ensembles with sophistication and class. Add a pop of fun colours without over-doing it and still glow in the day or dark!

For daily office-wear, it’s best to keep your neon accessories and sandals within arm’s reach. After your morning makeup routine, take a quick glance at your collection to see what you can add to your outfit to break in some colour. A chunky bracelet or a necklace is an excellent option to pair with a dark shirt or any solid shade which needs the oomph factor.

At Ms T, we find neon floral prints to be blessings in disguise as the wearability of florals balances the boldness of the fluorescents out. Remember not to accessorise these with say, printed bags or too much jewellery lest it looks over the top. Limit the contrasts and pair the floral piece with block colours that will not overpower the rest of your look!

This year, neon sunglasses are the hottest items in stores. Regardless of the brand and shape, they are sure to give you a super cool summer look! Our advice is to pair your specs with matching bangles or nail colour to highlight your fun side.

Neon tights will be your saviour on days when you just can’t find anything to wear. Grab a white shirt and wear it atop fluorescent or printed tights and you will hit the mark! Before stepping out though, complement your attire with earrings, bangles, rings or necklaces of similar shades to break the monotony of your plain white tee.

There can never be too many scarves in your closet! When all else fails, there should be a highlighter scarf in your closet to bail you out. These eye-catching items are sure to beat the yawn-factor and brighten up your look with minimal effort. Wear your scarf around the neck or tie it on your purse; either way, it will be a hit.

What is summer without funky sandals to make your feet look pretty? A number of local and foreign shoe brands are now offering sandals in a range of fluorescent colours. Make a statement by wearing your neon sandals with a matching purse and block-coloured outfit. Earthy tones like beige and mustard look best with neons as do black and white.

Most importantly, remember that neons are happy colours. So if you are going to wear them, best to do it with a smile and let their energy overtake you. And of course, there are extra points for neon pink lip colour.

Tips:

1. Don’t do all-things-neon

2. Avoid wearing clashing neon shades together

3. It is best not to wear neons on a daily basis  

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, May 26^th, 2013.

Like MsT on Facebook for your dose of girl talk.

“Mark my words, this is the last songwriter who was able to connect poetry and film,” says film writer Pervaiz Kaleem, about one of the most influential Urdu songwriters in Pakistan. Kaleem sheds some light on how this personality came into existence. “Saghar was a self-made man who lost his father during the India-Pakistan partition [while migrating],” he reveals. Living at an air force camp in his early years, Saghar was forced to make a living “doing ordinary labour work in Multan” to support his mother.

He then moved to Lahore after his schooling, and embarked on a journey as a journalist in the ‘60s. But his passion for poetry and film ultimately steered the wheel in another direction. He quit journalism and got on board with the famed Shabab Studios. He started his career off as a mere assistant and little did anyone know he would go on to become one of the most prominent songwriters in the country.

Saghar’s magic on paper — penning down the lyrics of innumerable songs — defined Urdu films in the late ’70s. He also went on to play an important role in the fame of veteran actors Nadeem and Shabnam trilogies but, in the ‘80s, things changed. Punjabi films came in the forefront and Urdu films took a backseat. As we know it, in 1988, Shahbab Studios was shut down and Saghar returned to journalism.

PHOTOS: FACEBOOK PROFILE

“He wrote a few songs in Punjabi, too. He trained to become a songwriter for films so I think he had that understanding of how to adapt to [changing] circumstances,” adds Kaleem. But with the changing state of affairs in Lollywood, Saghar quietly led resurgence through pop music.

Admirers

Journalist Sajid Yazdani, who shadowed Saghar for nearly 10 years, speaks very highly of the humble man. “He had a great sense [of dedication] when it came to writing. He could write a poem in 10 to 15 minutes no matter how noisy it was,” says Yazdani, admitting that Saghar was deeply engrossed in his work. He gradually made his comeback in Lollywood through a series of Urdu films that were made in the ’90s; he penned down the lyrics for Javed Sheikh, Syed Noor and Shehzad Rafique’s projects.

Saghar then went on to introduce several singers to the world including Shiraz Uppal, who was also a music director. “There’s always been a tendency for most people who were part of the ’60s to remain in the ’60s [forever]. But he [Saghar] was one of the best [writers] of all time; he would adapt to changing times,” says Uppal. “You would never feel an age difference while working with him.” He admits that the maestro had written most of his hit numbers.

The late songwriter’s final projects are Ishq Khuda and Tamanna. Shehzad Rafique admits that he has worked with Saghar for all of his films, and feels that the music he provided has played a significant role. “He has written poetry which is timeless and I think that it was the emotion present in his songs which made him so popular,” he says, adding that the soundtrack of Ishq Khuda has been written by Saghar. “I think the biggest thing is that he was able to have an impact on the younger generation as well.”

Saghar has left behind a wife and a daughter.

Veteran musician/actor Arshad Mehmood:

My association with him [Saghar] goes back to the old days of EMI Pakistan because we, as a [record] company, had to make contracts with lyricists and composers, separately. I would meet him very often in the studios and all I remember of our interactions is that he was a very fine gentleman and a kind soul. Professionally, he has offered tremendous contributions to Pakistani music at large, specifically film music and we owe him a lot for that. He was a poet who understood music as much as he understood poetry and that was his strength.

Nigar magazine editor Ilyas Rashidi:

He was a kind man. He worked tirelessly for the industry and as a poet, film-maker, writer and director, he received many Nigar awards. However, he was known for his films and lyrics [primarily]. Despite coming from a good lineage, when his health deteriorated, the Punjab government never paid heed to his financial needs; his poor health evaluation indicated that he needed the help. Our poets require more appreciation in their old age and that is one thing they all deserve. Sadly, he received none.

Actor Zeba Bakhtiar:

For me, he was more than a writer; he was a part of my family and would call me his daughter. The film industry is functional again, but we don’t have many people of his calibre and the [kind of] command [he had] on the craft of film-making and music. It’s a huge loss as he was immensely talented.

The lucky ones

Riazur Rehman Saghar was known for his intense lyrics and beautiful poetry. The following singers received great fame through Riaz’s lyrics:

Mehdi Hassan

Nahid Akhtar

Noor Jehan

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Rahat Ali Khan

Adnan Sami Khan

Waris Baig

Shiraz Uppal

Fariha Pervez

Hadiqa Kiyani

Humaira Channa

Ghulam Ali

Riazur Rehman Saghar was a poet, journalist, columnist, film writer and songwriter. While the late lyricist contributed to more than 2,000 songs for film, radio and TV, this timeline shows some of the most popular songs he is known for.

December 1, 1941 — Born in Bathinda, India. 

1957 — 1966 Worked as a journalist. 

1959 — 1961 Worked as a sub-editor at Daily Kohistan Rawalpindi. 

1973 — Wrote lyrics for the songs Dholak Baja Kay, Sahelian Bula Kay from the film Mr Budhu. 

1978 — Wrote lyrics for the song Ankhen Ghazal Hayn Aapki Aur Hont Hayn Gulab from Pakistani film Saheli. 

1986 — 1996 Worked as a cultural editor for Daily Nawa-i-Waqt Lahore & editor film and culture for Family Magazine.

Early ‘90s  — Was the instrumental force behind children’s musical show Aangan Aangan Tarey. 

1995 — Wrote all songs for the Pakistani film Sargam starring Zeba Bakhtiar and Adnan Sami Khan. 

1996 — Wrote lyrics for the popular song Dekha Jo Chehra Tera from the Pakistani film Ghungat. 

1997 — Started poetry column “Arz Kia Hai” for Nawa-i-Waqt which ran daily. 

1997 — Wrote lyrics for Adnan Sami’s entire album Badaltay Mausam. 

1998 — Gave lyrics for the superhit song Ho Sakay to Mera Aik Kaam Karo from the film Dupatta Jal Raha Hai. 

2000 — Wrote two songs for Adnan Sami’s album Always Yours (Lift Karadey and Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein). 

2000 — Gave lyrics for the hit song Kal Shab Dekha Chaand Main Nay Jhrokay Main from film Mujhe Chand Chahiye. 

2001 — Wrote all songs for Fariha Pervez’s album O Vela Yaad Kar. 

2002 — Wrote lyrics for Dupatta and Yaad Sajan Di for Hadiqa Kiyani’s album titled Rung. 

2003 — Provided Shiraz Uppal with lyrics for all his songs in his popular album Tera Te Mera. 

2007 — Wrote lyrics for hit song Me Jeena Tere Naal from Pakistani Punjabi film Mohabbataan Sachiyaan. 

2009 — Gave lyrics for Hadiqa Kiyani’s songs Tuk Tuk from album Aasman. 

2010 — Provided lyrics for Main Tenu Samjhawan Ki from Virsa, India and Pakistan’s joint venture. 

2012 — Wrote lyrics for the Pakistani film Ishq Khuda.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.                                                                                          

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Touching upon social issues, Kadir tells the reader stories of people who break free mentally or physically from their suffocating lives. “The idea of writing came after a friend suggested that I should write, and since the skill was there, the stories seemed to flow out of me,” he said. “The sources of these stories have been the people I’ve met or something that I’ve seen that triggered the plots.”

Set in modern-day Pakistan, Clifton Bridge is a light read, inclusive of 10 fictional stories about love, power, and the search for a meaningful life. The characters range from a feudal landlord and remorseful talib to beggars, bureaucrats and women of all nature. While most of the stories leave you wondering of what happens next, the author makes his characters come to certain realisations. And as each story unfolds, a new emotion surfaces, combined with love, which helps the characters feel liberated.

The most heart-gripping stories have to be ‘Clifton Bridge’, ‘Queen’s Garden’ and ‘Through the Lattice’. In each story, the protagonist is extremely disturbed by the events that have taken place. From the beggars who try to escape their master in ‘Clifton Bridge’ or the religious and moral realisation of a talib in ‘Queen’s Garden’ to the unjust treatment of a servant girl in ‘Through the Lattice’, the author succeeds in emotionally charging the reader.

The book also shows women in powerful roles whether she’s a poor servant, a classical singer or a wealthy wife. In ‘All in the Family’, the money-hungry wives will go to any lengths for their husband’s wealth, and ‘Unfinished Mural’ brings out the classic case of a possessive mother who haunts her son even after dying.

Diva’s character is especially close to Kadir. “Diva was inspired by the singer Noor Jehan,” he explained. The first time he met the famous singer was when she was 16 and then he saw her years later when she was much older. “She spoke about the burdens an artist bares. She told me her talent pressed her,” Kadir recalled. “She said ‘I’m in a world of my own, and when I sing I respond to the call of nature. I had to completely balance the two, but singing is primary in my life. I can never tell my family that, it’s a tussle that will go on till the day I die’.”

The story ‘Diva’ takes the reader through the life of a passionate singer, while ‘A Touch of Humanity’ revolves around a widow who heads an NGO and has no time for romance.

As the reader gets addicted to reading one story after another, Kadir conveniently fits in social issues of survival, corruption, frustration and taboos. Overall, the book is an easy read, with detailed stories and realistic characters that leave you with an afterthought.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2013.

Two weeks ago, on a Friday that began just like any other, Sarah left home around 1 pm with her children to run some errands. Five hours later, she returned to find Shazia, aged 25, dead.

Shortly before her suicide, Shazia was about to be forced into an exchange marriage, known as watta satta, a swap of brides between two families.

“For the past few days, I would see her crying,” recalls Sarah. “And I would simply try to comfort her by telling her that her family had no right to do this, that she could say no to the marriage.”

According to Sarah’s account, Shazia was set up to marry an old man, whose daughter would, in turn, marry her mentally-challenged brother.

“I’m just a money-making machine for them, and now they want me married,” Shazia had said tearfully one evening. “It’s either this marriage or death.”

Like Shazia, many people each year are driven to their death by being forced into marriages. According to HRCP’s media monitoring, at least 1,976 people committed suicide last year, of which 629 were women.

“Shelter homes and non-government organisations can only do so much, they are reaching around 10% of the population,” says Anis Haroon, who recently relinquished charge of caretaker Sindh minister for human rights and women development. “The state needs to take responsibility.”

Haroon also believes that the state and the media need to work together, so that people in all regions can be made aware of their human and legal rights.

“You can’t always make laws against these kinds of practices,” she says. “We have to raise awareness and empower women.”

The right to choose

Shazia’s story is not the only one of its kind. The tradition of exchange marriages still thrives in the country.

Unfortunately, as in Shazia’s case, the element of compulsion is often present in such arrangements. While most forced marriages go unnoticed or unreported, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reports indicate that in January 2012 alone, almost 340 such cases were recorded across Pakistan.

Child marriages, arranged by parents or the panchayats in villages, also add to the unreported category.

Why watta satta

“Often, parents are helpless and chose exchange marriage options for reasons such as poverty, insecurity, lack of awareness, and tradition,” says Haroon.

According to Mehnaz Rehman of Aurat Foundation, most cases of under-aged forced marriages are a result of greed. In a statement made in February, Rehman said that even after signing the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the government is not doing its part to form laws that adhere to global commitments.

And yet, despite the embedded practices, Haroon believes trends may be shifting.

“In urban areas the pattern has started changing,” says Haroon. “The rural families who have moved to the city have daughters who are earning. They now feel confident enough to refuse such proposals. Being financially strong empowers them.”

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