Author: optimum_tech

  • ‘Cheekh’ just makes you want to scream

    ‘Cheekh’ just makes you want to scream

    Saba Qamar and Bilal Abbas Khan’s much-hyped drama Cheekh has finally drawn to a close and we couldn’t be more relieved.

    Despite all the phenomenal performances by the lead actors, the drama and storyline was stretched way beyond its snapping point and was getting ridiculous and unrealistic with every passing episode. What began as an ambitious and game-changing project, Cheekh soon went downhill as the makers behind it tried to keep the audiences engaged by introducing one twist after another.

    The first 10-12 episodes were brilliant and had you on the edge as Mannat (Saba Qamar) battled all odds to get her murdered friend, Nayab, justice. The plot was realistic and understandable. But after the case of Nayab’s murder went to court, everything started going downhill including the script.

    There were lots of unnecessary turns and twists which turned a perfectly good drama into a Star Plus soap opera. I mean what was the point of sending Mannat to the pagal khaana and drugging her into becoming sleeping beauty? Or scaring Mannat’s mother into testifying against her own daughter? Agreed that our justice system is extremely flawed but itna ziada? And in the quest for justice, Mannat lost her mother, husband and unborn child. The message the drama seemed to give out was that if you fight for the truth, you’ll end up getting ruined in the process – Not sure if the makers were trying to encourage women to speak up or discourage them from ever raising their voice.

    The middle of the drama was dragged for no reason and you just ended up skipping most of the scenes. Because of a lack of a proper build-up, the final episode of the drama ended up being rushed.

    The last episode began so abruptly with Mannat reopening Nayab’s case and representing herself in the court that you had to pause and go back to the previous episode to see if you missed anything. As expected, the makers had to give the drama a happy ending, so the series ended with Mannat getting justice and Wajih on death row. The final scene was absolutely absurd, with Wajih having read the whole Quran and justifying his actions because previously he wasn’t religiously enlightened. He then proceeded to shift the blame to his elder brother Yawar for not stopping him from doing bad things and always shielding him from the consequences of his actions. More so, in the entire scene, Haya cried as if Wajih was the victim.

    Meanwhile, Mannat becomes unnecessary. She just sits in her corner and looks up to the sky and thanks God for making an example of her.

    “Khuda misaal banana ke liye na, hum sab mein se kisi eik ko chunta hai…aur woh eik, mein thi,” she says. I mean…

    Even Nayab’s father was nowhere to be seen.

    The plot aside, the cast of the drama probably delivered their finest performances to date. Saba as the headstrong and unabated Mannat was amazing. Bilal as the conniving and manipulative Wajih was remarkable. The two leads shared amazing chemistry on screen and their scenes together were so strong that you’d end up holding your breath without realising. His performance in the last scene was so strong that it gave you goosebumps. He actually ended up making you feel sorry for Wajih the killer. If he doesn’t win an award for Best Performance in a Negative Role on at least one award function, award functions should be officially be cancelled. Emmad Irfani as the doting, loving husband conflicted between his wife and family won hearts and frankly redefined the typical Pakistani drama husband. That’s definitely a win. The rest of the cast also gave superb performances. A special round of applause to director Badar Mehmood for bringing out the best in his actors.

    On the whole, Cheekh lost itself somewhere in the middle. Where it could have been a rule-changing Pakistani drama, the makers decided to play safe and follow the traditional route.

  • Eid releases: A starry affair

    Eid releases: A starry affair

    Three major releases, namely Parey Hut Love, Heer Maan Ja and Superstar, are hitting the screens this Eid ul Azha and the excitement and promotions for the films are in full swing. Moreso, all three films have A-listers in their cast. From Mahira Khan to Hareem Farooq, from Sheheryar Munawar to Ali Rehman Khan, the casts of all the films are lit which make them all the more appealing.

    But what’s interesting is that it appears that every member of the Pakistani film industry is part of at least one of three films which makes the films even more starry than before. While Meera Jee and Fawad Khan have cameos in Parey Hut Love, Hania Aamir and Syra Shehroz make an appearance in Superstar. Mikaal Zulfiqar and Ahmed Ali Akbar have guest appearances in Heer Maan Jaa. The names above are just a few and the makers of the film have promised us even more stars.

    Essentially cameos, especially starry cameos, are added to draw more attention towards the films and increase their star value and every film’s director and producer has applied that formula in their films. Basically, this means that even if the films have no storyline, no plot, we’ll still be excited to watch them because you don’t know who’ll pop up onscreen next.

    Nonetheless, The Current asked the makers behind the films to decode this concept for us and this is what they had to say.

    Speaking exclusively to The Current, Asim remarked, “Feature films are made to entertain people and you have to keep looking for any and every possibility on how you can entertain them. Mixing things such as cameos or guest appearances by known faces with characters brings vibrance and excitement that is needed for any film.”

    “This is not the first time that I have done this,” he continued. “In my first feature film, three years ago, Ho Mann Jahaan, I introduced this concept. Why others are doing it, I don’t know, but I’m doing it because I believe in it. It’s a way of adding more entertainment for my viewers.”

    Asim concluded his remarks saying that his films are for the masses and he would do anything that is decently possible to keep them entertained and engaged.

    We also caught the producer of Heer Maan Ja, Hareem Farooq as she was promoting the film and asked her the same. Hareem started off by laughing that this was done to add more star power to the film and make it more attractive for the audiences. She then commented that guest appearances were the need of the film as the script demanded it.

    When asked how the filmmakers decided who to cast, Hareem replied, “Some actors were decided when we were writing the script. So some of the guest roles were written keeping in mind the actor. Others were cast once the script was finalised and we felt that they would be best suited for the role.”

    Looks like this Eid is all about the more the merrier. But hey, we’re not complaining.

    Which film are you most excited for?

  • Prime Minister Imran Khan: the leader we deserve

    Prime Minister Imran Khan: the leader we deserve

    PM Imran’s efforts are opening doors to the world – be it in terms of image-building or investment; with his farsightedness and consistent efforts, Khan is marking a time in history.

    From the chants of Capital One Arena to the high-end meetings with the United States (US) president, members of the US congress, business tycoons and investors, it goes without saying that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s US visit was a resounding success.

    His achievements
    resonated across the globe with worldwide Twitter trends, which astounded the
    international audience for a good three days. On the one hand, the Pakistani
    nation lauded his assertive meeting with President Trump, highlighting
    sensitive issues like Kashmir and the Afghan war.

    He was also admired
    for his honest and charismatic personality, which conveniently attracted overseas
    Pakistanis as well as the US business community.

    For decades, investors
    avoided Pakistan due to lack of trust in its leadership. However, Khan’s one
    visit has altered that perception.

    One can see that in the confidence reflected by US Senator Lindsay Graham’s tweet, which said: “Khan and his government represents the best opportunity in decades to have a beneficial strategic relationship with US.”

    In his next tweet, he said: “Tremendous business opportunities exist between Pakistan and the US through a free trade agreement tied to our mutual security interests.”

    In addition to
    government level summits, meeting with senior American business executives from
    Bower Group and US-Pakistan Business Council also took place. Discussions on business
    plans and investment opportunities in Pakistan were carried out, which further
    assured investor’s faith in Khan’s leadership.

    Businessmen, who
    previously never considered investing in Pakistan, expressed their inclination
    towards the very same country. For example, business tycoon Shahid Khan, who is
    the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL),
    Fulham F.C. of the English Football League Championship, and runs Flex-N-Gate
    (an automobile parts manufacturer company), had a meeting with the premier.

    Bearing in mind that Shahid Khan had been frequently approached by Pakistan’s former leadership, both Nawaz and Zardari, for talks but were denied attention, this very well-known and well-respected businessman not only exchanged his suggestions with PM Imran, but on his way out, shared his pleasure and belief in Khan’s honest efforts for the country in the following words:

    “I have hope, I think
    the future of Pakistan is going to be fabulous with Imran Khan. It is proud to
    be Pakistani again. Imran Khan is greater than life and the best thing that
    happened to Pakistan, at least in my lifetime.”

    PM Imran’s efforts are opening doors to the world – be it in terms of image-building or investment; with his farsightedness and consistent efforts, Khan is marking a time in history.

    Uniting the Muslim nations, showing solidarity with Kashmiris, instigating social justice and ensuring people’s prosperity, these are only a few accomplishments that are painting an image of Pakistan which will benefit generations to come.

    Any author’s views do not reflect that of The Current

  • Busting 5 popular health myths

    Busting 5 popular health myths

    Health myths. We hear them all day every day – from your colleague to your driver, everyone has a totka to give. But just because all these myths are popular doesn’t mean that they work as well. Here are 5 popular health myths busted.

    1. Fat is not good for you

    Fat is necessary for a healthy, balanced diet. The macronutrient is as important as carbohydrates and proteins. Doctors recommend adding ‘good fats’ such as Omega 3 and 6 found in foods like avocado, salmon, eggs, olive oil, flax seeds, walnuts, etc to your diet.

    2. Drink milk for stronger bones

    Milk
    is recommended for strong bones as dairy is the easiest available source of
    calcium that is required for bone health. 
    But if a person does not like milk he still can have healthy and strong
    bones by getting the required amount of calcium from nuts, sesame seeds, oily
    fish and dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, green collard, broccoli,
    etc. Physical fitness experts say other ways to increase bone density is to
    exercise regularly.

     3. Fruit juices are healthy

    Most fruit juices are as high in calories as a sugary soft drink. A glass of orange juice, for example, contains the extract of six oranges. When you have fruit you usually eat one or two and have it with all the fiber, vitamins and minerals. Juicing destroys the minerals and nutrients and takes out the fibre leaving you with just a sugar overdose.

    4. Gluten is bad for you

    Gluten
    is a group of proteins found in whole grains such as wheat, rye, and barley,
    etc. Like other proteins, it has an important source of macro-nutrition. It is
    bad for those who have the problem of indigestion, gas and poor bowel movement.

    5. Brushing teeth after every meal is best for oral hygiene

     Dentists recommend brushing teeth only twice a day – once when you wake and once before going to sleep. Over-brushing teeth wears down the enamel, making your teeth weak. Moreso, toothpaste usually contain sugar and fluorides which means that consumption of toothpaste four to five times a day will do more harm than good. It is better to rinse and floss after a meal to clean your teeth instead of brushing them.

  • Masjid e Shab Bhar

  • Pakistani man lands himself in jail after posting a Tik Tok video

    Pakistani man lands himself in jail after posting a Tik Tok video

    TikTok,
    the famous app for lip-syncing and comedy videos is very popular in Pakistan
    among youngsters. Tik Tok provides good fun content for time pass. A young man
    from Jhelum got himself into trouble by making a TikTok video with a gun.

    According to the reports, Sajid Khan posted a short video with a pistol and some desi music on TikTok. He was holding an illegal pistol in that video.

    The Police, on the instructions of  DPO Jhelum, have prisoned him for illegal possession of a 30-bore pistol after a private news channel pointed out the violation of the law.

  • If ‘The Lion King’ was made in Pakistan

    If ‘The Lion King’ was made in Pakistan

    The live-action remake of The Lion King has finally hit the cinema after a long, long wait. Two versions of the film were released here in Pakistan – English and Hindi. Some fans took to social media to suggest that an Urdu version of the film should also be released. If that was the case, here’s who we think would be best fit for the characters.

    Simba and Mufasa – Shaan Shahid

    Considering how dear to Shaan this film is, we decided to give both Simba and Mufasa to him.

    Scar – Ali Zafar

    It’s the hair.

    Nala – Mehwish Hayat

    Who better than Mehwish to play the fierce Nala?

    Timon – Mani

    The resemblance is uncanny.

    Pumba – Ahmed Ali Butt

    When you think witty, the only person from Pakistan’s film industry who comes to mind is without a doubt Ahmed Ali Butt.

    Rafiqi – Nadeem Baig

    Nadeem Baig is the perfect grandfatherly figure.

  • Mad King

    Mad King

    From intimidating accountability watchdogs, telling the judiciary how to do its job, to placing increasingly fascist restrictions on press, Imran Khan has reached levels of desperation that seem unprecedented

    We have been here before. A government, drunk on its
    newfound power, now finds itself in unfamiliar territory where it has to lead a
    nation and not just tear down all that holds that country upright.

    An opposition, being oppressed, harassed and victimised for
    speaking to the aspirations of the people, at whose will, it serves. It’s not
    new. It’s a vicious cycle that has revisited this country one too many times
    now.

    The 2018 general election was among the most tainted in this
    country’s history, the impact of which the nation now suffers. The country is
    in the grip of an economic crisis that can only be described as a financial
    Armageddon, corruption is ironically at its peak, a glimpse of which has been
    seen in the recent report put forth by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the
    Peshawar BRT project.

    In the Prime Minister’s (PM) House, our own version of the
    Mad King has begun to unravel. In an attempt to distract everyone from how the
    country’s economy has continued to unravel under his watch, he has decided to
    demolish every institution we hold dear in the country.

    From threatening and intimidating the country’s accountability watchdogs, telling the judiciary how to do its job, to placing increasingly fascist restrictions on the press in Pakistan, Imran Khan has reached levels of desperation that seem unprecedented.

    Why though? Why this sudden surge in desperation on the part
    of the PM?

    Nawaz Sharif has been unfairly put behind bars. The top tier
    leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is being threatened day
    in day out with mala fide cases in an attempt to shut them up.

    Why is the government so spooked that it continues to up the
    ante and show its ill intent when despite its reservations and grievances over
    the election process, the opposition has on various occasions declared its
    intentions to let the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remain in power and
    complete its term?

    What perturbs the government is that it can see the writing
    on the wall. Going forward, electoral politics will revolve around the next
    generation of voters — the youth — and at present, no one has shown to
    connect with the youth of this country quite like Maryam Nawaz.

    People know her as the current force that has kept the party
    going in her father’s absence, but what people do not realise is that she has
    been there for quite some time now.

    When Nawaz was in exile during Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf-led
    military rule, it was Maryam who pushed and encouraged her father to return to
    the country because she believed the people needed her father’s leadership. Now
    she is burdened with the responsibility to fight for her family and her party.

    She has been burdened with the responsibility to fight for
    all of us… for the very democratic soul of the country.

    The Mad King fears his government will fall apart once and
    for all as his false claim of representing the youth nears collapse. It is for
    this very reason that his government is going to ridiculous lengths to try and
    harass the opposition.

    What he needs to remember is that we have been here before.
    And inevitable is that authoritarians have time and time again fallen from
    their positions of power and been forced to feel the unforgiving wrath of the
    will of the people.

    That wave, let’s call it a tsunami, is building up, making its way to sweeping away the PTI government and its politics.

    Any author’s views do not reflect that of The Current

  • Review: Is ‘Cheekh’ losing the plot?

    Review: Is ‘Cheekh’ losing the plot?

    ARY’s Cheekh began as an ambitious project. The drama centered around the theme of sexual harassment and abuse and the importance of raising your voice even if you have to go against your own family members. The first few episodes were gripping and had you on the edge but as the drama progressed, it became mundane the point that it almost became a chore to watch the drama.

    Though the characters were wonderfully written, especially Shayan, who we all agree was like a breath of fresh air in the Pakistani drama scene, the overall script of the drama weakened as the drama progressed. The storyline was also becoming depressing as Mannat continued to fight against her brother-in-law, Wajih and lost every time. However, as the drama heads towards its end, viewers got an unexpected twist and the drama caught our attention once again.

    SPOILER ALERT

    The last episode saw Shayan killed by his brother, Wajih after they get into a heated debate with each other. As soon as the accident happens, Wajih bolts from the crime scene while Mannat rushes him to the hospital. In her quest for justice for her friend, Mannat experiences her third loss. She first lost her child in a miscarriage caused by Wajih. Then she lost her mother and now her husband. In between all that Mannat was also admitted to a mental hospital after she lost her case to Wajih. While we agree and accept that the drama’s makers tried to be as realistic as possible, the question is did they become a little too realistic?

    Though I myself am of the opinion that the drama rightfully portrayed the situation of such cases in our society, my colleague appeared to have a dissenting view and argued that what was even the whole point of fighting the case, that too against her brother-in-law when in the end you’re left with nothing. He argued that the drama went overboard and situations like these don’t happen in real life. Whatever your opinion may be, the fact remains that women who dare to raise their voice are subjected to vilification by men who are more powerful than them. For example the case of Khadija Siddiqui.

    On the whole, Cheekh had its shares of highs and lows. The acting by the lead cast was brilliant. Saba Qamar, Bilal Abbas Khan, Emmad Irfani, Aijaz Aslam and Azekah Daniel all gave brilliant performances. The scenes which featured both Saba and Bilal were powerful, to say the least. Both the actors were phenomenal in their roles and deserve standing ovation.

    Though the drama became a drag in the middle with a lot of pointless scenes, the plot was intriguing and made you think about how unfair society is towards victims, especially those of sexual violence. The way the rich and influential are able to maneuver the law as per their liking and get away unaffected is food for thought and the drama portrayed that brilliantly. It also highlights how the law is not equal for everyone and anyone with an iota of influence can get away from being punished.

    With the latest development, it looks like viewers will be tuning into the series once again to see if Mannat will get finally get justice.

  • The negative impact of violent video games

    There are many negative effects of violent video games which sometimes are too severe to ignore. The Current asked game players and developers how do these games affect them psychologically? 
    Here is what they said.