Sana Nawaz gained fame in the nineties through her outstanding performances in Pakistani films. Recently, the actress appeared in the FHM Podcast where she discussed her divorce and life afterwards.
“People should be appreciative and empathetic towards single mothers because they go through a lot. They should not be judged because they face many societal pressures,” she remarked. “I know many of you say that they are actors, life may be easy for them but still there are many single mothers like me who are privileged and have house help and money, but even then those ladies suffer under the same pressures.” She recounted meeting a girl on the Express TV drama set who was playing a minor role in the series. The girl told Sana, “Nobody at home cares about me. One of my parents passed away, the other is sick, and my brother has left home. Nobody seems to be concerned about me.”
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is getting ready to host the fourth Gulf Cinema Festival (GCF) from April 14 to 18. The festival is organized by the Film Commission with support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and is backed by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud. The goal of the festival is to strengthen relationships among GCC countries and promote the growing Gulf cinema industry.
It will showcase 29 films from all GCC countries and honor experienced actors for their contributions to Gulf cinema, as state by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Alongside film screenings, three training workshops and six educational seminars to encourage discussions about art and the social impact of movies will also take place. Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector is growing rapidly, reflecting the country’s efforts to diversify its economy and attract visitors from around the world.
The decision to lift the cinema ban in 2017, part of the Vision 2030 reform agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has played a significant role in this growth. Since then, the Saudi cinema industry has expanded, with 627 screens in 69 theaters catering to a population of 32.2 million people.
The devastating news that the iconic film ‘Barbie’ was recalled once more from cinemas by the Punjab Government for a second review has left fans fuming. News outlets said that the film was banned over four words were circulating on social media.
On Saturday night some social media reports said that the screening had halted midway, and cinemas like Cue and Universal replaced the movie schedule for Barbie on their website with ‘Mission Impossible’.
Did Punjab govt (re)ban Barbie just now? Was attending the 8:30 PM show at Universal Cinemas Emporium and they just turned on the lights and then told us to get refunds?,,?..?
— Hafsa Ahsan /حفصہ احسن (@HafsaAhsan1) July 22, 2023
After speaking to an insider from the Punjab Film Censor Board, The Current has been informed that the film had previously been cleared to play in cinemas across Lahore, but it was the Punjab Government that had halted the screening and will release it after a second review. When we asked why there uproar on Barbie, and not Oppenheimer, the insider refused to comment on it.
Speaking to Geo Fact Check, Amir Mir, the caretaker Information and Culture Minister of Punjab revealed ‘Barbie’ was re-called because of concern of the film’s content which showed ‘homosexuality’.
“There is a gay character in it,” Mir said. “You can Google and find out if there is any such thing in it or not.”
Mir added that the film will be re-examined in a few days and will be released to cinemas after censoring a few dialogues.
However, Barbie was not censored in other cities like Islamabad or in Sindh. When Mir was asked about this his response was:
“Other provinces probably like this kind of stuff. We have a problem with it.”
However, we can advice you to not toss away your pink outfit yet, because Barbie is still playing in Chalo Cinemas at Fortress Square Mall. We contacted the cinema and a manager confirmed to us that the film has not been banned.
On the official Instagram page, Chalo Cinema has still posted timings of the ‘Barbie’ movie.
On their Instagram stories, the organisation shared Galaxy Lollywood founder Momin Ali Munshi’s post on how their cinema was the only place that was allowed to play Barbie. There are three censor boards in Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, and for Central Cantonment. Cantt has a separate censor board, which is present in all provinces, and Barbie has been cleared by their Censor Board which is why it is playing in the only cinema present inside Lahore Cantt, at Fortress Stadium.
Eid-ul-Azha is all about big fat lunches and endless dinners at relatives’ places. Especially in desi households, one can’t escape the aunties. We all know how easily one can get bored while sitting all day and even after feeding your stomach to death, you sometimes just want some air. We compiled a list of cool places where you can go.
1- The Cinema
So we have a lot of Pakistani movies and Hollywood movies to watch this Eid. From Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad to Thor. You can watch whatever you want. We know that there is going to be a rush but it’s Eid and you can enjoy the movie more in a houseful. Grab your tickets, lay back, and put on a show.
2- Margala Hills National Park
If you feel like taking a bit of a walk. Go to Margala Hills National Park in Islamabad. There are several hiking tracks there too. The view is also going to be great but remember to do it before 12 pm because, after it, it is going to be hot folks.
3- Playdium
Wanna do something different? Try out the gaming center. In Lahore, there is Playdium. It is a bit expensive but who cares because you have Eidi this time. Go out with your cousins or friends. It will be a fun yet unique outing. Also, Playdium has some serious Instagram photo lighting. We would also suggest that you take some good pictures there. Thank us later!
4- Spa Day
Everyone is tired now since it’s Eid Day 2. Pamper yourself and spend some money on yourself. A spa day can get you relaxed, all fresh, and ready for the upcoming working days. Make some time and plan now!
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it will no longer censor cinematic releases, introducing a 21 and above age rating for films.
The country’s Media Regulatory Office said on Twitter that it had introduced a 21+ age category to its motion picture content rating system.
“According to this classification, the international version of movies will be shown in cinemas, with an emphasis on the strict following of age classification standards for audience entry,” it added.
The Media Regulatory Office announced the inscribed of the 21+ for the age classification categories for cinema films. pic.twitter.com/NO5WxZveZy
Recently, the country has seen a lot of developments, which include lifting a ban on unmarried couples living together and loosening restrictions on alcohol.
Earlier this month, the UAE also announced that it will move to a Western-style Saturday-Sunday weekend. This will make Emirates the only Gulf country not to observe weekends on a Friday, and Saturday.
Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, who died last week, was many things to many people. He was a Bollywood legend, a screen hero, a public figure who spoke out for minority communities, a good and thoughtful human being, a great thespian. But while many fans will look at the entirety of his work during a career spanning over a half-century, my most cherished memories of it are from his early films – particularly Andaz.
My favourite image of Dilip Kumar will always remain of him seated at the piano singing in Mehboob Khan’s 1949 filmAndaz. As he mouthed the songs (sung by the maestro Mukesh), his soulful eyes would surely have had many swooning: first as he ‘sang’ the optimistic ‘Hum aaj kahin dil kho baithay’ after he has fallen in love with the girl he thinks reciprocates his feelings and then, later, the tragic ‘Tootay naa dil toote na’ when he is heartbroken after the realisation that she regards him merely as a friend and is engaged to somebody else.
Andaz was an interesting film in that, despite a highly melodramatic and preachy ending, it addressed important post-colonial questions of identity and tradition in a newly independent nation. The love triangle – played by Dilip Kumar, Nargis and Raj Kapoor – comes about largely because of Dilip (Dilip Kumar) misconstruing Neena’s (Nargis) friendly behaviour as romantic love. The film seems to regard this as a result of modernity and westernised behaviour and the social message is spelt out clearly in the pedantic monologue delivered by Rajan (Raj Kapoor) at the end of the film. But despite this rather oppressive message and the film’s completely tragic ending, I remember Andaz fondly both for its songs and for being the vehicle to unite three such fabulous actors on the screen (this was the only film Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor did together).
Andaz also fuelled my interest in searching out more of Dilip Kumar’s films from this early period and so I landed on his Daagh (Amiya Chakravarty’s 1952 film)in which again the beautiful songs (sung by Talat Mahmood) did much to complement the tragic nuances of Dilip Kumar’s expressions. Another old film I sought out eagerly was Jugnu as it starred Dilip Kumar opposite our own Nur Jehan. Well, that was certainly disappointing: Jugnu was made in 1947, so I had assumed both young actors would look amazing on-screen and would make a great romantic screen couple. However, in Shaukat Hussain Rizvi’s film, there is absolutely no screen chemistry between the pair and while Dilip Kumar does look quite beautiful, Nur Jehan looks almost old enough to be his mother. Even the youthful two long braids hairstyle and a lineup of very plain (and oppressed looking) female extras as her ‘sahelis’ does nothing to make her look stunning.
In K Asif’s epic Mughal e Azam, Dilip Kumar played Shahzada Salim, the prince whose love for the courtesan Anarkali is thwarted by his father, the Mughal emperor Akbar. Here Dilip Kumar appeared puffier and played a far less endearing personality than in previous tragedies: his Prince Salim was a slimy sort of a character and fairly dislikeable. The on-screen chemistry with Madhu Bhala may have been sizzling and the film’s songs and cinematography memorable but this on-screen Dilip was not one I wanted to remember.
So, I have to say I never really followed Dilip Kumar’s later films as I preferred to stay stuck with the image of him singing ‘Tootay naa dil’ and ‘Ai mere dil kahin aur chal’, etc, but I did follow news of him. His connection to my city, Karachi, was that he was a cousin or kinsman of the well-known orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rahim. His connection to Pakistan was that Peshawar was his ancestral city and he was much loved by many on this side of the border. But when he was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz by Pakistan in 1998, a furious backlash followed in an outcry, which was led by the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). The actor seems to have handled this with great dignity but he stated quite clearly in subsequent interviews that he believed he was being targeted because of being a Muslim and a member of a minority community. And it was possibly this episode that led him to a stint in politics as a Congress party member of the legislative assembly. To his credit, he refused to succumb to the pressure generated by right-wing hysteria and he refused to return the award.
They are all gone now, those stylish leading men from the early post-partition era of Bollywood cinema. We remember Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor and Kishore Kumar and so many of their contemporaries in many different and completely personal ways. I choose to remember Dilip Kumar always through those black and white images of him in Andaz: so young and beautiful and moving with such easy grace, mesmerising us with his nuanced and sensitive facial expressions.
‘Toote naa dil tootay naa
Saath humara chootay naa’
Thank you for the memories, Dilip Kumar aka Yusuf sahib
Islamabadis are in for a treat as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to open a drive-in cinema in the city next month.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat shared the news while responding to a Twitter user, who suggested that a car cinema should be opened in Islamabad given the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Sir given, we have Covid-19 on the rise and there can’t be any big gathering in the city, how about DC office plan a car theatre every weekend in F9 until things are back to normal. Food vendors can put stalls and serve in cars,” said Twitter user Faizan Khan.
Replying to his tweet, DC Islamabad hinted that the Islamabad administration is planning to launch a car cinema next month.
Later, the official Twitter account of CDA Islamabad tweeted that that authority is working towards setting up an “open-air cinema of international standards” in the city.
In view of current situation, cinema will be prepared while implementing Corona SOPs. Citizens will be able to enjoy cinema by sitting in their cars in view of Corona concerns. #CDA#driveinislamabad#atyourservice
— Capital Development Authority, Islamabad. (@CDAthecapital) November 25, 2020
Drive-in cinemas have gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people are forced to maintain physical distance. Several countries around the world have set up car cinemas to keep their citizens entertained during the lockdown while following SOPs.
International airport in LithuaniaDortmund, Germany Marl, GermanyMall of the Emirates, DubaiAustin, TexasSeoul, South Korea A technical museum in Speyer, Germany
Federal Minister of Planning and Development Asad Umar while addressing a press conference has said that cinemas, theatres, public parks, and restaurants will be reopened from August 10 (Monday) under strict SOPs.
According to details, Umar said that Pakistan has recorded a decline in cases of COVID-19.
He said that Educational institutions are expected to reopen on September 15 but all the SOPs will be monitored on September 7.
ANNOUNCEMENT: All Public & Private Schools of Punjab to open September 15th, 2020. This is a tentative date depending on COVID 19 situation in Punjab. SOPs for opening Schools are in place which will be conveyed to everyone. All other news is “FAKE NEWS”
After the World Health Organisation (WHO) warnedthat coronavirus may never go away and we will have to learn to live with it, Dubai came up with a solution to entertain people amid the pandemic crisis. People in Dubai will soon be able to watch films on the big screen but only from their own cars at a new drive-in cinema created on the roof of one of the world’s largest shopping malls.
With social distancing essential in the United Arab Emirates to control the spread of the virus, VOX Cinemas says that only two viewers per car will be allowed at the open-air venue, which opens on Sunday and can accommodate up to 75 cars at a time. Tickets cost 180 dirhams ($50) per vehicle inclusive of popcorn, snacks and drinks.
Dubai, the UAE’s business and tourism hub, has been easing coronavirus restrictions since the Ramzan began three weeks ago, allowing malls and dine-in restaurants to reopen at limited capacity.
However, children aged 3-12 and people over 60 are still barred from such venues, including the outdoor cinema, which sits on the roof of Majid Al Futtaim’s Mall of the Emirates. The screen stands under the peak of the mall’s indoor ski slope.
Dubai, a major shopping and entertainment destination, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic due to travel troubles and closures to curb the spread of the disease.
The UAE has so far recorded 20,386 coronavirus infections and 206 deaths.
In what is being termed as a blatant breach of citizens’ privacy, a cinema in Lahore has released explicit footage of couples putting on public display of affection at the movies.
The videos showing couples holding hands, making out and being involved in sexual activities, started doing rounds on Friday evening, sparking outrage over social media.
While some called out the cinema for “blatant violation” of the couples’ privacy, others stepped in to train guns at the couples for publically being involved in the activities.
Apparently there’s videos circulating from an emporium cinema of couples making out in the cinema hall. The videos are from infrared security cameras mounted inside the hall facing the crowd.
Why are there cameras facing the crowd watching the screen in the first place?
No official statement over the episode has yet been released, however, former Punjab’s Strategic Reforms Unit director general (DG) Salman Sufi has announced filing a lawsuit against the cinema.
Important thread: Just found that video recordings of citizens from cinema halls in #Pakistan have been shared around.This is NOT acceptable and is a violation of law. We demand that all theaters/Public places delete ALL video recordings that have no recorded safety threat ASAP pic.twitter.com/ZeeKpjhTSn
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) August 30, 2019
“Just found that video recordings of citizens from cinema halls in #Pakistan have been shared around. This is NOT acceptable and is a violation of law. We demand that all theaters/Public places delete ALL video recordings that have no recorded safety threat ASAP [sic],” Sufi tweeted.
