Tag: home-ent

  • Is ‘Alif’ trending for the right reasons?

    Is ‘Alif’ trending for the right reasons?

    Every Saturday night, the hashtag Alif – a nod to Hamza Ali Abbasi and Sajal Aly’s drama – begins to trend on Twitter, intriguing everyone. But that probably has more to do with Hamza Ali Abbasi’s star power on Twitter because if you look at the views and compare them to the views of rival drama, Meray Paas Tum Ho, you get a completely different picture.

    While Alif in its essence is thought-provoking, layered and intense, the pace of the drama is killing interest and ultimately making it tiresome to watch.

    Read More: Meray Pass Tum Ho EP 13: Predictable or more to it?

    The sixth episode shows Momin get rid of his ladylove Neha, played by Sadaf Kanwal after she continuously pushes him to cast her ‘friend’ in his next film. The breakup isn’t very pleasant and the two vow to get their revenge from each other. While I do commend Sadaf for doing an above-average job as far as her acting is concerned, her performance doesn’t match that of Hamza, who is giving this character all of him. Sadaf’s dialogue delivery is monotonous and sounds as if uss nay ratta maara hai – it is completely devoid of emotion.

    Other than that, we are given another flashback to Momin’s childhood, when someone mentions Husn-e-Jahaan. To be very frank, I’m sick of watching these flashbacks because all Kubra does in them is cry, while the child Momin is borderline annoying.

    On the other hand, Momina (Sajal Aly) is struggling with the death of her brother Jahangir. The entire family is broken after his death and the emotions shown by the actors are brilliantly raw and invoke sympathy in you.

    While the rest of the episode was slow, it picked up in the last ten minutes with the interactions between Momin and Neha and Momina and her master (Saifee Hassan).

    Oh and one thing: a message for the producers/director – that cut jump in one of the scenes was abrupt and highlighted lazy production. Not cool guys, we expect better.

    Read More: ‘Alif’ is slow-paced but intense

    The teaser for the next episode is catchy with the return of a previous character and Momin heading to Turkey to visit his grandfather.

    Everyone on Twitter keeps praising Alif for its “great acting, storyline and powerful dialogues.” I do agree with the great acting and [somewhat] powerful dialogues bit, but I’m still waiting for a proper storyline to develop and become more engaging. Six episodes should be more than enough to get the ball rolling. No?

  • ‘Heer Maan Ja’ producer Imran Raza Kazmi ties the knot

    ‘Heer Maan Ja’ producer Imran Raza Kazmi ties the knot

    Imran Raza Kazmi, the man behind several hit films including Janaan, Heer Maan Ja and Parchi tied the knot in an intimate event in Islamabad.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mU0FbD8UQ/

    Though the event was low-key, the producer’s close friends and stars Hareem Farooq, Osman Khalid Butt and Ali Rehman Khan were in attendance. And from the pictures and videos, it appears that they had a blast.

    There are bound to be giggles when the gang reunites.

    Selfies are a must.

    And some portraits from the wedding photographer

    We’re loving the chemistry between the bride and Hareem

    Hareem looks gorgeous in an outfit by Mohsin Naveed Ranjha and makeup and hair by Faiza’s Salon

  • Sunny Deol to attend Kartarpur opening ceremony

    Sunny Deol to attend Kartarpur opening ceremony

    Indian actor and politician Sunny Deol has announced that he will attend the Kartarpur opening ceremony on November 9.

    As per reports, Chief Minister of India’s Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh confirmed the arrival of the actor.

    The actor turned politician is a BJP lawmaker from India’s Gurdaspur district.

     “If I won’t go who will? I will go, it is my area and my home,” the BJP MP was quoted as saying by Indian news agency ANI.

    Read More: Navjot Singh Sidhu to join for Kartarpur opening ceremony

    Deol is not the only famous Indian who will be joining the ceremony. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Congress lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu will also be joining the ceremony.

    The inaugural ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor will be held on both sides of the border on Saturday, November 9.

    The
    corridor will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the Pakistani
    side, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do the opening on the other side
    of the border.

    Thousands of Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan every year by a special train to participate in the three-day festival marking the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

    However, this year is special as it is not only the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak but also marks the opening of Kartarpur Corridor between Pakistan and India that allows Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara without a passport.

  • VIDEO: Atif Aslam has the funniest take on the ‘Do takay ki aurat’ dialogue

    VIDEO: Atif Aslam has the funniest take on the ‘Do takay ki aurat’ dialogue

    Who knew that the singing sensation Atif Aslam has a funny side to him?

    In a recent video shared by Adnan Siddiqui, Atif made a guest appearance and we got a glimpse of the singer’s funny side and it left us laughing.

    While updating his fans about his whereabouts, Adnan said that he has a surprise for them.

    The camera then turns to Atif who says, “Adnan, aap bohot barey businessman hain. Aap nay iss 2 takkay ki flight kay liye, 50 million ki video bana di, [Adnan, you are a successful businessman, you made a video worth 50 million for a flight worth two pennies].”

    The two start laughing and Adnan remarks, “Dekh rahe hain aap sab?”

    Watch the video here:

    The video shared by Adnan was shot while the two were killing time during transit at the Dubai Airport. Atif and Adnan are on their way to the United States of America.

    The ‘Do takay ki larki‘ dialogue from the superhit Pakistani drama Meray Paas Tum Ho has gone viral, especially among social media users.

  • Pakistan has set an example by hosting refugees for the last 40 years: Mahira Khan

    Pakistan has set an example by hosting refugees for the last 40 years: Mahira Khan

    The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced Mahira Khan as their “newest Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan.”

    Mahira, who previously visited several refugee camps in the country with UNHCR said she was “grateful and honoured” with the position.

    She added that she was “proud to be born to a motherland that has opened its arms to refugees for over 40 years.”

    In the video shared by the UNHCR, Mahira said: “Pakistan has set an example for the world, where a country has hosted refugees for the last 40 years. Four decades.”

    “This is one cause because I feel so strongly about it, this is something I want to talk about, especially as Pakistan’s UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador.”

    Speaking further, Mahira said, “It was amazing to see despite the violence that they have faced, or the conflicts that they faced, they’re resilient people, they have defied all odds and they’re hopeful. They actually are hopeful, and, from now on, all we have to do is not give up.”

    “This cause is not limited to a country and should not be limited to a country. So, I think first and foremost, there should be some sort of responsibility sharing,” the actor concluded.

  • Emma Watson introduces a new relationship status: ‘self-partnered’

    Emma Watson introduces a new relationship status: ‘self-partnered’

    Boss lady Emma Watson has introduced a new relationship status.

    In a recent interview, the actor-activist said that she prefers to call herself “self-partnered” rather than single.

    Watson, 29, who rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, coined the phrase in an interview with British Vogue in which she discussed the pressures of turning 30.

    Emma shared that she initially did not understand the “fuss” that surrounded the milestone but admitted feeling “stressed and anxious” about her upcoming birthday.

    Read more: Study reveals women are happier without children or a spouse

    In her interview, Watson is quoted to have said, “If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out… There’s just this incredible amount of anxiety.”

    Emma also shared that she had never believed the “‘I’m happy single’ spiel.”

    “It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”

  • Govt releases special song for Kartarpur

    Govt releases special song for Kartarpur

    Ahead of the historic inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor which will connect Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur in India to Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Kartarpur, the government has released a special song, which highlights the message of peace, love and religious harmony.

    The song was released in a special ceremony in Islamabad by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan. Members of the Sikh community were also present at the event.

    See pictures: Kartarpur Corridor is ready to welcome Sikh pilgrims

    Addressing the ceremony in Islamabad, Dr Awan said the opening of Kartarpur Corridor is the execution of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of protection and freedom of all minorities, Radio Pakistan reported.

    Dr Awan said this song will go a long way in promoting a soft image of peace and inter-faith harmony in the country and that the release of this song will send a signal to the world about the true face of Islam.

    The song, which has a Punjabi beat, features Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

    https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1191415420256968704?s=20
    https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1191417114168614913?s=20

    Meanwhile, preparations for the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev are underway in full swing. Thousands of Sikh yatrees have arrived in Pakistan for the special occasion and to witness the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9.

    The corridor will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Guru Nanak.

    Along with the song, Pakistan has also released a commemorative postage stamp and a coin to mark the occasion.

    Read more: Pakistan introduces commemorative coin for Guru Nanak’s 550th anniversary celebrations

    Pakistan is home to several sacred Gurdwaras including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Soda Farooqabad among others.

  • Rabi Pirzada bids farewell to showbiz

    Rabi Pirzada bids farewell to showbiz

    Singer Rabi Pirzada has bid farewell to the showbiz industry after being embroiled in a privacy breach, she announced on Monday.

    Taking to Twitter, the singer wrote, “I, Rabi Pirzada, have decided to distance myself from the showbiz industry.”

    “May Allah forgive my sins and soften others’ hearts towards me,” she added.

    The singer has also confirmed her decision to quit the entertainment industry while speaking to a private media outlet.

    Last week, compromising videos of Pirzada went viral on social media. While a huge number of users called her out for “profanity”, others came out in her support and slammed the breach of privacy.

    She has approached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking action against those involved in the breach. According to Pirzada, she has moved an application to the agency for her data that was stolen from her cell phone.

    “I sold out my cell phone and the data was stolen,” she told a private media outlet and added that she had also filed an application against the shop.

  • ‘Ehd e Wafa’s’ latest episode throws shade at Abhinandan

    ‘Ehd e Wafa’s’ latest episode throws shade at Abhinandan

    Hum Tv and ISPR’s joint venture Ehd e Wafa featuring Ahad Raza Mir, Osman Khalid Butt, Wahaj Ali, Ahmed Ali Akbar, Zara Noor Abbas and Alizeh Shah trends every Sunday. The drama has a loyal fanbase and given that it is a light-hearted family watch, that comes as no surprise.

    In the latest episode, Saad (Mir) has joined the army and his training is underway in full swing. On one of his training missions, the officer tells the cadets, “Aap uss azeem fauj ka hissa bananay ja rahe hain, jis nay dushman ko jahaaz say utaar kar chai pilatay hain aur baad main poochtay hain ‘How was the tea?’” (You are going to become part of that army, who after capturing the enemy from the helicopter, served him tea and asked, ‘How was the tea?’)

    To this, the cadets chimed, ‘Fantastic, sir.”

    This scene definitely threw direct shade at Abhinandan, the Indian Airforce pilot who was captured in February in Balakot. A video of him drinking tea and saying that it was “fantastic” had gone viral on social media.

    Meanwhile, on the other hand, Shahzain (Osman) and Rani (Zara) are getting betrothed to each other, much to Shahzain’s opposition. He wants to get married to Dua (Alizeh) to spite Saad but Alizeh’s parents reject his proposal. Shariq (Wahaj) is struggling to be a journalist while Sheheryar (Ahmed) is playing for his father’s band much to his disappointment.

    The drama has begun to pick up in terms of the pace and the story is progressing well – it is entertaining and gripping. Ehd e Wafa is definitely the perfect Sunday night watch.

  • ‘Alif’ is slow-paced but intense

    ‘Alif’ is slow-paced but intense

    Hamza Ali Abbasi and Sajal Aly’s Alif hit screens early October amid a lot of hype and fanfare. This is their first pairing and fans were naturally excited to see two acting powerhouses come together. Not only that, the speculation that this might be Hamza’s last venture also added to the drama’s attraction.

    So far five episodes of Alif have aired and though the drama’s plotline is engrossing and interesting, it’s slow pace distracts you from it.

    Alif follows the life of two individuals Momin and Momina – oh the irony. The two belong to completely different worlds: Momin is a hotshot director who objectifies women and promotes vulgarity to sell his films, while Momina is a struggling actor, who is only in the profession to raise money for her sick brother. Their paths cross when Momina auditions for one of the Momin’s films and given their dissenting views, they clash.

    Till now, the drama largely focuses on Momin and his relationship with his grandfather with constant flashbacks to his childhood and Momina and her financial struggles.

    While the plotline and synopsis of the drama is captivating, the slow-pace makes your attention waiver. It is not gripping enough as yet but considering only five episodes have aired so far, we’re willing to let this go for now. The dialogues are also powerful.

    Both Hamza and Sajal have put up remarkable performances. Sajal as the struggling Momina is great – her expressions and the way she portrays the depth of her character is superb. Sadaf as Hamza’s love interest is also charming. We haven’t seen much of Kubra Khan but she does fit into the character of Husn-e-Jahan smoothly. The supporting cast is also commendable.

    Alif has been penned by Umera Ahmed and directed by Haseeb Hassan of Parwaaz Hai Junoon fame.

    The drama does appear to be promising watch given the teasers and cast but I do hope the pace doesn’t make it mundane and tiresome to watch.