Tag: trending

  • Is Abhinandan missing Pakistani chai? Twitter observes Surprise Day with memes

    Is Abhinandan missing Pakistani chai? Twitter observes Surprise Day with memes

    Pakistan is observing the fourth anniversary of Operation Swift Retort—popularly known as Surprise Day— when the country’s armed forces gave a befitting response to Indian pilots.

    On February 27 in 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian planes that had violated Pakistani airspace. One of the Indian pilots—Abhinandan Varthaman—was captured alive by Pakistan, but was later handed over to the rival country as a gesture of peace and goodwill.

    In a tweet, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Pakistan Air Force on Monday for its “befitting response” to the Indian violation of Pakistan’s airspace “on the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack”.

    “While we aim for peace with all, we are mindful of our duty to defend the country. Let no one make any mistake about it,” he warned.

    At the time, Abhinandan’s praise for the tea he was served grabbed the attention of the world, and Twitterati didn’t hold back on the jokes. This year too, social media users remembered the fateful day in a fun way.

    The incident happened after 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed by a young Kashmiri boy. Later, India blamed Pakistan for the attack and Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an aerial strike near Balakot on February 26, 2019.

    Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets crossed the line of control in a tit-for-tat move into Indian territory.

    The PAF shot down two IAF aircraft and captured one of the pilots. The debris of the SU-30 fell in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and its pilot was killed, while the MiG-21 pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan, whose aircraft fell on the Pakistan side was captured alive.

  • Underrated Pakistani dramas that dared to touch upon taboo subjects

    Underrated Pakistani dramas that dared to touch upon taboo subjects

    When one thinks of Pakistani dramas, we all know what comes to our minds: weddings, divorce, the cheap version of 50 Shades of Grey, more weddings etc.
    But to distract ourselves from the current mundane pile of breakups, crying and abuse, we can’t forget that kabhi kabar you can find a gem, a refined drama that accurately reflects the stories we want Pakistani drama creators to tell.
    It’s not often that dramas with original, well crafted stories are brought into the spotlight as they get targeted with endless criticism from right wing critics and are even sent notices for displaying ‘vulgar’ content and soon are forgotten as the next show steps into the spotlight.
    We have found some dramas that were helmed by prominent women like Bee Gul and Angelina Malick, which shone light on taboos.

    1 Kitnay Girhain Baki Hain (2011-2017)

    Produced by Angelina Malick and written by Bee Gul, this series was an anthology of short stories that reflected the struggles of women in our society, and explored topics like homosexuality, infidelity, rape etc

    2 Cheekh (2019)

    When Mannat (played by Saba Qamar) finds out that her closest friend Nayab was raped by her brother-in-law and then murdered for trying to reveal the truth, she strives hard to find justice for her friend in court and in the process, has to face hurdles from her in-laws.

    3 Dil Na Umeed Tou Nahi (2021)

    Penned by Amna Mufti and produced by Kashf Foundation, the show received several notices from PEMRA for ‘vulgarity’, so that’s even more reason to give it a watch. It delves into the lives of child sex workers, who are kidnapped from their homes and forced to work in prostitution in order to make a living.

    4 Dastaan (2010)

    Adapted from the novel ‘Bano’ by Rabia Butt, the show explores the trauma caused by Independence, and how it upturned the life of one woman, Bano. Bano and her family lived in India, where her brother supports the cause of the Indian National Congress, and is against the cause of setting up Pakistan. However, when the separation of the two countries was announced in 1947, Bano’s life was completely overturned overnight.

    5 Neeli Zinda Hai (2021)

    Aman and Sumbul are a married couple who have had stillbirth, and are now trying to restart their lives in a new home. When they shift with their daughter to a new house, the couple keeps hearing noises at night which convinces them that the house is haunted.

    6 Manto (2017)

    Directed by and starring Sarmad Khoosat, the series was previously released as a film in 2015, and then as a television drama in 2017. The drama revolves around the popular Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto, and the last seven years of his life when he had to face charges of obscenity for his short stories like ‘Thanda Gosht’, ‘Peshawar say Lahore’ and ‘Toba Tek Singh’.

    7 Talkhiyaan (2012)

    Written by Bee Gul, the drama is an adaptation of Arundhati Roy’s acclaimed novel ‘The God of Small Things.’ It revolves around the life of Bibi, who leaves her abusive husband and moves back to her parents home with her two children, Zoya and Jugnu, where her parents criticize her for taking such a stand, but refuse to treat her divorced brother the same way.

  • Nisar asks why Nawaz’s religious objections to Benazir’s leadership don’t apply to Maryam

    Nisar asks why Nawaz’s religious objections to Benazir’s leadership don’t apply to Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party member and former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a public meeting, raised the past to question Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, citing his and Nawaz Sharif’s speeches against the late Benazir Bhutto.

    Recalling the time the party was part of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), the estranged PML-N leader said that he and Nawaz Sharif gave speeches against former Prime Minister and archrival Benazir Bhutto, saying that a woman cannot be a leader or a ruler in an Islamic society.

    Admitting that he too used to say the same things in speeches, Nisar said, “A woman cannot give the azaan, a woman cannot lead prayer congregations, a woman cannot speak in a loud voice so as not to be heard by a non-mahram and she cannot perform Umrah or Hajj without a man.”

    Further questioning the present day scenario where Nawaz Sharif’s daughter is now the Senior Vice-president of the party, Nisar asked that if all that was said in the speeches was pertinent for Benazir Bhutto, then why aren’t the same objections applicable on Maryam Nawaz.

    Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, bitter political rivals in the late 1980s and 1990s, ended their animosity to join hands to bring down General Pervez Musharraf’s government by signing the Charter of Democracy in May, 2006.

  • Sajal Aly calls out Pakistani dramas for romanticizing toxic relationships

    Sajal Aly calls out Pakistani dramas for romanticizing toxic relationships

    Actress Sajal Aly sat down for an interview with BBC Urdu where she opened up about the difficulties of finding good scripts in the Pakistani entertainment industry which do not romanticize toxic relationships. She reflected on how she had to work hard to ensure progressive dramas aren’t just once in a blue moon happening, but then the industry goes back to making sexist, regressive shows:
    “We have to fight hard, we have to say no to a lot of scripts. Right now you would notice there are a lot of dramas airing on our Pakistani screens where harassment is shown to be a sign of love. And then at the end of the day that harasser falls in love with the girl and that gets a lot of views, unfortunately. But I think television has the power to change the mindset of the audience. Because we think our audience isn’t smart but they’re very intelligent. So we will keep fighting for better roles in dramas.”
    Aly also talked about how she got selected for her role in the upcoming rom-com ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ and revealed it was her agents who told her this was a role she could excel at.
    “My agents, who are responsible for international projects, had told me about this role and said I was made for it. They sent me two scenes and asked me to record them…Later I got an email saying I was on board.”

    Watch the full interview here:

  • Pakistani teens need to understand that bullying, violence isn’t cool

    Pakistani teens need to understand that bullying, violence isn’t cool

    A 35-member violent gang of boys enrolled in different private schools in Lahore is operating in the city under the name ‘102’. According to the police, one of the gang members reportedly tortured a young boy in a snooker club, taped the assault and uploaded the video on social media. This is not the first time we are hearing about teenagers in private schools indulging in bullying and harassing other young students. Last month, a video surfaced where three girls were forcing their classmate to the ground and then sitting on her back. One of the girls could be seen pulling the victim’s hair and swearing at her while making her apologise.

    These incidents are triggering, but what is more alarming is to witness the behaviour of these teenagers. What is it that they are learning? Why are these kids indulging in violence? How are parents so unaware of their kids’ whereabouts and what are they doing? What is even more concerning is how these kids have normalised bullying, harassment and violence.

    Parents need to teach their children what is right and wrong. They need to be extra vigilant to know what their children are consuming online. Teenagers, too, need to realise that if they are given freedom, it doesn’t mean they can hurt others in the name of being cool and resort to violence. Nothing justifies violence and bullying. The schools where such children are studying also need to be vigilant and watchful of how students are treating each other.

    With every passing day, violence is increasing in children. Have we ever wondered what are the reasons for this increase in violence? Maybe it’s the content children are consuming online or maybe violent video games that they play makes violence just another act of being cool to them.

    We have seen how gun culture is prevailing and how children are taking lives of their own peers. Actions have consequences. Parents, teachers and elders need to be careful and watchful towards their young children. These young minds need to be protected and taken care of. Negligence and ignorance can lead to serious problems as the kids grow up. What we are witnessing with the behaviour of these young children is rather an appalling sight. We hope our children do better and learn better. This evilness, and unkind behaviour needs to stop.

  • Kaifi Khalil thanks fans for their support as ‘Kahani Suno 2.0’ bags spot in YouTube top 10 global videos

    Pakistani singer Kaifi Khalil has thanked his fans for their support and love after his hit single ‘Kahani Suno 2.0’ became one of the Top 10 most watched global music videos. The ‘Kana Yaari’ star wrote in a tweet on Sunday,

    “Thank you Allah Taala & Thank you so much all for your pure love and support lots of love and prayers for my all fans main humesha shukr guzaar rahunga or humesha koshish karunga ap sub k liye k humesha liktha rahun jo main mehsos karta hon ap sub k liye Love you all my broken homies ”

    Music producer Xulfi, who had produced Khalil’s Coke Studio hit ‘Kana Yaari’, also congratulated the singer, praising him for making the hit song on his own without any music label’s help.

    “Kahani Suno 2.0 reaches the Global Top Ten! Wah! What a news for all of us!

    This is probably one of the biggest achievements for a song and artist on the global stage in recent times for Pakistan. Kahani Suno 2.0 by Kaifi Khalil right now sits at no.8 on the @youtube Global Music Video Charts. The first song in Pakistan to ever do that. Others in the top include Rema and Selena with Calm Down, Shakira and Miley Cyrus and also a recent Latin hit Que Vuelvas. Also, there are Blackpink, Rihanna, Ozuna, Arijit outside the top ten. Just look at the company Kaifi is with in the charts!

    This is a humble guy from Lyari making music for the love of it. Expressing for the love of it. Expressing authentically without any layers. Sitting in his small studio space, creating while learning the ins and outs of music production and recording.. collaborating with others from Lyari only for audio engineering as well. And just like that, he brewed Kahani Suno. An independent artist releasing a song independently without any labels. What’s a more heartwarming and amazing belief story in recent times. I can’t think of one.

    I want to tell all of you that this is possible for all the artists. We have seen Pakistani music, with and without platforms, reaching global charts now in the recent past. The gate is open. The world is listening. The world wants to know our stories. Our unique stories with our unique narratives, textures, ideas and melodies. Just one thought – just try baking all of this in humility. It will have the universe’s blessing then.

    @kaifikhalilmusic – MashAllah. Jeete raho and aisay hee sacchay expressionist raho. Saari Dunya mein perform karte raho aur hamesha seekhte raho. Ye sub bhee ek aur shuruaat hee hai apke liye ✨♥️”

  • Kuch Ankahi breaking stereotypes, encouraging better family relations

    Kuch Ankahi breaking stereotypes, encouraging better family relations

    Our morbid fascination with domestic violence seems have become one of the essential tools required to make a hit drama. There aren’t many television dramas which depict healthy family relations, where women are accepted and loved without being told to lose their identity.
    Kuch Ankahi, therefore, is an anomaly, a breath of fresh air on our screens because it depicts a supportive family where the father isn’t holding back his daughters from their dreams, women aren’t constantly plotting to one-up each other and the male lead isn’t a toxic, triggering person. It proves that more dramas need to follow its lead and start portraying women in a positive light.
    On last night’s episode, we witnessed how the youngest sister, Tania, is openly dancing at her sister’s wedding event when a person behind her body shames her, forcing her neighbor to stand up for her.

    The moment resonated with viewers and clips of the scene are now being widely shared.

    https://twitter.com/koilak2/status/1629547537500901382?s=20

    What social media users have called the most touching moment in this episode is the scene between the father, Agha Jee, and the eldest daughter Samiya where he witnesses her unhappiness and reminds her that if she refuses, then he will call off the wedding. This kind of empowerment and kindness is rarely depicted in Pakistani dramas, and is teaching fathers to be more gentle to their daughters as Agha Jee assures Samiya that he will keep holding her hand regardless of whether she chooses to get married or not.

    This kind of warmth and support between the family members is not once-in-a-blue-moon, but a regular occurrence in this drama. Agha Jee never shies away from praising his daughters’ strengths and consistently empowers them to advance further in society. In several episodes, we witness Agha Jee doing his own chores while telling his daughters that they’re not responsible for household duties.

    This gentleness and respect towards women isn’t just prevalent in Agha Jee, but extends to all the men in the drama. The way they are completely the anti-thesis to the kind of male lead we have grown up watching is frankly shocking. Like the male lead Salman, who is time and again shown doing his own work. In one scene, he makes his own roti, an act we have only ever seen women perform.

    https://twitter.com/mawoxdeepxbillu/status/1626870264809263106?s=20
  • Chinese student misses girlfriend, creates device with lips to send kisses

    Chinese student misses girlfriend, creates device with lips to send kisses

    .

    A device made by a Chinese student has gone viral for allowing long-distance partners to send kisses to each other.
    The device features silicone lips and allows users to upload their kisses, as well as receive them through an app.
    According to South China Morning post, the device has sensors that can mimic ‘the actual pressure, movement and heat of a kisser’s lips.’
    The device was created by a university team from China’s Jiangsu province. Lead inventor Jian Zhongli said that he got the idea for the device after missing his girlfriend, with whom he was in a long-distance relationship.
    “In my university, I was in a long distance relationship with my girlfriend so we could contact each other only through phone. That’s where the inspiration of this device originated,’ Zhongli explained.
    The app-driven device is available to download at Chinese app store Taobao and costs 260 yuan.

  • Junaid Khan addresses career change, band split up on ‘The Fourth Umpire’

    Junaid Khan addresses career change, band split up on ‘The Fourth Umpire’

    Actor and ex-member of Call, Junaid Khan, was a guest on the show ‘The Fourth Empire’ where he addressed the reason why he had chosen to switch to acting.
    Khan said,
    “I thought it was a logical decision to try another art form.”
    Khan also addressed the breakup of his band, Call, and whether he was on good terms with the rest of the members.
    Call the band, which also included music producer Xulfi, had been responsible for a number of hits including ‘Sab Bhula Kay’ and ‘Lari Chooti’.
    Khan said that the band members are like family which is why they would sometimes fight, but there is also a lot of love between them.
    ‘Just like there are problems in a relationship, similar things can happen in a band…When we broke up there were some differences between us. But when we got back together, we were able to put our differences behind us.”

    Listen to his answer here:

  • ‘T-series did not reach out to me’: Farasat Anees on ‘Biba’ plagarism

    ‘T-series did not reach out to me’: Farasat Anees on ‘Biba’ plagarism

    Pakistani singer Farasat Anees took to Instagram to call out Bollywood production company T-series for plagiarising his song ‘Biba’ for the soundtrack of an upcoming movie.
    The song ‘Biba’ was originally written for the Pakistani Oscar-shortlisted film ‘Joyland’.
    Anees also spoke to the Indian magazine The Print, where he revealed that the music corporation had not reached out to him for using his song:
    A billion-dollar company like T-Series should be professional in its approach. They (the music directors) could have at least reached out to me or perhaps mailed me once before putting out the song. There was no communication from their end. Perhaps there could have been a counter-quote, and we could have made something together.”
    Anees also said that he felt weird when he heard T-series’ ‘Biba’ and said the organization is known for plagiarising Pakistani songs:
    “This is not the first time they have done something like this. They’ve earlier done this with Abrar’s song. If nothing else, this only motivates me that such a big label has copied my song and that makes me want to do better work further,” he said.
    In his post, Anees shared clips of both songs to point out their similarity, and called the organization a ‘disgrace’.

    “What a disgrace @tseries.official stealing out work because it has been trending in the world.

    Me & my brothers @toshaayy@slicktrickk worked day & night to bring this song where it is. PLEASE HAVE SOME SHAME & stop ruining every good song from

    The love & respect indians showed to our version of Biba was massive. We will always be greatful for that. Also Supporting us on the comment section of this cheap copy of BIBA. Will always be thankful to listeners across the border! ♥️

    Even if you wanted to reproduce the song, you should have done with original stuff. Clearly stole chords, intro, arrangements of our version. CLEAR THEFT!

    Really hoping someone responsible take action from @tseries.official & I request all of our fans, friends & family to share this.”