In the light of Pandemic COVID’19, a series of lockdown imposed over the last few months restricted the functionality of local cinemas, which became a setback for the proceedings of local movies and the artists associated with them. In the latest development, the Federal Government has announced the reopening of cinema halls across the country from 10^th August, bringing joy to the cinema enthusiasts and the fraternity.

SOPs to be followed

Federal Minister Asad Umar reaffirmed that despite the reopening of cinemas, people would be expected to follow the SOPs, prescribed by the government. The SOPs are currently being finalized and will be disclosed in two days. There is still no update on whether there would be any working hours restrictions for the cinema halls.

LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar media briefing #Islamabad https://t.co/4nM5qmusQV

— APP #EndKashmirSiege (@appcsocialmedia) August 6, 2020

The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Covid-19 chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. After the Bollywood ban, the closing down of cinemas due to the pandemic caused a major loss to the distributors and cinema owners across the country. The latest development indeed means good news for the industry as apart from major local releases, Hollywood movies will also be screened in the country.

Good news for the local releases

Unlike other movie industries, Pakistan does not have any profitable means of releasing movies digitally. Our local content relies on our local cinemas and a few of the major releases of this year had to be postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic. But with the cinemas opening up it looks like our filmmakers will not have to worry about their films not getting a proper release.

The excitement for movies like The Legend of Maula Jatt, London Nahin Jaunga, Quaid e Azam Zindabad, and Tich Button was already high but after months of lockdown, the audience will definitely be even more excited to watch these movies on the big screen. It remains to be seen how the cinema culture in a post-COVID lock-down world will fare but for now, reopening of the cinemas is a piece of happy news that the cinema lovers are celebrating.

The post Cinemas In Pakistan To Reopen From 10th August appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Pakistani dramas have lately been dominated by heavy themes that are designed to depress the audience. So, when an upcoming drama drops its teasers and they highlight not any form of domestic abuse or hard-hitting social issue but focus on young love and interesting bunch of characters, the drama is bound to get all the attention.

ARY Digital’s upcoming show Prem Gali released its teasers and judging by the emotions and colors presented in them, the show is bound to be a family entertainer that truly entertains. The show boasts of an ensemble cast with Farhan Saeed and Sohai Ali Abro as its central protagonists. One of the more exciting facts about the drama is the team behind it. Director Qasim Ali Mureed and writer Faiza Iftikhar have reunited under the Six Sigma Plus banner once more for Prem Gali. This team had previously delivered the hit family drama Aangan that had aired on ARY from 2017-2018.

The sweetness of young love

The first teaser that revolves around the characters played by Farhan Saeed and Sohai Ali Abro is all about the innocence and sweetness of young love. The characters all live in the same neighborhood so the snippets of these characters’ love story that blossoms on the balconies and while they pass each other on the road all point to a stress-free love story.

A good love story hardly ever fails on television. Farhan Saeed’s vocals in the background further elevate the romantic mood of the teaser. This is the second time Farhan and Sohai have worked together as a pair. They have previously worked together in Farhan’s debut drama De Ijazat Jo Tu where the duo’s chemistry was much praised.

The colors of life

The second teaser of the drama sheds more light on the kind of story the drama aims to tell. From the looks of it, Prem Gali is all about a neighborhood where an unabashed level flirting goes on and the topic of love and relationships is constantly being discussed. How the various characters react or participate in this behavior remains to be seen. However, the character played by Saba Hameed is shown to definitely not be in favor of it all.

Director Qasim Ali Mureed had talked about Prem Gali being a drama that, “is all about love fulfilling its every dimension.” Judging from how the team’s previous drama Aangan had successfully portrayed the various emotions and nuances of the people living in a joint family system realistically, the expectations from Prem Gali doing the same but in a neighborhood setting are quite high. No doubt the show boasts of a talented ensemble cast and it will certainly be exciting to see how they have all come together to bring life to this project.

The post Teasers of ‘Prem Gali’ Bring To Life A Lively And Colorful Neighborhood appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Maya Ali has been absent from television screens for three years now. Although she has delivered two blockbuster movies namely Teefa In Trouble and Parey Hut Love, her loyal fans had been missing her in the dramas. Well, today Maya Ali herself confirmed via an Instagram post that she is coming back to TV screens very soon!

Maya Ali has signed an iDream Productions drama titled Pehli Si Mohabbat which will be directed by Anjum Shahzad and the script has been penned by Faiza Iftikhar. And this drama will not just be Maya Ali’s comeback drama on television screens.

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See you all soon on your TV screen…!! @anjum_03shahzad @sejaabd @jerjeesseja @arydigital.tv #pehlisimohabbat

A post shared by Maya Ali (@official_mayaali) on Aug 7, 2020 at 4:34am PDT

Parey Hut Love reunion

According to blogger Irfanistan, the actor who is cast opposite Maya Ali in Pehli Si Mohabbat is none other than her Parey Hut Love co-star: Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui!

While there has been no official confirmation, sources have revealed that this is very much true and the upcoming project will be a reunion of sorts for the Parey Hut Love stars. This will be Sheheyar’s first drama in over six years. He was last seen in Geo TV’s drama Aasmano Pay Likha before he shifted his attention to behind the camera stuff and films.

A hardcore romance

We reached out to Maya who shared her excitement and nervousness about the upcoming project. Seeing as how it will be her first drama in 3 years, Maya acknowledges that things have changed in the time she was absent from the TV screens so this drama is like a new beginning for her.

This will be the first time Maya will be doing a TV project with ARY and director Anjum Shahzad so she is naturally very excited about the project. “It’s a hardcore romance drama with a very different story. It’s not a saas-bahu drama by any means and the treatment of the drama is going to be very interesting.” Maya shared.

Maya Ali confessed that the change in how the dramas are viewed and then reviewed have her nervous. But she is hopeful that the audience will like the project as it is not a typical run-of-the-mill story.

The official details about the show’s full cast will be revealed in a couple of days. However, it is revealed by our sources that the popular fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasir (HSY) is also going to be a part of the cast.

Pehli Si Mohabbat is all set to start shooting in a few days while it will probably go on air end 2020 or early next year.

The post Maya Ali And Sheheryar Munawar To Reunite For ‘Pehli Si Mohabbat’ appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Brands are known to be very image-conscious. They have to constantly keep an eye on the changing trends and social issues of the world. As marketing and PR are what matters most, brands have to make efforts to show their alliance for what the public is most interested in.

In Pakistan, drama serials are one of the most talked-about things. Dramas not only get the highest ratings for the channels but they also get millions on views on Youtube. Seeing this, some brands choose to sponsor shows either on TV or when the shows are uploaded online and in some cases on both mediums. It’s a profitable venture for all the parties involved. However, it’s ironic how the content of the sponsored drama go so blatantly against the image of the brand itself.

The double standards

Ariel, one of the leading detergent powder brands of the country, has been one of those brands that have been sponsoring TV shows. On one hand, the brand shows its progressive side with international campaigns like #ShareTheLoad “Work for home” campaign, while on the other hand, they endorse dramas with stories such as Jalan.

Jalan is a drama that revolves around the jealousy of one sister towards another. The drama’s protagonist is a character so hell-bent on owning everything that her sister has that she doesn’t stop from even ruining her sister’s happily married life. The drama also shows a questionable relationship between a brother-in-law towards his sister-in-law. Definitely not the kind of “sharing” that the brand is promoting via its campaign.

This doesn’t end here. Ariel was also a sponsor for Jhooti which is a whole can of worms on its own. A show with such a harmful depiction of a woman faking domestic abuse and wreaking havoc everywhere around her.

Then there is Mezan sponsoring Pyar Ke Sadqay. Mezan’s brand campaigns have always promoted the love between all the family relationships with a focus on respecting the said relationships. Pyar Ke Sadqay however has a problematic central plot point where a father-in-law is lusting after his daughter-in-law. Then there’s this development in the drama showing a guy only caring for his wife once he finds out she is pregnant. Before this revelation, he was all but ready to divorce her to get married to his old love. Yikes! A reminder that Mezan has had TVCs centered on supporting the housewives

What should be done?

Our TV industry has been on a constant upward trajectory for some years now. Not just in terms of quality but also financially. One episode of a serial is monetized in five different ways from ads while it’s on-air and the ones on Youtube and all this is beside the specific brand sponsoring a show.

So, something we do not want is this ever-increasing success to stop. However, what should be done that is that brands can be stricter about what sort of content they endorse. Not only will this help maintain a brand’s image but will also be adequate for keeping our dramas in check. Advertisers are what matter most to channels and so they can rein in our channels a bit which they do deserve. It could be a win-win for all this way.

The post Shouldn’t Brands Be More Conscious Of The Content Of Dramas They Endorse? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Saba Qamar and singer Bilal Saeed will be starring together in a music video for Bilal’s upcoming song Qubool. The music video which is the directorial debut of Saba Qamar will be released on 11th August. However, just a few days before its release controversy seems to have found its way to it.

The team behind the music video has steadily been building up hype for the upcoming music video before its release. It started from still images followed by an official poster for the music video. But when a behind-the-scenes clip from the making of the music video was released, it backfired as instead of creating positive hype it ended up getting backlash on social media.

The controversy

A behind-the-scenes video made rounds on social media where Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed could be seen happily twirling. The location of the shot was the historical Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. Upon release, the artists received immediate flak for the apparent violation of the sanctity of the mosque. Social media got filled up with posts demanding that the Government of Punjab takes strong action against them for doing so.

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A clip of Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed’s new music video Qabool hai from historical Masjid Wazir Khan Lahore . . . . . . . @bilalsaeed_music @sabaqamarzaman #vogical #lahore #bilalsaeed #sabaqamar #pakistaniquarantine #sleepingoutside #pakistanimakeup #gracefulpakistanis #stylishpakistanis #pakistanicouple #pakistanimodels #pakistanicouture #pakistanifashion #pakistaniformalwear #stylishpakistanis #pakistanistyle #pakistanichic#pakistanicinema #pakistaniactress #stylishpakistanis #pakistanibeauty#pakistanisingers #pakistanibride #pakistanisongs #pakistanimodels #pakistanidesigner #pakistanfashion #pakistanwedding #pakistanijewellery #pakistanstreetstyle

A post shared by Vogical (@vogical) on Aug 8, 2020 at 6:29am PDT

Apart from it, all sorts of rumors started flying around with people claiming that the team behind the music video had not even taken the permission to shoot the video inside the main chambers of the mosque. The assistant director, however, cleared up the misunderstanding and said that the team was given permission to shoot the nikah scene in the mosque.

Saba and Bilal address the issue

Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed responded to the criticism by sharing a teaser of the music video alongside the official statement in the caption. The caption clarified how the scenes shot in the mosque were just a prologue for the music video. The characters in the music video, played by Saba and Bilal, were shown to get tied in the bond of nikah and that was the only scene that was shot at the mosque.

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Presenting the first teaser of ‘Qubool’ This is also the only sequence that was shot at the historical Wazir Khan Mosque. It’s a prologue to the music video featuring a Nikah scene. It was neither shot with any sort of playback music nor has it been edited to the music track. I won’t explain any further as the full video comes out on 11th of August. The BTS video that's making rounds on social media was just a circular movement to click stills for the poster of ‘Qubool’ depicting a happily married couple right after their Nikah. Hurting or offending anyone or being disrespectful to a holy place is as unimaginable and unacceptable for me as for any decent human being. Despite this if we have unknowingly hurt anyone’s sentiments we apologise to you all with all our heart. Love & Peace! #Qubool releasing on 11th of August @bilalsaeed_music

A post shared by 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐐𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 (@sabaqamarzaman) on Aug 8, 2020 at 5:18am PDT

The 55-second teaser shows Bilal and Saba saying “qubool” in the mosque, with no music in the background but only birds chirping.  In the statement, it was clarified that the administration of the mosque was already present during the shooting and they can corroborate that no music was played there. The behind-the-scenes clip that sparked the whole controversy on social media did not involve them dancing. Instead, they were moving in a circular motion to click some pictures for the poster of the video.

After clarifying their stances, Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed issued an apology for unknowingly hurting the sentiments of the public. They also urged the people to wait for the official release of the music video and not jump to any conclusions based on just one behind-the-scenes clip.

The post Saba Qamar And Bilal Saeed Respond To The ‘Qubool’ Controversy appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

The best part about summer fashion in Pakistan is the range of colors available in lawn suitings for women. Gul Ahmed advertises that they have over one million colors to choose from to create the perfect summer wear in party and casual wear. Pink is a fantastic color for beating the heat without compromising on high fashion styling. It feels fresh and stays cool even on the hottest days of summer. The following are the top five Pink Creations by Gul Ahmed in unstitched 3-piece lawn suits. The best part is how affordable they are as they are are all under Rs 5000; making it easy to shop your favorite designs while saving money and time

Festive and Lightweight

This entirely pink ensemble has self embossed Jacquard weaving of gold-tinted thread that makes it shimmer and gleam under the summer light without being heavy. The Jacquard fabric is ideal for festive wear designs as it is breathable and stylish to be worn for occasions such as Eid and preliminary wedding events such as dholki and formal dance practices leading up to the main Mehndi event. The code for this design is Suit MJ-32 B and it includes a Jacquard Dupatta and Lawn Shirt of 2.5 meters along with a Dyed Trouser of 1.75 meters.

Fresh and Party-ready

A floral fantasy this Embroidered Lawn Suit model number is CL-876 styled with a gradient of pink and purple flowers that feel like a watercolor painting of a summer garden. The complimentary bright splashes of color come together to create a vintage swiss voile inspired design paired with a Schiffli Embroidered Denting Lawn Dupatta of 2 meters. The dupatta has gorgeous detailing and a heavy border than feels like a family heirloom. The lightweight fabric will keep you feeling fresh throughout the day. The detailing of the shirt can be done with an intricate finely woven white Lace that breaks the pattern of the flowers allowing you to structure the shirt according to your personal preference.

Comfortable Elegance

The traditional art of block printing is considered a timeless fashion that never goes out of style. The CL-828 A has all the qualities of being the perfect party dress without being overly expensive. The Lacquer Printed Lawn Dupatta is light and comfortable with bright white and orange block printing motifs that create a symmetrical border on a Blush Pink base color. The front has embroidered detailing running down in straight lines creating a formal silhouette along with separately printed sleeves.

Ethnic Charm

It is great to have a suit that is easy to manage and comfortable to wear on the hottest day of the summer. The classic lawn CL-663 A is a simple printed lawn shirt and dupatta combination that has carefully placed borders to structure the design. The heritage print uses geometrical patterns to embellish the A-line shirt. The pink and white combination has accents of teal which are complementary and add finishing touches to the borders.

Bright and Contemporary

A traditional A-line shirt has a running center panel on the front of the shirt with intricate borders to decorate the daman and sleeves. The CL-942 A is a digitally printed design with bold red motifs inspired by handcrafted embroidery. This piece has a Digital Printed Net Dupatta that drapes comfortably on the body and has a bold botanical motif along with batik tie-dye inspired composition. This lawn suit is colorful while being primarily monochromatic ideal for ladies who prefer having complimentary bright colors paired with subtle pink hues.

The post Go Pink This Summer With Gul Ahmed’s Affordable Designs appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

There is no doubt that we take our TV dramas very seriously. Being unabashedly proud of our actors, following their work, discussing their ventures, and of course, critiquing their acting skills. Despite the extra pinch of drama, we tend to relate to the situations and the characters who are facing those situations. While every character portrayed is special in their own way, the one that stands out from the rest is the one of a mother.

We love our moms – at home, in advertisements, and how they are portrayed in fiction. Because the character of a mother is so vital to the entire fabric of our existence, we can never deny its importance. The character of a mother is someone we instantly relate to or look up to. A mother within herself holds a whole myriad of emotions and layers. The mother will always make a fascinating subject of any story.

However, the characters of mothers in our TV dramas have lately become monotonous and repetitive.

The same faces

Let’s flashback. There was a movie trend in the ’90s when every Lollywood film almost had the same star cast. ‘Reema, Babar Ali, Shaan’ or ‘Meera, Shaan, Babar Ali’; even then it was quite a task for the audiences to identify and enjoy the content.

Today the same is happening with the supporting cast of our dramas. It is quite incomprehensible why the makers continue to cast Saba Faisal and Saba Hameed in every drama in similar roles. Some projects feature them in the same capacity; to name a few, the recently concluded ‘Ghalti’, ‘Kahin Deep Jalay’ to ongoing ‘Bandhey Aik Dour Se’, and ‘Ghisi Piti Mohabbat’. It takes a while to recall which play are we watching as the faces and acting are all the same.

To make the situation worse, their characters are one dimensional having no arc and soul, garnished with needless overlong sequences that suffocate the plot and make it monotonous. Adding more to the horror are the conventional dialogues such as ‘Beta Khana Laga Doon’, ‘Fikar Na Karo, Sub Theek Hojaye Ga’, ‘Shaadi Ke Baad Larki Ka Sausural Hi Sub Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Iss Kal ki Larki Kau Tau Mai Aisa Sabak Sikhao Gi’ etc. Both Faisal and Hameed are veterans but doing the same characters over and over again is a disgrace to their craft and evokes disappointment for the viewers.

Categories of mothers

Considering how the mothers on Pakistani TV can be neatly categorized as The Suffering One, The Scheming One, and The One With All The One-Liners; Saba Hameed and Saba Faisal have perfected the art of playing an on-screen mother. It has come to a point where the two veterans can practically sleepwalk through their characters because the writing of the script doesn’t give them much range to begin with.

Generally, their roles are set up around a rigid hierarchy in the family dominated by the male who calls upon all the members to live by his rules. Within this structure, the poor mother has her demarcated space in which she fulfills her designated tasks. Resultantly, they all look and behave in a particular way, except for a few who reflect like a Pakistani mother.

The main problem

Back in the day, our dramas depicted mothers as the epitome of strength, more human, and more realistic. They were more layered instead of caricatures with an abundance of just one trait as their whole personality. That is because the writing of the drama acknowledged that a positive and empowered depiction of a mother ultimately reflects upon the quality of the story that the script is telling.

Progressive writing can become a tool for a change, a change for the better by giving them voice and representation to deal with issues in the male-delaminated industry. The current quality of writing of Pakistani dramas needs to realize that a mother in the story is not there just to cry about the misery their children are going through or acting as the cause of misery for the children in the first place.

Being a mother is not an easy task. Far too often the role of a mother gets taken for granted in our society. And the depiction of motherhood in our dramas is not helping the situation. It is high time Pakistani dramas get out of their monotonicity when it comes to motherhood and start writing more complex and layered mothers. And maybe get some other actresses to play those characters too.

The post Is Representation Of Motherhood On Pakistani TV Getting Monotonous? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Lifting up of lockdown restrictions has brought the activity back in the industry. The halted projects have resumed their shootings. Production houses are making interesting announcements and are expected to go on floors soon with their new ventures. The latest project to be announced comes from Wajahat Rauf who will be directing for television after three years.

The drama titled Raqs e Bismil will see Imran Ashraf and Sarah Khan pair up for the first time. Written by the Khuda Aur Mohabbat fame Hashim Nadeem, the drama will be a joint production venture between Shazia Wajahat and Momina Duraid of MD Productions.

An intense story

Producer Shazia Wajahat revealed some details about the project and called Raqs e Bismil, “an intense story of love and passion between two souls from different worlds.” She gave an insight into the proceedings and mentioned that there will be extensive shooting for three months and a tentative release plan for the end of this year. The drama is set to air on Hum TV.

Imran Ashraf and Sarah Khan are set to romance on-screen for the first time. Both actors are in an exciting phase professionally and personally. This will be Sarah’s first project after her marriage with singer Falak Shabbir. Teasers for Imran Ashraf’s next drama Mushk are already creating excitement among the audience. His big-screen debut in Mohammad Ehteshamuddin’s Dum Mastam opposite Amar Khan is also being positively anticipated.

The supporting cast for Raqs e Bismil includes big names like Saleem Mairaj, Mehmood Aslam, Anoushay Abbasi, Momin Saqib, Nida Mumtaz, Gul-e-Rana, and Furqan Qureshi.

Update on Parde Mein Rehne Do

Wajahat Rauf was working on a film before the country went into lockdown. Updating the status of the film, Shazia Wajahat revealed that the shooting for the film will resume once the drama is wrapped up.

“The film is 50% shot. Once the drama wraps up, we will move on to the film. The film is set to resume shooting next year.”

Parde Mein Rehne Do stars Ali Rehman Khan and Hania Amir as leads. The makers are eyeing for a 2021 release for the film. In an interview, Wajahat Rauf had revealed the film’s theme saying, “Parde Mein Rehne Do is about a social issue dealt with in a light comedy.”

The post Imran Ashraf And Sarah Khan Pair Up For Wajahat Rauf’s ‘Raqs e Bismil’ appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Drama serial Ishqiya was on the receiving end of quite polarizing reactions during its entire run. On one hand, the rather flimsy premise of the drama and the characters’ frustrating reaction to the situations had the audience criticizing the drama for being unrealistic and absurd. But on the other hand, the drama trended every week and raked up views in millions on Youtube for its every episode, showcasing how despite all the drama’s weaknesses, it had the audience fully invested in it.

So, when Ishqiya finally ended its journey with a special double episode broadcast, the reactions on the show’s ending poured in quickly all over social media. “#Ishqiya” “Hamza” “Rumi” trended on Twitter as netizens rushed to share their reviews on the show’s finale which gave the drama’s most beloved characters, Hamza and Rumi, the ultimate short end of the stick.

But was it really all that bad? Well, this question calls for some elaborate discussion. So, let’s discuss it.

The good

Inarguably the best thing about Ishqiya was the way it gave the audience a female lead character that was truly written and presented as a strong woman. Romaisa or Rumi for short played by Hania Amir was a woman that is rarely, if ever, shown in Pakistani dramas. Rumi was loud, spunky, bratty, came across as insolent yet was full of love and affection for the relationships she shared with everyone. She didn’t compromise on the love and the respect that she had a right on from all the relationships she was a part of. As a daughter, a sister, and a wife – Rumi never stayed quiet when it came to demanding love and respect.

And the drama never uses this against her. When the truth about her marriage and her husband’s past with her sister is revealed, Rumi is not only rightfully betrayed but she is enraged. She doesn’t wallow in self-pity but confronts her husband and makes a decision to walk out of her marriage. She doesn’t forgive a man for planning to ruin her sister’s reputation, even if that man is her husband whom she loves. Even Rumi’s own mother-in-law is shown telling her not to compromise on her self-respect by giving her marriage a second chance.

What might be Ishqiya‘s most powerful moment is how it showed Rumi continuing to live a fulfilling life with her job and by being with her mother’s side. The bitter ending to her marriage does not equate to a bitter ending for Rumi. She goes through her grief, comes to terms with it, and continues to make the best of her life.

The bad

However, where the show failed miserably was the way it treated its own audience’s investment and emotions. Hamza, played by Feroze Khan, is the show’s anti-hero as he is the one who devises the whole revenge plan that entangles the life of all four main characters. But the way Hamza’s character was written paired with Feroze Khan’s solid performance that never faltered, Hamza was the one character whose ending the audience were the most invested in.

Hamza’s story arc shows him from being a betrayed lover out to seek revenge to being a man reformed by the love he gets after getting married to Rumi. Despite all of Hamza’s “evil” scheming, he is shown always shown to be a loving, attentive, and respectful husband towards Rumi. Hamza and Rumi’s relationship was what carried the show as the fresh on-screen chemistry of Feroze and Hania that gave life to Hamza and Rumi’s cute and playful married life had the audience heads over heels for them. They were the show’s strength as the better writing and the better scenes all belonged to them.

But the show ends by giving them an ending that made the audience’s investment in them all feel for nothing. Hamza remains the only character who is unforgiven by everyone around him. His wife leaves him, his parents disown him, and he is left all alone to deal with the grief of losing his unborn child. He is punished for being a loyal lover not once but twice.

The absurd

What is rather absurd is the way that by the end, the show dismisses every wrong done by the other characters. Hamna (Ramsha Khan) who is at the root of all the mess is never questioned for her mistakes. Her silence and inability to stand up for either herself or her sister when the time was right were completely brushed under the rug. Hamna, who spends the entirety of the drama making decisions that only cause further troubles instead of every providing solutions, actually gets rewarded for causing much ruination to three people.

The character of Azeem (Gohar Rasheed) is also shown in this glorified light when he too had exhibited very questionable behavior as a husband when he finds out about Hamna’s past. A lot of his confrontations with Hamza came from the point of a man with a hurt ego instead of a husband wanting to defend his wife. The last few minutes of the drama give a complete 180-degree flip to the story that has been told about these characters by giving them an ending that just does not feel logical.

In Ishqiya many characters did many bad things. Yet, the burden of punishment ultimately fell on just one character. While everyone else enjoyed a happy ending despite never paying for the bad things they did, the one character who got the most proper storyline that actually developed his character from bad to good, the one character who actually repented, is the one left the most miserable.

The way that the drama spent weeks getting the audience invested in the story of two characters, getting them attached to their journey, only to give them an ending that provides no logical closure to their story just feels so unjust. Had the show spent time in giving Hamna and Azeem the kind of well planned and executed story the way it gave Hamza and Rumi, the ending wouldn’t have felt so absurd.

The drama Ishqiya thrived on being Hamza and Rumi’s story. The ending of the drama Ishqiya was not about them. And that is where the absurdity of Ishiqya’s ending lies.

The post Ishqiya’s Ending: The Good, The Bad, And The Absurd! appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed’s music video, Qubool, has been making waves ever since it was announced. Produced by Bilal Saeed’s music handle, One Two Records, Qubool marks the directorial debut of the ace actress Saba Qamar. Melodious vocals, lovelorn lyrics, picturesque visuals, striking chemistry, and a refreshing screenplay all come together to form a memorable music video.

There was some controversy around the music video having scenes shot at the Wazir Khan Mosque. Following this, Bilal Saeed had posted an apology video and cleared the air how the sequence, which was a nikah scene, was shot without any music. In a show of acknowledging that this action might still have hurt the sentiments of people, the prologue of the music video shot at the mosque has been chopped from the final video.

A complete story

However, the chopping off of the prologue has not had any negative effect on the music video as it manages to tell a complete story within the duration of the song. Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed make for a stunning couple as they share impeccable chemistry that is elevated by the melodious song.

Saba Qamar proves why she is the numero-uno as she brings out her A-game not just behind the camera but in front of it as well. Without using the help of any dialogue and relying purely on her expressions, Saba Qamar nails the dilemma of a wife who is getting insecure about her husband keeping secrets from her. Bilal Saeed proves to be a good partner for Saba as the two manage to portray the chemistry of a married couple that is no longer in their honeymoon phase but have settled in their daily routines.

The music video

Saba Qamar impresses in her directorial debut. The visuals of the music video are extremely picturesque, be it the starting sequence at the outskirts of Lahore or the rooftop of a building. Even the indoor sequences have been provided with cinematic elements by adding lots of colors, such as yellow utensils in the kitchen sequence or blue lighting in the indoor sequences. The color palette chosen for the music video gives it a dreamy vibe, making the video visually appealing.

Bilal Saeed’s composition is first-rate. The usage of instruments such as guitar and piano provides a refreshing and easy-to-listen-to feel to the composition. The luscious lyrics are penned by Bilal himself. Some lines stand out and give us a feeling of unrequited love. While the theme of the song is all about the intensity of love, the lyrics give the song a very contemporary touch. The using of few commonly used English words to make a rhyme makes Qubool a song that would connect instantly to the younger audience.

The post Saba Qamar Makes An Impressive Directorial Debut With Bilal Saeed’s ‘Qubool’ appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

The way social media has deeply ingrained itself in our daily lives has conditioned us into believing that something didn’t happen if it wasn’t posted on social media. For some celebrities, there is nothing off-limits when it comes to sharing online. From relationships to feuds, everything is laid out bare on social media for the public to consume. As public figures, the public does feel entitled to know all about their favorite celebrities, and the celebrities know it. However, too much of this behavior ends up negatively impacting the celebrity as the public starts to become more interested in their personal and private lives instead of the work that they do.

Maybe this is why nowadays the real winners are those celebrities who know where to draw the line when it comes to sharing their private lives on social media.

Delightful surprises

Pictures of Sanam Baloch playing with a toddler are trending all over social media. Much to everyone’s surprise, the little girl Sanam is happily playing with is none other than Sanam’s daughter!

While the news of Sanam Baloch’s first marriage and then divorce is all in the public record, not many people are aware that Sanam Baloch had tied the knot again. The marriage ceremony was completely private as none of the pics from the event were ever posted on social media. In fact, the confirmation about Sanam’s motherhood did not come from anything she posted but when she commented under her relative’s post congratulating her on motherhood.

Dignified beginnings

Another celebrity that made a very dignified announcement about a new chapter in her life is Aamina Sheikh. Recently the talented actress made the announcement about her marriage via her Instagram through a series of photos. Aamina with her new husband, Omar Farooqui, along with Aamina’s daughter Meissa made an adorable family as they started the new chapter of their life.

Aamina Sheikh was married to Mohib Mirza and the two were considered one of the It couples of the Pakistani entertainment industry for a very long time. However, last year the two ended their marriage. Since the announcement, neither Aamina nor Mohib divulged any details about the reason behind their separation, choosing to end their relationship with the same grace and dignity with which they lived it.

A lesson to be learned?

The response to both these news has been very positive on social media with netizens pouring in love and best wishes for the actresses as they embark on a new journey in their lives. One can’t help but compare how different these netizen responses were to other news of celebrity breakups and marriage news.

Celebrities who tend to display all aspects of their private lives on their public social media end up getting comments and reactions that are in bad taste. Recent examples like memes that took over the internet after the Hania Amir-Asim Azhar breakup and the complete negative backlash that the Shahroze Sabzwari-Sadaf Kanwal marriage news got are still fresh in memory.

Well, celebrities have all the rights to share what they like on social media but relationships are a tricky thing. Our society is full of people that thrive on commenting on everyone and anyone’s business. It is not easy to share aspects of life and not receive any form of commentary on it. However, the celebrities that tend to not over-share about their private lives are generally safe from the netizens cruel comments. And maybe that’s something that should become the norm now as not only this helps in maintain the celebrity’s mysterious star-like aura, it also keeps their social media cleaner and generally a more positive place.

The post Should Celebrities Keep Their Lives More Private On Social Media? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Seems like there is no dearth of heartbreak in our entertainment industry. If on one hand, there are couples celebrating new beginnings, on the other hand, the breakups don’t stop happening. And the latest couple to call it quits is that of Mashal Khan and Ali Ansari.

Mashal Khan and Ali Ansari had been in a relationship since 2018. The duo never worked together onscreen however, their chemistry was quite evident in all the offscreen stuff that they shared. So, when the eagle-eyed fans noticed how the two actors had stopped following each other on social media, eyebrows were bound to be raised.

The evidence

There was a point where this couple’s perfect Insta-game had made it obvious that the lovebirds were entirely smitten by each other. They were spotted together many times on various occasions. From voting together on the day of the elections to walking hand in hand at their friends’ weddings to posting some fiery photoshoots, the couple never missed a chance to show off their chemistry.

However, a quick look at their Instagram handles now shows that not only the two have unfollowed each other but all the pictures that they had posted together are nowhere to be found on their feed!

Further confirming their current broken up relationship status is a comment that Mashal Khan made on her Instagram live. Apparently, the actress confessed to having thrown out much “trash” (kachra) from her life recently. Ouch!

No happy ending

The duo had guest-starred on a show hosted by Reema Khan where they had confessed to being engaged for two and a half years. Their light-hearted banter was evidence of how comfortable the two of them were together. Mashal revealed that they hadn’t hit off at their first meetup. Ali however grew a liking towards her after interviewing her at a fashion show and immediately sent her a friend request on Facebook.

In the same interview, Ali had also confessed that Mashal was very “precious” to him. Every interaction the two had on social media always pointed at how in love and happy the two of them were together. But alas, it looks like this fairytale is not headed for a happy ending judging by the total change that has happened on their social media.

We can only hope the two of them are happy with whatever choices they have made.

The post Have Mashal Khan And Ali Ansari Called It Quits? appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Pyar Ke Sadqay started at a time when our TV channels were filled with monotonous and dreadful storylines. The adorable story of Abdullah and Mahjabeen, played impeccably by Bilal Abbas Khan and Yumna Zaidi respectively, was appreciated by many. Both the characters made us laugh and weep with them. The show managed to fully get the audience invested in the story of this pair of Bawla and Bawli as they rooted for their happy ending.

Halfway through the story, things took a dramatic turn and it felt like maybe this pair of innocent lovers would not get to be together in the end. But the drama ended last night and needless to say, it ended on a note that was satisfying for both the story that the drama was telling and the audience who were invested in it.

The slap of the century

Although we do not condone violence of any kind, it becomes necessary to show some characters getting hit for all the horrible deeds that they have done. Sarwar was one such character. If someone ever made a list of the most impactful slaps in the history of Pakistani dramas, Abdullah slapping Sarwar would definitely be in the top three positions, if not the first. This was a slap that was a long time coming considering how violent Sarwar had been to Abdullah all his life, physically and mentally torturing him any chance he got. The slap was not just Abdullah standing up to his abusive step-father but also a husband finally standing up to defend his wife.

The scenes leading up to the slap were quite interesting. First of all, it was excellent to see that Mahjabeen actually remembered the horrible way Abdullah had treated her. In the beginning, her marriage was everything she wanted. However, as soon as Shanzay made her way back into their lives, it all changed. Within a few months, Mahajabeen lost everything: her husband, her dignity, and even her father. That is precisely why Mahajabeen declined at first when Abdullah asked her to go back with him to his house. But as soon as she saw Abdullah taking a stand for himself and her family against Sarwar by slapping him, she didn’t think twice before coming between them, literally. The way she defended Abdullah with a stool was both hilarious and refreshing.

Mansoora’s realization

A part of Mansoora always knew that there was something off about Sarwar. So, to say that Mansoora realized her own worth in one episode would be discrediting the writer, Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s hard work. Mansoora always yearned for love. She accepted the love she thought she deserved, even from a guy like Sarwar. Though there were a lot of instances where she thought to herself whether what Sarwar was giving her was love at all. Her speech about how she needed to find her worth, peace, and love from within was inspiring.

Throughout the drama, Mansoora was shown as a sensible and calm person. Her outburst here was perfectly in line with her character. Atiqa Odho’s minute gestures and expressions were what made the character flawed yet easy to empathize with.

Progressive characters

Pyar Kay Sadqay may have lost its way somewhere around the middle, but one thing that was perfect even in those episodes was the acting. And among all, it was Srha Asghar that really shined as Washma. Whether it was her tongue-in-cheek replies to Sarwar or her lectures to Abdullah and Mansoora for not treating Mahjabeen the way she deserves to be treated, Srha Asghar played her part with perfection. We hardly see such strong characters on TV. Speaking of strong characters, Pho (Lala Rukh) was another highlight of the show. She was the sister of Shahbaz, Mansoora’s late husband, yet she still cared for each of the character’s well-being. And if that’s not all, she lived with Washma alone and never felt the need for a man in her life. Both Washma and Pho are the epitome of independent and brilliant women.

While the drama did female characters a huge favor, it treated the male characters in the same, typical manner. Abdullah’s confusing personality was what made everyone fall in love with the character at first. But after a few episodes, it was the same quality that made people hate him. He spends most of the drama going back and forth and being easily influenced and manipulated by the people around him. Sarwar blaming his evil nature on his mother’s upbringing was unremarkable. Both of the men had their own minds. They could have chosen the right way but they didn’t, intentionally. Nevertheless, all the characters get their fitting ending with Abdullah finally standing up to himself and going after what he actually loves and Sarwar ending up in jail as a punishment for all the crimes he did.

Endearing end to an endearing tale

However, the USP of the show until the end was definitely the sweet tale of Abdullah and Mahjabeen. And the show’s ending did their story justice by showing how these two reconciled but they didn’t lose their banter and innocence which made them so endearing.

For all its highs and lows, Pyar Ke Sadqay was phenomenal drama. The way it infused the combination of humor and emotions was very delicately handled. We hope to see more light-hearted dramas in the future.

The post Pyar Ke Sadqay Bids Farewell On A Happy And Satisfying Note appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

14th August is a special day for Pakistanis all around the world. On this day we not only celebrate the spirit of our independence but also strengthen our resolve to achieve excellence as a nation. Pakistani cinema has considerably upped its ante in the past decade and a half. Despite its limited resources it has expanded its niche exponentially giving its fans ample reasons to celebrate. It has continually created content that serves to raise our national spirits when it comes to national causes.

This Independence Day, Galaxy Lollywood presents the names of fourteen films that are the perfect way to rejuvenate our national enthusiasm and serve to fuel up our patriotism.

1) Jinnah

The British-Pakistani biopic made on the life of Muhammad Ali Jinnah was originally released in 1998 and to date, it remains the most critically acclaimed patriotic film to come out of Pakistan. The film was re-released in 2015 in a high definition format. Directed by Jamil Dehlavi, Jinnah boasts of an ensemble cast with names such as James Fox, Maria Aitken, Richard Lintern, Shireen Shah, Indira Varma, Shakeel, Vaneza Ahmad, and Shashi Kapoor who also narrates the film. The film is a treat to watch for its captivating screenplay, dialogues, and accurate portrayal of the independence era.

2) Waar

Waar is one of Pakistani cinema’s most iconic and biggest blockbusters that put everyone in awe of its technical prowess at its time of release. Directed by Bilal Lashari and starring Shaan, Shamoon Abbasi,  Ayesha Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, and Meesha Shafi in pivotal roles, the film is centered on a retired army officer who is forced to come back to fight against terrorism in Pakistan, and the past that haunts him. The film received widespread acclaim for its screenplay that stylized the depiction of events surrounding Pakistan’s efforts to conduct a war on terror on state-sponsored terror groups, which resulted in warfare among tribal units in North-West Pakistan.

3) Khuda Kay Liye

Khuda Kay Liye is an iconic film for being the most audacious films of Pakistani cinema history as well the first film which kicked start its revival. The film created an uproar at the box-office upon its release. It also drew criticism from conservative sections of society as it challenged their hard-line stances with much effectiveness and nuance thus strririg a debate against extremism across the country. Featuring names like Fawad Khan, Shaan, and Imaan Ali the film still holds relevance as a must-watch Pakistani movie.

4) Parwaaz Hai Junoon

Recently having its world TV premiere, the film is a 2018 romantic action saga directed by Haseeb Hassan. Featuring an ensemble cast of Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahad Raza Mir, Hania Amir, Kubra Khan, Marina Khan, Shamoon Abbasi, Shaz Khan, Shafaat Ali to name a few. The film is a tribute to the jawans of Pakistan Air Force who protect the country from the skies.

5) Sherdil

Sherdil is another film that is set against the backdrop of PAF. The film is a well-shot airforce action drama that resonated with the audience when it was released at a time when Pakistan Airforce had shot down two Indian jets in a historic dogfight and captured its pilot. Written and produced by Nomaan Khan, directed by Azfar Jafri and starring Mikaal Zulfiqar, Hassan Niazi, Armeena Rana Khan, and Sabeeka Imam in the lead roles, the film is a family entertainer that also serves its purpose of being a patriotic film.

6) Operation O21

Operation O21 is the first-of-its-kind Pakistani spy action thriller film directed by Jami and Summer Nicks. Starring Ayub Khoso as an Afghan spy, who wants to save his country from corporate warfare and has to collaborate with Shaan Shahid, his Pakistani counterpart where they struggle to save the two countries from the looming war by Western forces. The film explores Pak-Afghan’s brotherhood and themes of patriotism with subtlety and nuance.

7) Chambaili

Chambaili is a 2013 political thriller film directed by Ismail Jilani. Starring Salmaan Peerzada, Khalid Ahmed, Mohammed Ehteshamuddin, Maira Khan, Shafqat Cheema, and Shahzad Nawaz, Chambeli explores the theme of political corruption in the country. The film had encouraged patriotism and nationalism when general elections were just around the corner. It was praised for its contribution to democracy credited with persuading non-voters and youth to vote in the 2013 General Elections. Political parties in the country had played songs from its soundtrack during campaigns and its music increased social and political activism.

8) Azaadi

Moammar Rana’s comeback project to the newage cinema, Azaadi is an action thriller based against the background of Kashmir issue. Written, directed, and co-produced by Imran Malik, the film was released in 2018. Apart from Moammar Rana, the film stars Sonya Hussain and Nadeem Baig in the leading roles. The film’s action sequences are reminiscent of the classic Lollywood action sequences. Azaadi is a film filled with patriotic fervor.

9) Maalik

Maalik is a 2016 political thriller directed by Ashir Azeem(PTV’s Dhuwan fame). The film revolves around a retired SSG officer and his anti-corruption crusade against the corrupts in power. It also depicts Afghan war and Talibanization amongst other issues faced by the country. The film was banned by the Sindh government for its negative portrayal of politicians in Sindh however later a court order re-released the film in cinemas.

10) Shah

This one of its kind Pakistani sports biopic made on a shoestring budget is not only a case study for filmmakers to make good films on a budget, but it is also a heartwrenching account of the struggle of a sportsman amidst the corruption that is ingrained within the country. Written and directed by Adnan Sarwar, Shah is based on the life of Hussain Shah who won a bronze medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and remains one of Pakistan’s most iconic Boxers.

11) Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Starring Humayun Saeed, Ainy Jafri, Noman Habib, and Mahnoor Baloch and directed by Syed Ali Raza Usama, the film is based on the theme of cricket. Set against the backdrop of rural Sialkot, the film explores the world of cricket in Pakistan, the underlying corruption, and the struggles of a common man against it as all he tries to use his passion for cricket to bring honor to the nation. Peppered with beautiful music, the film is a sports drama that depicts Pakistani culture in a hilarious, relatable, and emotional way.

12) Salute

Lollywood era’s director Shehzad Rafique made Salute in 2016 which is a biographical film based on the life of martyr Aitzaz Hasan Bangash, a schoolboy from Hangu who confronted a suicide bomber, preventing his attempt to bomb his school, thus saving around 2000 lives. The film stars Ali Mohtesham, Ajab Gul, and Saima Noor in leading roles.

13) Tere Pyar Mein

Tere Pyar Mein is amongst the last successful films coming for Lollywood Era. Produced by Evernew Studios, the film was released in 2000. This is a crossborder love story that eventually depicts Kashmir’s freedom struggle was the launchpad for Zara Sheikh’s career in Lollywood. This film was hugely successful upon its release and had its ‘diamond jubilee’ (one year running) to packed cinema houses.

14) Bedari

Bedari holds an interesting and unique spot amongst the list for being associated with unique controversies. Released in 1956 the film though was initially well-received yet it ensued widespread protests for allegedly being a copy of a Bollywood film that led to it’s banning. However, the film retains its status because of its widely popular music that is still relevant. ‘Aao Bachho Sair Karain’, ‘Chalo Chalen Maan Sanon Ke Gaon Mein’, and ‘Aey Quaid-e-Azam, Tera Ehsan Hai Ehsan‘ are patriotic songs that are remembered to this day.

The post 14 Pakistani Films That Perfectly Capture The Spirit Of Patriotism appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

On the auspicious occasion of Pakistan’s 73^rd Independence Day, President Dr. Arif Alvi conferred Pakistan’s Civil Awards to 184 Pakistanis and foreigners for extraordinary performance in their respective fields. Humayun Saeed, Ali Zafar, and Resham made it to the coveted list of the highest civilian awards, Pride of Performance.

Veteran actress Sakina Samo, who recently made news for successfully battling with Covid’19 is also included in the list of this prestigious award. The ceremony to hand out the awards would be held on 23rd March 2021, according to a Cabinet Division press release.

More honors bestowed

Apart from the Pride of Performance award, the civilian honors for artists include prestigious accolades such as Sitara-I-Imitaz, Tamgha-I-Imtiaz, and Nishan-I-Imtiaz.

Senior actors Bushra Ansari and Talat Hussain have been named for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz award. Bushra Ansari is a true veteran of the industry and has excelled in the fields of acting, hosting, and writing. Her contributions to the Pakistani television industry cannot be denied.

Media mogul Sultana Siddiqui is also conferred with the same accolade. Singing legend Abida Parveen has been conferred with the honorable Nishan-I-Imtiaz award. Comedienne and actress Zeba Shahnaz has been announced for the Tamgha-I-Imitiaz category along with comedian Majid Jahangir of 50-50 fame.

Impeccable careers

The recipients of the Pride of Performace Award have all had impeccable careers. Humayun Saeed made his foray into television production in the late 80s. Over the years Humayun has attained a position in the fraternity which many can just dream of. He has the biggest blockbusters to his name, be it celluloid’s Punjab Nahi Jaunga and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, or the small screen marvel Mere Paas Tum Ho.

Ali Zafar is the youngest name from the entertainment realm this year to be facilitated with the prestigious award. Ali is a celebrated singer for the last two decades and has carved his own niche. He made his movie debut in Pakistan with the blockbuster Teefa In Trouble, which consolidated his stardom in the country.

Resham has been successful in her simultaneous film and television career over the last three decades. She has done more than a hundred films in her career. The Jeeva actress has been an active philanthropist and famously helped the victims of local floods in 2010.

Sakina Samo’s services to the industry have been recognized by the government when she was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2011. Both as an actor and a director, Sakina Samo has worked on several projects in her career that spans over three decades. Her recent drama Darr Si Jaati Hai Sila got much critical praise and was hailed as an important drama based on a social issue.

The post Humayun Saeed, Resham, And Ali Zafar To Be Awarded ‘Pride Of Performance’ appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

I remember conversing with one of the co-producers of Shoaib Mansoor’s rape survivor film Verna. At one point in the conversation, I complained about how the director has continuously from Khuda Kay Liye to Bol and Verna, portrayed Pashtuns in a stereotypically negative way. The co-producer responded that people identify more with characters when they are shown in more conventional (read stereotypical) ways than those which are relatively unknown to them.

The argument may be partially convincing. Considering the artistic limitations that writers/content creators face in order to make their product appealing to the “masses”, falling back to the “safe” zone of stereotyping characters does not seem like a difficult choice. However, it still does not justify the practice.

Stereotypes perpetuated by the media are more like to reflect and shape the common prejudices in society. In the current geopolitical scenario and era of fourth-generation warfare, TV, film, and media need to be sensitive and careful as such reductive stereotyping forms the basis for ignorance of other cultures as well basis for the marginalized communities to be alienated further.

Inability to identify the problem

A rather palpable wave of protest and disdain was observed across social media platforms a few weeks ago when a scene from popular sitcom Bulbulay depicted a Pashtun character asking Nabeel (played by Nabeel who happens to be the show’s producer as well) to receive a gift from him. Nabeel responds by saying, “Iska gift kya hoga? Ya naswar ya bomb!“(What could his gift be? Either naswar or a bomb!)

The ensuing protest on Facebook & Twitter became trending in Pakistan under the hashtag of #BoycottARY. Concerns were recorded at Pakistan’s National Assembly as well where a lawmaker from KPK pointed towards the disturbing and insensitive practice of racial profiling of Pashtuns in mainstream media, particularly pointing towards ARY’s sitcom.

This prompted the show’s producer to issue a response. Nabeel’s video, however, instead of being a clear-cut apology, mostly consisted of euphemizing the racist rhetoric that the show has been quite insensitively endorsing. Obviously the video failed to appease the sentiments of the offended ethnicity who is constantly subjected to the most regressive and derogatory representation on mainstream media. What’s more disturbing is that certain tabloids/showbiz personalities expressed their solidarity with the Bulbulay makers, outrightly neglecting what the discourse was about.

Pashtuns have been the most prominent victims of such practices. Grown on the scrubland of cultural ignorance and under-researched, one-dimensional characters, their portrayals in Pakistani films and dramas over the years are more artistically offensive than culturally so. In the 90s they mostly served as chowkidars clad in Turkish waistcoats with a gun stapped on their shoulders or as a simpleton who always would be the butt of the joke. If not so, they would merely be seen on a skin-deep level, as stout merciless figures with thick beards. Every terrorist shown in the media in a post-9/11 world is almost always a Pashtun and that is an image that is further perpetuated by the local Pakistani content.

Stereotyping all across the board

Bulbulay isn’t the first show from Pakistan to project such prejudices, neither are Pashtuns the only victims of such practices. There are scores of examples from local TV, film, and theatre who, courtesy their intellectual laziness, opt for derogatory stereotypes of ethnicities like Pashtuns, Punjabis, and Sindhis for their own convenience.

From recent films offerings like Chhalawa, Maan Jao Na, Ishq Positive, Karachi Se Lahore, and dramas like the Baraat series and Suno Chanda, Punjabis are portrayed as crude, unrefined, loud feudals who are either shown has imposing villains or in the form caricaturish family unit that is always engaged in verbal banter.

Sindhis are shown as uneducated, backward suppressed simpleton villagers who conform to tyrants of local waderas, as the usual norms in our dramas. Or they are shown as minor characters in the drama, usually in the form of house-help, with the only way to identify their ethnicity being their stereotypical way of speaking Urdu with a heavy Sindhi accent.

This creates a very strange idea of who Pashtuns, Punjabis , and Sindhis (or any other misrepresented people) are for those who don’t know any of these people. And it also creates a very confused and estranged relationship between these ethnic groups who, due to mainstream media, can’t fully identify with this bizarre representation of themselves and of the other ethnic groups.

Change is happening

Stereotyping and ethnic profiling in films or dramas is not just a problem in a smaller industry like ours. Hollywood and Bollywood, the biggest film and television industries, have equal shares in perpetuating stereotypical practices. However, unlike Pakistan, these industries are now going through a phase where the misrepresented minorities are taking charge of their narrative. For example, African-American storytellers in America are now telling their own stories through their own lens and they are doing so with much success. After decades of being represented in a problematic manner, because their characters and stories were told from the point of view of someone who does not belong to their race, the African-American and Latinx races and ethnicities are creating content for media that truly represents their culture and their stories.

Over in Bollywood, the center of stories being told has shifted from the urban upper-middle belonging to huge metropolitan cities to rural class belonging to smaller cities. Because the characters in the latter are the ones the population of Indian is most likely to be able to relate to, the stories based on them have achieved the kind of success that completely defied the idea of what a typical Bollywood film is meant to be.

In Pakistan, the local industries don’t have the kind of reach and influence for the minority ethnic groups to be able to tell their stories. The mainstream is the only media that has any power. And when that mainstream is only full of cases of ethnic stereotyping that further feed the prejudices present in the society instead of reducing them, therein lies a major problem.

The silver lining

Social media being a double-edged sword has proven to be a platform for people to voice their concerns and record their protests hence paving the way for the popular culture and the media to shape the ways we look at racism, and our approaches to anti-racism. The internet specially provides a free platform for the artists and content creators from the misrepresented ethnic groups of the country to put forward their art and their stories in a way that truly represents them without the layers of stereotyping that the mainstream media has shrouded them with.

However, it is not enough. The Internet in Pakistan still needs time to be able to bring about actual change in society. The mainstream representation in media via films and dramas is where both the problem and the solution lies. Nonetheless, the silver lining in the cloud is how the new lot of content creators are aware of the fact that the issues that are brought up on social media with regards to representation are valid and cannot be ignored for a long time.

All it takes is putting in a little more time and effort to absorb the nuances of any culture before attempting to depict it on screen. We all need to free ourselves from our biases and prejudices. And the content shown in our mainstream media can play a huge part in achieving that. The process may take a long time but once it starts, the change it will bring will be here to stay for a long time.

The post The Case Of Ethnic Stereotyping In Pakistani Films And Dramas appeared first on Galaxy Lollywood.

By: Sameer Anwar

Asim Abbasi’s Churails can be summed up as, “a masterpiece representing one of the most significant milestones to date for Pakistan’s leap into the age of digital media”.

Asim Abbasi, who has both written and directed the show, beautifully crafts a story that drives the conversation forward on a wide range of important and urgent issues through the lens of four Karachiite women. Together these women set up a boutique in disguise – where burqas are symbolic representations of their superwomen capes, in an attempt to emancipate other women from the plagues of male patriarchy and abusive relationships. What follows is the unraveling of dark secrets that change their lives forever.

The freedom to express

Pakistan’s television screenplays have traditionally been delicately nuanced and guarded. Widely acclaimed television series created within the social and cultural confines of acceptability, such as the likes of Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar, are a delight to watch but are divorced from the reality of an ever-evolving Pakistan. An opportunity to tell stories without any shackles and the need to conform to the strict guidelines of traditional television has given our artists the liberation to immerse into their characters and show their full potential – and Asim fully employs and uses this opportunity!

While Pakistan’s industry has been best-known for its realism in storytelling, Churails demonstrates how to strike the balance between keeping the audience engaged in the story while shedding light on important yet rarely discussed social issues that exist within our society. While many recent Pakistani films have packed an overdose of social issues into two hours, ten episodes seem like the appropriate duration to do justice. Asim undauntingly discusses the depth of institutional issues ranging from sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, human trafficking to the remnants of Pakistan’s “colonial hangover” – all of this while still keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. A feat that would be completely impossible to achieve in our traditional television drama format.

Impeccable performances

Churails is a brilliant example of how an amazing cast can deliver some of their best performances to date when truly given their artistic freedom. The performances by all actors are award-worthy and far too many to mention. The leads Sara (Sarwat Gilani), Jugnu (Yasra Rizvi), Batool (Nimra Bucha), and Zubaida (Mehar Bano) are absolutely splendid. Sarwat Gilani shows her full prowess as an actor and is able to move the audience with a wide range of emotions that can be deeply felt – a loving mother, a liberated wife, and an empowered entrepreneur. Yasra Rizvi’s feisty fearless unabashed character, Jugnu, is marvelous and redefines the stereotypes the audience may have about Pakistani women. Nimra Bucha plays the character of Batool with a kind of dignified dominance that one can only expect a true veteran of the industry to deliver. Mehar Bano provides a raw vulnerability and relatability as her character is the youngest of the four.

Churails is peppered with cameos from some of the finest and well-known actors from the Pakistani industry. With names like Sarmad Khoosat, Sania Saeed, Adnan Malik, Anoushey Abbasi, Hina Bayat, and even Mahira Khan included in the list of cameos, the curiosity of how they all fit in the world of Churails is natural. And they all do a great job in making the Churails experience more memorable.

Technical finesse

Mo Azmi, the director of photography (also co-producer) allows viewers to experience Karachi in its full grit and glory. The simple yet profound frames that he experiments with contribute significantly to helping the audience experience the pace and emotions throughout the ten episodes. Complementing the frames perfectly, the background scores and poetic narrations move the audience along with the story. The dialogues are all too real in an attempt to jolt the viewers to root for the Churails. Asim shows his love and art as he closes each of the arcs ensuring the audience gets closure.

Taha Malik has done a great job in selecting the music of the show as, throughout the show, many popular and some not-so-widely-known songs both from Pakistan and India play in the background and seamlessly blend with the scenes to bring life to the narrative. The title track of the song sung by Zoe Vicaji with lyrics penned by Osman Khalid Butt energizes and reflects the power of the churail within.

A digital success

Churails is catered to an already digitally-obsessed desi audience which represents not just growing segments within the countries but also a large diaspora of Pakistanis and Indians abroad. However, the opportunity that Churails presents is far beyond. Churails is a milestone that demonstrates that with the right funding, a global platform, and perhaps most importantly the appropriate artistic freedom to produce unfettered content, Pakistan can produce shows that would translate well and be relatable for global viewers even outside traditional desi circles. We can imagine a subtitled version of Churails being just as engaging to watch for a non-desi audience as many of the Spanish and Turkish shows that have recently seen a meteoric rise in popularity on global platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

The behemoths in the digital media industry (tech company turned media giants such as Netflix) have disrupted the global talent and content markets and changed the rules of engagement. What used to be niche has now broken in the forays of the mainstream. With digital becoming the norm as even the normal television audience has started to rely on platforms like Youtube to catch up to all their television content, Pakistani content creators can no longer afford to waste any more time. Digital is not only the need of the hour but is the undeniable reality. Churails being the first Pakistani web series that is being streamed on a platform that already hosts much local and international content, is technically Pakistan’s official addition to the ever-increasing global market for digital content. And Pakistan has definitely struck gold with it.

As a digital-first company, Galaxy Lollywood understands well that this transition to digital comes with its own set of demanding challenges and Pakistan’s artists should prepare themselves by learning lessons from their global peers. And as the transition towards digital content accelerates globally, we will look back at Asim’s efforts and the outstanding performances by our beloved Churails as one of the most significant steps taken by Pakistan’s industry in that journey. Bow down to Asim and the entire crew.

Sameer Anwar is Galaxy Lollywood’s international digital correspondent.

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Prem Gali took its sweet time to go on-air. Almost a year ago, it was announced that Farhan Saeed and Sohai Ali Abro will be starring in Qasim Ali Mureed directorial Prem Gali, written by Faiza Iftikhar. This isn’t the first time the writer and the director have worked together. The duo has previously worked together for the 2017 family entertainer Aangan. Hence, expectations were already high from the team. And judging by Prem Gali’s first episode, it seems like the audience is in for a treat.

Strong cast

The first episode introduced us to the residents of Prem Gali, a fictionalized neighborhood situated in Karachi. The first family living in one of the houses (named Talaq Manzil) in Prem Gali consisted of three divorced women Rahat Begum (Shamim Hilali), and her daughters Shireen (Saba Hameed) and Musarrat (Uzma Hassan). Shireen’s unmarried daughter Joya (Sohai Ali Abro) completes the family of four. The second family included a widow Haseena (Farah Shah) and her children Salman and Fari (Anoushay Abbasi). The third family- consisting of Dada Ji (Qavi Khan), his sons Hatim Chaudhary (Waseem Abbas) and Abdullah Farhatullah, and Hatim’s son Hamza (Farhan Saeed) – just moved into Haseena’s house, who is renting a portion of her house to them. Nargis (Faiza Gilani) was also introduced though her family wasn’t shown.

Colorful characters

As far as first episodes go, the drama did quite good in terms of telling the viewers what to expect from the story. The drama has an ensemble cast and all of them are playing intriguing characters. There’s Shireen who is basically the man of her house. From repairing machines to running a general store, she does all the hard work. Then there’s Hamza’s chacha who hasn’t had a successful love life and spends most of his time like a ‘zakhmi aashiq’ listening to sad songs. Fari, who runs a beauty parlor in the neighborhood, is best friends with Joya, who is still studying in college. Each character comes with their own unique quirks and traits, making them all stand out in their own right.

A world well established

The first episode does a fine job in establishing the world of Prem Gali where divorcées and perpetually single men take the center stage. Considering how this show is more character-driven than having a singular social issue driving the whole plot, it was important for Prem Gali to have characters that instantly get the attention of the audience and the show does just that. Sparks fly when Joya and Hamza collide hence, giving a strong base to the future love story of these characters. Different kinds of sparks fly when Shireen and Hatim meet for the first time giving the audience a taste of the kind of hilarious confrontations that are in store for these characters. A major plus point for the drama is how it has broken away from the conventional settings of having the entire story based around just one or two houses. It was refreshing to see a drama open up to shots of a hustling bustling neighborhood in the morning where the carefully placed props and a number of extras bring life to the world before any of the main characters are introduced in it.

Prem Gali is definitely off to a strong start. Faiza Iftikhar is known for her knack of portraying characters and relationships in a hilarious yet endearing way. Qasim Ali Mureed’s skillful direction has brought to life a world that is easy to immerse into. The drama’s light-hearted tone made it a breezy watch and we hope the show continues to retain its stressfree element.

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The expectations from Mushk are high as the drama not only has Urwa Hocane returning to TV screens in a lead role after four years but it also has Imran Ashraf in the dual role of a writer as well as the lead actor. Directed by Aehsun Talish, Mushk boasts of a big cast and its teasers have already piqued the curiosity of the audience about how they are all connected.

The emotional drama

The first episode starts with a train station where a train has arrived early. The characters played by Momal Sheikh and Urwa Hocane are seen getting off the train. Qavi Khan, who plays a coolie in the drama, talks about the process of waiting and arriving. From the very first scene itself, Mushk establishes a world that has many unraveled mysteries and it succeeds in getting the attention of the audience.

There is a real mysterious connection between the characters played by Momal Sheikh and Osama Tahir. It is told in the episode that Guddi, played by Urwa Hocane, is the mother of a baby. However, later it is revealed that the real mother of the child is Mehak (Momal Sheikh). A flashback shows Mehak and the character played by Osama in London as their love blossoms.

In the present, however, the father of the child is seen locked up in jail trying to break out of the cell. When did they get married and how did he end up in jail? These questions seem to be the real hook of the story and what will make the audience tune in for more.

A promise for more

Imran Ashraf plays the role of Adam who is in love with Mehak. Imran did not get a lot of screentime in the episode but that is understandable as the first episode was mostly dedicated to establishing the characters with the main story yet to begin.

The storytelling is high on emotions with heavy-hitting dialogues. Sohail Sameer’s character who is locked up in a cell has quite the character and is seen delivering dialogues that are bound to leave an impression on the audience.

There is a budding love story between the characters played by Raza Talish and Sehar Khan. The drama is not utterly devoid of its cliches as there is a jealous aunt with the standard set of typical dialogues. However, it is all balanced nicely by other more interestingly written characters with Guddi topping the list.

The first episode is all about setting the stage so we look forward to seeing more of Urwa and Imran Ashraf and the love triangle that was hinted at in the teasers. While Mushk does seem to have all the common clichés like love triangles and whatnot, the mystery and great dialogues are enough to make the audience tune in next week.

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In Pakistan, an actor is remembered more for the roles they have done on television than in any other medium. Simply because television is bigger than film or theater and it is more easily accessible to the general audience, hence it comes with a bigger reach. Script sense of an actor paves the way for how they will be perceived in the public spectrum, their characters provide them a public image which is cultivated for further brand associations and media coverage.

A drama ultimately belongs to the actors who end up doing it. However, there have been many instances where some of the most well-known actors have chosen to pass on some scripts that ended up becoming memorable dramas. Here is a list of Pakistani actors that were initially offered dramas, that they refused, which ended up becoming quite popular.

Humayun Saeed – Humsafar

Humayun Saeed is the reigning king of the Pakistani entertainment industry. His last small screen marvel Mere Paas Tum Ho took the ratings by storm. His performance as Danish was praised unanimously. However, in a promotional interview for Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Humayun revealed that he regrets refusing Fawad Khan’s role in Sarmad Khoosat’s Humsafar. Humsafar became an instant hit when it aired in 2011 and brought in the leading couple, Mahira and Fawad immense love and appreciation transnationally.

Fawad Khan – Pyaray Afzal

Fawad Khan became the industry’s blue-eyed boy after giving back to back blockbusters in a row, Dastaan (2010), Humsafar (2011), and Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012). He was approached for almost every big-budget venture but Fawad was extremely mindful of the content that he wanted to be a part of. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s script was initially offered to the Kapoor & Sons actor, but he couldn’t accommodate the project due to his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor. Pyaray Afzal was then done by Hamza Ali Abbasi and it escalated his popularity to newer heights.

Mahira Khan – Kankar and Ainee Ki Ayegi Baraat

Mahira Khan is known for her refusal to monstrous film offers such as Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahin Ani. The actress is very picky in terms of the people she collaborates with and also avoids being repetitive with her work associations. Mahira refused the drama Kankar that was ultimately done by Sanam Baloch. Kankar dealt with the subject of domestic abuse. Mahira instead chose to do Sarmad Khoosat’s directorial Shehr-e-Zaat as she found it to be more challenging as a performer. She was also offered the titular role in Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat, but she turned it down for being a multi-starrer and the role went to her Humsafar co-star, Naveen Waqar.

Ayeza Khan – Ishq Zahe Naseeb

Ayeza Khan was approached for the role of Shakira in Farooq Rind’s Ishq Zahe Naseeb opposite Zahid Ahmed. Ayeza turned down the role of Shakira which was later accepted by Yumna Zaidi. Yumna revealed that actresses were hesitant as the role was less in screen-time as compared to Sonya Hussain’s character. The role was also offered to Neelum Munir who turned it down for similar reasons as Ayeza.

Feroze Khan – Mere Paas Tum Ho

Feroze honestly admitted that he turned down Danish’s role in Mere Paas Tum Ho because he asked for a huge signing amount.  The writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar got angry as someone asked for a huge amount for his script. There were negotiation issues between both the parties and Feroze let go of the blockbuster project which was initially supposed to be starring him alongside Ayesha Khan and Adeel Hussain.

Urwa Hocane – Mere Paas Tum Ho

The casting progress for Mere Paas Tum Ho was not smooth. Urwa Hocane was cast in the drama and despite shooting for a couple of days, the actress opted out of the play to give her complete attention to her production venture, Tich Button in Nankana Sahib. This made the director Nadeem Baig very upset but Urwa chose to prioritize her own production. Urwa was replaced by Hira Mani.

Kubra Khan – Mere Paas Tum Ho and Mushk

Kubra Khan is one choosy actress, there was a time when she had refused her career-defining drama, Alif over script changes but destiny had other plans for her and she eventually did the project and received immense critical acclaim for her role of Husn-e-Jahan. She and Gohar Rasheed were supposed to star in the Aehsun Talish directorial Mushk but were later replaced by Momal Sheikh and Osama Tahir. The London Nahi Jaunga actress also refused Hira Mani’s role in Mere Paas Tum Ho opposite Humayun Saeed, as it was a supporting role and she didn’t want to play a second fiddle in a television series.

Mikaal Zulfiqar – Udaari

Mikaal has proved his mettle as an actor in projects like Diyar-e-Dil and Sang-e-Marmar. Mikaal is extremely conscious of his on-screen persona and hence found the role of Imtiaz in Udaari a bit too out of his comfort zone. The role was then performed by Ahsan Khan who won awards for his fabulous performance of an antagonist.

Sanam Baloch – Bin Roye

Sanam Baloch is an actress par excellence and her performance in projects like Dastaan and Daam provides testimony to the fact. However, Sanam let go of many professional opportunities due to her wedding with Abdullah Farhatullah. She was offered Armeena Rana Khan’s role in Bin Roye opposite Fawad Khan who was supposed to play the role of Irtiza, which was later played by Humayun Saeed.

Mohsin Abbas Haider – Khaani

Mohsin Abbas Haider was last seen in Nabeel Qureshi’s music video with Sonya Hussain. The actor candidly confessed about being approached for Khaani before Feroze Khan. Khaani starred Sana Javed and Feroze Khan in lead and became a huge money-spinner for the television industry and earned Feroze Khan many new fans and praises for his performance in the show.

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