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Pakistan Superstar — some hope for upcoming musicians
LAHORE: Pakistan Superstar, Pakistan’s first online music reality show, has been in the works for a while. Headed by Farhan Ali and produced by Hassan Omer, two of the three members of music band...
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Vasay Chaudhry - more than just a 25-minute sitcom writer
LAHORE: Before his films, particularly, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Vasay Chaudhry was known for being the 25-minute-sitcom guy. He created interesting stories and plot lines ranging from Jutt and Bond,...
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Bringing Ravenhill to Pakistan
LAHORE: There is something brutally honest about the bulk of work done by the quintessential modern playwright Mark Ravenhill. It’s a raw scream of human emotion. No one can dispute Ravenhill’s...
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Will Syed Noor reclaim his stature this year?
LAHORE: For a considerably long time, director Syed Noor struck a blow for Pakistani cinema. With a series of films, such as Choorian (1998), Nikki Jai Haan (1999) and Majajan (2006), he consistently...
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Musharraf Farooqi revives Urdu literature among children
LAHORE: After writing critically acclaimed novels, including the poignant Between Clay and Dust (2012), Pakistani-Canadian author Musharraf Ali Farooqi is embarking upon a new project that aims at...
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From FiLUMS to film-making
LAHORE: Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) isn’t exactly known for being breeding ground for aspiring filmmakers. While it has regularly hosted the LUMS International Film Festival...
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Adnan Sarwar: from Club Caramel to the boxing ring
LAHORE: From 1980 to 1988, Syed Hussain Shah was arguably Asia’s best boxer. Some would say if he had been a cricketer, the recognition he deserved would have been more to stature. Like the sprinter...
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Bands are alive, so is Pakistani music: Mustafa Zahid
LAHORE: The Pakistani music scene has undergone a sea change. With the emergence of music sensations through social media, ‘band’ culture in the country has been put on the back burner. Music bands...
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From Sunehray Din to a new beginning
LAHORE: It’s always fascinating to discuss the conditions of cinema with veterans who made their debuts in the early 90s. Saleem Sheikh, like Shaan, Baber Ali, and then Moammar Rana, came during a...
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Dunya: Delving into Punjabi cinema
LAHORE: In many ways, the film Dunya reads like a well-produced home movie. There is no doubt that if director Shahid Rana was less stubborn; he would have evolved into a very distinguished director,...
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The System’s pre-release hype creates hope and anticipation
LAHORE: Film launches are essentially a media spectacle. The scale of the spectacle generally attributes how the pre-film hype is going to add to the long-term momentum of the film. The comparatively...
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Revival of the ‘society girl’
LAHORE: There is something very distinct about Sangeeta — the woman who came to define Pakistani cinema. For a span of 20 years, while people spoke of Sultan Rahi, she made it through the industry...
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This will be my best work thus far: Rahat Fateh Ali
LAHORE: Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is always upbeat about the work he does. The unveiling of his latest album Back2love by Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha at the...
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Aaj Blue Hai Pani – Yo Yo Honey Singh or Iftikhar Thakur?
LAHORE: Until a few weeks back, chances were that many people wouldn’t be going to the cinema to watch the Lollywood film Lafangay, which was made in 30 days. But after its rendition of the popular...
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Celebrating 50 years of Shaukhat Ali
LAHORE: Enthusiasts have said that an artiste’s worth is judged by the response of the audience. And needless to say, the music icon Shaukhat Ali’s career has been full of applause and accolades. At...
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Ya Rab: redefining the Muslim identity
LAHORE: Bollywood films that shed light on issues prevalent in society usually stumble at the box office. Naseeruddin Shah’s Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota (2006), Raj Kumar Gupta’s Aamir (2008) and Subhash...
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Veena Malik: from drama queen to squeaky clean
LAHORE: In her over a decade-long career as an artiste, Veena Malik has riveted people’s attention for many reasons — some good, many bad. But be that as it may, it only stands to reason that despite...
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Quratalain Balouch: recovered and ready
LAHORE: Quratalain Balouch (QB) came during a relatively dead period of Pakistani music and created not just a viral following, but also a dedicated group of fans. Her latest album has been in the...
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30 years of Ajoka
LAHORE: Over the years the country has changed for the worst, most say. But the concept of Ajoka Theatre remains valiant, considering the constraints and growing intolerance. Director Madeeha Gauhar...
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Zille Huma passes away
LAHORE: Zille Huma, the third daughter of what was once Lollywood’s power couple, director Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and singer Madam Noor Jehan, passed away on May 15, 2014. Zille Huma’s mother had been...
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