’’ایکسپریس نیوز ‘‘ کے مارننگ شو کی مقبولیت کے نئے ریکارڈ قائم

مذکورہ پروگرام ہفتہ اوراتوارکی صبح ایکسپریس نیوز سے ٹیلی کاسٹ کیا جاتا ہے. فوٹو : فائل

لاہور: ’’ایکسپریس نیوز ‘‘ کا مارننگ شو ’’ریمبوصاحبہ اورآپ ‘‘ مقبولیت میںنئے ریکارڈ قائم کررہا ہے۔

ایک طرف پروگرام کے میزبان ریمبواورصاحبہ کی دلچسپ گفتگوہوتی ہے تودوسری جانب چھوٹے خاں، موٹے خاں کے طنزومزاح سے بھرپورفقرے بھی ناظرین کی توجہ کا مرکزبنے ہوئے ہیں۔ پروگرام میں اب تک فنون لطیفہ کی معروف شخصیات بطورمہمان شرکت کرچکی ہیں جنہوں نے فلم ، ٹی وی ، تھیٹر، میوزک اورفیشن انڈسٹری کے شعبوںمیں نمایاں کارکردگی سے منفرد پہچان بنا رکھی ہے۔ پروگرام میں جہاں ریمبو، صاحبہ اوردیگردلچسپ گفتگوسے ناظرین کے چہروں پر مسکراہٹیں بکھیرتے ہیں وہیں مہمان شخصیات اپنے کیرئیر کی یادیں تاذہ کرتے ہوئے اہم معلومات بھی فراہم کرتے ہیں۔

واضح رہے کہ مذکورہ پروگرام ہفتہ اوراتوارکی صبح ایکسپریس نیوز سے ٹیلی کاسٹ کیا جاتا ہے اوراس کی پسندیدگی کے حوالے سے ملک وبیرون سے خطوط، ای میلز اورایس ایم ایس کے ذریعے ناظرین کی بڑی تعداد اپنی رائے سے آگاہ کرتی ہے۔ ناظرین کی جانب سے ملنے والے خطوط میںجہاں پروگرام کو پسند کرنے کی بات کی جاتی ہے وہیں ان کی تجاویز بھی شامل ہوتی ہیں جن کومدنظررکھتے ہوئے پروگرام میں کچھ اہم ایشوزکو مزاح کے ساتھ پروگرام کا حصہ بنایا جاتاہے۔

‘Tanhaiyan’ actors make a comeback with sequel

KARACHI: 

If you grew up watching PTV or were simply part of the PTV drama hour your family was absorbed in, then “Tanhaiyan” needs no introduction.

Whether it was the combination of a bubbly Sania with an uptight and rather peculiar Qabacha which had the audience in fits of laughter, or a more serious plot where two young girls lose their parents in a tragic car accident — the ‘80s drama created treasured memories. After 27 years, the team is back with a sequel: “Olper’s Tanhaiyan: Naye Silsilay” which will air at 8pm every Saturday on PTV and ARY Digital, starting October 20.

Marina Khan and Behroz Sabzwari, who won hearts by playing two of television’s most cherished characters — Sania and Qabacha respectively — spoke to The Express Tribuneabout the good old days and gave an insight into the sequel.

“’Tanhaiyan’ is actually an important factor in my life; in my 45-year-career, I have done numerous plays but it was because of this one that I received such immense popularity and unimaginable love,” said Sabzwari. “When someone like Raj Kapoor messages you from India saying: ‘Qabacha when you are in Bombay, you will stay with me,’ you know you are popular and loved.”

Fresh crew and script

Marina, who will be directing this 13-episode-sequel, explained how the idea of continuing this legacy came about. “A survey was conducted recently and it showed that ‘Tanhaiyan’ was the most-watched PTV drama of its time. The Olper’s team approached us with the initiative and then after much discussion, we decided to go for it,” she said, pleased with her decision. “The characters are pretty much the same — we are playing the same roles we did back then but now, 27 years later, we are the grown-up versions.”

She admitted, however, that times have changed and amongst the 16 original cast members, six remain and the rest have passed away. Therefore, the cast will include those six with the addition of Alishba Yousuf and Shehryar Munawar in lead roles and Cyra Yousuf and Shehroz Sabzwari in supporting roles. The script, on the other hand, has been co-written by Haseena Moin and Mohammad Ahmed.

“The attachment to the characters and original plot is a binding characteristic and there’s a lot of mimicking from the old version as well — juxtaposing would be the correct term to define it,” said Khan, in regard to the new setting and actors. “It’s reminiscent of the past but is a story of today. The plot is about young kids who come back from the US and the rest you will have to see.”

In the same line of thought, Sabzwari added a little about his own role and how it might be misinterpreted in today’s time: “Qabacha was a character people always felt was nonexistent in society and in order for my performance to not come off as ‘over-acting’, I would have to justify my role. However, the truth is that such characters do exist amongst us — they are intelligent creatures in the masks of fools.”

He further elaborated on how his character will retain its essence and said: “This season was very difficult for me as I was constantly told that I was losing my original tone and attitude and I would say: ‘That was 27 years ago!’; and to be honest I haven’t enacted this role anywhere in these 27 years — talk shows, stage shows — nowhere at all.”

Marina, on the other hand, had a more direct and straightforward attitude when it comes to speculating how the audience would react — whether it was a negative response or a positive one. “If people are expecting it to be exactly like the original play, then they are slightly mistaken and would probably be disappointed,” she said. “But those who will view it as a sequel to the original will enjoy it.  Those who haven’t even seen the original, will surely be delighted.”

In conclusion, Marina added that PTV’s presence is evergreen and widespread, specifically in Swat and Gilgit: “People still recognise you even today if you were in a PTV production — it’s the only channel watched over there.” When asked whether she would like to produce more sequels of famous dramas such as “Dhoop Kinare” and “Khuhr”, she said: “Why not? I would love to be a part of that team. But Sahira Kazmi is the one to contact if you want someone to direct it.”

19 October 2012 :::: Showbiz news from Today's NewsPaper

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19 October 2012

Destinations Hollywood and Bollywood for Meesha

LAHORE: 

Pakistan’s rocker chick Meesha Shafi is an all¬-rounder when it comes to entertaining the audience.

The multi-talented musician and actor set the bar high for herself after starring in Mira Nair’sThe Reluctant Fundamentalist and is now simultaneously working on two new projects — a Bollywood film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and a Hollywood flick, Tournament of Shadows. While Shafi was reluctant to do a typical Bollywood movie in the past, she said this film is not youraverage movie.

“When the director approached me for this project, saying ‘yes’ was an easy choice,” says Shafi. “The quality of work and the team including Farhan Akhtar, are some of the best of their kind in the industry and have proven so time and time again.”

Reel talk

“Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is not your average Bollywood masala mix at all. It’s a biopic, strictly non-fiction period movie,” she says. The film features Farhan Akhtar, who plays the role of Milkha Singh, an Indian Olympic runner who is also known as the “flying Singh”. The film chronicles the life of the Olympian over three decades, the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s and is being directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra — a director Shafi adores. He is also known for his inspirational film Rang De Basanti.

Meanwhile, Shafi has also been busy with her upcoming Hollywood project Tournament of Shadows. “I had not realised until recently, the magnitude and reach of ‘Alif Allah’ or ‘Jugni’. I was approached for this film, my second Hollywood production, after producers discovered me on YouTube,” she said about Tournament of Shadows which is being directed by Jamil Dehlavi — known for directing Jinnah as well.

“Both the music and story revolve around a very strong theme of spirituality and Sufism.” The film will include two of Shafi’s songs with one showcasing her vocal versatility as she will sing in Persian for the first time. The date of the film’s release is still unknown.

Speaking of her contribution to Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which has been circling the festival circuit lately — to be screened at a special Dare Gala at the British Film Institute (BFI) London Film Festival this month and later at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival — she said: “I am so honoured to count this historical movie in my credits. It’s been great food for thought for the audiences it has catered to so far,” she said. “It is doing festival rounds at the moment and is challenging people to gain some perspective — to question and rethink sensitive issues.”

When asked how she adapted to different film industries such as Bollywood and Hollywood, she admitted she was able to adjust quickly and perform the varying roles she signed up for easily because she was tri-lingual. “Being tri-lingual is definitely one of my strengths and as far as working in different film cultures is concerned, it’s always a pleasure and a great learning experience as you get to work with professionals from all round the world,” she said.

“The only challenging aspect for me has been time management. All of a sudden this year, I was somehow shooting for four movies simultaneously — all in different countries. I had never even imagined being in these shoes. It’s a roller coaster ride and by the grace of God, I didn’t even have to stand in a queue.”

Regarding music, Shafi said that she has been working on some original tracks and producing them at her husband Mahmood Rahman’s production house Pocketwatch. “There is a lot of music I am sitting on right now. I am reviewing the best time to follow a release plan and that time is not right now,” she said. “I would like to be able to accompany my album release with a sizeable tour which many fans and record labels are inquiring about.” She plans on producing music videos as well.

Film Josh selected to screen at Mumbai film festival

KARACHI: 

Pakistani independent films are making waves around the globe. In August this year, Lamha (Seedlings) directed by Mansoor Mujahid rocked the New York City International Film Festival (NYCFF), and now Iram Parveen Bilal’s Josh (Against the Grain) is all set for screening at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival which is organised by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI).

Bilal is known for her award-winning short films Marwa and Poshak, but Josh is her first debut feature. It’s also the only Pakistani fiction film to be screened in the world cinema category through MAMI in the last five years.

The story

Josh is about Fatima, a dedicated school teacher, who is living a high cosmopolitan life in Karachi until one day her life shatters when she finds out her nanny Nusrat inexplicably disappears. Fatima then takes on the challenge to seek the dangerous truth in Nusrat’s feudal village. The themes being tackled are class separation, feudalism, poverty, individual empowerment, and women’s rights.

“I tell everyone that the take on the film is that independence comes through unity,” Bilal says to The Express Tribune. “When the people of a nation, a group of friends, a town, or a village stand united, nothing can come in their way. Underlying themes that are also highlighted are to never give up and one person can make a change,” she says.

Bilal tells us that although Josh has an original script, the story is inspired by true accounts like Parveen Saeed’s concept of “Khana Ghar”. Saeed had established eateries around Karachi’s slums to erase hunger, which also brought down the crime rate. Another reality that the film portrays is feudalism and the acts of revenge cases in feudal villages.

Josh has a promising Pakistani cast, including Aaminah Sheikh, Nyla Jafri, Khalid Malik, Mohib Mirza, Kaiser Khan Nizamanim, Adnan Shah Tipu, Parveen Akbar and Naveen Waqar.“My cast is my jewel!” says the proud director. “We had such an extended ensemble cast and we got lucky because as a whole, it was a delight and they took the project very seriously and respectfully,” Bilal says.

She also stated that she didn’t rely on any foreign technicians for the film. Bilal wanted acomplete Pakistani film crew for the production process. “I have seen way too many films that bring foreign cast and crew members and Pakistanis are just the assistants or sideliners,” Bilal explains, “They shoot and they leave, then we end up with people who don’t have any legitimate experience in a major project.”

Expressing her excitement on being chosen to screen at MAMI, Bilal says: “I was grateful. We have a good film, and we hope it gets into many more festivals. But festivals are as random as college admissions, so I suppose it can be surprising.”

Aside from Josh, Bilal is also very surprised that Kareena Kapoor actually played a character by the name of Iram Parveen Bilal in the controversial film Agent Vinod. “I have to be honest —  it was a bit flattering,” she laughs and continues, “because it’s Bollywood’s leading lady and a major film. I knew it wasn’t random but very much intended. Sriram Raghavan, the director of Agent Vinod, is a friend and a mentor and he loves my name, but the entire name was a bit of a shock  at first and then, just pure fun. I am told Kareena knows about me in detail so I hope she will watch Josh, when it is released in India!”

Aamina: I hope Josh is a journey for the audience, that awakens their spirits, grips their emotions and makes them re-evaluate values that the film explores

Khalid: Fans will enjoy the story and it’s a perpendicular to my otherwise goofy and jovial side on the breakfast show. I get to show my deep insides, I mean my deep side

Naveen: Iram is passionate about her work. She was a joy to be around because she made everything comfortable and fun while being a true professional

Mohib: Fans can learn to believe in themselves and be the change that they need to see in the society

17 October 2012 :::: Showbiz news from Today's NewsPaper

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17 October 2012