Planet Lollywood: 2013-05-05

Friday, May 10, 2013

Vote For PTI (Promotional Video)

Special Promotional Video For PTI. Made By Us (Aone Film Production)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

10 Reasons Why Chambaili is a must watch

1. Ehteshamuddin:

The theatre actor and director, who has also tried his hand at television, is definitely the highlight of Chambaili. He is a perfect fit for his role at Musa, the idealist journalist-poet who leads his friends to stand up against an influential politician and his son.

2. Dialogues:

Extremely well-written lines, particularly for Ehteshamuddin, are really the icing on the cake. The Urdu is crisp and clear, unlike the terrible language we hear on TV nowadays. There is no mixing with English, neither is there the Bollywood influence. The dialogues are so good that they manage to make an impression even with Shahzad Nawaz’s sub-par acting.

3. Pro-democracy:

Although the film is certainly a little soft on the military and its role in Pakistani politics, I would disagree that Chambaili is anti-democracy. In fact, in its essence, the film is thoroughly pro-democracy as it urges the viewers to do nothing more than exercise a civic, political duty: vote.

4. Message of pluralism:

The main analogy in the film is Prophet Moses (RA) and Pharaoh and one of the main characters is quite clearly Shia. In the end, the new president specifically addresses all Pakistanis, who are shown praying in a church, a gurudwara as well as a Hindu temple. Secondly, on the wall where Maira Khan’s character has put up framed pictures of all the revolutionaries of the world, Gandhi’s photograph is prominently displayed.

5. No preaching:

Overall, Chambaili is a great, great film that successfully transmits a very strong message without being preachy. The film manages to be patriotic without being jingoistic.

6. Clever making:

Full credit to producers Shahzad Nawaz and Abdullah Kadwani, and director Ismail Jilani for the brilliant idea of setting the film in a mythical country called Mulk-e-Khudadad (Country given by God). The country has an uncanny resemblance to Pakistan, but since it isn’t Pakistan, the makers were able to say everything and anything about the country.

7. Kiran:

The character, played by Maira Khan, is one of my favourite parts about the film. She is known as a true, strong idealist who says it as it is and refuses to back down when her brothers/male family members are contemplating calling off their strike. She is the one who stands up for what’s right and is the epitome of the strength of a woman. Through her character, the film reaches out to women in a way that few other films do – even in Bollywood.

8. A well-integrated plot:

For a film that touches upon such a vast number of issues, Chambaili is very well-paced and all the issues weave in coherently to form a strong plot, without making the film a drag.

9. It’s a Pakistani product through and through:

Have you ever complained about why Pakistanis cannot make good films? Well, here’s your chance to be part of something that could spell the revival of indigenous Pakistani cinema.

10. Better than what else is available:

Aashiqui 2 and Oblivion are just bad, bad films. Your money will be better spent on Chambaili.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Reema Ka Amreeka Episode1 & 2 (27 Apr & 4 May 2013)

Reema Ka Amreeka Ep1(27th April 2013) (YouTube)

Reema Ka Amreeka (Ep2)(4th May 2013) (Tune Pk)

Reema Ka Amreeka (4th May 2013) (YouTube)

1st HumTv Awards (28th April 2013)

1st HumTv Awards HD (28th April 2013) (Link 1,2,3)

1st HumTv Awards SD (28th April 2013) (Single Link)

Making Of 1st HumTv Awards

Monday, May 6, 2013

Dil Mera Dhadkan Teri (3rd May) (Tarang Housefull Telefilm)

Dil Mera Dhadkan Teri (Playwire)

Dil Mera Dhadkan Teri (Youtube Part 1)

Dil Mera Dhadkan Teri (Youtube Part 2)

Madventures – 3rd May (Ep 11)

Madventures – 3rd May (Ep 11) (Dailymotion Link)

Madventures – 3rd May (Ep 11) (Youtube Link)

PNMS - Ep 10 & 11 - 27Apr & 4May 2013

PNMS - Ep 10 - 27 April 2013

PNMS - Ep 11 - 4 May 2013

Salahuddin’s Mega Serial Heer Ranjha gets dubbed for Chinese audience

While the Pakistani television industry feels threatened by international content seeping through to our TV screens, it seems that some creative minds, like Yousuf Salahuddin, are actually working to take Pakistani content across borders.

Cultural and social icon Salahuddin, popularly known as Mian Salli, is proud to announce that his big budget production Heer Ranjha will be the second Pakistani drama to be dubbed in Chinese, after Waris which was written by Amjad Islam Amjad. Mian Salli feels that the project is an opportunity to promote Pakistani heritage.

“The beauty of Heer Ranjha is that it takes you back in time,” says Salli, about the folklore which has been immensely popular locally and internationally, both.

Giving details about his musical play, Salli says that Heer Ranjha is made for the wider masses and aims to bring Pakistanis back to owning their culture.

“I want to reach out to my people,” says Salli. “I am not here to make money — I have not made any money in all of this.” He also points out that PTV is a government institution and works in the same manner.

While the play was penned down by Aqueel Ruby, Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah was responsible for the narration. Pakistani TV actor Ahsan Khan and model-actor Zaria Butt are in the lead roles of Heer Ranjha, and other cast members include Shafqat Cheema and Rambo.

The project started in February last year, and was wrapped up about two weeks ago.

“The whole technique is purely Pakistani,” explains Salli. “The main thing is that the project is close to reality. I used furniture which is 200 years old and tapestries which are over a 100 years old — all of the locations are a 100% real.”

Salli shares that the recently launched original soundtrack is now available in most markets across Pakistan. The music features Rahat Fateh Ali Khan alongside Sahir Ali Bagga, who is also the producer of the album. Salli has written the lyrics for majority of the songs and the soundtrack also includes the voices of Hina Nasrullah, Fariha Parvez, Humera Channa, Sanam Marvi and Malaika Ali.

The success of his drama venture has opened doors for his next large-scale project which is on the life of Emperor Jahangir. This will also be a musical and may have up to 20 episodes. His inspiration for the new musical came from the style in which BBC dramas such as Tudors have been shot. The play’s script is being written now and Salli may start to shoot it by September.

“We may not have that much of a budget but what we do have, are the most amazing places to shoot,” says Salli. “We have the entire fort, Shalimar Bagh and all the other Mughal monuments. I will not go for sets.”

Promoting Culture

Yousuf Salahuddin is one of the biggest cultural advocates of basant (spring season). He says that the banning of basant has played a negative role for the cultural activities in Lahore.

“There were a few meetings that were held [regarding basant], but nothing came out of it,” explains Salahuddin. “I think it’s sad that basant is celebrated all over Punjab but not in Lahore. To take basant out of Lahore is killing the city and its whole culture — these things lead the young generation to look towards India or the West.”