Muslim Social Gandasa in Pushto: A brief rundown of Pakistani film genres
By Zia Ahmad Genre films are best exemplified by Westerns, Sci Fi, Musicals, Action/Adventures and any number of such labels that are designed to lump films together that share certain similarities. Such commonalities may be tonal (Film Noir, Horror), conceptual (Sci Fi, Fantasy) or textual (Biopic, Period Drama, War) in nature. Genres enable the viewers to form certain expectations from films that work as an identifying device. For instance, with the knowledge of watching a Film Noir, the viewer anticipates the basic set of conventions and motifs that operates as a comforting and familiar visual as well as a cerebral experience. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts, Cinema, culture, Pakistan
VIVA LA BRADISTAN MELA
THIS IS BRADISTAN (courtesy Daily Times - this article was first published.Sir Cam was the Guest columnist for Bradistan from Mela 2003.Dil Nawaz’s comments and updates for2008 will appear within brackets 2009 Mela will be held on weekend of 13th and 14th of June 2009) Here in was a mighty fusion of cultures: Eastern, Western, English, Pakistani, Indian, African, Arab and others — a potpourri of sounds, smells, and sights … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts, Cinema, Citizens, culture, Dance, drama, Europe, Heritage, History, Humor, Identity, Images, Imperialism, India, Islam, Languages, Literature, Media, minorities, Pakistan, Photos, poetry, Politics, Punjabi, Reviews, Society, south asia, Sufism, Theatre, Travel, video, youth
Of Zombies and Baby
With Shoaib Mansoor’s big and important Khuda Kay Liye along with Mehreen Jabbar’s humanist Ramchand Pakistani, Omar Khan’s Zibahkhana rounded up 2008 as a fruitful year for Pakistani cinema. Unfortunately, rather than continuing the trend, the subsequent year has been overshadowed by fundamentalist experiments in Swat, monumentally insipid performance by an elected government and uncertainty coming to fore as the defining Pakistani adjective. Nonetheless, Zibahkhana made a significant impression in niche circles here, there and everywhere. The greatest strength of Omar Khan’s Zibahkhana is that it follows an oft-used template for a genre zombie horror film and then scrupulously molds it in a thoroughly indigenous Pakistani artwork. But then again, according to some self appointed custodians of culture, artwork per se is required to be looked up to, to be appreciated … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts, Cinema, culture, Identity, Pakistan, Reviews, youth
Interview:British-Pakistani Novelist Tariq Mehmood
UK Political Debate: Q & A with Tariq Mehmood Tariq Mehmood is a broadcaster, writer and filmmaker. His first two novels are both set in Bradford UK. He has published two illustrated books for children. Tariq co-directed the award winning documentary Injustice. He is the editor of Sangi, the only magazine in his mother tongue, Pothowari in UK. Tariq and Rock musician Aki Nawaz host the Political Show “The Point” in UK on sky satellite 836. Tariq is visiting Pakistan to cover current political situation. … Read entire article »
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7th KARAFILM FESTIVAL CLOSES!
Press release by the organisers The 7th KaraFilm Festival – Karachi International Film Festival 2009 – which kicked off on February 4th, drew to a close on Sunday, 15th February, with an informal closing ceremony attended by celebrities, filmmakers, foreign mission representatives and film aficionados where the jury awards were announced. The closing ceremony, scaled down in size from the 6th KaraFilm Festival because of a resource crunch, followed a boisterous last screening of the feel-good American film “Mamma Mia!” based on the songs of the Swedish pop group Abba. The closing capped 12 days of screenings and events that showcased over 140 films from the 230 odd films initially selected. Films from some 44 countries participated in Pakistan’s premiere international film festival. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cinema
Ramchand Pakistani: A Film that Begs to Differ
Aisha Sarwari reviews the new film by Mehreen Jabbar When India makes a movie about Pakistan it’s about how bad the Pakistan Army is, and when Pakistan makes a movie about India it is about how bad Hindus are. Between Lollywood and Bollywood you have a mesh of equally shallow, intellectually famished products that have more song and dance or appeal to violence, than it has a story line. Mehreen Jabbar has chiseled away the Hindu India … Read entire article »
Review of Indian Movie 'Jab We Met'
posted by Soniah Kamal ‘Jab We Met’ (2007) is a prime example of an Indian movie meshing traditional and modern India in its characters but coming off confused. Poor little rich boy Aditya (played perfectly by Shahid Kapoor) and madcap Geet (Kareena Kapoor) meet on a train, the singular motif in the movie and, as such, one which hinges on all the usual cliches: life equals train tracks, decisions equal getting on or off trains and, most banal, because Geet keeps missing her trains she and Aditya are thrown together on a journey which will eventually lead to their…but let me not spoil the hackneyed ending. Karina plays quite well the scatterbrained, chatterbox if slightly irritating Geet, a girl so full of life her words bubble over, her laugh is a … Read entire article »
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