Interview: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, the First Pakistani Oscar Nominee
by Nadia Rasul Visual storyteller and Academy Award nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy spoke to Asia Blog recently about the strong tradition of storytelling in Pakistan, the need for spreading awareness and generating dialogue about critical social issues in the country, the impact of digital media technologies on her work and what an Oscar nomination means to her. Chinoy is the first Pakistani to be nominated for an Academy Award for her film Saving Face. Her film, which … Read entire article »
Begum Nusrat Bhutto is dead
Our sincere condolences on the demise of Nusrat Bhutto, wife of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, mother of Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza, Sanam and Shahnawaz Bhutto. Except for Sanam, all members of this family are dead after decades of struggles, infamy, torture and fighting a hostile establishment. Our sympathies to the younger generation – Bilawal, his sisters, Fatima Bhutto and all others who have been traumatised by simply too many deaths. RIP, Begum Saheba. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Benazir Bhutto, video
Considering Slackistan
By Zia Ahmad Slacker: i: a person who shuns or avoids work or other obligations; ii: a person who avoids military service; iii: or an educated person who is antimaterialistic, purposeless, apathetic and usually works in a dead-end job. In 1991, the beginning of Richard Linklater’s seminal feature debut Slacker offered a clear denotation of its title. The film showcased all the variants on the meaning of the word inherently attached with the spirit of Generation X and subsequently … Read entire article »
A Double Whammy for the Cyber Army General
Slowly but surely the cyber army general, more popularly known as Zaid Hamid or “Sir” Zaid by his army of silk mustached self styled patriots or the bevy of monikers that circle around his red beret is clawing his way back to the limelight after his Yusuf Kazab association related lull. Yes, we’ll never let anyone forget of that shady association. Of late he’s been making all sorts of nasty waves by appearing on two … Read entire article »
Punjab Governor Assassinated
Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com … Read entire article »
Filed under: video
Music vs. Militancy
Cross Post from Dawn Blogs By Salman Siddiqui on January 21, 2010 Even though Pakistan is bleeding from terrorism and suicide bombings, no mainstream , pop music artist has come close to condemning or questioning the spread of militancy through music and lyrics. A recent video from The New York Times highlighted this issue, showing how pop acts such as Ali Azmat and Noori were keeping quiet on the subjects of terror, religious extremism, and the Taliban, while railing against America through their songs. In this context, 25-year-old Daniyal Noorani‘s debut effort ‘Finding Heaven,’ which was released on YouTube a few days ago, is encouraging. The daring single takes the Taliban and religious extremists head on, creating quite a buzz online. Dawn.com speaks with Noorani to find out what prompted him to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Blogging, culture, Left, Liberal Democratic Pakistan, Media, Music, Pakistan, video
The Films before the Fanaticism
By Nadeem Farooq Paracha Last weekend I finally managed to get my hands on the DVD versions of two Pakistani films that I had once seen on the big screen many years ago, and was looking to do the same again, but this time in the privacy of my TV lounge. I went looking for them after a friend and I discussed the possibility of finding the cultural roots of what grew into mainstream socio-political extremism and myopia in Pakistan. … Read entire article »
Obituary:Kashmir Broadcasting Corporation
Stop Press: Kashmir Broadcasting Corporation suddenly suspended its satellite transmissions globally after one year of success broadcasting.This incident is most unfortunate and shows a lack of financial backing for independent TV in a climate of global recession.There was no official confirmation of this interruption. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, culture, Democracy, drama, Education, Elections, Europe, History, human rights, Identity, Images, Imperialism, India, Islam, journalism, Justice, Kashmir, land, Languages, Left, Media, minorities, movements, Multinational Corporations, Music, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Partition, Philosophy, Politics, poverty, Punjabi, Religion, Reviews, Rights, Rural, Society, south asia, Taliban, Terrorism, Theatre, Travel, Urdu, video, violence, war, Women, Writers, youth
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
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 »
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Crafts, Books, Cinema, Citizens, culture, Democracy, Education, Europe, Fiction, Heritage, human rights, Identity, Images, India, Islam, Islamabad, journalism, Kashmir, Languages, Left, Literature, magazines, Media, minorities, movements, Music, New Writers, Pakistan, Politics, Religion, Society, south asia, Sufism, Travel, video, Writers, youth
"Musheer" Video- when music articulates politics
by Raza Rumi A group of young firebrand revolutionaries – alas what an alien word it has become these days – has created this fabulous music video. The inspiration is a poem by Habib Jalib called “Musheer” (advisor) that Jalib composed as a satire against Hafiz Jalandari during Ayub Khan’s era. As the man on the guitars, Taimur Rahman says, “It is equally valid today”. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPsr1RnEfWo] The vocalist is ”comrade” Shahram Azhar and Mrs Rahman is in the background. Of course the trio are activists of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party. Taimur Khan helped them produce it. I must say that Shahran’s voice is quite soothing. At least the Left is not dead in Pakistan – we need plural voices against neo-liberalism for an egalitarian and more just Pakistan. A detailed introduction is below: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Left, movements, Music, Pakistan, Politics, video, youth
Pakistan's Media must draw a line – of responsibility & freedom
Afshan Khoja “I was very disturbed after watching the video that Geo and Dawn TV have been airing, where the Lahore bomber runs over a guard to enter the building gate. It is such a traumatic video. DAWN TV went ahead and showed it in slow-motion. This was all without any warnings for disturbing content. While I know PEMRA regulations are ridiculous, there has to be some form of third party accountability system that makes guidelines, if not rules, about what is worth printing and airing and what’s not. We’ve all seen the pictures of dead mutilated bodies in Jang and other newspapers. While there’s no way to determine what’s right or wrong, at least there should be a body of people (civilians) who can talk about where the media should draw the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Lahore, Media, Politics, Terrorism, video
Pakistan: State of Emergency – A Documentary
Readers and visitors might be interested in FRONTLINE/World’s new 20-minute documentary “Pakistan: State of Emergency”, now live on this weblink. I have mixed views about it, but would like to hear other opinions before I rant.. The story investigates Maulana Fazlullah, the young Taliban cleric waging war against the Pakistani government in the beautiful valley of Swat. The story includes the events of November 3rd and Benazir Bhutto’s assasination, and also features interviews with Aitzaz Ahsan, his … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islamism, movements, Pakistan, Politics, Terrorism, video
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