'Miracle in Cell No.7' makes an endearing entrance in Pakistani cinemas
I had the pleasure of going to see the Turkish Film, Miracle in Cell No. 7, brought to us by HKC Entertainment. The theatre was packed with guests that were invited, but what was more surprising about...
View ArticleI feel like I was destined to make films: Sakina Samo
There are a handful of veteran actors who have many a colourful feather in their hats, but not many as colourful as Sakina Samo; an established actor first and now an accomplished film-maker. The...
View ArticleCinema business reels from impact of pandemic
The cinema industry of Pakistan is struggling hard to survive during the ongoing pandemic, where keeping an optimistic approach is the only way forward for stakeholders who have invested millions of...
View ArticleCinemas to reopen across the country from today
National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) allowed the opening of cinema houses across the country, issuing fresh instructions including strict adherence to SOPs, as well as mandatory vaccinations of...
View ArticleWith Zidane back on the sidelines, will Real Madrid make the most of the...
For much of the 2018-19 season, Real Madrid’s campaign has been driven by pessimism and trepidation. From mediocre performances on the field to a lack of purpose off it, the Los Blancos found...
View ArticleWhy is the US making a mountain out of the Masood Azhar molehill?
The United States has introduced a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution to blacklist Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. Azhar is the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (banned in Pakistan...
View ArticleKnock knock! Annabelle is coming home and things are about to get real scary
Following the Marvel path, The Conjuring universe has grown steadily over the last six years through both, the increasing returns that most films in the franchise have delivered and in stature through...
View ArticleIndia’s ‘Operation Isolation’ and the soft power of sports
“Our message is stronger than ever. Please stop the fighting. Please stop the killing. Please drop your guns.” Juan Antonio Samaranch, President International Olympic Committee speaking at the Winter...
View ArticleWhen khudkushi became her only freedom
The sky was a pool of black ink, dusted with stars at midnight. Arsh looked out from the window — she saw many little streets sprawled out below. She had only known these streets from inside the walls...
View ArticleIran and Iraq may not be tourist hot spots, but they offer a spiritual...
I was recently invited to a trip to Iran and Iraq by a group of close friends from Lahore, and as I had never been to these states before, I decided to take the opportunity to visit the shrines...
View ArticleRawalpindi: A chaotic labyrinth, caught between heritage and heresy
In the post-modern world, the topography of the city has undergone a drastic shift. Rapid urbanisation and growing job opportunities have resulted in many cities in the developing world being swamped...
View ArticleRaw and poignant, A Place for Us beautifully sheds light on familial love
It had been some time since I cried while reading a book. And A Place for Us changed that. Fatima Farheen Mirza’s dazzling debut novel tells the story of a South Asian Muslim family living in America....
View ArticleSea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini: A father’s lament of the barbarity we call...
“My dear Marwan, I look at your profile, In the glow of this three-quarter moon, my boy, Your eyelashes like calligraphy, Closed in guileless sleep. I said to you, ‘Hold my hand. Nothing bad will...
View ArticleIs Pakistan’s N-CPEC+ vision finally beginning to take shape?
Pakistan’s unique geostrategic location at the crossroads of East, South, West, and Central Asia enables it to function as the “Zipper of Eurasia”, as I wrote over half a decade ago in September 2015...
View Article'Delhi Gate' to revive the Lahore film industry
After a long hiatus, Pakistani cinema seems to be making a comeback in the walled city of Lahore. A film titled Delhi Gate is in the works there, under the direction of Nadeem Cheema. According to the...
View ArticleStakeholders, government to huddle over ban on Indian films
Pakistan Film Producers Association (PFPA) is preparing their charter of demands and suggestions for the multiple problems that plague the local film industry today. In this connection, a meeting will...
View ArticleI have never been afraid of taking up challenges, says film-maker Sangeeta
Actor-turned-director Sangeeta has announced the release of her upcoming film Sirf Tum Hi To Ho on July 19. On this occasion, cinema owners and stakeholders, celebrated her returning to the industry...
View ArticleGerman film-maker Till Passow has a solution to Pakistani cinema's woes
The Pakistani film industry has seen a revival in recent years with several local productions attaining critical acclaim and some even selling out cinemas to set new revenue records. But with concerns...
View Article‘Thori Setting Thora Pyar’ gearing up for a 2020 release
2020 is already shaping up to be a big year for films in Pakistan. To add to the list of films that have already been announced for the upcoming year, Thori Setting Thora Pyar is all set to hit the...
View ArticleWatch: Teaser of Shaan Shahid's 'Zarrar' is finally here!
Shaan Shahid's upcoming action thriller Zarrar just launched it's first teaser but it doesn't give much away about the film, aside from it having war as it's backdrop. During the video, a bloodied...
View Article