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Tag: Pakistani

  • India asks J&K to stop illegal channels, official unavailable

    MUMBAI: The Indian government has asked the administration in Jammu and Kashmir to take stern action against private cable operators airing illegal Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels. Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has reportedly directed the J&K government to submit a report at the earliest. 

    www.indiantelevision.com could not speak to the director (BP& L) in the information and broadcasting ministry Amit Katoch on the concrete plan of action in spite of several attempts last Friday as his assistant said he was busy.

    Jammu and Kashmir operators reportedly broadcast several channels illegally such as Ary QTV, Saudi Sunnah, Karbala, Saudi Quran, Al Arabia, Paigham, Hidayat, Sehar, Hadi TV, Sehar, Noor, Madani, Bethat, Ahlibat, Falak, Dawn News, Geo News and Ary News. A senior official in New Delhi reportedly said that the Kashmir administration had been asked to file an ATR (action-taken report). 

    While the Pakistani channels show anti-India programmes, those from Saudi preach Wahhabism, a concept of the Sharia law including the banned Peace TV headed by Dr Zakir Naik. A majority of around 5,000 cable operators in the Valley reportedly run these channels. The minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore reportedly said that he had asked the chief secretary Bharat Bhushan Vyas to submit a compliance report. 

    While the government of India has banned these channels, the operators in Kashmir cite the Ranbir Penal Code, a separate law in Kashmir, according to which the ban is not applicable. Reportedly, the I&B ministry meanwhile directed local cable operators (LCOs), multi-system operators (MSOs) and direct-to-home (DTH) platforms to stop the telecast of illegal channels.

    Also Read:

    Kashmir cable TV operators ordered to take off five TV channels

    Ravi Shankar Prasad plans to create a digital ecosystem

  • ‘Neerja:’ The heroine of the hijack!

    ‘Neerja:’ The heroine of the hijack!

    Neerja, the film, is a biographical account of the PanAm air hostess, Neerja Bhanot. However, the disclaimer at the beginning of the film says it is not exactly so. To make this film would be a tricky challenge since Neerja’s image has become larger than life and her acts of valour have become part of legend.

    Neerja sacrificed her life to save hundreds of other in the course of duty and she has since been decorated posthumously by India’s highest gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, besides the Philatelic Department issuing a postage stamp in her honour. Neerja was also awarded by the Pakistan government and the US Justice Department. 

    Neerja, played by Sonam Kapoor, was a daughter of the Bhanots, Harish and Rama, desperately wanted despite already having two sons. Her parents always imbibed the virtues of courage in their daughter, pampered equally by the parents as well as brothers. 

    Neerja is married off in an arranged match and moves with her husband to the Gulf. However, the teachings did not help Neerja in this personal battle when her husband started ill-treating and taunting her for not brining dowry and also for her modelling. The marriage failed and she returned to be with her parents in Mumbai. 

    Neerja then applied for a job with the American airliner, PanAm and was selected and later trained at Miami. She now has overcome the setback in her marriage, has a job, modelling assignments as well as a friend, Shekhar Ravjiani, who is keen to marry her. 

    Neerja was on her first flight as a chief purser on a Mumbai-Frankfurt-New York flight. But, the plane makes an unscheduled stop at Karachi. Here, four Libyan terrorists, dressed in Pakistani security uniforms board the plane. Neerja senses trouble immediately and alerts the flying crew of three who escape from an overhead hatch in the cabin. This was so that the terrorists could not compel them to fly wherever they wished. 

    What followed is what made Neerja a legend and earned her the title of ‘The heroine of the hijack.’ As the senior-most crew member on the flight, she takes charge, pacifies the passengers, communicates with the terrorists and goes on doing all she can to save the situation. 

    The terrorists want the Pakistani authorities to find replacement pilots to fly out. As the hours pass, they want to set an example and kill passengers one by one. Their anger is on the Americans and ask Neerja and other hostesses to collect the passports of all the American passengers on board to identify and kill them to pressurise the Pakistanis. But, Neerja orders her subordinates not to collect American passports. Instead hide them under the seats or get rid of them through the rubbish chute.

    The standoff lasts for over 17 hours when the aircraft battery life ends and the lights go off. The terrorists become frantic and, in desperation, start shooting blindly and chuck grenades in the plane. Neerja acts and opens the door as well as the emergency escape chute. Having done that, she could have been the first one to escape. Having helped all the passengers escape, it is when she is trying to help three unaccompanied children escape, that a terrorist shoots her.

    Director Ram Madhvani has done a competent job ably helped by screenplay writer, Saiwyn Quadras, who has done well to merge Neerja’s marital troubles flashbacks with the hijack scenes. Hijack and terrorism scenes may have been seen many times but the human angle here gives the film much credence. The last part where Neerja opens the aircraft door and lowers the chute is the essence of the film and has solid emotional impact. 

    For Sonam, getting into Neerja’s shoes is a tough task but she manages to get into the skin of the character as the film progresses. Shabana Azmi, Shekhar and Yogendra Tiku have brief parts but are convincing. Terrorists are sinister enough to make an impact.

    Neerja has had a varied opening response at the box office but word of mouth is encouraging. It is such a film that needs to work.

    Producers: Atul Kasbekar, Shanti Sivaram Maini
    Director: Ram Madhvani
    Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani, Yogendra Tiku

    ‘Direct Ishq:’ Also ran

    Benaras has been attracting some filmmakers and writers to weave their stories in this holy city. It is not because of their love for the city or because of any religious leanings. When you want to pit a simple middle class girl against a gun-toting hero juxtaposed with another boy from the same city and similar background having made it big with hard work and honesty, you need a state with a reputation for lawlessness. Therefore it is not surprising that many such films are based in one such Hindi belt locale.

    Direct Ishq is a love triangle in the traditional mode where two guys, a good one and a bad one, fall in love with same girl. The boys in this case are Rajneesh Duggal and Arjun Bijlani, while the girl is Nidhi Subbaiah.

    Nidhi is a pretty and popular girl for the way she conducts herself, full of pep. But she knows her limits and keeps away from any sort of trouble from boys who try to woo her. Rajeev is a local college boy and the leader of the university students’ body. He believes that power comes from being tough. He is always ready to pick a fight and adds to his muscle by being armed with a gun. He is besotted with Nidhi but when it comes to girls, he is tongue tied. He can never make himself gather enough courage to tell her his feelings. 

    Rajneesh enters the scene to complete the triangle. He is another Benaras lad who has got his education in Mumbai and now has his own event management company there. Nidhi is an aspiring singer who wants to make a name for herself and make her family proud. In this event, Rajneesh would be the right person to fulfil her aspirations. While helping her cause, he also falls in love with her.

    The film provides scope for music as well as Benaras kind of action scenes. While nothing is new here, it being a musical also does not count for much as of innumerable songs, just a couple pass muster. Action is routine. 

    Direct Ishq is another also ran.

    Producers: Pradeep K Sharma
    Director: Rajiv S Ruia
    Cast: Rajneesh Duggal, Nidhi Subbaiah, Arjun Bijlani 

     

  • ‘Neerja:’ The heroine of the hijack!

    ‘Neerja:’ The heroine of the hijack!

    Neerja, the film, is a biographical account of the PanAm air hostess, Neerja Bhanot. However, the disclaimer at the beginning of the film says it is not exactly so. To make this film would be a tricky challenge since Neerja’s image has become larger than life and her acts of valour have become part of legend.

    Neerja sacrificed her life to save hundreds of other in the course of duty and she has since been decorated posthumously by India’s highest gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, besides the Philatelic Department issuing a postage stamp in her honour. Neerja was also awarded by the Pakistan government and the US Justice Department. 

    Neerja, played by Sonam Kapoor, was a daughter of the Bhanots, Harish and Rama, desperately wanted despite already having two sons. Her parents always imbibed the virtues of courage in their daughter, pampered equally by the parents as well as brothers. 

    Neerja is married off in an arranged match and moves with her husband to the Gulf. However, the teachings did not help Neerja in this personal battle when her husband started ill-treating and taunting her for not brining dowry and also for her modelling. The marriage failed and she returned to be with her parents in Mumbai. 

    Neerja then applied for a job with the American airliner, PanAm and was selected and later trained at Miami. She now has overcome the setback in her marriage, has a job, modelling assignments as well as a friend, Shekhar Ravjiani, who is keen to marry her. 

    Neerja was on her first flight as a chief purser on a Mumbai-Frankfurt-New York flight. But, the plane makes an unscheduled stop at Karachi. Here, four Libyan terrorists, dressed in Pakistani security uniforms board the plane. Neerja senses trouble immediately and alerts the flying crew of three who escape from an overhead hatch in the cabin. This was so that the terrorists could not compel them to fly wherever they wished. 

    What followed is what made Neerja a legend and earned her the title of ‘The heroine of the hijack.’ As the senior-most crew member on the flight, she takes charge, pacifies the passengers, communicates with the terrorists and goes on doing all she can to save the situation. 

    The terrorists want the Pakistani authorities to find replacement pilots to fly out. As the hours pass, they want to set an example and kill passengers one by one. Their anger is on the Americans and ask Neerja and other hostesses to collect the passports of all the American passengers on board to identify and kill them to pressurise the Pakistanis. But, Neerja orders her subordinates not to collect American passports. Instead hide them under the seats or get rid of them through the rubbish chute.

    The standoff lasts for over 17 hours when the aircraft battery life ends and the lights go off. The terrorists become frantic and, in desperation, start shooting blindly and chuck grenades in the plane. Neerja acts and opens the door as well as the emergency escape chute. Having done that, she could have been the first one to escape. Having helped all the passengers escape, it is when she is trying to help three unaccompanied children escape, that a terrorist shoots her.

    Director Ram Madhvani has done a competent job ably helped by screenplay writer, Saiwyn Quadras, who has done well to merge Neerja’s marital troubles flashbacks with the hijack scenes. Hijack and terrorism scenes may have been seen many times but the human angle here gives the film much credence. The last part where Neerja opens the aircraft door and lowers the chute is the essence of the film and has solid emotional impact. 

    For Sonam, getting into Neerja’s shoes is a tough task but she manages to get into the skin of the character as the film progresses. Shabana Azmi, Shekhar and Yogendra Tiku have brief parts but are convincing. Terrorists are sinister enough to make an impact.

    Neerja has had a varied opening response at the box office but word of mouth is encouraging. It is such a film that needs to work.

    Producers: Atul Kasbekar, Shanti Sivaram Maini
    Director: Ram Madhvani
    Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani, Yogendra Tiku

    ‘Direct Ishq:’ Also ran

    Benaras has been attracting some filmmakers and writers to weave their stories in this holy city. It is not because of their love for the city or because of any religious leanings. When you want to pit a simple middle class girl against a gun-toting hero juxtaposed with another boy from the same city and similar background having made it big with hard work and honesty, you need a state with a reputation for lawlessness. Therefore it is not surprising that many such films are based in one such Hindi belt locale.

    Direct Ishq is a love triangle in the traditional mode where two guys, a good one and a bad one, fall in love with same girl. The boys in this case are Rajneesh Duggal and Arjun Bijlani, while the girl is Nidhi Subbaiah.

    Nidhi is a pretty and popular girl for the way she conducts herself, full of pep. But she knows her limits and keeps away from any sort of trouble from boys who try to woo her. Rajeev is a local college boy and the leader of the university students’ body. He believes that power comes from being tough. He is always ready to pick a fight and adds to his muscle by being armed with a gun. He is besotted with Nidhi but when it comes to girls, he is tongue tied. He can never make himself gather enough courage to tell her his feelings. 

    Rajneesh enters the scene to complete the triangle. He is another Benaras lad who has got his education in Mumbai and now has his own event management company there. Nidhi is an aspiring singer who wants to make a name for herself and make her family proud. In this event, Rajneesh would be the right person to fulfil her aspirations. While helping her cause, he also falls in love with her.

    The film provides scope for music as well as Benaras kind of action scenes. While nothing is new here, it being a musical also does not count for much as of innumerable songs, just a couple pass muster. Action is routine. 

    Direct Ishq is another also ran.

    Producers: Pradeep K Sharma
    Director: Rajiv S Ruia
    Cast: Rajneesh Duggal, Nidhi Subbaiah, Arjun Bijlani 

     

  • Muslim Clerics globally feel posting photos of women on Facebook is un-Islamic

    Muslim Clerics globally feel posting photos of women on Facebook is un-Islamic

    NEW DELHI: A Pakistani website quotes Muslim clerics in India agreeing with their counterparts in Pakistan that posting pictures of girls on Facebook is un-Islamic.

    The website moremag.pk says ‘this problem is not just limited to Pakistan where social media has become subject of criticism but Muslim leaders all over the world are somehow trying to establish their writ on social networks where it is virtually impossible to ban anything permanently.’

    It says Muslim clerics in India have shown reservation on posting pictures of girls on Facebook. The viewpoint is divided and according to few, it is un-Islamic to post pictures of girls on Facebook since it becomes a cause of social evils and creates problems for girls.

    Abul Irfan Naimul Halim of Sunni sect said, “There are so many crimes taking place each day. The animal instincts of men are not sparing girls even within the four walls. In such a case posting pictures is extending an open invitation to such crimes.”

    A Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi also endorses the thoughts of Abdul Irfan. He says that hundreds of Muslims call on helplines asking about if making an account on facebook and twitter is permitted in Islam or not.

    “There is no harm in making accounts on social networks as it is a practice to gain knowledge but posting a picture of women on internet for public without hijab is un-Islamic. Purdah should be practiced if it is important to post a picture”, Maulana Saif added.

    To some, it is better to maintain a physical relation than getting involved in virtual relation because the latter is more deceiving in case one of them is playing with a fake picture.

    But there are few like Ali Nasir Syeed who is of the view that the definition of Purdah should be clear and that there is nothing un-Islamic in posting a picture of facebook or other social networks without hijab.

    To him, coping up with the technological advancement is more important for Muslims today rather than getting lost in vague things.

  • D-Day: A film of great substance

    D-Day: A film of great substance

    MUMBAI: The US Navy Seals entered Pakistani airspace and killed the worlds‘ most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, in an operation given the go-ahead by the country’s President. Many years earlier, Israeli commandoes had a tougher job at hand. They had to travel many miles not to kill a single person in a remote location away from crowds but to save a plane load of Israelis hijacked and held captive at Entebbe Airport in Mombasa, Uganda, and that too in an era of minimal communication technology.

    One always thought that why couldn’t the Indian agencies carry out such an operation and either eliminate or bring back the most wanted Indian from the neighbouring country from where he still calls the shots? But then one thought of a bandit closer home, Veerappan, who was not on a foreign land but roamed the Indian jungles of the south. For 20 long years, he smuggled, poached and killed people without any action. So much for daydreaming about getting someone from another country! Yet, in D-Day, the makers realise that very dream.

    Producers: : DAR Motion Pictures, Emmay Entertainment.
    Director: Nikhil Advani.
    Cast: Arjun Rampal, Irrfan, Rishi Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Shruti, Nasser, K K Raina, Chandan Roy, Shriswara, Dwij.

    D-Day is about a covert operation to pick up of India’s most wanted terrorist and don, Rishi Kapoor, from across the border with an off-the-record okay from the Indian head of the state. A dormant RAW operative, Irrfan (as Wali Khan), staying in Pakistan in the guise of a barber with his wife, Shriswara, and son, Dwij, has blended well with the local population. He is asked to become active. Irrfan is joined by an ex-army man, the ruthless, Arjun Rampal (as Rudra Pratap Singh), an explosive expert from RAW’s UK unit in Huma Qureshi (as Zoya Qureshi) and a petty Mumbai criminal, Akash Dhaiya (as Aslam), who has bought his freedom from death row with this assignment. He has managed to find a job as driver with the don. Rampal has chosen a prostitute’s house being safest for him. Qureshi checks into the very hotel where the don’s son is to wed. The only person who knows the agents on this assignment is the RAW chief, Nassar.

    The four have gathered in Karachi. The don’s son is due to marry a famous cricketer’s daughter at a 5-star hotel. Despite ISI’s insistence that the don should not attend the ceremony, he is determined. This is considered a rare opportunity to grab the don; whoever is blown up in the process is immaterial. The plan is to bomb the hotel venue, stun the security and grab the don soon as he enters. Irrfan has bid adieu to his son and wife for the last time and despatched them off to London to her brother’s house. To mislead the authorities, he sets his house on fire after planting three bodies there to look like his family has been burnt alive.

    The mission starts but a volcano eruption in Europe causes the skies to fill with ash and smoke. All flights to Europe are cancelled. The burning down of a house and deaths are on the news and the beginning of the failure of the mission also begins. Links are soon made between the woman and child, the burnt house and the event of the don’s family. The action is simultaneous. As the mission proceeds, the ISI starts catching on. The four agents are a step ahead and after many blasts and shootouts the don is in their hands. In a last minute debate between Irrfan and Rampal weather to shoot him or to take him alive, he gets away.

    The mission has failed, Irrfan is hurt and you wonder what the other half will have to offer!

    The four gather in a lodge kind of accommodation now knowing how the ISI had got onto them. The ISI pieced together the links and knew at least one of them, Irrfan. They know they are doomed so they might as well stay back and finish the job. Rampal meanwhile has another score to settle. He has developed a soft corner for the prostitute, Shruti Haasan. A local goon has scarred her face. Rampal puts him to rest in one swift moment thus also exhibiting the fighter in him.

    A plan is worked out but the four have more opposition now. They are not only fighting the ISI, even the RAW wants them dead so there is no connection with India if they are caught. They plan a suicide mission. The son’s wedding is at the don’s house now. They plan to drive an explosive-filled car into his house. The plan fails again as the don is being shifted out. The ISI has had enough of him and his maniacal nephew, Chandan Roy, and they want to eliminate both. The four don’t let ISI have that satisfaction and get hold of their target. They are close to Kutch border and the last leap is to take the don across into India.

    D-Day has been written to be a taut action espionage drama which, for a change, does not depict the enemy as a bunch of idiots. Nikhil Advani does a great job of creating a plausible atmosphere be it showing parts of Pakistan or showing the neighbourhoods of Karachi. The film sags a bit towards end when Rampal and Irrfan get into an argument. But the scene thereafter makes up for that. Photography is very good though many viewers may prefer brightness instead of so much light and shade.

    Considering the genre, the film has a surprisingly soothing mix of melody, ghazal and even qawwali with good lyrics. The performances by all are excellent and rating them would be unfair. However, Kapoor as the don and Shriswara as Irrfan’s wife are the surprise packets. Rampal, Irrfan, Huma, and Dhaiya excel. Shruti Haasan in a smaller role is fine.

    D-Day has opened weak in opposition to the youth-oriented Ramaiya Vastavaiya but is expected to get better over the weekend and comfortably earn back its reasonable cost. 

     

     

    Producers: Kumar S Taurani.
    Director: Prabhudheva.
    Cast: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Sonu Sood, Randhir Kapoor, Poonam Dhilon, Vinod Khanna, Paresh Ganatra, Satish Shah, Nassar, Zakir Husain, Govind Namdeo with Prabhudheva and Jacquiline Fernandez in sp app.

    Tips’ Kumar Taurani launches his son Girish with Ramaiya Vastavaiya and the wisest thing to do was to choose a feel good romance and handover the reins to a tried and tested director. In this case, that is Prabhudheva, who has perfect track record in Hindi films so far besides being a top rated choreographer, a plus while directing a youthful romance. To add to that, the film’s title is derived from an evergreen Raj Kapoor romantic number from the film Shri 420. Having done all that, there has been no looking back when it came to promoting the film.

    The film’s theme is as old as the hills: young romance is challenged by family traditions and values and determined by status of families. The lovers have to win over all concerned. The film is a remake of Prabhudheva’s own directorial debut hit in Telugu, Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana, which was itself inspired from Rajshri’s Maine Pyar Kiya and many other films of similar genre.

    Girish Kumar is the only son of the Australia-based millionaire couple Randhir Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon. He is in India and while attending his cousin’s wedding, he meets Shruti Haasan, a good friend of his cousin. Ram tries to flirt with her and then begins Taming of the Shrew, i.e. the usual love-hate moments until suddenly true love happens. Girish is attracted to Sona and her simplicity and the feelings are shared by Shruti as well. Romance is very much in the air. But then there is also a bubble around that air and a time comes for that bubble to burst. The lovers are separated because of status barriers.

    Sonu Sood is Shruti’s elder brother and she is the apple of his eye. He will not let anybody hurt her in anyway and is overly protective of her after the death of his mother. He gives her the best of life and education, his limited resources notwithstanding. He has an aversion to rich people and does not approve of Girish. If Girish has to win the hand of Shruti, he has to accept a challenge Sood throws at him and prove himself. If Sood has an aversion to rich people, for Dhillon it works the other way round, she does not like poor people. Love, of course, has to triumph over status, traditions and all the other hurdles.

    What is creditable about this film is the heavy padding that has been given to the new hero Girish. The film’s supporting cast boasts of Kapoor, Dhillon, Vinod Khanna, Satish Shah, Paresh Ganatra, Nassara nd many other known character artistes so as not to burden the fragile lead cast too much. Prabhudheva has tried to keep the film picturesque with a lot of colour all around as well as with the choice of locations; there is also the inevitable South touch to many scenes. The photography is good and so is choreography. Music, mandatory for a love story, is a positive with some foot tapping and melodious numbers.

    Girish is sincere and for a first film hero, his enthusiasm is evident. Shruti does well as a demure girl in love. Sonu Sood is convincing playing a farmer. While Kapoor, Dhillon, Khanna and Shah are fine, Ganatra manages to evoke laughter.

    Ramaiya Vastavaiya has been well promoted and has opened very well all over and should continue to do well over the weekend.

    Ship Of Theseus, also known as Theseus’ Paradox has its roots in an ancient Greek legend about the king Theseus and the ship he used. The ship was preserved by the Athenians and as its planks decayed, they were replaced with new stronger planks till the time that every plank and part of the ship was new. The question that then rose was this: did it still remain the same ship or was it a new ship? Writer-director Anand Gandhi juxtaposes this philosophical question and its essence with the modern-day scientific triumph of organ donations. If a person lives on donated organs, does he/she still remain who he/she was? The film also explores the effects on three such people who have received transplants.

    Aida El-Kashef is a blind experimental photographer who is due to undergo a cornea transplant. The operation is over and she has regained vision in both her eyes. But she just can’t get used to sense of sight and she feels her photography now does not compare to her intuitive talent earlier.

    Neeraj Kabi is a scholarly monk who leads a sect, a kind of Jain-Buddhist combine. He is fighting a legal battle against the use of animals in medical research. He is diagnosed with cirrhosis of liver but he would rather await his end than take medication that has been tested on animals. But when his ailment becomes unbearable, he concedes and asks for a liver transplant.

    Sohum Shah is a young stockbroker who has just received a kidney transplant. He is back home with his grandmother who sets high standards for all around her. Soon, Shah is back in hospital, taking care of his grandmother who has broken a leg. That is when he learns of a labourer admitted in the hospital for an operation where he learns that his kidney was stolen at the earlier hospital where he was admitted. Shah makes it his mission to find the culprits. He traces the recipient to Stockholm.

    These three are a few of the eight recipients or organs from a single donor, a young adventurer who had died accidently. They are all invited to a museum to watch his video and the kind of work he did.

    The film deals with various aspects of human nature over varying periods and phases in a person’s life. Watching this film makes one get into debate with one’s own self.

    The theme and scripting needed some great research. Direction is outstanding. The choice of locations is amazing and brilliantly captured. Performances by the three protagonists of the three stories, Aida El- Kashet, Neeraj Kabi and Sohum Shah, all first time actors, are true to life. The rest of the cast also supports well. Background score also deserves a special mention.
  • Pakistani actress Meesha makes her Bollywood debut

    Pakistani actress Meesha makes her Bollywood debut

    MUMBAI: Pakistani model, singer and actress Meesha Shafi, who made her movie debut in Mira Nair‘s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, will now be seen in her first Bollywood venture.

    The actress is playing a character named Perizaad, best friend to Farhan Akhtar‘s Milkha Singh in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra‘s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

    Excited about her upcoming movie, Meesha says, “Our cultural heritage and stories are so deeply rooted that it is only natural to relate to the cinema being made here. Art is definitely a universal language and just as Bollywood has a huge audience in Pakistan, Pakistani music has a vast listenership in India.”

    Further, she adds, “Both countries are doing an immense service by bridging gaps and reaching out to the people. In fact I would say that Bollywood and Pakistan have an age-old relationship.”

    Bhaag Milkha Bhaag produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and ROMP Pictures releases on 12 July.

  • American film bags best film award, Pakistani film is best documentary at Indian Queer Filmfest

    American film bags best film award, Pakistani film is best documentary at Indian Queer Filmfest

    NEW DELHI: Morgan directed by Michael Akers from the US has won the Best Narrative Feature Film at the 4th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

    The award, which has a cash prize of Rs 30,000 sponsored by actor Anupam Kher, was handed out at the closing ceremony of the festival over the weekend.

    "We thank the festival for its amazing work in helping to bring film’s such as ours to the audiences who desperately need it," said Akers.

    Urmi directed by Jehangir Jani got the Best Indian Short Narrative film award given away by filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi.

    Actor Crystal Arnette won the first Kashish Best Actor award, instituted by Kher and his acting school Actor Prepares.

    Hide and Seek (Chuppan Chupai) from Pakistan won the Best Documentary Feature award. The film directed by Sadat Munir and Saad Khan is one of the first films that focus on the lives of the gay and transgender community in Pakistan. "Due to the subject matter I knew I will not be able to get much public screening of this film in Pakistan, but I am happy that it screened in India, especially Mumbai, where picture of LGBTIQ acceptance is not the same as elsewhere in South Asia," said Saadat Munir.

    The Best Documentary Short Film award went to the Cambodian film Two Girls against the Rain directed by Sopheak Sao. The Best International Short Narrative Film Award was given to Polaroid Girl directed by April Maxey from the USA.

    The international jury panel comprising filmmaker Aruna Raje Patil, Bollywood actor and model Simone Singh, theatre director Quasar Thakore Padamsee, author and poet Jerry Pinto and Iris Prize director Berwyn Rowlands judged the films.

    The Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker was shared by two young directors Manva Naik for her film Dopehri and Rohan Kanawade for The Lonely Walls (EktyaBhinti).

    More than 130 films from forty countries were screened at the fourth edition of the Festival which commenced from 22 May in Mumbai.

    While China was the Country in focus with more than 12 films, there were LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) films from Iran, Serbia, Slovakia, Pakistan and Morocco. The Filmmaker in focus was American filmmaker and activist Jim Hubbard.

    The Parade from Serbia opened the festival while the late Rituparno Ghosh’s Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish was the closing film.

    The festival was held at Cinemax Versova in Andheri and at Alliance Française de Bombay.
    KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is the first and only gay and lesbian film festival in India to be held in a mainstream theatre and one of the first queer festivals to receive clearance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    Saagar Gupta, festival programmer said: "This year KASHISH programmed the biggest collection of films and from countries that were very diverse, including countries where making films on LGBT themes is challenging. Also keeping in tune with this year‘s themes of ‘Towards Change‘ there were several outstanding documentaries including Vito, United in Anger, Call Me Kuchu, Hide & Seek, Invisible Men, Not A man in Sight and …And The Unclaimed. These films showcased stories of struggle, trauma and happiness of LGBT persons across the world."

  • Renowned Pakistani comic-duo Irfan Malik and Ali Hassan to act in Indian series on Doordarshan

    Renowned Pakistani comic-duo Irfan Malik and Ali Hassan to act in Indian series on Doordarshan

    NEW DELHI: Exulting over the revamping of the prime time programming of Doordarshan’s national channel which had resulted in rich harvest, DD director general Tripurari Sharan said a major reason for this had been the aggressive marketing that was being done.

     

    He said that cross-channel promotion within the network and social media were the new trends apart from print and banner advertisements.

     

    He was speaking on the sidelines of a press meet to announce the participation of two renowned Pakistani stand-up comedians Irfan Malik and Ali Hassan as actors in the series ‘Yeh Zindagi Hai Gulshan’ directed by well-known filmmaker Suhail Ilyasi and co-produced by him and Mushtaq Bala, an award-winning filmmaker. The series also stars veterans like Pankaj Dheer, Raza Murad, and Zarina Wahab.

     

    However, he admitted that there were some inhibitions within Doordarshan about cross-channel promotion in private channels as some of them were rival channels. He also added that cost benefit analysis was also necessary to decide the most relevant channel for advertising DD programmes.

     

    He said that a major change had also been made by introducing programmes that appealed to all age groups including the young, with programmes like ‘Yeh hai India meri Jaan’ and ‘Yeh Zindagi hai gulshan’ which had social messages as well. He said even a programme like ‘Byomkesh Bakshi’ starring Rajit Kapur which had been made about two decades earlier had shown high ratings during prime time.

     

    Doordarshan had also experimented with simulcast with other private channels with programmes like ‘Satyamev Jayate’, ‘Coke Studio’, and the on-going ‘Saraswati Chandra’.

     

    Ilyasi described the participation of the two comedians in the series as a new beginning in Indo-Pak relations, and said this was the first time the two were coming as actors in any series. Until now, they have only been taking part in reality shows.

    Hassan said that the Indian series ‘Yeh Zindagi hai Gulshan’ was very popular in Pakistan, and also said that Doordarshan was seen by a large number of people in his country.

     

    He revealed that he and Malik had been working independently as stand-up comedians in Pakistan, and it was only when they were invited to India in ‘Laughter Challenge’ that they teamed up as a duo. He said that they owed this new avatar to India as it had proved very successful.

     

    He said artistes spread friendship. Asked about their role in the series, he said he enacts the role of the hero’s father while Malik playes the role of his wife’s sister.

     

    Malik said in answer to a question that it was wrong to say that Indian artistes were not allowed to take part in Pakistan television channels. He said that singers like Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi had taken part in reality shows on channels like ‘Hum’ and ‘Ary’. However, people in India did not know this as India does not allow Pakistani channels to be beamed here.

     

    The series, aired on Doordarshan every Saturday and Sunday at 8.30 pm, is a love story of a progressive Muslim girl. The serial is a first of its kind Muslim social television serial.

     

    The concept of the serial ‘Yeh Zindagi Hai Gulshan’ is based on ‘Shariah’ which has given equal rights to women to pursue their development. The serial has a powerful story to promote education among girls and self awareness of their rights.

  • Naseerudin Shah in Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag

    Naseerudin Shah in Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag

    MUMBAI: Much to the astonishment of the scores of Pakistani film and music artistes, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah promptly went to the neighbouring land to finish a film titled Zinda Bhaag that centres around the desperate urge of youth to find a better life abroad.

    Shah plays an agent involved in illegal immigration. “He has different illegal businesses and one of them is to give hope of a dream life to youth, and (he) coaxes youngsters into giving him all their money.

    The actor returned to India recently after completing a seven-day spell of shooting. Earlier last month, he had visited Lahore to familiarise himself with the city and also to conduct a week-long workshop with a group of newcomers who were acting in a film for the first time in their life.

    This is not the first time that Shah is doing a Pakistani film. Earlier, he played a key role in the 2007 made film, Khuda Ke Liye.

    The film revolves around the youngsters’ urge to find a short cut to a life abroad. Hence it has been aptly titled Zinda Bhaag. The film has been co-directed by Indian-born Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi and produced by Mazhar Zaidi.

  • Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai to release on 3 February

    Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai to release on 3 February

    MUMBAI: Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai, produced by Nitin Manmohan under his banner One Up Entertainment, is being readied for release on 3 February, next year.

    Directed by Rumy Jafry, the film features Akshaye Khanna and Shriya Saran in the lead.

    “I suppose the average Indian‘s tolerance power has reached breaking-point. When we started Gali-Gali Mein Shor Hai, Anna Hazare‘s campaign and all its offshoots had just started. As we completed the film we realised how deep-rooted people‘s resentment against corruption had become,” Jafry told reporters.

    While Akshaye Khanna plays a frustrated, disillusioned common man in the film, Shriya plays his wife. Mugdha Godse essays the role of a call centre employee.

    The film also has an item number The item bomb Channo picturised on Pakistani actress Veena Malik.