Category: Entertainment

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  The uber-talented musician Jay Kadn recently released his new song “Akhiyaan” – the senti song of summer 2023, starring the beautiful leading Pakistani actress Mashal Khan and produced by Vee much to the across the borders music lovers’ delight.

Inspired from and a tribute to Akheeya by 5RB, the heart-touching song “Akhiyaan” by the music label Moviebox (Birmingham) Ltd. Has garnered 1.8 million views within 7 days of its release and is continuing to rise in popularity every day.

After a 6-year hiatus from the UK music scene, award-winning music producer Vee is back with a fresh new international spin on this UK classic “Akhiyaan” with super smooth vocals by Jay Kadn, an artist Vee has mentored for 14 years, and additional vocals from Shujat and Faizan Fateh Ali Khan, which makes this song a must-listen for all.

Since its release in April 2023 in India, Pakistan and the rest of the world, “Akhiyaan” has gone on to rule the hearts of music lovers globally. With Vee, the prodigy behind Guru Randhawa – one of the biggest South Asian artists in the world, it is no surprise that “Akhiyaan” is set to become a chart topper.

With over 30 Million views on Youtube and 5 UK BBCAN Number 1’s, the recording artist, songwriter, musician, and performer Jay Kadn not only enjoys a great South Asian fan following but has also become a name associated with major music labels including T-Series, Yash Raj Films, SaReGaMa, Sony Music, and has also recently worked with music mogul & super producer Timbaland on his newly launched platform called Beatclub.

The leading Indian music producer Vee with mega hits like Lahore and High Rated Gabru under his belt, the stellar actress Mashal Khan of Parizaad and Suno Chanda fame, and the polished singer Jay Kadn on vocals have all come together for this fantastic musical collaboration that has turned out to be a complete treat for music lovers.

   

Lahore (Qasim Ali)

Ajoka theatre is marking the 5th death anniversary of its founder and theatre icon, Madeeha’s Gauhar with two exclusive performances of its latest production, “Uddan Haaray” . The play will be performed on 5th and 6th May in Hall2 of Alhamra Arts Council.

Written and directed by Shahid Nadeem, the play has been developed from oral history interviews of partition survivors, in collaboration with the Citizens Archive of Pakistan. The play premiered at the National History Museum at Greater Iqbal Park.

Ajoka’s Executive Director Shahid Nadeem said that “Uddanhaare” is the story of young partition survivor Akhlaq and his friend Haleema, interwoven with the enduring love of two pigeons, Raja and Rani.

The performances are a tribute to Madeeha Gauhar in recognition of her undying commitment to peace, he added. The first performance on 5 May will be preceded by a short tribute to Madeeha. Both performances are free and are presented in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  Ayesha Omar, the talented and versatile actress, has recently wrapped up shoot for film ‘Taxali.’ This film promises to be an intense and issue-based project that explores important societal concerns.

Written and directed by Abu Aleeha, the film has been shot in the historical Walled City of Lahore, adding a unique visual dimension to the film’s narrative. ‘Taxali’ is expected to be an engaging and thought-provoking cinematic experience for audiences.

Ayesha Omar, who has become a household name in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, is extremely hopeful and excited about the project. “I am thrilled to be part of ‘Taxali’ and to work with Abu Aleeha, who is a talented filmmaker. I am excited to take on this challenging role and bring this story to life on the big screen. We wanted to keep it completely under wraps until we had shot major chunks of the film.” said Ayesha Omar.

The official release date for ‘Taxali’ will be announced soon, and the movie is expected to have a theatrical release in Pakistan as well as being sent to major festivals worldwide. Fans of Ayesha Omar can’t wait to see her deliver yet another powerful performance and eagerly anticipate further updates on this exciting project. Stay tuned for more news about ‘Taxali.’

 

Ayesha’s Instagram:

https://instagram.com/ayesha.m.omar?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

The biggest Punjabi blockbuster of all time, Maula Jatt is unstoppable as it gets a re-release on Eid six months after release worldwide. The Punjabi film scene experienced a phenomenal achievement with ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt,’ which shattered all expectations by becoming not only the top-earning Punjabi film ever but also the most successful South Asian film in the UK from 2018 to 2022. Garnering an astonishing £1,480,000 from a mere 79 screens, the film boasted a screen average of £18,734, enabling it to outpace mainstream Bollywood films with considerably larger budgets and broader releases in both the UK and the US. In the intensely competitive US market, the film managed an extraordinary screen average of $12,687 across 89 screens, outstripping the worldwide hit RRR, which recorded a screen average of $10,833 from a 1,200-screen release. Additionally, The Legend of Maula Jatt exceeded RRR’s screen average in the UK, Canada, and the US. Having screened for 27weeks in Pakistan, the film has already accumulated over six times the nation’s prior box office record. With an international release on a modest 500 screens, ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ has raked in over $13.8 million USD and is slated for release in even more territories with dubbing including Turkey, Russia, Korea and China. One crucial aspect that sets this movie apart is its dedicated cult following, which has enticed viewers to travel great distances to see the film, even with its limited screen availability. The movie’s merchandise has also made a splash, with items like a replica of the ‘Gandasa’ weapon from the film fetching $50,000 at a Toronto auction last month. The film, which has become a modern day classic drew viewers to travel long distances despite limited screen availability. Hence cinemas overseas are giving the film another theatrical run on Eid. The film has completed its 27 weeks in Pakistani cinemas today and will be available to watch on Eid.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Popular short video platform TikTok has released its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for Q4 2022 (October-December 2022), building on its commitment to a multi-pronged approach to stop misinformation on the platform. The report reflects the platform’s ongoing commitment to earning trust by being accountable while working to be safe and welcoming.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, total number of videos removed globally was 85,680,819, which represents about 0.6% of all videos uploaded to TikTok. A total of 46,836,047 videos were removed by automation, while 5,477,549 videos were restored.

Pakistan saw the removal of 12,628,267 videos for violating Community Guidelines in Q4 2022. In addition to removing accounts for violating Community Guidelines, the platform also removed accounts determined to be spam, along with spam videos posted by those accounts. It also took proactive measures to prevent spam accounts from being created through automated means.

In Q4, 89.7% of the violative videos in Pakistan were removed before anyone could view them and 95.5% of such videos were removed within a day. The proactive removal rate in Q4 2022 was 98.8%.

Additionally, 17,877,316 accounts that were suspected to be of users under the age of 13 were removed globally in Q4. 54,453,610 fake accounts were also removed during the fourth quarter.

TikTok’s Community Guidelines are designed to foster an experience that prioritizes safety, inclusion, and authenticity. TikTok’s policies apply to everyone and all content, and it strives to be consistent and equitable in its enforcement.

TikTok uses a combination of innovative technology and people to identify, review, and take action regarding content that violates the platform’s policies. The quarterly Community Guidelines Engagement report provides insights into the volume and nature of content and accounts removed from the platform. To access the full report for Q4 2022, visit TikTok’s Transparency Centre.

To learn more about TikTok’s content guidelines, tools and policies on TikTok, refer to the Community Guidelines.

Khoon Hai Karachi Ka From ‘DAADAL’ Movie Launched Amidst Much Excitement by Laaj Productions.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

The highly anticipated movie ‘Daadal’ by Laaj Productions and B13 Productions under the banner of Eveready Pictures, released its high-octane song Khoon Hai Karachi Ka featuring Sonya Hussyn and Eva B. in their first ever collaboration held in Karachi.

The upcoming action-packed Pakistani movie ‘Daadal’ starring Sonya Hussyn and Mohsin Abbas Haider in pivotal roles by will be hitting theatres nationwide on Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. Produced by Neha Laaj & Asif Malik, co-produced by Faisal Malik & Jahanzaib Khan, the movie boasts an uber-talented cast including Adnan Shah Tipu, Shamoon Abbasi, Maira Khan, Hassan Jawed, and Rizwan Ali Jaffri.

‘Daadal’ is a crime mystery revolving around a well-known female boxer from Lyari who becomes a contract killer in order to avenge her sister’s honor. The trailer offers a glimpse into the thrilling world of boxing and burgeoning gang wars while promising a nail-biting experience for the audiences looking forward to witnessing the stellar performances by the much-loved leading cast on the big screen.

“Daadal is a story about women owning their power and seeking justice. It’s a labour of a lot of hard work and love. I hope people will appreciate the film that we: my cast, crew & I have put our heart and soul into to bring to you”, stated the Daadal Producer & CEO of Laaj Productions – Neha Laaj on the occasion of its song launch. Neha Laaj is well renowned for her previous production Chaudhry – The Martyr (2022), and is currently working on Meraj, an ISPR project and Aik Thi Rani a partition era story.

Laaj Productions’ much awaited mystery action crime thriller ‘Daadal’ is releasing worldwide on Eid Ul Fitr 2023 and will be distributed by Eveready Pictures.

Watch ‘Daadal’ Trailer online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_J8ndJoGwk

Watch ‘Khoon Hai Karachi Ka’ from Daadal online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WDNBAmT9Kk

 

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Popular short-video platform TikTok has announced a new feature that allows users to refresh their For You feed if they feel that their recommendations are no longer relevant. This new feature is part of TikTok’s ongoing efforts to ensure an enjoyable viewing experience for its users while also enabling self-expression. The For You feed is a feature that helps TikTok users discover a diversity of content, creators, communities, and products. However, there are times when people’s recommendations don’t feel relevant anymore, or provide enough variety. To address this, TikTok is rolling out a way for users to refresh their For You feed recommendations, which allows them to view content as if they just signed up for TikTok. The recommendation system will then surface more content based on new interactions. This feature adds to a number of content controls that TikTok users already have to shape their experience, including the ability to filter out videos that use specific hashtags or phrases from their For You feeds, and to skip future videos from a particular creator or that use a particular sound. Enabling the refresh feature won’t override any settings users have already chosen to enable or impact accounts they’ve followed. TikTok is constantly working to provide an enjoyable viewing experience and takes multiple approaches to help safeguard its platform. For instance, TikTok removes content that breaks its rules, makes inappropriate content ineligible for recommendation into For You feeds, minimizes recommendations of topics that could have a negative impact if viewed repeatedly, and filters out content with complex or mature themes from teen accounts. An inherent challenge of any recommendation system is ensuring the breadth of content surfaced to a viewer isn’t too narrow or too repetitive. TikTok is intently focused on this challenge and works to design a system that intersperses a variety of topics. The system generally won’t serve two videos in a row made by the same creator or that use the same sound, and TikTok tries to avoid showing people something they’ve seen before. TikTok understands that people express themselves in all sorts of ways on the platform – including when they’re feeling down or are going through a difficult life experience. With this in mind, TikTok’s approach is to remove content that promotes or glorifies self-injury or other policies, while allowing recovery or educational content, with limits on how often such recovery or educational content is eligible for a recommendation. Over the last year, TikTok has implemented over 15 updates to improve its systems, along with expanding to support more languages. Its trust and safety and product teams partner to drive this work, which is informed by academic literature and consultation with experts, such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital in the US. TikTok will continue these efforts as it strives to recommend a diversity of content to enable an enriching discovery experience. The platform is determined to provide both a welcoming space for self-expression and an enjoyable environment for its community. 

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

PLAYBACK RECORDS IS THE NEW RECORD LABEL LAUNCHED BY AAA REELS PRODUCTION AND PLAYBACK CREATIVES BASED IN DUBAI.

Maaf Karde – By Mustafa Zahid Composed by Fakhar Abbas, Lyrics by Muhammad Mueen Produced by Atif Ali and Farhan Gilani and Recorded at Playback Creatives, Dubai Video Produced in Georgia by AAA Reels Production, Dubai PLAYBACK RECORDS PRESENTATION Mustafa Launches Highly-Anticipated New Humd – Maaf Karde with the New Record Label “ Playback Records” Fans and critics alike have been eagerly anticipating Mustafa Zahid’s latest release, and Maaf Karde is sure to exceed expectations. With its unique characteristics, Maaf Karde is poised to become a soulful journey among everyone during Ramadan. With its soothing tones and soulful lyrics, Maaf Karde” melts hearts. Prepare yourself, because a brand-new Hamd has made its way onto the charts and is sure to melt your hearts. You would be transported into a different world of spiritual emotions and feelings by its lyrical words and calming tones. For anyone who truly likes Hamds, “Mustafa Zahid” has put all of his passion into the Hamd, making it a must-listen. It has been eagerly awaited for a very long time for the publication of this Hamd, and it has now arrived. Anyone who has experienced hardships and found themselves battling heartbreak or pain and pleading with God for forgiveness can relate to the hamd’s lyrics. The vocals in this hamd are tremendously powerful and passionate, expressing each feeling and emotion with depth and honesty. It is a convincing demonstration of the musician’s capacity to write a hamd that is sincere and relatable. This Hamd’s emotional and visceral material has already won praise from many critics, who predict it will become a huge hit. It is a lovely narration that will strike a chord with everyone who has ever experienced the weight of pleading with Allah for mercy. Behind this Hamd is the voice of Mustafa, who is renowned for their amazing melodies and distinctive style. He has been in the business for a while, and with each new release, his reputation only gets better. He has often shown his ability to produce some of the most exquisite and affecting music imaginable. Overall, anyone who enjoys music and values sincere, honest expression should own this Hamd. Millions of Muslims around the world will be moved by this musical masterpiece, which will endure the test of time. Playback Records has been hard at content creation, honing their craft and creating new music for their fans. Their latest Ramadan releases are a testament to their dedication to their craft and their commitment to creating content that resonates with people from all walks of life. The new releases comes as the launch of the Record Label “Playback Records” and is sure to keep fans eagerly anticipating what’s next. The Tracks has been produced at Playback Creatives and Videos shot in Georgia by AAA Reels Production. Produced by Atif Ali and Farhan Gilani, Composed by Fakhar Abbas and Lyrics by Muhammad Mueen.

Lahore (Qasim Ali)

Ajoka theatre’s new play “Uddan Haaray” enthralled the audiences at Alhamra Hall 2 last evening.

Written and directed by Ajoka’s executive director Shahid Nadeem, who developed this play from oral history interviews recorded by the National History Museum.

Shahid Nadeem, in his opening remarks, said “Uddan Haaray” is not just a tale of hate and violence but also of noble human values of hope, peace and humanity. It reflects the pain and anguish of the people who migrated across the border during the 1947 riots.

Lahore Arts Council Chairman Syed Qasim Ali Shah was the Chief Guest on Monday. In his speech at the end, he congratulated Ajoka for a perfect theatrical performance and for its leading role in keeping socially meaningful theatre alive. He also paid tribute to Shahid Nadeem for his lifelong conteubution to theatre. attended the performance on Monday

The play was performed in front of an appreciative audience by Ajoka’s talented team which included theatre senior artist such as Naseem Abbas, Sarfraz Ansari , Razia Malik, Qaisar Khan, Shehzad Sadiq, Usman Zia, Omar Bhatti and Kanwal Khan. Other cast included Rabil Butt , Fizza Jamal, Yusra Irfan, Luke Kelvin, Nyle Imtiaz, Rai Ali, Fizza Tirmazi and Anish Khan. Singers included Kanwal Christopher and Anika Malik.

The play revealed the story of young Akhlaq and his friend Haleema which was interwoven with the enduring love of two pigeons, Raja and Rani. With this story in the backdrop the play revisits the wounds and traumas of the events from 75 years ago which took place in a princely state of East Punjab and other parts of sub continent.

Earlier, Ajoka premiered the play on Saturday at the Open-air space at National History Museum in Greater Iqbal Park, on the site where the Pakistan Resolution was passed.

The play was presented in collaboration with Citizens Archive Pakistan and Lahore Arts Council.

Lahore (Qasim Ali)

Ajoka Theatre’s new play “ Uddan Haaray “ is set to premiere at the National History Museum on Saturday 18 March. The play has been written and directed by Shahid Nadeem and was developed from personal testimonies collected and archived by The Citizens Archive of Pakistan. The play will be premiered at the National History Museum’s open-air arena in Greater Iqbal Park, on the site where Pakistan Resolution was passed. The play revisits the wounds and traumas of the events from 75 years ago and promotes the ideals of peace and humanism. The play reveals the untold stories of partition which took place in a princely state of East Punjab and led to the infamous massacre. The story of young Akhlaq and his friend Haleema is interwoven with the enduring love of two pigeons, Raja and Rani. It is not just a tale of hate and violence but also of noble human values of hope, peace and humanity. Shahid Nadeem said that Ajoka has dedicated this play to those brave survivors who fought for our freedom and those who fell victim during the struggle. He praised the CAP for collaborating with Ajoka for such a meaningful project. The play, like most Ajoka plays, includes enchanting songs and dance and will keep the audience engaged, despite its grim subject. The title “Uddan Haaray” is taken from the great Sufi poet, Hazrat Sultan Bahu’s famous verse: تاڑی مار اؐڈا نہ باھو اساں آپے اؐڈن ہارے،ھو (need not clap your hands to startle us, We are ready to fly anyway) The cast of the play includes Ajoka veterans Naseem Abbas, Sarfraz Ansari , Usman Zia, Qaiser Khan, along with Rabil Butt , Fizza Jamal, Razia Malik, Anish Khan, Yusra Irfan, Nyle Imtiaz, Umar Bhatti , Shahzad Sadiq , Fizza Tirmizi, Nasir Mehmood, Kanwal Khan, Samawia Zaman, Azka Latif, Husnain, Nauman and Mian Meesam. Dancers include Luke Calvin, Samawia, Meesam, Nauman, Imran, and Nadeem. The play is written & directed by Shahid Nadeem whereas Sohail Warraich has assisted him in the production. Set and Lights Design is by Nadeem Mir while Kanwal Khan and Asad Yousaf have managed the costumes and production. The play features powerful poetry of sufi saint Sultan Bahu, Extracts from “Kabootar Nama” by Rais Miyaan Qawal and some situational songs wrote by Shahid Nadeem. Singers include Naseem Abbas, Sarfraz Ansari , Anika Malik, Kanwal Christopher and Thomas Yousaf. Tickets for performance on the 18th March at National History Museum can be purchased through Bookme.pk. After the premiere on 18th March, “Uddan Haaray” will have two exclusive performances at Alhamra Hall 2 on 20 & 21 March respectively for the general public, free of charge.