Category: Entertainment

REAL MAGIC OF COKE STUDIO SEASON 14 REVEALED

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Celebrating the Real Magic of Pakistani music, Coke Studio has proudly released the official trailer for Coke Studio Season 14 – revealing the boundary-pushing artists that light up the season.

The Season is a new vibe, premised on the fact that music in 2022 is revolutionized. Fans are mainlining music direct and uncensored – the way creators intended. Bedroom producers and social media poets grab the same loyalty from their followers as mainstream stars. And they’re not afraid to say what’s on their mind.

If the old rules have gone up in smoke, it begs the question: what does a 14-year-old platform like Coke Studio really know about today? To answer that you have to take a look at the Coke Studio Season 14 roster; envisioned, assembled and let loose by visionary producer and curator Zulfiqar (Xulfi) Jabbar Khan.

It’s a mad mash-up of Gen Z soloists and the grandmasters that lit the way. This year’s reboot also embraces the bond between music, aesthetics and attitude. Each of the thirteen songs comes with a unique video, created by some of Pakistan’s most progressive directors including Kamal Khan, Murtaza Niaz, Jamal Rahman and Coke Studio veteran Zeeshan Parwez. Production managers and stylists were also invited to let their imaginations go wild. Visual storytelling is shoulder to shoulder with music this year because Pakistan’s film industry (having a low-key renaissance of its own) is impossible to ignore. With Pakistan’s premium live sound expert Ishaq Nazir and sound tech squad that included Sherry Khattak and Turaab Khan in pivotal roles, the result is a confessional season wrapped in delicious visuals and sound.

The cuts radiate optimism and big dreams. There are Abida Parveen, Naseebo Lal and Faisal Kapadia. There are Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi and the incandescent Meesha Shafi, Momina Mustehsan and Quratulain Balouch. But there is also formerly-indie-now-Grammy-nominated Arooj Aftab and socials-big artists like Hasan Raheem, Kaifi Khalil and Shae Gill – seriously talented performers on the cusp of blowing up. There are also risky cross-overs like Young Stunners in a ballad and metal overlaid by Faris Shafi. Dynamic performers such as Soch, Asfar Hussain, Lahore Jazz Ensemble, Zain-Zohaib, Karakoram, Eva B, Abdul Wahab Bugti and Ameer Buksh, Butt Brothers and Justin Bibis round out the roster. It’s all held together by visionary collaborators like Abdullah Siddiqui, ActionZain, Talal Qureshi, Adnan Dhool, Arsalan Hasan and Rovalio. Fusing them all together was the masterstroke of Xulfi and Coke Studio.

The season features an excellent line-up of instrumentalists, including Kami Paul, Veeru Shan, Awais Kazmi, Action Zain,  Melvin Arthur,  Saad ul Hasan, Haroon Daniel, Payam Mashrequi, Arsalan Hasan, orchestra section led by veterans Nijat Ali and Javed Iqbal, choir led by Turaab Khan, Asad Ali, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Bilawal Lahooti, Omair Farooq, Zain Peerzada, Sherry Khattak, Annan Noukhez, Yusuf Ramay, David Joseph, Aziz Kazi, Waqas Hussain, Rohail Nawab, Haider Abbas, Faiz Qazi, Joshua Amjad, Muzammil Hussain, Gul Muhammad and Mairah Khan.

Coke Studio 14 navigates hairpin turns in values and expectations as a platform for the thinkers of today. The performers, producers, directors and designers hold a mirror to the anxieties and the euphoria of now. It’s a complex ecosystem based on cooperation, not competition.

Their art verbalizes a collective feeling that we’re stumbling towards Faiz’s Promised Dawn. The lights have clicked on. We’re no longer shivering on the margins of the world, questioning whether we dare to exist. This is the era of Pakistan’s self-actualization, and as Pakistan’s biggest cultural export, Coke Studio knows it. “Artistic, talented, progressive – if we get our powers together, we are amazing” says Xulfi “For me, Coke Studio can open peoples’ hearts to Pakistan.” Each contributor bared their soul this season, embracing where they come from, speaking with conviction and man, it’s a joy to say: they’re ours, they’re ours, they’re ours. 

 The season reveal video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGXJ0c7XU88. The first episode of Coke Studio Season 14 will be released on 14th January 2022.

In the meantime, be sure to listen to your favorite songs from Coke Studio on Spotify https://open.spotify.com and keep yourself logged on to www.cokestudio.com.pk and https://www.instagram.com/coke_studio to follow the Coke Studio journey.

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Fans speculate separation of Ahad Raza Mirand Sajal Aly on missing from Saboor Aly’s Mayun,

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir are making fans raise eyebrows yet again. 

While elder sister Sajal is seen at the forefront of wedding festivities of Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari, husband Ahad Raza Mir is missing in action.

This comes after the Ehd-e-Wafa star seemingly skipped Saboor’s Baat Pakki and Sajal’s Khel Khel Mein premiere, sparking rumours of estrangement from wife.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYW9LFpPKmr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In the viral video shared by various social media accounts, Sajal is spotted in a green lehenga, laying Haldi on the blissed couple sans Ahad.

“Where is Ahad ??” asked one Instagram user in the comments. “So separation is confirmed?,” added another.

In a recent interview, Sajal addressed her ‘rushed’ wedding with Ahad, detailing how the actor wanted to marry as soon as possible in fear of losing her.

“I asked Ahad why he had been in such a hurry to get engaged. He told me that he had been afraid that, if he didn’t ask me to marry him, he would lose me, and I would marry someone else.” 

 

Meesha Shafi talks about Ali Zafar harassment in court: ‘No eyewitness’

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Meesha Shafi is addressing the sexual harassment allegation against Ali Zafar in court. The Jugni Ji singer, who appeared before the judge in the second session of Ali Zafar’s counter case on defamation, confessed that the singer groped her in public in 2017.

Upon asking if there was an eye witness to the incident, Meesha detailed that she herself is not an eye witness since she ‘felt’ the harassment, did not see it.

“Yes, even I myself am not an eye witness to this incident. I felt it [but] I did not see it.”

“Did you look behind to see if it was the plaintiff’s hand,” the lawyer counter-questioned. “There was no other hand near me and it certainly was not my hand,” she responded.

“Is it correct that there was a drummer sitting behind you and the plaintiff,” the counsel then asked to which Meesha replied that a drummed was at least “4-5 feet away”.

All witnesses from the day Meesha claims she was harassed, have opposed to her accusations. They shared that Shafi even hugged Zafar right after the ‘jam session’ ended.

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Ahmed Ali Akbar requests for ‘Parizaad’ naswar after chips hit market .

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Ahmed Ali Akbar is enjoying every bit of his massive success with drama Parizaad.

The star, who garnered love from fans around the world with his serial, turned to his Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo from a chips pack by a local manufacturer.

“YaAllah tera shukr Bas ab naswar bhi (Thanks to Almighty Allah! Now we need Naswaar) he hilariously captioned alongside his satirical post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYUA0Cjt9QV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Parizaad is a story of a boy born in an underprivileged family. The drama also stars Mashaal Khan, Ushna Shah, Saboor Aly, Yumna Zaidi and more.

 

Sarah Khan shares picture of baby daughter Alyana Falak

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Actor Sarah Khan took to the social media application Instagram to share the image of daughter Alyana Falak and it is going viral.

“My cute little munchkin ♥️ MashAllah,” the caption of the picture read.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYTXohIlhZ4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The viral image got millions of likes from the social media application’s users. They, along with celebrities, took to the comments section to show their love for the child.

The actor, who has eight million Instagram followers, is one of the most followed Pakistani celebrities on social media platforms. She posts family pictures and videos for the fans along with those of her photoshoots and projects’ behind the scenes.

Earlier, she posted a heartwarming video of her husband Falak Shabir holding his daughter went viral. It got millions of likes as well.

Falak Shabir took to Instagram to share the good news with his friends and fans.

“So happy to announce the arrival of my daughter who is half me and half the one I love. Introducing ALYANA FALAK,” he said, revealing the name of the newborn.

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Hadiqa Kiani embarks on a new musical journey with VASL

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The Tamgha-e-Imtiaz recipient and Pakistan’s most versatile and accomplished woman in music, Hadiqa Kiani embarks on a new musical journey with the launch of her latest music album, VASL.

With VASL, Kiani explores the roots of her music, reproducing her original compositions from the start of her career for the next generation of Pakistani listeners. The organic Eastern structure of the album aims to create an atmosphere of ease, comfort and, peace.

Showcasing her brilliant versatility and melodious voice, Kiani has released first single from VASL, “Humsafar”. Composed and produced by Kiani herself, the poetry for “Humsafar” is penned by Khawar Kiani with musical arrangement by Hassan Badshah.

Visually captured by ace director Abdullah Haris in the scenic hill station, Murree, the music video explores the stunning environment of the region. Kiani’s wardrobe has been designed by Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, distinguished as the pioneer of utilitarian avant-garde working mostly in natural fibers such as cotton, silks, jute, and linen. Every Yousuf Bashir Qureshi piece, like every song on the album, holds an individual narrative, it is carefully designed, self-aware, responsible, and offers protection. The perfect compliment to the raw connection that the ballads of VASL aim to create.

The music video for “Humsafar” can be viewed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92xHCyAtL_o

Indeed, the versatility of Hadiqa Kiani is unparalleled. From pop-rock hits to folk classics, she does it all with an ease and grace unfamiliar to many. Earlier in 2021, Kiani also made her television acting debut to much acclaim.

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A.R. Rahman’s daughter Khatija Rahman gets engaged.

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Famed Indian singer A. R. Rahman’s daughter Khatija Rahman got engaged to audio engineer Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed in an intimate ceremony.

Taking to Instagram, Khatija shared the news with her followers while introducing her partner-to-be. She also penned down a lengthy note along with an adorable collage of the couple.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYOR58Clp6a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

She wrote, “With the blessings of the Almighty I’m happy to announce to you all my engagement with Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed @riyasdeenriyan,”

“ An aspiring entrepreneur and a wizkid audio engineer. The engagement happened on 29th December, my birthday in the presence of close family and loved ones,” she added.

Meanwhile, the well-acclaimed musician also shared the post on his IG Story.

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Ushna Shah, Saba Faisal announce project with Anurag Kashyap

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Pakistani TV actors Ushna Shah and Saba Faisal are all set to work with noted Indian director Anurag Kashyap in an upcoming project. 

The actors, who are currently in the European country Belarus for the project, announced the news in videos shared on Instagram early on Monday.

“It’s the first day of why I came to Belarus… You’ll see it soon, InshAllah. New project with a great director,” said Saba in a video shared on her Instagram, tagging Kashyap in the caption. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CX-TFkmN-U7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

On the other hand, Ushna reshared a story on her Instagram stories in which she’s seen talking to Kashyap. 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CX_M0oaBO_e/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“Cross border collab. Honoured and excited to learn from this institution,” she wrote. 

It remains unclear whether Saba is part of an upcoming film or a web series as no other details have yet been shared. 

The news was welcomed by Saba’s industry peers, with Zainab Qayyum commenting, “You will make us proud. Whatever you do turns to gold.”

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Thaap organized a Thought Provoking Talk on peace Building through Theatre

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Despite growing extremism and tensions between both in India and Pakistan, theatre can play a significant role in strengthening people to people relations between the two countries. This was stated by prominent playwright and head of Ajoka Theatre Shahid Nadeem at a talk arranged by THAAP cultural organisation on Friday 24 December. The topic of the talk was “Theatre for Peace: Is it still possible?”

Shahid Nadeem spoke about Ajoka’s contribution to peace-building in the region through theatre and emphasised that arts- based initiatives can bypass political or communal blocks and strengthen the desire for peace and goodwill. He said Ajoka received warm response from Indian audiences everywhere , even after Narendra Modi swept to power based on anti- Pakistan Hindutva ideology. He said the challenges for a theatre for peace have multiplied in recent years due to growing extremism but the artists from either side are determined to carry the torch of peace and humanism till their goals are achieved. He also answered questions from the audience.


A documentary on Ajoka’s work for peace was also screened.The talk was held at THAAP Headoffice in Gulberg, Lahore and was attended by eminent intellectuals and cultural activists including ex-NCA Principal Sajida Vandal, architects Pervez Vandal and Khawar Hassan, ex-HEC Chairman Dr Nizam Ud Din, drama teacher Ms Perin Boga, Ajoka General Secretary Sohail Warraich, Ajoka Institute director Nirvaan Nadeem, and publisher Amjad Saleem Minhas.

 

 

Harry Potter trio reunites in the new trailer, Emma Watson in tears

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

HBO Max has released the first official trailer of ‘Return to Hogwarts’ on Monday, featuring the original Harry Potter trio along with the other cast members.

The new trailer sees Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint return to Hogwarts with the other cast, where Watson aka Hermione Granger was seen bursting into tears as she hugged Grint. The cast of the wizarding franchise is all set to take their fans back to the enchanting world as they Return to Hogwarts in the 20th anniversary special on upcoming New Year’s Day.

The first trailer released by HBO Max begins with Daniel aka Harry Potter walking towards the abandoned Diagon Alley, as he reunites with the other two leads. Many other cast members of the movie can also be spotted in the trailer with the Great Hall of Hogwarts in the background as they meet and greet.

Fans also got a sight of platform 9 ¾ with the Hogwarts Express waiting in the trailer. The anniversary special trailer drops glimpses of festivities happening in the Great Hall, as the actors reminisce about the time.

The trio of the movie got into the Gryffindor common room, where Watson whispered, “When things get really dark, and times are really hard, there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer”.

Emma also met and hugged Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy. She said, “It feels like no time has passed and loads of time has passed.”

Other actors including Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, and Evanna Lynch can be spotted in the trailer.It also features special interviews of Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, and Gary Oldman. Ralph disclosed how his sister’s kids convinced him to do ‘Lord Voldemort’ when he was contemplating.

Rupert in one of the scenes said, “There’s a strong bond that we’ll always have. We’re family. We’ll always be part of each other’s lives” Hermione and Rupert hug each other as she wiped her eye.Filmmakers David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, and David Yates are to be featured as special in ‘Return to Hogwarts’.