Category: Entertainment

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Starring Gohar Rasheed, Jugan Kazim, Naseem Vicky and Sana Fakhr in lead roles, trailer has received applause from all circles. Lahore 15-07-2022.

The trailer of Pakistani film industry’s new romantic comedy film “Shot Cut” has become the center of attention of the audience after its release on 9th July on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha. Produced by Javed Ahmed Kakepoto and Faheem Samejo and directed by Abu Aleeha trailer has been appreciated by millions of viewers on social media.

According to the film trade circles producers Javed Ahmed Kakepoto and Faheem Samejo have chosen an interesting story to provide quality entertainment to the families and director has the idea into an entertaining wholesome laughter ride.

Lead stars including Gohar Rasheed, Jugan Kazim, Naseem Vicky and Sana Fakhr, Sakhawat Naz, Goshi Khan, Qaiser Piya , Nawaz Anjum , Erum Malhi and Ahmed Nawaz have done full justice with their characters and trailer have many punching lines.

The sound track of the film is also very catchy and OST will release soon. With “Shotcut” , versatile artist Jugan Kazim is returning on the big screen after a long break, where as the Sana Fakhr have also managed to maintain great impression in a unique.

The trailer of the film includes all the elements of comedy, romance, suspense and action which is why the fans have been praising the trailer on social media. “Shotcut” will hit cinemas across the country on September 2 from the distribution club’s platform.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Not at all like typical individuals who work 9-5 professionally, Berto Boligan, an independent business person endeavored to accomplish his objectives and points. He has a few motivations among which perusing books influenced him to set up his own business. His outcome in entrepreneurship impacted multiple people who started to keep up with his achievements. This fame permitted Berto to be referred to as a Public influencer as he accomplished an immense number of supporters on his virtual entertainment accounts. Berto’s advantage and continuously loaning towards tech permitted Berto to possess several fruitful organizations. He generally urged individuals to never allow their relations with others to come between their work. Other than being a social media celebrity, Berto has always been excited about Esports and enthusiastic about gaming. He has been exploring Esports for quite a while now and his examination and disclosure of Esport worldwide have caused him to accept that Pakistan needs acknowledgment in Esports. Berto has made sense of how Pakistan has unnoticed ability in the game. Consequently, he means to put resources into Pakistan and needs to set up his Bootcamp which would guarantee mentorship from Berto. He accepts that Pakistanis need mentorship and resources anyway he is excited about giving mentorship, resources, and direction under his Bootcamp. This would moreover help Berto collectively under his mentorship would be introduced universally to contend. Other than giving mentorship to Esports Berto likewise plans to enter the hip-hop music industry. Berto has been enamored with music for quite a while and presently is good to go to join the hip-hop music industry. Berto will dominate and afterward give mentorship in the hip-hop music industry with the goal that people who are attached to music can seek after their fantasies and join the business.

Lahore (Nut Desk) Actor and singer Farhan Saeed and his wife actress Urva Hussain’s separation statement came to the media recently in which it is said that this separation is a personal matter between the two which they do not want to talk to the media. The story of their separation is quite old.

According to Urva Hussain’s family and close sources, singer Farhan Saeed has been cut off from his family due to drugs and alcoholism, while the entire media industry and his The family knows that due to which his wife Urva Hussain had parted ways with him some time ago. That there is no gap between the two which was not true.

According to sources close to Urva Hussain, Farhan Saeed had relationships with two new Karachi drama actors who are still alive today.He also established a relationship with Maida, the owner of a local public relations company (PR company) in Lahore, which is due to differences between the two spouses. Bitterness arises which results in life.

Maulana has claimed that the owner of this (PR company) in Lahore has a relationship with him on which Farhan Saeed Company has invested a loan about which the knowledge of Urva Hussain has been kept. When Farhan Saeed was contacted in this regard, he again denied all the allegations and said that there was no truth in his attempt.

Lahore (Nut Desk) In a Nestle Sponsored Marketing progrom ‘Nestle Basement Cafe’, a popular song titled ‘Pyar Dian Gallan’ originally created, composed, cinematographed and perfromed by icons Yasir Akhtar (The Arid Zone), Fringe Benefits (Sheheryar Qureshi, Mohammad Ali) and rap by Yatagan (Fakhar e Alam), was aired in one of its sessions without any consent or assignment by all the artists. The copied song till date is available on You Tube along with Yasir Akhtar, The Arid Zone, Fringe Benefits, Shehryar Qureshi, Mohammad Ali, Fakhar e Alam (Yatagan), original art/music piece/product.

Surprisingly, the Nestle Song does give the credit to the original artist in its You Tube version at the end of the song however when sued in the court of law for damages, Nestle’s legal team has been trying hard to make it a copy right issue to evade/delay the process of law, which to the good fortune of the original artists honourable court has turned down. Nestle’s legal team used every trade in the book to delay the proceedings including a complete denial that they never recieved any notices of appeal at their registered address despite the fact that on copies of notices, existed the signature of their security staff and a complete ignorance of newspaper advert calling their attention to court, which is the last of actions in substituted service.

After losing out in court of sessions on apparently designed absence to prolong the proceedings and an application to rehear thereafter, Nestle knocked the doors of high court on a plea of fair trail in a writ petition that the court of sessions decided against them ex parte, got them an extra chance to present their argument in court of sessions, however in the light of the judgement by honourable sessions court their argument seems unconvincing. It is important to higlight that it has been approximately three years for Nestle to gain time over technacalities of the law rather than admitting the mistake to deprive artists of the share of their creativity, use of their goodwill and reputition, without any returns.

In an era where social responsibility of a corporate organism of their ilk is highly valued, with latest turn of events, the chances for Nestle to escape the responsibility of their actions are growing slimmer. Keeping fingers crossed the trial of this case will light the candle for so many junior rights whose creativity is usurped by the so called big wigs of the industry.

Let the first drop of rain fall in due time. Bravo to the trendsetters like Yasir Akhtar (The Arid Zone), Fringe Benefits (Sheheryar Qureshi and Mohammad Ali) and their legal team for a silent but legal and purposeful fight for your rights!

Pakistan (Nut Desk) The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has invited distinguished members of the global film community to join the organization under various categories and our very own Mohammed Ali Naqvi is one of them. Recognizing his talent and vision, international acclaim and numerous awards in documentary and film making, Naqvi has been invited to become a member of the Oscars under the category of documentaries. It is indeed a moment of tremendous pride for Pakistan.

Mohammed Ali Naqvi is already a member of the Television Academy (Emmys) and IDA (International Documentary Association).

Overall 397 members have been invited in various categories. These member will henceforth be able to vote for the Oscar nominations and winners. Mohammed Ali Naqvi shares this honour with  newly-minted Oscar winners Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell  (music branch) and Kajol, Ariana De Bose and Troy Kotsar (actors); Paramount chief Brian Robbins and Disney general entertainment chief Dana Walden (executives); and film critic Leonard Maltin (members-at-large). Full list is available at www.oscars.org/news/academy-invites-397-membership

It is heartening to see that our talent is receiving global recognition and is sharing the stage with the big name of the world. The stage is set and the spotlight has started shining on our film industry, it is now for us to make the most of this opportunity and create an enabling environment for our stars to shine internationally.

Mohammed Ali Naqvi (www.monaqvi.com), is a well-known name internationally, and has won many accolades for his ground-breaking work. He is a Pakistani-American filmmaker whose films explore themes of human rights, social justice, politics, and identity in contemporary Muslim and South Asian narratives.

The recipient of two Amnesty International Human Rights Awards and a Grand Prix from the United Nations Association Festival, Naqvi served as Co-Executive Producer of the Netflix Original Top 10 docuseries Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror. He received the inaugural Television Academy™️ Honor for directing and producing Showtime Original Shame. Naqvi has an Emmy-nominated Among the Believers (PBS) documentary and an Asian Media Award winner The Accused: Damned Or Devoted? 

The impact of Naqvi’s work and his commitment to human rights extends beyond the screen. He sits on the board of Mukhtaran Mai Women’s Welfare Organization and his film Pakistan’s Hidden Shame, prompted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to open a shelter for homeless children in KPK province.

Naqvi seeks narrative projects that emphasize multicultural perspectives in diverse stories and genres. His work also includes a road-trip drama and an indie comedy.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Free Fire Pakistan have announced the onboarding of Asim Azhar and Merub Ali in their latest collaboration which will feature a new single followed by a music video co-created with Asim Azhar. This collaboration brings about the first published work of the infamous celebrity couple, with the pair featuring together for the first time ever.  Free Fire is the world’s leading mobile battle royale game with over 1 Billion downloads and has been at the forefront of the Esports revolution in Pakistan.

The track is expected to be released on the special occasion of Eid-ul-Adha this year, with fans eagerly awaiting the first look of the popular couple in the music video. Free Fire Pakistan has previously made some notable collaborations with many big names from Pakistani music industry like Ali Zafar, Young Stunners, Junaid Khan, and Falak Shabir and have gone to add Asim Azhar to that list. More recently Free Fire Pakistan announced cricketing heroes Babar Azam and Shadab Khan as their brand ambassadors for the year.

Commenting on the occasion, Asim Azhar said: “It’s an honour to be collaborating with Free Fire. We’ve often heard how esports is booming globally and I’m glad to join hands with the organisation at the forefront of the esports revolution in Pakistan. Really excited to see what Free Fire Pakistan does next!”

Free Fire Pakistan has recently announced its new flagship national tournament, the Soobai Series that is set to induct new professional esports players into the Pakistan ecosystem, having placed participation restrictions on the top 9 teams from FFPL III. This initiative shall provide more opportunities to players from Free Fire’s evolving community to pursue esports as a profession.

Stay tuned to Free Fire’s social media channels for the latest updates.

Free Fire can be downloaded on both the Apple iOS App and Google Play store.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) The British Council in collaboration with Patakha Pictures in Pakistan and the Scottish Documentary Institute in the UK organized a film screening event for “Pakistan Stories” at a hotel in Islamabad. Pakistan Stories seeks to support a new generation of female Pakistani documentary filmmakers to enable them to create engaging films that reflect on their society, and Pakistan’s 75 years of independence. 

The event celebrated the journey of the ten selected filmmakers through the programme. The filmmakers worked in pairs over a period of eight weeks and were mentored by experts in Pakistan and Scotland to develop and finance their creative skills so they could produce five short documentaries in a safe environment and reach new local and international audiences through their work. Important themes the documentaries cover include: early child and forced marriages, the rights of transgenders, women and disability, women in education and the feminist movement in Pakistan.

Guests at the event included the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, the Deputy Director of the British Council, Mark Crossey, filmmaker and founder of Patakha Pictures, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Director of the Scottish Documentary Institute, Noe Mendelle, as well as top diplomats, senior government officials, journalists, leading experts from the arts space, and young aspiring artists and filmmakers.

The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner said:

“Film is a brilliant vehicle for telling stories and giving women voice.  With trailblazers like two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and by combining the best of UK and Pakistan expertise, we can unleash the potential of the next generation of female filmmakers and women and girls across Pakistan.”

The Deputy Director at the British Council Pakistan, Mark Crossey said:

“The British Council is delighted to have enabled this platform for emerging female Pakistani filmmakers to hone their skills and tell stories about Pakistan as we mark it’s 75^th anniversary with our Pakistan/UK: New Perspectives programme of activity. I look forward to these films being showcased across festivals in Pakistan and the UK.”

The founder of Patakha Pictures and leading filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said:

“In the past week I have witnessed the growth of these ten filmmakers and I know that we are laying the seeds of a movement that will ensure that young women across Pakistan will be empowered to finally to tell their own stories in their own words.”

 The Director of Scottish Documentary Institute, Noe Mendelle said:

 “Scottish Documentary Institute is very excited to be part of a collaboration with Patakha Pictures and British Council Pakistan, involving nurturing female filmmakers in enhancing their directorial voice in documentary. Working with reality is a humbling experience and female filmmakers are especially well equipped creatively and mentally to engage with emotional, challenging stories that need to be shared with the rest of the world.”

Pakistan (Nut Desk) Muneeb Khurshid made a name for himself internationally after completing his education at an early age. Now he is involved in the world’s most expensive car business in the United States and Dubai, where he has been involved in the Hollywood film industry. Muneeb Khurshid is now renting the world’s most expensive cars, including Mercedes BMW Benz Private Jet, for music videos ,business tours and Bollywood movie and music stars in Dubai. “ I was always attracted to luxury cars & lifestyle, networking with like minded people allowed me to understand the potential in luxury lifestyle business. Through my network it wasn’t a challenge for me to jump into the industry & to implement my approach, luckily it turned out to be way better than I thought” After successfully trapping the business class in United States, Ds Members Collection is now aiming to expand in tier entire United Arab Emirates. Muneeb Khurshid was a prominent participant in the Expo 2020 and this when he analysed the potential in the gulf. “Our services are mainly for the tourists & business activities, I believe Dubai is becoming a hub for both of these sectors” Additionally Ds Members Collection fells in the celebrity wish list, the organisation has a past experience of working with countless public figures, entrepreneurs & celebrities, which boosted the business initially.

With the growing popularity of K-Pop in Pakistan, Spotify unveils the data on K-Pop consumption in the market and ‘K-Pop ON! Track’ – a new site dedicated to the genre.

Lahore (Nut Desk)

 “Manifesting: Proof #1 on Spotify – Top Album Pakistan Chart” read a recent tweet on BTS Pak Official, Pakistan’s official dedicated fanbase for the rapidly rising Korean band.

Never before has Pakistan’s music scene witnessed a fan base more dedicated to the artists they love than with K-Pop. From birthday celebrations held for their favorite musicians to social media trends on the release of new albums, we’ve seen it all.  In a country where many would imply that foreign language tracks might find it hard to gain traction, K-Pop  has defied all odds.

It all started with BTS, the groundbreaking group of seven Korean youngsters who rose to fame in 2013 with their debut album ‘2 Cool 4 Skool’ and ‘O! RUL8,2’, the first extended play by the idol group released in the same year, and soon made in-roads into the Pakistani market. Their popularity has hit unprecedented levels, and it seems to show no signs of receding soon as their music continues to top the charts.

According to the data revealed by Spotify between March 2021 to March 2022, streaming of K-Pop tunes saw a 56% rise with Gen Z, the segment falling between 18 to 24 years of age, being the most avid listeners of the genre making up to more than 50% of the total streams of K-Pop in the country.

The love for K-Pop and BTS in particular is evident from dedicated fan bases in the form of social media groups that go all-out for the acts that they hold close to their heart. BTS Pakistan Official is a prime example with more than 16,000 followers as of June 2021, the page is one of the biggest and most prominent communities of BTS loyalists in Pakistan. 

“Back in 2014, I discovered the world of K-Pop through my friend who introduced me to some great music. The unique fashion style, vibe and of course the synchronized dance moves had me really intrigued. However, I officially became an ARMY in 2015, during the ‘I Need You’ era,” commented Hajra Gilani. Studying in South Korea, Hajra is the Head Admin and founder of the BTS Pakistan Official Fan Club.

Hajra’s journey started from attending a single BTS concert live. Terming “post-concert depression” as a real phenomenon, she was plagued with a plethora of questions. Was there a possibility to interact with more BTS Armies and how could a community be built around this love in Pakistan? These queries stirred a new dream in her to get BTS recognized in Pakistan and Pakistan to be recognized by the boys themselves.

“I started the fanbase back in 2016 . That was a time when there was no proper BTS fanbase in Pakistan.. I was fortunate to get the chance of seeing the boys live during their Epilogue tour. It was a girl’s dream come true after all the struggles and hard work. And I could surely say THAT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!” she added, further explaining how BTS and K-Pop left one of the greatest impressions on her life.

The consumption of music from abroad has greatly increased in Pakistan since Spotify launched in the country with K-Pop songs frequently appearing on Spotify Charts. According to Spotify’s data from February to May of 2022, not only BTS, but also BLACKPINK, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Stray Kids, and TWICE have become the most popular K-Pop acts being streamed by Pakistanis. Additionally, the top 5 most popular K-Pop songs in Pakistan include Jung Kook’s Stay Alive (Prod. by SUGA of BTS), BTS’ Butter, BTS & Coldplay’s My Universe, BTS’s Dynamite, and Black Pink’s LISA’s Money.

Speaking about the appeal of K-Pop, Majid Mushtaq, another well-established name in the world of Korean pop followers, said, “2016 was the time when I developed a passion and interest in K-Pop. At first, I was listening to K-Pop songs with the goal to improve my Korean, but the more I kept diving into this genre, the more I started loving the lyrics, foot-tapping beats, and the music overall.”

“In my opinion, some of the main reasons behind BTS’s popularity in Pakistan include the story behind their success, the message in their lyrics, down-to-earth attitude, world-class dance moves, and love for their fandom.”

Fans will also be pleased to know that Spotify has just launched a site dedicated to all things K-Pop, bringing fans closer to the music they love and the artists who create it. K-Pop ON! Track will provide anyone from the K-Pop curious to bonafide K-Pop Stans a home base for all of Spotify’s K-Pop news, as well as exclusive artist interviews, happenings within the industry, up-and-coming trends and more.

Curated to complement the streaming experience, K-Pop ON! Track is chock-full of content that will take fans deeper into the K-Pop universe. From breaking down the wide world of Kpop terminology to step-by-step guides on creating a Spotify Blend playlist with BTS, from a series dedicated to who ‘We Stan’ (kicking off with NCT127) to sit-downs with Spotify’s K-Pop music experts, the site celebrates the talent behind the tracks and the fans at the forefront of K-Pop.

Get closer to the beat of K-Pop by visiting Spotify’s K-Pop ON! Track HERE.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The iconic actor-producer Mr. Adnan Siddiqui will not be attending APPNA to be held in the US from July14-16 given that Indian artistes too will be part of the program. As a self-respecting Muslim, Mr. Siddiquistrongly condemns the insolent and obscene remarks made by Hindu right-wing Indian politiciansagainst the beloved Prophet (PBUH). “My conscience will never allow me to be in the same space asartists from the country that has insulted our Prophet. I have nothing against the artists personally butas a form of personal protest and as solidarity for my Muslim brethren worldwide,

I have excused myselffrom the event,” Mr. Siddiqui has said.The remarks by the two Indian leaders have received widespread criticism from Muslim nations across the world including Pakistan. “As a Pakistani too, I stand with my country that has strongly criticized the Indian government’s enabling of such Islamophobia,” asserts Mr. Siddiqui.