Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 30, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
I don’t think I’ve ever had the patience to sit through a Pakistani cooking show – but I will confess to watching several episodes of one particular (culinary) program which was aired a few years ago on local television.
The delightful show went by the name of ‘Marina’s Kitchen’ and was hosted by Marina [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 24, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
After a brief registration, the ‘Second Life’ website asks me to choose from a bunch of avatars – or in lay man’s terms, a character that I’d like to look like.
From male to female and peculiar animal characters, I pick the least bizarre: a female in a red top and pants, with her [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 19, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
Sitting barefooted, Shehzad strums an acoustic guitar – the notes of which are uplifting, soft loops.
The bare room is coloured cream, and on the wall behind Shehzad, a green blackboard hangs, the words ‘Believe in equality in education’ are chalked, on the board’s centre.
And for a while, you’re led to believe Roy’s song, [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 16, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
It is ironic. While ‘Khuda kay liye’ (a film which endeavours at highlighting an empathetic facet concerning Muslims post 9/11), gets ready to make its debut within the archaic walls of local cinemas, the walls of the ‘Red Mosque’ (‘Lal Masjid’) are being pierced with bullets. But hopefully by the time you read [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 13, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
Out with their latest video, ‘Dhamaal’, Overload, quite simply, makes culture look cool. And their music – which is an amalgamation of Central Asian beats – sandwiches traditional and contemporary into an aurally palatable, psychedelic-lounge-drum-fest. ‘Dhamaal’ is no different, and the video which accompanies it, directed by Bilal Lashari, seems to match the [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 8, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
Aspiring filmmakers in Pakistan can certainly learn a thing or two about the art of execution, and the implementation of depth in their productions after watching/studying the works of Mira Nair, an extremely diverse filmmaker.
Spinning her magic
After a total of four documentaries, Nair produced a work of pure brilliance in 1988 – [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 8, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
A bright yellow CD cover depicting a man with his guitar walking towards the world. And in a happy-chubby, 60s-style font, it reads: ‘EARTHIOTIC – Songs From A One Room Palace’.
Upon noticing the local media boom, this Pakistani musician (based in L.A), has of late begun performing gigs back in his homeland. And [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 8, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
One couldn’t help but feel slightly thrown off balance, whilst venturing into the hall where Pakistan Fashion Week’s press conference – at the Royal Palm Golf & Country Club (Lahore) – was due to be held. Amidst the cacophony of chatter, cameras rolled and clicked, as recorders and microphones were flipped out and [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: July 6, 2007
By Sonya Rehman
Thursday, July 5 marks Awarapan’s official press screening in Lahore, Pakistan, followed up by one open to the public the subsequent day on July 6.
Initially however, Mohit Suri’s film was disallowed to be released in Pakistan as it was ensconced in a few prickly controversies. And one such (major) controversy doing the loop [...]
