The Express Tribune Magazine - December 19

december 19-25 2010

The Girls in Green

A casual chat with the stars of Pakistan’s women’s cricket team

20

Style, the Sufi Way

Muzaffar Ali shines at Bridal Couture Week

31

Candid Cameron 28

ADVICE

REVIEWS

FEATURES

PEOPLE

PROFILES

june 13-19 2010

june 13-19 2010

december 19-25 2010

Cover Story 20 The Girls in Green The ups and downs of playing women’s cricket

Feature 28 Candid Cameron US Ambassador Cameron Munter’s on his latest challeges

Profile 31 Style, the Sufi Way Muzaffar Ali makes his mark on BCW

Review

28

34 What’s new in film

Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people 18 Tribune Questionnaire: Juggun Kazim on her filthy temper 40 Horoscope: Shelley von Strunckel on your week ahead 42 Ten Things I Hate About: Fashion shows

20

18

4

Sub-Editors: Batool Zehra, Hamna Zubair Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Anam Haleem, Tariq Alvi, S Asif Ali, Sukayna Sadik Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi.

For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Cocktail fever Hamza Tarar celebrated the success of Nadia Hussain’s footwear line “Fetish” with a party held in Lahore.

Cybil, Nadia Hussain and Mehreen Syed

PHOTO CREDIT: BILAL MUKHTAR

Ayesha and Sara Rehman

Faraz Mannan and Shoaib

6

Asad and Anusheh december 19-25 2010

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Ridah, Zarmina and a friend

Omer Qamar

8

Sabina Pasha and Bilal december 19-25 2010

Hamza Tarar and Scherezade

Salma

Nickie and Nina

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

On the High Street Crossroads launched its winter collection in Lahore.

10

Asma Mumtaz and a friend

Bilal Mukhtar with a guest

Shoes on display

Saad Kurieshi with a friend

december 19-25 2010

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Awarding excellence Engro held a press conference celebrating excellence, in Karachi.

vv

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Adnan Malik and Aman

Frieha Altaf and Naila Kassam

Nazneen Tariq

Asad Umar, President and Chief Executive Officer

december 19-25 2010

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Shehla, Naila and Syed Asad

Nadeem J

14

Arshed Mehmood december 19-25 2010

Uzra Dawood

ry

haude

Iqbal C

Yasmin

june 13-19 2010

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Artfully Yours An exhibition featuring artists including Jamil Naqash, A R Nagori, Mansoor Rahi, Lubna Agha, Wahab Jaffer, Lal Pathan, Iqbal Hussain and others was held at Grandeur in Karachi

16

Amberin , Neshmia, Shakeel, Nasrin and Nazneen

Frieha Altaf

Orooj, Justine Thomson and Nafees Ghaznavi

Nighat Hussain, Jimmy Engineer and Shaheena Ahmed

december 19-25 2010

Bollywood Nights Singers and actors attend premieres and parties across

Akon poses with Aadesh Shrivastava (L) and singer Avitesh Shrivastava (C)

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif unveil a new issue of Filmfare

Kajol and Ajay Devgn at the Toonpur Ka Superhero music launch

Karan Johar hosts the CNBC India Business Awards December 19-25 2010

Photo credit: IANS

the border.

17

“I finally understand what unconditional love means.”

Garnier brand ambassador and Dawn TV host Juggun Kazim on lies, chastity, and her filthy temper.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

When and where were you happiest?

Holding my son in my arms.

The happiest moment in my life was when I held my son in my

What is your greatest fear?

everything. Now I understand what unconditional love means.

Letting my son down.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My temper!

arms for the very first time. For those few moments, I forgot

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Warmth. I believe we raise the men in our country to be cold, so women at least should be warm.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

People who are dishonest. I can’t handle dishonesty.

My filthy temper.

What is your greatest extravagance?

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Nihari and haleem in the morning.

Having my son. I don’t want to gloat, but I’m a bloody good

What is your current state of mind?

dren. I never thought I could play the role of a mother as well as I

Serene. I’m very much at peace with myself.

mother. And the thing is, before I had my son, I disliked chilhave, so that’s my greatest achievement.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Where would you most like to live?

Chastity. On some occasions, modesty.

Anywhere I can be myself.

On what occasion do you lie?

What is your most treasured possession?

I don’t ever lie actually. That is practically a flaw in me. But there

I don’t know if you can call a child a possession, but it would be

is only one entity in the universe, God, that I have to be scared of, and God can see everything so why should I lie?

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I’ve grown up with body image issues, and I have no problem

admitting it — so there are a lot of things I don’t like about myself.

Which living person do you most despise?

Hamza.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Living an existence that has no meaning — a selfish existence.

What is your most marked characteristic?

My quirky and sometimes unacceptable sense of humour.

I don’t waste my energy despising anybody. I do dislike George W

Who are your heroes in real life?

Bush though.

Rehana Saigol, and I have to admit, Kamiar Rokhni.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

What is your greatest regret?

Cleanliness. I carry a nail clipper in my bag.

Not being able to give my child a ‘nuclear family.’

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

What’s your favourite quote?

“Panga” and “to be very honest”.

The serenity prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the

Which talent would you most like to have?

and the wisdom to know the difference. a

I wish I could sing.

things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can;

19 December 19-25 2010

COVER STORY

the girls in

green

The stars of the Pakistan women’s cricket team discuss their successes and struggles in a candid chat.

BY KHADIJA HUSAIN

december 19-25 2010

In what has been a phenomenal year for Pakistani sportswomen, the Pakistani women’s cricket team proved their worth as they rose above rejection and death threats to win a historic gold at the Asian Games in November.

Before the cricket team’s big win at the Asian Games, women’s

cricket was, at best, ignored. Now however, especially in the wake of a series of scandals that have plagued the men’s cricket

team this year, Pakistanis have found new heroes in the young women who bat like they mean business.

Theirs is a story that speaks volumes about women in Pakistani so-

ciety yet the charismatic players don’t see themselves as activists or — they are athletes and they just want to compete.

“As a captain, there are two things I find extremely necessary

— first, to maintain a good environment within the team and

second, not to harm the image of Pakistan. This is because at the end of the day we are representing the country,” says the current captain of the team, Sana Mir.

Cool and self possessed, the 25-year-old captain appears to be

quite severe at first glance. She seems bent on maintaining a pro-

fessional exterior, and despite the team’s sudden shot to glory, Sana refuses to be complacent.

december 19-25 2010

COVER STORY

“I actually encourage my girls to be more girly,” says Sana Mir. “There are tomboys on the team because with short hair you can pass off as a boy and face less criticism.”

“Today we are winners but tomorrow we could be losers — and

no matter what, we are responsible for our country’s image,” she says.

Half an hour into our chat, however, the captain’s tough ex-

terior melts and her softer side emerges. “I’m one of the girliest girls on the team!” she giggles. “I like dressing up! Sometimes when I meet the girls off the field I get all dressed up and they tease me.”

The hairy truth Sana says she used to be a total tomboy until ninth grade. She describes how she slowly accepted her more feminine side and

reveals that emulating men is a self-defence mechanism that some members of the team adopt.

“When I used to play outside with my brother, people would

scornfully say larki khail rahi hai! So I got my hair cut short to stop the comments — it was a kind of camouflage,” says Sana.

But as she grew up she felt that being a tomboy affected girls

negatively. She came to believe that it was better to embrace one’s femininity instead of fighting it. She acknowledges that there are tomboys on the squad, but says she encourages them to be true to themselves.

“I actually encourage my girls to be more girly. There are tom-

boys on the team because before, people didn’t like women play-

ing cricket and with short hair you can pass off as a boy and de-

flect criticism. But I think with more acceptance from people, they will become more girly.”

Having a self-professed ‘girly’ as a cricketing captain may come

as a shock, but other members of the team also play a similar balancing act.

The girliest girl on the team turns out to be wicket-keeper

Batool Fatima. Despite playing 50 One-Day Internationals she

takes an obsessive interest in her nails. A ten-day break from

22 Nida Dar december 19-25 2010

cricket would see this well-dressed team member sporting long, well-groomed nails. The downside is that she has to have them

A brief history of women’s cricket in Pakistan Women’s cricket was formally introduced to Pakistan in the 1990s when sisters Shaiza and Sharmeen Khan organised the sport, using their own finances to fund team members’ tickets abroad for matches as they toured Sri Lanka, England and Ireland. The sisters also formed the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association (PWCCA).

Shaiza served as team captain for some time and took 13 wickets, including a hat-trick, during her stint. Kiran Baluch, who served as vice captain in 2004 for the longer format of the game, made 242 runs in a Test match against the West Indies in Karachi, creating a world record that still stands.

In 2005, things got messy when the International Cricket Council (ICC) merged with the International Women’s Cricket Council and all the cricket boards of the playing countries were asked to set up their own women’s wing. Instead of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) merging with Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association, the board had a new body instituted in its place. Today there is still a case against the PCB by the PWCCA, with the women’s body claiming that an illegal body replaced them.

clipped before a game to adhere to the team rules.

struck fans,” says Sana.

wickets and scored 51 runs to help Pakistan dismiss Bangladesh

gladesh, the crowd used to go absolutely insane when Asmavia

is warm and bubbly and according to Sana, this star player and

about it.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Nida Dar, who took three

for a mere 92 in 20 overs in the Asian Game’s final match. Nida Saniya Iqbal are the least girly of the bunch.

She pauses for a second, chuckles and continues: “Like in Ban-

Iqbal or Qanita Jaleel used to step on the field. We still bug them The players on the team, however, aren’t taken with any ath-

When asked about the prospect of marriage and how it was im-

letes in Pakistan — most of their attentions are focused abroad.

brushed aside all possibilities for that commitment at present

dick,” says Sana. “Roger Federer is one of my favourites actually,

pacted by being part of the women’s cricket team, the all-rounder and joked: “Five years of practicing hard balls has made these

hands rough, it will take at least two years to make them soft

“The girls are more into international players like Andy Rodbut he’s married — so I can’t talk about him much.”

As far as men go, Nida Dar now believes the Asian Games win

again. So marriage is out of the question for now.”

has brought the players more respect than their male counter-

Love-struck fans

we’ve accomplished — a gold after eight years. Men have ac-

“I’m extremely strict so people are too scared to flirt with me

or say anything to me. But there are some girls who have love-

parts. “I think people see us as number one now. Look at what

knowledged our accomplishments and say ‘At least you’re better than the male players!’ And women think many doors have

december 19-25 2010

23

COVER STORY opened for them because of us.”

You can sense the pride in Nida’s voice as she speaks. Despite

joining the team a little under a year ago, she doesn’t hesitate in

saying that she thinks of herself as one of the most important

players in the team. “I was the player of the match in the final and I made the team win. Opener Javeria Wudood and I were the

only two scorers of the team in the final but overall we didn’t give anyone on the team any chances because of our performance.”

“I’m one of the happiest members of the team and I’m abso-

lutely grateful for everything, and all the experiences I’ve had,” says Nida.

Sana Gulzar, however, is one of the Pakistan’s cricketers who

always brings a smile to the team. “She’s one girl who is happy all the time and keeps others happy as well,” says the captain.

Not all smooth sailing Dressing room problems seem to be at a minimum, with the

team demonstrating immense respect for their captain. Nida dismisses the prospect of ever becoming captain. “Captain? Never, even if I was offered. I like our captain and vice captain and it’s only because of them that I’m here.”

24 Javeria Wudood at the crease (above) and with Nida Dar (top right). december 19-25 2010

Despite their carefree demeanour, though, the girls each have

their own unique story to tell about the obstacles they have had to overcome to become cricketers.

Nida hails from Gujranwala, where a dearth of cricket facili-

ties for women plus the social stigma associated with women playing sports were her biggest obstacles. Even though she has

her family’s full support now, she claims that her brother was her biggest critic when she initially attempted to pursue cricket as her profession.

“My brother’s friends used to ask him, ‘Is that your sister play-

ing outside?’ and I get it — in our socitey’s context, it looks bad.”

Cricketers from places other than Karachi or Lahore face a lot of

problems, including a lack of support from their families, as well as having no place to practice due to lack of facilities. However,

they are so committed that they either live away from home or

travel to these metropolitan cities on a regular basis just to main-

Nida Dar hails from Gujranwala, where a dearth of cricket facilities for women, plus the social stigma associated with women playing sports were her biggest obstacles.

tain their form.

Sana is one of the few privileged girls on the team who came

from Lahore and hence had access to proper sports facilities. Her

elder brother Humayun was her first coach and she used to play

25

with him. After spending countless hours observing and playing

december 19-25 2010

COVER STORY cricket with boys older than her she finally started to master her

skills. “All the girls I knew used to watch movies and stay indoors but I used to play outdoors. I used to play whatever sports were available.”

But she did struggle, although in a different way, when she

sustained a stress fracture in her back in 2006 — 2007. “I used to be a fast bowler. A lot of doctors said that I shouldn’t play because I could get paralysed. So I switched over to spin bowling. It was

tough for me because I wanted to bowl fast. But I’ve come a long way and now I’m in the top twenty in spin.”

“We received death threats from political parties who couldn’t digest the idea of men playing cricket with women,” says former cricketer Kiran Baluch.

Playing with boys Nida points out that playing cricket with boys could really help the team’s performance. Being the daughter of Khawaja Rashid Hassan, a former first class player, she feels that she received a lot of support.

“Many families have problems with girls playing boys but my

dad has been a first class player so he realised you get more practice with boys.”

She adds, “The team members don’t have any problems play-

ing against boys because this will help us improve. Actually, the boys think we’re boys and we think they’re girls.”

(From top) Batool Fatima and Nain Abidi, Sana Mir. The team

26 is feted on its return from the Asian Games. december 19-25 2010

At one point, she compares the situation in Pakistan with

women’s cricket teams from England and Australia, and says that foreign teams practice so much more that she was shocked.

The team celebrates after the Asian Games Final against Bangladesh.

“They don’t even look like girls — they look like boys because they

“If a net cost Rs500, people would try to sell it to us for Rs 2,500

are playing all the time,” she says.

to stop us playing.”

Money issues

hoping the PCB would help us. But instead our cricket sessions

“Girls don’t get money,” Nida admits. “The country thinks that

it’s all about the boys and that girls can’t do anything. But thank-

fully for our cricket team, now we don’t face this problem unlike other atheletes,” says Nida, comparing other Pakistani female athletes with the female cricket team.

“Our residence is like a seven star hotel. We stay at the Lahore

country club where there are swimming pools, we can play table tennis, badminton, and the rooms have everything,” she says.

Nida acknowledges that more sponsors are needed and that

although some girls had jobs, the ones who were not employed

“At one point, we were preparing for a camp in Lahore we were

were held in a parking garage. PCB refused to give us a cricket coach so we had to fly an Australian coach, Jodie Davis, out here for one and a half months,” Kiran says.

“The girls who join cricket now are getting it on a silver plat-

ter,” says Kiran. “It’s only after the PCB started getting money that they started paying attention to women’s cricket.”

After shattering the world record for Test highest score against

the West Indies in 2004, Kiran rues the fact that the Melbourne Cricket Club lauded them, but the PCB didn’t.

“Why were we never honoured? Just give us a medal worth

were facing financial difficulties. “We don’t get match fees, but

Rs10. Instead they say they don’t acknowledge our world re-

Bitter aftertaste

cricket may be making strides, but it still has a long way to go.

we have dailies. But that’s Rs500 and that’s not enough.”

Recalling more difficult times, former team member Kiran Baluch admits that “we faced death threats from political parties who couldn’t digest the idea of men playing with women.”

cords,” Kiran says.

At the end of the day, the cricketers acknowledge that women’s “When people didn’t know us, they used to tell us to give up cricket,”

says Nida. “But when we got more attention in the media people began to praise us. And now, no one asks us to give up the game.” a

december 19-25 2010

27

feature As the US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, breezed through Karachi this month, expounding on the benefits of the reformed general sales tax and pointedly dodging questions about the Wikileaks saga, the question on everybody’s lips was ‘will things be different this time around?’

The shadow of Munter’s predecessor, Anne Patterson, still falls

heavily over Pakistan thanks to Wikileaks. The cables she wrote

about the Pakistani leadership have been quoted extensively in the media recently. In these excerpts, sometimes Patterson was

a confidante, and was seen as would-be ally, as her cables about JUI chief Fazlur Rehman indicate. At other times, she was privy

candid

to President Zardari’s concerns about the Sharif brothers. And in

public, she was often portrayed as the wicked witch of the West — a strict taskmaster who kept the Pakistani leadership in line.

cameron Skepticism, rumours and Wikileaks — US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter says honesty can counter all three

By Hamna Zubair

The cables highlight the unique and complicated burden of

her office — in a cable created in February 2009, Patterson says: “As Vice President Biden has noted, however, the relationship for

too long has been transactional in nature. It also has been based on mutual mistrust. Pakistan hedges its bets on cooperation because it fears the US will again desert Islamabad after we get

Osama Bin Laden; Washington sees this hesitancy as duplicity

that requires we take unilateral action to protect US interests…

The relationship is one of co-dependency we grudgingly admit — Pakistan knows the US cannot afford to walk away; the US knows Pakistan cannot survive without our support.”

And now Cameron Munter has walked into the fray. He is seen

by many as having a softer touch than Patterson. Recently, in a

departure from the more hands-off approach adopted by his predecessors, he rolled up his sleeves and did some heavy lifting in a

flood relief camp in Sindh. His previous postings include Iraq and Belgrade, but his background — he received a doctorate degree in

modern European history in 1983 and taught for about four years in California and New York- is more academic than Patterson’s.

In person, the Ambassador is exceptionally soft spoken. His

measured tones invite confidence, but a few minutes in his presence reveal that he isn’t about to let his own guard down any time soon.

Munter is quick to dismiss the idea that his time in vola-

28 December 19-25 2010

walking the line At a Friends of Democratic Pakistan conference (above), and during his travels around Pakistan (left) — Cameron Munter tries to deflect inevitable questions about the impact Wikileaks has had on US-Pakistan relations.

29 December 19-25 2010

feature

Munter concedes that certain trade policies regarding Pakistan that had been presented in Congress had been opposed.

“There are people in the US who have their reservations — there are concerns about the security situation in Pakistan, and things like that,” he says.

policy is justified to some extent. “It’s justified to some extent

because we haven’t done a very good job of explaining ourselves,” he says. “But we are committed to overcoming this, and we are constantly trying to explain ourselves better, not just to the Pakistani government but to the Pakistani people.”

The ambassador said that the US had a desire to know what

people “beyond Islamabad” thought and felt about their ally,

adding that, in his opinion, US security concerns have not

and will not trump civilian engagement. “We have a longer

commitment to Pakistan, to its people, to the democratic process,” he says.

Whether this commitment can be honoured, however, is a dif-

ferent story. Observers fear that any Pakistan-friendly policies

that President Obama endorses will not pass through Congress easily, in the wake of the 2010 US midterm elections, which saw

the Republican Party win a majority in the House of Representatives.

During his tour of Karachi, Munter repeatedly stressed his

commitment to improving opportunities for Pakistani exports to America, and praised his European counterparts for their success

in supporting similar policies. However, when pushed, Munter conceded that certain trade policies regarding Pakistan that had tile hotspots Iraq and Belgrade prepped him for his posting in

“The plans [for these policies] have been drawn up, and have

Pakistan. “It’s hard to compare my posting in Iraq, for example,

been presented in Congress, but we have had difficulties getting

war. In Pakistan, you don’t have a war.”

this opposition came from — to be honest I don’t know myself.

to my role here in Pakistan,” he says. “In Iraq we were fighting a The ambassador also dismissed the possibility that the disclo-

sures made in leaked diplomatic cables had affected his interaction with the Pakistani leadership. “I’ve had discussions with your leadership about this, and we both remain committed to

this approved,” says Munter. “I couldn’t tell you what quarters There are people in the US who have their reservations; there are concerns about the security situation in Pakistan and things like that.”

Munter was quick to point out that the US was also interested

our relationship,” he says. Munter asserted that he had not no-

in seeing investment in Pakistan improve. “I would say our focus

with him, and stressed that he tried to create an atmosphere of

stand on its own two feet. I would like to see investment pouring

ticed a difference in the way Pakistani officials communicated

openness in all his discussions: “In fact, one of the qualities of a good diplomat is that he can be straightforward and open, which I do try to be,” he says.

should be aid, trade and investment. Our goal is to see Pakistan

into Pakistan from everywhere, from us, from Europe, even from India, I don’t care!”

Despite the levity, then, the ambassador seems very aware of

Other reports from across the globe, however, tell a different

the difficulties of implementing US policy in Pakistan, both on

quoted a Pentagon spokesman, Colonel Dave Lapan, saying that

marked the end of 2010 — does the ambassador see any positive

story. On the day this interview was conducted, news reports some countries were displaying hesitation in their dealings with US diplomats. “Generally, there has been a retrenchment [in co-

the home front and in Islamabad. After the rough months that developments at all in Pakistan?

“There are so many things,” he says. “The openness of the so-

operation],” Lapan was quoted saying. P J Crowley, the state de-

ciety- the growth of business and industry, the openness of the

lash, saying that on one occasion, a US diplomat was asked to

I’ve ever seen. And the demographic; you have a really young

partment spokesperson, also admitted that the US faced a backleave a notebook outside a meeting room due to privacy concerns.

This is not the only setback Munter has to face- he

30

been presented before Congress had been opposed.

acknowledges that managing Pakistan-US relations is fraught with difficulty, and admits that Pakistani skepticism of US December 19-25 2010

media — Pakistan has one of the most free media industries that

population that could really work in the country’s favour,” he says.

Perhaps, then, the way forward for the US diplomat in Paki-

stan is to tread softly — and leave the notebook at home. a

profile Whispers spread through Lahore like a hush through a dense forest. Muzaffar Ali was in the city and he had broken down in tears while Hina Nasrullah was reciting Bulleh Shah’s kaafis during the launch of his book, Sufis of Punjab, at the Governor House. It wasn’t unexpected. Ali was ostensibly here for Bridal Couture Week but Lahore draws men like him for

far more deep-rooted reasons than fashion. It is, after all, the

style, the

sufi way “I have an emotional connection with Lahore,” says the multifaceted Muzaffar Ali

By Aamna Haider Isani

land of sufi poets. Ali had visited Abida Parveen in hospital a day earlier; he had paid his respects at the tombs of Nur Jehan and Ja-

hangir. His 90-year-old paternal aunt had traveled from Karachi for his showing and book launch. Muzaffar Ali was visibly moved by every moment he spent in this cultural city.

“I have an emotional connection with Lahore,” he says. “This

trip has been enriching.”

And having spent no more than moments with the man, it December 19-25 2010

31

profile

was still easy to see that emotions are what make Ali tick.

Film maker, designer, author, mystic … there are so many

labels that define him, and yet it’s impossible to underline just one. He is a sufi designer and mystic filmmaker, the ethos of his

work being subtlety and gentleness that infiltrates everything he does. And he has done it all and more in the past thirty years.

If there’s one word that describes the man best, it’s ‘revivalist’

because whether it is adapting Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s novel Umrao

Jaan Ada to film, following sufism through Jalaluddin Rumi’s in-

tense poetry or reinventing the simplicity of the age old craft of

chikankari, one of Lucknow’s sartorial legacies, Ali continuously strives to keep history alive. He picks up traditions from the past

“I now want to make a film on (Empress) Nur Jehan,” says Ali — causing people to wonder if he would cast a Pakistani actress in the role. “My film would be a human saga.”

and reasserts their relevance in a new world order. They are revived but not at the risk of losing their ancient charm.

Film “I now want to make a film on (Empress) Nur Jehan,” he says,

causing people to wonder whether he would cast a Pakistani actresses as the star. “My film would be a human saga.”

As a filmmaker, Ali will remain best known for the piece of

lyrical brilliance he created with Umrao Jaan in 1981. The film left

a legacy that remains unparalleled when it comes to narrating

the richness of Lucknow as a home to tradition, culture, art and poetry. Though he could never achieve that success in any other

Literature

another historical tale.

Ali’s life. “Faiz Ahmad Faiz is the greatest phenomenon of the

film, it didn’t stop him from trying and now he wants to narrate

Beyond the magic of films, it is a love for literature that fuels

He isn’t too happy with the way films, especially period films

sub-continent.” Ali speaks of the legendary poet with rever-

are made in India today. “The west has a better idea of what old India was,” he reminisces. “We don’t live up to the imagination.

I think it’s because people who put money into films these days

don’t have the right vision. It’s a battle I’ve been fighting for years.”

Needless to say, J P Dutta’s remake of Ali’s Umrao Jaan (though

Dutta insisted it wasn’t a remake) wasn’t a patch on the original.

ence: “I have used Faiz’s poetry in my films and have dedicated

my work to him. We should celebrate people like Faiz and Abida (Abida Parveen, who he refers to as “my sister”) who are beyond boundaries.” According to him, art is the one thing that liberates

nations from the divisiveness of boundaries, as Ali adds, “the re-

lationship between India and Pakistan has to go beyond politics.”

Ali stresses that art and literature in India and Pakistan must

It lacked both body and soul required to transport the viewer to

not be territorialised. They must be acknowledged as products of

“I didn’t watch the new Umrao Jaan so cannot comment on

countries. This, according to him, will be the only way to create

British India. So what did Ali think of the film?

that,” Ali says, smiling when I ask him the completely clichéd and yet irresistible question. “I was warned not to.”

32 December 19-25 2010

the traditions of the sub-continent, rather than of two different a culture that binds people rather than divides them.

It is with this in mind that Ali organises the Jahan-i-Khusrau

Music Festival in Delhi each year. The festival celebrates the po-

etry of Hazrat Amir Khusrau and is held under the aegis of the Rumi Foundation of which Muzaffar Ali is Founding Member.

As Sufism speaks the universal language of love, the festival has also broken down barriers, bringing Pakistani artists on stage.

Ali further says it would be great if Pakistan and India could work together to restore archeological heritage sights, especially in Lahore where they suffer from neglect.

Fashion While literature may serve as the perfect bridge between two countries, it was fashion that brought Muzaffar Ali to Pakistan.

At Bridal Couture Week, Ali and his wife Meera showed clothes woven so finely that the fabric looks as though it has been embroidered, or otherwise embellished.

Close friends with Yousuf Salahuddin — they share a passion for

culture — Ali couldn’t say no when Jalal Salahuddin of J&S invited him to show at Bridal Couture Week.

The collection he brought with him added sophistication and

much needed subtlety to the otherwise loud and often brash bridal wear on display on the runway. Standing out against the sea of

sequins shown, Muzaffar and Meera (his wife, who supervises the design department) put together a collection that was fluid and gentle, and suggestive rather than flamboyant.

They brought in a variety of clothes woven and embellished at

Kotwara, the picturesque studio Muzaffar Ali shares with Meera.

It’s where delicate jamevars are spun and comforting cottons are embroidered. It is where old crafts like zardozi, aari, kaamdani,

chikankari are revived and brought together as a technique better known as chintz or ‘chheent’ - where woven fabric is made to look embroidered because of the sheerness and delicacy of its workmanship.

“We design for the discerning client,” says Meera. “Ours is a

label that caters to well-travelled and sophisticated women who

understand the importance of being understated. These clothes are sexy because of the sheerness of the organza; they are suggestive without being overpowering. And they revive techniques that we would like to keep alive.”

The collection may have been lost on most of Lahore but it

brought an undeniable sophistication to Bridal Couture Week,

making it easier to label Muzzafar Ali in part as a ‘sufi designer,’ if such a thing may exist.a

Muzaffar Ali, the sufi designer.

33 December 19-25 2010

REVIEW

featured review of the week

film rock solid

By Nadir Hassan

A movie that drags on far longer than it should and is called 127 Hours is just baiting hacks to make oh-so-predictable jokes.

I did just that with the opening sentence of this review before deciding it would be unfair. Director Danny Boyle, who has morphed from British indie king to major Hollywood player with the success of Slumdog Millionaire, has crafted a movie that, despite its bloat, has worthy performances, a gut-wrenching conclusion and plenty of introspection.

127 Hours is a true story that centres around Aron Ralston, played by James Franco, a party boy who indulges his love of the outdoors by going mountain climbing. Trapped by a boulder for the titular length of time while on a solitary climb, he transforms into a self-conscious prophet of his own fate. The movie has a strong supporting cast, including Amber Tamblyn — but ultimately the weight of the movie lies on Franco’s shoulders. He doesn’t disappoint, and 127 Hours belongs to Franco and him alone.

It’s hard to figure out James Franco. His first role is still his most memorable: as the sensitive, wise-cracking teenager in Judd Apatow’s prematurely-cancelled TV show “Freaks and Geeks.” At the time his career seemed to be mapped out for him. Apatow’s troupe is a tight-knit bunch that has created its own safe space for raunchy, lovably misogynist comedies. Actors like Seth Rogen and Jason Segel, both of whom are also “Freaks and Geeks” alumni, didn’t waver from their Apatow devotion. Franco, however, moved on first to meaty roles in Oscar-bait movies like Milk then decided he was going to moonlight as a painter, short-story writer and Yale student. With 127 Hours, he’s making his pitch to be Hollywood’s best young actor and damn if he hasn’t succeeded. Franco manages to convey the agony and pain of his predicament without being too showy. Unlike, say, Sean Penn he doesn’t need to ham it up to deliver an effective performance.

Boyle, in a break from his usual technique, is similarly restrained 34 — at least in the scenes in the mountains. He uses a simple twoDecember 19-25 2010

never say die In 127 Hours, the story of Aron Ralston’s triumphant survival is given the depth it deserves

>> Grisly details from Aron Ralston’s harrowing story 1. It took Ralston approximately one hour to amputate his arm using a dull multi-tool 2. The rock on his arm weighed about 800 pounds 3. When his water ran out Ralston drank urine to hydrate himself 4. Once free, Ralston was still about eight miles from his car <<

A word of warning: there have been reports of viewers who needed medical assistance after watching Franco, umm, extricate his arm from the boulder. That denouement may be haunting and grotesque, but it will ensure that James Franco will be nominated for an Oscar.

camera set-up to film Franco, making 127 Hours as gritty as his breakthrough film Trainspotting. But then there’s the bloat. Like he did in Trainspotting, Boyle pads the film with hallucinations, in this case Franco’s remembrances of his past, carefree life. Franco’s hazy memories are unneeded; filling us in about his life’s most meaningful moments isn’t necessary to this survival story.

A word of warning: there have been reports of viewers who needed medical assistance after watching Franco, umm, extricate his arm from the boulder. That denouement may the most haunting sequence in cinema this year and it is certainly the most grotesque. But it all but ensures that James Franco will be nominated for, and possibly win, an Oscar for his tour-de-force performance.

35 DEcember 19-25 2010

REVIEW

film not enough

By A Rahim Khan

Skyline may be threadbare, shallow, meandering and yes, forgettable, but at the very least you have to hand it to the Brothers Strause for making a visually impressive movie on a shoestring budget.

Like their previous venture, AVP (2004), Skyline has been made for a relative trifle, around $15 million, which by Hollywood standards isn’t even enough to cover the caterer’s bill. Despite this, some scenes do take your breath away.

Opening on an airplane that is about to descend into LA, Jarred (Eric Balfour) and girlfriend Elaine (Scottie Thompson) are visiting friend Terry, a media big shot, (Donald Faison, Turk from “Scrubs”) for his birthday. After a raucous night, during which Elaine reveals that she’s pregnant, the revellers are all passed out on the floor only to be awakened by strange blue light shining into their condo, at once transfixing anyone who sees it and mutating them. Those that stare too intently at the light are snapped up by the floating alien craft emitting the light, and Jared, equally mesmerised, is barely saved by his friend. This minor incident is a precursor to a full fledged invasion, with scarab-like alien ships descending on the are quite impressivecity in droves. The special effects in in what is one of the most visually stimulating scenes in the film, thousands of peoples are sucked up into the mother ship simultaneously.

What one expects now is a typical human response to the invasion: now that the mother ship has released its spawn of walkers, floaters and Venus Fly Trap like creatures to wreak havoc on society, it is only fitting that the US army will sweep in to rescue hapless civilians. Instead, we get to see the ‘human side’ of the invasion- wishy washy responses and in some cases, overacting.

Most of the ‘action’ takes place in the one lush apartment the protagonists are stuck in, the characters voyeuristically checking out the action outside through drawn blinds and a telescope. We 36 do see flashes of the fray though, especially when the alien ships December 19-25 2010

a little more action, please Most of Skyline’s action takes place in an apartment- when all we want to watch is a war are hit by a squadron of drones (atleast they’re not bombing us) in a very thrilling sequence that really gets your blood pumping. But that is it. The rest of the film is basically just Jared trying to protect his pregnant girlfriend, even beyond the grave; this latter concept is slightly interesting but isn’t developed enough.

The film is very reminiscent of Independence Day and if you have happened to watch the trailer for Battle: Los Angeles (2011), Skyline is almost a footnote to that story. The film gets far too bogged down in the apartment whereas all we want is the aliens vs the army, and bloody, bloody murder. The ending is unique but had this novelty been introduced a littler earlier in the film, we’d have something to talk about. Of course one only expects cardboard cut outs as characters in a film like this but when the director chooses to focus on them more than on what’s going on outside, the result is what Skyline turns out to be — a cinematic mess.

film miss and miss

By Hamna Zubair

For every enthusiastic Hollywood fan, there comes a point when you don’t want to watch another blockbuster starring a surgically enhanced actress who was paid $20 million to show some skin.

You just want to watch a no-frills, uncomplicated film. When I hit this point I picked up a little-known film called The Trial — to see whether I still had the stomach for simple cinematic fare or not.

Turns out I don’t. The Trial stars Matthew Modine as Kent McClain, a small town lawyer who is still suffering from depression three years after his wife and sons were killed in a road accident.

McClain has packed up his law firm and is tidying up his loose ends- because he is preparing to kill himself. Fortunately for him, a friendly judge dumps a new case in his lap. McClain finds that he has to defend a young man accused of murdering his girlfriend.

The presumed killer, played by Randy Wayne, reminds McClain of his dead son- and so, emotionally bond firmly established, investigating the case slowly brings the long-suffering lawyer back to life.

Now, you may be asking- who are these actors? Matthew Modine is still relatively unknown, though he has played bit parts in many successful movies, like Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Any Given Sunday (1999). He of the unfortunate name, Randy Wayne, has appeared in TV dramas like “True Blood” and “Numb3rs,” but is completely unmemorable — perhaps it has to do with the fact that he really can’t act. The rest of the cast is filled out by similarly fresh faces, with Rance Howard playing the judge and Clare Carey playing McClain’s love interest.

Despite their anonymity, most of the cast does a decent job filling their characters’ shoes. The bad guys in the movie are slightly more compelling than the good guys though, mostly because Modine doesn’t break out of his grieving widower box too often.

The movie’s real problem lies in the pace: there is no real action in the movie, as the murder itself is not dramatised, and the director should have made up for that by enhancing the anticipation and the whodunit feel of the film. Instead, the movie is crowded by

who was that again?

Despite their anonymity, most of the cast does a decent job filling their characters’ shoes long, steady pans across the courtroom and extended silences.

All in all, the film is interesting enough but uninspiring. The plot twists aren’t twisty enough and the viewer is not given any reason to empathise with the killer, which in turn makes us wonder why McClain empathises with him either. On the bright side, The Trial is one of those few movies made these days that you can watch with the entire family, toddler and grandma included. The film contains no nudity, no violence, no swearing, and no lewd jokes- no wonder it flopped at the box office. a

37 DEcember 19-25 2010

ADVICE

call

courtesy

SEND ALL QUESTIONS TO OUR ETIQUETTE EXPERT AT

MAGAZINE@TRIBUNE.COM.PK

a I think my maid is ‘seeing’ another member of my household staff. This makes life very difficult for the whole family, as the lady in question, and her beau, shirk their responsibilities. While I do respect the couple’s relationship, I just can’t tolerate this behaviour during work hours. How do I tactfully put a stop to this, in a way that won’t embarrass them or me?

Bemused boss You’re a mother aren’t you? So you should be familiar with the phrase ‘my house, my rules.’ Another catchy phrase you must

have used more than once is ‘not under my roof.’ All these pearls of wisdom, and more, apply to the happy couple that you

employ. They are welcome to continue seeing each other, but if

you’re truly uncomfortable with the arrangement, they must respect your rules and see each other only after work.

a My son is going through a ‘curious’ phase — the phase all tweens go through on their journey to adulthood. My wife thinks I should have a chat with him, man to man, about the facts of life. I really don’t want to, and don’t know how to begin. Isn’t it a mother’s responsibility to discuss these details with her children? In short, how do I offload this task onto my wife?

Doting dad Dear Dad: it’s time to grow up. If the facts of life make you so

uncomfortable, you should have thought twice before hav-

ing a child in the first place, no? Parents have to deal with embarrassing situations regarding their children all the time and shame is no excuse to shy away from your duty. And although no

rule exists saying a mother can’t discuss these things with her

son, if you want your wife and son to take you seriously, I suggest you man up and start talking.

a I’ve taken to ‘borrowing’ money from my husband, that is, I take it upon myself to grab cash from his wallet whenever I’m short. I do this often enough and though he does notice, he doesn’t say anything. Should I feel bad and put a stop to this unbudgeted behavior? Isn’t what’s his mine and all that?

Big spender This really depends on the rules you and your husband have

established about money. If you work, and have your own

cash, is he allowed to dip into your purse when he can’t make it to an atm? I suggest you have a frank discussion with your husband about your ‘habits.’ He might not say anything now, but

as many have said before me, people can be funny about money.

Don’t needlessly give him an excuse to resent your extravagant

38

behaviour, and don’t assume that everything that is his is yours if you haven’t talked about it first.

ADVICE My boss, who is not much older than me, makes me uncomfortable by telling me far too much about her personal life. A big part of my day is spent listening to her troubles with her husband, her maid and her baby. I don’t have any choice but to listen because she’s my boss though obviously I would never reciprocate and confide in her. I feel used — being a personal therapist isn’t part of my job description so why should I be bound to do it? Can I put a stop to this without hurting my boss’ feelings and jeopardising my career? Or am I doomed to play my boss’s therapist?

Uncomfortable employee

workplace matters This is a classic case of ‘boundary management’ or at least the lack of it. When your boss first began to confide in you, you were probably flattered to be considered her confidante which is perfectly understandable. Now that the confidences have grown, you feel the

need to assert boundaries. This situation can arise in any relationship but when it involves the boss, it gets complicated.

LEON

MENEZES

IS

THE

HR

GENERAL MANAGER OF A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY. SEND HIM YOUR QUESTIONS AT MAGAZINE@TRIBUNE.COM.PK

First, assess how much this is worrying you. Remember, if you

bluntly bring up this issue with your boss, you are likely to hurt her feelings and, by extension, your career. In the long run, you might

have to face more than a little over-sharing from the different people you’ll likely work with, so as a first step, try not to let this bother you so much, and respond to your boss’ sharing with cheerful indifference — much as she likely expects you to.

However, if you feel that you really must out a stop to it, remem-

ber that you can’t make your boss change her behaviour overnight; you have to discourage her through subtle hints that get the message across over time without ever offending her. One strategy

could be to listen but not respond. Instead, change the subject to a work-related issue. After you have done this a few times, your boss will probably be less inclined to share with you.

If you want to be more aggressive still, you could listen to her the

next time she starts to share and then politely let her know that

this discussion makes you feel uncomfortable. Ask her if she could consult with any of her other friends who are in similar situations, are closer to her age or who can otherwise relate to her problem as

your inexperience is not very helpful. Follow up the conversation with chit-chat so that she doesn’t feel snubbed. You are looking to

preserve the ‘professional’ part of the relationship while seeking to distance yourself from the role of a therapist.

The critical thing to remember is this: when you start to draw the

line around your relationship, her ego will be hurt. How prepared are you to deal with the fall out to that? Once you’ve answered that

39

question, you’ll know how best to deal with your problem. a

December 19-25 2010

HOROSCOPE

BY SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL

Aries March 20 – April 19 Life is extremely complicated at the mo-

ment. Challenging as several situations seem, they’re all about sorting out the problems exposed by the retrograde Mercury. Normally you’d deal with such matters swiftly. But with eclipses this

Tuesday and on January 4 changing the actual circumstances involved, your efforts would be wasted. Focus instead on seemingly

minor misunderstandings with those closest, and you’ll restore these most important of relationships.

Taurus April 20 – May 20 Obviously, you’ll stand your ground

over something important, but currently you’re bizarrely unsure Shelley von Strunckel is an internationally acclaimed astrologer who created the first horoscope column for the London Sunday Times in 1992.

A frequent lecturer, she writes daily, weekly and monthly horoscopes in

what that is. This is because the retrograde Mercury is confusing

you and others over already muddled situations. Judging by the planetary set-up, however, most aren’t your responsibility. But

exploring the new, and rather perplexing, ideas triggered by the

coming eclipses is. This could be why you’re trying your best to ignore them.

publications around the world including South China Morning Post, The Gulf News, Tatler, French and Chinese Vogue and now The Express Tribune Magazine.

Gemini May 21 – June 20 Eclipses are about both a shift in cir-

cumstances and a fresh perspective on certain elements of your

life. But still, the changes being ushered in by Tuesday’s Gemini eclipsed Full Moon are unlikely to be what you expect. Or could

even imagine. While you may be conscious of what’s going,

you’ll only recognise the wonderful breakthroughs coming your way after the fact, so explore absolutely everything.

Cancer June 21 – July 21 With your sensitivity to the lunar cycle,

you expect the events triggered by Tuesday’s lunar eclipse to be more about feelings than facts. But it’s linked to the solar eclipse

on January 4, and together these are reshaping the lives of those closest and, through them, yours. If in doubt, think of other times when changes caused anxiety but came out wonderfully.

These will too.

Leo July 22 – August 22 Aggravating as the obstacles you’re fac-

ing may be, each is teaching you something. While in certain situations the lesson is immediately clear, in others, problems just seem a nuisance. Still, instead of dispensing with them as swiftly as possible, do a little investigation. You’ll not only recog-

nise what you’ll gain, you’ll organise things well enough you’re confident you’ll never have to face those particular issues again.

Virgo August 23 – September 22 Your biggest problem isn’t the

frustrating errors triggered by your ruler Mercury’s retrograde cycle. It’s that you tend to take responsibility for mistakes that you had nothing to do with. Consequently, your feelings of worry

or even guilt can be worse than the actual dilemmas you’re facing. Refuse to succumb to these and you’ll be amazed how much

40

improved your spirits are, about life and about yourself.

December 19-25 2010

Libra September 23 – October 22 There’s a difference between listening to others’ complaints and getting involved in their prob-

lems. While, obviously, you can’t ignore the struggles of those

around you, many are minor and most are theirs to resolve.

What’s more, because Tuesday’s eclipse accents a fresh approach

to communication, this could be the ideal moment to learn how

to show interest without allowing their concerns to overwhelm your priorities.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Sometimes mistakes or mis-

understandings can prove to be more illuminating than more straightforward discussions, partly because in untangling confusion, you must dig deeper than would otherwise be the case.

However, you may need to be patient. It’s unlikely the puzzle

pieces will fit until the 27th, when the Sun’s encounter with your ruler Pluto forces you to make those pivotal decisions you’ve been putting off.

Sagittarius November 22 – December 20 One of the most exasperating elements of this period of change is that everyone seems

to be trying to find somebody to blame. Since this is a waste of time, diplomatically sidestep their manoeuvres, instead focus-

ing on the pivotal changes triggered by Tuesday’s eclipsed New Moon. The fresh perspective, on existing situations and on life itself, makes it clear issues of who did what are meaningless.

Capricorn December 21 – January 19 View both the unsettling situations the intriguing developments you’re facing as preparation for the life-changing Capricorn eclipsed New Moon in early January.

If you take that approach, then instead of trying to tidy things up right away, you’ll explore their meaning at leisure. What surfaces won’t just be interesting, the personal insights and facts you learn will be extremely handy when you’re facing pressing decisions.

Aquarius January 20 – February 17 For you, as an idealistic Aquar-

ius, the discovery of others’ underhand manoeuvres comes as a shock. And with tricky aspects to your ruler Uranus, you’re facing this several situations. This may be disillusioning, but simply accept others’ ethics differ from yours and move on. However, when the tide turns in your favour, early in the new year, you’ll want to remember who’s trustworthy and who isn’t.

Pisces February 18 – March 19 Waste no time trying to correct

what you assume are others’ errors. True, with Mercury retrograde mistakes are likely. But some are trying to take advantage

of the resulting confusion. Being tough now not only avoids later problems, the resulting discussions will be hugely informative.

For more information, to order personal charts and to download & listen to detailed audiocasts, visit www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com

They will, in fact, will prove amazingly helpful when stunning

41

opportunities, early in the new year, require a swift response.

December 19-25 2010

THE HATER

10 things I hate about ...fashion shows

1 2 3 4 5

By SABA IMTIAZ

The obsession with the front row. Every corporate honcho, designer, critic, and socialite wants to be seated in the front row. They’ll fight with PR reps, unseat friends and rip off name tags in their quest.

Getting dressed for a fashion show is a production in itself. Style hawks look at you from every angle regardless of whether you’re dressed in designer gear from head-to-toe or jeans and a t-shirt. It really is the equivalent of the rishta aunty brigade.

The music. I’ve heard everything being played on the runway, from item song numbers to the latest Bol-

lywood film soundtrack, trance numbers that were popular five years ago and ballads. Can someone just produce the definitive runway soundtrack already so

one never has to listen to “Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa” ever again? (True story).

Every show can boast of one or a dozen men snapping pictures of models with their cell phones.

The introductory spiel. Phrases such as ‘this collec-

tion is geared to the working woman’ are followed by

models walking out in clothes only appropriate for an after-hours party.

42 December 19-25 2010

6 7 8 9 10

The other over-abused phrase ‘an eastern cut with western sensibilities’ is used to describe almost all fashion collections. Stay tuned for when it appears on

a restaurant menu describing a steak made from a cow from Australia.

Serving

food

at

shows.

There

is

something

disconcerting about gorging on prawn tempura while an obviously starved model makes her way down the runway.

Designers complaining about everything at the event

if they’re not showing, and praising everything if they are.

Children at fashion shows. They don’t — just don’t —

belong. Neither do cats, as one fashion week proved (imagine a panicked kitten climbing up a model’s arm).

The feeling at the end of the night that you will never

be able to afford any of the clothes, gems and shoes on display.

june 13-19 2010

june 13-19 2010