The Express Tribune Magazine - June 12

JUNE 12-18 2011

Still Vital From his beef with record labels to his initial struggles as a musician, the man behind the music of Coke Studio tells all.

24 PROFILE

REVIEWS

FEATURES

PEOPLE

COMMENT

JUNE 12-18 2011

Cover Story 24 Still Vital The man behind Coke Studio speaks out

Comment 32 What Happens When We Run Out of Coke?

Omar Bilal Akhtar wonders if you can have too much of a good thing

Feature 34 Songs of Sorrow Muharram doesn’t mean that cd shop owners are in mourning 40 Bringing Down The House Meet the kings (and queen) of the dance floor

Profile

40

36 Magic Fingers This musician’s love affair with the guitar has lasted over forty years

Food 48 Heading South For The Summer Don’t let the spices fool you, South Indian fare is perfect for a humid climate

24

Style 52 Looks To Beat The Heat Shammal Qureshi creates the perfect curl

Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 20 Questionnaire: Sara Shahid on Rumi 46 Advice: Mr Know It All answers your questions 54 Reviews: What’s new in films 58 Ten Things I Hate About: Being a reporter

48

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

For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk 4

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Mausummery Lawn launched its flagship store in Lahore

Mahgul and Attiya

Anushey

6

Mahnoor and Uzma Rao JUNE 12-18 2011

Anoushey

Rabia

Fatima Ahmad and Mariyam Naseer

Kashmali, Fatima Ahmad and Fatima Khan

PHOTOS COURTESY LOTUS PR

Khadija and

Huma Ahmad of MauSummery

Mishal and Resham

JUNE 12-18 2011

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Mona

Aamna Aminuddin

Manal and Sarah

r

Maheen Ansa

ed Maryam Nave

Sophie Sherazade Khan

8 JUNE 12-18 2011

da

Mariam and Ni

JUNE 12-18 2011

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Veet’s afterparty was attended by celebrities in Karachi

Noory, Ayyan and Sanam Agha with a guest

Hasan Ahmed and Sunita

PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR

Shazia Saad, Amna Umar, Asma Haider, and Frieha Altaf

Komal Rizvi

a, Ahmed, Scibill Rashmi Saher ia m sh Ne d , an Uzma Sarfaraz

Zeba Ali, and Amir Gul

10 JUNE 12-18 2011

YBQ and Mathira Yasmin and Uzma

JUNE 12-18 2011

PEOPLE & PARTIES

High-end retail outlet Lifestyle launched in Karachi

Tehmina, Tanveer with ahla Sarwat and Sh

PHOTOS COURTESY TAKE 11

Maria and Asma

Ehtasham with Cynara

Sarwat Gilani

12 JUNE 12-18 2011

Ghazia with Mishi

Armeen with Hamid, Mehvish and Ajmal

Laiba, Khehkashan and Nadeem

Hira

JUNE 12-18 2011

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Ghazala and Zainab launched their label Kumash at The Designers in Karachi

Nazia

Nida Yasir

Yasmeen with Samiah

ith Aneeta

Moiz Kazmi w

Aleena

14 JUNE 12-18 2011

Zainab, Nabeel and Ghazala

PHOTOS BY ANAHITA HASHMANI COURTESY TAKE11

ith Asad Tareen w and Tehmina

JUNE 12-18 2011

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Celebs mingled at the new business lounge in Avari Towers

Amina Sheikh, Mrs Faisal Qureshi, Sunita Marshall and Bushra Fazli

Javed Sheikh and Bushra Fazli

ved Sheikh, Faisal Qureshi,Ja Bushra Fazli d an lam Aijaz As

Hasan Ahmed, Sunita Marshall and Mrs Faisal Qureshi

16

Aijaz & Mohib JUNE 12-18 2011

Amina Sheikh with Mr and Mrs Fahad Mustafa

JUNE 12-18 2011

“If you can manage to live one life and live it well, that is quite an achievement” Designer Sara Shahid of Sublime on Rumi, vacations, and common decency.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

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

My idea of perfect happiness is any moment in which I am totally

I’d try and be a stronger person emotionally.

content and at peace with myself.

What is your greatest fear?

To have to go through life living without the people you love.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I have yet to achieve a lot more ... Small achievements happen very often and I am grateful for that.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be?

I think it would have to be over-thinking things…

I don’t think I want to come back. If you can manage to live one

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

life and live it well, that is quite an achievement.

Insensitivity and a general lack of common decency.

Where would you most like to live?

What is your greatest extravagance?

I grew up, sometimes by the beach with crystal blue waters, oth-

My greatest extravagance, one that I love the most, is holidays! I need to take more holidays.

What is your current state of mind?

My current state of mind is exhaustion … I don’t really know where my mind is at the moment!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Prudence. Sometimes we just need to take a chance.

On what occasion do you lie?

When it will save someone unnecessary pain …

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Nothing I can’t handle. I do the best I can with what I have.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

On different days, different places. Sometimes in Geneva, where er times in a chalet high in some beautiful mountains … Keeps changing according to my moods. The reality is that I am liv-

ing in Lahore and that is the place I will be so the rest is just my thoughts and my little attempts at escapism.

What is your most treasured possession?

I treasure moments and memories the most.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Simply being miserable with no real reason to be …

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?

I cannot even imagine doing or being something else.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Minimalist design!

Respect for women and chivalry.

Who is your hero of fiction?

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

obstacles and people!

The ability to give as a friend, a mother, a wife and a daughter ….

Alice, in Alice in Wonderland. She survives rather strange moments,

Women are incredible souls!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

be a lover of God, to live in this world and call nothing my own”.

‘I think …..’

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be able to switch off from everything.

Rumi. I love his philosophy and this quote: “Last night I learnt to

Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents …. They have taught me the most in my life and have been extraordinary human beings.a

21 JUNE 12-18 2011

COVER STORY

still

BY RAFAY MAHMOOD

vital From his beef with record labels to his initial struggles as a musician, the man behind the music of Coke Studio bares all.

It took a week to get an hour and a half of talk time with the man himself … Coke Studio’s Rohail Hyatt.

When I finally managed to set up a meeting I was told that, as a matter of policy, I couldn’t take any pictures. A little annoyed by this, I make my way to the office of Frequency Media Studio where I am to meet with this larger than life persona. And large he certainly is … as the studio’s door opens, a huge silhouette appears from behind a stack of giant monitors and sound mixers. It’s Rohail Hyatt and, in a pleasant surprise, he welcomes me very humbly.

Wearing a pair of shorts and a button-down shirt, Rohail sips

on a bottle of juice as he speaks of a journey that began with the

Vital Signs and has culminated in Coke Studio’s success. What’s next?

“I am on a journey of self discovery and every day is a new day

for me,” says Rohail. “I feel like until I started producing the music that I wanted to, I was blind … and who knows, after some time I may realise that I’ve been deaf as well! It’s all a matter of getting closer to God.”

A DIFFERENT DRUMMER In many ways, Rohail’s personal journey parallels the transformations that Pakistani music has gone through.

24 JUNE 12-18 2011

25 JUNE 12-18 2011

COVER STORY In the 1990s he could be seen playing the keyboard in the Vi-

Vital Signs disbanded in 1998, three years after releasing their last album Hum Tum. In 2002, they reunited briefly to perform at a Nazia Hasan tribute concert in Karachi, but that was a one-off occurrence. Rohail Hyatt went on to collaborate with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shoaib Mansoor to produce award-winning music among which “Charkha” by Rahat Fateh Ali and the music of “Khuda Kay Liye” stand out. 13 years after the disbanding of Vital Signs, Coke Studio started in 2008.

“You would be surprised to know that after our first album, Vital Signs was broke because we didn’t get even a single penny as royalty from EMI Pakistan. Had Pepsi not come to our rescue; there would have been no more albums,” says Rohail.

tal Signs, a band of young, dashing and rebellious musicians wearing jeans and leather jackets. This was when the new breed

of Pakistani pop had arrived on the scene, eager to change the

world with a song. In his latest incarnation he is the uber-producer and musician-manager, the mastermind behind Coke studio — a concept that is redefining music production in Pakistan.

“I still make fun of the songs that we made when we were in

Vital Signs,” says Rohail. They were funny and naive, and we never imagined that the songs would become so popular. When Atif came to Coke Studio he even told me that Vital Signs inspired him to come into the field of music. It was really nice of him to say that,” he adds.

Though he says it with a smile, I wonder if there is a hint of

bitterness when he talks about the struggles of the past? Being

a musician wasn’t easy in those days, he says. Aspiring musi-

cians had to jump a lot of social hurdles and deal with financial woes just to get noticed, and even then, they weren’t guaranteed successful careers. However, he says he is glad for the difficult times and claims he doesn’t resent the newer breed that seems

to be able to catapult themselves to fame with just a single video.

“The tools the so-called ‘one hit wonders’ use these days are

available for everyone … anyone can compose a song and circulate it via the internet … but I don’t resent anyone,” he says. “Just

because I had to face opposition from my family, travel on buses

with my equipment, be broke for months on end and have one

state-run channel to depend on in my time, it doesn’t mean everyone has to suffer.”

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Rohail reserves his true contempt for those he sees as the villains

State and musical sensibility Although he says that the state doesn’t totally ignore the arts, Rohail suggests that “the cultural ministry can play a better role by doing something more long-lasting than taking a group of selected musicians around the world and paying them to perform at embassies. They can do so much for the folk artists that we don’t even know about.”

“Ideally a guild or an artist’s union is the best solution but no one is honest enough and no one can tolerate someone else’s success. A union for voiceover artists was formed and according to that, everyone got a chance to do voiceovers at a standard but very decent rate, but a few days after that people started calling and asking for more voiceover projects than other artists for lesser pay… I think rest is self explanatory.”

26 JUNE 12-18 2011

of the music industry — the record labels. The musicians have

evolved, he says, but the labels remain as they were — exploitative and unreasonable.

“People talk to me about the music industry and I ask them,

what music industry are you talking about?” questions Rohail.

“The one which is being run by a couple of draconian record labels? You would be surprised to know that after our first album, Vital Signs was broke because we didn’t get even a single penny as royalty from EMI Pakistan. Had Pepsi not come to our rescue; there would have been no more albums,” he says.

And that’s where Coke studio comes into the picture. Accord-

ing to Rohail, the whole concept of Coke Studio is that the artists, the audience and the brand all get something out of the experience.

“I went for Coke Studio because in the record label format only

the middleman benefits, but if you do things the Coke Studio

way, it’s a win-win situation for brand consumers and the artists

as well … I knew I couldn’t pull off a win-win situation unless I

If there was a message there, I think I probably didn’t get it.

Rohail also has his own take on how music is interpreted in

our culture: “The maulanas today hate to believe that Islam was largely spread in the subcontinent by music. Qawwali played a

huge role in this and it is through this method that our forefa-

thers were converted,” he says. So where should local musicians look for inspiration? “We just need to find our musical influenc-

es,” he continues. “We might bring in the Ghazal from Turkey and Central Asia, and Sama from Persia… we are a melting point of cultures and above all we have forty four languages spoken in Pakistan so we might as well explore those.”

HERE TO STAY Whether you love or hate him, and whether you think Coke Studio is a corporate sell-out or the best thing to happen to Pakistani

music in decades — there’s no denying that both have made an indelible mark on the scene.

Newcomers like Zeb and Haniya owe a great deal of their suc-

cess to the platform Coke Studio provided, and even stalwarts like Saeen Zahoor and Arif Lohar found saw their careers soar to

new heights after their admittedly stellar performances. These was a millionaire, so I got Coke on board. This is the same thing Uth Records is doing and they are doing a great job too,” Rohail says.

Taking another swing at his favourite whipping boys, Rohail

says that some artists couldn’t perform their own songs in Coke Studio because of issues with their record companies. But after

Coke Studio was a hit, those same labels approached him ask-

musicians and many more got a new identity and a new lease of life through Coke Studio and all this makes Rohail a a very proud producer indeed.

“We have got so much talent in Pakistan that I can pull of ten

seasons of Coke Studio on the trot, it is all a matter of deciding whether we explore our own roots further or explore our neighboring musical influences,” boasts a clearly pleased Rohail.

But surely it’s not all milk and honey and praise? What does he

ing for air time. “They say: you can get a No Objection Certificate

feel about the criticism and complaints?

don’t need their songs.”

likes, but not 1,200 positive comments. People in Pakistan don’t

MUSICAL ACTIVISM, ANYONE?

too critical. If I started to take feedback seriously, I’d end up de-

from us and play our songs in your programme … I tell them we

Moving away from production and record labels, I ask what Ro-

hail thinks of the growing ‘politicisation’ of music. Pausing to

“I have noticed one thing,” says Rohail. “A song will have 1,200

praise achievement with an open heart, instead, they are way fending one of my songs over the others.”

Success does have its drawbacks though. Rohail also says that

think for a moment, he replies that it’s just a trend, and while it

people have now developed unrealistic expectations from Coke

“Everyone produces political music at some point in time, but

ist, he says: “People complain that Asad Bhai’s guitar didn’t have

may be pleasing or interesting, it will ultimately be short-lived.

it is limited to a certain period, not a whole lifetime. I mean, very

few people know that our track “Mera Dil Nahin” was a very subtle socio-political commentary,” says Rohail. “I don’t remember what the actual statement was that we made in that song, but it

Studio. Referring to Asad Ahmad, the house band’s lead guitardistortion; I say that if you want to listen to distortion, then go listen to Gilmore. It takes some guts to match up to someone like

Abida Parveen, and all of that is way above a guitar’s distortion.”

Whether you attribute Coke Studio’s success to Rohail’s per-

was the time when Bush senior was in power and the Soviets had

sonality, his hard work, or the huge amount of money that is

depending too much on the Americans.” An interesting take on

the nation by storm. With more bands and sponsors itching to

fled Afghanistan. It was Nawaz Sharif’s first term and we were the song, because if you look at the video on Youtube (as I did),

you will see band members dancing around in a jungle and, in the end, the band makes a snow man that Rohail ultimately crushes.

pumped into the project, it is obvious that Coke Studio has taken

get in on the action, and record companies getting the jitters it seems Rohail Hyatt has taken the pulse of the music industry… and all signs are still vital. a

27 JUNE 12-18 2011

COVER STORY

introducing the band

Asad Ahmed — Guitarist Ahmed has previotusly worked for bands like Vital Signs and

Awaaz. Along with fellow musician Sameer Ahmed, in 1997 Ahmed formed one of the first alternative rock bands in Pakistan called Karavan.

Javed Iqbal — Violinist Iqbal started his career as a professional musician playing the

violin for film songs. He later secured a place as a musician on the “Alamgir Show” which aired on PTV. Here he worked with the likes of Fareeda Khannum, Iqbal Bano, Adnan Sami and

Nayyara Noor. In 1984 Radio Pakistan advertised a vacancy for

violinists; Iqbal auditioned and was selected. He has been work-

ing at Radio Pakistan ever since.

Babar Ali Khanna — Eastern Percussionist Khanna has travelled across the world to play for international

bands like Rochdale-based Shola. When he returned to Pakistan,

Khanna worked extensively in the Pakistani film industry. Now Khanna runs his own music academy in Lahore, where he teaches students the dholak.

Louis J ‘Gumby’ Pinto — Drummer Gumby, with his passion for drums, came to the attention of

guitarist Amir Zaki when he was 14, started doing live gigs with

him. He has been on the professional circuit for over 20 years, and Gumby’s portfolio includes bands like the Vital Signs,

Junoon and Strings to name a few.

Jaffer Ali Zaidi — Pianist Jaffer Ali Zaidi has been playing the piano for more than twenty

years. Besides playing for Coke Studio consistently since Season 2, Zaidi is also the lead singer and pianist of Kaavish.

Zoe Viccaji — Backing Vocalist At 16, Viccaji joined an underground band called Ganda Banda, Clockwise from top left: Photos of Asad Ahmed, Javed Iqbal,

and sang covers at gigs. Zoe did not start showcasing her own

by Rizwan-ul-Haq .Photo of Babar Ali Khanna by Kohi Marri.

Shehzad Mukhtar. Her latest cover of “Mera Bichra Yaar” with

Gumby and Zoe Viccaji by Kohi Marri. Photo of Jaffer Ali Zaidi

28

JUNE 12-18 2011

compositions until later, when she teamed up with guitarist

Strings has gone viral on the internet.

Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique — Guitarist In 2005, Shafique received an invitation he could not refuse: to come to Pakistan and play with the band co-VEN. It took him a

year to uproot himself from Texas and move back. He has not re-

gretted the decision. Popular for his work with co-VEN and his own band, Mauj, Shafique describes his affinity with the guitar as an “escape from the mundane”.

Sikandar Mufti — Percussionist In 1993 Mufti played drums for an award-winning high-school

jazz band ensemble in Louisiana, where he lived with his fam-

ily for five years. After moving back to Lahore, Mufti joined the

band co-VEN, a grunge band that he plays for till today, and The

Trip, an underground classic-rock band. In 2007 he joined Mauj.

Kamran “Mannu” Zafar — Bassist Rachel Viccaji — Backing Vocalist

Zafar was offered a job in the backing band “Night People” and

played with them for almost 10 years. Zafar first entered

She first sang on stage when she was 12 years old and began

Pakistan’s mainstream pop music scene in 2008, when he drew

derground bands like Rachel’s Plan B and The Big Cheese.

nent band-member of his concert line-up.

performing at concerts and musicals soon after, fronting unHer introduction to a wider audience came when she bagged the

the attention of Ali Azmat who invited him to become a perma-

lead role in the musical Mamma Mia.

Zulfiq ‘Shazee’ Ahmad Khan — Percussionist Raheel Manzar Paul — Percussionist In 2003 Paul and four of his friends who often jammed together

decided it was time to form a band. Wreckage quickly became popular within the underground music scene. One year later he

Shazee has now been playing percussion for the past 17 years.

He has been a member of a backing band called We-Five for 14 years. International tours have taken him to 22 countries.

joined the band Kaavish along with Jaafer and Muaz. Paul quit

Clockwise from top left: Photos of Omran Shafique, Sikan-

quit music and continued as a freelance drummer, recording

Khan by Rizwan-ul-Haq. Photo of Raheel Manzar and Rachel

to join his family business after four years. He did not, however, with Arieb Azhar and Aamir Zaki amongst others.

der Mufti and Kamran Zafar by Kohi Marri. Photo of Zulfiq Viccaji by Kohi Marri.

29 JUNE 12-18 2011

COMMENT

what happens when

BY OMAR BILAL AKHTAR

Coke Studio is the single most-watched musical event in the history of Pakistan. This year it shows no signs of slowing down, with the first episode from the latest season already receiving a record number of views online and on television. Coke Studio has become more than just a music show — it has captured our imagination and has come to define Pakistan.

However, in the wake of Coke Studio’s tremendous success, the

rest of the Pakistani music industry has become a barren wasteland. You can count the number of new album releases on both your hands; there are no other record deals; new music videos

and singles have ground to a screeching halt; and the big name artists seem to be focusing on anything but new music.

You would think that Coke Studio would have galvanised the

rest of the industry. You would think Pepsi or other corporations would rush to create competing shows. You would think musi-

cians would take their cue from the stunning collaborations and innovations they displayed while on the show and go out to do

more of the same. People should have been riding the wave of the Pakistani pop rebirth and taking advantage of the public’s desire

for well produced original music. But the opposite seems to have happened.

Could it be, that inadvertently, Coke Studio has killed off the

rest of the industry because no one can compete with it?

It isn’t so much a matter of competition as it is of shifting per-

ception. Artists and the public are regarding Coke Studio not as a launching pad but the endgame, the pinnacle of success. For any

artist, getting on to Coke Studio is the ultimate achievement, at the risk of forsaking other goals.

There is a perception that once you’re on Coke Studio, you’ve

made it. Of course this is true in many ways: there is great pres-

tige in being on the show, to be regarded as an equal amongst legends, to receive the kind of worldwide exposure that you wouldn’t get anywhere else and to be given the opportunity to showcase your best to the public. But that’s exactly what it is, an

opportunity, and sadly most musicians aren’t making the most of it.

Young upcoming bands, emboldened by the appearance of less-

32

than-well-known acts like Aunty Disco Project and Bilal Khan on JUNE 12-18 2011

n we run out of coke

the show are now making a Coke Studio appearance their number

one priority. There’s nothing wrong with this, but they’re going about it the wrong way. Bands will always gain popularity the

slow old-fashioned way: by writing good songs, playing live and growing an audience over a long period of time. But increasingly,

Coke Studio is being seen as a quick fix. Bands and new artists are

Bands and new artists are too focused on becoming overnight sensations and are looking to the show as their ticket to fame and mass popularity.

Rather than focusing on creating music and keeping their audiences happy, their efforts are going into lobbying for a place on the show.

too focused on becoming overnight sensations and are looking to

the show as their ticket to fame and mass popularity. Rather than focusing on creating music and keeping their audiences happy, their efforts are going into lobbying for a place on the show.

This isn’t helped by the public’s sometimes overzealous re-

action to Coke Studio. It seems like the only songs they can re-

member from anybody are the ones that came out in the summer when they were all tuning into the show. It makes artists who aren’t on Coke Studio feel understandably irrelevant.

What this does is put an unholy amount of pressure on the

show. From being a place of experimentation and collaboration, it is now seen as the nation’s sole provider of quality commer-

cial music and if it can’t provide that for even a single song, it is vilified beyond reason. If this continues, artists on the show will no longer allow themselves the creative freedom and risks that allowed them to make such monster hits as “Aik Alif”, “Jal

Pari” and “Alif Allah”. Subsequently, we’ll see musicians trying to safely replicate the massive success of those earlier hits with

the same formula and not doing what they’re supposed to do which is to innovate and create.

Think about your favourite artists from Coke Studio and what

they’ve done since their appearance on the show. Ali Zafar is focusing more on movies. So is Atif Aslam. Noori pops up here and

there with rumours of their new songs but we’re still waiting on them. No one’s ringing Saeein Zahoor’s number. Meesha Shafi has left her band and who knows what happened to Arif Lohar.

Of course, the decline in the music industry can be attributed

to many factors in Pakistan, the state of the country, drying up finances, waning audience interest etc. But it isn’t going to get

any better if Coke Studio becomes the only source of music in the land. What are we going to do when it ends? a

Omar Bilal Akhtar is a musician who studies journalism and was a member of the Aunty Disco Project which has now disbanded. He blogs at adpdiaries.blogspot.com.

JUNE 12-18 2011

33

FEATURE

“Like any other CD shop we receive 20,000 to 25,000 copies on the 3rd or 5th of Muharram. By the 7th of Muharram, all of them are sold out.

This doesn’t happen with any other artist, local or international ... not even Atif Aslam can match the speed of marsia sales!”

34 JUNE 12-18 5-11 2011 2011

songs Marsia and noha CDs in Muharram outsell all other albums

of

sorrow

Being a musician doesn’t mean you’ll be making money. Sadly, getting recognised and lauded doesn’t necessar-

ily equal getting paid. The state of the music industry is so dismal that some musicians have been reduced to playing at weddings and

birthday parties just to make ends meet. What other choice is there when artists do not receive royalties from record label owners, and can’t perform concerts without getting permission from the label.

But there are some unlikely exceptions to the rule. Some artists not

to look at and some might even sell for a week after their release

but not more than that. On the other hand, noha and marsias are a 100% guaranteed business. With Muharram in mind, no one hesitates to buy a Rs40 CD,” says Ahsan.

Old stalwarts like Nadeem Sarwar are in high demand while

lesser known noha artists such as Irfan Haider and Farhan Ali (Ali Waris) are also becoming popular.

“Smaller artists like Irfan Haider release their albums at the start

only have a large and loyal market of consumers buying their CDs and

of Muharram when mourners are preparing for religious proces-

these blessed ones? They are the marsia and noha artists of Pakistan.

someone like Nadeem Sarwar who is more or less the Atif Aslam

cassettes, but are also making some very healthy profits. Who are Marsia and nohas are elegies mourning the martyrdom of the Prophet’s (PBUH) grandson at Karabala, an incident that the Shia sect commemorates every year during the month of Muharram.

Come Muharram, and the infamous Rainbow Centre, usually

plastered with posters of local mujras, sports a radically different look. Posters advertising Atif Aslam albums, Katrina Kaif

sions and matams so that their albums can sell. On the other hand,

of the marsia industry in terms of popularity, releases his albums around 7th Muharram and singlehandedly sweeps the market by 9th Muharram,” says Mohammad Imran, the owner of Payal CDs

and DVDs. Payal CDs is also responsible for supplying music and marsia albums to smaller shops throughout Karachi.

“Not only is Nadeem Sarwar the king of the noha/marsia in-

geetmaalas and Attaullah Eesakhelvi’s compilations are replaced

dustry, he is also the most successful artist of the larger music

with religious couplets.

get sold within the span of two days. This is despite the presence

with those of marsia-khwans dressed in austere black inscribed

“It might sound bizarre,” says a music seller, “but Muharram

is the month that we all wait for as it guarantees brisk business.

We recover the money we have invested in marsia and noha CDs

industry as he sells 200,000-300,000 CDs a year and all of them of YouTube and downloadable music; no artists has a better business plan or a more loyal fan following,” says Imran.

However, like any other industry in Pakistan, the marsia in-

in no time.”

dustry too can be come unstable when the city spirals into vio-

elaborates further, explaining that business is at its peak during

before 9th Muharram and shopkeepers had to face serious losses

Mohammad Ahsan, a CD shop owner in Rainbow Centre,

the first week of Muharram. “Like any other CD shop we receive

20,000 to 25,000 copies on the 3rd or 5th of Muharram. By the 7th of Muharram, all of them are sold out. This doesn’t happen with

any other artist, local or international ... not even Atif Aslam can match the speed of marsia sales!”

When Muharram rolls around, CD sellers in Rainbow Centre,

the main supply market for all kinds of CDs and DVDs in Paki-

stan, stock up with 10,000 to 12,000 noha/marsia CDs — by the end of Muharram all of them are sold out. This does not include

lence. Last year the government sealed most of Saddar a few days because of that. “The certainty in this business can also backfire.

That’s what happened when the government cordoned off Rain-

bow Center and Saddar; all the shopkeepers, including us, had got so many marsia albums in advance that when the area was sealed off and customers couldn’t buy CDs, we actually suffered a loss instead of making a profit. Those CDs were wasted as no one wants to buy the old albums once the new marsia albums come out,” said a shopkeeper.

People like Nadeem Sarwar might not be as widely known as

smaller neighbourhood CD shops that also sell noha/marsia CDs.

the musicians on Coke Studio but he is one of the rare artists who

keep a large stock. We keep the pop CDs because they are so nice

uct endorsements or live concerts. — BY RAFAY MAHMOOD

“The big names of pop music barely sell, even though we don’t

are actually still living on record sales and are not reliant on prod-

a

JUNE JUNE12-18 5-11 2011

35

PROFILE

magic fingers

Every second youngster seems to be picking up the guitar these days, intent on becoming a star. But while most of these are musical one-night stands, there are a few people in Pakistan who have had a love affair with this guitar for over forty years.

BY NOEL CORREA

Ralph D’Aranjo is one such person. Ralph is not only an experienced guitarist, he is also a member of Pakistan’s tiny Portuguese community ­— a communitythat has made an enormous contribution to the establishment and running of missionary schools all over the country. In Pakistan’s

ous pop bands as a lead guitarist in almost every hotel, nightclub

too, but as time went on, many of these maestros either passed

Shoe Disco, 2001 Plaza, Three Aces Nightclub, Peacock, Lido, Taj

early days, Portuguese artists were quite active on the music scene away or emigrated.

Ralph, however, has been playing classical guitar for over 50

years, and has no intention of going anywhere. He is also in the

himself in Germany, he returned to Pakistan and started a musical career in a nightclub band.

This was back when Pakistan still rocked, and nightclubs were a

big part of the social scene –from 1970 to 1979, Ralph played in vari-

and discotheque in Karachi. Midway House, Beach Luxury, Horse and Nasreen Room … the list goes on, and Ralph’s played at them all.

But when the cabaret era came to an end, it was time to move on.

unique position of being the only musician who has played (under

He stopped playing pop music in 1979, and joined the Hotel Inter-

Ralph began his musical journey at the tender age of 12, when

in the Nasreen Room for a few years and with the dawn of the 80s,

one contract) in a five-star hotel in Pakistan for over thirty years.

his father presented him with a brand new guitar on his birthday.

Two years later, he found himself heading for Europe. He tried to

36

and Greece by road. When he didn’t end up making a home for

settle down in Germany after touring countries like Iran, Turkey JUNE 12-18 2011

continental (now known as the Pearl Continental Hotel). He played

he teamed up with Alex Rodrigues, who was a saxophonist, and Louis D’Souza, who was a pianist, and formed a jazz trio band.

A lot has changed in the past three decades, and just as in Bryan

Ralph will be applying for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records soon, claiming to be the only guitarist who has played under one contract in the same establishment for over thirty years.

Adams’ song “Summer of ‘69”, the band members started drifting apart. The first person to leave was Louis D’Souza, who emigrated

to the US in 1990. He was replaced by David Jospeh, who also emigrated in 1995, but to Canada. Christopher Carvalho was the next

musician to join their band. He played with the band till late 1999, when he passed away. Ferdinand Goveas was the next replacement and continues to play with the band at present. Alex Rodrigues, the

band’s original saxophonist, breathed his last breath on November

21, 2001. He was replaced by Dominic Gonsalves, who immigrated to Australia in 2007.

To date, Ralph continues to play with a jazz outfit at the PC Ho-

tel. It is here that the hotel’s patrons drop by every evening to enjoy a variety of music from the likes of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein, to tunes ranging from The Blue Danube to the relatively recent repertoire of Miles Davis,

Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck and Clark Terry.

“We are not only known for our jazz music, but also for blues,

ballad standards, Caribbean music, Latin music, the cha cha cha,

the tango, waltz, bolero, rumba, and bossa nova,” says Raplh proudly. “Through these past thirty years, we have been also performing for our foreign guests at the hotel, playing music that is

indigenous to their countries: be it French, Italian, German, Span-

ish, Malaysian, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Japanese … you name it and we play it!”

Ralph also had to recently deal with a personal tragedy, as his

wife passed away on July 7, 2010. Cheryl D’Aranjo had suffered from a rare disorder called the Guillain Barre Syndrome, in which the

body’s own immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

Naturally, Ralph and his two daughters Pamela and Linda were shattered, and he still talks of what a beautiful person she was.

Despite all these setbacks, and the many changes in his band’s

ensemble, Ralph D’Aranjo says he is still here to stay! Ralph will be applying for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records soon, claiming

to be the only guitarist who has played under one contract in the same establishment for over thirty years. a

37 JUNE 12-18 2011

FEATURE

bringing down the house

BY SONIA MALIK

He is the life of the party, the master of the turntable, the god (or devil) of the dance floor… take it forward” he remembers. But returning to Pakistan in the mid-nineties was a letdown. Unlike New York’s vibrant club cul-

ture, Mumtaz was dismayed that, despite his four years abroad,

nothing much had changed in Karachi’s music scene. There were no clubs or parties and Julliana’s, at what was then the Holiday Inn in Karachi, (now the Marriot) was the only club that had DJs

play a few nights. Still, none were mixing any music. By 1996, Mumtaz got his own radio show and built on its success. He introduced live trance and mixes, availing every opportunity to play

before gatherings that showed even the slightest interest in his music.

“To a certain extent, it worked. It could have flourished even

more had the media been supportive,” he says. “I arranged parties and felt a responsibility to instill some desire in the younger generation to listen and acknowledge EDM, as it is soulful, rhythmic

and relaxing. It worked to a certain extent but the media, unable to stomach the trend, conflated EDM with drug culture.”

Now living in Lahore, DJ Fuzzy, who is originally from Karachi,

realises the complexity of the challenges his musical predeces-

sors had to face in promoting EDM. Mumtaz introduced people to the trance music of Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyke and Tiesto but

As nightclubs across Europe and the US rocked to the beat of house, trace and techno fused under the umbrella of progressive in the mid-nineties, returning expatriates and students coming home between semesters brought back not just the zeal to party but also a new kind of music to Pakistan.

One of these was Junaid Mumtaz, who undertook with missionary zeal the task of playing and promoting Electronic Dance Music (EDM) amidst friends at gatherings in his native Karachi.

Mumtaz remembers the first time he watched Danny Tenaga-

lia and Junior Vasquez perform at Limelight, a club in New York

40

in 1991 in his freshman year of college. “It was a mix of acid and house and I instantly felt the need to get engaged and somehow JUNE 12-18 2011

it was Faisal Baig who took it forward by introducing progressive and tribal house. He played for three years but was disheartened

by the lack of support and response from the audience. The taboo

of ecstasy and other drugs linked to EDM also made it hard to promote in the mainstream.Mumtaz was also enthusiastic in his efforts to promote trance and its various ‘progressive forms’ — still, it was largely rejected by the local audience.

But between 2004 and 2008, the popularity of EDM DJs rose in

Karachi and Lahore. Not only did they start getting invitations

to ticketed events, but new DJs playing trance also surfaced and — finally — the audience grew more appreciative of the genre.

In the past three years, three internationally famous DJs — Asad

Rizvi, Anthony Pappa and Jimmy Van M — have flown to Pakistan to play at events in Karachi. The audience they pulled in

Pakistan might have been smaller than in other countries, but

this marks some progress.

“Until DJs compose and sell original soundtracks accepted and

appreciated by the mass audience, EDM is unlikely to attain the

popularity of other genres such as hip hop, jazz and classical,” says Danny*, a former DJ. According to him, the DJ crowd that

has sprung up over the last few years, will continue to entertain only small audiences, comprising friends, relatives and a handful of home-returned expats who’ve already developed a taste for

trance since, despite a small rise in trance fans, bhangra lovers still dominate parties. Most people in attendance continue to request Indian and Punjabi mixes.

Due to P2P and easy access to data and internet, mixing and

DJ Ali Reza, 28, Karachi

composing EDM has also become more accessible in recent years.

Biggest party: In 2006, opening for Junaid Mumtaz at Voodoo

flooding the internet now,” complains Danny*. Earlier, a DJ

All time favourite tracks: “Familiar feeling (Timo Maas Main Mix)”

“This isn’t a good thing as more childish and bland mixes are

could not function without two vinyl turntables, a mixer and a record collection. Buying new records only allowed a few, genuinely interested people to take it up as an occupation.

There are other factors hampering the progress of EDM. One

concern is that DJs don’t play real instruments. This is somewhat

similar to the allegation against electric guitarists, who are dis-

nights in Karachi — the most exhilarating stage I’ve played on.

by Moloko.

Off the turntables :Work at sales and marketing department for Geo TV.

Biggest party foul: Ejecting the wrong turntable twice in a span of 15 minutes; nothing clears a dance floor quicker than no music.

regarded by classic, finger-style guitarists as ‘lesser’ musicians.

Still, Fuzzy, who sought encouragement from friends and

family, to take up DJ-ing professionally in 2007, believes that

more people are enjoying house and related music. “Unlike before, they now treat it as an independent music genre, just like hip hop or jazz.”

A consultant by profession, DJ P.O.P.E. picked up DJ-ing as a

fun pastime two years ago, agrees with Fuzzy: “There is so much energy is coming in the future.”

In a country where the party culture is tiny at best, and where

even mainstream music struggles to come up with commercial-

ly viable propositions, the future of progressive music depends pretty much on the passion of these DJs. a *Name changed to protect privacy.

DJ Shah Rukh, 27, Lahore Biggest party: Dubai Rain Dance, Club Indigo (Mauritius), Ali Za-

Junaid Mumtaz, 39, London Biggest party: All the big parties in Pakistan.

What inspired you to become a DJ? I went to a club called Limelight

in ‘91 in New York. Danny Tenagalia and Junior Vasquez were DJing and the music was very house and bits of acid house. I knew I wanted to get involved and take it forward .

Biggest party foul: 10 minutes before the set I realised I had forgot-

ten the record box at the hotel — which was an hour away.

far’s Birthday Bash, (Lahore).

Moment you knew you wanted to be a DJ: Watched a Tiesto video on TV in 2004. I couldn’t believe that there are parties happening in the world on such massive scale.

All-time favourite track: “Shine on you crazy diamond” by Pink Floyd, Adagio for Strings.

Off the turntables: I’m directing a show called “Moving Heads”.

Plus, I’m a professional graphic designer.

Biggest party foul: Telling the DJ what to play.

41 JUNE 12-18 2011

FEATURE DJ Barrister, 28, Islamabad Biggest party: At Verve events, such as Club Caramel and the Akcent concert.

Moment you knew you wanted to be a DJ: On receiving appreciation for good taste in music by friends in college, I purchased my first turntables.

Off the turntables: I’m in-house legal counsel and partner at our law firm.

Biggest Party foul: Not playing bhangra music when people are baying for “Munni” or “Sheila”. I’ve also had a mobile DJing unit pack up on me 5 minutes into my set at a ticketed event.

DJ Mas, 34, Islamabad Biggest party: Renaissance by J&S in Bahria Town and New Year’s Party 2011 at Verandah Bistro.

Moment you knew you wanted to be a DJ: I was inspired when I saw my elder brother, DJ Moss making mixes and buying cassettes.

All-time favourite tracks: “Hotel Room” by Pitbull and “You’re my first” by Barry White.

Off the turntables: Composed two original songs.

DJ Fuzzy Nocturnal, 25, Karachi Biggest party I played: At White Rooms in Lahore, and with Aus-

tralian DJ, Anthony Pappalardo at the French Cultural Centre in Karachi.

Off the turntables: Host two radio shows in Argentina. I’ll also be

launching an electronic music label and am producing my own music.

Biggest Party foul: One time I lost control of tracks due to some

software malfunction on my laptop. The beats started clashing a bit. Thankfully, no one really noticed.

DJ Michelle, 25 Biggest party I played: Future Glow in Lahore, Circo Loco in Islam-

abad, First DJ Night in Multan.

What inspired you to become a DJ: My mentor DJ Shahrukh made it happen!

Off the turntables: Working with WWF Pakistan.

All time favourite track “Te quiero” by Offer Nissim and Groove

42

Connection. a JUNE 12-18 2011

ADVICE

mr know it all From relationship blues to money woes, Mr Know It All has the answers!

Q. Dear Mr Know It All,

I consider myself an accepting, open-minded person – which is

There is this guy I really like (read love) and I know for a fact

why I don’t mind having discussions with people about topics like

that he feels the same way about me, because he keeps talking

my boss about politics – and it turns out that we are on opposite

lem is this: I was hoping that we could eventually get married,

views, because now, every time he sees me, he asks me aggressive

the family, plus asking them would be equivalent to commit-

politics and religion. Recently, though, I had a discussion with

sides of the political spectrum. I think my boss was offended by my questions about ‘my’ political party and what ‘my’ leaders said/did

last morning in Parliament. This is an uncomfortable situation – do I have to renounce my affiliations just to get respect at work?

Office politico

A. There are some conversations that don’t belong in the work-

place, and being an adult who’s smart enough to hold down a job

and have political opinions that are strong enough to offend his superiors, you should’ve known better. Seriously man, even kids today know that politics is one of the most controversial topics of

discussion that ever existed; it’s right up there with sex, religion and whether Meeraji is the legal age to get married yet or not.

You see, you can’t go around having casual deliberations about

these things — even more so in Pakistan — and expect them to

about ‘how we should move beyond being just friends’. The prob-

but he says his parents will never agree to him marrying outside ting suicide. He won’t ask them himself and he won’t let me or my parents talk to his parents. I am extremely confused and I don’t know what to do. He says that we should end everything

between us, since we have no future together. He also says that staying ‘just friends’ won’t work because we will eventually fall

in love again and then it will be much harder to let go. Every

time I ask him what to do, he says that I should simply forget

about him and find someone else with whom I can have a future,

but I DONT WANT ANY ONE ELSE. I haven’t been myself lately, I haven’t been eating or sleeping right and I feel like I won’t survive long without him. What should I do?

Shattered

A. Oh boy. Looks like someone wasn’t paying attention in the

turn into productive repartee, because they never do. This world

male psychology class! I wish there was a better, less painful way

his debauched put-downs, take a deep breath and give him the

with it: You, my friend, have been hoodwinked. Yep, that’s all

ain’t that perfect yet! So, the next time your boss attacks you with silent treatment because confrontation and smart-assed retorts

would only serve to make things fester. I’m not asking you to re-

nounce your affiliations or beliefs; just don’t be feeling the need

to lay your life and career for them, and hopefully in a couple of weeks, one of your colleagues will make a bigger boo-boo that’ll

divert the baby’s attention elsewhere. Even you can join in on the

46

Q. Dear Mr Know It All,

mockery then to see how fun it can be sometimes.

JUNE 12-18 2011

of telling you this, but there isn’t, so I’m going to come right out there is to it. Your man is playing with you and your neediness is fuelling his cheap theatrics. Have you ever asked yourself why

exactly can’t any of you talk to his parents? Is it because they don’t want their son to be happy, or does it have something to do with the fact that maybe he’s already engaged to someone else?

Or maybe he wasn’t that into you to begin with? All I’m saying is, the possibilities of deceit in situations like these are endless. So

stop with the I-can’t-eat-or-sleep nonsense and sit down to think

this through. Does he really love you as much as he’s made you

I’m currently cowering at my desk, caught between two courses

to prove his devotion to you or your twisted relationship. What’s

ter, I know, but I’m scared) or ignore the whole thing and hope it

believe he does? Because frankly, he sure as hell isn’t doing much

worse, your email just reinforces the sad fact that women—no

matter young or old, pretty or ugly, smart or dumb—like the excitement of being with good-for-nothing jerks, and that just royally ticksme off.

When we are in lust, or in the process of falling in love, we

tend to overlook so many negative things about that person be-

of action – admitting to my mistake (the sooner I do this, the betgoes away. Thing is, the parking lot may have been monitored by

CCTV, but I never noticed any camera, so my dilemma is all the more excruciating. Help!

Criminal mind

A. I’m surprised that amidst all the perturbation, you had the

cause so much feels right. We actively throw away any bad data

time and wits to write to me and not to casually ask around the

you. You need to get a grip over yourself and holler your waning

mon sense. A rare commodity, sure, but if you look hard enough,

been saved. This is a big warning sign of how he would have be-

Still, since you have placed your trust in my good judgment, I

that could ruin our high, and that’s exactly what’s happening to self-esteem back because if you think about it, you’ve actually

haved in a long-term relationship. He’s abrupt, unreliable, and an all-round wuss. Who needs that, right?

Q. Dear Mr Know It All,

When I was parking my car in the office parking lot today, I

grazed the car next to me. I didn’t recognise the car, so I just kept quiet about it. Turns out, it is the VP’s car, and he’s pretty mad.

office whether the parking lot is wired or not. It’s called com-

you may find little specks of it lying around somewhere up there.

should warn you that there can only be two scenarios here: either you’ve already been found guilty and reprimanded for your

unabashed neglect, in which case I cannot really help you anymore; or else no body’s really interested in reviewing the surveil-

lance tapes, which means you’re off the hook and on the loose. In which case… YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM MY SHINY BEAUTIFUL CAR, YOU MALICIOUS CAR-SCRAPER MAN! a

Got a problem you just can’t solve? Mail us at magazine@tribune.com.pk and let

ILLUSTRATION: S.JAMAL.K

our very own whiz take a crack at it!

47 JUNE 12-18 2011

FOOD

heading south for the

summer

When it’s hot, South Indian food is the only way to go.

BY POPPY AGHA

When the weather gets as hot as it is these days, one just doesn’t feel like eating. Saalans fall into the “not for hot weather” food category. It’s a dilemma however, since having salads and light ‘gora’ food can become exceptionally boring, at least for me.

Under these circumstances, a great cuisine to explore is South

Indian food. The dishes are quite simple to prepare, and are conceptually very similar to some forms of Southeast Asian cuisine.

It’s also a popular misconception that South Indian food is very spicy. It is, but there is a beautiful balance in the cuisine itself —

almost like a well-constructed couplet or a raag. There are hidden

nuances, flavours, explosions of taste and finally, infinite satisfaction. A good meal should do that to a person!

Sometimes though, it can be a bit daunting to try out new

things. A question most frequently asked of me is, “where can

I get the right ingredients?” The answer is simple — most ingredients used in South Indian cuisine are similar to what we use

in our typical Pakistani dishes. In fact, most ingredients used in cooking are shared by all cuisines, but are used differently, thus evoking different flavours.

When you experiment with cuisine in general you learn to cut

corners and find simpler ways to reach the final result. The recipe I have put down is a super easy fish curry, in which the only

two ingredients you might not have in your kitchen are dried co-

48

conut and gur/jaggery. The rest of the spices are everyday fare. a JUNE 12-18 2011

Sometimes though, it can be a bit daunting to try out new things. A question most frequently asked of me is, “where can I get the right ingredients?”

Red cabbage pickle: Cooking oil - 1 tbsp

Red cabbage - 1 - sliced Cumin - 1 tsp

Red chilli flakes - 2 tsp Salt - 1.5 tsp

Lemon - 2 - juiced

White sugar - 2 tsp

Coriander seeds - 1 tsp Water - 1 cup Method: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pot, and add the red cabbage. Saute the cabbage for 2-3 minutes and add in all the spices. Saute for another 3 mins and add in the lemon juice, sugar and water.

Place a lid on the pot and cook on a low flame for 18-20 minutes till the water has reduced and the cabbage is soft and ready.

Mustard seeds - 1.5 tsp Green chillies – 3, slit

Dried coconut - 6 tbsp Curry leaves - 6 Water - 2 cups Method: Marinate the pieces of fish with 1/2tsp of coriander powder, 1/2 tsp

of red chilli flakes, 1 tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of coconut and let it rest.

Heat the oil in a deep pan and add in the ginger and garlic.

Saute for a minute and then add in the onions. Once the onion Curried coconut fish served with steamed rice and a red cabbage pickle Cooking oil - 2 tbsp

Snapper - 2 fillets - made into bite size pieces Onions - 2 medium sized - minced Tomatoes - 3 chopped roughly

Garlic - 6 cloves - minced finely

Ginger - 1.5 tbsp - minced finely Salt - 3 tsps

starts changing color and going golden, add in the tomatoes.

Saute for about two minutes. Add in the turmeric with a dash of water, fry and add in the remaining coriander powder, red chilli powder and salt and cumin.

Next pour in the tamarind water, cook for about 3-4 min-

utes and then add in the jaggery/gurr. Once the gurr is added

squeeze in the lemon juice and pop the green chillies into the pan, as well as 2 cups of water and 4 tbsp of dried coconut, 4 curry leaves and the mustard seeds.

Place a lid on the pan and let the liquid simmer for about 15-18

Turmeric - 1/4 tsp

minutes on a medium flame.

Coriander powder - 2 tsp

fish till it is almost cooked.

Red chilli flakes - 3 tsp Cumin - 2 tsp

Tamarind - 2 tbsp - soaked in 1 cup water Jaggery/gur - 2 tbsp Lemon - 1

In a separate pan, add in 1 tbsp of cooking oil and saute your Add the fish to the simmering sauce, and cook for about 2-3

minutes till all the flavours have infused.

Voila!

Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice.

JUNE 12-18 2011

49

STYLE

looks to beat the

Shammal Qureshi, Brand Ambassador for TONI&GUY in Pakistan, knows what women — and men — want when it comes to hair. From trendy party ‘dos to hair care, these tips will always be in vogue.

Bonjour, dear readers!

I am simply delighted to be part of The Tribune family, and here I

will certainly do my best to entertain you with, um, hair-raising tales and tips.

First of all, there is nothing fashionable about load shedding,

it’s a pain in our gregarious behinds, but alas, what can we do about it other than try to live up to Coco’s words of wisdom, as

given below ... so, heated up as I am, here are some hot looks for the summer days and nights that are beckoning.

When heat and humidity hitting us in the face, it’s time to

try new styles. For most of us summer means having a fun, flirty time while sporting a new ‘do. So I decided to take a couple

of people and give them a new summer look. For most of the haircuts, I was inspired by a feeling of looseness — a sort of DIY

effect. The colour palettes I have used are all pastel versions of brighter colors. I wanted to use the warmth of the summer in

the hair and throw in some chalky shades to cool it down. All colours are by L’Oreal Professional.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

Coco Chanel

For the first look, we did a low undercut on the gentleman featured, with a shape exaggerating the width of the head. We then coloured the hair quite randomly, shading the ends of the hair to this chalky colour. I think for men, we will be looking at a more tailored shape to beat the heat.

This haircut can be styled ‘pushed back’ or worn the way it is in the picture. I really wanted to contrast a tailored look for the sides with a textured effect for the top. The product used for styling was Label.M’s matt paste. It’s great for the summer because it is not oil based and won’t get sticky in the heat.

heat For the last look, we wanted to experiment with a very summery young, fun style. We did the color using candy floss pink, cohiba tobacco and strawberry blonde. The parting was set to the center to give that very feminine, grown-out feel.

I think over the winter, we have seen the side flick being done way too much, so if your face permits it, please try something different. I would recommend going for a loose longish textured fringe or something that you can part in the centre with height around the crown.

Coming out from those shorter and more angular precision-cut shapes of the winter, I wanted to depict a more grown out and loose version of the traditional bob-length shape. With the colours, I just wanted to keep it quite autumn/spring with hues of mauve over waves of warm browns. Please remember that if you are coloring your hair this summer, use a colour stay shampoo and conditioner and a heat protection spray. This will ensure that the extreme heat will not fade that beautiful color.

So remember this year the spotlight is defi-

nitely on fun and creativity when it comes to hair. Staying hydrated is also very important for

healthy hair during summer, so make sure that you are drinking enough water.

Since summer means humidity I wanted to stick mostly to curly looks. I see many guys in the salon asking me to straighten their hair, and while straight hair is also great, I personally feel that curls really bring out one’s character. So with the look on this next male model, I just kept it quite beachy and natural. The product used was Label.M’s curl cream which is great for both guys and girls to tame that frizz!

Well that’s it for me, but remember that if

these looks seem a little bit exaggerated, you can

always go for safer, toned down versions of the

With this next half-up, half-down look I wanted to transform something very flat to something quite bouncy and textured, perfect for those longer lengths. We also highlighted the hair with a toffee brown. For styling, we just very loosely pinned it up to one side, something that every girl can do at that evening cocktail party.

same.

After all, as Coco would have said, “To each

their own”!

Till next time … au revoir!

a

For comments & questions, log on to www.facebook. com\toniandguylahore or you can email me at shammalq.whatwomenwant@gmail.com JUNE 12-18 2011

53

REVIEW

film black and white

BY AMMARA KHAN

I have been waiting for Kung Fu Panda 2 since 2008, almost from the moment that I was done watching the original. So after two years of waiting, I was excited — but also ready for a massive let down, ready for a poorly thought out sequel to ruin the original movie for me. But fans of Kung Fu Panda, rest assured — Kung Fu Panda 2 is a winner! The brilliant cinematography and storytelling make this a worthy sequel to the original.

Animated movies, by merging classic narration with modern cinematic techniques, create an impression of timelessness. Kung Fu Panda 2 successfully channels the power of animation to make an emotionally immersive experience for the audience. It builds upon the ecstatic exploration of the protagonist’s past through his hazy memories and many dream sequences. The poignant narration coupled with excellent graphics deliver a fascinating cinematic experience.

Gary Oldman as Lord Shen, the feisty peacock who wants to rule the world, proves yet again to be an unforgettable villain, regardless of the genre. Shen embodies the human thirst for absolute power by fascist means, making use of fire and metal to overpower the world. It falls on Po and the Furious Five to save the ancient world of Kung Fu. Other interesting additions to the cast include Master Ox (Dennis Haysbert) and Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) as well as the character of Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) whose prophetic talent guides Po (Jack Black) in his quest down memory lane. Jack Black is back with a solid performance after a dismal turn in Gulliver’s Travels. Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) with his sublime thoughts is sadly missing from this installment, but Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) comes very close to replacing him with his prescriptions of inner-peace to complement the art of Kung Fu. Unfortunately, his character was not given as much attention and time as it deserved.

From Gilgamesh’s many adventures to contemporary cinema, 54 storytelling is not just a means of entertainment but also a way JUNE 12-18 2011

take two Kung Fu Panda 2 successfully channels the power of animation to make an emotionally immersive experience for the audience to preserve the past in narrative form. This nostalgia for the past is more evident in animated movies. If we look at a few recent examples we find Toy Story 3 celebrates childhood bonds, Rango is trying to save the old Western world, Rio is literally about an almost extinct species of bird, and now Kung Fu Panda 2 captures the inevitable historical clash between the art of Kung Fu and modern weaponry.

Ironically, animated movies are often accused of succumbing to the demands of pop culture and many serious cinema lovers consider them below their supposedly higher standards. However, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a movie which not only entertains but also raises the right questions about ancient values and brings to focus the flip side of modernity. The sequel has a wider action canvas and greater thematic range which sadly leaves little space for deeper character development. But of course there’s a limit to what you can do in one and a half hour of running time. Overall, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a complete cinematic package, with ancient wisdom, riveting action, and great laughs.

REVIEW

film vampire weekend

BY MAHVESH MURAD

Priest’s director Scott Stewart is better known for his work in visual effects and the only feature film he has directed is 2009’s Legion.

Priest, like Stewart’s other film, also features Paul Bettany, religion, the apocalypse, a bunch of monsters, an ill-developed storyline and confused world building. Having said that, Priest trots along at a decent pace with no breaks in momentum or lapses in its own odd reality, making it decent Sunday-afternoon-at-the-cinema fare.

The film is based on Korean graphic novels (and possibly a dozen other films) and is about a world in which humans have finally defeated vampires, forcing them to live out their miserable eternal lives in what look like giant Nazi underground bunkers.

Of course, giant underground bunkers can get boring, and so the vampires have begun to venture out again, attacking humans and kidnapping a young girl from her home. This girl’s uncle is a Priest — one of the team who finally defeated the vampires in the first place — and he sets out in search for her. No need to explain this any further, because what follows is basically an extended chase sequence.

The Priests were once expert assassins with special powers, discovered by the Church and trained to wipe out vampires. With the end of the vampire menace, they were forced into routine life in the cities, so essentially, the Priests are like Buffy, only religious, retired and not in the least bit funny. But to give them credit, Buffy never had crucifixes that rose out of a dummy Bible and turned into throwing stars — so much cooler than a basic wooden stake.

Paul Bettany and Maggie Q play the two priests who are trying to save the young girl — and so the world — but before they foil villain Black Hat’s (played by Karl Urban) nefarious plan, they have enough time to establish a potential love interest. It’s unnecessary and feels a bit forced, but fortunately the film does not linger too long on it. Before you know who loved whom when, you’re back to speeding motorbikes, explosives and squelchy vampires.

56 The world of Priest is a strange mélange of steampunk, the Old JUNE 12-18 2011

suck it up Priest trots along at a decent pace with no breaks in momentum or lapses in its own odd reality, making it decent Sunday-afternoon-atthe-cinema fare.

West and Blade Runner. The fortress like cities with their reliance on electricity (their confession booths are essentially Skype sessions with a pre-recorded response system) may be reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s dystopian classic, but then there are standard steampunk elements like goggles and railway trains thrown in to this gritty mess. Outside the cities, society seems to have reverted to the 19th century Wild West, with dust bowl towns and sheriffs with double-barreled guns.

Vampires are always a hit, sparkly or otherwise, but these ones aren’t appealing: they’re slimy, eyeless and have the sex appeal of an earthworm. The complete control of ‘The Church’ should be threatening, but this church is almost a cliché, full of old men who are afraid to admit their mistakes. The apocalypse itself is confusing. White ash has fallen from the sky, the earth is irradiated, everything is just filthy and everyone is poor, but there is no explanation: what caused the fallout? When in time is this? Why are we asking so many questions when Paul Bettany has already moved on with the thrust of a ‘nitro boost’ button on his motorbike?

Priest is a straightforward film which doesn’t ask its audience to think too much. The CGI is strong, which isn’t surprising given the director’s prior experience in visual effects, and the breakneck pace at which it moves, make the gaps in the story almost unnoticeable. a

FEBRUARY 13-19 2011

THE HATER

10 things I hate about ...reporting

1 2 3 4 5

BY NADIR HASSAN

The call-back. Your deadline is approaching and you need one quote from one person. It would take him less

than a minute to give you that quote. But his secretary

insists he’s in a meeting and will call you back even though she knows that you know all he’s really doing is taking a mid-afternoon siesta.

Human interaction. Talking to people is no fun simply because most people are dullards. Yet, every day you have to grit your teeth and smile at worthless, boring people because that is part of your job.

Stenography. All your job really consists of is writing down what other people say.

Breeding self-importance. Despite point 3, reporters think they are doing vital work. Even if all they’re doing is going to a fashion show and writing about how runway models are defying the Taliban.

Faux objectivity. Reporters are not supposed to have

opinions but they make their biases very clear anyway.

All they have to do is pick the smartest quote from a person who agrees with them and ‘balance’ it out with

the most inane quote they could get from a low-IQ individual.

58 JUNE 12-18 2011

6 7 8 9 10

The hours. It doesn’t matter if Federer is thrashing Nadal at Wimbledon. If a story needs to be done at

midnight you will have to go and do it, the tennis be damned.

Manufacturing news. Some days the newspaper just

needs to be blank. But that wouldn’t be a profitable

venture so reporters have to invent stories just to fill up space.

Forgetting to press “record”. There is nothing worse than spending an hour interviewing someone only to

realise you never pressed that all-important red button.

Becoming a stalker. There are a few creatures on this planet who just don’t want to be quoted in the news-

paper. Staking out their office, putting them on speed

dial and harassing their kids should be criminal but it’s a basic part of reporting.

Editors. They will take great pleasure in mutilating

your carefully crafted prose and even get paid more than you do just for wielding a metaphorical scalpel. a