MARCH 18-24 2012
Don’t call me Mona The model formerly known as Mona Lizza talks about starting over in Mumbai
MARCH 18-24 2012
Cover Story 18 Don’t Call me Mona Moving to Mumbai wasn’t enought for Mona Lizza — she also has a new moniker!
Style 28 Spring Chic Tariq Amin shows you how to pull off the hottest hair trends
Feature 32 Snip It! Go behind the scenes at London Fashion Week with style guru Shammal Qureshi
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Humour 36 Not so Hidden Agenda Year 2015 — Maulana Azabul Haq chalks out his list of priorities as PM
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Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 40 Reviews: What’s new in films 42 Ten Things I Hate About: Lahore
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Magazine Editor: Zarrar Khuhro, Senior Sub-Editor: Batool Zehra, Sub-Editors: Ameer Hamza and Dilaira Mondegarian. Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Maha Haider, Faizan Dawood, Sanober Ahmed and S Asif Ali. Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi. For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Iffat, Mariam and Sonia
Nadia and Uzma
Shazia and Mehvish
Jenny
Nazia and Mashaal
Aaminah and Aamir
6 MARCH 18-24 2012
Saima and Annie
Nazi and Fatima
PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS
Saeed and Asad Nawaz launch a designer’s exhibition at Ten Q in Lahore
MARCH 18-24 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Amna, Saim, Sofia and Sana
Amber and Zehra
Maham and Khadija
Rubab
Faisal and Saira
Hamza, Zainab and Mariam
8 MARCH 18-24 2012
Mrs Asad and Amer Saeed
Sakib and Sophiiya
Mona Faisal
MARCH 18-24 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Sehrish and Maheen
Shiza
Mehreen Dawood, Aasia Shiekh and Shahista Mirza
Tina
10 MARCH 18-24 2012
Adnan Malik and Frieha Altaf
Aisam and Faha
Faiza Arshad and Hina Tehmoor
Neshmia
PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR AND MARKETING
Aisamul Haq Qureshi launches his book, Lessons Learnt from the Tennis Tour, in Karachi
MARCH 18-24 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Saima Azher
Sidra and Falak
Splash, a high street fashion brand, launches in Karachi
Saima and Zara
Nadia Rafi
Saba Ansari
Ali Safina Areeba
12 MARCH 18-24 2012
Frieha Altaf and Mohsin Sayeed
PHOTOS COURTESY CATWALK PRODUCTIONS
Anoushey Ashraf
MARCH 18-24 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Kayseria holds an exhibition to launch its summer collection 2012 in Karachi
Ruby Fatima Waleed Zaman
Fauzia
Waleed Zaman
14 MARCH 18-24 2012
Mahrukh Anwar
Bilal Khan and Yasser Irfan
Asma Mustafa
Nadia Rafi
PHOTOS COURTESY LOTUS
Sana Khan and Areeba
MARCH 18-24 2012
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Levi’s launches its Global store at the Dolmen City Mall in Karachi
Nida Khan and Shazdeh
PHOTOS COURTESY ADNAN MALIK PRODUCTIONS
Rachel and Zoe Viccaji
Annie Jaffrey
Alishba Yousuf
Bilal Maqsood
m Hussain
Adnan Malik and Qurra
16 MARCH 18-24 2012
zwari
z Sub Syra Khan and Shahro
MARCH 18-24 2012
COVER STORY
don’t call me
mona BY AQSA MUSTAFA
PHOTOS BY RIZWANUL HAQ
Three months ago, Sara Loren, better known in Pakistan as Mona Lizza, TV actress, dancer, model, packed up her belongings and moved to Mumbai. The 25-year-old, who appeared in TV serials like “Rabiya Zinda Rahegi” and “Main Mar Gayee Shaukat Ali”, was selected by the Bhatt father-daughter duo to appear in Kajraare alongside singer and first-time actor Himesh Reshammiya. The movie was shown in only two theatres in Mumbai in October 2010 and never garnered much attention this side of the border either. But Loren isn’t giving up — not even close. According to the actress, her journey is just begin-
ning, and she is ready to switch countries to make it big … even if she has to start from scratch.
Here, the bombshell talks to us about not being appreciated in Pakistan, having no time for love and how she still looks and feels like she’s 19.
18 MARCH 18-24 2012
Just when we were all finally getting used to your unusual choice of name, you changed it to Sara Loren. Why? Because so many Mona Lizza’s come up when you type in the name on the internet. It’s a very common name somehow. And the new agency that I’m working with in India, Kwan — they also repre-
sent Ranbir Kapoor — didn’t want it. They used Italian actress Sophia Loren’s name for inspiration.
And since I’m starting over, and this time in Bollywood, I thought I should have a new stage
name. I went to a numerologist who told me that there was an issue with the two z’s I used to put in Lizza. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get the kind of fame that I deserved in the past seven years.
Why did you get up and move in the first place? After Kajraare, I obviously wanted to move. After starring in one film, any actor would want to do
nothing less than another film, and there weren’t any good opportunities in Pakistan. I wanted to discover myself, to groom myself.
When I started, my career was really simple: somebody saw my photograph and I got offered a
Fair and Lovely ad and then TV roles just kept on coming. I didn’t have to struggle. Now I’m struggling. But I’m ready for it, because I want to start over as an actor. I have already worked seven
years as an actor in Pakistan but now I’m ready to put in a couple more years to re-establish myself.
19 MARCH 18-24 2012
Too many Monas! Googling confusion and a love for numerology led to her name change
20 MARCH 18-24 2012
Aren’t you fearful that you will soon start looking too old for an industry that is all about youth and superficial beauty? I think I look like I’m 18 or 19. And I don’t think the industry is that superficial anymore, either. To-
day people look at the quality of your work. Look at Vidya Balan, or Katrina Kaif — they’re probably near 30 and they’re ruling the Indian film industry. Kareena Kapoor is probably around 35 and she is at the peak of her career. I don’t think much about being 25. I feel 19, and I look 19.
Why didn’t Kajraare do well at the box office? Because Himesh is not a hero. I did the film because I liked my role, I wanted to test myself as an
actor and I wanted to experience Bollywood. They were looking for a Pakistani actress and they
liked my pictures. I got superb reviews from everyone. I think everybody ordered the film on DVD and watched it at home.
“I don’t want to be labeled as the girl who went to India and took her clothes off. In India, every girl is standing here waiting to take her clothes off … it’s not a big deal. Why does everybody appreciate Vidya Balan? Because she’s an actor.”
What have you been working on recently? I’ve just been looking for the right role. There are a few projects in the pipeline and I’ll announce my new project around June or July.
How do you like Mumbai? I’ve travelled around the world but I just really like Mumbai — maybe because they speak our language. But I also love the reality of Mumbai. On one side you’ll see a Mercedes and on the other you
can see a man living on the streets and having his tea. Every corner has a story. I live alone in an apartment in this area called Versova. I’ve accepted that it is a period of struggle in my life. It may take a year or two to really settle down well. Not a big deal.
What do you do for fun? Have you made any friends? I haven’t made too many friends, because I’ve been busy working. I take Kathak classes regularly, go for drives on Queen’s Road, and eat lots of great vegetarian food.
Do you still visit Pakistan or are you a hardcore Mumbai girl now? I recently came back for Deepak Perwani’s Lawn ad campaign. I think he has very good design sense and is very particular about prints, colours and class. Since Sonam Kapoor and Karishma Kapoor’s
lawn shoots for Pakistani mills, people in India have also started talking about lawn. After six months, when I sign a project, I hope to advertise lawn in India as well.
Did you ever think you were going to become an actress? I took up my first couple of projects because of the money. When my father died and we moved to
Pakistan from Kuwait, times were tough and I wanted to support my family. I loved actresses like Babra Sharif, Sabiha Khanum and Rekha, but never imagined that I would be an actress one day.
After my Fair and Lovely ad, I randomly decided to audition for a role in “Rabiya Zinda Rahegi” which was being directed by S Suleman. When I delivered my lines, he told me that it wasn’t a
speech, it was dialogue. I said, “Sir, I don’t know how to act.” He asked me to take the script home,
and to practice it in front of a mirror. When I auditioned again after two days, he signed me. After that, I never had to audition for any role. Then I just started getting roles.
S Suleman kept on grooming me. Once, I was doing a scene where my screen mother had to slap
me and I was supposed to cry, but I just wasn’t able to cry on set. Suleman sahab looked at Badar
Khalil and gestured to her to actually slap me. She slapped me so hard that I naturally started crying. That convinced me that if I get really involved in something, then I can actually act very well. (Continued on page 26)
21 MARCH 18-24 2012
COVER STORY
A failed fable? Loren says Kajraare didn’t do well because Himesh ‘is not a hero’
Going Italiano ... from Lizza to Loren
Why do you think you never got any critical acclaim for your acting in Pakistan? I’ve done a whole range of roles in my seven years as an actress in Pakistan. The fact that I never got nominated for a Lux Style Award is something that really baffles me. Maybe it’s because I was never really involved with the fashion media, focusing instead on enhancing my acting skills.
“Main Mar Gayee Shaukat Ali” was a big hit. It was watched in every village. They should have
nominated that. And this may be the reason I wanted to move to Bollywood — it is one place where the smallest of achievements are noticed.
Seven years is a long time. If I have showcased my range and capabilities then come on, give me
good work yaar! I am a crazy actor. I am looking for roles. I am a girl who can attempt any kind of role and I think I have proven that already.
Then how come you never reached the level of success and recognition that actors such as Reema or Aisha Khan have experienced? It may be because people were not able to understand me in Pakistan. It’s true that there has always
been some sort of confusion about me. Perhaps it is because my range as an actor is very high. And then I got an offer from Bollywood so fast. The way they presented me in Kajraare was so good that I
don’t think any Pakistani woman has ever gotten that kind of presentation. Maybe because of that,
Pakistani directors and producers were confused as to how to approach me, so this is why I moved to India.
26 MARCH 18-24 2012
Have you ever tried to understand why Pakistani directors/producers were confused by you? If I think about these things I’ll probably waste more years of my life. The truth, and I want to say this to the media, is that Pakistan doesn’t support you, while India can suddenly pick you up.
This has happened with people like Adnan Sami and Nusrat Fateh Ali. I am not a regular actress. I don’t think any girl in Pakistan has done the range of roles that I have. And with my beauty. I can bet on this.
So you haven’t done anything for Lollywood? I have recently done an item number for a film called Sultanat with SM Khan. It’s done in a very tasteful way. I don’t believe in vulgarity, I believe in sexuality.
Talking about sexuality, like other Pakistani actresses, you’ve also gotten a lot of criticism for going across the border and being portrayed as a sex symbol. How do you feel about that? Standards for films have gone up, we are competing with Hollywood now. I am a bold girl and a
serious actor. When I saw myself in Kajraare, I had no idea that I would look this good on the big screen. And then I realised that the camera loves me. So, why not?
You looked very hot, I must admit. Would you choose more roles that showcase this sizzling sexuality? Well, I’ve already said no to a few films where there were way too many intimate scenes and not much of a role for a serious actress. There was a film called Zila Ghaziabad with Sanjay Dutt, Arshad
Warsi, Vivek Oberoi. I said no to that film. I have said no to two, three more films because of the same reasons.
But if there is a strong role for me in a film that requires me to do some intimate scenes, yeah I’ll
do them. The world has really evolved. The issue with Pakistan is that we do everything ‘wrong’ in
our own homes but not publicly. We don’t have any class internationally. I know I’m a Pakistani
and if I’ve gotten the opportunity to do this out of a thousand other girls, then I want to make every-
one proud. I don’t want to be labeled as the girl who went to India and took her clothes off. In India,
every girl is standing here waiting to take her clothes off … it’s not a big deal. Why does everybody appreciate Vidya Balan? Because she’s an actor. She is playing a role. She did Dirty Picture and got rave
reviews. If you can’t do all of this then you won’t fit in. I haven’t regretted any scene that I’ve done. In fact, I think I looked good.
What do you think of the fame and recognition Veena has garnered in India in a short amount of time? Well, if she wants to do an item number and she likes that kind of attention then yes, why not? I think she has taken a really bold step. But I do believe though that this kind of fame is very short
lived. I mean, if you pose nude and write ‘ISI’ on your arm, obviously it’s going to get attention, but not necessarily the right kind. There are no blessings for you. If people don’t love you, I don’t feel like you’re a star.
Would you ever consider doing a publicity stunt to get attention faster? People do it and it works for them, but I never understood the point of doing it myself. With Veena, I think it worked. What Meera did worked for her as well. Even here in India, she leaked news
that Bhatt Sahab had slapped her. People here think Pakistani actresses are psycho! Then there are actresses like Zeba Bakhtiar and Salma Agha, who came here to act and are praised for their grace to this day. But I’ll never take the help of a scandal to catapult myself to fame, even if it takes me longer to establish myself.
27 MARCH 18-24 2012
STYLE
spring
chic
With spring right around the corner you know it is time to let your hair down. But who says you have to limit your options? Let your mood decide your hairstyle, from tamed curls to tight hair buns and more!
MAKE-UP AND STYLING BY TARIQ AMIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADEELA BADSHAH
volume (Left) Nida Khan’s natural texture
is enhanced by diffusing the hair with a handful of mousse, Grip Style by Osis. Finishing the look is a Freeze hairspray for extra hold.
(Right) The night variation for a
classic look which never goes out of style. To make it edgy, put in a side
parting. To complement this look
opt for colour overload — bright
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eyes and lips. MARCH 18-24 2012 MARCH 18-24 2012
sleek (Right) Face forward night variation — a simple ponytail will en-
hance Shazdeh Ali Akhtar’s facial
features and beat humidity hands down. Use minimal makeup for maximum effect when pulling off this look.
(Left) Anti-Frizz serum Magic by Osis has been used to create a sleek
look. Toss the hair upside down and use a paddle brush to blow dry it.
texture (Left) Anam Farooq Khan’s hair is
tonged and separation is achieved with Mess Up by Osis. For greater impact the make-up is kept subtle.
(Right) The wet look is achieved by using a cocktail of products. The secret is to leave the hair alone after
applying the gel and gloss — an easy way to stay looking chilled without
frizz. Never be afraid of colour, bold
and strong is the way to go to complete this look!
MARCH 18-24 2012 MARCH 18-24 2012
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! t i p i sn
FEATURE
L QURESHI BY SHAMMA
1
Day 32
MARCH 18-24 2012
at 9 p and awake rly ea am for an e tim start. First sh ndon Fa backstage at Lo want to be ion Week, so er and shave; prepped. Show t into a small pack session ki nit! It’s still wheelie. Dam at least my 10kg. Oh well, happy. Lug trainer will be way, grab a it down Queens a and hit the killer shawarm tube by noon. ll station Arrive at Vauxha to Freemaand walk down e Vauxhall th sons’ Hall for y show’s M Fashion Scout. potter around not till 4 pm so st impresbackstage. Fir Stylists runsions? Manic! e headless ning around lik on closer inchickens. But an order to spection, there’s very, very all the chaos; it’s erything ev organised, with ckwork. clo running like ws ro awaitModels sitting in ows; lights, ing their sh r. All rather crews, all in orde , would rathimpressive. Still ething other er be doing som g a wallflowthan mimickin to where the er. Walk over are hard at Toni&Guy team gh I’m not work. Even thou this show, I scheduled for to help out. grab a hairdryer 3pm — nice Show’s over by
U
maritan. But being a good Sa ll out the big now time to pu ryers in this guns (or haird to the styling case). Head over rly. Everyone area an hour ea ur early, inelse is also an ho els. Am stylcluding the mod na Hardinge ing the Georgi Bill Watson, show. Luckily, al academy the internation director for and franchise esent. He’s pr T&G London, is e show stylspearheading th rvous, so ask ing. Am a bit ne style brief. him for a quick ck. Georgia’s Yay, for good lu with Bill, so having a chat lady herself. get to meet the we need is a Bill tells me all d a hairdryer pair of tongs an l.M mousse. and lots of Labe ally, dude? Am shocked. Re t hours pracAnd here I spen ing skills. ticing my braid one of the Bill steps up to in a styling models sitting ul Brazilian chair — a beautif wavy hair th bombshell wi Does one n. ta and a gorgeous at he’s wh all style to show us envisaged.
Game on. Lyuta I grab a partner, T&G Japan Saiga, heir to Eastern an d throne, an , with de on European bl rgeous go d blue eyes an styla cheekbones — e m true ist’s dream co ing. She — and get crack to work has great hair hair with with. Prep the blow-dry mousse, then on each ad he flat to the tail at ny po side; tie a low , and ck ne r the nape of he c. secure with elasti obserOne interesting y we tie vation: the wa start. Wake up Another early n is sta ki Pa in ils pony ta kit is already at 8 am. Session e us e W . nt re ffe totally di a coffee on the packed, so grab d two pins rubber bands an run. er here, on each side. Ov rly. The Dans Still an hour ea string of it’s one long cks off at 10:15 La Vie show ki wrapped is ich wh c sti ela eryone else is am. Again, ev and tied ir ha e th nd ou ar ever said fashalso early. Who es the ak M . ot kn a into professional! ionistas aren’t er. an cle h uc pony m teran, I start Now an LFW ve preto e tim of es Tonn els. The proorganising mod time to hit pare, so loads of same as Day e cess kicks off th though perfection. Even ake-up artists 1. Body Shop m simple, the look is very hair stylists to to the left, T&G cused on the team is fo does one look the right. Bill ct and forfe pe it ng tti ge what’s up and to show us all things all sm on g cusin alise that this that’s when I re ain of gr e th ng ki ec like ch bit more comis going to be a ying pl ap en wh ir the ha plicated. le process mousse. Who er, Yuka, a Grab my partn minutes takes around 20 ane Square Slo e veteran from th ound five per model. Ar of ter ‘hair up’, salon and a mas ow is over. models, the sh cking. Today, I and we get cra pat on the Job well done, model to kick get the Brazilian ll. Bi by ck ba e hair up and off. Mousse th expectas W it? ’s at Th th the curling begin curling wi work. er rd ha h uc ing m red hair exteniron. Add colou the th wi rty pa Time to , and twist all sions to the front home at 11 team. Get back side parting. a the way back in t. pm and pass ou hair under the Then roll all the e a bob. nape to resembl your grandThe look? Think
2
Day
zy, voluminous but on crack: cra ma’s roller set, is look takes bob-like style. Th curls in a short, to style three t I still manage much longer, bu so complex, by e the styling is models. Becaus ir is being done e make up and ha the end of it, th ed, but it’s seam . Sounds crowd simultaneously so g aps for doin e Body Shop ch less. Props to th well. the Aquascuk out the end of Manage to chec e m time as ours) pening at the sa tum show (hap ra Mullen (eat supermodel La and bump into lads!). your hearts out some food, e to kill so grab tim e m so Have Barone show. le the Carlotta then head to sty tist Manuela Italian visual ar The daughter of rone, Carlotta’s r Gianni Actis Ba Corti and write evident from e is immediately creative heritag going to LOVE know that I am her collection.I e inspiration is for this show. Th doing the hair Sweeney Todd. -Carter’s look in Helena Bonham k like both victhe models to loo Carlotta wants rs. Craaaazy! tim and victimise d as before, ssed and curle The hair is mou the back, with that it lies flat in then knotted so ake up is smoky, the side. The m lots of width on to the bridge ing all the way dark eyes extend mplicated than e style is less co of the nose. Th takes time. Five ow — but it still the previous sh ’re done! models later, we it, baby! ter curler. Bring I am now a mas head to the loy knackered, so Am surprisingl th the team, refreshments wi cal pub for quick ep? It’s Saturby 10ish. Do I sle then hit home end. Stumble e town with a fri day, dude! Hit th ay morning. home early Sund
MARCH 18-24 2012
FEATURE
3
Day
ur . Lunch at the Fo hough still cold alt y, da y nn e su a gorgeous, TV, talking to th work today. It’s spent watching is y da e th of Bless the Lord, no st London. The re st roast duck in . Seasons — the be g some more TV one and watchin wifey on the ph
4
Day
it ugh it to give some wax thro re cu se en th and a bit of volume y, really secure all re n ea it (I m cuff and iron it it) through the it with some smooth. Finish tt hard, but exac shine spray. No ing. ved we only I’m kind of relie to do today. I of have one show tch wa le op e pe ten wonder if th w ho ea id y ve an ing the shows ha effort goes into d an e much tim look. And that’s each and every g the choreognot even countin any months of raphy or the m in by the designpreparation put ers. on principle, I It’s Monday, so — an early night decide to have y cit e th ar n he even though I ca nwi e th beyond calling me from
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dow. MARCH 18-24 2012
w toow ho Bukia sh Styling the Lako S is. I e sh an wom day and what a elee th — way love the warrior aube , h, d smooth gant designs an in I’m I feel like tiful materials. as with the qu ia ‘70s Bond film kirts. futuristic mini-s ll about y is all Lako’s philosoph plicity, so the contrast and sim e stark he day — th real challenge to tails’. ny po ernal look with ‘mod the t ou ing ab There’s someth w, ro -b i-b ni a bit un eyebrows that’s but Lako insists. bel.M Volume We start with La e it heavy and Mousse to mak y; through evenly; then brush it e en th d nd an s ot e ro wax stick at th y-into a pony up ir ha e th pull ff ff. cu l ta eta h a m tail and throug b ub the hair and ru t ou d Have to pa
5
Day
Naka show toStyling the Tata but I just love day. Call me silly, a Naka, Tata saying that (Tat go on all day). Naka — I could tasha are twin Tamara and Na orgia! You’da sisters from Ge Japanese from thunk they’re re did! their label — I su a Ross: big, an Di is The look lots of curls. power-hair with ir with Label.M We prep the ha e and blow dry Volume Mouss en the curling it through. Th curl master!). tong (I AM the into small secDivide the hair different sized tions using two all and small tongs — extra sm tural, tight curl — to create a na ch (yes, each) and then pin ea and let it cool curl into place s cool, remove down. Once it’ massage the the pins and e hair stand. roots to make th Spray and, voiLabel.M Shine n throwbacks. la, giant Motow rtied out, so I think I’m all pa tonight. Thank crawl into bed ’s the last day God, tomorrow rl and I might — one more cu pass out.
6
Day
realise I’m dawn start and Another crack of s for the ait Tiim Lipop aw singing for joy. y: dudes . Easy stuff toda afternoon show ir. Asger ck, textured ha with swept ba look like s the models to Juel Larsen want just been ldiers that have they’re soviet so e hair and h a blizzard so th walking throug ow. Pretty vered in fake sn eyebrows are co the other Lipops look, on cool look. Tim se to the clo e swept hair hand, was sid en used th d ssed it up an scalp, so we mou it. a hairnet to dry t show. lise this is my las rea d an up p ra W ving fun. when you’re ha Time sure flies e T&G team it’s out with th After the show ppy. Home , proud and ha — excited, tired so much in uch in my head, tomorrow. So m perience. ex g en an amazin my heart. It’s be wifey. e th to be back with But I’ll be happy
35 MARCH 18-24 2012
HUMOUR
Maulana Aza Prime M bul Haq inister
v
BY A A SHEIKH
The year is 2015. In a wholly unexpected development, a grand religiopolitical alliance has swept the snap elections called after the previous government’s summary dismissal on grounds of mass corruption and unwarranted promotion of peace with world and regional powers. Maulana Azab ul Haq, the leader of Tehrik-o-Lashkar-e-Nifaz-e-Jihad-o-Difae-Ulema-e-Pakistan, finds himself ensconced on the unlikely seat of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. At the end of a hectic first day in office, the near-exhausted ideologue sits at his desk and chalks out his list of priorities as PM. Here’s a glimpse:
36 MARCH 18-24 2012
37 MARCH 18-24 2012
REVIEW
the love of music BY NOMAN ANSARI
Directed by Fernando Trueba, Chico & Rita is a Spanish animated Indie film, which was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film for the 2012 Academy Awards, and it is easy to see why. Featuring a sexually charged love story, excellent voice acting, and an amazing Cuban Jazz soundtrack, the film hits most of the right notes. Set in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the movie embraces its pulpy nature right down to its animation. Rather than employing a jazzy animation method, it features a chunky old-school visual style, which makes the film look very distinct, especially during colourful scenes set in Cuba, Paris, Las Vegas, and Hollywood. The film begins in present day Cuba, Chico, an old shoe-shiner, is listening to the radio in his rundown apartment when he hears an old song he composed with his partner, Rita. The song takes him back to Cuba in the 1940s as he reminisces about his days as a struggling pianist with his friend, Ramón. We immediately see that Chico was not only a good looking and talented pianist but that he was quite fond of women as well. Everything changes for Chico when meets Rita, the gorgeous
once upon a war BY NOMAN ANSARI
Directed by Steven Spielberg, War Horse is quite a departure from the children’s book it was adapted from. Spielberg’s retooling of the book is apparent as scenes from World War I come to life on the screen through beautifully shot cinematography and murky colour palettes. That being said, this fantastic film should be watched by viewers of all ages, because at its core, it is about the bond of friendship between a boy and his horse. And if an animal could be nominated for an Academy Award, then the horse, Joey, would be taking home the gold. Here, he shines in his excellent performance, with acts of valour, comedy, and even unexpected tenderness. The films begins in the small town of Devon in England, where a financially troubled farmer, Ted Narracott (Peter Mullan), drunk and overcome by his need to best his arrogant landlord, overbids at an auction, and brings home a colt instead of the plough horse his farm needs. While this event is received with horror by his wife Rose (Emily Watson), it is met with joy by his teenage son Albert (Jeremy Irvine), who quickly forms a bond with the horse. Intelligent and personable, we instantly note that Joey doesn’t horse around. And after performing a marvel that nearly helps save 40 the Narracott farm, Joey is quickly dubbed a ‘miracle horse’. But then, MARCH 18-24 2012
singer with the sultry voice. The two click immediately and began a relationship. Trouble is that Chico cannot change his womanising ways, and Rita cannot break out of her love hate relationship with him. Tired of being cheated upon, Rita leaves Cuba for America, to pursue her dreams of becoming a famous singer and actress. Chico follows her but still does not mend his ways. Meanwhile, Rita meets other men and becomes famous but she still cannot stop thinking of Chico. The dynamics of their relationship is the heart of this story, and while the characterisation is superb, the characters aren’t very likeable, and there isn’t enough exploration into the psyche of their complicated behaviour. The movie features fantastic tracks from a large list of great jazz musicians, including the great Cuban artist Bebo Valdés, whose own life inspired some parts of this film. The relationship between Chico and Rita aside, the film is a real tribute to the Latin jazz music scene of the 50s.
tragedy strikes as World War I breaks out and, under great financial strain, Ted sells Joey to the army to the disgust of his son. From this point on, the film follows Joey’s adventures, as he befriends another horse in the army, and goes through a series of adventures on the French countryside, until he finds himself on the German side of the battleground. Meanwhile, Albert too joins the army in hopes of finding Joey. The adventures Joey goes through allow Spielberg to masterfully tell various side stories during the time of war, some of which even humanises those on the German side. One particularly poignant one, where a German and a British soldier come to Joeys' aid, reminds one of man's humanity even in the midst of war. War Horse is scored by a beautiful soundtrack, which allows it to build one stirring scene after another. In the hands of another director, these sequences could have been sickly sweet, but here, Spielberg is at the top of his game having, in this film, put together a real thoroughbred.
THE HATER
10 things I hate about
1 2 3 4 5
…lahore
BY ASIF NAWAZ
The noise. Lahore is perhaps the only place in the
country where your ears are subjected to a jumble of scratchy Ataullah Khan Esakhelvi tracks, choruses of paunchy men hurling colourful abuse, religious
sermons, nauseating Bollywood tunes, the roar of vehicles and generally shrill Lahoris. All in one go.
The state of the roads pales hopelessly if compared with those of Karachi and Islamabad. The last time I checked,
Lahore aspired to be a world-class city. With roads like these, I better check again.
6 7 8 9 10
For a city of its standard, Lahore offers humorous, almost comic modes of public transport. Deafening rickshaws,
colonial-style
tongas,
grimy
wagons,
crowded buses. Is a decent metro transit system too much to ask for?
In Lahore, there’s an overwhelming populace of (self-
proclaimed) hip hunks and trendy divas. Had you been
in Abbottabad, we’d have probably laughed you off. But since you are in Lahore, you can easily get away with
your visually agonising sense of style by simply calling it high fashion.
The traffic. Cars are to Lahore what sheep are to
Australia. And the drivers are part of the problem. Dear
Lahori driver, you won’t die of a cardiac arrest if you
just let my car pass by. And since I’ve already judged you by the look on your face, you don’t need to prove you are a filthy snob by your reckless driving.
The cultural anaemia. The city is steadily losing much of the cultural appeal it was once so envied for. And to get the record straight, staging ‘Ishq Day Annay’
in Alhamra and showing ‘Nasha Jawani Da’ in Laxmi Chowk don’t really count as cultural activities. Okay?
The renaming. As much as I respect Jinnah, I am still partial to Lawrence Gardens in place of ‘Bagh-e-Jinnah’. Race Course Park, GT Road, Jail Road, Davis Road,
Queen’s Road, Krishan Nagar and Gaddafi Stadium, all have been brought under the axe of renaming. Give us a break!
42 MARCH 18-24 2012
Lahore’s living history is being destroyed. Partly by
the people who so romantically pen down their phone numbers on the walls of historic structures, and partly by the authorities who keep on limiting access to more
and more of those structures. And I always thought that every Pakistani had equal rights to our collective heritage. Well, some dreams die young!
Lahore has too much to see and too much to eat. And no matter how much you extend your trip to the city, you always run out of time. Or worse still, stomach space.
Lahore, despite points one to nine, is still Lahore. And it doesn’t need to prove itself. Or change itself. That’s why all those from other cities eventually fall in love
with this city of sin and splendour, and cannot help feeling a tinge of harmless jealousy. And then we end up writing pieces like this one.