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Art
20 Questions with
Ruby Shakeel 1. What inspired you to get into the field of designing? A. Clothes have always been my inspiration and I have always been interested in wearing and making beautiful clothes. Moreover, my family and friends always appreciated what I created, thereby inspiring me and supporting me to enter the field of designing.
2. Do you have professional
training, and do you feel it’s essential for a designer to have a professional education? A. Unfortunately I don’t have any formal training but I feel one has an inborn talent too which can be polished and utilized better by formal training and education. At my time things were a lot different and you could survive based on talent but now one must attain higher education and formal training as there is so much cut throat competition.
3. What is the overriding aesthetic
in your designing? A. I highly get inspired by nature and animal prints. You will see a lot of tiger and cheetah print in my clothes which I feel adds a lot of richness to my designs and it has become my signature style.
4. What is your educational and
professional background and how do you feel it prepared you for a career in fashion designing? A. As I mentioned I have no educational or professional training in fashion design particularly but
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one should attain education in specialized fields now as it really helps you excel. I have done my M.A. in English.
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What drew you to fashion and specifically to starting your own line? A. My family and friends always liked and appreciated my work and
inspired and encouraged me to start my own work. They were of an opinion that my sense of style and fashion is so good that I should bring my work to public.
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What is the best perk in being a fashion designer? A. That you get to wear beautiful clothes all the time and since I love clothes I enjoy it even more.
be using while stitching as in the cut.
11. What excites you the most about your new collections? A. What excites me the most about a new collection is my fans and client’s reaction and appreciation.
too. I love buying home furniture and accessories and doing up my house.
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What is the one city in the world that you would showcase your designs? A. I wish to display my work at Milan the fashion hub.
15. Has being a designer changed the way you buy outfits for yourself? A. I have always appreciated good work of other too so if a piece is beautiful I would buy it.
7. What is the most difficult aspect about running your own label? A. The most challenging part of my work is that I need to be innovative, creative and different at all times. Since there is so much cut throat competition now that one has to really stand out.
16. What fabric do you enjoy working with the most? A. All kinds of fabrics. You need to know the technique and tricks of using the right fabric in the right place in the right manner.
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What do you wish people would understand about working in the fashion industry? A. I wish people should understand that it’s a highly creative innovative and revolving industry so all participants in it should be original.
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What trends do you see being big for 2013? A. Bright colors would be in in 2013 with straight cuts and simple but tasteful work.
9. What do you wish you had known before entering the fashion industry? A. I always knew that it’s a challenging job and our fans and clients look up to us and follow us and have high hopes from us but I never regret anything about being a part of this industry. However, I feel that being a working mom I was not able to give alota time to my children. 10. Tell us about your process in designing a new collection. A. first of all I need to have a deadline before I initiate a new project. Then I decide take up an inspiration and most importantly the colors I plan to use, then I select the fabric and the work I will be using and lastly the technique I will
18. What role do you think price points play in the success of a prêt line? A. Yes ofcourse price has a major role to play in prêt wear as buyers have so much choice now so a price should offer value for money as well as satisfy the aesthetic sense and wearibility.
12. Where do you get your design inspirations from? A. I mostly get inspired by nature and animal prints.
19. Do you think prêt is defined by a price point or by a sensibility? A. Pret wear should be an amalgamation of both price and sensibility.
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Apart from designing outfits, what else do you enjoy designing? A. I am very good at home interiors
Describe the Ruby Shakel A. Ruby Shakel is a brand which is a synonym of Style & Opulence and Glamour
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‘Bring on the Jhatzzzka’ – Ali Safina
By Sumeha Khalid It’s hard to pin-point what Ali Safina excels at – an actor, DJ, host and what not, Safina does a host of things and he does them in style; his style being absolutely original. And it is this very originality that got him noticed a few years back. The guy is on a high these days courtesy quite a few aces that he has up his sleeve; one of them being Sting What’s Your Jhatzzzka - an out-of-the-box project. Pakistan Today caught up with this latest sensation, Ali Safina to find out how life has been treating him. Excerpts of the interview.
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Pati, Pakistan Sangeet Icon, Desi Club on 96FM, Hurn Dus @ AAG, Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat, Takkay Ki Ayegi Baraat, Manjali (drama serial )and the Sting Jhatzzzka campaign. Q: The one person without whom you couldn’t have achieved all of this? A: I consider myself lucky to
in it? A: I’m the Jutt in Jhatzzzka (kidding)! My involvement with Sting What’s your Jhatzzzka is to basically motivate the youth towards positive, healthy and energetic activities. The year 2013 is all about change and is all about your energy. So bring on the Jhatzzzka for an awesome year ahead.
Q: What’s happening these days? A: Currently I’m working for radio station Samaa FM hoSting the Primetime show called “Lagao.” Also acting in a couple of projects for television which I’m enjoying but the latest ‘Jhatzzzka’ in my life is being the brand ambassador for Sting and also DJ’ing in different cities of Pakistan under the banner of Pakistan Dj network. Q: How did you get into showbiz? A: My arrival in showbiz was a deliberate attempt. While I was in university studying to become a mechanical engineer in Scotland, I got introduced to radio, DJ’ing and theatre. The passion for performing in front of people thrilled me and I thought of changing my hobbies into a full fledged profession.
have always been surrounded by good people and good vibes. My parents have been my number one support since day one and I think without them I wouldn’t have been able to make it.
Q: What proved to be a major break for you? A: My major break in Pakistan was obviously the very popular ‘Baraat’ series on Geo TV in which I played the character of ‘Taaka’ and also the Milk Sheikh Show on Aag TV.
A: Energy is something we all have and we emit vibes. We are on the lookout for the most energetic individual who not only is positive but also fun and a source of inspiration for the people around. A true source of energy would be a good soul with a good heart and who is ready to shake up the house with the Sting Jhatzzzka . Q: What’s your contribution
Q: Name a few projects you have been a part of? A: Mera MTV, MTV Shikra , Milk Sheikh Show, Kaun Baneyga Meera
Q: You’re involved with the Jhatzzzka. What’s it all about?
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Channan Peer:
Reflections on the Land of the Sand Dunes By Yasir Nisar
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people from far and wide, who pray for prosperity and progeny at the dune, just as they have done for thousands of years. These days thousands of pilgrims make it to Channan Peer to worship at the dune either by using camels, horses or more contemporary modes of transportation like tractors, trolleys, jeeps and cars. It is carnival season for all the pilgrims, who stay there for at least a night and camp, cook and eat together and sleep under the open sky as part of the tradition and ritual of the Channan Peer. They sacrifice different animals in order to win the favours of Channan Peer. To the devotees of the Pir, it is a most cherished occasion and people wait for it to arrive, and when the time comes the whole desert takes a festive look and the wilderness turns into a happening place. Other than pilgrims, there are a sizable number of people who come to the festival to enjoy its lights, sound and colour. The Cholistani men and women
both like to attire themselves in embroidered and printed colour shirts, trousers and robes. And where else would you find dancing camels dressed in dazzling costumes while their owners are in rags? Channan Peer is not only about the people or the sacrifices of the camels but it has a lot of other colours of culture, many folk games are played out, popular cultural folk music is presented to eager audiences, and amongst the stalls and characters that one can find only in this neck of the woods. It is a place where the desert culture is showcased in the backdrop of devotees to the saint’s shrine. Eunuchs charm the peoples who come to the ‘well of death’ shows by dancing on the high stage, entertaining the desert folk and tourists alike. All in all, a lovely mix of sainthood and culture in the land of the sand dunes.
Images by the Author
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holistan desert is one of the biggest deserts in Pakistan and is culturally and traditionally rich. Its architecture, reflected in its forts, while its unique everyday culture is showcased in festivals. The sand dunes of Cholistan are an astonishingly big and wild place that necessitates a very selective itinerary for many people as their first tour. The shrine of Channan Pir, a very popular place in Cholistan, is around 30 miles from Derawar Fort. A festival commonly known as Channan Peer Mela is held annually at the start of March where devotees gather on the night of the full moon to honour the tomb of saint Channan Pir, about whose life anecdotes abound. Every year, in the month of February and March, the Mela Channan lasts for six consecutive weeks. The fifth week is considered to be the most popular. It attracts
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Films
Table No. 21
A table-turning game, for sure! different manner. Happily for all of us, the film steers clear of all of that.
‘T
able No. 21’ might just be director Aditya Datt’s ticket to fame: fame of the pure, unadulterated kinds. His earlier outings as a director – films such as ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’, ‘Dil Diya Hai’ and ‘Good Luck!’ – weren’t able to make much of an impact on either the audience or critics. However, with
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this film, Datt has undone all of his earlier lukewarm ventures, one might say. With a script that smells of fresh dew on grass, deals with an issue that is way more grave and at the end of the day, blends together an entire gamut of emotions from rage to sorrow, director Aditya Datt has carved to perfection a story that could have gone miserably haywire had it been dealt with in any
The film has the elements of thrill – intense at the lower end of the spectrum and spine-chilling at the higher. It cleverly, beautifully builds up a story, goes forth strewing numerous hints during its course and all of them are marvellously tied together in the end. No loose end acts as an impediment in the script – and every single moment makes sense. Vivaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and Siya (Tena Desae) Agasthi are a couple who, when the film begins, are on cloud nine. They are on board a flight to the Fiji Islands – a holiday which the lady has won. The exotic seascape of Fiji combined with the extraordinarily mesmerising locales make for a visionary treat. The couple enjoy their vacation and on their fifth wedding anniversary, are greeted by a bouquet of surprises – from Khan (Paresh Rawal), the owner of the resort where Vivaan and Siya have been staying. Khan comes across as a congenial host in the beginning, only to deliver the sinister, downright scary side of himself later on in the film. Khan presents the couple with a unique offer – he asks them to participate in a one-of-a-kind game which consists of eight questions, a task after each question and a prize money of 21 crores for the winners. The game is watched by millions of viewers on Khan’s website,
thereby making it a game played – and enjoyed – in front of eight million pairs of voyeuristic eyes. The smooth beginning of the game slowly transforms into a frightening nightmare and Vivaan and Siya see themselves falling defenceless, bit by bit, down into the abyss of Khan’s
watertight compartments of ethics and morality, and ruthlessly drives his point home. Playing along with the brilliant story is an earnest, skilful Rajeev Khandelwal. From his ‘Kahiin To Hoga’ days to ‘Table No. 21’, through ‘Aamir’ and ‘Shaitan’,
However, Desae could have done better by letting go of her utterly horrible accent. Her dialogue delivery might just have been better that way. Gajendra Verma’s music is soulful and the background score
diabolical game. In a game, only rules exist. Every single time the semi-bald, cunning Khan opens his mouth, Rawal delivers a finesse which probably only he could have done. Comedy is Paresh Rawal’s forte, undoubtedly. But give him a role as dark and devilish as this one, and he performs it with remarkable élan. Rawal is a brilliant actor, a superbly versatile one, and his creepy avatar of Khan is another powerful negative character to have come out of the villains’ stable of Bollywood in recent times. Just that by the end of the film, one is left with a gasp. Datt’s story tears to shreds the stereotypes of good and bad, brutally smashes the
Khandelwal has taken himself higher up the performance ladder. In this film, Rajeev has proven, yet again, the limit to which his acting skills reach, which – no doubts about that – is the sky. The unemployed, frustrated-at-times, doting husband with many shades of grey, Rajeev’s Vivaan is a character that doesn’t fall short of performing perfection on screen, at any point whatsoever. Tena Desae, on the other hand, is perhaps the only dampening factor in the film. As far as acting is concerned, she does a sort of decent job of playing Siya, Vivaan’s financially independent wife who plays the part of the conventional ‘man’, earning bucks for the family.
blends well with the story. The song ‘Mann Mera’ is a hummable one and stays on in the mind. The film doesn’t have many songs, and that is another plus point. For in thrillers like ‘Table No. 21’, an abundance of songs does more harm than good. In a nutshell, ‘Table No. 21’ might just be one film that is instrumental in turning the tables of the game around. In the Hindi film industry of the day, where a lot of mindless stuff is churned out under the guise of ‘films’ every year, Datt’s thriller is one that is a welcome break. Go watch the film. It is worth every penny spent, worth every ounce of energy invested – and even more.
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Books
Searching essays on science and literature By Syed Afsar Sajid
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onfronting the Bomb is a compilation of essays on nuclear armament with specific reference to Pakistan and India. It has been designed as a ‘counter narrative’ with an explicitly moral slant to forewarn the reader on the inevitability of the doom resulting from the unbridled nuclear ambitions of the two countries. Naey Maqalat is a reproduction of Dr. Wazir Agha’s miscellany of essays on literary men and matters, first published in 1972. The two books form the subject of the present review.
Confronting the Bomb
The book is a 2013 OUP production. It contains seventeen articles authored by reputed scientists and researchers on the contemporary politico-strategic perspective involving the two neighbourly states of Pakistan and India, now in control of a sizeable nuclear arsenal. It is an important publication insofar as it aims to explore ‘tabooed, but urgent, nuclear issues’ in the context of ‘the furious
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nuclear race (between the two countries) after the 1998 nuclear tests’ besides tracing ‘the principal drivers’ and the bleak portents of the whole rigmarole. T h e contributors to the miscellany belong to both Pakistan and India. Eminent scientists and researches like M.V. Ramana, Zian Mian, the editor himself, A. Rajaraman, A. H. Nayyar, Matthew Mckinzie, and Suvrat Raju have carried out a threadbare analysis of
Title: Confronting the Bomb Edited by: Pervez Hoodbhoy Publisher: Oxford University Press, Karach Pages: 392 – Price: Rs.1395/-
the issues involved in nuclear view too, follows suit as it does not generation of literary writers across proliferation in the Sub-continent. only seem to remind the scientists the Urdu world notwithstanding Moot points in the discussion are: but also the politicians of the two the controversies fanned by some of the coming of the ‘atomic age’ to the countries of their prime social his detractors regarding the validity two countries, nationalism and the responsibility in the current nuclear of his views. bomb, Iran and the ‘Islamic Bomb’, scenario. The instant book comprises the problem of Kashmir in the four parts viz., reflective-cumprevailing situation, command and Maqalat control of the nuclear arsenal, safety Wazir Agha enjoys a prominent intuitive, literary genres (poetry, and security of Pakistan’s nuclear position in the literary annals of fiction, inshaiya, and criticism), weaponry, the fallacy of study of Ghalib, as also nuclear electricity for Azad. Contents under the two countries, the these heads include the odious repercussions of concept of creativity, a possible nuclear war in the gift of originality, South Asia, speculations on the future of nuclear modernism as a literary South Asia, and the role movement, Meer of the US in the global Anees, Hali and Iqbal, nuclear perspective. Meeraji, Rashed, the Wo r l d - r e n o w n e d modern Urdu poetry, linguist and philosopher the new Urdu ghazal, Noam Chomsky views these ‘searching essays’ as the future of ghazal, the the ones that ‘carry lessons art of short story, some too awful to contemplate atypical Urdu short and too realistic to stories, the novelette, ignore’, and ‘bring to Imtiaz Ali Taj’s Chacha mind the devastating war Chakkan, inshaiya as which was barely averted an art form, Abid Ali during the Cuban missile crisis’. Writer Ahmad Abid, Ghalib’s life and Rashid’s remarks on the work, Azad’s style, and publication poignantly Abe-e-Hayat. sum up the debate thus: All of these essays ‘A timely book that exemplify Wazir Agha’s deserves to be widely critical insight into the read on both sides of the border, especially theory and practice by policy-makers. In the of literature. Since he absence of a public debate was a versatile creative in either country, we need artist also, his critical more books like this to pronouncements on Title: Naey Maqalat educate ourselves and to the selected subjects are initiate a civilized dialogue Author: Dr. Wazir Agha empirically sound and between two nuclearPublisher: Jumhoori Publications, Aiwan-e-Tijarat armed adversaries.’ convincing. His style Road, Lahore Julius Robert bears an impress of his Oppenheimer (1904Pages: 200 – Price: Rs.350/knowledge, wisdom, 67), the famed American and catholicity of taste theoretical Physicist and temperament. commonly known as Noted writer and editor, Shahid the ‘father of the atomic bomb’, subsequently seemed to recant Urdu. He was a man of multi- Shaidai is an ardent devotee of calibre: poetry, Wazir Agha. His concise but his role, though ironically, by dimensional inshaiya, inter-lingual translation quoting these lines from the Hindu pertinent remarks on his person scripture Bhagvad Gita that ‘I am and criticism are his forte in and art posted on the flap of the become Death, the destroyer of literature. His work on the critical book are meant to enhance the theory in general and some worlds’. He was thus obliquely reminding the scientists of their modernistic critical concepts in reader’s perception of Wazir Agha’s social responsibility. The book in particular has inspired a whole work and style.
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