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Tag: editors-pick

  • At the end of the day, ‘Suno Chanda 2’ failed to meet expectations

    At the end of the day, ‘Suno Chanda 2’ failed to meet expectations

    Ever since the second season of Suno Chanda was announced, fans, including myself, had been waiting with bated breaths for the return of their favourite characters. Expectations were naturally high but unfortunately, the show fell a little short of them and left us wanting a lot more.

    The season started the day after Arsal and Jiya’s wedding and ended with the season’s new characters Mithu and Maina getting married. As a result, the new season saw the focus shift from Arsal, Jiya and the rest of the family to the new characters of Mithu, Maina and Bebe. But that is not what the fans had been anticipating. They were more interested in seeing how Arjiya’s married life progressed and how they, and their family members, dealt with the changes.

    Unfortunately, Arsal and Jiya pretty much spent the entire season fighting with one another only to reconcile in a rushed final episode. Shahana’s scenes were limited and scattered. We barely saw Sherry and Kinza who were reduced to just advertising the sponsors of the show. Bi Jaan, Agha Jee, Nazakat, DJ, Naeema, Masooma and Jamshed were also seen more in the first half of the season. The punch lines which became so popular in the first season were limited in this one and the season jumped from being a light-hearted comedy to more of a family drama.

    I simply failed to understand why Jalal Phuppa was given so much screentime considering his character was hardly likable. Throughout the season, he was either throwing his weight around because he’s the “ghar ka aklota damaad” or he’s out hitting on various women in the family. I was also not a big fan of Pino, Mithu and Maina but considering a lot of people liked their characters, I will reserve my thoughts on them.

    My biggest disappointment from this season was Arsal and Jiya’s characters. Arsal’s character was nothing more than a man-child who sulked every time things did not go this way, while Jiya was like dynamite, ready to blow up any minute. Instead of showing them bickering and ignoring one another, the writers could have shown their struggle as a young, married couple learning to live with one another.

    On the contrary, one of the highlights of the season was Shahana as the mother-in-law. She was supportive of her daughter-in-law and did not hesitate to call out her son every time she felt he was getting out of line. She was without a doubt the one person who pulled together the show and I can confidently say that she was the one who brought in the viewers each night. That along with the chemistry of the cast with one another.

    Despite all the shortcomings, the serial pulled in viewers each night because there is a dearth of such shows on our television screens. Most TV serials either focus on unrequited love or saas-bahu tensions which have now been done to death. Apart from that, a lot of drama nowadays focus on society’s ills and while those are amazing for spreading awareness, they also dampen our already depressed moods.

    Suno Chanda provided a light-hearted, mindless watch even though it became boring to some extent. Aehsun Talish is a brilliant director who really knows how to bring out the best in his actors while Saima Akram Chaudhry deserves a round of applause for her writing. The cast’s performances were also brilliant apart from a few opening episodes in which Iqra Aziz and Farhan Saeed went overboard with their acting.

    If Hum TV is planning on bringing back a third season, I hope they will focus more on Arsal and Jiya instead of bringing in other characters. Oh and the OST was lovely. Kudos to Farhan for writing such beautiful lyrics.

    At the end of the day, the numbers were not because of content, but because of a lack of other content.

  • ‘Chhalawa woh film hai jo samajh na aye’

    ‘Chhalawa woh film hai jo samajh na aye’

    Before I begin, I’d just like to put it out there that I love everything desi and dramatic; Chhalawa promised just that. And on that front, it did deliver but on other fronts, not so much.

    Much like all desi rom-coms, Chhalawa is centred around a couple who wants to get married but the girl’s father has other plans in mind for her future. As the couple, along with their friends and siblings, hatch a plan to get together, chaos ensues but eventually, they beat all odds and get married. Nothing original there, but then again, like Mehwish Hayat — in her exclusive interview with The Current — said, people in Pakistan love shaadis and everything about them, so it’s natural that films reflect that. In fact, the best part of the film was without a doubt the Chhalawa title song, which is definitely going to be the shaadi anthem of the year. But don’t forget, you heard it here first!

    Moving on, my main concern with the film was the fact that the scenes were inconsistent – there was nothing binding them together. A lot was left to the imagination and though I understand filmmakers have limited time, what they cannot depict through actions, can they not tell through dialogues?

    The end result was a bit hotchpotch and it was left up to the viewer to decide what to make of it. The characters were also underdeveloped (for example, we never really found out how Asad Siddiqui ended up being a pir), though the actors made up for that with their brilliant performances. Mehmood Aslam was fitting as the loving but authoritative father as was Aashir Wajahat as the younger brother. Azfar Rehman and Asad Siddiqui were natural in their roles and their chemistry stood out and was thoroughly enjoyable.

    I do feel Mehwish did not get enough opportunity to shine but she still managed to make an impression, especially in the second half. She is also probably the only Pakistani heroine who makes her co-star look good. Whether it is Humayun Saeed or Fahad Mustafa or in this case Azfar Rehman, Mehwish ensures that her counterpart brings forward their best self.

    The shining star of the film was without a doubt Zara Noor Abbas. From her opening scene (which kind of reminded me of Rani Mukherjee from Bunty and Babli) to the final one, Zara’s performance as Haya is truly praise-worthy. Her dialogue delivery, expressions, body language and dance were natural and on point.

    I’d like to add here a special round of applause for the hair, makeup and costume team. Zara and Mehwish looked absolutely stunning in every single scene.

    The dialogues of the film were very millennial, current and relatable and made you chuckle at several intervals, so thumbs up to the writers there. The length of the film was just right and I did not feel it dragged at any point except for the item song ‘Chirya’ which was unnecessary and very very uncomfortable. In an age where international filmmakers are moving away from such frivolities, it is disappointing to see our filmmakers objectify women in their films.

    Apart from the Chhalawa song, the other scene that stood out was the ending, which was my personal favourite. I’ve seen a lot of filmy marriages happen at odd places, but a nikkah on a bridge in a traffic jam is a new high for me. The last scene was everything I wanted in an Eid entertainer: (over) dramatic, emotional, entertaining and one that put a huge smile on your face, at least mine (no judging).

    To truly enjoy Chhalawa, it is best to leave common sense out of the cinema hall and immerse yourself in the colour, masala and beats of the film.

  • What does your Eidi say about you

    What does your Eidi say about you

    We all agree that the best part of Eid is eidi. And food. But mostly eidi. The amount of eidi you receive every year depends on various factors jaisay keh as your age, marital status and placement in the family. Here’s how your eidi defines you.

    > Rs 10,000

    If you receive more than 10,000 rupees on Eid, it means that you’re the youngest, and cutest in your family. Everyone likes to pull your cheeks and tease you. And while you hate that, you only tolerate it for all the monies that come in after all the drama is over.

    Rs 6,000 – 10,000

    You’re an unmarried person between the age of 21 and 26. Practically everyone in the family wants you to get married aur iss baat per taanay bhi bohat parhtay hain but you bear it all because those taanas are followed by some eidi. Ab paison kay liye thora bohat bardasht toh karna parta hai.

    Rs 4,000 – 6,000

    You’ve recently gotten married or have a new job so you get a meagerly 500 cause tumhain Eidi ki kya zarurat.

    Rs 1,000 – 4,000

    If you get this much eidi, you are above the age of 30 and possibly jobless or unmarried or you have children. If its the former, then your eidi is definitely sympathy eidi. And if its the latter, you will have to return the eidi to other people’s children which will only leave you in loss. Its a lose-lose situation.

    < Rs 1,000

    You stayed home and slept the entire day and then stole eidi from someone, such as your younger siblings.

  • How do celebs boost their energy?

    How do celebs boost their energy?

    For a healthy and happy fast one must drink a lot of refreshing, healthy drinks to stay hydrated throughout the day. These easy-to-make Iftar drinks will energize you, revive your senses and prepare your drained body for next day’s fasting. The Current is making the celeb’s favorite iftar and sehri. Here are the seasonal drink recipes of renowned TV anchors.

    Hamid Mir’s Mint Lemonade

    Have you ever seen Hamid Mir lose his cool? Well, we haven’t either and we’ve found out the secret behind this. One of Pakistan’s renowned journalist, Hamid Mir, likes to have Mint Lemonade for aftari. Here’s how you can make one for yourself too and beat this heat.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUMX7Hoc_Dg&feature=youtu.be

    Syed Shafaat Ali’s Falsa Juice

    From an impressionist to an actor, Syed Shafaat Ali has emerged to hail the comedy and entertainment industry.The man who entertains us to the fullest has a very seasonal favorite drink for iftar.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_wM217523k&feature=youtu.be

    Rabia Anam’s Watermelon juice

    Watermelon is a wonderful summer gift from nature and craving for a chilled yummy drink is right on point before iftar. Rabia Anam, who is hosting Geo’s Ramazan Transmission this year likes to drink watermelon juice in iftar. Here is an upscaled version of her favorite iftar drink.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njhQVLyGqqU
  • ‘Game of Thrones’ quotes for Pakistani politicians

    ‘Game of Thrones’ quotes for Pakistani politicians

    Game of Thrones may be over but the hype of the series is far from dying down anytime soon. If you’ve been following the news closely, you’ll understand that Pakistan’s political arena is no less than any drama. Here are GOT’s famous sayings that perfectly fit our politicians.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan

    Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz

    Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar

    Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed

    Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry

    Asad Umar

    Nawaz Sharif

    Minister for Water and Power Resources Faisal Vawda

    Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari

    Altaf Hussain

    Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur

  • Shaan suggests solution for country’s economic woes

    Shaan suggests solution for country’s economic woes

    Shaan, who often voices his political and other opinions on Twitter, recently took to the social media app and appealed to everyone to support the rupee and defend it from “economic attacks.”

    He asked his fans and followers to buy back the rupee “no matter how little or how big” and play their role in helping the falling economy.

    Shaan later went onto share that he exchanged his $5000 for rupees.

    Needless to say, Shaan’s suggestion was trolled by many.

    https://twitter.com/DrNausheenKhan/status/1131078727968800773

    However, that did not deter Shaan, who further clarified his suggestion, telling the trolls to “retain the currency and buy Pakistani products with them.” In case you still didn’t get it, Shaan is basically asking people not to hoard dollars.

    On Tuesday, the US Dollar reached an all-time high of Rs. 153.50 in the interbank market. What do you think of Shaan’s suggestion?

  • “Mera beta to bus engineer banega” Have things changed?

    “Mera beta to bus engineer banega” Have things changed?

    We all have grown up listening to “Mera beta to bus engineer banega” aur ” Meri beti doctor banegi” . Many of us thought that things have changed in the recent times so we asked people if they insist that their children study science and children if they were forced to opt for it and why. We must say some of the answers were really intriguing. Have a look

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fh39N-UCdY
  • Does Suno Chanda 2 live up to its hype?

    Does Suno Chanda 2 live up to its hype?

    Last Ramazan, Suno Chanda hit our TV screens like a breath of fresh air. As someone who avidly watches Pakistani dramas, the drama serial with its wildly relatable characters and storyline had me and pretty much everyone around me hooked. It was the perfect post-iftar fix and something you could watch with your entire family.

    Following the phenomenal success, Hum TV announced that the drama would return for a second season and fans waited with bated breaths to catch the chaos.

    The drama began on the first day of Ramazan and till now 11 episodes have aired. If I’m really honest, the first six were borderline boring. It picked up in the eighth and ninth episode, only to go down again in the tenth.

    The second season picks up from where it left in the last season i.e. at Arsal and Jiya’s wedding. The bickering and larai jhagra between the two continues, making you wonder why they’re even together in the first place. The writers take their sweet time to introduce the new characters slowing down the pace of the season. Sadly, the new characters, fail to impress and are more annoying than funny. Add to that lots of overacting and you ask yourself why you’re even tuning into it every night.

    But before we go into why I end up watching the drama every single night, let’s just first get over the bits of the show I found problematic. First of all, the fact that Jiya’s aspirations and dreams were of no importance to her family now that she is married scream internalised misogyny. But as the drama progressed, I realised that the whole issue was created because that is usually what happens in most desi households. That aside, Arsal is turning out to be a suffocating husband who wants to dictate his wife. The way he gets upset at every small thing or keeps asking Jiya to refer to him as aap makes him nothing more than a spoiled brat.

    Another point of concern was Jalal Phuppa who ends up having eyes for every new female character that comes. Last season it was Billo and this season its Pari. Either the writers should establish him as a nuisance tharki or stop weaving in this narrative every time. The other men of the family are also shown swooning over other ladies, even in front of their wives, adding a lot of cringe to the show. Always better to avoid such crass humour.

    Next up, the new characters, Mithu and Pari are annoying. I understand they are supposed to be people from small towns, but Mithu needs to grow up and stop asking his mother every time he wants to do something. Most people might find his innocence or naivety cute but to me, it’s plain annoying.

    But despite all the drawbacks, the show has its moments; some of which have you chuckling. The biggest pull has to be Shahana aka Shanno. Her dialogues, comic timing and body language is impeccable and I do wish she was given more screentime. In fact, I would say she is probably the only reason why this ship hasn’t sunk yet. Shanno’s relationship with her daughter-in-law is also noteworthy. She supports Jiya’s ambitions and stands by her when her son tries to bully his wife.

    Apart from that, some cutesy moments between Arsal and Jiya make you smile as does when the family gets together to solve a crisis. Nazakat and Jamshed’s characters are entertaining as always and Farhan Ali Agha and Sohail Sameer are natural in their roles. Sherry, Kinza and DJ are missing from most scenes and their absence is duly felt. Hoping to see more of them in the upcoming episodes.

    However, what really sells the drama is the fact that after a long day of fasting and work, Suno Chanda 2 gives us the mindless, comic relief we all want. The show may have its flaws but in the sea of dramas, which are heavily dramatised and centred around unrequited love, this one is a refreshing watch.

  • Who are Sham, Froggy and Ducky?

    Who are Sham, Froggy and Ducky?

    Have you spent the entire day watching and reading about Sham Idrees and Froggy being attacked by a mob in Karachi and can’t seem to figure who exactly they are? Well, we’re here to tell you.

    To begin with, Sham Idrees, Queen Froggy and Ducky Bhai are all Youtubers with massive followings. Sham, whose real name is Ehtesham Idrees, is married to Froggy (real name Seher) and both of them are based in Canada while Ducky Bhai, whose real name is Saad Ur Rehman, is based in Lahore.

    Sham Idrees and Queen Froggy

    Toh khair, dono apnay apnay kaam main khush thay until last year when Ducky Bhai decided to take a panga and posted a video in which he called out Sham and Froggy for producing fake content and being “click bait material”.

    Ducky Bhai

    This, of course, did not go down well with Sham and Froggy who retaliated by calling Ducky Bhai and other Pakistani content creators ‘tiny YouTubers’. Yahan say inka phadda shuru hua jo abhi tak chal raha hai. Other Youtubers, such as Zaid Ali T, Irfan Junejo and Mooroo, also got involved in the feud but most of them extended their support to Ducky Bhai because they all felt that Sham stole their idea at some point or another. For example, Mooroo said he had collaborated with another content creator and Sham stole that script, word for word.

    In a video posted to Youtube three days ago, Ducky Bhai even alleged that Sham threatened him and his family after he refused to collaborate with him. This is what is supposed to have instigated the attack. Let me add here that Sham has been looking to collaborate with other Youtubers but unhon nay ziada lift nai karayi.

    Khair, on Sunday night, Sham Idrees and Queen Froggy, who are currently touring Pakistan, had a meet and greet session at Ocean Mall in Karachi when things took an ugly turn and a mob of people chanting “Ducky Bhai” attacked the couple. The video which went viral on social media shows an angry Sham being shoved and pushed around by a mob right outside the mall premises. According to reports, someone even punched Froggy right in the face, though that wasn’t captured on camera.

    Froggy Attack

    In a series of videos and posts, both Sham and Froggy alleged that the attack was “organised” and pointed fingers at Ducky Bhai, who denied his involvement. In fact, he went out to condemn the incident on social media. Other Youtube content creators including Mooroo and Zaid Ali T also condemned the attack and said that hate and dislike should not be translated in such a manner.

    In a further bizarre twist, users on Twitter and Facebook commented that Froggy and Sham staged the whole thing to “gain sympathy” and that they are liars and manipulators who will do anything to get views. They even went on to say that Froggy has amazing makeup skills and she made up the bruise. The video in which Froggy alleged that Ducky Bhai was behind the attack has now been removed from her Youtube channel.

    It is also important to mention here that the Sham-Ducky feud had allegedly ended after everyone involved posted apology videos. Sham himself posted an apology on the day of the attack. In his apology video, he says that he came to Pakistan with a vision of peace, unity, and love and even though he’s also been hurt, he wants to apologise to everyone who might have been hurt by his actions.

    Ab aagay kya hona hai, yeh humain nai pata. Magar hum yeh zarur kahen gay keh bhae Ramzan aagaya hai, muk muka aur sakoon karo.

  • Exclusive Interview: The Current Life with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

    Exclusive Interview: The Current Life with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari