December, 2011

Singing Sensation Shweta Subram, winner of Shankar Mahadevan’s Global Signing Contest and Salim Sulaiman’s pick to perform with them at the IIFA Awards 2011, appears to be only a step away from making her break in B town.

Born and raised in Dubai and now living in North America, Shweta Subram is ready to release her 2nd single, AJOOBA. Produced by Parichay and featuring Richilous, AJOOBA is a blend of Shweta’s classical tone over modern beats. The video stars Bollywood face Vatsal Seth who was seen in Bollywood film Heroes alongside Salman Khan and for which he was nominated as MAX Stardust Breakthrough performance of the year.

Vatsal and Shweta make a great on-screen combination to put together a well thought out and well directed video.

Check it out here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCcRrh1BsQY

MP3 LINK FOR SONG – –

http://www.yousendit.com/download/T2dkVWR0R0Z0NjgxWjhUQw

By Omair Abassi

Lahore’s A-list was out in force last night for the premiere of one of the most awaited movies of 2011, MI 4, which took place at Cinestar. It was cold, but the mood was hot. Smiling faces, a flaming red carpet and media everywhere, resulted in a festive occasion. All were waiting in anticipation of what was to come.

Cinema’s most respected action hero, Tom Cruise is back, as Ethan Hunt, leader of the International Missions Force – IMF.

MI4 is a very successful, action packed, secret agent flick, with Tom Cruise leading the way.

“Blue is glue,” Simon Pegg’s Benji helpfully informs IMF secret agent/superhero Ethan Hunt (Cruise) as he’s about to climb up the side of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, using only a pair of electronic suction gloves that light up when activated. Referring to the colour of that light, Hunt asks, “And what’s red?” “Dead,” says Benji, without batting an eyelid.

The aforementioned nail-biting set-piece on the side of the Burj featuring Cruise, defying every bit of the 49 years he has allegedly spent on this planet, forms the centerpiece of this film. This may just be the most breathtaking action movie sequence of the year.

Ghost Protocol is action packed from start to finish and gives you everything you’d want from a movie. At its best, Mission: Impossible 4 is all about high speed rolling sequences, cool gadgets, amazing locations and a fun feeling like this. The story is a fairly simple one, Ethan Hunt and his crew; have to stop a possible nuclear threat before its too late. We are first introduced to how everything starts in motion, with a simple pickup at a train station gone wrong. The good guys and villains are identified within the first 10 minutes of the movie, and you’re basically taken on a ride from every corner of the world.

Tom Cruise leads the way as usual, calm, collective and pretty comfortable in character as Ethan Hunt. The support cast of Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), Paula Patton (Deja Vu), and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) are pretty solid. Simon Pegg gives the audience a laugh here and there, Paula is basically the good looking partner of Hunt and Renner balances things out as the new recruit trying to figure out who’s right and wrong. A bombing at the Kremlin in Moscow sets plans in full effect to put the entire blame on the crew. IMF has been disavowed and considered a national terrorist. With little to no resources and no backup, they have to figure out who set them up, and how they’ll stop a nuclear catastrophe in the United States.

They certainly upped the action and locations for this final film as well – taking you from Russia, to India and a short death defining scene in Dubai. Director Brad Bird keeps the tone, style, and plot pretty simple. The action, humor and story is pretty slick, with just about everything you’d want with a film like this. While the other Mission Impossible films were all Cruise, it’s pretty even here, with his crew and even other supporting characters given a fair share of screen time.

The blend of different personalities and talents are well done here. Simon Pegg is definitely a great addition here as the tech guru. Renner’s character Brandt performs some pretty great close hand to hand action scenes. He also gives some more dramatic moments that actually brings his character in full circle with Ethan Hunt.

Sabine Moreau’s female assassin is suitably sultry, sexy and lethal.

Mission Impossible the film is a great experience – the self destructing messages, the souped up version of the theme music and the high octane chase across continents are tried and tested but very effective.

Ghost Protocol had a great spy thriller theme throughout; with some great action scenes that will make you watch this again and again. It’s definitely better than MI-3, and though it doesn’t deliver with the same greatness as the first instalment, this film fits perfectly in the franchise. I couldn’t find anything to dislike about this movie. The script, performances and scenarios deliver on all levels that can keep you entertained.

If you choose to accept your mission, I suggest checking out this movie.

UK based music producer Bups Saggu and singer Jati Cheed bring you ‘’ Kolaveri Di- Party Mix’’. The song has already been appreciated worldwide and hitting Radio Stations across, UK, Canada, India, Dubai. Bups Saggu has worked his magic once again by fusing traditional Bhangra music with the original music which was produced by Anirudh Ravichander.

This is the first duet with singer Dhanush where UK based Punjabi singer Jati Cheed has sung alongside Dhanush’s original vocals, complimenting the song with a blend of Tangligh and Punjabi.

Bups Saggu explains that “It was a spontaneous idea. I was listening to the song and I loved it but could also imagine a version with a Punjabi twist. Jati and I wrote and recorded the song as well as the video within three days.”

The video showcases the comical personalities and strong friendship between Bups Saggu and Jati Cheed. When asked about the video shoot, Jati Cheed tells us that “recording the song and shooting the video was a very organic experience, it was natural, and I think the video really shows that.” The cover by Bups Saggu and Jati Cheed is getting worldwide attention. The video was recently featured on the India Film Industry’s Official site, Business of Cinema, and has had over 21,200 views in just a single day.

LINK TO VIDEO –  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW8bGmv5ML0
For future projects, follow them on:
www.bupssaggu.com
www.facebook.com/bupssaggumusic
www.twitter.com/bupssaggu

www.jaticheed.com
www.facebook.com/jaticheedpage
www.twitter.com/jaticheed

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London

Veena Malik, now said to be one of India’s most desirable bachelorettes, is on the hunt to find her Mr right in, Imagine’s Veena Ka Swayamvar 2012.

Veena will be putting contestants through their paces to find her prince charming through a series of tasks, competitions and one to one meetings which will be aired on TV. Contestants can apply from all over the globe and take a chance in winning over Veena’s heart.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the contestants, I’m at the right age to settle down now and  hopefully I will meet the man of my dreams. It would be great to meet guys from out of India too and get to know the right person’’ Said Veena Malik,  who is currently gearing up for the release of her debut Item Number in Bollywood with Gali Gali Chor Hai.

Apparently, applications are open until January 10^th 2012! –  http://imagine.tv/us/swayamvar4int/214

They’re asking – Do you have what it takes???…

Opening reception: 28th December 2011, 5pm till 8pm.

ALI ABBAS ‘Thar series’ 2011 a solo exhibition at Unicorn Gallery

An exhibition of drawings and paintings by contemporary Pakistani artist,  Ali Abbas debuts at Unicorn Gallery on Wednesday, 28th December 2011.  Ali Abbas, has a Masters in Fine Arts from Jamshoro university, Sindh  and has held several exhibitions in Pakistan and abroad.

The artist’s subject is Thar and the men, women and children who live in rural Sindh. Abbas’s minimal compositions have won the artist international critical  and commercial acclaim. The artist’s primary medium of painting is watercolour.   Ali Abbas works on location and creates movement in his compositions by depicting scenes of: dance, migration, labour, dramatic winds/breeze and shadow.
Exhibition will last till the 05th of January 2011 from 11am to 8pm.  Sundays closed.

UNICORN GALLERY,
D-116/1-A, Block 4, Clifton,
(Near Chinese Consulate) Karachi, Pakistan.
Phone: (+9221) 35831220/ 35877625
Fax: (+9221) 35832737
Email: info@unicorngallery.net
Web: www.unicorngallery.net

Talent has no boundaries and in this world, multifariousness is plethoric. It is, often, perceived as a feather in one’s cap. One glance at Hollywood would sum up the huge list of singers-turned-actors ranging from J-Lo and Beyoncé to the likes of 50 cent and Eminem. Because all the singers don’t clinch the sky-spot in roleplaying, many nip this idea in the bud, immediately after the first fatal attempt, but the ones for whom life acts sweet, there is always the quotation “Even the sky is not the limit”.
Pakistan has been following the same trend of straggling since long. The legendary Madam Noorjehan is the best example in this regard. Starting her acting career in Pakistan with the film titled “Chan wey” to calling it to rest with her penultimate film “Mirza Ghalib” in 1961. Furthermore, the Pakistani-Canadian artist, Adnan Sami Khan, has also tried his hand at the acting business, by playing the lead in Syed Noor’s “Sargam” along with Zeba Bakhtiyar. The semi-classical pop-singer, Sajjad Ali, also joined the tribe when he acted in his first tele-film “Love Letter” in 1989 and later on, starred as the lead in his self-directed film “Aik aur love story” in 1999.

Fast forward to the glamorous times of today, we have a huge prospicient list that bears the likes of the mega shots of today “Ali Zafar, Goher Mumtaz, Junaid Khan, Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam”. The multifaceted heartthrob of Pakistan, who has the best album of 2004 “Huqa Pani” to his credit,  Ali Zafar, has followed the trend like never before. He has reached the pinnacle of his acting career now after crossing the border and emerging with hits like “Mere  Brother ki Dulhan” and “Tere bin Laden”. The lad’s third venture “London, Paris, New York” is expected to release in spring 2012. Boy oh boy! Zafar is totally on the right track.
According to Ali: “2011 has been a wonderful year for me both musically and cinematically. My album Jhoom and second film ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ turned out exceptionally well and they made my year. The credit goes to my fans and supporters of course who have been on my back throughout this journey.”

Meanwhile, the Gibson USA Ambassador for Pakistan, Goher Mumtaz, has been taking watchful steps in his transition from being a musician to an actor. Starring for the first-time in the romantic comedy “Kountry Luv” aired on A-Plus, Goher has done justice to his role of “Shawn”. It just guarantees a bright stack of new projects ahead for him, as his first attempt wasn’t a fatal one.
Let’s listen to Goher’s take on his fresh identity as an actor:

Q. How was the experience acting in the drama serial “Kountry Luv”?

“Lovely. It was a short 20 days shoot.  I loved the script and told them that I can only do it once as I have free dates from band’s commitment because Jal is my top priority as always. They were very kind to offer me the lead role of a spoiled brat kicked out from UK by his father to go to Pakistan and live there for a while. The interesting parts were the story twists and humour in the drama. And I seriously learned a lot from that 13 episode serial.”

Q. Do you intend to do more such projects and do you have some big shot “Bollywood film” as your next venture?

“I have always been offered by Bollywood ever since Jal started Indian concerts and started appearing on Indian channels. I have been offered lead roles but I didn’t like script at all. Also that movies take time for at least 4 months shoot and I could not take this much time out from band as Jal has always been the priority, so Let’s see now if I get time out , then I will surely do Bollywood.”

Q. How has this acting career affected your musical career, as we have seen Farhan rising as a solo star after your play?

“Many international singers, musicians tried doing acting, but that does not mean that they have stopped producing hits or have stopped making music. Ali Azmat did a play during Junoon days, in fact Salman Ahmed did a very famous play called “aahet” but that didn’t mean they both stopped making hits. Junaid Jamshed acted too, band didn’t break up. Fawad is doing well in acting and in music, Ali Zafar is a great singer-turned-actor and list goes on, and that doesn’t mean the end to the music they all produced.  In fact, it is the value added thing for a band that their band mates are getting more popular and that will eventually add more fans for the band.

Moreover, many people think that ever since i started acting, Farhan felt insecure and left the band. Farhan never expressed this and i want to believe that it is not the case (as far as i know him) because if that IS the reason, then only God can help him. I certainly don’t agree by peoples comment that Farhan got insecure just because Goher is in the limelight more than himself. We have spent great time together and I have great wishes for his career too. He is talented and left the band by saying that “I want to find my own identity and I will not do Jal’s songs on concerts”. As for me, I do everything with a passion by considering it a new form of art, weather its acting, it’s singing, or it’s running a recording studio and I will be dedicated to every form of art till death. Jal just released two videos in one month and the pace of Jal is faster than ever because now Shazi and I are focusing on Jal’s next album, coming out in March 2012.”

On the same track is another rising musician-cum-actor, Junaid Khan, the lead vocalist of Call the Band. He has made his mark on the acting domain both in the genres of comic and serious roles. His current play “Mujhey roothney na dena” along with another superstar of the same creed, Komal Rizvi, portrays him as a grave, decent guy and a selfless friend. No doubt, he has raised the bar in this serial and promises to entertain the nation, especially the female lot, with more of his acting in future.

“Experience has been great, I am shooting for my 3rd play for Hum TV within a year, out of which one has already been on air by the name “Mujhe roothney na dena” and the remaining two will be aired in March 2012. It is good to see the TV world wholeheartedly accepting us. Both mediums, TV and Music, are fun to do in their respective ways. An artist looks for a medium of expression and through TV, you get to play various characters which test our skills but still, for a musician, music is the ultimate medium and I will never stop doing that. I am soon to release a solo music video very soon.” -Junaid Khan exchanging some words about his “acting” turnover.

Moreover, the matinee idol and the frontman of the pioneer rock band of Pakistan, Entity Paradigm, Fawad Afzal Khan, is where the spotlight is these days, owing to the acme of the popularity of “Hamsafar”, the serial which has bewitched both grandmothers to teenagers alike. Versatility should be the middle name of this genuine artist. From a comic role in “Jutt and Bond” to the most complicated one in “Dastaan” and the film “Khuda key liye, Fawad’s performance has been no less than exceptional. He was also nominated as best actor in Lux Style Awards 2011 and has done a number of commercials to his credit.

Conclusively, one man worth mentioning, for this turnover, is none other than one of the most popular South Asian singer, Atif Aslam. His debut venture as an actor in Shoaib Mansoor’s “Bol” was highly publicized, but his performance leaves a lot to be craved, and neither was his role substantial enough. That is to say, that he is brilliant with the voice, but not good enough with actions.

That’s the case with the musician-turned-actors, and if thought in reverse, about the actors-turned-musicians in Pakistan; one will not find any quality option. Hence, with the rise of such a league of adept actors, previously renowned as musicians, the competition has sure gotten a lot tougher for the army of exclusive actors, which once used to rule the screens. It’s a great sign for the Pakistani showbiz industry, and perhaps Bollywood too, provided the strings keep getting harped upon, simultaneously.

Furthermore, as an extension of the SHEEP retail philosophy of providing a comfortable and convenient retail experience, the brand launches its ‘Shop from Home’ service. As the name suggests, this latest service provides shoppers with the option to purchase SHEEP from the comfort of one’s home with the brand now delivering its products to all of its local customers’ doorsteps through its Facebook page. Moreover, With SHEEP’s brand new website launching soon, this service will also be extended towards international customers.

Indeed SHEEP retails fashion, which is cognisant of local trends yet consistently innovating to introduce and pioneer new trends each season. Each SHEEP creation is centered on the marriage between the quality of fabric and design, equally. Encompassing both Eastern and Western, the brand’s four latest lines are as follows BLACK SHEEP, a premium line of formal evening wear including cocktail tops as well as Eastern wear; Luxury Prêt, a high end line for day wear; WORKWEAR, for a line made specifically for working women or women who prefer understated elegance in the form of sharp, subtle, statement garments; SMART CASUALS, a trendy line of fusion wear, for everyday wearability. These four new lines encompass a price range from PKR 1650 – PKR 25500.
Striving to bring accessibility to its customers, SHEEP will be also be expanding their outlets soon within Karachi with the opening of their new store at Dolmen City Mall.

For more information, please visit:

www.houseofSHEEP.com
www.facebook.com/houseofSHEEP

About SHEEP™

SHEEP™ is a Pakistani retail womenswear brand designed to cater to the modern day woman who values premium quality ready to wear clothes. Launched in March 2010 with a vision to provide accessibility, affordability and attention to detail for women who truly value these qualities, the brand’s name has become synonymous with understated elegance.

Indeed SHEEP™ retails fashion which is cognisant of local trends yet consistently innovating to introduce and pioneer new trends each season.  With every new collection introduced by the brand, SHEEP™ stays true to its basic design philosophy strengthening its association with uncomplicated, wearable and smart fashion for the confident woman, which is both elegant and classic. The idea is to create pieces that are inimitably SHEEP™ – an investment in style and fashion for the urban woman. Each SHEEP™ creation is centered on the marriage between the quality of fabric and design, equally.

SHEEP™ is home to four diverse design lines, thereby ensuring versatility within wardrobe aesthetic and affordability options for the urban Pakistani woman. Encompassing both Eastern and Western, the brands four lines are:  SMART CASUALS,  WORK WEAR,  Luxury Prêt and Black SHEEP™, encompassing a price range from PKR 1650 – PKR 25500.

Further, at its flagship store in Zamzama Karachi, SHEEP™ boasts a designated lounge for those accompanying shoppers to the outlet, who can relax while the ladies indulge in a classic shopping experience. SHEEP™ is also available in Labels in Karachi with plans to open more stand-alone stores in the city and beyond in 2012.

For more information, please visit:

www.houseofSHEEP.com or www.facebook.com/houseofSHEEP

Sunidhi Chohan, Aditi Rao and two famous female singers from Pakistan will be lending their vocals to the feb 2012 release, London Paris New York

Every week, the internationally acclaimed DJ and producer PAUL VAN DYK
shows his audience the real deal: Paul is the direct connection to
everything happening in the clubs, showcasing new and talented
electronic artists and covering all styles – trance, house,
progressive, techno, electro, dubstep, dance and whatever else carries
his quality seal of approval.

52 STATIONS IN 23 COUNTRIES is the impressive widespread span of the
awarded and globally acclaimed radio show VONYC Session hosted by Paul
van Dyk. Every week millions of listeners all around the world tune in
to listen to the best that electronic music has to offer presented by
one of  the forefront runners in the field.

The annual VONYC Sessions mix album has become an institution in the
industry and features the most influential tracks of the year and an
outlook on to what is going to come. Gathered on this 2 disc ride of
2011 memories are all of the stand-out tracks, road-tested across the
planet and favoured by the radio show fans. Handpicked and mixed by
Paul himself, “VONYC SESSIONS 2011″ presents masterpieces by the likes
of Moby, Carl Cox, Giuseppe Ottaviani and many other EDM virtuosi.

The release will be accompanied by a massive media campaign and of
course a vast presence by PvD as his fans call him around the world,
touring all continents.

“VONYC SESSIONS 2011″ is the third compilation based on the global
phenomenon by Paul van Dyk. Stand by for an unforgettable VONYC
Session!

Join the PvD Network!

www.paulvandyk.com
www.facebook.com/paulvandyk
www.twitter.com/paulvandyk
www.myspace.com/paulvandyk
www.youtube.com/paulvandyk
www.itunes.com/paulvandyk