A list of warm and sunny movies.

There's a time when you are lying down on the sofa, the remote control of the TV in your hand, thinking about what to watch. You have already planned what you are going to eat. And you don't want to waste your wonderful food on a movie that turns out to be disappointing. Also, life is so harsh, you want something that feels good to watch right now. 

For a time like this, I recommend:

Hector and his search for happiness.

The little miss sunshine.

We are the millers.

The Holiday.

(The list is not exhaustive. I'll keep adding to it)

 I discovered ' This is water' by David Foster Wallace and it was a really interesting speech. One of the many things interesting about this speech is that, he already addressed the critique of the audience as if he was one step ahead of their thought process.

 So today I received the two books:

The 'practical strategies in outpatient Medicine' and 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra'.

These books are unrelated to each other. This is my life reflected in my book reading habits. I am interested in a lot of the things at the same time and sometimes I feel I am suspended in a continuous state of hyperactivity and inattention. But this post is not about that. It's about my initial thoughts about the latter book.

I was reading the preface of the book, written by Nietzsche's brother, and he was describing how Zarathustra was a product of Neitzsche's imagination. I couldn't help thinking that it was like having an imaginary friend. And how having an imaginary friend late into adulthood would be looked down upon by the people. But posthumously, Neitzsche is a big deal. His writings are not read as 'ramblings of a lonely man who couldn't make it in the society'. The harsh critique of society exists as long as the person does.

In life, I really admire the people who make decisions based on their values, even if they go against the flow of the society. I don't think I am such a person. But also at the same time, I know that my motive is not so much approval of the society as it is preventing hurt for my loved ones. I really do carry that weight in my life. Because of which there are really only a few moments in my life that I feel truly free.

Thankfully, learning new things and diving into intellectual processes of someone is a source of great relief for me. I am aware that something which is a relief to me, shouldn't be my escape when there is something in my life that needs to be done. In some domains of my life, I REALLY need to work on myself. 

(I am quite happy and excited to read these two books)

The movie "I am not an easy man" goes beyond entertainment ; it is a lesson in gender roles. And if it sounds too political or cliche' , for anyone who wonders about the ruckus of women rights  , I will describe a situation from the movie :
The guy is in a matriarchal society , he feels snubbed and constantly  alert because of the jeering women; at one point in a party the woman he is talking to mockingly inquires ; so " so you are a masculinist , what part of getting free drinks and having your door opened for you annoys you ? " . It touched a nerve for me.
I will recommend this movie strongly for those people who genuinely wonder what fight for women rights is all about , what is meant by gender equality ; and who are sometimes put off by the changing trends. As expected  It will be of no benefit to those, for whom mocking feminism is the high point of their intellectual discourse. It is not an internal issue because they have never been a woman , and they find the women around them to be well adjusted.
  The need for women rights is made evident not just by glaring women , triggered posts , loud arguments or offensive banners , it is felt as a genuine issue that it is  by realization of the inability of a woman  to walk to a coffee shop alone without being cat called. As is the case with giving opinions about matters in which you are not a stakeholder  , it requires special empathy and insight for a person to speak about it knowledgably.

Movie : Sanam teri Qasam

SPOILER ALERT : Sanam Teri Qasam.

Mawra Hocaine has done justice to her role, so has the new hero. It is a beautiful film, replete with Cliches, but these cliches have been done justice to. Music is awesome! And there is a well-backed love story. After watching Dilwaale where Shahrukh (don't care to remember the names of characters) falls in love with kajol after meeting her twice (one being the time she almost kills him) and a slipshod romance that follows on the mountain peaks all of a sudden... I really think Sanam teri Qasam is a splendid movie in its own genre. The romance, the connection, the loss, it is all palpable. They have not just filled in the gaps of the love story. They have gone beyond that. Sometimes it was unexpectedly close to heart in a way cliches are not. It felt personal. It felt heart-breaking.
Something I fondly remember:
At one point when the couple is saying their vows, the hero takes a break and takes the girl to a side. He says that he cannot take the vow that he will respect her father as he respects his own because he does not respect his father. and he can't lie to her. I want to appreciate the person who touched this aspect of his love for her.
Something I wonder about :
Love like magic is possible. But the timing isn't always on point. Like the time the hero says 'get lost' and she doesn't go to the home he has given her and instead stays in the street. but he does come to get her in the middle of the night and says sorry. Its all very nice. But in real life , timing is not always on point. And what if he didn't come at all. It wouldn't mean they love each other any less. Maybe he is hugging his own disappointment. Would she go back to the home? She couldn't possibly stay in the street at that time of the night. that too in India. And a person always knows where the other person would have gone to. Well that's a veryyy tough guess too. If i have to meet my friend in hospital i have been visiting for the last three years, i have to make 3 calls to determine directions and her current location. How someone can appear for you anywhere 'sensing' you would be there is beyond me.
Something I didn't understand :
The references to Hindu caste system were lost on me.
Something I don't like :
Oh of course. The remorse at the end of the movie. Where fathers of both , the boy and the girl realize their mistake and come back to bless their children. only to discover its too late. Mmmmm. No.

All in all, good one. Thumbs up Mawra Hocaine!

'Manto' Review.

Goosebumps : Check
+ve:
Casting was great, Except Saba Qamar appeared too jolly for the role of Noor Jehan. She looked great on screen though and had that unmistakable and overwhelming 'presence' of a main heroine that I find missing in most of the heroines in Pakistani movies. Every other character fit in his role like he was meant for it. The performances were amazing. Sarmad sultan pulled his weight as 'manto'. Apart from his acting, it was his amazing direction that made the film stand out. The actors in their small roles did complete justice with the screen time they were given. All of them breathed life into their characters (well almost all except the customary clueless looking doctor like the ones we see in drama) The dialogues were spine chilling. The short stories were filmed beautifully. The messages were kept subtle for the general audience yet they were crisp and unmistakable for the eyes of a keen observer. I was not expecting it. I was expecting far , far less after having watched so many Pakistani movies in succession. You have to praise them thinking they are 'your own'. That they are good efforts, that they are a step towards better movies. But the deal with Manto is that it was not just a good try. It succeeded brilliantly. In fact for a biopic, a movie couldn't be better.
-ve:
The nephew of Safia, manto's wife, did not dress right. He looked like a Pakistani guy from 2015 who was somehow thrown back into old time and patched with some old characters with old mannerisms and style. I think a movie in which every little detail was paid attention to, his dressing shouldn't have been overlooked. 

It was not entirely historically accurate.

But an awesome movie with little flaws is not a bad bargain, in my opinion.

Conclusion:
My mind was constantly stimulated throughout the two hours spent watching the movie. Not at a single point did my attention waver. It was thought provoking and gripping. It deserved an applause and it got an applause. This might be a hot cake in literary circles. For me. Manto was not a movie I liked for being a Pakistani movie. I liked Manto because it spoke to me, I liked it because it struck a chord with me. I did not have to bank on the 'soft corner' to love this movie . Manto is hands down one of the best biopics I have watched.

JPNA Review.

Awesome. 10/10 on entertainment and fun. I have to say I am surprised beyond my expectations! My heart is soaring with the remarkable escalation of Pakistani cinema. It was too gripping.The actors were brilliant.Apart from the main male lead, and the veterans bushra ansari, javed sheikh and ismail tara, Sarwat Gillani in her minor role was great. Sohai and Mehwish were entertaining. Hamza Ali Abbasi could be the next big hero of Pakistani cinema. Situations were genuinely funny. It was a non stop entertainment for three hours.
Why not to watch : 1) if you are not interested in this genre. Of course. And it goes for any movie. 2 ) If you are close minded (or particular) about Pakistani culture and how actors should behave and dress on screen 2) I watched with my father sitting by my side so the bikini scenes felt very awkward . There are two songs that aren't fit for a 'family viewing'. So choose wisely.
But apart from that the movie is palatable and enjoyable for anyone and everyone. I strongly appreciate and recommend

I don't want Moor.

Moor.
Was the hype deserved? .

The movie started well. The place was beautiful, camera angles were refreshing and different from those I have seen in previous Pakistani movies. Individual scenes were shot beautifully and care was taken of the little details. It was a poetic depiction of a story.Editing was loose at some places and some scenes were patched on very abruptly.
Casting and acting was ok, better than previous Pakistani movies. Some actors did fit in their roles. Shaz Khan was ok in his role of Ehsaan but he did not leave any lasting impression. It was his father Hameed Sheikh playing the role of the station master, who did a good job. Samiya Mumtaz as usual, did justice to her role. Sara, the sister spoke beautifully in a voice coated with honey, though her accent was way off for a Baloch girl. Amber, his girlfriend was convincing in her small role. Ehsan's friend was good too. Another important role was Baggoo, whose character I did not find adorable, at all.
Dialogues were average, nothing I would feel compelled to quote.
But coming to the most important ingredient of a good film: the story, It was not gripping. At all. It was as boring as the trailer made it seem. I failed to develop any concern for any character, let alone an emotional connection. It was a third party viewing and analyzing. It also appeared as if director was trying to complicate a very simple thing. This is modern story telling but I personally think it is appropriate when the story has more to reveal. You can shoot a cat drinking milk from three angles but in the end if the cat is only drinking milk, it's boring. There's no twist to it. People are going to lose interest. I also don't know how the conscience of people suddenly wakes up from its deep slumber by one or two emotional situations. It is the director's responsibility to bridge the gap between the good and bad by a convincing turn of events. Character development was not as bad as in previous lollywood films but still. disappointing. Predictable. Utopian. Nothing new.

Possibly the only thing I actually enjoyed about the movie was the background music with the beautiful shots of Balochistan. I wanted that to go on and on. (Admittedly, towards the end it was also because i wanted to avoid the movie)

Some nuances:
-When i asked for the movie ticket, The pathan ticket-seller told me it's pronounced as 'MORE' and Not 'Moor'
-In one scene Ehsaan says after reading her mother lab reports that she was diagnosed with Broken heart syndrome. Seriously? One cannot read different interesting conditions on internet and diagnose the characters in his movie with it. No one is diagnosed with 'broken heart syndrome' on a lab report,as such. It's a retrospective diagnosis made on 'speculation'. It is a term coined for the very rare occasions when someone experiences severe heart conditions and there is no physical abnormality that explains it, and if the only explanation could be psychological stress or trauma . No one diagnoses it on 'lab reports'. What a piece of fiction!
.
In retrospect, would i want to watch this movie if i knew what it was like? No. I wouldn't. It is just another movie which made me feel that i sat through it to encourage local cinema.

Was the hype deserved? No.
If this was Pakistan cinema at its finest then they sure have a long way to go.

Just Afridi things.

Once Afridi drank red bull,
the can started to fly.

Afridi plays cricket with the Solar System.
Solar eclipse is when he tampers with the ball!

Food was invented because Afridi had a digestive system.
Clothes were invented because he didn't feel good naked.
Afridi is the 'cause' of all 'effects' in the world of science.

Afridi is the reason why there is 'slow' and 'rewind' button on our remote controls.

Moon thought it was its pull that resulted in water level going up. 
We know it is Afridi doing push-ups.

Periodic table sang the song ' i am incomplete without you' for Afridi.

Solar system is the assortment of several balls Afridi chooses to play with.

When scientists say that the world started with a 'big bang'
They are hinting around involvement of Afridi.

Dinosaurs are extinct because they made Afridi upset!

Afridi is the reason there is biscuit in kitkat and oxygen on planet. Afridi is the reason Super man left Krypton to be with us.
The scientific community has decided to include Afridi as an essential element on periodic table.

Once Robert Pattinson borrowed glitter from Afridi because 'he glows so much'

It's a common myth that human beings will turn into Zombies when Afridi leaves the world.

'A for Apple' used to be 'A for Afridi' before BCCI protested.

The word 'phenomenal' was put in the Oxford dictionary because of Afridi.

Afridi is to the rest of the players, what Katrina Kaif is to the extras behind her.

Once Afridi's teacher punished him to do sit-ups.
That's how Miley Cyrus learned twerking!

Once Afridi put a finger in Kiwi Shoe Polish. 
It became 'fair and lovely'.

All the women complaining that there is no reward for them in heaven?
It could be Afridi.

Once Afridi did a commercial for Head and Shoulders.
My dandruff handed me over the resignation letter.

Once Afridi got arthritis and had to walk with stiff joints.
Break Dance was invented.

The Hell that all religions scare you of..
is actually the flame of Afridi's lighter.

Once Afridi went to the competition for world's most handsome men.
Bradley Cooper came 10th, 
Afridi came 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th and 9th.

Once Afridi did a commercial for 'Head and Shoulders'.
All the other shampoos got jealous and died.

Once Afridi did a commercial for 'Head and Shoulders'
The dandruff celebrated their genocide.

Once Afridi lit a sky lantern and sent up in the sky.
It's the moon that we see today.

Once Afridi threw a tennis ball to his dog in the game of fetch.
Roger Federer took training from that dog.

Once Afridi opened a tap of water.
Continents began to form in the world.

Once Afridi tap-danced in a party.
It became an 8.0 earthquake on the richter scale.

Once Afridi jumped in a swimming pool.
It became Tarbela dam!

Once Afridi touched three embryos.
They became Hussey, Kohli and Watson.


(All of these are product of my own mind , any resemblance to anything you may have read about anyone else is purely accidental. One in a million times, two minds might think alike)

Why i got tired of Grey's Anatomy.

'Grey's Anatomy' is the most popular Medical show on TV.
I was introduced to it by some random episodes on Star world, in the time when i didn't follow it from season to season.  I wasn't a medical student back then but found the plot to my interest as the thrill of the medical emergencies totally caught me.

Strangely at that time, when i would watch any episode coming on tv and hadn't got addicted to it as i did recently, i didn't observe the complex pattern of interwoven relations and affairs between the doctors at the hospital (which is as vital a part of the plot as the medical cases themselves) . That was the charm of the show for me! IT gripped me so bad that i decided it was worth all the trouble, from going online to tracking down the links where i could watch whole seasons online.

 Season 1 was fine as it was mostly getting introduced to the characters and observing dr.shepherd's devilish handsome looks at a more regular basis for the first time.
And If i were to pick my favourite character from the show, it would be Izzie. I find her very charming with her spontaneity, cute smile and emotional attachment she develops with her patients. I can relate to her most of the times.
George is also good, but he is the door-mat type who doesn't have much guts for anythng greater in life. Alex is rude and charming, Christina boring. But most important of all,  i didn't find Meredith grey to be fitting the image of the lead character for such a strong play. I don't like like her. I mean, for a lead character she should be more stronger and discreet in her decisions, more morally correct and kind. She is, instead, selfish and waywayd.
And i like Derek and Addison together! Though having read the spoilers for the next seasons, and knowing this isn't going to happen now, i feel little interest in Grey's now.

People tell me there's a lot to look forward too, and OK! I know all of the story by now so i know what's in store. It might be good but for me to watch a show, it has to be perfect for me. And since Meredith is the main character the play revolves around, its hard to escape the Meredith-Shepherd romance which i can't just tolerate. I want Addy back ..i want Addy back.

As a desperate effort to fight away this nagging thing on my mind, i started watching 'Private Practice' which is a spin-off from Grey's Anatomy and revolves around the life of Addison as a gynecologist and neonatal surgeon. But honestly it doesn't come up to the level of Grey's Anatomy at all. And Addy is acting all dark and twisted in it, reminding me of Meredith.

I think i should just give it a break.

Annoying things that girls do

 ' It doesn't matter what you are if you are confident of what you are. They call you a bitch, its fine, own it up if you are and don't try to act like mother Teressa for that would be an even bigger FAIL'

ANNOYING GIRLS, so, Here we go!


''Every guy who talks to me is interested in me.''  A Desi woman's dilemma!
 This psychological problem ( symptomatic well-wishing)  is confined to the part of the world where i live. Women here are unable to entertain the idea of a man approaching them for a purpose other than flirting.


Dressing to grab attention. Then complaining about the attention you're getting!
It's a matter of choice whether you want to play down your looks or enhance them. IF you choose to do the latter, then you will attract attention naturally. And this is exactly what you are looking for!
Then why pretend and complain about the gazes that follow your walk or in desi slang 'check you out'? ( Complaining is hypocritical because virtually, all the girls in this category would be heartbroken if they are not noticed)
This kind of behaviour is unacceptable as well as unnecessary because there's nothing wrong with being proud of your looks and giving the world a show of what you've got!


 The girls who send you texts about rating them on basis of looks.
 I wonder about the senders of such texts, do they expect honesty or praise? ( In most cases they are mutually exclusive )


My summertime horror. ' Can i borrow your water bottle? '
Yes you can, if we are on very intimate terms but not otherwise. I believe in sharing and team work but sharing  pencils , sanitizers and soaps is different from sharing saliva.

Girls who get all touchy without invitation 

This is not a DEFINITE annoying habit,since friends may want to get physical with each other but I find it very annoying. If a girl rests her head in my lap, not only would i feel awkward but also VERY embarrassed. The smooches and hugs when we meet are an infectious product of Arabian culture. Whenever two Arab women meet they kiss more and talk less.

 World is mean to the meanie
We all have  this cunning and manipulative girl in our life, complaining about the world doing wrong to her. This is a complex behavioural problem (and untreatable mainly ),  which sets off a vicious cycle in which the offender chooses to sit in the cuckoo-hole of 'victim' to satisfy her conscience.


Girls who pretend they don't care about guys when actually they are all they care about!
These girls are dangerous because they have the power to drive any sensible girl crazy with their endless talk of guys. For the most part, you are told how much they hate guys and how all boys are the same, for the rest they give air of an attitude that wouldn't make concession for Prince Williams if he had hots for them.
But their real intentions are revealed by their eagerness, none talks about things he would rather ignore.


I took picture in a bathroom with toilet seat as a background. How cool!
Self-explanatory.


 Girls who find idea of 'suffering' romantic
I will quote someone's status update for example, '' For the world,I am smiling, but inside i am dying'' and there are a hundred comments below it making sympathetic remarks. It's ok to be moved by such touching statements but for God's sake, keep a composure. The first rule about patience is you don't BOAST about it. And if you are trying to imply that you are smiling on the outside to please/fool the world, you are blowing it all away with a public status update.
I would like to tell these girls that No you are not Mother Teressa, and no you have no patience. You just find the idea of a suffering, romantic.



Note : The above article is not meant to dishearten you if you can relate to any of these categories. We all make mistakes and act foolishly but that's not the point here, if you noticed this post is mainly focussed on hypocrisy that is again not an ESSENTIAL part of one's nature and can be overcome easily with the help of a wake-up reminder which i hope this post served as .


Keep reading - Hiralious.

10 most beautiful women of Pakistan.

Pakistan abounds in Beauty.  From tv , to the streets , there is no shortage of stunners, the drop-dead gorgeous   crowd on one hand and shy but beautiful on another hand. Unfortunately these beautiful faces fail to gain recognition because of limited exposure to the international media and because of various sanctions which disable these beautiful women to take part in international pagents.

When i thought to bring these faces to focus with the help of this post, it wasn't an easy task. There were so many gorgeous and absolutely beautiful women to choose from. There was a long list and short-listing it to 10 was harder than i had expected it to be .Please leave your comments ( and join the website) about whether you liked this list. (Earlier on I had a ranking but now I have realized that beauty cannot, and should not be compared)

Lets have our eyes feast on the beauty of these wonderful Pakistani women.

MAHNOOR BALOCH :  What needs to be said about this epitome of perfection ?  this model woman?  A face that turns the heads of all and a body one could kill for , Mahnoor Baloch is in our list to no surprise.

Is it the sexy pouty lips, the beautiful dreamy eyes, or the gorgeous hair of this beautiful woman that takes her to our list? Hard to choose one.

MEHREEN SYED : Supermodel and one of the most beautiful faces in the fashion industry. She stands out for her elegance and perfect beauty when she walks the ramp. 

MONA LISA/Sara Loren : Her unmatchable doll-like appearance is much talked about in social circles of the entertainment industry.
, Mona Lisa is an absolute eye-candy

AYZA KHAN : An absolutely perfect beauty. I am yet to see a single frame of camera which doesn't flatter her.

UZMA KHAN : Also starred in the mega-hit WAAR, Uzma Khan is beautiful, sexy and very stylish. 

SADIA KHAN :  A combination of sultry, slanting eyes and an innocent face that  is hard to come by.  Sadia Khan makes it to our list and rightfully so.

AYYAN ALI : Sultry figure and exotic looks are not her only forte. Ayyan Ali looks beautiful, whenever she is seen and wherever she is seen.  

FARIHA KHAN is HOT. Former Model and now the wife of the legendary singer Ali Azmat, She is an astounding beauty with big round eyes and sexy, full lips. 

AMNA SHAFAAT :  this drop-dead beautiful girl  was once  seen on ramps and music videos of many Pakistani singers.

MEHWISH HAYAAT : A combination of exceptionally good looks and good acting skills  ,  she was voted the ninth sexiest Asian woman in the world by UK'S prestigious Easter Eye Magazine in their annual list of they year 2008 and also 2009. Mehwish Hayaat finishes our trail for some of the most beautiful women in Pakistan.