Four successful films that the newly-established Pakistani cinema produced on February 7, 2019‘INTIZAR’ — I watched this film in 1956 when I was a child because of its outstanding music given by Khurshid Anwar and tracks sung by Noor Jahan. The film was released in India as well. Noor Jahan’s voice had such magic and allure that one just gets attracted to its soothing melodies. Set in […]
A ghazal selection of two generations of celebrated poets on February 6, 2019Nasir Kazmi had once said, “Yu Kis Tarah Katega Kari Dhoop Ka Safar, Sar Par Kheyal-e-Yaar Ki Chaadar Hi Le Chalein”. The editor of the book Generations of Ghazals, Debjani Chatterjee, a Bengali born scholar living in the United Kingdom (UK) translated this couplet as, “In such scorching heat, how may the journey end? Let […]
Arxang — a deep look inside our contemporary literature on February 5, 2019It is the 20th year that literary magazine Arxang is being published under the auspices of Ravi Foundation International. It is jointly produced by Japan-based poet Amir Bin Ali and Pakistan-based Hassan Abbasi. Its January 2019 issue starts with a very interesting submission by poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal’s son Javed Iqbal who mentions some […]
Deebo Bhattacharya — a captivating composer on January 31, 2019Music Director Deebo Bhattacharya captivated me when I heard his composed melody ‘Na Jane Kaisa Safar Hei Mera’ by Nurjehan from the film ‘Banjaran’ starring actress Neelo. The film was released both in Karachi and Lahore circuits on September 14, 1962. Although this film was the debut film of poet Masroor Anwar, ‘Na Jane Kaisa […]
Literature, philosophies, stories, poetry and music — all in one magazine on January 29, 2019Literary magazine Lowh by former Ravian has seen the light of day after six months. Mumtaz Ahmad Sheikh’s efforts are seen once again in its July-December 2018 issue. It contains the latest literature in its all domains. Mumtaz states in the introduction Harf-e-Lowh that many the magazine’s readers both from Pakistan and abroad advised him […]
Roohi Bano — a star we gave up on on January 27, 2019Roohi Bano was a lost soul because she wore a lost look in almost all the characters she portrayed for the mini screen. Even during her unwell days, she looked deep in thought, staring in vacuum. It is indeed a tragedy that an artist of her calibre was made to stay in a mental hospital […]
The force that is Atif Aslam on January 21, 2019When I call Atif Aslam ‘the latest craze’, what I mean to say is that the singer has risen to popularity very fast in the last decade, especially among the youth of India and Pakistan. Although Aslam has sung numerous songs since 2002, the one that captivated me was ‘Saadi Zindigi Ch Khaas Teri Thaan/Sochi […]
Aslam Gurdaspuri’s autobiography sheds light on author’s interesting experiences with life on December 9, 2018Title: Tujhe Aei Zindigi Laun Kahan Sei Writer: Aslam Gurdaspuri Publishers: Fiction House, Lahore Pages: 328, Price: Rs. 800/- Somebody asked writer Rauf Parekh on the Milligazette Site to name a few autobiographies worth reading. He suggested ten best Urdu autobiographies compiled in chronological order and not in order of preference, based on the importance, […]
‘Fiqr-e-Ameeq’ — of alteration in the surroundings on November 24, 2018Title: Fikr-e-Ameeq Author: Dr. Haroon ur Rasheed Tabassum Publishers: Maqbool Academy, Lahore Pages: 288, Price: Rs. 600/- This world is teacher of a sensitive soul. Time does not remain centered on a point but changes with alteration in the surroundings, This is the theme on which Professor Haroon ur Rasheed Tabassum had developed his book […]
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — an internationally renowned singer, qawwal, and music composer – Part II on November 13, 2018Nusrat’s friends as per Dr Buad: According to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s biographer, Dr Buad, the singer spent most of his time with close family members. At the same focal level, these were his qawwali party men, which included his younger brother, Farrukh, and for a long time his cousin , Mujahid Mubarak, as well […]