‘Motorcyle Girl’: Riding with an empty tan on May 18, 2018What is common between a woman and an automobile? Apparently not much. A woman is a human being, fueled by emotions while an automobile is all fuel and no emotions. But in most languages, both are referred to as a feminine gender. And to the chagrin of the feminist ideologues, beautiful and curvy cars are […]
‘102 Not Out’ — of misleading title and life with ‘death wish’ on May 11, 2018South Asia is obsessed with cricket, so is Bollywood. Cricket stars usually overshadow Bollywood stars. Mega superstar ladies have run after cricket heroes, some ending up tying the knot. In recent years, there have been several cricket based movies such as: “Lagan”, “Patialia House”, “Iqbal”, “Azhar”, “Dhoni” and the list goes on. “102: Not Out” […]
The nine emotions on May 9, 2018As a young teenager, I attended a theatre workshop conducted by the well-known Neelum Mansingh in Chandigarh, India. One of the greatest things I learnt over there, which I still use to this day and try to inculcate in my fellow actors, is the concept of ‘Nava Rasa’ — a concept based in Indian classical […]
Crossing borders II on May 5, 2018Ajoka has frequently performed plays on Partition. Never having experienced it myself, I always wondered why we remain obsessed with this particular historical event. Why not focus ahead, on other themes? What is the use of re-visiting something that happened decades ago? However, sometimes you can only understand the present if you understand the past, […]
An actor’s sojourns: crossing borders on April 24, 2018I always thought that acting was a gift: either you have it or you don’t. It was only a matter of time before a gifted actor is discovered or discovers his own gift. I was told that I had the gift, it was in my genes. The story to prove this was told by my […]
Malala is real, we are not! on April 11, 2018Pakistan is the most gullible nation in the world where rumors and conspiracy theories are accepted as facts. We believe in stories that talk about Americans efforts to flood the entire planet earth and other irrational efforts to change the world’s climate. We also believe that no one ever landed on the Moon and that […]
Being a Talib on April 6, 2018The suicide bomber is a sinister abomination of a human being. But it is also a fascinating character study for a psychologist and, if I may say, an actor. What drives a teenager to such an extreme and irrational extent? Was it his childhood traumas, or perhaps ideological indoctrination in the family or local madrassa? […]
Being commercial on March 21, 2018Advertising is often equated with hypnosis. The ad makers use subliminal messaging in targeted advertisements to gently coerce the public into buying their product or service. In the United States, and consequently all over the world, cigarettes are one such prime example. A ‘product’ whose only purpose is to kill you slowly, was once promoted […]
An actor’s Sojourns: The Drama at Borders on March 12, 2018The world is full of hate and fear. We fear what is different from us, for that which is different, is what we hate. We always need an enemy, an ‘other’ to fight against and unify our ranks, to give meaning to our collective existence. Whether the enemy is the next door neigbour, or the […]
Being a billionaire on March 9, 2018I was born into a family with socialist leanings and was told that the rich and powerful elite was the source of all evil. They lived lives of luxury while the poor masses toiled and suffered. The ruling rich had no compassion or humanity. They enjoy the best lives in this world and ask the […]