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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

TV Series:

Kosem Sultan

A spin off to the most popular Turkish drama to grace Pakistani television screens, A Magnificent Century or, as it is known here, Mera Sultan, Kosem Sultan is set 37 years after the death of Suleiman the Magnificent and recounts the life of Mahpeyker Kosem Sultan, a female rule of the Ottoman Empire through her sons and grandson.

Kosem Sultan comes to the Ottoman harem of Sultan Ahmed I as a slave and ends up becoming one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history, even counting Hurrem Sultan, the clever wife of Suleiman the Magnificient.

This show brings with it the same grandeur, beautiful period setting and costumes of the afore mentioned Mera Sultan, and once again highlights the powerful women of the Ottoman Harem.

A must watch for all history buffs or anyone who likes to see shows about strong women in power.

Movies:

Battle of the Sexes

Based on true events, this movie takes a look at the most watched televised sporting event in history—the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell).

A symbolic face-off about gender-equality, the match brought the media spotlight on the two players but beyond the court both fought more complex battles. King, encouraged by her husband to fight for equal pay, was also coming to terms with her own sexuality, while Riggs gambled his reputation in a bid to relive past glories.

Also starring Sarah Silverman, Elisabeth Shue, Alan Cumming and Bill Pullman, the film shines a light on the match that sparked a global conversation on gender rights, a conversation that is still as relevant today.

Music:

HOT 100

# Song Name Artist
1 Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
2 I’m The One DJ Khaled Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
3 Wild Thoughts DJ Khaled Ft. Rihanna
4 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
5 Shape Of You Ed Sheehan
Books:

Mountain Berries & Dessert Spice

—by Sumayya Usmani

All foodies will want to get their hands on this book written by Sumayya Usmani, a Pakistani food writer and cookery teacher. The book introduces home cooks to Pakistani desserts and their unique significance in our country’s culture and traditions.

The 70 recipes are sourced from all over Pakistan, ranging from the foothills of the Hindu Kush (where berries and fruits are the main ingredients) through the fertile Punjab where rice and grains are the mainstay of the desserts to the Arabian Sea in the South where saffron and cardamom flavoured desserts are most favoured.

With desserts for every occasion and all taste buds, and a pinch of historical knowledge thrown in, this book is a must have for anyone with an interest in all things FOOD.

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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

Movies:

Murder On The Orient Express

The fatal stabbing of an American tycoon (Johnny Depp) on board a train travelling from Istanbul to Paris means everyone on the train is a suspect. The train stalls on a snowdrift and the passengers are stuck on board while the murder is investigated by Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), a celebrated detective.

With so many red herrings to sift through Poirot has his work cut out for him and the rest of the passengers don’t make it easy as he interrogates the lot of them to come to his inevitable reveal of the murderer or murderers.

Agatha Christie’s most popular novel comes to the big screen on 10th of November, 2017 featuring a star studded ensemble cast with the likes of  William Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley and Judi Dench.

TV Series:

Girlboss

Loosely based on the bestselling book #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso, the series tells her real life rags-to-riches story of starting out flipping vintage store finds on eBay to heading a multi-million dollar fashion ecommerce brand Nasty Gal.

Britt Robertson(Tomorrowland, A Secret Circle) as the heroine Sophie Marlowe, is a feisty force of nature, a walking disaster, who is unable to hold a job, on the verge of eviction and generally directionless. We see her turn her life around when she stumbles onto a vintage jacket at a thrift store that she manages to buy at 1/10th of its value and resells for great profit. An idea is born and the story snowballs from there.

Joining her on her adventures is her best friend Annie, her sometimes love interest Shane, and watching from afar her father, who just wants Sophie to grow up and settle down, something our heroine is just not cut out for. This series is an ode to millennial entrepreneurship, while at the same time giving a nod to the narcissism and selfishness prevalent in this particular generation.

Music:

HOT 100

TOP 5

# Song Name Artist
1 Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
2 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
3 I’m The One DJ Khaled Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
5 Shape Of You Ed Sheeran
4 Humble Kendrick Lamar
Books:

Love In Chakiwara & Other Misadventures by Muhammad Khalid Akhtar (Translated by Bilal Tanweer)

This novel, originally published in Urdu 1964, is given new life in this English translation by author Bilal Tanweer. “A bakery owner and collector of writers and geniuses”, Iqbal Hussain Changezi chronicles the daily life of a small Karachi neighbourhood.

He relates the stories and mishaps that occur to his friends along with his role in small stories such as The Smiling Buddha about a friend with a toothache who visits a Chinese dentist and The Love Meter about a doctor whose invention can tell if a woman nearby likes you or will marry you by swinging its dials around like on a watch.

Bilal Tanweer manages to do the impossible by translating not only the words of Akhtar’s novel but carrying the humour over as well. The original was called “the greatest novel in the Urdu language” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. It loses  loses none of its greatness in this retelling of the story in English, and in fact has created an opportunity for the book to reach a new generation of readers for whom reading and thinking in Urdu has fallen by the wayside.

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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff Writer

Movies:

My Cousin

Rachel

Rachel Weisz plays the enigmatic and spellbinding titular character in this dark and thrilling adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s celebrated novel. Set in Victorian Era England, the film focuses on a young Englishman Philip Ashley (Sam Claflin) who awaits with suspicious displeasure the arrival of the widow of his beloved cousin Ambrose, whom he believes to be responsible for his death. His plans to take revenge on her are overset by his increasing infatuation with the lady in question.

The psychological thriller, directed by Roger Mitchell, develops twists and turns as the audience is kept wondering if Rachel’s motives are pure or insidious. The audience is joined in these questions by Philip’s godfather (Iain Glen), his family lawyer (Simon Russel Beale) and his lifelong friend (Holliday Grainger) who consistently warns Philip against the widow’s wiles. The film is set to release on the 9th of June and has already gained acclaim from critics for the wonderful use of musical score and cinematography to set a richly atmospheric tone.

Music:

HOT 100

TOP 5

# Song Name Artist
1 Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
2 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
3 I’m The One DJ Khaled Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
4 Humble Kendrick Lamar
5 Shape Of You Ed Sheeran
TV Series:

Versailles

This has to be our newest favourite binge-worthy show. Set in the 17th century court of the Sun King of France, Louis XIV. It spins a tale of power, lust and greed.

In a bid to reign in the schemes and plots of the nobility and to consolidate power unto himself, the monarch shifts the royal court from Paris to Versailles. Political intrigues and sordid love affairs are the order of the day at Versailles.

Those who have seen Game of Thrones will have no issues with the level of raunchiness displayed in this show but for the shy and timid a fair warning: this show is not for the faint of heart and the amount of nudity is off the charts. For period drama lovers this maybe the ticket to filling the void the conclusion of Downton Abbey left in many of us.

Books:

The Curse Of Mohenjodaro 

—by Maha Khan Phillips

The Curse of Mohenjodaro is a sweeping narrative that takes place in two parallel timelines with two different heroines. The first being Nadia Osborne in modern day 2016 who is hell bent on finding her sister, Layla, an archeologist who supposedly perished in a mysterious explosion along with her colleagues at the ancient site of Mohenjodaro. Nadia, not convinced of the explanation given by authorities, embarks on a quest like journey to discover the truth behind her sisters disappearance and concurrently to discover the meaning behind the visions she has had of the ancient site and the people who once inhabited it, specifically our second heroine, Jaya.

Jaya, who lived in the area in 3800 BC, has a special space in her society as the only one able to read the Bloodstone (considered the heart of the Goddess Shakari) yet she has to navigate the politics, religious doctrine and corruption running rampant in a city on the brink of revolution.

This novel is inspired by the legends that surround the ancient city of Mohenjodaro and is a historical thriller the likes of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and Kate Mosse’s The Labyrinth and is according to Kamila Shamsie “Unputdownable!”

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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff Writer

Movies:

Pirates Of The Caribbean:

Dead Men Tell

No Tales

Everyone’s favourite pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back on the high seas in the fifth installment of the swashbuckling franchise from Disney.

This adventure sees Captain Sparrow on the hunt for a mythical object, the Trident of Poseidon, which supposedly gives the user control over all the seas. What’s the catch? Well, an evil undead pirate hunter Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) just recently released from the Devil’s Triangle is also looking for this object and will use it to wipe out all the pirates from the seas, especially Sparrow. It’s a race for survival for Jack and to find the Trident he needs the help of beautiful astronomer Carina (Kaya Scodelario) and Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) a young man in the British Navy.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ cast at Disneyland Paris to celebrate the release of the movie in France on (24May17)

The film promises a return to the fun and adventure of the first installment and along the way we’ll see some familiar faces from the earlier films. Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly and Geoffrey Rush will be reprising their roles as Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa.

Books:

The DJINN FALLS IN LOVE & other stories

—by Mahvesh Murad & Jared Shurin

Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin collected and edited a variety of short stories and poems from authors around the world concerning Djinns—a concept that seems common to a majority of cultures and religions around the world. Some of the stories look at them from a mystical point of view while others from science fiction, while others still are grounded in reality. Each is an original take on the subject and beautifully written while remaining totally relatable to the reader.

Authors who contributed to this anthology are: Nnedi Okorafor, Neil Gaiman, Helene Wecker, Amal El-Mohtar, Catherine King, Claire North,  E.J. Swift, Hermes (translated by Robin Moger), Jamal Mahjoub, James Smythe, J.Y. Yang, Kamila Shamsie, Kirsty Logan, K.J. Parker, Kuzhali Manickavel, Maria Dahvana Headley, Monica Byrne, Saad Hossein, Sami Shah, Sophia Al-Maria and Usman Malik.

TV Series:

Doodal —Malaysian Telefilm

Saim Ali is all set to star in a romance telefilm called Doodal (Malay word for “sweet of love”) produced by Zee Zee Arts Production company in Malaysia. He plays a Pakistani man Bashir, who falls in love with a Malaysian girl on the internet and moves to Malaysia to marry her. He ends up having to prove himself to her family especially her father, who does not approve of him. The film will air in Ramadan on Channel 9 in Malaysia as well as Zee TV in India and Dubai.

Music:

HOT 100

TOP 5

# Song Name Artist
1 Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
2 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
3 I’m The One DJ Khaled Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
4 Shape Of You Ed Sheeran
5 Humble Kendrick Lamar
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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

TV Series:

American Gods

American Gods debuted its pilot on 30th of April 2017, on the cable channel Starz to unanimously positive reviews. Based on the Hugo Award winning novel by Neil Gaiman, American Gods is straight up fantasy, but not of the Lord of the Rings variety—it’s dark, gritty and very modern. It follows the story of a man called Shadow who is trapped in a war between ancient gods, like Odin, and the newer models, such as Technology and Media. Shadow will travel across America encountering various deities from different cultures; all the while he unravels his own personal mystery involving the death of his wife. The pilot is promising, albeit bewildering at times, and leaves us wanting more.

Books:

Kohinoor
—William Dalrymple & Anita Anand

William Dalrymple and Anita Anand take on the mammoth task of sifting through fact and fiction in the history of the world’s most controversial gem; the Kohinoor. With more than five countries, including Pakistan, claiming ownership, this book is a timely reminder that the true history of this gem is far from the mythologised narrative most commonly associated with it.
We follow the, often times bloody journey of the Kohinoor from its first confirmed appearance in the Mughal court to its capture by Nader Shah who promptly carries it off to Persia (now Iran) after the massacre of thousands in Delhi. We then see it go to what is now Afghanistan in the care of Ahmed Shah Durrani, a trusted lieutenant of Nader Shah. It leaves the care of his family when a defeated Shah Shuja hands it over to the Punjab ruler Ranjeet Singh; his family loses their custody of the jewel when the British trick his 10 year old son into signing over Punjab and all its possessions to the British Crown in whose care it remains till this day.

The story of the Kohinoor, as relayed by Dalrymple and Anand, is a tale that is at once harrowing and fascinating as we see the toll this jewel takes on all who come in contact with it. It lends credence to the myth of the “cursed jewel” that is often attributed to the Kohinoor. In fact, to this day no British monarch since Queen Victoria has donned the crown containing the gem because of fear of the curse, but is reserved for the use of the Consort.

Music:

HOT 100

# Song Name Artist
1 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
2 Shape Of You Ed Sheeran
3 Humble Kendrick Lamar
4 Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
5 Mask Off Future

 

Movies:

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword

The legend of King Arthur has been immortalised in books, movies and TV series since time immemorial, but this summer Guy Ritchie is going to breathe new life into this legendary royal.

Starring Charlie Hunnam (of Sons Of Anarchy fame) in the title role, the story promises to be a unique take on the rise of Arthur from street urchin to the throne. The big baddy in this tale is Vortigern (Jude Law) the evil uncle who stole the throne after murdering Arthur’s parents.

Along with Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law, the cast includes Eric Bana, Astrid Beges-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Poppy Delevingne and, as a special treat for all the ladies out there, David Beckham in a cameo role, playing a knight no less! The film is set to release on the 12th of May, 2017 and is sure to draw in the crowds.

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The lowdown on film, music, TV & happenings

By Arshia Nisar

Movies:

Baywatch

A fresh take on the Baywatch series, the Baywatch movie brings the cult favorite TV series to big screens near you! The main elements of the series have been kept in the film (including the running lifeguards of course and saving the public from danger on the beach). But the twist is that it’s a comedy film!

Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and Matt Brody (Zac Efron), two lifeguards, must place their personal differences aside to take on a criminal mastermind indulging in drug trafficking.

The cast, in addition to Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, includes Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach and Priyanka Chopra. Joining the cast, David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson will also be seen in cameos. So we have a lot to look forward to as Baywatch hits the screens on May 25th with an initial release on the 10th.

Music:

HOT 100

Song Name Artist
1 Shape of You Ed Sheeran
2 That’s What I Like Bruno Mars
3 Bad And Boujee Migos
4 I Don’t Wanna Live Forever Zayn Malik Feat. Taylor Swift 
5 I Feel It Coming The Weekend Feat. Daft Punk

Books:

The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince

—Mayte Garcia  

As the first death anniversary of Prince just passed, we remember him with this book written by Mayte Garcia, his first wife, as she gives him a beautiful tribute by taking us through the journey of their relationship together.

The title of the book is inspired by the hit song Prince wrote about his legendary love story with Mayte Garcia. Garcia gives us an inside eye to their world: from their unconventional meeting backstage at a concert (and the long-distance romance that followed), to their fairy-tale wedding (and their groundbreaking artistic partnership), to the devastating losses that ultimately dissolved their romantic relationship for good. Throughout it all, they shared a bond more intimate than any other in Prince’s life. No one else can tell this story or provide a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Prince–both the famously private man and the pioneering, beloved artist–than Mayte, his partner during some of the most pivotal personal and professional years of his career. The Most Beautiful is a book that will be returned to for decades, as Prince’s music lives on with generations to come.

TV Series:

The F Word (U.S. version)

Gordon Ramsay has been quite the rage (no pun intended) all over twitter the past month imparting his precious knowledge about food, and a whole lot of other stuff, to the public while reviewing their dishes. But the latest news on his front is the U.S. version of his show, The F Word, which will be airing on FOX. The show, focusing on food, family and fun, will bring together families who will be participating in cook offs against each other. But the competition will only be a part of the show. In addition to the cook off, there will also be a segment where Gordon Ramsay will bring in special guests and chat with them about all things food.

The main catch – it will be LIVE! Will Gordon Ramsay be able to control his temper on a show that will be airing live on TV? Tune in to FOX on May 31st to find out!

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The lowdown on film, music, television & happenings

By Staff Writer

Television Shows:

Veep Season 6

Mark April 16th on your calendars because HBO’s hit show Veep is back for its sixth season. They say art imitates life, but in this case life seems to have imitated art. Veep, a satirical political comedy that traces the political career of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), has done a great job so far of being one of the most relevant shows on TV these days. One will have to tune into the new season to see how they deal with President Trump. As the spring melts into summer, this is the show to watch to find the funny side of life.

Movies:

Gifted

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy, his young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace). Frank’s plan for giving the girl a normal upbringing is foiled when Frank’s mother Eveylyn (Lindsay Duncan) finds out about the child’s extraordinary abilities. Evelyn seeks custody of the child in the Florida courts, believing the child should be specially tutored to nurture her one-in-a-billion prodigious talents. The film, which hearkens back to Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting, plays on the same dilemma: what is more important, the happiness of normality, or the achievement of the super-normal? Look out for this Marc Webb directorial feature this April.

Books:

The Idiot

—Elif Batuman

It is September 1995. Selin, a Turkish-American college freshman from New Jersey, is about to embark on her first year at Harvard University, where she is determined to decipher the mysteries of language and to become a writer. In between studying psycho linguistics and the philosophy of language, teaching ESL to a Costa Rican plumber, and befriending her classmate Svetlana (a Serbian refugee from Connecticut), Selin falls in love with a Hungarian Mathematics student in her Russian class. She spends the summer in the Hungarian countryside teaching English to village children, where sad and comic misunderstandings ensue. The Idiot tackles literary ambition, female friend ship, the American dream, Chomsky-an linguistics, the Russian novel and romantic love.

Music:

Patari Tabeer

Song Name Artist
1 The Sibbi Song Abid Brohi & SomeWhatSuper
2 Jugni Nazar Gill & Farhan Zameer
3 Tora Baram Khana Nawaba Malala Gul & Danish Khwaja
4 Players of Lyari Lyari Underground & Dynoman
5 Chitta Chola Jahangir & Abbas Ali Khan
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The Lowdown on film, music, television & happenings

By Staff Writer

Movies:

Power Rangers

This blast from the past is sure to pull oldies and youngsters alike to the cinemas. And for those that grew up imbibing the stories of the Power Rangers it’s like taking a time machine back to the days of innocence. This remake follows the story of five ordinary teenagers that band together to form an extraordinary team when they learn that their small town is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. They soon discover that the fate of the world lies in their hands alone. Not only must they battle Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks), a powerful witch and former Power Ranger, but also their inner demons to come together as a team.

With a young cast and Bryan Cranston (of Breaking Bad fame) as their mentor Zordon, this film is all set to be a blockbuster. It will release at the end of March, and was produced for a budget that crossed the $100 million mark.

Television:

Samsung Presents the QLED TV

There’s nothing more relaxing than zoning out in front of the TV. And now this will become even more pleasurable. Samsung Electronics recently unveiled its state-of-the-art TVs: QLED and The Frame at a global launch at the Carrousel de Louvre in Paris. “We wanted to present our masterpieces surrounded by Old Masters,” Samsung executives said.
The QLED TV is like no other TV on the market. The colours, picture quality and 3-D effect are life-like. Furthermore, in one marvelous leap, they have designed a TV with only one thin wire and voice-controlled remote for all your devices. The TV itself is curved and can be placed even in the center of the room or hung right next to the wall with no gap. No more are there messy wires dangling, a plethora of remotes needed or are you restricted to place a TV near a wall limiting your furniture placement. If you are looking to upgrade, QLED TVs will be available in Pakistan after Eid. Best of all the price is not prohibitive. They are competitively priced and at a similar price point to regular TV sets.

The Frame is another remarkable new television. When it is turned off, it displays digital art on your wall. Nobody can tell that it’s not a painting, but a TV hanging on your wall.

With these achievements, Samsung has demonstrated their leadership in defining the future of home entertainment with advanced cutting-edge technology. Be sure to keep an eye out for these when they hit the Pakistani markets and enhance your TV viewing pleasure.

Books:

Spoils — Bryan Van Reet   

The War in Iraq has off late been producing literature, and this super debut from a US army veteran, about a young female soldier taken captive at the start of the war in 2003 is all the rave. The novel begins in April 2003 with American forces having taken Baghdad, but there is insurgency simmering. The author explores the lives on both sides of the battle lines; Cassandra, a nineteen-year-old gunner who is captured during a deadly firefight by Abu Al-Hool, a life-long mujahid beset by a simmering crisis of conscience, struggling againsts enemies from without and within. The book depicts a war spinning rapidly out of control, and covers the human cost of combat.

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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

Movies:

Song to Song

Song to Song is an upcoming American drama film, starring an A-list ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender. The film depicts a modern love story set in the Austin, Texas music scene and follows the lives of two entangled couples. The first couple consists of two struggling songwriters, Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling), while the other couple comprises of music mogul Cook (Michael Fassbender) and a waitress played by Natalie Portman. The characters in the film chase the elusive success in the modern world of rock’n’ roll while journeying through straits of seduction and betrayal that test their passions for their craft as well as their partners.
The film is set to release on March 17, 2017. What is sure to get audiences excited beyond the big names leading the cast is the slew of celebrities and musicians that will make cameos and special appearances in the drama.

*EXCLUSIVE* Austin, TX – Natalie Portman brings sexy to the set of the Untitled Terrence Malick Project as she shoots scenes with Michael Fassbender today in Austin. Natalie wore a sheer top which exposed her cleavage and magenta skinny jeans with black boots, which showed off her thin figure. Benicio Del Toro was also hanging out on set during his break and Benjamin Millepied watched his wife work while holding their son, Aleph.
Exclusive… 50911530 Actress Natalie Portman on the set of the ‘Untitled Terrence Malick’ movie in Austin, Texas on October 9 2012. Actress Natalie Portman on the set of the ‘Untitled Terrence Malick’ movie in Austin, Texas on October 9 2012. 
Books:

The Picture of Dorian Gray —Oscar Wilde

A cursory look while driving by a fading banner brought this timeless classic to mind. A book targeting the vain and the vainglorious alike this great work should be read by all once every year, to remind ourselves of the pitfalls of vanity.
Dorian Gray, an aristocratic member of Victorian high-society, is the subject of a full-length portrait, made by an artist who is infatuated with Dorian’s beauty. Dorian upon viewing his beauty by way of the portrait fears the day when it too will fade. After coming into contact with a convenient philosophy that purports beauty and sensual fulfilment as the only things pursuing in life, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul for the sake of his beauty. This wish is granted on the condition that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. He in the meantime can pursue a life of hedonism and pleasure, but all the while hides from his true, ugly, self that lives in the picture.

Music:

HOT 100

Song Name Artist
1 Shape Of You Ed Sheeran
2 I Don’t Wanna Live Forever Zayn Malik/Taylor Swift
3 Love On The Brain Rihanna
4 I Feel It Coming  Weekend Feat. Daft Punk
5 Bad Things Machine Gun Kelly x Camilla Cabelo
Television Shows:

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is an adaptation of the famous children’s book series of the same name. The creators of the show Mark Hudis and Barry Sonnenfeld have turned the timeless classics into a black comedy-drama that has Netflix audiences going wild. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton and Malina Wessman the series, which premiered this January, will be covering the first four books of the season, while a second season is planned to consist of ten episodes that adapt book five through nine.
The series covers the Baudelaire children who lose their parents in a mysterious fire. When they are placed under the care of their distant relative Count Olaf they discover that he is an actor who is determined to claim the family fortune for himself. The children set out to elude Olaf all the while discovering their parents’ mysterious past.

 

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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

Movies :

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures unfurls the incredible untold stories of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) – three brilliant African-American women that worked at NASA. These three served as the brains behind one of the greatest aeronautical achievements in human history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, which caused a seismic shift in the balance of the space race during the Cold War between the USA and the USSR.

This film did remarkably well at the box-office, raking in a whopping $165 million worldwide. This story showcasing the remarkable resolve of three women in the era of segregation seems to have rung true with American audiences in the wake of the Trump presidency.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: (L-R) Actors Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae and Kirsten Dunst, winners of the Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture award for ‘Hidden Figures,’ poses in the press room during the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Books :

Exit West—Mohsin Hamid

Exit West has been popularized in the western media as the first post-Brexit novel, and is all set to sell like hot cakes in Pakistan. Set in a country on the brink of civil war, two young people meet and embark on a furtive affair in a city beset by unrest and disquiet. In a Rushdie-esque pivot the narrative veers into the fantastical as the lovers, Nadia and Saeed, follow whispers from the inanimate and find doors that whisk people far far away. They find a door and step through only to enter a world that is alien, and uncertain. For the rest of the love story, you’ll have to buy a copy.

Mohsin Hamid’s fourth novel, after Moth Smoke, Reluctant Fundamentalist and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia should be a riveting read.

Music : 

TOP 5 Pakistani Film OSTs

Pakistani Film OSTs

Song Name Artist Film
1 Lar Gaiyyaan Zarish Hafeez & Shiraz Uppal Dobara Phir Se
2 Dil Dancer Atif Aslam Actor-in-Law
3 Janaan Arman Malik Janaan
4 Dobara Phir Se Ali Hamza & Haniya Aslam Dobara Phir Se
5 Funkaraan Asrar Actor-in-Law

Television Shows :

The Young Pope

This highly successful and somewhat irreverent HBO drama series follows Pope Pius XIII (Jude Law) after his election as the first American Pope in history. His ascension is the result of a Machiavellian media and political campaign among the College of Cardinals. As head of the Vatican he is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican stewards instead choosing Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) as his chief adviser.

The Young Pope is a favourite in giving Game of Thrones a run for its money, having already drawn larger premiere audiences than GOT in quite a few European markets. The syncretism between religion, drama, and politics clearly has audiences wanting for more as a second season is already under production.

The Young Pope
Season 1
2016
Pictured: Jude Law (CR: Gianni Fiorito/HBO)
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The lowdown on films, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

Movies: 

The Comedian

Jackie Burke (Robert DeNiro) is a comic icon from years past trying to reinvent himself. The character tries to shed the image the public has of him as a television character he played earlier in his career. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, after a tussle with a member of the audience during a stand-up act, Jackie is sentenced to community service. While there he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two end up becoming sources of comedic inspiration for each other.
With top names such as Danny DeVito and Edie Falco (of Sopranos fame) in the mix the film is sure to be a riot. Might be just the thing to get you through a boring stale Sunday.

Television Shows:

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

After Jon Stewart’s retirement from the Daily Show, his protégé John Oliver has filled the vacuum that was left in the space of political satire. The successful HBO show is set to return for a fourth season. The late-night series sees the British comedian review events and happenings of the past seven days in news, politics and current events. The painstaking research and honest commentary make for a great show. And now that Trump is the President of the United States one can only imagine what John Oliver has in store for us this season.

Books: 

Raja Gidh – Bano Qudsia

The recent demise of the author has prompted us to remember her best known work and we urge you to pick up a copy of Raja Gidh on your next trip to the book store. Gidh is Urdu for vulture, while Raja means king. The story is an allegorical journey into the kingdom of vultures, an animal that feeds on the carcasses of the dead. The story follows a love triangle depicted in the rich city of Lahore.

Music: 

Hot 100 

# Song Artist
1 Shape of you Ed Sheearn
2 Bad and Boujee Migos Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
3 I Don’t Wanna Live Forever Zayn/Taylor Swift
4 No Lie Dua Lipa Feat. Sean Paul
5 Fake Love Drake
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The lowdown on film, books, television, music & happenings

By Staff writer

Movies:
Oscar Nominations 2017

The Oscar Nominations are out and the following are the favourites to takes home the award for best picture. Be sure to watch out for these films at the ceremony on Feb 26th:

1. La La Land: The two leads are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But in the face of success their relationship begins to fray as their dreams threaten to tear them apart.

2. Hacksaw Ridge: This film shows the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss who saved scores of men in Okinawa, during one of the largest battles of WWII. He believed the war was just, but that killing was wrong, he was the only American soldier to fight on the front lines without a weapon. He went on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor for his services.

3. Moonlight: Moonlight, already a winner of the Best Picture Award at the Golden Globes, is a shoe-in to win the Oscar. A portrait of contemporary African American life, the film is a meditation on family, friendship and most importantly love.

Books:
LAND OF FIVE RIVERS—COMPILED AND TRANSLATED
—KHUSHWANT SINGH

This book is a collection of stories by Punjabi authors in the various languages that are spoken in the land of five rivers that have been expertly compiled and translated by Khushwant Singh. The book is an effort to shine the ethos of Punjabi life through stories written by authors of different backgrounds. It certainly combines the tales of Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus perhaps to lean us toward a larger identity that binds us together, rather than the narrow ones that divide us. Included therein are stories by Saadat Hassan Manto and Amrita Pritam.

Music:
UK TOP 40s OFFICIAL BIGGEST SONGS OF 2016

# Song Artist
1 One Dance Drake
2 7 Years Lukas Graham
3 Cheap Thrills Sia
4 I Took a Pill in Ibiza Mike Posner
5 This is what you came for Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna

 

Television Shows:
SHERLOCK SEASON 4

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Sherlock, the immensely successful Benedict Cumberbatch starrer is out with Season 4. Get ready to watch three feature length episodes that take you both into the past and into the mind of one of the most celebrated fictional characters of all-time. The focus on Sherlock’s personal life is a new twist, and a fracture in his relationship with John Watson (Martin Freeman) will leave you on the edge of your seats, or rather the edge of your beds. This is definitely the series you want to watch while snug- gled comfortably and warmly in bed.

The biggest mystery that needs solving how- ever is whether or not the series will have a sea- son 5? The ending I have to say leaves the answer to that question very ambiguous.

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Movies
Manchester by the Sea

Lee Chandler (Casey Afleck), a quiet and reserved janitor receives news that his brother Joe has had a heart attack. Joe dies before Lee can reach the hospital. Lee goes to Manchester-by-the-Sea to break the news to Joe’s son Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Staying in Joe’s home while arranging Joe’s funeral and looking after Patrick temporarily, he is shocked to learn that Joe has named him as Patrick’s guardian. What follows is a story of a reluctant love that develops between uncle and nephew.

The film was nominated for five Golden Globes, out of which it won one. Casey Affleck bagged the coveted statue for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. Though the film was released in 2016, there is much pomp and flair surrounding it courtesy all the nominations so it’s definitely one you shouldn’t miss out on.

Television Shows
Atlanta 

Altanta is an American comedy-drama TV series created by the talented and super-funny Donald Glover, who also stars in the hit series. The show follows the lives of two cousins as they navigate through the rap scene in the southern city of Atlanta in an attempt to improve the lives of their families and achieve personal glory. The show received two Golden Globe Awards, and now holds the coveted title of Best TV musical or comedy, beating out competition from successful shows such as Mozart in the Jungle, Veep and Transparent.

This hit comedy has it all: a crazy ex-girlfriend, a drop-out from Princeton University and a pipe-dream that is just out of reach, all ingredients for a good mix of laughs.

Books
India—A million mutinies now —by V.S. Naipaul

India: A Million Mutinies Now is a work of non-fiction by the celebrated author V.S. Naipaul. This book is the third in the author’s series on India, which include An Area of Darkness and India: A wounded civilization. All three should be read to gain the most from Mr. Naipaul’s anecdotal narrative. While noting the economic growth and the ensuing emancipation of many different strands of Indian society, the author laces in his misgivings with the society around him in general. And yet the book has an optimistic hue about it and is certainly worth a read for any and all interested in one of the most interesting and dynamic societies in the modern era.

MusicHot 100
Top 5 Songs

# Song Artist
1 Black Beatles Rae Sremmurd Feat. Gucci Mane
2 Bad and Boujie Migos Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
3 Starboy The Weekend Feat. Daft Punk
4 Closer The Chainsmokers Feat. Halsey
5 24 K Magic Bruno Mars
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Movies: La La Land  

La La Land, a 2016 American romantic comedy-drama musical, is written and directed by Damien Chazelle and stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The plot follows a musician and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles, but as success elevates them in their careers, the dreams they worked so hard to maintain threaten to tear the duo apart.

LLL d 29 _5194.NEF

The film’s title not only references the city that is home to Hollywood, Los Angeles, but also allegorically references the difference between real life and reel life. The musical genre, which is resurrected by this film, might go some way to filling the void left by Bollywood films here in Pakistan. This is just the movie for dating couples who are tired of sneaking about and secretly meeting at the movies only to find an annoying litany of superhero action movies. We recommend you share a bucket of popcorn for this one. The movie releases on December 9 in the US, with a world-wide release soon after.

Books: The Undoing Project —Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis describes the relationship between Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, two psychologists whose groundbreaking studies on how our minds trick us into making bad judgments earned them a Nobel Prize in Economics (of all fields). Their theory has become the foundational framework of Behavioral Economics. Their peculiar area of research—human decision making—has had implications for a wide variety of academic and professional fields from professional sports to military thinking and strategy.

Lewis’ books have a knack for being picked up by Hollywood executives. He first started working on this book as a sequel to Moneyball, the book that was adapted into a screenplay and later enacted on screen by none other than the studly Brad Pitt. When he began doing research, Lewis found an even more compelling story. That of an intellectual partnership with a falling out, a story of betrayal and intrigue all to do with the realm of ideas. Be sure to get your hands on The Undoing Project, for who knows you might want to beat the lines at the cinema when it is adapted into a movie one day.

Music: Disclosure Top 5 Songs

Disclosure is an English electronic music duo consisting of brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence. Their music marks the end of many an evening, as the guests are ushered out and the hosts prepare the mood for the select few invited to the after-party. Here are 5 songs from the duo that you want on your post-party playlist:

 

Television Shows: Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders is Britain’s answer to the much loved Gangs of Wasseypur, which enjoys more than just a cult following in Pakistan and India. The television drama is based upon the exploits of the Peaky Blinders gang that operates out of Birmingham, England in the aftermath of the First World War. The gang comes to the attention of Chief Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), a detective sent over by Winston Churchill to clean the streets of Birmingham from the dual threat of the Irish Republican Army and the rising tide of Communist agitators in the wake of the Ocotober Revolution of 1917 that elevated the Bolsheviks into power in Russia. The show does well to marry intrigue and violence, all the while representing the various threats to the crown in the inter-war period. With three seasons available on Netflix, Peaky Blinders is a good show to have on your radar.

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