EditorInjila Baqir Zeeshan

Sub EditorsFatima Zehra NaqviSahar Iqbal

Creative HeadBabur Saghir

Graphic DesignersJaveria MirzaSana AhmedMian Nasir

PhotographerMohammad Amir Baba

Contents

18sophistication

Bridals meet

All that glitters 6

Interview: Alluring Ayesha Alam 15

Fashion: Bridals meet sophistication 18

Massarat’s makeovers 25

Travel: The white desert 26

Interview: Afzl’s trendsetting

bridal photography 30

Books 34

Art 36

Young Talent: Rudaba Nasir 38

What statements do your nails make? 39

Recipes 40

Stars & Starlets 42

Films 44

Glamstock 46

Taroscope 49

Aunt Athena 50

AlluringAyesha Alam

Ayesha Alam has been the masses’ darling since the time she forayed into the world of showbiz. She made her mark not only as a model but later on also as an actor and direc-tor to be reckoned with. And then she disappeared from the scene alto-

gether leaving behind a void which only she could fill. It was with the launch of an English News Chan-

nel that Ayesha sauntered back in our lives one fine morning taking up exactly from where she had left off.

This was followed by her eye-catching TVC of a fa-mous milk brand which saw her sparkling as bright as ever. Despite the fact that the other morning hosts in the commercial had youth on their side, Ayesha Alam holds her own with style and panache. Lounge of Pa-kistan Today caught up with the alluring lady recently for a one-to-one on what has been keeping her busy. Read on…

Pakistan Today- Let’s start at the very beginning of your career. How did you get in the media busi-ness?

Ayesha Alam- Gosh... it was eons ago. I started my career as a model… Accidentally, I might add. Nabila asked me to do her hair show. I was at a point in my life where I was starting over and so this seemed like a good opportunity to make good money. I enjoyed hanging out with these people and doing something different. It was a daring thing to do at that time.

PT- Have the dynamics of the industry changed a lot since you made your debut?

AA- Well it’s no longer a daring, different choice to make... In fact now it’s considered quite normal for young girls to venture into modelling and take it up as a career. Also, the fashion industry is a very different place now. It has become far more professional and is

By Sumeha Khalid

Interview

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 15

being taken seriously. It has grown tremen-dously over the decades.

PT- For how long were you associ-ated with the English News Channel we saw you in, and how has your experience been?

AA- I have been associated with the channel for three years and before that with CityFM89 for many years. I just loved it. And I just have to say that of all the media houses I have worked with, the people and mindset was far better than anyone else out there.

PT- What current projects have you undertaken recently?

AA- I’m working on a couple of inde-pendent business ventures. Let’s see if they pan out or not. I shall make it all public when we are ready to do so.

PT- After staying away from modelling for the last many years what made you de-cide to endorse Olper’s milk?

AA- To be honest I was hesitant as I know there is some talk of how certain milk companies have been adulterating their product and using additives that are not good for you. Did a lot of asking around and the general feedback was that the group behind this brand have a very ethical reputation which is why I went ahead and signed up with them. But I did tell them that if something did come out in the future regarding their products I would not be quiet about it. I guess it is testimony to their ethics that they agreed to sign the contract with me regardless as they were confident their product would never come under fire for bad health practices.

PT- How would you describe the expe-rience of working with three other morn-ing show hosts (perceived as your competi-tors) for the same campaign?

AA- It was great meeting Sana Tariq and travelling with her and spending some time getting to know her. Didn’t really get to hang out with Nadia Khan or Ayesha as they were teamed up on the previous day’s shoot and nor did we travel together. But we did interact briefly for half an hour where basically we all had a good laugh. I don’t think we seriously see each other as competition. I believe there is plenty of room for everyone and everyone has their own niche audience. We all do our own thing and our audiences tune in to us for our “thing” that we do.

PT- Could you relate to the script?AA- My youngest daughters 13 and 12

year olds were actually offended that

16 I December 12 - 18, 2010

PT- What is the one cause dear to you?

AA- Whenever I see injustice it fires me up. Or if I see someone who is trying to make something of him/herself out of nothing and working to achieve it, honestly that is something I will rally around for.

PT- What message would you like to give to our readers?

AA- No message really. Live and let live, I guess.

PT- A lesson you may have learnt the hard way?

AA- There’s no such thing as a free lunch. There are no free rides. The world does not owe you anything. So whatever you want, you can have, if you are willing to work for it.

PT- Your idea of ‘love’?

AA- Depends which love you mean. There is the mother’s love which is unconditional and always seeks the best for one’s child above and beyond your own needs. There is the wife’s love which always seeks the best for one’s spouse above and beyond ones’ own n e e d s . Love of an honest relationship

with God which only seeks to be growing and maturing… The list could go on and on...

PT- Do you have a true love in your life?

AA- I like to think soPT- On a more personal note - any

plans for new additions to your family?AA- I recently remarried, though had

we done so earlier we may have added to the family but at this point in time, I think we are quite happy with what we have been blessed with.

‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch. There are no free rides. The world does not owe you anything. So whatever you want, you can have, if you are willing to work for it.’

other children had been used in the advertisement. They failed to understand that if it is meant to depict me why couldn’t my family be in the ad? A valid question, I suppose but the story was fun. And yes I have come home to the girls having made a surprise for me... Thankfully never ruined a beautiful outfit due to any surprises!!

PT- What are your favourite pastimes?

AA- Surfing the net, television, movies and volleyball. I used to be a horse rider but haven’t had the time to pursue it in ages unfortunately.

PT- What would you say is your biggest achievement?

AA- Very humbly I would have to say nothing yet. I’ve managed to stay afloat and I guess given the circumstances that would be an achievement. I do hope my children turn out okay but these are things that only time will tell.

PT- If you were to tell us the single most important guiding principle in your life what would it be?

AA- Niyyat saaf rakho. Be honest in everything you do… be honest in how you do it!

PT- How do you manage to strike a balance between

personal and professional lives?

AA- The key is time management. Knowing how to choose which activities should take priority.

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 17

meetsophisticationBridal attires

Taufiq Hussain has to his credit, experience of twenty years of designing. This stunning bridal

collection is perfect for the discerning brides of modern times who can

truly appreciate the excellent quality of craftsmanship, embroidery and

materials which the designer offers. Be it cuts or colour combinations, Taufiq’s

masterful touches can make any girl look her absolute best on her big day!

With his daughters Mehir and Mahnoor joining hands with Taufiq, this design

house is sure to attain even higher levels of popularity.

Photography & styling:Fazal Abbas & Fatima

@ Sherrif StudioModel: Ayyan

Text: Injila Baqir Zeeshan

Massarat Misbah is a very talented beautician. She has the ability to transform any face to make it look appealing and charming. Her magical touch can do wonders for any woman belonging to any age group. Lounge brings you makeovers of real women and not just fashion models.

Massarat’s makeovers

We begin with cleansing and moisturising the face.

Hair is cut according to the girl’s face shape and size.

Different colours of bases are merged to get the shade best suited for her complexion.

Grey, black and orange eyeshades are blended to enhance the eyes.

Contouring is done to give a proper shape to the nose. Pink blush-on is applied to create a youthful look.

We choose a light pink lipstick to go with the dark eyeshades.

Eye pencil, kohl and mascara are applied to define the eye shape and size.

You are invited!to send in your picture with a few words

about yourself and you can

WIN A FREE MAKEOVER

to be featured in this column. Just write to us on:

lounge@pakistantoday.com.pk

After makeover

After makeover

I 25December 12 - 18, 2010

In lower Thar, one is rarely far from some signs of human habitation. But here, we were travelling in an utterly lonely country. Even the ravens, vultures and mynas that one meets with in other parts of the desert were missing I

first went wandering about Thar Desert back in 1980. I had seen bits of the Thal Desert in Punjab some years before that and both deserts disappointed me. There were no real wind-sculpted sand dunes like I had seen in pictures

of the Sahara, Gobi or Takla Makan deserts.

As time went by, I got to know Thar much better. This included what was in those days called the Tharparkar dis-trict in the south and Khairpur in the north of Sindh. The one blank on my map was the desert part of Sanghar dis-trict. This tantalised because someone told me that the eastern-most part of the district that trod on the Indian bor-der had a ‘different kind’ of desert.

About that same time (1980) I read a rather drab little report in Dawn about

the desert lakes of Sanghar and made a mental note that this was something to see, a lazim. But years went by, 24 years in fact, before I actually got to see one of those fabled lakes. It was in the summer of 2004 and working on an assignment for a Hy-derabad-based NGO, I was being driven into the desert when I asked about the lakes.

‘What lake?’ my friend asked with a lopsided smile. ‘How can there be lakes in the desert?’

Then, barely half an hour out of the little village of Hathungo (near Khipro in Sanghar district), just as we went around a sand dune, we came in full view of a blue, blue sheet of water. It was unbelievable. From Cholistan in Punjab I knew of the ponds they called tobas that, being filled up after the rains, were used as reservoirs for the drier months by both man and beast. But I had never seen such a lake smack

in the midst of sand dunes. The scene was replete with a few sheep grazing nearby and a village with those circular huts and pointed wattle roofs that typify Thari villages.

I asked my friend if the desert where we were heading was also of a differ-ent quality. Once again he joked about without coming to the point. And sure enough, as we neared our destination, this being village Rablahu, the quality of the dunes did indeed take on the same texture as I had seen in pictures of the Sahara. Only while the latter has reddish sand, this was rather pale.

‘It’s not for nothing that we call this part of our Thar “Achhro” or white.’ My friend explained.

By Salman Rashid

Coming home to Ranahu.

Travel

The white desert

26 I December 12 - 18, 2010

The month was June and we had arrived shortly after midday. With the sun blazing directly overhead burning out every colour to half tones, I did not even bother to take any photographs – not even for the record. But I resolved to return to Achhro Thar at some more appropriate time of year. And so it was that my friend Pervez Akhtar and I were picked up from Karachi by Abubaker, the Sheikh of Badin, as I once used to call him. Himself a writer of travel tales, Abubaker now works for an NGO in Karachi and when work takes him trav-elling he produces yet more travelogues for the Sindhi press. For this outing Abubaker had brought his friend Ma-jeed Mangrio along.

Overnight in Khipro, it was learned that the fancy pickup truck Abubaker had brought was without a four-wheel drive. That was that, I thought. The White Desert would not be seen on this outing. But the following morning we drove out to Hathungo and after wast-ing some time about the village, hired a beat up old Suzuki jeep which was refitted with a noisy diesel engine. The young driver was a gabby smart-alec who seemed to know everything about eve-rything. He made it a point to add his own two bits worth to whatever was said in the jeep.

Just outside Hathungo, we paused at the large lake I had seen in the sum-mer of 2004. A solitary boatman was paddling about in the far distance haul-ing in his nets with the fish. On the near side a herd of cows browsed in the sparse vegetation and directly across them sat a little village amid rolling sand dunes and acacia and neem trees. In my memory from two years ago, this village comprised entirely of the mud-and-wattle huts, the chaunras, with their pointed roofs. That was perhaps how I had wanted to see it and adjusted the mental image accordingly for now I saw that there were few chaunras. Most had trabeate roofs while one or two houses were washed a brilliant white to contrast against the sand and the blue sky.

The next stop was a salt lake that was called Pani Wari Dhund – Water Lake. I observed that was a silly name for all lakes are by necessity water or they wouldn’t be lakes at all. Abubak-

er thought the reason for the name was probably that this one was miles from any other body of water. And be-ing in the desert where little water was at hand, some po-etic Thari of yore gave it that name. Salt lay in glittering white islands on the lake and in equally dazzling piles along the southern shore of the lake. A team of labourers was trun-dling salt-laden wheel barrows from the little islands to large piles on the shore.

I wanted to know if this salt was put to industrial or domestic use but with our smart-alec putting words in the mouths of the labourers failed to learn anything at all. He had to be told, in no un-certain terms, to shut up when he was not being addressed. That had good effect, I must concede.

In lower Thar, one is rarely far from some signs of human habita-tion. But here, we were travelling in an utterly lonely country. Even the ravens, vultures and mynas that one meets with in other parts of the desert were miss-ing and the only bird I saw was the In-dian Grey Shrike. Surely the sparse veg-etation concealed some of the smaller ones.

About two hours out of Hathungo, we passed by the village of Rablahu that I had visited back in 2004. I asked the driver to swing in so that we could do some photos. But Majeed said these being all Hindus were averse to being photographed. In this part of Thar, for some curious reason, its not the Mus-lims but the Hindus who go totally paranoid when they see a camera. Even as Pervez and I photographed the vil-lage from what we thought was a safe distance, I espied a man hurrying in our direction. He caught up with us before we finished and Majeed ended up do-ing a song and dance.

Abubaker said if we had been in his pick-up truck, the man would nev-er have bothered for he would have known us to be important people. But this lousy Suzuki gave us away as noth-ing more than bumbling boys from

some college or the other. Boys indeed: middle-aged, bald and out of shape. It’s what you ride in, he insisted, that gives you away for what you may or may not be and promised that the four-wheel drive will be fixed and the next time we come out to Achhro Thar it will be as important personages.

Another half an hour later, driving over some dramatic looking dunes we saw the houses of Ranahu in the dis-tance. This is where we were heading. Some years ago Majeed had worked in this village and was well-connected. He said the hospital had ‘four rooms with attached baths’ and because there were few in patients and also because he was good friends with Anop Singh, the medical technician who was in-charge, we could stay there. This was for the fu-ture because this time around we were out for just the day.

Ranahu is a village of Sodha Ra-jputs and Anop who belongs to the vil-lage is of the same clan. Long ago, in 325 BCE, when Alexander was in the vicinity of what we now call Rahim Yar Khan, he met with a warlike tribe that his historians called the Sogdii. Now, the people of Sogdiana in Central Asia were also known to the Greeks by this same name and one could not be fault

A Sodha Rajput with a traditional turban.

I 27December 12 - 18, 2010

ed for wondering what a Central Asiatic tribe was doing in south Punjab. Scholars, however, told us that the Pun-jabi Sogdii were in fact Sodhas.

Throughout the long and creative course of history we hear of this pow-erful tribe ruling in various parts of southern Punjab and Sindh. The last we hear of them in our part of the sub-continent is from the early years of the 19th century. The Talpurs, having taken over the reigns of government from the Kalhoras, began to extend their sway and on the western edge of the Thar Desert near Naukot came upon them. The Sodhas were evidently on the wane for the Talpurs prevailed and that was the end of the rule of the former.

From being kings over the land of Sindh, the Sodhas are today reduced to isolated pockets in the desert where they assert their past power by telling strangers not to photograph their vil-lage, leave alone the women. But here we were not strangers for Majeed knew practically everyone in the village.

After the customary tea and bis-cuits we took off for the village well.

In lower Thar, as the men drive the camels to pull out the bucket from the deep wells, there are always sev-eral women at hand to fill up their pitchers. In some isolated villages I had even seen women running the whole show. But here this chore was taken over entire-ly by men and young boys.

Indeed, in the day we spent at Ranahu, I did not so much as catch a glimpse of any woman at all. Not even a girl child. The Sodhas do observe strict purdah.

It was the dunes of Achhro Thar that had brought us out this far and so we took a walk to the east side of the village. Here, swept by the wind into sculpted, rippled shapes with razor-sharp crests the dunes rolled away in all directions just the way one sees them in photos of the Takla Makan. As we hur-ried with our photos, Pervez the best photographer among us lamented that we were not staying overnight to catch the evening and early morning sun.

We left Ranahu in time to catch the sunset with some trees in the fore-ground. Later, as we were driving back to Hathungo, Abubaker kept mutter-ing, ‘Something’s got to give. Some-thing must go wrong now for how else can we call this an adventure.’ Then there began his tales of break downs in the desert that set me virtually on edge. I too had tales to tell, but I refrained su-perstitiously fearing that too many dis-

aster stories would somehow bring something untoward upon us. Abubaker’s prayers were answered. Suddenly something began rat-tling under the jeep.

We stopped; the driver got un-der and told us a road spring had snapped. But not to worry, he said,

and he would bring us into Hathungo all right. Shortly afterwards as the jeep was negotiating a dune, it got stuck. We got out and discovered that the rear wheels were digging in, which meant the four-wheel drive was not working anymore. Once again smart-alec got un-der and announced that the rear axle was broken. Hathungo was still thirty kilometres away!

He fiddled about a bit and said he would drive with the front wheels and that we would have to push every time we negotiated a slope. I don’t know how it was done, but we did carry on. At some point he said we ought to stop by a village and he would change the axle. This, he said, would take thirty minutes which I read as two hours. The axle evidently was something he carried around in his breast pocket. The com-mon vote however was that instead of wasting time we take the risk and try to reach Hathungo.

And so we carried on with Abubak-er still nattering on about the accident not having been drastic enough to make an adventure. When the lights of Hat-hungo were seen for the first time, I said to Abubaker now was the time for the jeep to fall to pieces for all I cared and we could still walk to our pick-up truck waiting in the village.

Salman Rashid is a travel writer and photographer who has travelled all around Pakistan and written about his journeys. He is rated as the best in the country.

One had never seen such a lake smack in the midst of sand dunes. The scene was replete with a few sheep grazing nearby and a village with those circular huts and pointed wattle roofs that typify Thari villages

The well at Ranahu.

The lake outside Hathungo.

Photos by the Author

28 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Interview

By Sahar Iqbal

Photography is not entirely about clicking camera buttons and tak-ing good shots. It is something that requires imagina-

tion and talent. It is about keep-ing precious moments alive for all times to come. Pictures are a valuable treasure which can en-capsulate your life and memories within themselves. They record moments of joy, happiness, ex-hilaration, bliss and delight.

Studio Afzl is an institution which is not only dealing with the art of photography but also enabling young photographers to explore their abilities in this field. It is the brainchild of Afzl Malik who has been working in the field of creative photography for almost ten years. Owing to his diverse experience, Mr Afzl has been able to deliver remark-ably well in serving his clients. He is certainly the most famous bridal photographer in town. But studio Afzl has also to its credit historical documentation

Afzl Malik’s

Trendsetting bridal photography

(Rohtas fort renovation project), aerial photog-raphy, wildlife photog-raphy (the Himalayan Brown Bear) and day to day projects such as events and travel pho-tography.

Talking to Pakistan Today, he talks about his personal life and work.

What changes have you introduced in photography?“Bridal shoots have become a rage these days. Earlier, a newly married couple’s

shoot was only about taking studio shots or ceremonial pictures but now the trends have changed. I have introduced the element of ‘casualness’ in the formal bridal shoots by creating an easy, amiable environment for the newlyweds and to-be-wed couples. I believe that the relation between the subject and the camera is very important. This is the reason

‘Our first priority is our client. It is one of the basic reasons which motivated me to launch a different service packages for our clients. Our bridal cafe provides our clients with coffee, tea, snacks and chocolates.’

30 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Studio Afzl is an institution which is not only dealing with the art of photography but also enabling young photographers to explore their abilities in this field. It is the brainchild of Afzl Malik who has been working in the field of creative photography for almost ten years

I 31December 12 - 18, 2010

why I prefer to eradicate the element of shyness before taking pictures by making the couple feel comfortable in the studio. Once they overcome their inhibitions, they come up with natural and lively poses that make their pictures extraor-dinarily beautiful.”

How do you make couples comfortable in your studio?“Me and my team can sense the comfort level of the cou-

ple and then we entertain them with casual discussions and music. We have also introduced a cafe in our studio to make the couples feel more at home.”

Tell us more about yourself.“I have been working in the field of creative photography

for almost ten years now. I haven’t received any formal edu-cation for photography but my passion for photography has made me the successful photographer I am. Creativity and hard work are the key to transcend traditional concepts with some unique ones to attain high levels of success. Competi-tion is also one of the reasons which provoke me to bring innovative ideas to my work.

I am very much in touch with the latest happenings around the world and in the field of photography. I observe the changes that I see around my own country, and also do research related to my work. All this has helped me to mould my ideas continuously into the latest and new demands of my clients. My photo shoots are not only unique but also convenient for my clients.

I entered the field of photography in late 80s when I was 22, and since then I have been striving to exploit my creativ-ity to the maximum. I believe that each day I should bring something innovative and exciting to the table.”

Who is your muse and what inspires your creative ideas?“My observations.”

How different are you from your competitors?“Very – and I say this without exaggeration. We create

an atmosphere which makes our clients give their best to the shoot. None of our competitors are doing this. They all are quite business oriented. Our first priority is our client. It

‘I prefer to eradicate the element of shyness before taking pictures by making the couple feel comfortable in the studio. Once they overcome their inhibitions, they come up with natural and lively poses that make their pictures extraordinarily beautiful.’

32 I December 12 - 18, 2010

‘With the grace of God my studio has a strong image and has remained at the top since its inception. After ten years I would like to be able to say that we have managed to maintain this level success.’

is one of the basic reasons which motivated me to launch a different service packages for our clients. Our bridal cafe provides our clients with coffee, tea, snacks and chocolates. A client’s social status never creates any hindrance in our services. They are all given equal priority.”

How do you strike a balance between your per-sonal and professional life?

“If I work 24/7 it doesn’t mean that I am ignor-ing my family. They are my priority and I love my family to the core. I always take time out of my busy schedule for my wife and three sons. I love my mother and I believe my entire family is my strength. In the morning I am always with my kids; I drop them to their schools and whenever they need assistance I love to give them my guidance. I dote on them and they are my weakness.”

What’s the vision behind Afzl academy? “This academy encourages young photographers

to explore their talent in the field of photography. We provide them with guidance and assistance to grasp the art of photography. The best thing about our academy is that we always encourage our students despite the fact that most of them have mediocre ed-ucational background. We believe that photography deals with instinct and not theory. One of our stu-dents is handicapped and he is learning new things in our academy with a hope of creating a difference in his individual self which is an accomplishment in itself.”

Where do you see Afzl studio after ten years?“I have always worked hard to create something

innovative which hasn’t been done before. Now with the grace of God my studio has a strong image and has remained at the top since its inception. After ten years I would like to be able to say that we have man-aged to maintain this level success.”

What is the price structure of your services? “Our price structure is quite client friendly. We

have flexibility in our price range. We want to break the stereotype image of dealing with the elite class only. We give priority to each and every customer who is coming to us regardless of financial and so-cial status. Human beings matter to us more than money.”

Any message to budding photographers?“Whoever wants to come in this field he

should be creative and have an eye for t h e right moment to click the camera. Of course one should give the best – mediocre work will never survive in this field.”

I 33December 12 - 18, 2010

Books

By Syed Afsar Sajid

This is a reprint of a book earlier published by the Pakistan Academy of Letters with a few minor typographical changes in its title and content. Its author Dr. Rafiuddin Hashmi is a known literary figure with some twenty publications on Allama Iqbal to his credit as an author, compiler or editor.

In his prefatory remarks to the first edition of the book, he avows that it is not meant for researchers, intellectuals or critics; its targeted client is the common, uninitiated reader with a limited knowledge of Iqbal. The author concurs with the opinion of Khurram Ali Shafiq that an extraordinary vision reinvigorated by deep contemplation and extensive reading constituted the quintessence of Iqbal’s thought and action in real life. As a biographer, therefore, he has attempt-ed to view and review Iqbal from this angle.

The book consists of 24 chapters with poetic or quasi-poetic titles. Iqbal’s father Sh. Noor Muhammad was a sufi in the unconventional sense. He was very pious and hard working. His mother Imam Bibi, too, was a paragon of vir-tue. The parents evinced a keen but active interest in the early upbringing of Iqbal. The process was later perfected by his venerable teacher and mentor Allama Syed Meer Hassan (1844-1929). The formative period of Iqbal’s intellectual life was characterized by a growing interest in poetry catalysed by his avidity for the Persian language. At the tender age of 15 i.e., a couple of years preceding his first marriage with Karim Bibi, he was zealously participating in the local ‘mushairas’.

Iqbal’s life-long association with Prof. T. W. Arnold started in 1898 when he was studying in M.A. Philosophy at Government College, Lahore. Prof. Arnold made an indel-ible impact on Iqbal’s personality. Iqbal started his career at Government College Lahore as McLeod Arabic Reader. He also taught philosophy, logic, economics and history at Oriental College, English and philosophy at Government College and English (stop-gap) at Islamia College, Lahore. M. Aslam, Khalifa Shujauddin, Khadim Mohyuddin and Muhammad Ali Kasuri, his pupils of those days, spoke high of Iqbal’s scholarship and teaching skills.

At about the same time Iqbal wrote a research article ti-tled ‘The Doctrine of Absolute Unity as expounded by Al-Ji-li’ which was later on merged by him in his Ph.D thesis with some modifications, translated Walker’s ‘Political Economy’ into Urdu with proper annotations, translated (with anno-tations) William Stubbs’ book ‘Early Plantagenets’ and au-thored a book in Urdu on the science of economics, titled ‘Ilmul Iqtisad’.

As a poet of ‘ghazal’, Iqbal was influenced by Dagh De

In pursuit of the real IqbalAn extraordinary vision reinvigorated by deep contemplation and extensive reading constituted the quintessence of Iqbal’s thought and action in real life. As a biographer, therefore, Dr Hashmi has attempted to view and review Iqbal from this angle

BiographyAllama Iqbal—Shakhsiat aur Fikr-o-Fun

Publisher: Iqbal Academy PakistanPages: 324; Price: Rs.350/-

34 I December 12 - 18, 2010

-hlavi and Ameer Meenai. Gradually he drifted to-wards ‘nazm’ which was fully suited to the expres-sion of Iqbal’s nation-alistic or philosophical outpourings in verse. His poems of 1904-5 generally bear a pa-triotic slant but side by side the ‘milli’ element also surfaced itself around the same time. His marital dissonance with his first wife Karim Bibi diverted Iqbal to seek catharsis in socio-cultural gather-ings, ‘mushairas’ and musical evenings.

The author has cursorily but dis-creetly narrated the biographical events of Iqbal’s life. On his return from Eu-rope, he started practising as a lawyer. However, he did not sever connection with academics, his prime passion aside from poetry. By the year 1929, Iqbal’s fame as a poet had travelled across the sub-continent. His six lectures in English were published in book-form under the title ‘The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ in the year 1930, the seventh being added to it in its 1934 edition. In these lectures Iqbal has closely studied the concepts of Di-vinity, man, the universe, religion, phi-losophy, poetry, ‘Khudi’, ‘Jabr-o-Qadr’, life after death, Sufism, time and space, prayer, culture, ‘Ijtihad’ and ‘Irfan’ from a purely Islamic viewpoint.

On the political front, Iqbal stood for separate electorate for the Muslims in any future system of governance in the sub-continent. His historic address

at the annual session of the All India Muslim League held at Allahabad in December, 1930 is generally regarded as a prelude to the creation of Pakistan.

In November 1931, on his return from the 2nd RTC held in London, among others, Iqbal also chanced to meet Mussolini, the infamous Italian dictator. The poem titled ‘Mussolini’ in ‘Bal-e-Jibreel’ carries echoes of this meeting. By the time Iqbal returned home, he had grown into an important political figure and a symbol of Muslim reawakening in India. ‘Javid Nama’, one of his masterpieces inspired by Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’, was published in 1932. The first ever Youm-e-Iqbal was celebrated in March the same year. Iqbal met the renowned philosopher Bergson in Paris on his return from the 3rd RTC in London in end-December, 1932. In January, 1933, Iqbal visited Spain. His famous poem on Cordoba Mosque is an outcome of this visit. Iqbal toured Afghanistan in October-November 1933 at the invitation of King Nadir Shah. Punjab University conferred an honorary degree of D.Litt. on Iqbal in December 1933. Oxford University had earlier invited him to deliver three Rho-des lectures.

Unfortunately while he was prepar-

ing these lectures, he fell prey to his chronic ailment on 10th January, 1934. However, he managed to attend the birth centenary celebrations of Maulana Hali in Panipat in October, 1935. Sir Ross Masud was Allama Iqbal’s devout admirer. It was on his invitation that Iqbal went to Bhopal

for medical treatment. But during this critical period he did not detach him-self from the fast-changing political sce-nario in India.

At the fag end of his life Iqbal was very keen to compose a comprehensive ‘tafseer’ of Holy Quran side by side with compiling a modern version of the Is-lamic jurisprudence but both these pro-jects had to be suspended in view of his prolonged ill health.

A German lady Mrs. Doris living in Aligarh became governess to Javid Iqbal and Muneera Sultana, Iqbal’s children, at the demise of their mother (courtesy Prof. Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqui). In the last few months of his chronic ailment, Youm-e-Iqbal celebrations were fervent-ly held by Iqbal’s fans at many places in the country.

The last moments of Iqbal’s life have been movingly narrated by the au-thor in the book. Practically all aspects of Allama Iqbal’s life and work have been covered in it. The style is generally concise but compendious. In his pur-suit of the real Iqbal, the author seems to have partly succeeded in exploring the subject from different angles to the enlightenment of both the common reader and the connoisseur of Iqbal’s life and work.

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 35

The Alchemist of Happiness!

‘The best part of Munawar’s skill is spontaneity of his strokes. The way he captures the atmosphere is brilliant’

Munawar M o h i -u d d i n has in the last f e w years es-

tablished himself as a painter of high caliber. And one could see why in his first solo exhibition at the Hamail Art Gallery the other day, with Mrs Amina Taseer in-augurating it.

Munawar began to paint in the impressionistic style, the natural and cultural beauty of Lahore.

Munawar hails from Dera Ghazi Khan, but received his education at training at the Pun-jab University’s Fine Arts De-partment – since rechristened as

College of Art and Design – from where he walked out with an MFA degree in Graphic Design in first class in 1994.

Back in D.G. Khan, where barren landscape dotted with only date trees pre-dominates, in a government job, Munawar yearned for Lahore’s vibrancy and diversity of colours, for that to him had been an inspiring experience. By a stroke of luck a government dignitary realised his potential and talent and posted him to Lahore.

In the painting on display in the exhibi-tion, Munawar covers the scenic Lawrence Gardens, the Canal View and the Gov-ernor’s House in detail and in a manner most fetching.

Talking to Pakistan Today about his preference for the oil colours, Munawar said that this is a strong medium – since it doesn’t wear out quickly, it is long lasting too. “It resonates with volume and a depth that stuns the viewer. Also the medium of use really depends upon the mood of the artist.

“Impressionistic style is what I have used in my paintings. After the Renaissance,

first came M a n n e r -ism, then B a r o q u e ( S h a k e -s p e a r e ) , f o l l o w e d by Realism and Im-pressionism”, said he. Impressionism is the study of colour. How do colour and time change and relate to each other? “If you look at a tree for six hours it will start talk-ing to you. The ground that lies beneath our feet really creates all the colours. So Im-pressionism really is know-how of playing with colour.

“Inspiration comes to me from objects of beauty. My works are greatly inspired by Monet, a French artist. He was also an im-pressionist. His were quick paintings. His first exhibition wasn’t a success but his passion and perseverance in time received fame and respect”, said Munawar.

Peace, tranquility and serenity in a time of chaos and uncertainty is what Munawar

By Beenish Mahmood

36 I December 12 - 18, 2010

paints. “In my work I am showing the other side of life. I believe Paki-stan is a land of hidden and secret treasures. I promote not sadness and depression but happiness. And this is how you relate to life in a time of turmoil and anxiety,” said he.

“The best part of Munawar’s skill is spontaneity of his strokes. The way he cap-tures the atmosphere is brilliant,” said Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, principal of PU’s College of Art & Design.

“With spring turning into summer and summer into autumn, nature reminds us of the vagaries of time, unaware that the red colour of its sumbul flowers resonates with the life nectar of the sons of this soil strewn so recklessly on the streets of the mother-land in recent times”, said Dr Rahat again in a language that summarises the beauty and intensity of Munawar’s work.

Bagh-e-Jinnah, now known as the Law-rence Gardens was named after John Law-rence, Viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869. A botanical garden modelled on London’s famed Kew Gardens, now named Bagh-e-Jinnah, covers an area of 141 acres that is re-plete with a diverse variety of old trees and plants – indeed a rich collection of flora that is wondrous.

The Governor House located oppo-site the Bagh-e-Jinnah, is also a majestic portrayal of nature. And the Canal View,

with the ground covered in red petals in au-tumn, is again a symbol of luscious nature.

Munawar paints these scenes from first hand observation and with an entirety and fullness that only true passion and mature skill can produce.

He draws an apt contrast with the chaos around us and transports us to the serenity that nature offers with such brilliance that we are engulfed by it.

To this writer, his play of lilacs, oranges, reds, greens and yellows really creates an en-vironment that is awesome.

To conclude, a quote from Munawar’s exhibition brochure: “When in the order of objects is created a balance then har-

mony takes over but when the body is in motion that reality is called dance and the voice comes into play. Henceforth,

music is created and when this song engraves this harmony into the soul it takes the form of a painting.”

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 37

What were the problems that you had to face when you first stepped into this profession?

RN: My immediate fam-ily was thankfully very sup-portive but my distant family members had a lot of strong opinions against it. I think my biggest obstacle to this day is time-management and mul-titasking. It is very difficult to make a profession out of theatre because it doesn’t pay well and there aren’t any regu-lar theatre productions being staged. When I was studying at LUMS, it was difficult to manage plays and studies. Now it is hard to manage plays and my full-time job.

What is your idea of the perfect man?

RN: My idea of a perfect man keeps evolving and becoming less and less “per-fect” the more people I come across.

Committed or engaged? If not then when are you planning to change your rela-tionship status?

RN: I am neither engaged nor commit-ted at the moment but I will go down that road when I’ll find the right man.

Your message for the people out there?RN: Always be honest and decent. If you

want respect, you have got to show and give it first.

What is lacking in theatre in Pakistan? And what do you think can be done to im-prove it?

RN: Increased government support and funding as well as private sector sponsor-

Young Talent

R u d a b a N a s i r Confessions of a

By Sahar Iqbal

More collaborative efforts with actors, producers, directors from all over the world can be a good learning opportunity to improve theatre in Pakistan. Media can also raise awareness regarding theatre

ships can help turn theatre into a lucrative, well-paying profession which young people will feel comfortable entering.

This way they will also have family sup-port and the number of theatre productions per year will increase. That is the sad but true reality. Everyone judges everything in monetary terms.

What do you think is lacking in Paki-stani television?

RN: For one, television is a well-devel-oped industry with lots of interesting work going on and it can be taken up as a full-time job. Yet for me, it was not as exhilarat-ing as theatre is.

What is your advice to young girls who want to join your field?

RN: Complete your studies. Do not let people bring you down or make you lose your self-confidence. Be uninhibited and fearless.

drama queen!

The stage is her one and only ad-diction. With eight years of theatre and nine theatre produc-tions under her

belt, Rudaba Nasir has made a name for herself as an actress in the theatre industry of Pakistan. Since her first steps onto the live stage, she has enthralled audi-ences with her riveting and time-less performances in critically ac-claimed, quality productions such as ‘Boeing-Boeing’ and ‘Bombay Dreams’ to name a few. And that is not the end of it! She has also performed with the band Cara-mel, has a theatre production and a TV mini-series lined up for this year. She can currently be seen on Hum TV, in a romantic comedy series, ‘Kabhi na Kabhi’.

Lounge got hold of this young drama queen for a little chit chat:

What do you prefer, theatre or television, and why?

RN: Theatre. Although thea-tre is physically very tiring and challenging, it all pays off when the actor interacts with the live audience and gains instant feed-back about his/her performance. It is an adrenaline rush and a nat-ural high! The sound of applause is actually intoxicating! In theatre there is a lot of margin to increase or decrease the intensity of one’s performance, movements and ex-pressions. There is room to exper-iment with different techniques to see which works best with a live audience.

38 I December 12 - 18, 2010

It was an ordinary monotonous Saturday, demanding an immediate mood lift. Having indulged myself into having chocolates already and consumed all those unwanted calories, I did not wish to go down the same path again. It was then that I found the ultimate

cure to every woman’s blues. The realisation dawned upon me that I always felt good after pampering myself to a nice manicure, with all those fragrant salts and lotions. Nails are an important part of a woman’s personality. They not only redefine and enhance a girl’s hands but all those coloured enamels also express your mood and your individuality. Nails are a great way to reveal your traits and to pamper yourself. Take my word for it and the next time you have a mood swing, treat yourself to a manicure or even a new pattern of nail art.

If you think the nail colour you wear is only a reflection of your mood, then think again, it also depicts your persona.

What do you do when you see someone wearing red nail paint? You associate a certain trait to that person, similarly when you see someone wearing black nail paint, you again categorise that person. So the next time, you apply nail colour, remember what the colour will mean to others around you:

Fire-engine red: You’re sassy, self-assured and enjoy being dramatic. Bright red is a bold, look-at-me colour that is a symbol for passion, fire and confidence. You love the spotlight and you take charge of situations.

Hot Pink: You’re spunky and energetic. Pink is the colour that is associated specifically with women and hot pink lets you show your spunk and spice.

Pale pink: Painting your nails pale pink is a subtle expression. You are likely to be quiet or at least you don’t want to stand out and look rather youthful. Pale pink is not significantly different from the colour of your nails but you still want to show your softer side.

Black: Painting your nails black is a classic symbol of anti-establishment. It doesn’t mean you are depressed or going Goth, but it’s a way of rebelling against the norm and showing some of the darkness in your personality.

Navy blue: This is the colour of sophistication and authority. Wearing this colour on your nails tells people to listen up, because you’re in charge.

Aqua blue: You’re showing the youthful and calm side of your personality when you paint your nails a light blue. Aqua is a cool colour, a nonchalant colour.

French manicure: You are glamorous and professional. You don’t need any colour; your nails look good as they are and you simply

What statement do your nails make?

By Nadia Farooq

Here are a few nail care tips: Eat well for healthy strong nails. Remember nails are an indicator of your health.Don’t file your nails in a to and fro motion: it creates a heat dangerous for your nails. Keep the movement in circles.Moisturise dry cuticles with oil, never cut them as they protect the nails from infections.

emphasise and define yourself. Magenta: A combination of the reds,

pinks and purples, magenta is feminine but not flashy. You are vibrant and youthful but you don’t need to be the centre of attention at all times.

Orange: This colour is bright and vibrant, for people who like to be the centre of attention. It also symbolises autumn and the changing seasons, a time of brightness and change.

Dark brown: A dark and rich colour, this shade of brown indicates boldness and authority. You like your nails the way you like your men.

Maroon: Maroon is a warm colour, a combo of red and purple, retaining the authority of red and the confidence of purple. It’s a mature, sophisticated colour

that, when worn on your nails, invites respect.

Coffee-colour: You are earthy and energetic. Tan and light brown are earth tones, cool colours that bring you closer to Mother Nature.

Green: This colour invokes images of vigour and the environment. Going “green” in your nail polish exudes earthiness and spunk.

Deep purple: Purple is the colour of royalty. Wearing it on your nails shows that you have a confident personality and you’re not afraid to stand out in the crowd.

Lavender: You are graceful and collected. A combination of pink and purple, lavender is feminine and confident without the youthfulness of pure pink.

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 39

Chef Abdul Manan has worked with Royal Palm, World Fashion Cafe, Hot Wok Cafe in Lahore, Eye Television Network, ALite, Masala, Style360 and APlus, and also runs his own catering business by the name of Urban Gourmets.

Recipes

Ingredients MinceBeef, minced 1 kgOnion 3 mediumGarlic 6 clovesGinger 2 inch pieceGreen chillies 6 largeGreen coriander ½ bunchSalt 1 tspGaram Masala powder 1 tspEgg 1Bread slices 2 pc

Method

Put all mince ingredients in chopper and process. Make sausage shape kebabs and shallow fry in one cup oil till slightly golden. Take out in a plate, place a burning coal in the centre of the kebabs, drop a little ghee and cover for five minutes with foil wrap. Next, heat oil and sauté ginger garlic. Then add tomato puree along with all the dry spices and fry till aromatic and oil separates. Put prepared kebabs in it, cover and let them cook on slow heat for ten minutes. Lastly put hara masala and serve with tandoori naan. Note: you can use chicken and lamb as per your choice

Dum Kebab Masala

MasalaTomato puree 2 cupsGinger garlic paste 2tspCrushed red chillies 2tspSalt 1 tspCumin powder 2tspGaram Masala powder 1tspTurmeric powder ½ tspDried fenugreek leaves 1tbspOil 1 cup

Hara MasalaGreen chillies seeded and sliced 4Coriander leaves ½ bunch choppedGinger juliennes ¼ cup

40 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Method

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare and prebake one Yeast Pizza Crust as directed in

recipe. Or substitute two premade pizza crusts.Cut chicken crosswise into 1/2” strips. In

medium bowl, place chicken strips and sprinkle with Fajita Seasoning Mix. Toss gently.

In large skillet, heat oil and cook coated chicken, onion, bell pepper, and garlic until chicken is

cooked and vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and add salsa and green chilies.

Divide mixture between the two pizza crusts and spread to cover; top with cheeses. Bake at 425

degrees for 15-25 minutes until crusts are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly. Serves

8-10

Fajita Pizza

Celebrity’s favouritePancakes

Method

Mix all the ingredients until the batter is of pouring consistency. Heat a non stick griddle and pour mixture to form a 4-inch round. Cook on medium heat till bubbles appear, then turn over and cook the other side until golden brown.

Serving suggestions

Strawberry sauceMaple syrupChocolate syrupChopped walnuts Honey

Ingredients Eggs 3Flour 1 ½ cupMilk ¾ cupBaking powder 2 tspButter ½ cupSugar 3 tbsp

Bushra Ansari likes to cook Fajita Pizza

Ingredients

Yeast Pizza Crust 2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 Tbsp. fajita seasoning blend OR Homemade

Fajita Mix1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup thick and chunky salsa1/4 cup diced green chilies OR 2 Tbsp. diced

jalapeno peppers2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese1 cup shredded Muenster cheese1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 41

Stars & starlets

Tom Cruise is very dedicated: Anil Kapoor

Johnny Depp wants Brad Pitt

Actress Kareena Kapoor has been hoping and dreaming of having a White X’mas for some years now. However, she has never made it happen. “There’s always been work, or then some show...” she goes on. However, this year maybe a different story, what with beau Saif Ali Khan making all her dreams come true. Though Saif claims to be mighty busy with the post production of

‘Agent Vinod’, a movie of which Kareena is also a part, the actor is planning a surprise Christmas for Kareena

in Europe. Now we weren’t so sure if this cat was to come outta Santa’s goodie bag this soon. New Year’s we hear will be spent abroad as well, and there’ll be no dancing at any

New Year bash back home this time round.

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, fresh from filming ‘Mission Impossible 4’ with Tom Cruise, marvels at the Hollywood superstar’s dedication and hard work. Kapoor, who plays an Indian in the action film, praised his famous co-star, saying, “Tom Cruise is very dedicated and hardworking. Some days he slept

for just three hours. That is the kind of drive and dedication which makes you so successful. It (Hollywood) is like a Premier League.” ‘Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol’ is likely to hit theatres in December next year.

Family over money for PriyankaPriyanka Chopra declined a plum offer of three crore rupees to perform at a suburban exclusive hotel on New Year eve. The reason? Priyanka, who has been mostly out of the country through the past one year, is looking forward to spending the new year with her immediate family. The hotel near the domestic airport was apparently looking to outshine the others by roping in Priyanka, who would have become the most celebrated actor to perform on the year end. However, their plans were dashed when the sexy actress flatly turned them down saying that she would rather be with her family even though the lure of money was too high.

Johnny Depp apparently wants Brad Pitt for the lead role in ‘The Lone Ranger’ remake. Depp picked Pitt’s name in the mix to play the lead role in the movie’s remake, in which Depp will play the role of Tonto. ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ director Gore Verbinski signed on as the director for the Disney project set for release in 2012. “There are so many interesting possibilities out there. Brad would be great. Clooney would be great. Don’t know who it’s going to be just yet,” the 44-year-old star said.

White Christmas for Kareena

42 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Rishi’s lashing shocks SonamSonam Kapoor is apparently not happy about how she is being targeted recently. Her lashing of Ranbir Kapoor on a chat show has not gone down too well with her friend as well as his father Rishi. Sources say that she is stunned that a friendly pulling of leg could have such repercussions. Apparently, she has been heard telling people that she did not expect things to get out of hand. She also says that when the boys rated her the lowest in the actresses chart she did not get offended. Recently even in the director’s episode, she was rated below Deepika Padukone. Sonam would want to give all them a fitting reply with her acting skills in her forthcoming films but right now it’s all brickbats for her which she doesn’t like.

Radcliffe is wealthiest star under 30‘Harry Potter’ star Daniel Radcliffe has landed the top spot in a list charting the wealthiest British stars aged 30 and under. Radcliffe, 21, is estimated to have made more than 45.6 million pounds from playing the boy wizard, as well as starring in West End and Broadway productions such as ‘Equus’, reports the Daily Mail. Keira Knightley came second, with a 30.1-million-pound fortune from roles in films such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Atonement’, as well as a modelling contract with Chanel. Radcliffe’s ‘Harry Potter’ co-star Emma Watson has landed the third spot. Actor Rupert Grint, who has made 19 million pounds from playing Harry’s sidekick Ron Weasley, stood fourth. Robert Pattinson rounded off the top five with 18.5 million pounds. The list was compiled by industry experts for Heat magazine.

My wealth puts off men, says EmmaEmma Watson fears that she has become so rich after working for the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise

that her wealth is putting off men. The 20 year-old, who is now a student at Brown University, Rhode Island, admitted that her riches, thought to be in the region of 22 million pounds, “can make guys quite uncomfortable”. “I hope it doesn’t complicate relationships for me. I think it can make guys quite uncomfortable. I do have to be sensitive,” she said. The actress, who has finished filming the final ‘Potter’ installment, said she is conscious of not standing out amongst her peers by “trotting around college” with expensive accessories such as a “£1,000 handbag”.

Hrithik slams Salman’s ‘dog’ commentJust a day after Salman Khan said ‘Guzaarish’ wasn’t even watched by dogs (“koi kutta bhi nahin gaya”), Hrithik Roshan has slammed the actor for making such a raucous comment. The actor said, “It’s not heroic to laugh or make fun of a filmmaker just because his BO collections are not up there with yours. ‘Guzaarish’ is a super success in its own way. In my opinion a hero never

gloats. When you are super successful, it should in fact make you more gracious and loving.” What’s more is that Bhansali too has spoken against Salman, saying, “If such an old and trusted friend can be so insensitive I don’t want anything to do with the entertainment industry.” However, forgiving as Hrithik is, he said, “I have already forgiven his words, because I know deep inside he only has love for me and this must have been just a momentary lapse of judgment. Will expect a big hug the next time I meet him.”

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 43

‘Tron: Legacy’Release date: December 17, 2010Director: Joseph KosinskiStar cast: Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, Bruce Boxleitner, Garrett Hedlund, James Frain Genre: Action/adventure

Synopsis: The son of Kevin Flynn finds himself inside the cyberworld. ‘Tron: Leg-acy’ is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

‘Casino Jack’Release date: December 17, 2010Director: George HickenlooperStar cast: Kevin Spacey, Kelly Preston, Jon Lovitz, Barry Pepper, Conrad Pla, Christian CampbellGenre: Drama/thriller Synopsis: A self-professed Super Lobbyist, double-dealing high roller Jack Abramoff (Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey) watches in vain as his highly lucrative empire starts to crumble thanks to one fateful mistake in this high-energy comedy inspired by real events from director George Hickenlooper. When Jack and resourceful busi-nessman Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper) team up to exert their influence over some the biggest players in Washington, DC, their bid to strike it rich pays off, big time. But somewhere between the high-profile deals, high-roller hotel suites, and million-dollar yachts, the profit-loving pair makes the mistake of recruiting a motor-mouthed mob flunky (Jon Lovitz) to earn some extra income under the table.

In cinemas now!

‘How Do You Know’Release date: December 17, 2010Director: James L BrooksStar cast: Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson, Kathryn Hahn,Andrew WilsonGenre: Romantic comedy

Synopsis: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson (Reese), a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher. Feeling a bit past her prime at 27, former athlete Lisa Jorgenson finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with Lisa’s current, baseball-playing beau.

Films

44 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Synopsis: ‘Tera Kya Hoga Johny’ is a thrilling drama written and directed by Sudhir Mishra where emotions like greed, lust, love, betrayal, hope acquire a new meaning as Mumbai struggles to become Shanghai. It’s the story of Parvez (Neil) who wants to be a part of the India Shining dream. His life is torn between his desperation to run away with love of his life Divya (Shahana) who is married to a corrupt encounter cop Chiple (Kay Kay Menon). Parvez needs to get rich and real quick. The problem is that he has no clue how. When Parvez decides to steal Chiple’s unaccounted money stashed in a flat, it sets into motion a thrilling ride of emotions that engulfs not just his life but also of a coffee delivery boy Johnny (Sikander).

‘Tera Kya Hoga Johny’Release date: December 17, 2010Director: Sudhir MishraStar cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Soha Ali Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Shahana GoswamiGenre: Crime/thriller

‘Payback’Release date: December 17, 2010Director: Sachin P KarandeStar cast: Munish Khan, Sara Khan, Gulshan Grover, Zakir HussainGenre: Thriller

Synopsis: Every person is born with a debt and he dies with a debt too. In between, a person strives to repay every debt and every favour bestowed upon him by others. Kunal Sahay also did the same but he didn’t know that his efforts of repaying a debt would bring such a storm in his life. One rainy night, Raghu, a total stranger, saves Kunal’s life and disappears without any trace, just like a savior sent by God. It leaves a feeling of guilt and indebtedness in Kunal’s heart towards him. But when Raghu knocks on Kunal’s door in the middle of a night with a bullet in his shoul-der, Kunal realises that Raghu might have been a savior for him but is actually an assassin. Now as Raghu expects Kunal to “payback” the favour, Kunal is faced with a moral dilemma.

‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ was a 1999 release; starring Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, the plot forms a love triangle between the three. Aishwarya (Nandini) has been brought up by her father as standing as an emblem of the perfect woman – graceful and refined. She abides by the laws set by her father but her spirit to dare to venture into the unknown puts her into trouble. Her father, a famous musician and classical singer, is a man of strict principles and discipline. Enter Sameer (Salman) from Italy who visits and stays in their house to learn the intricacies of classical music from the Nandini’s father. Nandini and Sameer commit the unforgivable sin of falling in love, leading her father to oust Sameer and force Nandini into marriage with wealthy lawyer Vanraj (Ajay). Vanraj discovers his wife’s affair and makes an attempt to reunite the two lovers. But a different fate awaits the trio. The film portrays the concept that first love may not always be true love. Love evolves with the passage of time and so does life.

Timeless Classics

Beenish Mahmood

‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 45

Le gadget indispensable Life was much easier when apple and blackberry were just fruits… is one common saying doing the email rounds these days. But to be honest, now-adays, life cannot even be comprehended without this one gadget which has become a need. Pakistan Today brings you some of the latest models of cell phones. Sahar Iqbal

Glamstock

46 I December 12 - 18, 2010

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 47

48 I December 12 - 18, 2010

Your spread indicates that you will be fine-tuned to understand what com-panions need now, which is wonderful and helpful. Look after your health and your energy, and in two or three days you will find yourself bounc-ing back revitalised. You can indulge in overspending. Family may need more attention. Avoid long trips as partners will be demanding and unfair and you will need patience.

Your spread indicates that unexpected gifts, presents or benefits come your way both at home and at workplace. Businessmen should take care while ex-tending credit. Renovation of work undertak-en this week will finish to your satisfaction. Some misunderstanding with a friend might upset you. Spiritual activities will give you calm and heartiest pleasure. Stone of the week is Amethyst.

The self-card Jan 21 - Feb 19DUA/AQUARIUS

JAL/PISCES

The aura card Mar 21 - Apr 20FIZA/ARIES

The strength card Jul 24 - Aug 23QUWAT/LEO

The growth card Jun 22 - Jul 23IRTIQA/CANCER

The love card May 22 - Jun 21

ASHIQ/GEMINI

WISAAL/TAURUS

The card of the week is Khatra (the risk card), which indicates that carelessness can harm your or can create frustration for you. You could be involved in an un-wanted argument with family members or friends. You are advised not to nag anyone or criticise their actions. Try to be reasonable especially with people who love and care for you. You will focus on social work, charity and helping those who approach you with a problem.

Your spread shows that money posi-tion will improve, but health of a family member might cause some concern. Avoid unnecessary tensions and seek financial advice before making investments. An important contact will establish in the evening while attending a function. Travel, if any, might get postponed due to unexpected reasons. Your health may suffer due to some extra work this week. Stone of the week is Tiger-Eye.

The card of the week is Ashiq (the love card), which indicates that it might be wise to work on understanding your own psychological development. You will get the en-ergy to wipe away all the cobwebs and get a clearer perspective. Time is excellent to work on research; you have the ability to see right through people. Shower your family with positive words and lots of attention. Financial position is good.

Your spread shows that family matters may cause you some concern. You may assume a position of leadership in a group activity. Do things to improve your skills. You will achieve favourable results if you present your ideas to supe-riors. You will be able to motivate yourself to make some extra cash so you can pick up some last minute holiday gifts.

Your spread shows that this is a greater emotional, sensitive time, as unconscious memories will stimulate. You tend to de-sire personal freedom and excitement in family and home life. You may be responsible for the care of an ill or psychologically confused family member. Emphasis is on important social and professional agreements. Time is very good to travel for pleasure. Sports or games with chil-dren can be great fun. Pending problems need to get sorted out soon, so think positively.

Your spread indicates that now is a good time to take charge and claim your spot at the top of the heap. You are never go-ing to get the respect you deserve as long as you allow others to make important decisions for you. So don’t be afraid to take control of things and start looking out for your own best interests. People will believe in you and will want to see you succeed.

THE ZODIAC AND EASTERN TAROT By Mariam Aftab

Dec

embe

r 12

- 1

8, 2

010

The ambition card Dec 22 - Jan 21

AFTAB/CAPRICORN

The sensitivity card Feb 20 - Mar 20

The physical change card Apr21 - May21

December 12 - 18, 2010 I 49

The patience card Aug 24 - Sep 23THEHRAO/VIRGO

The magician card Sep 24 - Oct 23SAHIR/LIBRA

The confusion card Oct 24 - Nov 22

INTISHAR/SCORPIO

The luck card Nov 23 - Dec 21KISMET/SAGITTARIUS

Tel: +92 (42) 35751231, 35710452Websites:www.mariamhealingcenter.com, www.innerstrengthhome.org

Celebrity Couples&

CompatibilityDemi Moore and Ashton Kutcher

Ashton KutcherFebruary 7, 1978

Cedar Rapids, IowaBirth time: 12:30 pmSun Sign: Aquarius

Moon Sign: Aquarius

Demi MooreNovember 11, 1962

Rosewell, New MexicoBirth time: 2:16 pmSun Sign: ScorpioMoon Sign: Taurus

Q: The date of birth of my newborn son is November 10, 2010. Can you suggest a suitable

name for him? A: His name should start with A or S according to

his date of birth.

Mariam Aftab is a renowned healer offering self-help courses and counselling services. Readers can send in

their questions regarding any problems at mariamhealingcenter@gmail.com

Ask the Expert:

Mariam Aftab

Your colour is red; it will enhance energy and passion. Health issues and a desire for inner peace are highlighted this week. Career focus is eccentric and there is an empha- sis on compromise for you. A crazy crowd will open your vision to new things. Sensuality will be enlightening for you. Your in-dependence and eccentricity will be valued at work. Avoid over-speeding in the evening. Follow your inner voice, because this is the key of the week.

Spread says that focus should be primarily on your career. You can probably expect some interesting adventures even if you have to contend with a few minor incon-veniences along the way. Things might not go too smoothly if you are travelling. This week your family ought to appreciate your ideas. Social work will give you inner pleasure and peace of mind. Stone of the week is Ruby.

Your spread indicates that your plans will get a boost as you receive a favourable re-sponse. This is a good week to oblige people whom you feel could prove important in your career. Put your thoughts before important people. If you feel results are not as good as you wanted, then alter the plans. Travel and sports might be profitable for you and you are feeling good and smart this week. Your lucky number is 3.

A love match between Scorpio and Aquarius is usually not great. Both are fixed but Scorpio is water and Aquarius is air. Air and water rarely understand each

other. There can be attraction between these signs and even a fascination. For the Scorpio they are often intrigued by the Aquarius quick but seemingly

superficial attachments and but also their deep philosophies. In turn, the Aquarius senses something they usually don’t encounter in the Scorpio; secrets and an intuitive knowing. There is also a rebellious quality in both signs. With

their signs all forming a square, this doesn’t bode well for a peaceful long-term commitment.

Your spread indicates that you will gradually learn how to negotiate success-fully and reach acceptable compromise on important issues. You will give seri-ous consideration to legally binding contracts a n d agreements to assure yourself that they meet your require-ments. You will take more responsibilities in your profes-sion; it is necessary to choose partners and associate with those who share some of your goals and objectives. You may travel for business.

Dear AA,I have committed the mistake of my life. I have become physical in my relationship with my boyfriend. I know I shouldn’t have trusted him as he has made secret videos. I’m devastated as he is threatening to show them to my family. I know that I have broken moral rules but I really want to move on and every time I do, I find dead ends. Please give me a solution. I don’t want to commit suicide. Caught Dear Caught, We all commit mistakes in life, but very few realise it and rectify it. The first step is to ask Merciful God for forgiveness, and He opens doors for us. As your case is a little complicated, I will advise you to take someone from your family into confidence and tell them about the whole incident. Meanwhile, keep faith in the Almighty. Dear AA,I am depressed because I hardly get any attention from my parents due to which I ended up doing drugs for six years. My parents sent me to rehab and I recovered. Now I am perfectly fine but very upset at the people around me who give dirty, skeptical looks. I committed a mistake but now I am out of it and leading a normal life. I am tired of showing them the I-don’t-care look. Why don’t they let me live a normal life? Please help me. Back to normal

Dear Back to normal,This world is a very tricky place. We have to face many challenges from people around us. To live a happy and normal life you have to be normal within your self. No one out there will accept you unless you don’t accept yourself. You can’t change the people around you, but for sure you can change your self. You can do so by simply changing your perception. Say you are normal and feel so inside and be confident about it. Dear AA,I am extremely distressed about my weight as I am very fat and no matter how much I try, I cannot lose weight. Please suggest a solution. Overwhelmed-overweight Dear Overwhelmed-overweight,Obesity is quite common these days but not an issue that can’t be dealt with. You have to discipline your life in order to lose weight. You have to understand that there are no quick fixes; it’s a slow and gradual process that involves healthy eating, exercise and drinking a lot of water. There are many diets available over the net, and many exercise DVDs available. You can even get hold of my breathing program that is specially designed for losing weight and gaining high energy levels. Apart form all this the key is in being consistent, so make a committed decision today and start acting upon it.

50 I December 12 - 18, 2010