With Eidul Fitr just round the corner, many local films are lined up to grace the silver screen. This year, two Urdu, three Punjabi and four Pashto movies are expected to be released on Eid. The Urdu films are Bin Royeand Wrong No; and Punjabi films Razia Ghundon Mein Phans Gayidirected by Shahid Rana, Bazardirected by Liaquat Ali and Gunahgardirected by Hanif Joya.

The Urdu films are much awaited and expected to create a stir on the box office. Two of the most popular faces in Pakistani entertainment industry, Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, would be seen romancing each other in Bin Roye, a private channel’s first film production. A romantic family drama, it is based on Farhat Ishtiaq’s hit novel by the same name. The cast also includes Javed Sheikh and Zeba Bakhtiar, and has been directed and produced by Momina Duraid.

Secondly, after a successful TV career, Danish Taimoor and Sohai Ali Abro will be seen in leading roles in Wrong No, which also features an ‘item song’ pictured on Sohai called ‘Selfiyan Re Selfiyan’. The film has been directed by Yasir Nawaz and co-produced by Yasir, Nida Yasir and Hassan Zia under the banner YNH Films. The film features Javed Sheikh, Nadeem Jaffri, Danish Nawaz, Shafqat Cheema and Janita Asma.

Bollywood film Bajrangi Bhaijanstarring Salman Khan is also expected to be released on Eid besides these local productions.

The Punjab Council of Arts held its annual calligraphy paintings show at the Lahore Arts Council’s Alhamra Art Gallery on July 9. Some 120 paintings by 70 artists from all over Punjab were put on display in this grand group show.

This is the 10th calligraphy artwork show by the council. The exhibition features classical, modern and contemporary artworks. The show will remain on display till July 15.

Veteran singer Fariha Pervaiz, who earned immense name and fame through her hit song ‘Bo Kaata’, is now planning to step into Sufi music. These days Fariha is working on poetry by Sufi poets to come up with a collection of songs.

Cinema owner Nadir Minhas told the media recently that realising the dearth of musical love stories on the big screen, he has planned to produce one himself.

“I have started paperwork on the film. The salient features of my film are that I won’t cast any superstar, but young actors.”

Minhas hopes his experiment of producing a film with an entirely new cast will prove to be a hit at the box office.

After having ruled the Pakistani film industry between the ‘80s and ‘90s, actress Madiha Shah has stepped into fashion designing. Recently, she held an exhibition in Karachi and now plans to organise one in Lahore.

Madiha who has been out of showbiz for some time wants to focus on designing.

To add beauty to its lush green lawns, the Lahore Arts Council has put on display peacocks. Three to four pairs of peacocks have been released in the lawns and according to officials more will be introduced after Eid at Alhamra Cultural Complex as well.

At the moment, white peacocks have been released however java green and blue shoulder peacocks would also be brought here.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2015

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