Left Arm Over

This one is more than likely to clear the fence by a big margin. A film based on the life of arguably the best left arm fast bowler the world of cricket has ever seen, Wasim Akram, is on the anvil. Directed by Adeel Niazi, it’s titled Akram: An Era; and its teaser has already become the talk of the town. We feel that it was long due. The cricketer’s life and career are a rollercoaster ride of a story — from his humble beginnings to the legend that he has become — and it needs to be told. And told well. Hope the biopic doesn’t skip the controversial parts of the story.

Post-Damp Squib Fireworks

It was so disheartening to see the way the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) turned out. But what happened afterwards was nothing short of fireworks. Ali Azmat, who was one of the performers at the event, sounded livid with what had transpired, arguing on a TV chat show that the whole affair had been mismanaged, as a result of which performances had been abruptly shortened. He also talked about an artist who he alleged employed bloggers to diss the competition. While all were wondering who that artist was, Ali Zafar uploaded a video message (we’re not saying Ali Azmat was referring to him, no, no, no) in which he, tongue lodged firmly in cheek, ‘confessed’ that he alone was responsible for all the issues in society and so powerful that he had bloggers on his payroll. Ali Z asked his detractors to put up a dartboard in their room with his picture on it to take aim at. We don’t think Ali Azmat is good at taking aim. He shoots from the hip. Just saying.

Jatt on Eid

The intizar ki gharriyan are over. Arguably, the most eagerly awaited Pakistani film in recent times, The Legend of Maula Jatt (TLMJ), will be released on Eidul Fitr. This was announced on Instagram on February 22 by none other than the male protagonist of the movie Fawad Khan, with his picture accompanied by a caption: “This was the day all the blood, sweat and tears began. It was my first day of the shoot. Thought we’d share this with you as the adventure begins this Eidul Fitr.” TLMJ is helmed by the talented Bilal Lashari, but one of its USPs is the fact that Fawad and Mahira Khan are appearing together for the first time in a project years after the TV serial Hamsafar made their pair a huge hit in the Subcontinent. Subsequently, both went on to work in Bollywood, where Fawad K did successful movies such as Kapoor and Sons, and Mahira K acted opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees. And now they are back to being each other’s hamsafar… All we can say is, Jatt set go!

Feelin’ It

On February 21, pop star Selena Gomez released a bonus song to her album Rare. It’s called Feel Me. Apparently, she had performed it in one of her 2016 concerts and since her fans wouldn’t stop talking about it, she has now formally put it out. However, the thing to be noted about the track is its lyrics, which are basically about telling an ex (boyfriend) how loyal she was to him. “No one love ya like I love ya/ Never cheat, never lie/ Every time your lips touch another/ I want you to feel me.” Tell ya what Selena G: old flame Justin Bieber’s wifey Hailey probably won’t be feelin’ this song.

What an Ayushmann!

Ayushmann Khurrana is now officially the most derring-do actor of Indian cinema. He has long been doing parts in films which were deemed unconventional and box office-risky but his latest role of an openly gay character in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has earned him accolades like never before. Social media is choked with praise for him. Obviously, not all of his admirers are language-savvy, so the actor has also received over-the-top words of praise such as “Ayushmann continues to have a ball and doing what no one else would.” Well, others also would if they had the gumption and less star egos.

Julia Gaslit

She did not create a huge buzz last year by appearing in and producing a TV show Homecoming, but this time round it seems that Hollywood heartthrob Julia Roberts has picked the right product for herself. The super A-list actress has been roped in for a series Gaslit, based on a popular podcast Slow Burn. Co-starring Sean Penn and Joel Edgerton (wow, that’s some cast) the story is being dubbed a ‘modern take’ on the Watergate scandal. Hmmm… pretty woman in a scandalous show. Easy to greenlight?

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 1st, 2020