Joyride Carries On

After winning accolades at the Cannes Film Festival, Pakistani film Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq and starring Alina Khan, Ali Junejo and Sania Saeed, is moving ahead, gathering more recognition worldwide. Last week, the movie earned a nomination at the India Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in a category called the ‘best film from the Subcontinent’. Congratulations to team Joyland! We are sure that, after winning European hearts, the Subcontinent should be a cakewalk.

Double the Hotness

Is Indian actress Chitrangda Singh a dead ringer for our very own Mehwish Hayat? Ever since the Ms Marvel series has hit the streaming platforms, the Indian gal has been getting messages that she looks like the Pakistani actress. When a journalist broached the subject with her she replied, “I haven’t seen Mehwish Hayat’s work in Ms Marvel yet, but she’s beautiful and lovely. I do think that sometimes there is a look that is very similar — I do agree that there is a resemblance. Let’s just say that we’re both very hot women.” Well, let’s just say there’s a semblance of a resemblance.

The Elitism Debate

Kareena Kapoor can nowadays be seen busy promoting her film Laal Singh Chaddha, co-starring Aamir Khan. It is dubbed an Indian version of the Oscar-winning Hollywood blockbuster Forrest Gump. But the actress begs to differ. She feels that Forrest Gump was an “elitist kind of a classist film” whereas hers is a movie that the “masses” would like to see. Hmmm… so those who will spend oodles of Indian rupees in multiplexes to see Laal Singh Chaddha will be symbolically staging a protest against the bourgeoisie?

Ms Jinnah’s Role

A drama series is being made on the Madar-i-Millat, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, written and directed by Danial K Afzal. News is that three different phases of her life will be shown and, in each phase, her character will be played by three different actresses — Sajal Aly, Sundus Farhan and Samiya Mumtaz. We think it’s a good idea. More than one actor has essayed the part of one character in international projects. So it’s a known practice. We only hope there’s a meticulous study of her mannerisms for each period and each actress does justice to the iron lady.

No Holds Barred

Writer Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar is known both for his playwriting ability and comments on certain issues that often whip up controversy. It seems film star Resham has had enough of that. Appearing on a talk show, when asked about her views with reference to Khalil Q’s uncharitable statements about Mahira Khan, the actress remarked that while there are only a few who could write dialogues like him, he had a tendency to link his name to big artists, especially women, just for the sake of fame. Wow! That’s a zinger, Resham. Over to you, Khalil Q.

Olivia Newton-John Dies

Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, whose role in the film Grease in 1978 became iconic and shot her to international fame, passed away on Aug 8 in California. She was 73. She was a breast cancer survivor since 1992 but, in 2017, the disease returned. Although the cause of her death wasn’t specified by her husband John Easterling, it’s conjectured that she died of cancer. May she rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, ICON, August 14th, 2022