OFF-KEY SALMAN

The word despicable springs to mind! Last week, guitarist Salman Ahmed, who is a diehard supporter of a political party (there’s nothing wrong with that), posted on X something obnoxious and vulgar against a woman politician of Pakistan. While we understand that politics is a bit of a touchy and emotional subject in our nook of the world, we must ask, whither decency? The musician has only sullied his reputation as a human being, and as an artist. Only thing worse, perhaps, is when he tries to sing.

WE’RE JAMUN

Pakistani cinema is making a mark in some places at least. Director Rafay Rashdi’s film Jamun Ka Darakht has won the best social justice short film award at the World Film Festival held in Cannes, France (not to be confused with the Festival de Cannes, the oldest film festival in the world). The cast of the film includes Adnan Siddiqui, Maha Tahirani, Saman Ansari, Syeda Ramsha Nawal, Ahad Touqeer, Zara Usman, Yogeshwar Karera, Fouzia Aman and Irfan Motiwala. Congratulations to team Jamun Ka Darakht! Hope, the taste of success is as sweet as jamuns.

BAND APART

After a long, long time, Goher Mumtaz, one of the two original men behind the band Jal, has talked about the induction into the band and performance of Farhan Saeed (not in complimentary tones) as the singer after Atif Aslam left the group. In a nutshell, he says in an interview that Farhan S “was not needed” and that “he [Farhan S] wanted to be like Atif A.” Well, Goher M may be right. But the fact that it took him so long to vent his feelings about the whole situation is a trifle baffling. Something is off-key here.

THE NATIONAL STADIUM ISSUE

Cricketer Wasim Akram and TV host Fakhre Alam were heading towards the National Stadium Karachi to see a PSL game. They and a few other cricketers are part of a programme in which they give opinions on the matches. The two got stuck in traffic for more than an hour, which prompted them to make a video in which Wasim A reasoned that the traffic issue is the cause of low attendance at PSL games in Karachi. Wasim bhai, yes and no! Karachi’s issues aren’t that one-dimensional. But also, have you ever experienced the viewing experience at the National Stadium from the stands? Let’s just say watching on TV is more fun than trying to catch the play from behind pillars and grills.

SWIFTIE SANDLER

Adam Sandler is a huge movie star. Some of us would harbour the notion that he wouldn’t get awestruck by anyone. Well, that’s not true. He does. He has two daughters — Sadie and Sunny — and both teenagers are staunch admirers of pop star Taylor Swift. As a result, daddy dear is a fan of the vocalist, too. So much so that, by his own admission, he gets ‘jumpy’ in front of her. Isn’t that sweet! A jumpy Swiftie…

PARENTS NOW

It’s been five years since Bollywood A-listers Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the nuptial knot; ever since, their well-wishers were waiting for the news of them becoming parents. On February 29, the couple announced on social media that they are expecting their first baby, and the child will see the light of day in September. Congratulations to the power pair of Indian cinema! We hope the kid will have Ranveer S’s energy and Deepika P’s good looks.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 10th, 2024