As painstaking it is to write about the closed doors seventh Lux Style Awards ceremony, it's even tougher to write something positively charged about this year's style awards that failed to inspire and entertain on multiple counts.

lt's not that the bosses at the multinational sponsor or event manager Frieha Altaf didn't do their homework. At a time when economic depression is in full swing and there's a sense of all-round mayhem — manmade and natural — it's hard to lift spirits by a half-baked script (which would otherwise pass off as mildly amusing) or the egoistical takes of rivals on stage (Shaan and Iman Ali) that ended up as nothing more than fodder for wagging tongues... but more about that later.

The first surprise came in the form of the host, Shaan. He had cribbed about the LSA (Images, September 14, 2008), saying “The LSA has really lost its touch.” Seeing him at the seventh ceremony initially came as a rude shock, but then I guess that's how the cookie crumbles in showbiz. From there on the actor plunged headlong into his patent style of hosting that he has exercised twice before, ultimately passing on the honours to co-host Ali Azmat.

For his part, the gent who was introduced by his predecessor as a “man who doesn't shut up” was soon at a loss of words and failed to improvise when the Jal band members did not take their cue and come on stage to claim their best song trophy (later followed by best music video director and best music album as well). Hmmm, didn't take long for that bubble to burst. Neither were the Strings boys anywhere around to accept their best live act award.

In a desperate bid to attempt light conversation, Ali Azmat was also heard resorting to the likes of “khana mile ga” (food will be served) comments which understandably didn't go down well with the elite gathering. Moreover, if his “joker” insult innocently (?) hurled at Faakhir (who had come to present the best female model trophy to Neha Ahmed along with Mehreen Raheal) was supposed to trigger some kind of glee, it was way off mark and left a nasty taste in the mouth.

Back to the state of affairs in the country, the event happened on the very day when a large part of Balochistan was rocked by a severe earthquake early in the morning that devastated Ziarat and the adjoining areas. One almost expected a call or an SMS by mid-day announcing that the LSA ceremony had once again been postponed in the wake of all the death, destruction and human misery. When it didn't, it was obvious that the show would go ahead as planned.

Until our performers learn to act like the  adults that they are and put their petty  differences aside for the larger good of the industry, squabbles will continue to flare up on big nights such as these, laying to waste the hard efforts of the army of planners, managers, assistants, etc., and all for the sake of having the last word along with a display of fireworks on stage much to the amusement of the onlookers. Did anybody consider the collateral damage?

However, one didn't expect of a ceremony that started with an improvised version of Pakistan's national anthem (courtesy a private channel network) that absolutely no thought — such as a moment of silence — would be spared to the hundreds who had lost their lives earlier that very day; the scores of injured and those rendered homeless, forced to spend the night under the open sky in freezing temperatures minus any aid efforts. But such is the way of our fashion folk and the misery of their less fortunate and under-privileged countrymen was conveniently erased from memory with the layers of grease paint and high-end designer gowns (of which there were many) on that warm, cosy night in Karachi. Their cries of anguish were drowned by the din raised by the paparazzi and giggly interviews on the LSA Red Carpet. Sad indeed.

Back to the ceremony and on a more cheerful note, two scholarships each were announced for students of TV editing from National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Karachi and National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore; and fashion schools such as the Asian Institute of Fashion Design (AIFD), Karachi and Pakistan School of Fashion Design (PSFD), Lahore.

A definite LSA moment, of which there were too few, was when legendary folk singer Reshma was named for the Unilever lifetime achievement award and film star Saima twirled her way on stage to the familiar tune of Hai O Rabba. Atif Aslam and Shehzad Roy paid additional tribute to the singer by remixing her famous numbers, such as Lambi Judaai, Chori Chori and Akhiyoon Ko Raende. Another arrived soon after with Jal and Juggun Kazim narrating the best of didn't-make-it-to-LSA excuses (ahem, Strings). Also, if it can be dubbed a 'moment', all hell broke loose when a short circuit led to loud calls of “aag!” (fire) being raised and which saw many if not all make a dash towards the emergency exits. It was only once the jagged nerved were calmed down and the fumes extinguished that the proceedings finally got underway once again after the extended break. Later, the lifetime achievement award in fashion was rightfully Sughra Kazmi's for the taking.

By the time this piece appears in print much will have already been said and discussed about Iman Ali and Shaan giving vent to their exasperation on stage, having a barely constrained verbal free-for-all for all to see and hear. While she heaped lavish praise on Khuda Kay Liye director Shoaib Mansoor [the film won best actor (Shaan), best actress (Iman Ali), best director (Shoaib Mansoor) and best film trophies] and co-actor Fawad Khan, choosing to ignore Shaan, the latter glorified his own histrionics no end and pulled her down indirectly upon which Iman broke down.

Until our performers learn to act like the adults that they are and put their petty differences aside for the larger good of the industry, squabbles will continue to flare up on big nights such as these, laying to waste the hard efforts of the army of planners, managers, assistants, etc., and all for the sake of having the last word along with a display of fireworks on stage much to the amusement of the onlookers. Did anybody consider the collateral damage? — Faisal Quraishi