Khwaab Materialises

After a long, long time a music video has become the talk of the town. Yes, the reference is to the visual interpretation of the song Khwaab by pop band and last year’s winner of Pepsi Battle of the Bands Kashmir, which has finally hit the airwaves. Directed by Ashar Khalid, it’s a thoughtfully shot video with a meaningful storyline.

According to the band’s statement, they went along with the idea because they could ‘relate’ to it. Certainly guys. Now try and compose more ‘relatable’ songs.

Roohi’s plight

Artists are said to be the conscience of a society. What does it say about us given how we treat our artists? Legendary actress Roohi Bano’s feeble mental health has not been a secret for a long time. Ideally, she should have been protected no matter what, and provided with conditions in which she could feel better, and if possible, recuperate. But her situation has gone from bad to worse, so much so that on November 8 it was reported that she had gone missing from a mental health facility. It made her admirers terribly worried.

But on November 9, after noticing that the news was carried by some media outlets her sister Rubina told a reporter that she was at her brother’s house. She added that Roohi goes to Fountain House, a mental health hospital, on a regular basis for treatment, from where she went to her brother’s place. Thank heavens for that. The fact, however, remains that the state should take steps to make sure that Roohi’s condition improves and she’s well taken care of. After all, nations are globally recognised by their artists, poets, writers and philosophers, not by their political standpoints.

23 Times Prada

Ace actress Emily Blunt and director John Krasinsky are one of the most celebrated Hollywoood couples. The former shot to fame with her remarkable performance in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).

Talking to a fashion magazine recently, the actress revealed that her favourite scene from the movie is “where I was really, really sick.” She also said that her hubby, John K, is a big fan of the film too, and has seen it 23 times. Seriously? One more time, and it will be two dozens. And they say, it’s cheaper by the dozen. Even Prada’s products.

SRK’s Kirpan

Talk about tolerance and freedom of creative expression as much as you want, the fact is, things are not likely to change! On November 6, a petition was filed against Shah Rukh Khan in the Mumbai High Court for, allegedly, hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. The petitioner, Amritpal Singh Khalsa, has accused the actor and makers of the upcoming film Zero with hurting Sikhs’ feelings by showing, in the trailer for the movie, SRK wearing a Rs500 garland with a kirpan (a small sword) slung across his body.

In case someone doesn’t understand what it is about, the kirpan has cultural and religious significance in Sikh history. I’m guessing now the director of Zero will use a bit of digital manipulation for the sequence and turn the sword into a rifle. But wait ... What if the rifle holds cultural importance for a community in another part of India?

Keeping Up With the Wildfires

A mammoth wildfire in California last week scared the daylights out of everyone. People living in and around the affected areas were quickly evacuated to safer places. Reality show star Kim Kardashian was one of them.

On November 8, she was coming back to her home on her private plane from a personal visit to a friend. Before landing, she saw from her window raging flames in the skyline. She landed safely, rushed to her home, collected all the important stuff that she had in the blink of an eye (an hour, to be precise) and moved to a safer zone in her car. The next day, Kim K told her admirers on Twitter that flames had hit her property.

Thank heavens, she’s unhurt.

But this means you cannot always fight fire with fire, even that of Kim K’s intensity.

Sushmita’s Shawl, Malaika’s Kapoor

This sounds a trifle strange, but, to be honest, it should be cheered. Bollywood is abuzz with the news that the 42-year-old looker Sushmita Sen will soon tie the nuptial knot with her 27-year-old boyfriend Rohman Shawl. Also making the headlines these days is the 45-year-old gorgeous gal Malaika Arora who is going out with the 33-year-old hunk Arjun Kapoor. It seems as if some kind of a trend is catching on: older women falling for younger men or vice versa. Keep an eye on Rekhaji.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 18th, 2018