Dub Dub Jaave

Just when you think that not much exciting is happening with the Pakistani music scene, out comes something that simply blows you away.

Check out this new version of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s song Dub Dub Jaave by a singer named Farheen Raza Jaffry. She croons it with touching sensitivity and enviable command over sur. The latter is significant because it is not an easy track to sing. Farheen RJ, with the help of fine instrumentation by Mekaal Hasan, breathes a contemporary feel into the composition, and it is amazing. The video of the song is equally atmospheric, too.

Mehvish Wise

We live in difficult times. It makes it all the more important for members of the artist community to speak their hearts out on matters of global and regional importance that threaten world peace because their voices get heard.

Kudos to Mehvish Hayat for calling out the Indian film industry for promoting hate through their movies! She did that on August 12 while speaking at a function held in her honour in Oslo, and later again in an interview that she gave to a British news network. Mehvish H eloquently added that Pakistan’s film fraternity, unlike their Indian counterparts, needs to be “less insular”. Golden words from a golden girl.

Goodwill Hunting

No sane person can justify the condescending attitude with which Priyanka Chopra replied to a question put to her by a Pakistani girl, Ayesha Malik, at an event in Los Angeles. Malik had called out the UN Goodwill ambassador for her jingoistic support for warmongering. It is mind-boggling then how the Indian media is trying to defend Priyanka C. In this context, it is befitting that Pakistani artists, led by Armeena Khan (and even some Pakistani government officials such as Shireen Mazari) are urging Unicef to remove Priyanka C as its ambassador.

They’re right: Ms Piggy Chops —as she’s known in Bollywood — is hardly spreading any ‘goodwill’ these days.

Wrecking Ball

The separation between singer Miley Cyrus and actor Liam Hemsworth may not have stunned many but the tit-for-tat hurling of accusations post-split are pretty shocking.

When a newspaper wrote that the pop star did her best to save the marriage, and Liam H’s drinking and use of certain drugs was the “deal-breaker”, the actor’s representative responded: “This is another attempt by Miley to distract from her infidelity and recent outrageous public behaviour.” Drugs, drinking, infidelity … boy oh boy… it’s a wonder their relationship lasted for a decade.

Anwar’s Dua

Supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid have a younger brother. His name is Anwar, he is 20 years old, and is now on his way to becoming just as popular as his siblings. Why? Answer: he is dating British pop star Dua Lipa.

Rumours were already rife for a while that they were an item, but on August 15 it was confirmed when both were seen at a swanky club in Los Angeles, holding hands, and leaving the venue together around midnight. Dua L is three years older than her beau, which means she might soon come out with a newer version of her famous song New Rules.

Learning to Act

After Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan’s entry into showbiz as a voiceover artist for the Hindi version of The Lion King, his daughter, Suhana, is also gearing up to become an actress.

Apparently, to learn the finer points of acting, she is busy watching all of her dad’s movies these days — starting from the ones that he did in the beginning of his career to his latest release — in the home theatre that’s an integral part of their sprawling house in Mumbai. What? Learning from SRK’s films? Is Suhana sure she wants to be an actress or just a star?

Published in Dawn, ICON, August 25th, 2019