Mixed bag: new releases by ABBA and Coldplay

album reviews

ABBA prove they can still deliver on their first album in four decades; Coldplay goes pop on their space-themed ninth record

Artist: ABBA
Album: Voyage

ABBA offer a nostalgia pop masterclass with Voyage, the group’s first new album in four decades that effectively serves as a quick ride in a musical time machine, sweeping you back to the Swedish pop legends’ heyday. Built around beautiful melodies and sublime vocals, the new set finds the outfit sticking to what they do best – creating sweet, likable pop tunes – without pushing the sonic envelope, an apt decision given the nature of the project.

The terrific lead singles – the piano and guitar adorned power ballad ‘I Still Have Faith in You’ and the disco-tinged banger ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ – easily stand out, although there are several other bright moments on the set as well. The Irish folk-touch of ‘When You Danced with Me’ is infectious; the upbeat ‘Just a Notion’ and ‘No Doubt About It’ are irresistible.

Benny Andersson (who also serves as the set’s producer) and Björn Ulvaeus remain in charge of the songwriting, while Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad prove that they still have lovely voices. The ladies complement each other wonderfully and sound charming even when the material they are delivering is more than a little cheesy (Christmas single ‘Little Things’) or lyrically odd (‘I Can Be That Woman’).

Voyage is, all in all, quintessentially ABBA. If you have always been immune to the group’s pop magic, then the new record won’t change your mind. Fans of their easily enjoyable music, though, will certainly find plenty of pleasant moments on Voyage. If you want depth and experimentation, look elsewhere, but if you are in the mood for a sweet dose of nostalgic pop, then this is the album for you.

Highlights: ‘I Still Have Faith in You’, ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’, ‘When You Danced with Me’

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

*****

Artist: Coldplay
Album: Music of the Spheres

Music of the Spheres may or may not be Coldplay’s worst album – an accusation that is being widely hurled against it – but it certainly is one of their most confusing. Inconsistent, incohesive, and unfocused, the record reveals a band that is being pulled in two very different directions at the same time and not doing a very convincing job navigating either course. 

On the one hand, the British outfit seems so eager to remain relevant that they are willing to morph into the most mainstream version of themselves in the process. With the heavy involvement of pop super-producer Max Martin and vocal appearances by the likes of Selena Gomez (treacly ballad ‘Let Somebody Go’) and BTS (synthpop ditty ‘My Universe’), the band appears to have gone out of their way to manufacture cookie-cutter pop blandness.

On the other, the group want to try new things and push boundaries to the point of self-indulgence. A space-themed concept album set in a fictional planetary system, emoji song titles, a 10 minute long closer (‘Coloratura’), whatever the heck they’ve done to ‘Biutyful’ (which could actually have been, well, beautiful, given its lovely melody) … everything here is a bit all over the place. 

The result is a pop album with superficial space prog veneer that tries a little too hard to be both commercial and interesting but just pales in comparison to the much stronger output that put them on the musical map in the first place. Even the album’s best moments seem sonically borrowed as the band channels Muse on ‘People of the Pride’ and Pink Floyd on ‘Coloratura’. The hints of ambition may be admirable, but ultimately Music of the Spheres just suggests that a little course correction might be in order.

Highlights: ‘People of the Pride’, ‘Coloratura’

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 21st November, 2021 *

In the picture: The Harder They Fall

movie review

The action and wit in the revenge Western The Harder They Fall entertains even when the storyline meanders

The Harder They Fall

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, and Deon Cole
Directed by: Jeymes Samuel

Real people serve as the inspiration for the characters in The Harder They Fall, the film tells us at the very start, just after it clarifies that the events we are about to watch are actually fictional. It’s a dichotomous introduction, one that intrigues as much as it frustrates. People who bore the same names as these characters did exist, and they were clearly fascinating enough to merit a mention in history. But these characters aren’t those people. At all, in some cases. And we aren’t about to learn their actual stories. Make of that what you will.

Regardless though, the Netflix Western – led by an all-Black cast, a rarity for the genre – tells the (entirely made-up) tale of two opposing gangs. One is led by Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), an outlaw who robs other bank robbers, but whose main goal in life is to avenge the death of his parents by exterminating the men who killed them. His final and primary target is Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), the leader of the rival gang, who has just been released, rather circuitously, from prison.

It takes over two hours for us to arrive at the inevitable final confrontation between these two men. In between, we witness – among other things – the introductions and exploits of their various associates. These include Love’s cohorts, including his paramour Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), sharpshooter Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi), cocky fast-draw prodigy Jim Beckwourth (RJ Cyler), the fierce Cuffee (Danielle Deadwyler), and marshal Bass Reeves (Delroy Lindo), as well as Buck’s gang members, like the ruthless Trudy Smith (Regina King) and famed quick-draw Cherokee Bill (Lakeith Stanfield).

The various detours can, at times, start to feel a little meandering but they are generally wrapped in enough action and wit to remain entertaining nonetheless. Each of the sequences is generally well-crafted and often very well-shot, even if the pieces don’t always feel essential to the bigger picture.

The cast, of course, is stellar. From the inimitable Idris Elba and a scene stealing Lakeith Stanfield to the wonderful Zazie Beetz and Regina King, the performances are terrific, while Jonathan Majors helms the action impressively throughout. And the fact that this is one of the few Westerns where the principal cast members are all Black makes the effort even more significant.

On the whole, The Harder They Fall makes for an entertaining viewing even if it doesn’t tell us who the people behind these characters really were and what actually went down in history. The many subplots combined with its uneven pace and lengthy runtime do sometimes get in the way of a crisp, cohesive narrative, but the competent direction and impressive performances ensure that you stay invested in the drama from start to finish.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 14th November, 2021 *

Modern Times - Finneas and Maisie Peters craft enjoyable debut sets

album reviews

Finneas displays his pop crafting skills on his first album, while Maisie Peters’ debut makes for an enjoyable, if not particularly memorable, listen

Artist: Finneas
Album: Optimist

The O’Connell siblings have been busy causing a stir with their avant-garde approach to pop music ever since the release of the irresistible ‘Bad Guy’ and its acclaimed parent album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). The massively successful creative partnership between Billie Eilish and elder brother Finneas has earned the duo global recognition and a bucket-load of awards. Now the 24-year-old producer is striking out on his own with a debut set that is about as DIY as it gets.

Titled Optimist (ironically, one would assume), the self-written and self-produced record finds the singer-songwriter pondering his life and the world around him in 13 tracks that may not be as offbeat as the standout work he has created with his sister but still capture his innate ability to come up with pleasant pop tunes.

Parts of the album find Finneas sticking to conventions, especially when he is focusing on piano balladry with his warm vocals serving as the centrepiece on sombre tracks like ‘Love is Pain’, ‘Only a Lifetime’, and ‘Someone Else's Star’. The lovelorn lead single ‘A Concert Six Months from Now’, meanwhile, echoes indie vibes as it puts together a strummed guitar and sentiments that reflect both lockdown blues and hopes for reconciliation.

The more sonically adventurous parts of the record yield some interesting moments (‘Around My Neck’) but can sometimes feel a little out of place (‘Medieval’) or downright clunky (the autotune-drenched ‘The ‘90s’). A weaker element of these tracks is often the overly earnest lyrics, especially when the songwriter attempts to offer social commentary and appears to be trying a little too hard to be topical; instead of insight, he often delivers on-the-nose observations that feel hollow and awkward.

Throughout Optimist, though, you can see glimmers of the same talent that helped make Billie Eilish a star, as the set captures Finneas’s pop crafting skills, but the album also proves that he needs to mature as a lyricist. But this is, after all, the debut release of a relatively young performer. And it effectively serves its purpose of introducing Finneas as an artist and setting the stage for all that is surely yet to come.

Highlights: ‘Only a Lifetime’, ‘Around My Neck’

Rating: 3 out of 5

*****

Artist: Maisie Peters
Album: You Signed Up for This

Mentored by Ed Sheeran and signed to his Gingerbread Man Records label, 21-year-old British singer Maisie Peters has released her debut album You Signed Up for This, a collection of pretty, mid-tempo pop ditties that bring Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift to mind.

Relationships, mostly of the failed variety, are the central theme of this record, and the 14 songs here prove that Peters has a penchant for storytelling and an ear for catchy melodies.

Sheeran provides a hand writing three of these tunes, including the album’s primary highlight: first single ‘Psycho’, an irresistible synth-ridden earworm with an infectious chorus guaranteed to get stuck in your head. Songs with more distinctive musical backdrops (‘I'm Trying (Not Friends)’, ‘Boy’) easily stand out. But elsewhere, the bland, uninventive production makes some of the tracks (‘Outdoor Pool’, ‘Hollow’, ‘Love Him I Don’t’) feel samey and forgettable. 

Overall, this is competently made, unchallenging pop music that is easy to enjoy, even if some of it doesn’t make much of a lasting impact. You Signed Up for This is likely to please young fans of artists like Jepsen and Swift, and the online following Peters has amassed over the last few years won’t be disappointed either.

Highlights: ‘Psycho’, ‘I'm Trying (Not Friends)’

Rating: 3 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 7th November, 2021 *

In the picture: Army of Thieves

movie review

It may be a slight improvement on its predecessor, but Army of Thieves’ unconvincing premise and uneven pace ultimately yield unexciting results

Army of Thieves

Starring: Matthias Schweighöfer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Guz Khan, Ruby O. Fee, Stuart Martin, Jonathan Cohen, and Peter Simonischek
Directed by: Matthias Schweighöfer
Tagline: Nothing is a safe bet.

Netflix released the zombie heist caper Army of the Dead earlier this year. It wasn’t very good. The streamer has now unveiled its prequel, Army of Thieves. It isn’t very good either. So at least no one can fault the franchise for not being consistent.

The new film gives us the backstory of Dead’s Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), who is known, at this point, by his real name Sebastian. The protagonist works as a bank teller and is stuck in a mundane life. But his passion for safecracking soon takes him on an unusual adventure when he is recruited by a crew that executes international bank heists. The team includes jewellery thief Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel); hacker Korina (Ruby O. Fee), getaway driver Rolph (Guz Khan); and their supposed leader Brad Cage (Stuart Martin) who fancies himself an action hero.

Their target is the Ring Cycle, three of the four safes created by famed locksmith Hans Wagner that have now become the subject of legend. Due to the zombie outbreak in America, the owner of the Wagner safes is transferring them to a vault in Geneva where they will be decommissioned. For Sebastian, this is the last chance to solve the puzzle that Wagner spent his life developing before it is forever destroyed. 

The action takes us from Paris to Prague to St. Moritz as the thieves try to reach and then crack each of the three safes, an obsessive Interpol agent (Jonathan Cohen) and his team clumsily in tow.

This premise should, theoretically, be exciting. Practically, it really isn’t. Things may not be as nonsensical as the mess Zach Snyder created, but they are still pretty preposterous nonetheless. Plus the safecracking – basically a man pressing his ear against a safe which slowly turning a dial – which should be the heart of the film, isn’t exactly the most thrilling thing to witness.

But its primary flaw, perhaps, is that it gives us no reason to be invested in any of the action. Most of the characters are underdeveloped and uninteresting. The stakes never seem as high as they should be. (Oh and in case you were expecting the undead to have an integral role here, you’ll be disappointed to know that the zombie outbreak plays no real part in the proceedings, although yes, things do ultimately tie into the parent franchise.)

The degree to which the movie does work is thanks largely to the very likable Schweighöfer. He is a charming presence in front of the camera, and knows that the story needs a light, goofy touch behind the lens. It’s a pity though that the plot and script continuously let him down. Ultimately, while the film probably won’t leave you looking forward to whatever is coming up in this franchise, it may still pique your interest in what the German actor-director does next. 

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 7th November, 2021 *

In the picture: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

movie review

Despite a little too much exposition, the MCU’s 25th offering is a solid, entertaining adventure

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Starring: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, and Tony Leung

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

The last few years have seen the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) embracing diversity and giving characters like Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Black Widow the chance to helm their own vehicles. The franchise now offers its first Asian-led instalment in the form of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, an action adventure that may falter in places but remains thoroughly entertaining nonetheless.

Canadian actor Simu Liu (that is, Jung from the much-loved sitcom Kim’s Convenience) portrays the eponymous superhero as the film details his origin story while giving the MCU an interesting new world to explore.

After escaping his complicated life in China, the titular Shang-Chi has moved to San Francisco where he works as a valet alongside his best friend Katy (a delightful Awkwafina). But his past ultimately catches up to him when he is ambushed by soldiers while on a bus and it turns out – much to Katy’s shock – that he is skilled at martial arts. The attackers steal a pendant that was given to Shang-Chi by his late mother (Fala Chen), forcing him to return to his homeland – Katy still firmly in tow – in the hopes of warning his estranged sister, the fierce Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), who has a similar pendant. But the unconventional reunion is interrupted when the trio are captured and taken to the intimidating Wenwu (a show-stealing Tony Leung), the siblings’ father and the wielder of the magical ten rings that give their bearer immense power.

Turns out that Wenwu is convinced his wife is still alive and he will stop at nothing to be reunited with her. It is then up to Shang-Chi and his friends to stop his father and thwart his dangerous plan. The story gets more fantastical as things go along, at times to uneven results, while a plethora of exposition and unnecessary reliance on repeated flashbacks threaten to slow down the film’s action, but the excitement still prevails, thanks to the efforts of the talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Destin Daniel Cretton brings the movie’s interesting setting to vivid life and populates it with compelling characters while creating some impressive action set pieces (including the aforementioned bus skirmish). Liu’s central performance is effective even when it’s understated, while Leung is absolutely terrific as the antagonist, portraying both his character’s vulnerability and strength with impeccable skill.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an exciting, compelling introduction to MCU’s newest addition, even if it does come with some of the same, familiar beats of a reluctant hero coming into his own. And it may be over two hours long but the film makes sure it keeps you invested and entertained the entire time and leaves you looking forward to Shang-Chi’s participation in future crossover adventures.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

- S.A.

Instep, The News on Sunday - 31st October, 2021 *

Combatting the silent killer

pinktober 

Instep speaks to Dr. Amina Khan about breast cancer and how early detection can save lives

“1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today I’m the one,” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus wrote in a social media post in September 2017. Her disease was diagnosed at Stage II; that is, the cancer was confined to the breast area. In the subsequent months, she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. A year later, she revealed she was in remission.

Singer Sarah Harding wasn’t as lucky. After putting off a doctor’s visit at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic when she first noticed symptoms, the Girls Aloud star eventually ended up battling Stage IV breast cancer – advanced disease that had spread to other parts of the body and was effectively terminal. She succumbed to the ailment in September this year.

Around the globe, breast cancer is busy casting a shadow on the lives of numerous women (and even some men). According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and the disease was responsible for 685,000 deaths worldwide. But as daunting as these numbers may seem, the situation is not hopeless; far from it. Thanks to advances in medical science, women now have more treatment options than ever before. And therapy can be highly effective, given just one caveat: the disease is identified early.

“We lose very few patients in early stage breast cancer because we have really good treatment,” a scrubs-clad Dr. Amina Khan tells me on a busy Friday morning. She is a consultant surgical oncologist at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, where she has spent over 15 years helping save lives. “Breast cancer treatment in Stages I and II has a more than 94 percent success rate,” she continues. “Even Stage III now has a really good prognosis. Only Stage IV – that is, metastatic disease – is where we are not doing so well.”

In all its many forms, cancer – the result of a disturbance in our internal checks and balances due to which the body loses control of when to stop cell multiplication – ranks among the most prevalent diseases that plague our bodies. But we have come a long way in how we tackle this so-called emperor of all maladies. Surgery excises the malignant tumour; chemotherapy drugs kill the excess mass as well as the cells generating this new growth; radiation therapy zaps the mother cells that are producing the growth; and targeted treatment counters specific proteins on the cancer, destroying the abnormal cells without harming the normal ones and thereby reducing side effects. 

Of the over 100 types of cancers that affect humans, breast cancer is the most frequently occurring. And Dr. Amina opines that this is actually a good thing. “Some cancer had to have the highest incidence. Fortunately it’s breast cancer. And I would say fortunately because it is one of the cancers that we know how to treat.” There are cancers – like pancreatic and lung – where the prognosis is dismal. But with breast cancer, the situation is far more optimistic. “We have made such tremendous progress in treatment that now for early stage disease, we are almost talking about a cure for breast cancer.”

That is precisely why it is important to catch the disease as early as possible. Awareness of the symptoms certainly helps. The most common sign, of course, is a lump. “A lump is an abnormal thickening or an area which is harder or more firm than the rest of the breast,” Dr. Amina explains. “Breast cancer lumps,” she elaborates, “are generally painless. That’s why breast cancer is called the silent killer. Breast cancer grows silently; it [usually] does not cause any pain. It’s just completely [mute] till it becomes a really aggressive tumour.” Also worth noting, she points out, is that despite a very common misconception, such lumps and bumps are not normal during pregnancy and breastfeeding and they need to be monitored. Basically every lump that a woman feels in the breast needs to be biopsied, she opines.

“Other signs,” she continues, “can be skin changes, a rash that doesn’t go away, a nipple that becomes excoriated, ulcerated, or starts bleeding, and lumps in the armpit area.”

To notice these changes, women need to be more aware of their bodies, which is only possible if we check ourselves regularly. Self-examination is recommended for women in their 20s and 30s, a baseline mammogram is advised between the ages of 35 and 40, while yearly (or every other year if there are financial constraints) mammograms are suggested for ladies aged 40 onwards. “In Stages I and II, the lumps are so small that you can hardly feel them. The hand of the patient or doctor is not sensitive enough to pick these little tiny cancers which we want to find. The only way to find them is imaging through mammograms and ultrasounds.”

More meticulous surveillance is advised for individuals with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. “There are unmodifiable risk factors – ones that we can’t change but we really need to know about so that we can be cognisant that our risk is high or low – and modifiable risk factors – factors that we have a control over and can change.”

Unmodifiable factors, Dr. Amina details, include the female gender (99% of breast cancer will happen to women; only 1% in men), increasing age (there is low incidence in the 20s and 30s; the risk starts escalating in 40s and 50s, and becomes really high in 60s), having a family history of breast cancer (especially first degree relatives with breast cancer or other cancers; BRCA mutation testing is advised in such cases), mutation in certain genes, and our hormonal milieu (higher risk for girls who develop early and reach menarche at a young age, women who reach menopause at a late stage, women who don’t have children or have their first child very late and perform less breast feeding).

Modifiable factors, on the other hand include everything that goes with a healthy lifestyle: “lots of sleep, healthy diet, regular exercise, maintaining your weight within the average BMI range, no alcohol, no smoking, no sedentary lifestyle.”

“In Stage 0, the cancer is handled with surgery and radiation, and hormone therapy if it is hormone receptor positive, but there is no chemotherapy, so that is huge. Similarly for early Stage I, there is no chemo. In late Stage I and Stages II, III, and IV, chemo comes in as well as all the toxicity [and side effects] that come with it. And when the tumour burden is higher and there is more cancer to fight, it can spread to other parts of the body. You’re trying to kill it in multiple spots, and then it becomes difficult to handle,” she reiterates.

So ladies – and also gents – be vigilant. And encourage your loved ones to do the same. We may not have conquered this nefarious disease altogether just yet, but we can still defeat it. And ultimately it’s early detection that can make a world of difference.

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 31st October, 2021 *

“Early detection leads to longer survival rates and reduced mortality and morbidity.” – Dr. Ayesha Isani Majeed

pinktober

To help women with breast cancer screening, the Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre offers free screening facilities all year round

When you speak to Professor Ayesha Isani Majeed, you can immediately tell just how passionate she is about her work. She is the head of radiology and the head of the Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, where she has been working towards providing women with free screening facilities. And you can tell just how important her work is when you see what a big difference screening can make.

“Early detection leads to longer survival rates and reduced mortality and morbidity,” she tells Instep. The survival rates for Stage I and II breast cancer, according to the statistics she has shared, are above 98 percent and 95 percent respectively. But the numbers fall as the stages advance. Stage III has a survival rate of 60 to 70 percent, while Stage IV sadly sees a further decline to below 50 percent. “[Unfortunately,] in our country, women usually come with stage III and stage IV cancer. Screening can help us detect the cancer at Stage I and Stage II [which vastly improves the prognosis].”

Women are encouraged to monitor their breasts by performing self-examinations and also getting clinical examinations wherein trained health professionals – like nurses, lady health workers, general practitioners, and specialists – physically check the breast for lumps and changes. 

Breast screening tests are also highly recommended. Below the age of 40, ultrasounds are advised, while women over 40 are suggested to get mammography. “Recently with younger women getting breast cancer, the American College of Radiology has advocated that mammography can be started at 35 for those who are at high risk and have family history,” Dr. Ayesha informs.

To help women with this testing, the Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre offers free screening facilities all year round, six days a week, and the centre hopes to continue its work while raising awareness regarding the importance of screening for early detection.

“Pakistan has a higher rate of breast cancer than any other Asian country,” Dr. Ayesha says. “One in every 9 women suffers from breast cancer. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, 34,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer [in Pakistan every year], a number that will double in 2040 to 64,000. The establishment of a ‘one stop breast clinic’ is the answer to the cultural, financial, mental, and physical needs of the women of Pakistan, so that triple assessment can be performed by a surgeon, radiologist, and pathologist under one roof in a single visit. We aim to make the Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre a role model for other such similar centres in different districts of Pakistan so that this lethal disease is eradicated at the grassroots level.” We hope, for all our sakes, that they manage to achieve just that.

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 31st October, 2021 *

In the afterglow of a shooting star

cover story: in loving memory

Family, friends, and colleagues gathered at Riot Studios to celebrate the life and work of the late Farhad Humayun

It’s around 10 pm on Saturday, October 16. We are standing on the fourth floor balcony of Riot Studios, and Atif Aslam is telling me about the time Farhad Humayun broke the drums while recording one of his songs.

“‘Gal Sun Ja’ was a very sad and slow song, but Farhad made it a powerful rock anthem because he said: ‘let’s do it in a different tempo!’, and it turned out so great,” the singer recalls. “And I remember that he broke the toms while recording that song. Uss nae toms phar diyay thay,” he laughs. “Recording studio mein uss nae hashar kar diya tha. And the engineer, Waseem, was like, ‘yaar, meray toms!’”

This is just one of the many stories about Farhad that are being warmly exchanged tonight in an intimate gathering of his family and friends meant to honour the late musician’s life and legacy.

Live music blares in the background – Salman Albert is busy belting out Bryan Adams’ ‘Summer of ‘69’ (one of Farhad’s favourite songs) at the moment – as Atif speaks to me on the dark terrace, the busy neon-lit streets of Lahore bustling with late-night life below us.

“Farhad played on my first and third records,” Atif reminisces, “and they would never have sounded that good without him. Today, whoever I am is because of people like Farhad and Sarmad [Ghafoor] and everyone who played on Jal Pari because they put in a lot of effort.”

“We were going to do two [new] songs together,” he continues, “and I actually wrote the lyrics as well, but didn’t know that he wasn’t going to be around.” As hard as it may be under the circumstances, Atif thinks Farhad would have wanted to be remembered with joy and happiness – a celebration, if you will – a sentiment he can relate to; when his time is up, he, too, would want a joyous commemoration, not sadness.

*****

Celebration is, indeed, the spirit of the night. The event, titled Sunchaser, has been organized by Riot Productions that is now being run by Farhad’s family, which includes his mother, renowned academic-actress Navid Shahzad, and his sisters, Rima and Sara.

The venue is Farhad’s studio. When you get to the building, you go straight down a pristine corridor till you reach the elevator, right across from which is a cream-coloured drum kit that belonged to the Overload frontman. It looks beautiful, majestic. But also oddly forlorn, although that just might be projection.

It’s been four months since Farhad Humayun passed away at the age of 42. He bravely battled a brain tumour and had two surgeries to fight the cancer, but the disease sadly progressed. 

While his life may have been unfairly short, his impact on the Pakistani music industry was substantial. He helped shape the underground music scene of the country, formed bands like Co-Ven and Mindriot before finding success with the percussion rock outfit Overload, and helped launch the careers of then-fledgling artists – including Atif – along the way.

“He achieved more in his short life than people do in a full, 80-year life, so I’m very grateful for that,” Sara tells Instep. “Some stars [are] shooting stars. They shine brighter for a short period of time and then they disappear.” 

Sara describes Farhad as not just her brother, but her best friend, her partner in crime, and a remarkable person. “Great musicians come and go, but great human beings are rare and never forgotten. And he won’t be forgotten, I can assure you of that.”

Rima shares similar sentiments. “We all wish he had more time, but I think his impact is something that … people may live three lives and sometimes not make [such] an impact.”

The sisters say the siblings had a wonderful childhood, shared a strong bond, and had a lot of things in common, including an appreciation of art, culture, music, and travel. “Thanks to our parents, we were free to follow our own paths,” Rima continues, “and I think Farhad just did it beautifully.”

The family now hopes to carry forward Farhad’s legacy. Riot Productions plans to publish his unreleased works, which include an English album as well as several Punjabi and Urdu singles, as early as next year. Riot Studios will keep its doors open for musicians while a trust will be set up for aspiring artists in keeping with his passion for nourishing newcomers.

*****

For tonight though, Riot Studios is busy commemorating its creator. Standing in the middle of a room full of Farhad’s loved ones and mates, it’s hard not to be hit by the immense loss of this remarkable talent. “We ask you to leave your sadness at the door,” the invite had read, but it is clear that this is a hard directive to follow. 

When his mother addresses the crowd after the short documentary about Farhad’s life and the presentation of the studio’s vision, her voice breaks.

“It is said that we die only when we are forgotten, but I can say with great pride that … everyone who ever knew Fadi would continue to help me keep my child alive,” she says, “even as he lives in another dimension.”

When I speak to Anoushey Ashraf later, she too is visibly emotional. “He was just so young that I didn’t think we’d ever lose him, so when we did, it hit me in the worst way possible, and even today I think of him all the time,” she says, tearing up. “I know he’s in a better place and I hope we get to reunite and make some music up there soon.

“[He’d like us to remember him] as somebody who was larger than life, somebody who made people happy, and more than anything else, I think he would just love to see all of us happy, knowing that we are remembering him, thinking of him, and celebrating him every day.”

*****

The atmosphere gets significantly more upbeat as soon as the live music session commences. 

Over the course of nearly two hours, several of Farhad’s friends and cohorts take the stage, first to perform some of his songs and then for an open mic session featuring covers of some of his favourite tracks.

Ali Noor is the first on stage and delivers an energetic rendition of ‘Batti’. Others soon follow. Atif enamours the crowd with ‘Nimmi Nimmi’; Faiza Mujahid is joined by Salman Albert for a performance of ‘Kambakht’; and Abdullah Qureshi delivers a powerful version of ‘Neray Aah’.

As the open mic session begins, Faiza joins me on the aforementioned balcony. “By the turnout here, you can see how many lives Farhad changed. He was very encouraging; we needed someone who could see our talent and polish it and Farhad was that mentor.”

She was impressed by his expertise, appreciative of his humility, and grateful for his advice, encouragement, and support. And she was surprised not only by the fact that he approached her for ‘Kambakht’ but that he made sure she was front and centre in the video instead of in the background. 

“This speaks of the security of a person. And this is why I miss him. Because aisay genuine loag, aisay loag jin ki respect karnay ko dil karay music industry mai bohat kum hain. And trust me, I’ve been in this industry for the longest time,” she says.

I see Ahmad Ali Butt just as Faiza is leaving and ask him about Farhad’s influence on the industry. He replies, “I always said that he is one person with a lot of guts. Because he fought with the corporates, he fought for music rights, he fought for royalties, and he wasn’t afraid of anyone. Even I’ve never done this, but he did it. And hats off to him.

“Whenever I think of him, I smile,” he adds, “and I think that’s the best gift he left us with.”

*****

The proceedings are winding down and Salman Albert finally has time to speak to me. He has helped coordinate the live music session and has had a very busy evening, taking the stage multiple times and performing with many of the artists.

“I knew Farhad since the late ‘80s when the Lahore underground scene began,” he tells me. “We met socially and shared a similar sense of humour because of which we were on good terms.” 

But the two didn’t share a close association until around seven years ago when a performance changed things. “I think I never told Farhad about this, and I regret it now. I saw Overload perform at St. Anthony’s and I said to myself that I want to play the guitar in this band. So I asked Shiraz bhai, and then decided to speak to Farhad myself, and that’s how I started playing with the band. After that we were like brothers, friends, family. We travelled together. We used to hang out before and after jam sessions. Then Aunty would call us to have dinner, and we’d all have dinner together. 

“It is an honour for me that in the days around his death, his mother and sisters said that ‘yeh Farhad ka dost naheen hai, uss ka bhai hai’. This honour will stay with me forever.”

*****

It’s nearly 11 pm now. The event is over. The elevator brings me back down, and there it is again, that cream-coloured drum kit. For some reason it looks even sadder than it did a couple of hours ago. But now I take comfort in the knowledge that there are so many people who loved the man that played these drums and who are trying to ensure that his beat goes on.

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 24th October, 2021 *

From local to global

cover story

Actors, directors, singers, and producers of Pakistani origin have been achieving success around the world and have proved, time and again, that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the brightest international talent. Instep takes a look.

What do a Rebel Alliance pilot, a Marvel superbeing, and an unsuspecting Bad Place resident have in common? Turns out they all have Pakistani heritage, or at least the actors who portray them do.

Our entertainment industry may still be struggling to make a mark internationally, but that hasn’t stopped artists of Pakistani descent from establishing their presence in the world of entertainment and proving that there’s no shortage of talent in our part of the sphere. From local creatives working abroad to expats and children of Pakistani parents, these talented entertainers have earned recognition around the globe.

Whether they are performing onscreen, helming projects behind the camera, producing pop bangers, or serenading audiences with their voice, it is always a joy to experience their artistic magic.

Join us as we take a closer look at some of the entertainers of Pakistani descent who are showing the world just what we can do. 

Riz Ahmed

He is the first actor of Pakistani origin to be nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award and the only Muslim to have ever earned this honour in the history of the Oscars, a fact that says as much about him (he is awesome) as it does about Hollywood (it is not). 

Riz Ahmed has proved that he can charm indie audiences just as easily as he can traverse blockbusters like Rogue One and Venom. But not only does he deliver stellar performances – like his critically acclaimed turn as a hearing-impaired drummer in Sound of Metal – the British-Pakistani actor is also trying to bring change to Hollywood. He is vocal about the racist undertones in the film industry and an outspoken critic of the “dehumanizing and demonizing portrayals of Muslims” in movies. And it’s been downright wonderful to see him make his mark not just as an actor but as an activist as well.

Kumail Nanjiani

Born and raised in Karachi, Kumail Nanjiani moved to the United States when he was 18. His comedic aspirations ultimately led him to a solid acting career, with success on both the big and the small screen. A co-starring role in the sitcom Silicon Valley brought him to the world’s attention before the success of his Oscar-nominated film The Big Sick made him a bona fide star. He will next be seen in Marvel’s superhero caper Eternals (scheduled for a November release later this year) that also stars the likes of Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie. Yes, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie. Envy index: high!

Jameela Jamil

She’s smart, she’s funny, and she’s gorgeous to boot. (And she may or may not have Munchausen syndrome, but that’s beside the point.) 

Jameela Jamil was an absolute delight as self-centred, namedropping socialite Tahani Al-Jamil in the fantasy comedy series The Good Place. She now hosts the comedy game show The Misery Index, is a judge on voguing reality competition Legendary, and is joining the world of Marvel in the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk as the protagonist’s rival. 

And you’d think her television work was keeping her swamped but the body positivity activist – who is known for calling out media industry standards and decrying the promotion of an unhealthy body image – still finds time to host the I Weigh podcast wherein she challenges societal norms and “amplifies and empowers diverse voices in an accessible way to celebrate progress, not perfection.”

We like her almost as much as bees seem to!

Tan France

Tanveer France – the British-American son of Pakistani parents – has had to battle racism and homophobia for much of his life. But with the success of the Queer Eye revival, the fashion expert has become a beloved media figure and host. He has written about his life experiences in his memoir Naturally Tan, and even made an appearance, as part of the Fab Five, in the 2019 video of Taylor Swift’s ‘You Need to Calm Down’.

Zayn Malik

“Jab tak iss muhabbat ka phool na khilay/Tab tak iss dil ko sakoon na milay,” Zayn sang on ‘Intermission: Flower’, a charming little Urdu track on his debut album Mind of Mine. And we totally would have paid attention to it too were we not still busy nursing our broken hearts over his split from One Direction. (The trauma still remains, if we’re being honest.)

As for Zayn though, just like his fellow former-1D cohorts, he is busy having a successful solo career. He has released three albums, the latest of which is this year’s Nobody Is Listening. He has also dabbled in fashion, published an autobiographical book, and created a little human being with model Gigi Hadid.

(As for 1D, they will reunite any day now. ANY. DAY. NOW. Aaaaany day.)

Shahid Khan

A.K.A. Naughty Boy. A.K.A. Zayn Malik’s buddy turned nemesis. Oh the drama.

The British Pakistani producer grew up listening to Pakistani music and is proud of his heritage. He has collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé, Sam Smith, Emeli Sandé, Wiz Khalifa, Beyoncé, Joe Jonas, Mike Posner, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, and many other artists, including Beyoncé. Oh and did we mention Beyoncé? He has worked with Beyoncé, you guys. Queen Bey. Sasha Fierce. BEYONCÉ! You have our permission to be impressed.

He is also appearing in the reality series Cooking With the Stars and has contributed to the soundtrack of Jemima Khan’s upcoming film What's Love Got To Do With It?

Iqbal Theba

If you hear Iqbal Theba’s name, you will probably think of Principal Figgins, the character he played on the uber-popular musical comedy Glee. But the Karachi-born actor actually has so many more credits on his resume. He has made appearances in shows like Seinfeld, Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond, The West Wing, The Blacklist, Community, and even Friends (kidney stones!), and can also be seen in movies like Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Green Book. He recently appeared in the winsome comedy drama Never Have I Ever as protagonist Devi’s uncle Aravind.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Detractors may be in a huff about her documentaries portraying a negative image of Pakistan, but no one can deny the fact that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has achieved what no Pakistani director has done before. She has won two Academy Awards, six Emmys, and so many other trophies that we presume she must’ve had to reinforce the shelves in her awards cabinet! She has also directed three of the six episodes of the upcoming Ms. Marvel series that is set to arrive on Disney+ later this year and stars young Pakistani-Canadian newcomer Iman Vellani.

Faran Tahir 

He was born into a Pakistani family with ties to the entertainment industry and has gone on to become a familiar face in Hollywood. While Faran Tahir may have appeared mostly in supporting roles, his resume includes titles like The Jungle Book, Charlie Wilson's War, Iron Man, Star Trek, Supergirl, Scandal, and Prison Break, among many, many others. Not too shabby!

Sarah Joyce

Sarah Joyce – known to music aficionados by her stage name Rumer – has a connection to Pakistan that is perhaps a bit more dramatic than that of the other artists on this list. 

Rumer was born to an English family in Pakistan where her British father was working as a chief engineer of the Tarbela Dam. Or so she thought until age 10 when she discovered that her biological father was in fact the man who had been the family’s Pakistani cook and with whom her mother had had an affair. She eventually journeyed to Pakistan to find her real dad only to learn that he had died just months prior. 

That’s quite a backstory!

Family drama aside though, Rumer has managed to make a name for herself in the world of music. The singer has earned praise for her lovely voice, which is often compared to that of Karen Carpenter, and received acclaim for her music. So far, her career is five albums deep, two of which offer original material while the remaining feature covers.

Natasha Khan

Natasha Khan was born into squash royalty. She is the daughter of Rehmat Khan, the granddaughter of Nasrullah Khan, the niece of Jahangir Khan and Torsam Khan. But she found her calling in a very different field: music. Under the moniker Bat for Lashes, the British Pakistani singer has crafted a wonderful music career, releasing five albums, performing at festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and supporting the likes of Coldplay and Depeche Mode on tour. She is unique, talented, and all kinds of fabulous.

- Sameen Amer 

Instep, The News on Sunday - 8th August, 2021 *

DJ Shahrukh: Pulse like it's EDM

interview

DJ Shahrukh left Pakistan in 2013 under difficult circumstances but continued his musical journey as an EDM artist in Sweden. As he returns to Pakistan after close to a decade, Instep speaks to the artist about changing sounds, his continued association with Pakistani music, and his latest project called Sound Quest.

When DJ Shahrukh left Pakistan in September 2013 under difficult circumstances, he wasn’t sure he was ever going to be able to come back.

The EDM musician and his family were forced to flee the country almost a decade ago, when death threats directed towards his father – a human rights activist who spent years working for peace between India and Pakistan – left them fearing for their safety. With the help of the United Nations, they moved to Sweden, where Shahrukh continued his musical journey.

Earlier this year, he finally managed to return to his homeland amidst a changing political atmosphere with a new project aimed at bridging the divide between the East and the West. Titled Sound Quest, the electro-ethnic venture was funded by the Swedish Arts Council and sees Swedish artists working with Pakistani musicians.

In a chat with Instep, Shahrukh talks about the genesis of Sound Quest and what he hopes to achieve with this endeavour.

Instep: How did it feel to come back to Pakistan after all these years?

DJ Shahrukh: When I was in Pakistan, I always dreamt of travelling [across] Europe. By a twist of fate, when I did leave the country, I didn't think I would ever be able to return, and to come back to Pakistan became a dream.

My Swedish friends had been showing me around their country for almost eight years, and now it was my turn to return the favour. Nothing beats Pakistani hospitality. My Pakistani friends were always there making sure that we had no problems during our trip. Forgotten songs played as we drove through the familiar streets of Lahore and Islamabad. It was very euphoric.

Instep: How did the Sound Quest project come about?

DJ Shahrukh: I had always wanted to show off Pakistan, her natural beauty, and immensely talented and hardworking, warm-hearted people. I am a dreamer, and it was a kind of a surreal dream that brought me to create Sound Quest. 

Earlier last year, a group of artists from the North of Sweden reached out to me saying that they were interested in visiting Pakistan with me. I travelled up to a place called Piteå, just a few miles from the Arctic Circle to work with them. Things didn't work out with that group, and I came back to Stockholm with little hope left.

But then I met Kenzin, with whom I initially shared a studio space. We were both broke, and realized that we can't pay studio bills, and so we started discussing ideas. We made a good team and I brought him in as co-founder on my plans. The Swedish Arts Council accepted our application for support and our project got partially funded. It was all we needed to be taken seriously. 

After that I wrote to, met, or worked with at least 50 artists from all over Sweden, and they all kept dropping out at different stages of the project, with different reasons. Most of them were uncertain. The global pandemic, the image of Pakistan in the West, etcetera. But eventually I was able to gather a group that was the perfect fit for this project.

Instep: How long did it take you to put the whole thing together? Did you face any challenges along the way?

DJ Shahrukh: I had already been brainstorming and having discussions with different people about starting such a collaboration for a few years. We began with trying to bring Pakistanis to Sweden, but that came with its own set of complications and didn't quite float.

Sound Quest really took off in October 2020, when our first single came out. After that I started putting together the travel while my partner Kenzin started compiling the production. And within four months, we were in Pakistan!

Besides finding the right artists, the main challenges were to raise funds and partnerships for such a project, during a global pandemic. No one was convinced that we would actually make this happen. It is no secret that the Western media has portrayed a very bad and unfair picture of Pakistan, and to convince artists otherwise was also not easy.

Instep: How were the Swedish artists chosen?

DJ Shahrukh: I wanted to create a group that was diverse in talents, big enough to make an impact but small enough to be able to manage. While skill and talent was important, it was most important that the artists were free-spirited and open-minded. They were going to travel across the globe to a place with people, culture, weather, norms, laws, traditions, and values completely opposite to theirs, and so they had to understand and respect that. I wanted to make sure that any artists who come with us, come to enjoy the experience, not criticise it. We have already had enough criticism; we don't need more. We need collaborations, opportunities.

I was looking for those who could look through the mainstream propaganda. Who were curious about knowing more than what CNN is telling them. Those who had faith in art and music, regardless of the political noise that surrounds it.

The artists who put their faith in me, and for which I am forever indebted to them, are producer, singer, and instrumentalist Felix Gröndahl (Kenzin); singer and instrumentalist Eva Dunder; table player Eric Ji; photographer and backing vocalist Tuva li; and DJ and rapper Clara (Zima.Vit_e).

Instep: How would you describe the music you guys have come up with?

DJ Shahrukh: The idea is to create a new sound that takes elements of electronic music of the West and combines them with elements of traditional ethnic music originating from remote locations in the East. Which brought me to coin the term “electro-ethnic”.

We steer clear of any formula to commercial success. That is not what drives us. Our music is a mix of rap and vocal melodies in mixed languages like English, Urdu, and Swedish with electronic beats and organic rhythms, and it is hard to put any of our tracks in a specific category or genre.

Instep: How many songs did you work on?

DJ Shahrukh: We drafted about 10 tracks, out of which at least 6 will be complete and release-ready by the end of this year.

Our first single is ‘One More Time’. It shows the feeling of travelling for musical exchange. The song is about staying true to your purpose and gives motivation to always keep moving forward.

The second track we have released is ‘Som En Våg’ which translates to 'like a wave'. The song takes inspiration from the life of a wave, how it continues through the sands of time. This is a fusion of Swedish folk singing styles jojk and kulning with the traditional Pakistani instrument tabla, all merged together in an EDM arrangement. We shot the music video for this track in Malam Jabba.

We returned from Pakistan with loads of audiovisual material, and it took us time to compile all of that and make it release-ready.

Instep: How did you choose which Pakistani artists to work with? Why don’t Pakistani artists feature on all the songs (like the first two singles you have released)?

DJ Shahrukh: The production process was very technical. I was reaching out to many artists; Harsakhian, Saakin, Ali Noor, and Ali Azmat, to name a few, and of course their response was very accommodating, but due to the uncertainties of the pandemic restrictions and challenges of distance and time, a synergy could not develop.

But then producer Ali Mustafa helped us in the recording and production process and introduced us to some really cool artists, like Zoha Zuberi and Mulazim Hussain, who worked with us on some tracks.

As much as we wanted to, unfortunately we couldn't work enough with artists in Pakistan to have them feature on all tracks. As this is not a sponsored project, artists had to work with us for free, which was not very motivating. In the future we hope that some brands will get involved and help us bring more Pakistani presence in our productions.

Instep: What role did Ali Zafar play in this project?

DJ Shahrukh: Ali Zafar was our biggest support throughout the trip. We were literally lounging in his studio all the time. He introduced us to many artists. He arranged a tour of the Lahore walled city for us, and took us to hang out with kids at an orphanage supported by The Ali Zafar Foundation. We met Shoaib Akhtar. We had dinner with Yousuf Salahuddin at his Haveli and discussed the music industry in Pakistan and his journey as a producer. We even played at a Lahori wedding, opening for Ali's performance. Ali hooked us up with PC Malam Jabba, where we did a performance and recorded a music video as well. All of these experiences put a really incredible impression on the foreign artists.

Instep: What does the future hold for Sound Quest?

DJ Shahrukh: The main aim of Sound Quest is to promote cultural tourism to Pakistan from Sweden and other Scandinavian and European countries. Pakistan has a much better image in the West now than it did just a few years ago, and we are happy that tourism is of the highest priority.

Currently we are working on our Pakistan Tour 2022, which aims to have a more diverse range of artists, with an even bigger production value and impact. Sound Quest will continue to bring Swedish and Pakistani artists together on a platform to create musical fusion.

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 25th July, 2021 *

A Very Punchable Face - charmingly self-deprecating

book review

SNL comedian Colin Jost’s affable memoir takes an amusing look at his life and career

Book: A Very Punchable Face

Author: Colin Jost

Full disclosure: I, personally, have never wanted to punch Colin Jost in the face. Based on my limited exposure to his presence via Saturday Night Live clips on YouTube, he has seemed too bland and unexceptional to warrant such a visceral response. But apparently there is something about his work, image, and – clearly – face, that rubs some people the wrong way. He addresses all this and more in A Very Punchable Face, a charmingly self-deprecating memoir that just might make you want to punch him a little bit less.

For those unfamiliar with the bearer of this fist-clench-inspiring mug, Jost is a comedian who joined SNL as a writer in 2005, before eventually becoming one of the show’s co-head writers and the co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment. He is also the latest husband of Scarlett Johansson. Which means he has the seal of approval of one of the most gorgeous and successful actresses on Earth. And when you read his book, you can kind of see why ScarJo fell for him.

Jost has, of course, joined a long list of comedians who have written memoirs. But the thing about actor/comedian books (by the likes of Amy Schumer, Mindy Kaling, and Anna Kendrick, to name a few), which often come in the form of essay collections is … they can be quite underwhelming, and even, at times, read like a random set  of lazy blog posts the celebrities typed on their phone in their downtime

To Jost’s credit, A Very Punchable Face actually reads like a book, and a fairly good one at that, at least as far as celebrity memoirs go.

The comedian covers a range of topics – his childhood in Staten Island; his Irish Catholic upbringing (and its many side effects); not being able to speak until he was four years old; his accident-prone nature; attending Harvard (with the likes of Pete Buttigieg and Mark Zuckerberg) and graduating with a (very practical) degree in The History and Literature of Russia and Britain after abandoning his stated major, Economics; and many other (often humorous) life experiences – in the amusing volume.

But his focus remains, primarily, on his comedy career. Jost charts his career trajectory, from writing for the Harvard Lampoon, trying to find a job at late night shows, and writing for an animation company, to finally submitting a sketch packet to SNL and subsequently landing his dream job, which he has now held for fifteen years.

A fairly large chunk of the book sees Jost talking about his SNL experiences. As he recounts his successes and failures at the television series, shares behind-the-scenes titbits, and lists the standout sketches that he penned, you would have to be fairly interested in the long-running Lorne Michaels sketch show to really appreciate and enjoy his recollections on the topic.

Ultimately, Jost’s main strength here is that he knows how to tell a story and connect with readers. His prose is often funny, and a couple of his tales – particularly the essay about his mother, who worked as the chief medical officer in New York for more than two decades, including during 9/11 – are quite affecting. Plus his self-deprecation is instantly disarming. And even if the book does not completely change your opinion of him, his self-awareness and wit will at least leave you with the sense that behind this supposedly punchable face is a rather intelligent guy.

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 4th July, 2021 *

Recap: June 2021

roundup

Jerry Seinfeld announced a movie about Pop-Tarts; Megan Boone left The Blacklist; the Foo Fighters went disco; and more news from the month of June

Film

- The road goes ever on and on for the Tolkien cinematic universe. Our nerdy hearts were thrilled when it was announced that another visit to Middle Earth is forthcoming. A new Lord of the Rings movie – an anime adventure titled The War of the Rohirrim that is set 250 years before the original trilogy – is officially in the works.

- Jerry Seinfeld is making a movie about the invention of the Pop-Tart ... is news that sounds made-up but strangely isn't.

- Here we were, thinking Lin-Manuel Miranda can do no wrong. Turns out, we were wrong. The film adaptation of his musical In the Heights ended up plagued by accusations of colourism, generating backlash for not featuring Afro-Latino performers in prominent roles and leading Miranda to issue an apology.

- Indiana Jones and the ravages of time? Harrison Ford injured his shoulder while rehearsing for a fight scene for the upcoming fifth Indy movie.

- John Boyega abruptly left the film Rebel Ridge mid-shoot. “Family reasons” were cited as the official explanation, although rumours quickly surfaced that he had “abandoned the project” for reasons including “his dissatisfaction with the script and his accommodations”.

- Issa Rae joined the voice cast of the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel. Which is good news because Issa Rae joining any project is always good news.

Television

- Megan Boone exited The Blacklist several seasons after our interest bid adieu to the show.

- After getting cancelled for speaking out against cancel culture amidst a racism controversy a few months ago, Chris Harrison officially departed from the Bachelor franchise.

- Barack and Michelle Obama announced We the People, their 10-episode Netflix animated series that will teach children about government.

- Bye bye Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. The series was cancelled by NBC after just two season. Also canned: the Netflix series Grand Army, Jupiter’s Legacy, and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!; Fox’s The Moodys; and NBC’s Manifest.

Music

- Time to dust off those flair pants and platform shoes: the Foo Fighters announced they are releasing a new album as disco alter-ego the Dee Gees. 

- UFO enthusiasts Angels and Airwaves sent a capsule into space to announce their new album, Lifeforms, and play an “out-of-this-world premiere” of the disc. If there’s an alien invasion anytime soon, we know who to blame.

- Noel Gallagher wants Michael Fassbender to portray him in a biopic. We approve of this casting choice and would like the film industry to get on it ASAP, please and thank you.

- The late Nipsey Hussle was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 38 honourees this year also included DJ Khaled, Black Eyed Peas, Ashanti, Avril Lavigne, Francis Ford Coppola, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kenan Thompson, and Macaulay Culkin.

Stars

- Everyone sent love to Blink-182’s wonderful Mark Hoppus who revealed that he has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. 

- In a fiery testimony, Britney Spears tore her family and management a new one and asked for her 13-year conservatorship to end.

- Possible queerbaiting allegations and mouthing racist slurs? Yikes! The increasingly problematic Billie Eilish apologised for resurfaced videos, (in part) pleading ignorance and insisting she did not mean for her actions to cause hurt.

- Kanye West and Irina Shayk may or may not have become an item.

- Nick Cannon had several new reasons to celebrate Father’s Day this month. Two new members joined his rapidly expanding brood. The comedian welcomed twin sons – Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir – with DJ Abby De La Rosa, just six months after the birth of his daughter Powerful Queen with model Brittany Bell, who is also the mother of his son Golden. He, of course, has twins – Moroccan and Monroe – with singer Mariah Carey as well. And apparently he is now expecting a child – his seventh! – with model Alyssa Scott.

- Cody Simpson tried his hand at competitive swimming. He made it to the final of the Australian Olympic trials in the 100m butterfly but then finished in last place. Better luck next time?

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 27th June, 2021 *

In the picture: Road Trip

short film review

The latest Digestive Showtime short film Road Trip goes down a worn-out path to arrive at its inevitable destination

Road Trip

Starring: Feroze Khan, Ahmed Majeed Agloria, Waliya Najib, Shees Sajjad Gul, Mehmood Aslam, and Nargis Rashid
Directed by: Sultan Ghani Afzal

The concept of the road trip has driven numerous films ever since the success of movies like It Happened One Night (1934) and Stagecoach (1939) fuelled its popularity almost a century ago. Plenty – some would argue too many – of mainstream Hollywood actors have gone on a cinematic road trip at one point or another, and even our local industry has dabbled in travelling from Karachi to Lahore and beyond. Filmmakers around the world have embraced the genre, but while the conceit has clearly shown no signs of waning in popularity, the concept needs an exceptional script or a creative turn (like the hidden camera angle of the recent Bad Trip or the robot uprising of the even more recent The Mitchells vs. the Machines), at this point, to really merit attention or praise.

Creativity, unfortunately, is in scant supply in the latest local attempt at a road movie, the short film Road Trip that is about as imaginative as its title.

Two estranged brothers are at the centre of this overlong short. The tale is told in the form of an anecdote being relayed by a father to his son.

Ayan (Feroze Khan), who has returned from London upon the news of his father’s illness, embarks on a long car ride with his younger brother, Hamza (Ahmed Majeed Agloria). How or why they have reunited before Ayan’s return to his family home where Hamza supposedly lives is not entirely clear, but the two are, at any rate, “forced to share a long ride across the country”. They, of course, eventually bond, as the film delivers the message that, well, family is important.

Along the way, they meet a group of vacationing ladies. Where that storyline heads will not surprise anyone who has ever seen a movie before.

The location and views, where they are allowed to shine, are beautiful. But a short film that is only half an hour in length has no excuse to drag, and that is what Road Trip does for several stretches. And while the acting is serviceable, something is distractingly off about the audio/dubbing which is perhaps, in part, what makes many of the exchanges feel forced or artificial.

And the point remains, ultimately, that the road movie doesn’t have to be pedestrian – everything doesn’t need to be tired or literal or obvious. You can deliver the same messages with more creativity and arrive at the same destination a lot more entertainingly. Just throw in a robot uprising or two, or at least hire writers who can make the journey convincing.

Rating: 2 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 27th July, 2021 *

The Croods: A New Age - more prehistoric fun

 movie review

The Croods: A New Age

Starring (voices): Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman, Peter Dinklage, Leslie Mann, and Kelly Marie Tran

Directed by: Joel Crawford

More than seven long years after they first ventured onto the big screen, The Croods are finally back with a new adventure. The prehistoric family went on a search for a new home in their 2013 outing and they now continue their journey in the sequel A New Age.

As the proceedings commence, we catch up with the Palaeolithic pack that includes stubborn patriarch Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage), his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), their rebellious teenage daughter Eep (Emma Stone), pre-teen son Thunk (Clark Duke), and youngest child Sandy (Kailey Crawford), as well as Ugga’s mother Gran (Cloris Leachman). 

Grug is still annoyed by Eep’s relationship with Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who wandered into their lives in the first film, and worried that the pack will split up.

A series of events lead the Croods to encounter the Bettermans – husband Phil (Peter Dinklage), wife Hope (Leslie Mann), and daughter Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran) – who live in a giant tree house and appear to be a couple of rungs up the evolutionary ladder.

At first seemingly friendly, the families soon begin to clash. But when a threat emerges that could impact both the households, the Croods and the Bettermans must put aside their differences and work together, learning lessons about unity along the way.

With many characters and way too many subplots, the proceedings quickly become quite chaotic. Luckily though, there is much fun to be had amidst this chaos. It’s an enjoyable adventure that delivers positive lessons and moments of mirth. That said, however, it doesn’t always work uniformly well for viewers of all ages. The slapstick humour is better suited for children than adults; on the other hand, Eep and Guy’s relationship drama isn’t likely to engage very young viewers.

Still, while it may not be a masterpiece, The Croods: A New Age will keep you entertained for an hour and a half, even if it doesn’t leave a very lasting impression.

The Croods: A New Age is rated PG by the MPAA.

- By Sameen Amer

Young World, Dawn - 26th June, 2021 *

PiFF 2021 – the power of women

talking movies

It is 4:00 pm on Sunday evening, the 13th of June. Five remarkable women – media mogul Sultana Siddiqui, journalist and activist/advocate Tasneem Ahmar, actor and entrepreneur Atiqa Odho, and actor-cum-filmmaker Sangeeta, along with their moderator Tazeen Hussain – are assembled at the Frere Hall in Karachi, the panellists of a seminar, awaiting the session’s commencement.

I am sitting in Lahore, streaming the event a thousand kilometres away. Isn’t technology wonderful!

It’s the third and final day of the 2021 Pakistan International Film Festival, or PiFF for short. Each day has seen panellists from the media industry come together to discuss various topics revolving around Pakistani cinema. The impending arrival of the tardy chief guest is all that’s holding up the start of the current day’s session.

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For the uninitiated, PiFF is an annual gathering held under the auspices of the Karachi Film Society (KFS) which itself is the brainchild of the aforementioned powerhouse that is Sultana Siddiqui. First conducted in 2018, the event offers workshops, seminars, and film screenings with the aim of highlighting Pakistan’s cinematic potential while empowering new artists and talent. It may have a ways to go before it reaches the level of its international counterparts, but the fledgling festival still has its sights set on strengthening the entertainment industry, bringing positive change, and showcasing local talent globally.

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After a year’s break on account of the coronavirus pandemic, PiFF has returned this year for its third outing with COVID safety precautions in effect. The three-day 2021 event has been dubbed the Women’s Edition, meant to celebrate, promote, and honour women and their contribution to Pakistani cinema. The topics under discuss, though, are wider in scope.

The first day of this year’s festival saw a seminar centred on the lack of growth of Pakistani films in the international market and the reasons and challenges behind this slow growth. The panellists – Omer H. Paracha, Sheikh Amjad Rasheed, Irfan Malik, and Selina Rashid – discussed the quality of films, low return on investment, the need to experiment with various genres, and upgrading technology and equipment. Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who is also the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, then voiced the need to present our own ideas to the world in our films, and pledged government support for the arts in his keynote speech.

Day two saw a panel discussion – featuring Javed Jabbar, Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Ameena Saiyid, Amin Hashwani, Dr. Farah Essa Zaidi, Duraid Qureshi, and Fizza Ali Meerza – on issues and challenges related to the industry post COVID-19, and also touched on the portrayal of women in Pakistani media, access of the lower and middle class to cinema, and the need to establish a digital entertainment platform. Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, was on hand for the keynote this time which commented on the changing times and reiterated the government’s intention to lend a hand to the entertainment sector.

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It’s day three now, and we are waiting to hear from the panellists. The topic? “Gender stereotypes in media and what are women doing about it?” Some might find the wording a little iffy – putting the onus of responsibility on the women when it shouldn’t be – but you hope it’s nothing more than a (well-intentioned) faux pas.

Things finally get going after the belated arrival of Syed Sardar Ali Shah, the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities.

Sultana Siddiqui – the President of KFS and the Hum Network – talks about entering the television industry at a time when very few women were in the field and subsequently helping bring other ladies to the industry. She is weary of how judgmental people are towards women but heartened by the fact that today it is a respected field for girls. Her aim is to portray issues and topics that change the mind-set of people. She also raises the importance of empowering girls, the need for more women in policy making, the change that women in power bring, and also says that the industry needs government facilitation.

Tasneem Ahmar – the founder and director of the Uks Research Center – says there is discrimination against women everywhere, including in the media and entertainment arenas. She also expresses frustration on the very limited range of topics – muhabbat, shadi, talak – in our dramas and hopes for change.

Actress and filmmaker Sangeeta, too, says she entered the film industry at a time when it wasn’t the norm for women, and how much she now appreciates the work of the youth. She also laments the backlash faced when dramas try to do something different.

Actress Atiqa Odho – who is, among other things, also the CEO of Odho Brand/Cosmetics and Odho Productions – speaks about butting heads with regulatory institutions and the censor board, and opines that PEMRA needs to change its mind-set, allow better content, and reassess their dos and don’ts. She also talks about the role of the entertainment industry in a country’s perception management and imaging, and the need to learn how to better market ourselves.

The ladies share their experiences, motivations, hopes, and frustrations. But all too quickly, the time runs out. The hour is up. A few questions with the audience – about the complete absence of film stars in Pakistan and the importance of writers – follow. Then Syed Sardar Ali Shah appreciates the efforts of the KFS team in organizing the event and creating meaningful dialogue, talks about the role of women in the history of entertainment, and assures his government’s support for the industry. As his speech ends, the seminar wraps up, and the stream comes to an end.

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The session may have only scratched the surface but it’s always good to see women in power raising their voices for what they believe in. And while we may not walk away from this seminar with any dazzling new insights, we are still left with the comfort that there are strong women who are trying to make things better. Good on them. And if their efforts bear fruit, it might be good for us too.

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 20th June, 2021 *