Entertainment

PFDC fashion week opens with catwalks, trend show

LAHORE: The four-day (April 13-16) grand Sunsilk fashion week by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) opened at the Expo Centre in Johar Town on Friday.

This April marks the fifth consecutive PFDC fashion week, the third year of prêt & porter fashion.

The first day was structured into two acts: three ramp shows (each consisting of six designers), and a trends show put together from the works of participating designers.

The Act 1 of week began with the sister duo Nickie Nina’s latest prêt a porter collection ‘Royal Military’. Though Nickie-Nina are better known for their sleek silhouettes and flowing clothes, this collection was a complete diversion from their well-known design sensibility.

The collection encompassed the strength and regal appeal of the military: the cuts and silhouette were inspired by the expert and almost rigid tailoring of military uniforms, as well as the sophistication and elegance of the armed forces. The silhouette was therefore more structured the lines more straight and rigid and the embellishments even more detailed than before. The colour palette was diverse and taken from traditional military shades along with an assortment of military insignia, medals and badges.

Next on the runway was Karachi-based designer Tazeen Hasan with her prêt a porter women’s wear collection ‘Evocative’. The collection is based in chiffons and the cuts are soft and feminine. The embellishments include frilling, interspersed with an extensive use of sequins, bugle beads and floral ornamentation.

Act 1’s second show belonged to the AZZA’s spring/summer 2013 women’s wear collection ‘Inheritance”’ an ode to the creative director, Azeeza Desai Khan’s Indian and Afghani roots. The designer used artisanal textile craft of South Asia through rich embellishments, hand embroideries and silks fused with Western modernized cuts. The collection leveraged dimensional South Asian textiles including pure silks, chiffon, net and organza alongside antiqued gold and silk thread finished embroideries.

Opening for Day 1’s Act 2 was Élan’s collection titled ‘Flights of Fantasy’.

The designer, Khadijah Shah, took her design inspiration from fascination with Chinese designs resulting in her compilation of Oriental imagery put together over the course of several years. The colour palette ranged from popping yellow, pink, lime and electric blue along with neutrals; navy and cream. Khadijah has designed and produced two prints specifically for the collection; a white floral with butterflies and Chinese calligraphy and a cobalt cloud pattern — both uniquely oriental.

Together the prints and plains were subtly colour blocked and juxtaposed to create a refreshing spring palette. For this collection, the designer had also reproduced Chinese art in sequin and cut glass embellishments for different pieces. It was a versatile collection which could be worn in many different ways and to that end there was an array of pants, tops, jackets and dresses that can be mixed and matched and dressed up or down depending on how one chooses to pair them.

Next on the runway was Muse with an Autumn/Winter 2012/13 women’s wear, hitting deep at the feminine heart. The collection consisted of pieces worked with delicate sequins in animal prints, as well geometric patterns. Fabrics used were crepes in powder blue, molten purple, emerald green and black.

The last designer collection on the runway belonged to Mohsin Ali — women’s wear collection ‘Baran-i-Ishq’. Taking inspiration from the joy and rebirth that the season of spring brings, Mohsin’s latest collection celebrated the return of the season with a collection based in chiffon, jamawar and silk.

The first day’s finale was the ‘Trends Show’, which aimed to highlight the trends for the upcoming season through 15 ‘looks’ put together from the works of fourteen participating designers.

'21 Jump Street' cops seize box office gold

LOS ANGELES: The youthful policemen of 1980s remake "21 Jump Street" seized the head of the North American box office this weekend, according to data released Monday.

The film with underachieving cops Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, sent on an undercover counternarcotics mission at a high school, pocketed $36.3 million in its first weekend, Exhibitor Relations said.

Last week's top earner, "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," took in $22.8 million, for a $158.4 million total in three weeks in theaters.

The animated movie about the hazards of industrialized society, featuring the voices of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, set a record two weeks ago for the highest non-sequel animated film debut with $70.2 million.

Third place went to critically panned Disney feature "John Carter," based on books by "Tarzan" author Edgar Rice Burroughs. The film, about an ex-Civil War soldier magically transported to Mars, earned $13.6 million.

Disney announced Monday that it expected to lose $200 million on the movie in its second fiscal quarter.

"Project X," a coarse comedy about a high school party that gets out of control, came in fourth place with $4 million.

In fifth came "Act of Valor," a war film starring active duty US Navy SEALs, with $3.7 million in receipts.

Eddie Murphy comedy "A Thousand Words" was in sixth place with $3.6 million in earnings.

CIA-based thriller "Safe House," starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, kept its seventh spot with $2.7 million in weekend receipts.

In eighth was "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," a family-friendly 3D adventure starring former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, earning $2.4 million.

Will Ferrell's outlandish comedy "Casa de mi Padre," cashed in $2.3 million to land in ninth for its debut weekend.

Rounding out the top 10 was "This Means War," a romantic action-comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, with $2.1 million. (AFP)

Film for Change

Cinema is an extraordinarily powerful medium, much more powerful than television and newspaper. Cinema has been used all over the world to engender positive social change. In our neighbouring India, the film industry has done an admirable job by promoting communal and ethnic harmony, highlighting the ways of corrupt politicians, and pointing out other social issues.

 

In Pakistan, however, the medium has been grossly underutilised—never utilised in fact—for the purpose. Our filmmakers have miserably failed to do justice with their job because of their lack of creativity. They have stuck to the old themes of love triangle and family revenge without bothering about several other cancerous issues.



As a nation, we need films because 70 percent of us are illiterate and few of the literates like to read. In this scenario, there is a huge cultural void in our country that has made our people unimaginative. This unimaginativeness can be cured by developing a healthy film industry. Without giving convincing movies to our people, we cannot hope to make our people creative. And creativity is what makes a nation prosperous.



We have to give our people thought-stimulating movies. Through cinema we can make people fight against injustice, rebel against the rotten system of governance and reform the social environment.



If we manage to stir the thoughts of the common man through cinema we can hope to achieve some harmony in this country of several ethnicities and creeds, a goal that our educational institutions have failed to achieve.



The recent success of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s documentary film ‘Saving Face’ is one testimony to the potential of the medium of cinema. The documentary has won accolades from across the world for highlighting a problem that has remained largely unheeded in the country.



Looking at the success of this documentary, one can imagine what can be achieved by making purposeful films. And we must remember that it is only a documentary. A documentary is always less forceful than a fiction movie. Documentaries do not appeal to the minds of the ordinary, non-educated folk. Fiction movies do.



If our writers and directors start making worthwhile films about the issues that the common man faces in his everyday life, there is no reason why our industry should not flourish.



A flourishing film industry will also be good for the economy of the country. In India, the film making industry provides jobs to tens of millions. If we develop our film industry, tens of thousands of our people can also get decent jobs. It will be the same as has happened in the television industry in the last 12 years where a large number of job opportunities have been created.



It is time someone made a meaningful, captivating movie aimed at building a new Pakistan and realizing the true potential of its people.

Britney Spears rejects $10M bid host 'X-Factor'

LOS ANGELES: Britney Spears has rejected a $10 million offer to host the next season of "The X Factor," TheWrap has learned.

So the question is: How much is Fox going to have to pony up? Try $20 million.

Reports this week that the pop star was considering a $10 million offer to host next fall's seasons of "The X Factor" are out of date, according to a knowledgeable individual in Spears' camp.

The singer rejected that offer three weeks ago and is instead thinking about an offer to become a resident performer at a Las Vegas hotel in the fall, a la Celine Dion.

So here comes a game of chicken. Fox desperately needs a big name to announce on the judge's panel of Simon Cowell's show, now that NBC's hit show "The Voice" will be competing with them in the fall.

Spears' camp wants $20 million.

It's becoming an arms race for singing talent being paid to sit behind tables and... talk.

NBC has put its money where its mouth is, paying Christina Aguilera upward of $10 million to come back and judge the new season of "The Voice." They've given handsome paychecks, if not as much, to the other judges as well.

That pales in comparison to what Fox has shelled out for the "X Factor" judges. Paula Abdul was paid $2.5 million for the last season, according to another knowledgeable insider, and she was announced at the 11th hour.

She was also fired, as were judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones.

"X Factor" is already recording its audition phase, but won't need the judges until the end of May.

What the network wants is a big piece of news to present to advertisers at their upfront sales presentations on May 14.

Neither Fox, Spears' or Cowell's camps would comment.

TV actress Tahira Wasti passes away

KARACHI: Renowned television actress Tahira Wasti died today (Sunday) after protracted illness. She was 68,

She was wife of Syed Rizwan Wasti, a famous television and film actor who died last year. He was also English newscaster.

TV actress Laila Wasti is her daughter.

'Afshan' and 'Aakhri Chatan' were among the best drama serials of Tahira Wasti.

Madhuri unveils her new wax figure

LONDON: Madame Tussauds today welcomed award-winning Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit-Nene. Madhuri, famed for her dazzling dancing, was at the world famous attraction to unveil her stunning new wax figure in front of friends and family.

The star of hit films including Devdas, Dil To Pagal Hai, Beta and M.f Hussain's Gaja Gamini is the sixth Bollywood celebrity to be honoured by Madame Tussauds London and only the second actress following Aishwarya Rai who entered the attraction back in 2004.

On meeting her double for the first time Madhuri commented "It is hard to imagine yourself like this and meeting my wax double today is very surreal, it feels like an out of body experience. I would like to congratulate the team at Madame Tussauds London as they have done a beautiful job!"

Madhuri was completely involved in the creation of her figure, attending a sitting in Mumbai where sculptors captured a catalogue of reference photographs and hundreds of precise measurements to create this staggering likeness. Madhuri also donated the exquisite sari her figure is wearing. The figure took four months to make at a cost of £150,000.

Liz Edwards, PR Manager at Madame Tussauds London commented: "We're delighted to welcome Madhuri (and her family) here today and to be including her figure in our A-list line-up.

Solve the problem of traffic jams, the car is ready arny 6 / April will be put up for exhibition

NEW YORK   , traffic jams and car stuck if there is a car that I would arny! News that you wish this was a U.S. car company arny (Flying Car) has developed and 6 / New York International Auto Show in April for the exhibition will be presented, the aerospace company tyrafujya of Massachusetts technically designed this car as "transition aircraft" is named, the two shown on the bottom of the car will be wrapped on the road trip, needed just 30 seconds in the "ship" changes can be made, fuel tank full filled the "flying khtulh" 460 miles to 110 miles per hour speed can set, the company said that this year at the end of the flying car for sale offer will be , initially the price is set at $ 279000 and the cars have already been booked, 6 / April 15 / April for the World Expo exhibitors will be provided by the people.

Sharmeen Chinoy's ‘Saving Face’ wins first Oscar for Pakistan

LOS ANGELES: Pakistani filmmaker and first-time Oscar nominee Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an Academy Award on Monday for her documentary about acid attack victims, a first for a Pakistani.

In her acceptance speech, Chinoy dedicated the award to the women of Pakistan. "All the women in Pakistan working for change, don't give up on your dreams, this is for you," she said.

Directed by Daniel Junge and produced by Sharmeen Chinoy, the film follows British plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who returns to his homeland to help victims of acid burns.

More than 100 people, mainly women and girls, are disfigured in acid attacks every year in Pakistan, although groups helping survivors say many more cases go unreported.

"The women who decided to be a part of the documentary did so because they wanted to make their voices heard and wanted to bring attention to this form of assault," Chinoy said in an interview conducted before she won the Oscar.

"The main reason that they are in 'Saving Face' is to make their stories heard and have an impact."

Many victims are women attacked by their husbands, and others assaulted for turning down a proposal of marriage. One girl in the documentary describes how she was burned after rejecting the advances of her teacher. She was 13 at the time.

Another woman featured in the film is 25-year-old Rukhsana, whose husband threw acid on her and her sister-in-law doused her in gasoline before her mother-in-law lit a match and set her on fire.

Chinoy said she hopes the cases in her film will resonate for others in Pakistan.

"It is a story of hope with a powerful message for the Pakistani audience. I felt this would be a great way to show how Pakistanis can help other Pakistanis overcome their problems," she said.

Chinoy's films have won international acclaim. Her 2010 documentary, Pakistan's Taliban Generation, won an International Emmy Award.

The documentary competed against "God Is the Bigger Elvis," a Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson film about a mid-century starlet who chose the church over Hollywood; "The Barber of Birmingham," a Gail Dolgin and Robin Fryday film that follows the life of 85-year-old barber James Armstrong and the legacy of the civil rights movement; James Spione's war film "Incident in New Baghdad"; and "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom," a film by Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen that follows survivors of Japan's 2011 earthquake and their struggle to recover from the wave that crushed their homes and lives.

Oscars ceremony begins in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood's biggest night got under way on Sunday with the start of the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, as two odes to
film-making -- "The Artist" and "Hugo" -- go head-to-head for Oscars glory.

"The Artist," a silent black-and-white tribute to American cinema, earned 10 Oscar nominations, just one fewer than Martin Scorsese's "Hugo," a 3D family film that looks at the work of a early French film pioneer.

Billy Crystal, in his ninth appearance as Oscars host, opened the show with a comic video montage of scenes from films nominated for best picture and others from 2011 that earned warm applause from the A-list audience.

Following months of campaigning and a flurry of lesser prizes, Tinseltown's annual awards season has reached its high point with the most prestigious honors of them all -- the coveted golden Oscar statuettes.

Hundreds of millions around the globe were expected to tune in for the ceremony, after A-listers strutted their stuff down the most-watched red carpet in the world. (AFP)

allah ka mojza

                         allah ka mojza

Mel Gibson close to finalizing divorce

LOS ANGELES: Lawyers for actor Mel Gibson and his estranged wife Robyn submitted a proposed divorce settlement to a judge on Friday, moving the pair closer to finalizing their split after 31 years of marriage.

Gibson, 55, and his wife married in Australia in 1980 and have seven children together.

The couple separated in 2006 after Gibson was arrested for drunk driving in Malibu, California, and made anti-Semitic remarks that generated headlines around the world.

The actor's wife sued for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences following Gibson's relationship with Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he has a 2-year-old daughter.

The "Lethal Weapon" star pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery following an altercation with Grigorieva in 2010, and was sentenced to three years' probation.

He recently settled a custody battle with his former girlfriend, agreeing to pay Grigorieva $750,000 and share custody of their daughter.

The Oscar winner's turbulent five years since his arrest and the anti-Semitic rant have tarnished his reputation and set back a remarkable career that had made him one of Hollywood's highest paid actors, directors and producers.

While no details of the divorce settlement were released, the actor was previously estimated to be worth $900 million, and he owns several properties in the wealthy, seaside enclave of Malibu, outside Los Angeles.

Madonna dazzles in Super Bowl half-time show

INDIANAPOLIS: Madonna on Sunday dazzled the Super Bowl crowd with an high-octane half-time show that started with an army of Roman gladiators and ended with a plea for world peace.

The glittering 12-minute performance at Lucas Oil Stadium featuring several guest stars had legions of fans racing to Twitter to give their thumbs-up, with some going so far as to declare it one of the best in Super Bowl history.

"Now THAT was a halftime show!" said @michaelsette7 of Toronto in a typical tweet of approval. "All hail the queen. Bow down everyone, bow down!"

Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker agreed, calling Madonna's performance "joyous, unironic, open-hearted ... She was both in full command and full of generosity towards her massive audience."

With a new album titled "MDNA" out March 26, the 53-year-old Madonna teamed up with choreographer Jamie King and Canada's Cirque de Soleil for the most-watched musical interlude of any major sporting event in the world. (AFP)

Veena confirms break-up with Ashmit Patel

MUMBAI: Veena Malik has revealed toNews her whereabouts during the period she was missing.

According to the actress she had “locked herself” in a hotel in Mumbai after she had broken up with Ashmit Patel.

Corresponding with  News via BlackBerry, Veena said she broke up with Ashmit and left his home after which she went to the hotel.

“It was difficult to get over, but I’m fine now” Veena said about her breakup.

X Factor 2010 Final Result Matt Cardle Wins X Factor + Sings When We Collide Full Version HQ -

International Film Festival 2011 kicks off in India

(Batkhela.tk)GOA: Ten-day International Film Festival 2011 of India has begun in Goa, Geo News reported.

The 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was inaugurated by king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan along with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

Chief Minister Goa, government officials besides Bollywood stars participated in the inaugural ceremony.

The festival will screen 150 movies from 65 countries.

Hugh Grant, slain girl's parents make new hacking claims

(BATKHELA.TK) LONDON: Actor Hugh Grant launched a stinging attack on Britain's tabloids Monday, alleging at an inquiry that phone hacking was used by a non-Rupert Murdoch paper and that a burglary at his flat led to stories.

On a dramatic first day of evidence in Britain's press ethics probe, the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler also said Murdoch's News of the World gave them false hope that she was alive by deleting some of her messages.

Grant, best known for his comic roles in films like "Notting Hill", accused The Mail on Sunday newspaper of running a story on his relationship with socialite Jemima Khan in 2007 that he believed had been obtained by hacking.

The 51-year-old by turns delivered quips that would not have been out of place in his movies; became testy with the line of questioning by the inquiry lawyer; and delivered impassioned criticism of the tabloid press.

His allegation against The Mail on Sunday, owned by the UK's Associated Newspapers group, was the second time the inquiry has heard claims that Murdoch's News of the World was not the only newspaper involved in phone hacking.

Grant said the story -- for which he later won a libel payout -- claimed his relationship with Khan was on the rocks and he was having late-night telephone chats with a "plummy voiced studio executive", but was false.

"I'd love to hear what their source was if it wasn't phone hacking," he said, while admitting that he had no firm evidence for the allegation.

In a statement, a spokesman for the weekly tabloid said it "utterly refutes" the claims, which were "mendacious smears driven by his hatred of the media".

The story "came from a freelance journalist who had been told by a source who was regularly speaking to Jemima Khan."

The financier's daughter then tweeted: "That's not true as the first time I heard anything about this was when I read about it in the MoS.

"The 'source' close to me must be psychic. The MoS claim that he/she gave them a story I knew nothing about till it was in the paper."

Grant also accused another tabloid, the Daily Mirror, owned by Trinity Mirror, of accessing his medical records. (AFP)

Stars gather for ‘Breaking Dawn’ premiere

 (batkhela-movies)LONDON: Twilight fans gathered in their hundreds at the London premiere of "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," the fourth installment of the hugely popular Twilight franchise, as the stars of the film came out to greet them at the Westfield Stratford shopping centre. 

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner signed autographs and posed for pictures with the screaming fans. 

After the third film, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" ended on a proposal, the fourth film sees young lovers Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen finally come together in a highly anticipated wedding that has had Twilight fans in a frenzy. 

"I proposed to Bella so many times … you had to get married at some point otherwise it wouldn't make any sense. It would look like you had some kind of issue," said Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward. 

Actor Taylor Lautner, who plays werewolf Jacob Black, said the movie was much more mature than the previous installments. 

Reema weds Dr Shahab in Virginia

 (batkhela-movies)LAHORE: Lollywood barbie doll Reema Khan has officially tied knot with American cardiologist surgeon Dr Tariq Shahab Wednesday in Virginia court, Geo News reported. 

According to sources, the Nikkah took place at a local court in Virginia according to American law while Rukhsati will take place on November 18.

While talking to Geo News on telephone, Reema said that she considers herself very lucky as she will be a part of an educated and respected family. 

Regarding wedding preparations, the actress told that she has put amazing Hennadesigns on her palms and her family members have created a joyful wedding mood all around. 

Hassan Shehryar, who is a Pakistani fashion designer of international repute, has prepared the wedding dresses for the bride and groom.

The wedding ceremonies began from Monday with the Mayun function.

Reema is in the US with her parents and relatives who will attend the wedding functions. After marriage, the actress will stay in America for few weeks in a house bought by Dr Shahab for his wife.

Buzz over Aishwarya in hospital for delivery

(batkhela-movies)MUMBAI: There was fresh round of speculation on Sunday evening that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had been admitted to Seven Hills Hospital in Marol, Andheri east, for her much-anticipated delivery.

However, there was no official confirmation about it, with the family as well as hospital officials denying that Aishwarya had been admitted. Sources, though, said security around the hospital had been beefed up following rumours that the actor had been brought to the hospital.

Last week, there was speculation that Aishwarya would give birth on 11.11.11, but actor Amitabh Bachchan denied the reports on his Twitter account.