Time for Recognition

If there’s one thing that has taken our minds off the woes of Covid-19, at least in Pakistan, it is the latest edition of Coke Studio. Given the constraints that Rohail Hyatt had to work with in terms of logistics during the pandemic, the show is exhilarating in terms of presentation and satisfying as far as the finer points of music go. Already three songs — Jaag Rahi, Gal Sunn and Pardesiya — have become classics. To be honest, Rohail H is the architect of a programme which has helped project the softest and culturally richest image of Pakistan to the rest of the world. It’s been 13 years since CS is on the air, inspiring generations of music lovers and connoisseurs in equal measure. Wouldn’t it be appropriate on the part of the Government of Pakistan to recognise Rohail H’s invaluable services to art? At least, a Pride of Performance…

The Engin Effect

He came, he sat with a lion, took money and left. This is how, it seems, the visit of Engin Altan, the star of the Turkish TV series Dirilus: Ertugrul, is described by some people from the media. One of them is actor Fahad Mustafa (Namaloom Afraad). We don’t know why a lot of people took issue with his observation and trolled him. Didn’t it happen? The pictures of Engin A that did the rounds on social media suggest so. After all, show business is all about… business.

A Simple Life

Urwa Hocane appears to have become wiser with age, not that she wasn’t already. In an interview given to Mira Sethi, the actress said, “I don’t think I could just do any role. I have very few needs in life anyway. I’m okay with having simple food… everyone goes through financial crises at some point in their lives, but the kind of person I am I would be okay with the bare minimum as well. I feel like I get by but I’d rather do something that’s exciting. I don’t know about others, but I choose projects only when I feel like I will have fun working on them.” Urwa H, noble thoughts. Although, to be honest, it’s not ‘simple’ to be able to do something ‘exciting’ with the ‘bare minimum’.

Broken Crown

The star of the hit TV series The Crown, Gillian Anderson, and the creator of the series, Peter Morgan, who had been together for the last four years, have broken up. The news was relayed by an American magazine last week — although the two have decided to keep mum about it. It’s a little sad but that’s how things are in tinseltown.

By the way, Gillian A, who catapulted to international fame with The X-Files in the 1990s, has been involved in a few relationships in her 52-year life, including two marriages and a couple of live-in ties.

So, it’s hard for her to keep ex-files.

Different Strokes

Abhishek Bachchan ain’t happy. Check out his response to someone on Twitter about a film-related subject. There’s an exhibitor by the name of Akshay Rathi who on Twitter urged Indian film actors to emulate Akshay Kumar: “Amazing how Akshay Kumar finishes the shoot of an entire film in the amount of time that other stars take to learn a skill which they need to act out in a small screen or so.” Abhishek B didn’t like it and took no time to reply, “Not fair. Each to their own. Different people are motivated by different things. And have a different pace at doing things.” AB baby, you do know working in films is no hare and tortoise race!

Angry Tom

Have you ever seen Tom Cruise lose his temper? Folks, it happened recently when, on the sets of Mission Impossible 7, some of the crew members flouted Covid-19 protocols. The Hollywood A-lister hit the roof and gave it to them. Some of the words used by him can’t be reproduced here. The gist of his argument was: he is in touch with every studio, every insurance company and producer in Hollywood who are trying to make movies because “they believe in us and what we’re doing”. He pointed out that the industry is creating thousands of jobs so any laxity from the crew could jeopardise the whole effort. He also threatened that the next time protocols are broken, the culprits will be fired. Wow! Tom C sounds like a man on a mission… possible one at that.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 27th, 2020