Eid and the Movies

Compared to Eid-ul-Fitr, the situation on Eid-ul-Azha improved a bit for cinema as four major Pakistani films [Na Baaligh Afraad, Umro Ayyar, Abhi and Bhediya] saw the light of day. While it is too early to suggest the films are faring well at the box office, it needs to be emphasised over and over again that the film industry (if it is in fact an industry) needs massive support — in terms of political vision and policy — from the government if it is to compete with the rest of the world as far as the art and business of moviemaking are concerned. Right now it seems that both technically and content-wise we are lagging way behind everyone else, almost in a na baaligh way.

Diljit Wins More Hearts

Indian Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has become a truly global star. After performing at Coachella in 2023, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last week, dressed in kurta and dhoti and wearing his traditional Sikh turban. He rocked the late night stage with his songs Born to Shine and G.O.A.T. His performance was liked by the audience and, ever since, he has become the talk of Tinseltown. Well done Diljit D, and ballay ballay!

Zionists and the Selfie

Here’s an intriguing story. Former cricketer Shahid Afridi was walking down a Manchester road when two men posing as his fans asked him for a picture. He obliged. Later, it turned out the men belonged to a pro-Israeli organisation and the photo was used to show Shahid A as a supporter of their cause demanding the release of Israeli hostages and attacking the Palestinian group Hamas. When he saw that, the sportsman was quick to respond, claiming he had no clue who the two men were and that they had surreptitiously used him for a Zionist endorsement. Hmmm… what a terrible world we live in, where deceit is the name of the game.

Vacaying Alone?

The word is: unbelievable. It’s been only two years since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez got remarried and now rumours are rife that they have either parted ways or will soon do that. Recently, the rumour felt super-true when J-Lo was seen in the beautiful Cliffside village of Positano in Italy, enjoying a boat ride… all by herself. This means she was not accompanied by hubby dear. Come on, you two had hooked up for a second time and we thought this time it would last… at least two and a half years. Well, we were close…

Just In, Arrested!

On June 18, pop star Justin Timberlake, who is married since 2012 to actress Jessica Biel — with whom he has two kids — was arrested in Long Island, New York for driving “in an intoxicated condition.” This is how the police described him when they got a hold of him: “His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and a strong odour of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath.” Understandably, Jessica B was not happy about the arrest, but any speculations on their relationship might be a bit hasty, don’t you think?

Donald Sutherland, Alas!

The Canadian actor and Hollywood A-lister Donald Sutherland died on June 20. He was 88. His son Kiefer Sutherland is also a renowned actor. In his noteworthy career, Mr Sutherland worked in about 200 acting-related projects. Some of the movies that he was a part of are The Dirty Dozen, The Hunger Games and Klute. Among the many condolence messages that his family received was one from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. May he rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, ICON, June 30TH, 2024