Since I was a child, I have been bullied and called names. People have always been cruel to me and it took me a few years to understand that I should not let it get to me. Growing up, nobody wanted to hang out with me; children my age hated me and I was never picked for anything - let alone being picked last. Even the mothers of these kids despised me and adults made fun of me. All this, and only because I was a boy with effeminate traits. ‘I say ‘was’ because I like to think that I have evolved pretty much since then, although those characteristics still exist a somewhere inside me. What hurts the most is that people could have supported me and let me figure things out by myself, but instead they opted for the way that seemed natural and innate to them – the way of offence. The fact is that anything out of the ordinary is always condemned and so was I. People were just never good to me; not even my teachers or my peers. Hence, it was hard to make friends and even my best friend was sceptic about hanging out with me at first, simply out of fear of what people would say. I was a menace, an outcast; and only because I was ‘girlish’. That, I learned the hard way, is something a guy can never be. The world has defined a certain way of life with specific characteristics of behaviour that classify who is who and what is what. However, the truth is that we are all unique, and we are all God’s created beings. Nevertheless, people, refuse to see it that way; they would rather put a label on everything and then hate the people who don’t accept their labels. In fact, people who go against their definitions are shunned and looked down upon. Some labels are derogatory in themselves and the so the ‘different’ person becomes an ideal spectacle to be made fun of or excluded. Our society defines certain ways in which a guy is supposed to behave. If he doesn't conform, he’s not considered one of the male species. As far as my own experience went, I was frankly okay about not being a part of them. I had spent a lot of time trying to figure out my place in this world and I had come to terms with the fact that people wouldn't accept me – at least ‘normal’ people wouldn't. Hence, I turned to the outcasts. You see, these normal people have their own ideals, and if anyone doesn't come up to their expectations, they are thrown out. So a guy like me could never cope. However, the fact is that once you’re out, you need to find your own niche and you usually think, “Oh, it’s so cool, now I can hang out with people who won’t judge me for who I am or what I do; they’ll be cool.” So you try to blend in with the outsiders. In that single moment, you look forward to the point when you will be the one on the inside looking out. When you do eventually make it to the outcast circle, you feel free. You feel like you can be yourself – finally. However, I found out the hard way that even outcasts have their restrictions, and that is where it got even worse for me. A guy like me was called all kinds of names, and one of those names was the ‘gay guy’. It’s true, I have been perceived to be gay quite a few times even though I am not. Personally, I have always been alright with whoever a person wishes to be – gay or straight; after all, it’s their choice. However, what was conflicting was that even these outsiders – the other gay guys – had formed their own criteria and rules of who is gay and who is not. I hoped that they would be more accepting of my view, but all I got, even from them, was judgement. Simply put, the gays want you to be gay and they think that if a guy walks and talks like a girl, listens to girly music and is into fashion, then he’s gay. The gays told me to get out of the closet but I already was out! I'm straight and I cannot put it more simply than that. All these experiences led me to realise that no matter what you do, you just cannot fit in. There will always be someone or something that will push you out of the group. It took me a long time to figure out who I am and where I stand both, sexually as well as personally, and I cannot let anyone tell me where I fit in. The straights didn't accept me and the gays wanted me to change. So, I decided that I had better accept myself for who I was, first. In a world with access to information which earlier generations could not have even dreamt about, most of the time we don’t know what to do with that information or even whether it is right or verified. This diversity of humanity can never be boxed, and just when you think you've categorized each and every human being, there’ll come another batch of babies who’ll burn all your research down and formulate new ideals and new personalities. I fail to understand why an individual can’t just be him or herself. Why should you define who the other person is? Why not give them a chance to show you who they are? In my opinion, lack of trust, incomplete information, and not knowing one’s own self, has brought us to this point. The point where it’s just easier to bash someone and call them names from behind a screen, while you live your life conforming to whatever limits people have set for you. My personal experiences have taught me that the best thing to do is just be yourself, figure out who you are, work on your image and know yourself completely. So that the next time someone ridicules you, you can laugh it off. So this is me: Katy Perry is my idol, I like Disney movies and fashion, I am effeminate but I am straight. Deal with it!

After creating much hype and expectation, Pakistan Idol is finally here and it is good to see reality television in Pakistan being done this professionally. Having been an avid follower of American Idol for more than six years, I have to say that the Pakistani team of Idol has done a commendable job; from the pre-launch publicity, the judges, the contestants, the fun and the drama, everything about the show makes it a must-watch! So let’s get down to business. Here is my first impression of the show: The contestants I was pleasantly surprised to see the size of the crowd outside the venue. It was definite proof that there are people out there who believe in themselves and their dreams, while here I was thinking that we, as a nation, could not even dare to dream. Kudos to the producers for helping people reaffirm belief in themselves. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15bf3n_pakistan-idol-hd-lahore-auditions-28-sep-2013_music[/embed] The first contestant, Sana Zulfiqar, was a testament to that. She might have brought her own twist to the songs she sang (sometimes too much of a twist, even) and Bushra Ansari might have been a tad hard on her, but the girl had a good voice. I was glad to see that she made it to the next round. As Mohib Mirza, the host, turned to the crowd to ask them for their response, it was clear that they too, were as excited as I was to see her make it the next round. On a side note, it was sweet of Ali Azmat to have made the effort of meeting her parents. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x180mj1_pakistan-idol-lahore_music[/embed] Rafay, the second contestant, well, he may have believed a little too much in himself. Although he did add spice to the show with his comedic drama, his vocals were simply ear-shattering. Ali Azmat was absolutely correct in passing the ‘Lady Gaga and Madonna’ remark because even in my opinion, he did seem to be a fan of the two. The guy was surely not ‘born this way’. However, Bushra Ansari was kinder when she said that he was just a ‘different’ kind of person. Rafay’s audition, as expected, did not go very well. Moving on to the third contestant, Tayyaba. Her audition was sweet but she did not make it to the next round. While it is always sad to see the sweet ones go, I am sure the judges know best. The auditions reel was shared with the all the contestants and audience members. Watching it made it quite obvious that the competition will be very tough. After all, this is the first season and standards need to be set right from the start. Next came the Lahori Pathan guy, Yasir Khan – or Pappu, as Ali Azmat referred to him – with an emotional story of how his family did not support his dreams. I am sure his selection made many a viewer happy, especially the girls. Although Haseeb Sultan Abdul's story was also heart-breaking, it was even more painful to see him go. Bushra Ansari, however, was correct in saying that a person’s financial situation cannot make up for a lack of talent. The ‘Salman Khan’ contestant, Shehzad Ali, added the much-needed humour aspect to the competition, especially after being subjected to such emotional auditions. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18417m_funny-salman-khan-act-in-pakistan-idol_fun[/embed] Although the next girl, Nimra, had a decent voice, the judges were right in letting her go since they felt she could have definitely given a much better performance. The contestant who came after her, Imran, once again provided comic relief to the show. He had passion, but he was just not cut out for the competition. He got so involved in his performance, that when he opened his eyes, the judges had vanished – their way of saying ‘No’ – whilst making sure they kept the humour alive. Although the last contestant was hanging by a thread, it was good to see him make it, after which the show ended with a compilation of all the contestants who had made it through the first round. The judges Many people have criticised the judges in Pakistan Idol. I personally think that the show is not only about bringing in people who understand music; but it is also about people who connect to the viewers and contestants alike. Being a judge is not simply about critiquing a contestant’s performance, it is also about being able to lure the audience into believing what you have to say. It is about being human and being real. And all three judges were able to connect with contestants and viewers alike. This is something that makes such shows fun and keeps the audience hooked. Ali Azmat One person from the music industry, who I believe is admired by one and all. He is not only a great singer but also a spectacular performer. Of course, being the judge in a show as substantial as Pakistan Idol, is a difficult task but the first episode was a testament to the fact that Ali will be a judge who will not only make selections for the heck of it, but will also critique the contestants and their performance to make sure that it is a learning experience too. If the first episode was anything to go by, he will prove to be a great judge and mentor for the contestants. Bushra Ansari I have only seen Bushra Ansari’s acting and was surprised when my mother told me that she happens to be a brilliant singer as well. Since this is a reality television show, it was encouraging to know that there is someone on board who understands all sides of the entertainment industry. She was the strict judge on the show and while it might be too early to label her, I can see her being the Simon Cowell of Pakistan Idol. Hadiqa Kiani She is good at pop music, understands the industry and has played around with folk music, so she knows the music traditions of this country quite well. However, she did seem to struggle with rejecting contestants and was trying her best to let them down easy. Hence, one can very well expect her to be the Paula Abdul of the show. The host Mohib Mirza is apparently ‘the man’ in the entertainment industry. He is an amazing actor and already has a large fan following. He is fun, comes up with canny comments and his connection with the participants is worth applauding. He is the perfect choice for a host and with his amazing hosting skills, I can bet that he will gain even more followers. The verdict Although this is just the beginning, it has been a strong beginning. Pakistan Idol seems well on its way to raging success with its publicity, entertainment value and judges. Prepare to be addicted! [poll id="310"]

Most of us Pakistanis who have seen Hunger Games had the same question in their mind. What if we had a Katniss Everdeen of our own? Who would it be? Well, for those who don’t already know, we do. We have Malala Yousafzai and here is how I view their similarities: 1. People think they’re both ‘pretentious’ A lot of people think Malala is fake and pretentious. A lot of people thought Katniss was fake too, until the passion shone through. Like Katniss won the hearts of Panem, Malala won the hearts of people across the world. When Katniss showed up in Panem with an innocent personality and a shy, honest voice everyone thought it was just a gimmick to get attention. But over the course of the games, we noticed that Katniss was actually the girl who wanted to be good. She wasn’t faking it simply to get favours so that she could survive. She wasn’t doing it for entertainment or amusement, it was just who she was. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x16j1r6_the-hunger-games-catching-fire-official-final-trailer_shortfilms[/embed] Similarly, people believe that Malala is fake, is a creation of the foreign media and that she is just faking her opinion for fame. But would she go through all that she did, without being dedicated to her cause? The traumatic experience that she went through and the passion she shows cannot be faked. 2. Malala is our Mockingjay Katniss fought for the rebels so that there could be peace in Panem. Malala continues to fight for the basic right of every woman - education. Mockingjay is a name that Katniss was given by the people of Panem because she was able to make the powerful Capitol bend the rules and by doing that, she showed us that we can change the world one step at a time. Malala is that symbol for the education of girls and women. Her journey symbolises the struggle for women’s right to education and she has fought battles that few of us can even dream of. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Katniss proved that we can change the world one step at a time in the Hunger Games. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 3. Both have been targeted for fighting for what they believed in Katniss believed in freedom and Malala believes in freedom for women’s right to education. Katniss was a target of the Capitol ever since she won the annual Hunger Games. They knew that she had started a wave of rebellion that could not be stopped unless something was done to her, so they tried their best to bring her down, to crush the hope she ignited. Hunger Games part two is a testament to that. They wanted her gone. Malala was also targeted so that her drive for the education of girls could be stopped. Her enemies wanted to put an end to what she was fighting for. She almost died only because she wanted what was best for her and other girls. 4. Both wrote books Katniss wrote a book on the lives of the people that had been in her life and Malala has written a memoir of her own life. While Katniss wrote the book only because it was something through which she could hold on to her family, the book became something bigger when she and her friends started documenting the lives of the people who had lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. Although I have not yet read Malala’s book, I do know that it serves as a journal of the life she has lived so far and features her thoughts on the revolution that she wants to bring in the country and its mindset. Her blog posts, which got her in trouble in the first place served as a critical documentation of atrocities in Swat. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Malala wrote a book on her life, experiences and dreams for women in Pakistan. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 5. Hardships and survival Katniss had to learn to survive the hardships she faced whilst being poor, and Malala had to learn to survive being the target of hate by the very nation she loves. District 12, where Katniss lived, was a poor district where people could barely survive and a lot of them starved for days. Katniss learned how to live a life of hardships and moulded herself accordingly. That is what kept her going through the revolution. Similarly, Malala has to suffer unending hatred from people who oppose her desire to curb the injustice that this society shows to girls by taking away their right of education. But this young girl is strong and has shown that nothing can stop her. 6. Girl on fire vs girl being fired at While Katniss was the girl on fire, Malala was literally fired at. Katniss was labelled the ‘girl on fire’ because her dress was a magical innovation that caught fire when she spun it around. Malala, well, we all know the tragedy that befell her. 7. Too young to know and understand President Snow believed that Katniss was too young to understand what she was doing. Similarly, Malala has been labelled to be too young to know what she is saying and doing. The President of the Capitol warned Katniss that if she rebelled in the games, it would only lead towards more unrest and trouble for the people who adored and idolised her. Yet, Katniss managed to start a revolution that turned things around and transformed life in Panem and its people. People say that Malala is too young to understand that no matter what she says and does, she cannot land on the stars. They say that it is hopeless for her to dream such big dreams. But she has taken the first step and managed to do so much on the journey that she has set out on. I personally believe that she is on the right track, no matter what the haters say. 8. Their emotions Katniss showed her love for Rue in the Hunger Games and others through time, and we saw how Malala missed her school mates and mourned at the loss of people she lost during the Taliban reign. Katniss lost many people over the course of the revolution and some of them were very close to her heart, some were even her very own family members. In the same way, many people from Malala’s area lost their lives. It is hard to stay strong with so much bloodshed going on around you. And it is definitely hard not to lose faith in yourself with so many people relying on you to fulfil their hopes and dreams. 9. Their own Hunger Games Katniss had to be a part of the Hunger Games. She didn’t have a choice. Malala’s Hunger Games was a life of suffering and difficulties where she had to fight for her cause of women’s right to education. Malala, like Katniss, lived in fear of being killed at any moment. The games are all about survival. You either kill or you are killed. It’s a challenge to take a single step ahead or back, knowing that there is someone out there waiting to kill you. Katniss knew how it felt to live a life where you could die without even knowing who killed you or how. Malala had a similar issue. She lived in an area where she knew she could be bombed, fired at or kidnapped. One can only imagine how distressing such an existence would be. Nobody should have to go through life like that, especially not a 16-year-old girl. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="569"] Malala was shot in the head for pursuing her cause of women's right to education. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 10. Both are a symbol of hope Hope that things will get better, that truth will prevail and that good will always win. They both have the support of people who believe in them and will always stand by them. Katniss was not alone. She had a community of revolutionaries by her side, who believed that she was ‘the girl’. She made it possible to change Panem. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Katniss had the support of her people against the Capitol. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Likewise, Malala is not alone. She has many people who support her and stand by her. She is a brave girl whom people believe in and she believes that she has the will to change things. When you combine that level of determination and support, you know that anything is possible, and that dreaming and hoping never goes in vain.

We all know everybody loves Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Glee, Big Bang Theory and the like. However, being the hipster that I am, I tend to avoid watching mainstream television shows. They’re great productions but the problem is, I can’t stand being a part of the cult. So I’m sorry if it disappoints any of you if I don’t watch the shows you oh-so-dearly love. I noticed that when a show becomes a trend, people only watch that particular one, while ignoring many shows which are far better. Here I have compiled my list of the nine must-watch shows that people in Pakistan absolutely need to see, in case they are done watching Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad. 1. American Horror Story Currently in its third season, the show is a thriller show with gory, mystic and supernatural elements that just keeps you on the edge throughout. The best part is that every season comes with its own storyline. Created by Ryan Murphy of Glee, this show’s second season was given 17 Emmy Award nominations. It just cannot get better than that. If you love critically acclaimed shows, then here's a show you would not want to ignore. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="345"] PHOTO: American Horror Story Official Facebook Page[/caption] For those who absolutely love horror movies, this one’s a must-watch for you! Plus, the third season features my long time crush Emma Roberts in the main characters so I, for one, cannot miss it. [embed width="620"]http://vimeo.com/75812179[/embed] 2. Hannibal The show is only one season old but it's receiving rave reviews, which it totally deserves. Hannibal is a TV show about a psychopath psychiatrist who is, as you guessed it, a cannibal. The show revolves around his relationship with a special FBI investigator who is inspecting the crimes committed by Hannibal, not knowing that his counselor is the murderer. This show is your answer to Dexter and its gory, thrilling storyline is pretty amazing. It’s a bit slow paced, but the gore should be enough to keep you awake. [embed width="620"]http://vimeo.com/60032614[/embed] While the show did not receive any Emmy Nominations, it did win the hearts of many critics. Here’s to hoping that the second season gets more credited attention. Bottom line is, if there’s one show you need to watch before it gets famous in Pakistan, its Hannibal. 3. Skins Alright, I admit that the series has ended but if you look at the fact that you guys still watch Seinfeld and Friends, then Skins is still relatively new in comparison. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] PHOTO: Skins Official Facebook Page[/caption] The show chronicles the lives of teenagers in a town in England and spans different characters for different years, but somehow inter-relating them. The reason the series is a must watch is because, unlike the rest of the CW series that glamorise teen life, this show is true and hard hitting and gives a great insight into what the ‘real’ teen life is. It has won lots of awards and gained many nominations, so please do yourselves a favour and watch this show in case you’re looking for something teen but not as hyped as CW’s. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x83qd5_skins-tv-trailer_shortfilms[/embed] 4. Community I love this show. It’s one of the most real life comedies and funny stories one could ask for! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] PHOTO: Community Official Facebook Page[/caption] It’s about a group of community college students who accidentally become friends only because a guy wanted to ask out one of the girls in their study group. What leads from there is a hilarious adventure through their college lives. It’s pretty old and currently into its fifth season with a huge critical acclaim. It has won lots of awards and nominations. If you want to experience what the term ROTFL (Rolling on the floor, laughing) means, go watch it right now! [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xagwn7_community-season-1-preview-clip_shortfilms[/embed] 5. Awkward I know MTV is notorious for nude and lewd content in Pakistan, but give this MTV show a chance. It’s real and funny as anything you have ever seen. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] PHOTO: Awkward Official Facebook Page[/caption] It’s about a girl whose accident is mistakenly considered as a suicide attempt. And there’s the fact that she’s in a closet (literally) relationship with the school’s most popular boy, being the most unpopular girl of the school. The show delves into her mind and her blog which portray how awkward life can be. [embed width="620"]http://vimeo.com/44068969[/embed] 6. The Inbetweeners The UK version is the original one, which portrays the lives of four teenagers who stumble across humiliating experiences and adventures while going through puberty and entering adulthood. The UK version is also more famous than its US counterpart, but the US one deserves a chance too. Both are fun to watch. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] PHOTO: The Inbetweeners USA Official Facebook Page[/caption] [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xssqvg_the-inbetweeners-2012-tv-series-series-trailer_videogames[/embed] 7. Hart of Dixie It’s about a New York based doctor who needs to do a year on practice in the far off southern town of Blue Bell, which is not ready to accept her. Watching her win southern hearts and making her way into the society is a television show treat. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] PHOTO: Hart of Dixie Official Facebook Page[/caption] [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl7svh_hart-of-dixie-season-1-official-trailer_shortfilms[/embed] 8. Twisted The show is new, so catch up on it soon. It’s making waves. The show marks the life of a teenage boy who murdered his aunt as a kid and is now back from juvenile prison. The people are not willing to accept him, including his two childhood best friends. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] PHOTO: Twisted Official Facebook Page[/caption] 9. Carrie Diaries It’s a younger version of Sex and the City (SATC) and frankly, it isn’t as good. However, it makes up for an interesting watch. It’s not so famous here as SATC and I know that many of my generation hardly know about SATC, so this show should lead you up to it smoothly. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="298"] PHOTO: Carrie Dairies Official Facebook Page[/caption] [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xst3hl_the-carrie-diaries-trailer_shortfilms[/embed] These shows are better than the mainstream TV shows you watch just because your best friend watches them as well. Take some time out to watch shows that actually appeal to you and interest you, shows that make you go 'what just happened' when they end an episode unexpectedly and make you itch to find out what happens next. Be a trendsetter instead of a trend follower. You can be the cool guy or girl who suggests new shows that may intrigue your friends.

Dear Back-bencher, How are you? I hope you are doing well. I really wish this from the bottom of my heart. Let me start by saying how sorry I am to judge you. I remember that time in school, when I was a snob and you were the guy who teased everyone, including myself. I was wrong to react the way I did towards your attitude towards life. I would secretly smirk when teachers would scold you. And I know I didn’t even talk to you, but I tried my best to be nice to you, simple because I felt sorry for you. You didn’t seem to have any idea about the mess you were getting yourself into by being the black sheep of the whole lot of us, the lot of us who just painted white onto our brown wool. But you were black through and through, and it made you stand out. You were the subject of everyone’s humiliation and you were the punch lines of everyone’s jokes. The teachers made you feel so timid, lost and confused, like some dirt bag nobody was supposed to touch. Your filth was thought to be contagious. You were the lowest of the lows, and you were a bad influence. Parents warned us to stay away from kids like you; kids who will ruin our futures, kids who wasted time and didn’t study, kids who were not meant to be anything but losers. Yes, you were a loser and everyone hated you. Now let’s talk about me. I was the guy who everyone loved. I was the teachers’ pet. I was the guy who followed rules and lived life through what others wanted him to be. My life was supposed to be perfect. I had everything handed to me and I never complained about the direction I was heading in. But that was until I plunged deep into the life everyone idolises. I lost it when I dived in. Like everyone else. But not like you. You were the kind of person who took things slowly. You lived in the moment while all of us were busy focusing on the future that was blurry. But we were so sure, so busy knowing how it would be that we forgot to live in the present. And now, when everything is crumbling in my world, I see it all so clearly; how you had the right to be who you were. I think you knew all along how superficial all of this is, how we got dragged down this hole of imperfection where life is the thorn in our backs pushing us to just keep bleeding and keep going. I look back and I see how you were the one who really made something out of the time given to you. You are studying at a non-prestigious university, but you got admission somewhere else as well. And those five years in uniform, with the top button unbuttoned, were just a facade, where I should have known you were on to something. You knew that life will be tough, so you enjoyed every bit of it before it trapped you too. You bunked classes and I didn’t, and you got to have all the fun while I missed out on it, not knowing that I would never get to see my friends again, while you had the time of your life with them. You ate all you could, while I watched my weight knowing it might damage my health, not knowing we’ll die anyway, anyhow. You read novels that you wanted while text books seemed to eat up my life, you went to concerts, you ate out a lot, and you just had fun. While I focused on getting ahead in life, you got stuck in the present. And then, when I entered the real life, I realised what hit me - reality. It hit me hard. And it took me so long to realise, which I think you had known back in school. I wish I had wasted my time learning and figuring out who I am, spent more time having fun and living life. All because now I have anything but time. And when I had it, I didn’t value it, like you did. I am sorry for the way people like me bullied you for what and who you were in school. I wish I had known better. Seeking your forgiveness, Star-student (who didn’t know any better)

Summer is upon us and the post-fashion week trend reports are here. Even though our standard wardrobes have refined over time, they seem a bit too boring with the same old monotony. Here I present 10 wardrobe changes you need to make to spice up your looks: Ditch the coat and go for the bomber jacket  While summer coats may be making the rounds, you should know that the bomber is the ‘it’ outerwear item to have this season. If you are going to invest in some outerwear, let it be a bomber jacket. It is more upbeat in comparison to the same old overdone coat. Yes, summer coats may be a relatively new concept, but the bomber jacket is the thing you need to stand out in the crowd. Single-breasted is out; Double-breasted is in Even though a single-breasted jacket may seem like a safer choice, the double-breasted will never let you sartorially down. Double-breasted jackets are the style staple this year so make sure you get some great double-breasted suits for the year. They are undoubtedly classy and the cut compliments a man’s physique much more than a single-breasted coat. Printed jacket is the ‘it’ item. Ditch the plain old tux and have some fun with patterns Making a statement seems to be getting harder day by day. So thank the fashion pundits that men can now have more fun with the traditional wardrobe by opting for colourful and patterned jackets. One specific pattern that seems to be making statements this year is the plaid. You just can’t go wrong with it! Knitted ties are in, wide ties out First off, let me make it very clear, this year is not about the classic old wide tie. Lapels are getting narrower and you have to go accordingly. Therefore, to make a statement, wear a knitted tie. They will add a dapper feel to your wardrobe. Yes, a narrow tie is the happening item with kids these days, but knitted ties are far more sartorially superior to its other counterparts. Ditch the wayfarers for clubmasters Yes, yes, everyone knows that the wayfarers are the cool boy glasses, but it is time to grow up. Wayfarers are so 2008, and if you even think of investing in one, you are too late. That trend train is long gone and you missed it. A more fashionable approach to eyewear this year would be to select the clubmasters. They are the new ‘eye candy’ and are perfect to get you through the year. So, it’s about time you add the extra oomph to your look. Brogues are back, so ditch the oxfords and loafers With so many options out there, the loafers and the oxfords have had their era of domination. Hence, it is high time we bring some class back with the brogues, the reigning shoes of the year. Nothing says stylish and dapper more than the brogue. They will add the much needed old-fashioned class to your look. For a more casual look, you can always get the suede ones. Denim on denim  This summer, the best way to go casual whilst looking your best would be to go for the denim on denim look. It’s time to ditch the sweatshirt and favourite pair of jeans look. Instead, go casually stylish with the blue sky and the blue denim. Its boyish feel will leave you looking younger and add fun to your perfect look for a night out with friends. Make sure they fit well; baggy or skinnies are a serious no-no! Go floral Yes, you heard it right. Floral is making waves across the world as men embrace it into their own style and how can you be left out? Ditch the plain and striped shirts you have a collection of for a fresher and trendier look. Yes, yes, you can complain that it is a girly trend and that guys should not even look at it let alone embrace it. But trust me, if topical prints can work, so can floral. Besides, menswear floral knows what men need, so no worries. Woven belts are in; the plain old leather belt is out A woven belt will give your look the extra edge that a normal leather belt would not. It is a bit experimental and does seem a hard one to pull off, but if done right, it will make you look effortlessly stylish. Such a small wardrobe change can add the much needed addition to your look. Dig out your dad’s wardrobe. Old is in and new is out [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="588"] Photo: Haseeb Sultan Abdul[/caption] Since spring cleaning is well overdue, this summer stealing amazing and well-preserved things from your dad’s or grandfather’s wardrobes is a great idea! Vintage items will do you wonders this summer. You will be amazed at the kind of things you can dress yourself in and make your wardrobe better. It is a discovery you need to make and one that will not disappoint! So there you have it. It is about time you embrace your metropolitan desires, dress up coolly and look debonair. Just as Paris Hilton says,

“Dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.”

Two years ago I had a breakthrough in life; I failed my finals. It was my first experience of failing in a major way; and my teachers and peers were not helpful. They would judge me and taunt me, and at times, pity me as well. But I was never the loser, ever. How did I, being an exemplary student all my life, fail the exams and become the lowest of the low? Nobody had even taught me how to handle a situation like this. I was left broken, and since I did not know what to do, it disturbed further two years of my education. My self-esteem dropped and I began looking down upon myself. I began to think like a loser; having failed once and not knowing what to do with myself but just dangle in life. When we start school, we have this obsession with coming first in exams. This desire gets rooted in every child’s brain, thanks to the pressure of parents, peers and teachers. A topper is a glorified person; everyone has just got to be him. A topper is also a nice person, and a nice person is always a topper. A topper is the apple of everyone’s eye and gets what he wants, along with the adoration others crave to have. So we thrive to be all that, for that is what we are taught. On the contrary, a student who doesn’t top is not even noticed, and if he/she happens to be at the bottom of the marks sheet, might also be looked down upon. Imagine how such neglect affects a kid’s mentality. Such students are humiliated and mocked, and made an example of. This derogatory attitude reflects poorly on the kid’s self-esteem and self-confidence, and in the long run has dire consequences. We never know if the kid tried or not, but that kid is a failure anyway. I know of a girl, who has failed many times and keeps failing, yet she still tries and struggles to get through. At least she tries. But the way her teachers and her peers shame her is embarrassing. But a topper adorns in admiration. They grows up to be loved, knowing how to get what they want. And having it all, never know how it feels to lose. They aren’t the losers, and never will be. They have grown up never knowing what failure is. But it is obvious what society does to the one does fail, and nobody wants that humiliation. A few months ago, a student committed suicide in the UAE after performing poorly in exams. Had somebody taught us in school that there are things that matter more than getting good grades in life, things like these would not be happening. We already hear a lot about such news in Pakistan, suicides over results are a common occurring. This stigma against failure instils a narcissistic and critical approach to life. Only an experience of failure can let one feel what it is like to be at the bottom. And I promise you, it is not as bad as it is projected to be. A journey towards the top teaches much more than finally being on top. Most of us have to make this journey anyway. But what we need to learn along the way is that it is okay to be average. It is okay to not be at the top. It is okay to not be in the temporary spotlight. It’s okay to be a failure; to fail once in a while is to be human. I am, by no means, trying to justify not working hard. It is our obligation to discover and utilise our full potential. But know that what lies beyond that is out of our control, and if all is not according to how we want it to be, it does not mean we are any less than others. Not all fingers are the same size; someone has got to be the small pinkie finger. If the world gets you down, don’t stop trying! You have your whole life ahead of you. You cannot form the basis of the rest of your life on this small set back. Just be content with all that you are, rise, and keep fighting till you achieve your goal; even if it is not being a topper, but whatever is good enough in your own eyes. You might lose one or two battles, but eventually you will win the war; the war of your life.

Jennifer Lawrence is one of those celebrities you cannot help but fall in love with. She’s funny, spontaneous, and doesn’t seem to have a filter when it comes to speaking, and the fact that she is so GIF-able, adds to her fame. So it came as a shock when a couple of days ago, a user on an anonymous forum decided to drop the bomb that he has Jennifer Lawrence’s, and other Hollywood celebrities’, nude photographs, and leaked a first batch. The internet went on fire that day and no one could talk about anything else. But there seems to be a divide in opinion of her fans. Some say it serves her well for taking the pictures; something like this was bound to have happened one day, considering her status as an A-List celebrity. The team investigating the hack claims their passwords were from the list of most common passwords used. Some claim it’s just a giant celebrity publicity stunt. But most are of the opinion that it is a violation of privacy and have raised some serious concerns over the state of it in the internet-loving world of today. Most people sympathise with the celebrities whose accounts were hacked. https://twitter.com/greyxgordon/statuses/506313252285218816 https://twitter.com/EmWatson/status/506531006380527617 https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/statuses/506207525931606016 https://twitter.com/Matt_Dominguez/statuses/506228409438310400 https://twitter.com/zlikeinzorro/statuses/506229759597355008 https://twitter.com/Greta_Wagner/statuses/506304066897850368 While we have the people who stand by her, and who feel angry and sorry at the same time, let’s talk about the ones who are still trash-talking about this incident and Jennifer Lawrence. Even if you are the most adorable person on the internet, and everyone claims to love you, you do one thing wrong and the people will turn against you. The spotlight makes it easier for people to see how the stars live but they also have a life outside of the spotlight, which happens to be their personal life. Knowing that, there will always be people trying to create a rift between the public image of that celebrity and their personal lives. Celebrities are human beings too and everyone makes mistakes some times; just because one gets to highlight something negative about a person’s life doesn’t mean that the person is all bad. But that is what the internet is trying to do to Jennifer Lawrence and others involved in the hack. Also, notice how there is no male artist in the list of the celebrities who were allegedly hacked. It shows that the media is still controlled by men and no matter how much we go ahead, this will be a male dominated society, always looking out for its masculine needs. Through this hack, we learnt that no matter how talented a woman is, she will always be seen as a sex object and will be treated in the same way. It raises concerns over the portrayal of women, not just in Hollywood but also in general. If such top celebrities, with so much in their hands, can be objectified like this, then why will a common woman be safe from the prying eyes of this male dominated society? For women, it’s harder than men to come out of their comfort zones and follow their passions in a smooth and clean way. And this hack only adds to the multitude of bumps of insecurities and hardships women have to face along the way. It only shows that we, as human beings, are only contributing to make the lives of such talented individuals harder than they already are. This will create a stigma in the minds of those talents not yet in the spotlight, and in turn, will make them hesitate to come forth and show the world their craft. This does not only mean being an actress; it applies to politicians, philanthropists, newscasters, models, radio jockeys and the likes. Women need to feel safe and with stunts like these being pulled every day, the world is making it harder for them to feel comfortable in their own skin. Another concern raised is the privacy that we have in this gadget-infested world we live in. We are connected with everyone over the internet and there’s only one thing keeping our identities intact – our passwords. What we learnt from this is that one should not be dependent on technology to hold such vulnerable information about ourselves. We are prone to things leaking or being hacked, so why do we have to give away ourselves to something so fickle? Our dependency on technology is alarming. It can come back to haunt us in ways we cannot even imagine, so we should learn to be more careful. If it can happen to A-List Hollywood celebrities, then who’s to say that we, the commoners, are safe? All in all, I think this leak was a portrayal of our society as a whole and shows how we still have a long way to go in terms of being tolerant, trusting, and how we see women in our society. And it’s not a portrayal I would like to see. We need to be more human, be more supportive and be more open minded. Being this small-minded will only make life difficult for others – and perhaps for us too.

It’s a fast-paced world where things keep changing by the minute. Thus, it naturally creates a more competitive environment that we thrive in. Everywhere you go, everyone is trying to keep up with others and trying to be something that is better than what they were moments ago. It’s the era of technology outpacing itself. And it has translated into our life in ways we pay no heed to, and even if we do, we try our best to ignore it and be oblivious. As predicted, when Renee Zellweger stepped out onto the red carpet of Elle magazine’s 2014 Women in Hollywood awards, she was suddenly the recipient of everyone’s stares, and the subject of everyone’s tweets, for being a completely different version of herself. She had apparently undergone some sort of procedure that made her unrecognisable and made her look anything but herself. She has since been trending on Twitter, and the media cannot get enough of her. They are criticising her for what she has done to her face, and why anyone in their right mind would do such a thing. https://twitter.com/Fran_Noble/status/524514458832363522 https://twitter.com/johnspatricc/status/525565362562416640 https://twitter.com/BD_WONG/status/524640069614055424 https://twitter.com/JaydonOno/status/524633257225510912 But let’s leave her alone for a moment, and look at the bigger picture here. Hollywood is a glamorous industry and it reinforces the image of its glamour through the dreams and looks of pretty young girls looking for some fame and a platform for their talent. It’s an industry where a young face will always be preferred over an ageing or old face. Pretty are only young and young can only be pretty. This mentality has led to the concept of ageing gracefully; which involves a tuck here and a nip there, showing that women will do whatever it takes to stay relevant and sell-able. This is the mind-set that Hollywood enforces in their minds - if they’re old and as soon as they reach a certain age, it is the end for them and they just can’t progress anymore. So when an actress is indirectly forced by you to stay relevant and goes under the knife, why would you criticise her considering you were the one who led her to do it in the first place? Why would you laugh at and judge them when you were the ones who made them do this to their face and body in the first place. This dire need to be relevant as an actress, to get roles and be able to “trend” is what drives women into giving in to the standards the industry has set for them to follow. Regardless of Hollywood, our media feeds us the idea that beauty is only associated with youth. For example, the million and one ads advertising anti-ageing creams, eradicating wrinkles and frowns. Thus, we are inclined to think that youth is beauty. Anyone who does not meet these terms and standards will eventually go on to feeling inferior, even if they were once the centre of all the attention and the subject of everyone’s discussing, in a good and desirable way. If only we, as a society, learned to accept ageing as a natural phenomenon and sought beauty in the natural process of it all, our women would not feel the constant need to be at the receiving end of the needle. It has, therefore, come to a point where we have turned this phenomenon into an insecurity that haunts women. Throughout their youth, women are forced to be seen as poster images of perfection, and when it is time to leave it all behind, they feel the need to stay that way forever. So when we see their before and after faces, it should not come as a shock to us that these women decided to do it. Zellweger, after this debacle, released a statement where she said that she feels healthier and happier in her own skin as she is at the moment. Maybe she never got the procedure, and this is the so-called ugliness of her ageing. Maybe she did get the procedure which went horribly wrong. We need to realise that we are in no position to question how a woman looks as she grows old. Ageing isn’t some optional process, it is a natural phenomenon and we need to accept the things that come along with it. Everyone goes through it, everyone around you and even you. So let nature take its course, and learn to appreciate beauty in whatever form it comes in. If we keep reinforcing unrealistic ideals into the minds of our girls and our women, we will be the ones responsible for them damaging their self-esteem and their physical appearance. What matters is that it is their life and their physical appearance. We have no right to dictate what they do with it, and how they do it. We need to accept this fact and move on with our lives and leave them alone. Zellweger couldn’t have worded it better when she said,

“I’m glad folks think I look different! I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I’m thrilled that perhaps it shows… For a long time I wasn’t doing such a good job with that. I took on a schedule that is not realistically sustainable and didn’t allow for taking care of myself. Rather than stopping to recalibrate, I kept running until I was depleted and made bad choices about how to conceal the exhaustion. People don’t know me in my 40s. People don’t know me [as] healthy for a while. Perhaps I look different. Who doesn’t as they get older?! Ha. But I am different. I’m happy.”

As I was going through my Instagram feed a couple of days ago, I came across a series of flashback photos that Tapu Javeri had posted on his profile. I was left awestruck and mesmerised by how cool things were even back in the early 90s. His shots of Babara Sharif as Marilyn Monroe, styled by Nabila, and his first ever published piece from 1991, where he manipulated the images in the darkroom using hand painting to make it look magical, speaks volumes of the photographic talent that Pakistan has. This was back in the day when fashion was not mainstream and fashion photography in Pakistan was unheard of by the common man. It made me wonder about the state of fashion photography in Pakistan and how much we have progressed in terms of creative expression. Ather and Shahzad, the dynamic duo, were also part of the pioneering bunch in terms of exposing fashion photography to the mainstream media. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Babra Sharif shot for Herald by Tapu Javeri[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Tapu Javeri’s work from the early 90’s[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Freiha Altaf for Sana Safinaz by Tapu Javeri[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Actress Needli for Herald 1992 by Tapu Javeri[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Fifi Haroon by Tapu Javeri[/caption] It was in the early 2000s, that the internet took the nation by storm, the consumption of media forms changed and newspapers started churning out high fashion editorials on a regular basis, that it started reaching the masses. Models became supermodels, dominating print and electronic media alike, and photographers started getting their work recognised, thanks to people knowing the faces they worked with. Photographers realised the importance of the talent they were working with, and accordingly, their work grew. With more demand comes the ability to work more and the more work opportunities one has, the more it gives one a chance to explore their creative expression. Fashion photography started expanding as a form of art. Then in the late 2000s, photographers such as Guddu and Shani, Ayaz Anis and Rizwanul Haq started coming out with amazing concepts and ideas that redefined the boundaries of fashion photography in Pakistan. Photoshop has also played a huge part in this, but one cannot solely rely on editing jobs for credibility. A photographer’s work speaks for itself. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="399"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="389"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="430"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="399"] Jia Ali by Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Guddu and Shani[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Ayaz Anis[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Rizwanul Haq[/caption] A lot of the credit has got to go to the photography schools around the nation, offering courses that help the industry create talented fashion photographers, National College of Arts being one of them. Now, photographers need credibility and, in the fast paced rat-race of a world, talent is just not enough to get through. Nowadays, the new crop of fashion photographers are breaking barriers and pushing themselves even more so. A lot of the credit must also go to the publications, newspapers and fashion magazines that give these new photographers a chance to showcase their work. Nadir Firoz Khan and Abdullah Haris’s work has been lauded not only by people in the industry but also by those who follow them on social media. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="476"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="476"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] NFK Photography[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="476"] Abdullah Haris[/caption] That being said, the change in the way we consume media has upped the game in many ways. Thanks to inspiration boards on Pinterest, fashion bloggers having their say, Instagram enabling people to devour the beauty of photography for themselves, and Facebook exposure has changed the way things are. Our industry is now not only for the country but people from all over the world, who are interested in taking part in the game. So naturally, in order to keep up with the Kardashians, the photographers have no choice but to go all out with their creativity, ideas and photography skills, creating more and more fun campaigns worthy of a Tumblr repost and an Instagram share. It’s getting tougher but with time, things are getting better. Pakistan’s fashion photographers now stand at par with international photographers. Sure, we may not have Terry Richardson or Annie Leibovitz to shoot for Vogue or Elle, but we do have our very own Tapu Javeri and Muzi Sufi shooting for Hello! and Herald, all the while pushing boundaries of the way Pakistanis consume fashion imagery and how things should be for fashion photography. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="478"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="477"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Muzi Sufi for Hello![/caption] In short, all of it has come together with the efforts of everyone, from the models to publishing houses, the industry being open to change and letting the work speak for itself. People are accepting of the change that the fashion industry is making in the field of photography and photographers are open to experimenting. Where Pakistanis may once have felt envious of the photo-shoots in Vogue or GQ, we now have work to devour that is on par with any high fashion international magazine and has an entity of its own.

Jeremy Scott and Katy Perry are best friends. So are him and Miley Cyrus. Which is why, when they come out to his shows, people pay attention. Fashionistas and music lovers alike. It is when every pop star wears the colourful creations by these designers that the sales take height. And who doesn’t want to dress up like their idols, or at least have what they have? It’s the emotional branding that goes along with the choices Moschino makes for its brand, and it’s the perfect combo for everyone. All are happy. Jennifer Lawrence for Dior, Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevingne for Burberry, and a plethora of celebrities and bloggers for Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvins campaign make the common man notice the fashion. Such is the power of film and pop stars that fill up our social media feeds. While Pakistanis might not have the star power to battle for the spotlight and take over the fashion industry, what we do have are budding superstars who are making their name across the border, in South Asia, and hopefully in the South Asian community globally. We have them to turn to, to get the fashion collaborations going. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: That Paki Blog[/caption] One of those superstars is Fawad Khan. Yes, the Humsafar guy who won over the hearts of millions of girls all over the world. He is the perfect person to take a brand name forward with his good looks, boyish figure and a fan following that speaks volumes of our obsession with the show. Oh, and don’t forget he co-starred with Sonam Kapoor. That makes the perfect sartorial couple, no? Recently, Fawad became the Republic’s ambassador. Republic by Omar Farooq is a menswear brand synonymous with quality menswear, a niche lacking the innovation it very much needs. Republic produces the kind of clothes that not only appeal to the modern, metro-sexual man, but also to the kind of guy who likes to keep things classic. Republic, the brain child of Omar Farooq, has kept true to its well refined roots, due to which it was recently nominated for the Woolmark Prize; one of the biggest design prizes in the world! So it only made sense for the A/W’14 collection to be titled The Woolmark Collection. It features the classic patterns plaid, windowpane, and checks exuding a timelessness to the collection. Here are my five reasons as to why Fawad Khan is the perfect ambassador for Republic: 1. Fawad is good looking. He can beat any fashion model in the country any day for his good looks. And he might not have the ramp height, but he is perfect for editorial spreads and print modelling. But if Oliver Cheshire can have the same height and get away with it, then why can’t Fawad? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="299"] Photo: That Paki Blog[/caption] 2. He’s a global phenomenon. Only in the Bollywood loving community, yes, but it is huge. Yes, HUGE! So of course, when fans keep track of him, they run into Republic’s awesome clothes that Fawad dons perfectly. So it’s like when Fawad looks good, so does Republic. 3. They work for each other. Let me tell you how; Republic makes the most dapper clothes in Pakistan. They’re masculine, trendy and totally suit the modern man. And when a modern figure, and an idol such as Fawad, goes for something that embodies the philosophy of the modern man lifestyle, it creates this perfect combination, like hazelnut and chocolate (aka Nutella). [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: That Paki Blog[/caption] 4. Republic is a brand everyone should be aware of. But since everyone is aware of Fawad, it helps the world recognise the talent behind what Fawad wears. Republic gets international exposure through Fawad. So, in a way, Fawad’s being on board is helping Pakistani menswear make a good name across various platforms. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="298"] Photo: That Paki Blog[/caption] 5. Abdullah Haris shot the campaign. Abdullah is a photography genius. And when Abdullah is on board, things just have a way of working out for the best. With a growing fashion industry as ours, it is necessary to keep in mind that we need more participation of all the people involved in helping raise the bar of our fashion industry. Republic, being a brand now making waves across South Asia, was right to have chosen someone with a strong star power as Fawad Khan. When two forces like these come together, our fashion industry will get the recognition it solely deserves. Having hired the best in the game, Republic has done something which was only being done internationally. Where brands are going for international models to cater to our gora-loving nation, Republic chose a face that will be even more beneficial in making a name for a brand. Actors with a brand image, like Ali Zafar, Humayun Saeed, Imraan Abbas, and Hamza Ali Abbasi are the perfect examples of how brand ambassadorship can help take a label’s name to heights even a well known model cannot. It’s because these faces are well known, and having them be ambassadors of a brand will provide even better exposure to our fashion industry. Instead of having Bollywood names represent our national brands, such initiatives should be encouraged. We have immense talent in our nation, and we have all the resources we need. We just need to connect the dots and create something that speaks for the work that our country’s fashion industry is capable of producing, and the nation, and the world, is equally accepting to loving. This post originally appeared here.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you happen to be the kind who does not believe in the dinner date or a romantic night out clichés on this day, how about planning something different. You can plan a pampered day with your loved one with his or her favourite food – especially chocolate and everything related to it – and spend the whole day watching movies that reinforce your faith in your love. Here’s a list of 10 movies you should watch this Valentine’s Day and have a great time watching them: 1. Like Crazy [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="362"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] A beautiful depiction of pain that comes with being apart from your loved one. The plot revolves around a British girl who comes to the US to study and ends up falling in love with an American student knowing that they cannot be together as she is deported from the country for overstaying her visa period. Faced with this heart-breaking dilemma, they try and work out ways to be with each other. The film portrays the struggle that comes with falling love, yet trying to desperately keep it alive. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkk48a_like-crazy-trailer_shortfilms 2. The Spectacular Now [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="362"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The film comes highly recommended by Oprah, which should be reason enough to watch it. https://twitter.com/oprah/status/367068558913581056 The story revolves around a guy who has a rebellious philosophy on life and ends up partying his life away in high school. But all that changes when he meets the not-so-typical “nice girl” who makes him a better man. For those who are thinking of it as just another high school love story, I can assure you it’s much more than that. It’s about how love can change our lives for the better, and how it makes us realise that we can be better. In addition, the actors – Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, two great actors of the young generation – have given some good performance considering the role of such strong characters. Furthermore, the music is beautiful and enhances the romantic essence of the film. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1152yz_the-spectacular-now-trailer-shailene-woodley-miles-teller_shortfilms 3. Flipped [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] This is a really cute movie and one of my personal favourites. It’s about a little boy who ends up falling in love with a girl next door. What makes it stand out is its intricately portrayed contradiction of the notion that only grownups are affected by social differences, as that is not the case in this movie. While it is one of the most unconventional romantic films, it will leave you feeling mushy and cute inside and out, and with a strange realisation... http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrhzva_flipped-trailer_shortfilms 4. One Day [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Photo: Fanpop[/caption] Imagine being in love with your best friend, someone you have known for a very long time who also happens to be extremely handsome and famous, due to which he hardly has time for you and you only get to see him once a year. The memories of meeting him that one day define the depth of the relationship you both share. But when your best friend goes through a bad patch and loses his fame, you cannot help but fall further in love with him. That is what One Day is all about. It’s a mundanely sad and fascinating story about friendship which transforms into love. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xihml5_one-day-trailer_shortfilms 5. Ruby Sparks [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="362"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] This movie makes you question the idea of romance that we have in our heads and how unrealistic it actually is. The plot revolves around a writer whose first novel was such a success that he is struggling with writer’s block for his next one. That is when he meets the girl of his dreams, the girl perfect to be the subject of his book. He ends up falling in love with the subject of his book and makes her love him back. After all, he is the one who created her in the first place. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq8yi2_ruby-sparks-trailer-hd-paul-dano-zoe-kazan-antonio-banderas-annette-bening-steve-coogan-elliott-goul_shortfilms 6. In Your Eyes [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="362"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Revolving around an eerie telepathic connection that two people share, the movie talks about how they are able to see into each other’s minds and see the things they are seeing. Both are living different lives but feel the same feelings at the same time. If one is sad or upset, it affects the other similarly and simultaneously. So on a quest to discover what the connection really is, they set on a journey to figure things out while falling in love with each other. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1s9imw_in-your-eyes-official-trailer-2014_shortfilms 7. The One I Love [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="362"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Sometimes one needs to be reminded of who and what they were before marriage, before life got in the way and before love was just an excuse to explain stupid things. In this film, a couple struggling with their marriage, go for a weekend vacation on the suggestion of their therapist in order to find a way to save their marriage from falling apart. There they discover that when one is without the other, the appealing image of their significant other as being the best of his or herself appears and shows them what they had been missing in their life. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22ix1u_the-one-i-love-official-hd-movie-trailer_shortfilms 8. What if [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="361"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The film portrays how a guy feels when he falls in love with his friend, a girl he cannot have, and what measures he takes to not let it affect their friendship. Even though it is a typical movie about best friends falling in love with one another, where it stands out from the rest is that it’s not a romance-comedy styled film filled with cheesy songs and dialogues. Although the movie is humorous in its own ways, it refrains from using clichéd sequences to make things more relatable, thus making it realistic. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1xmlb1_what-if-official-trailer-1-2014-daniel-radcliffe-romantic-comedy-h_shortfilms 9. Stuck in Love [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="363"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The movie revolves around a divorced writer, his ex-wife, his teenage son who lives with him, and his daughter who is in college becoming a writer. The film chronicles the love life of each of these people – even if it is an obsession with a certain favourite writer – and shows how much we are influenced by our families and the families of the ones we love. Even though the plot is a bit predictable, you will still want to watch the movie simply because you can relate to it to an extent. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x125sjd_stuck-in-love-official-trailer-1-2013-hd-logan-lerman-greg-kinnear_shortfilms 10. Now is Good [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="361"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Everyone loves a good sob once in a while and if you thought The Fault in Our Stars was a good snivel, then you will like Now is Good. The lead, played by Dakota Fanning with a British accent, is suffering from leukaemia. And while she is ready to accept death, she falls in love with the boy next door who helps her check everything off of the crazy bucket list she has compiled, falling in love and losing her virginity being one of them. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqqi6x_now-is-good-trailer_shortfilms So there you have it. This list will make you cry, laugh, feel numb and be able to relate to the characters and plots. You can feel all these emotions on a comfy day in on Valentine’s Day with the love of your life, and your other love – food! Not only will you be sharing certain emotions with your loved one, you will also be sharing your perspective of your relationship since we all know certain “Do you think we’re like them” questions will be thrown your way. In case you are flying solo on this ‘day of love’, fear not, all of these movies will be all the company you need. You can watch these and look forward to the day you have someone sitting next to you, next year! Happy Valentine’s Day in advance!

2014 was a great year for music. We saw so many new artists rising to the top, and the old ones proving their worth. But the music industry is so much bigger than the artists who manage to make a mark on the charts. With the advent of YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify, one has seen so many artists – good artists – who are starting to make heads turn. Here’s a list of 10 artists to check out who will be worth keeping an eye on in the future. Shura She may have released only two singles up till now but the soul and the old, nostalgic feel of her music is what makes her an artist worth listening to. Her single Touch garnered a lot of acclaim and she’s establishing a name for herself through her strange and magical blend of music. https://soundcloud.com/shura/shura-touch [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Shura Official Facebook Page[/caption] XOV He may have released just one song, but it was enough to catch Lorde’s attention to have her include him in the Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack. He’s got the kind of pop sound that makes you go back to the lazy summer days. Besides that, his strong honest lyrics make him to watch out for. https://soundcloud.com/xov/boysdontcry [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: XOV Facebook Page[/caption] Bleachers With their debut single I Wanna Get Better, there was little doubt that the Bleachers will go on to having a successful debut. Of course, it helped that they had Fun’s Jack Antonoff on board. But the fun, retro pop that Bleachers produced was bound to leave anyone feeling better. https://soundcloud.com/bleachers/i-wanna-get-better [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="447"] Photo: Bleachers Official Facebook Page[/caption] Chloe Howl Chloe Howl’s had a great year. She toured with Ellie Goulding and while she came around in 2014, this was the year she rose to prominence with her single Rumour that hit the right spots – musically and lyrically alike. She will release her debut album in 2015, so stay tuned! https://soundcloud.com/chloehowl/i-wish-i-could-tell-you [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Chloe Howl Official Facebook Page[/caption] Banks If Lorde was the breakthrough artist in 2013, then 2014 was the year for Banks. She released her debut album and made a lot of people fall in love with the dark and brooding sound of her music. She has the kind of lyrics that is poetry and with visually appealing videos to accompany her music, Banks is sure to be bigger than now. https://soundcloud.com/banksbanksbanks/banks-beggin-for-thread [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Banks Official Facebook Page[/caption] Brandyn Burnette Having grown up around music, his dad being R&B artist O’Bryan, Brandyn’s strength has got to be his song-writing. While he may have written First Flight Home by Jake Miller, he has produced soulful pop music alongside his song-writing gigs and is signed with Sony. His single Thanks for Nothing is a fun pop track that’s worth blasting through the car. https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/try-acoustic?in=brandynburnette/sets/punch-lines-from-a-scattered [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Brandyn Burnette Official Facebook Page[/caption] Kacy Hill She is one of those artists that one learns of, and falls in love, even though she has released just one track up till now. And it has been good enough to have Kanye West take a hold of her and sign her into his record label. So be prepared to see a lot Kacy Hill in the future. https://soundcloud.com/kacyhill/experience [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Kacy Hill Official Facebook Page[/caption] Tove Lo She may not have been at the top of the charts but she definitely was somewhere on the charts in the good spots. Her debut album Queen of the Clouds is a strong piece of pop music with a talent of writing lyrics that are hard hitting. Her single Habits (Stay High) rose to critical acclaim and stayed for a while in the charts in 2014. She’s a female artist bound for stardom. https://soundcloud.com/tovelo/habits [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Tove Lo Official Facebook Page[/caption] Laurel Laurel is just a teenager. And having recently released her extended play Holy Water, she is surely on to her way to becoming a rising British musician who’ll take the world over. Her song Fire Breather has been even featured in The Vampire Diaries, so she’s a big deal with a good sound to her visually appealing music videos. https://soundcloud.com/classiclaurel/fire-breather [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Laurel Official Facebook Page[/caption] Broods They released their debut album Evergreen this year. The brother-sister duo behind Broods produces dark and soft pop music that, with the lyrics, is a strong display of their abilities. Their song Bridges is a sweet blend of electro pop that leaves one feeling light or heavy, perfect for all emotions. But the one that hits the heart is definitely Mother and Father. https://soundcloud.com/broods/broods-mother-father [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Broods Official Facebook Page[/caption] In the world of pop music, things are slowly changing. Indie artists are coming to the mainstream and it is obvious that where Taylor Swift left a Blank Space, these artists are there to fill it up. It’s a new generation of young artists who are changing the landscape of the music industry. The lyrics are deeper, the music is more refined and in the end, it’s all about the connection this music makes with the people who listen to them. These artists do just that. So here’s hoping that 2015 brings us great music to listen to.

 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has had its fair share of ups and downs in the past, but recently, PIA seems to be changing things up for good. One of those drastic, but essential, changes has been the recent initiative to change their uniforms. Looking back at PIA’s history, you will see how much the uniform of the ground and cabin crew mattered. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="156"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="158"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="551"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="569"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="254"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="351"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="474"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="474"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="474"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="474"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="317"] Photo: PIA[/caption] From PIA’s first flight to the first air hostess uniform design in June 1954 which consisted of the three toned shalwar kameez – mustard, sea green and rust – along with the tweed jacket, skirt, blouse, a matching cap and the floral patterned dupatta by Ms Riffat Yasmin, there has been a signature look of our PIA air hostesses. Of course, it has seen many transformations over the years, but the main look has remained consistent and appealing. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="474"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] For the men, their dark coloured double-breasted jacket with golden buttons has remained essentially the same. That is, until now. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"] Photo: PIA[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="326"] Photo: PIA[/caption] PIA recently decided to reinvent their crew uniform and enlisted some local designers, who are nationally and internationally renowned, to get their creative juices running and help them create a wardrobe that is timeless, yet classy and sticks to the legacy that is PIA. Fifteen designers were chosen to showcase their work at a recently held fashion show. The chosen designers included Maheen Khan, Shamaeel Ansari, Sonya Batla, Amir Adnan, Nida Azwer, Ismail Farid, Omer Farooq, Fahad Hussayn, Maheen Karim, Misha Lakhani, Sania Maskatiya, Yasmeen Sheikh, Shamoon Sultan of Khaadi, Ali Zeeshan and HSY. The judges’ panel comprised of leading names such as Tariq Amin, Zeba Bakhtiar, Seema Iftekhar, Shahnaz Ismail, Naz Mansha, Rabya Javeri and Shakil Saigol. It must be kept in mind that even though the competition was tough, the designers on board did everything free of charge. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] History girls of PIA on the show. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Yasmeen Sheikh. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Yasmin Sheikh. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] Being aware of the aforementioned designers’ work, one could have expected tough competition, as it is very difficult to stick to one’s signature look and create a wardrobe so essentially mundane. The task was not easy, and neither was the verdict. The designers knew what they were getting into and played their cards extremely well. The winning designers were Sania Maskatiya for her cap design, Yasmeen Sheikh for her coat design, Republic by Omer Farooq for menswear, and Nomi Ansari for women’s wear. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Nomi Ansari. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Omer Farooq. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Sania Maskatiya. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Design by Sania Maskatiya. Photo: Catalyst PR[/caption] Comparing the works of the winning designers with what the PIA crew wore in the past, it only makes sense to have chosen the winners accordingly. It was never about designers demonstrating their fashion prowess, but about how a designer can come up with a contemporary design good enough for it to be called a uniform, considering the fact that uniforms are dull and will always be timeless, even if the designer’s signature keeps evolving. It was about stopping in time to think if the crew could pull this look off for another couple of years and whether the clothes presented had the timelessness to their silhouettes or not. Here is to hoping that PIA not only becomes “Great People to Fly With” but also, “Stylish People to Fly With”.

I like to listen to music, just like anybody else. And like a lot of people out there, I crave a musical atmosphere where I don’t have to listen to Bollywood music blaring out the speakers all the time. And it makes me wonder, whatever happened to the Pakistani music industry? Did it just die? Are we not good enough? Has everyone abandoned it? In this social media and gadget-infested world, it is not hard to find answers to these questions. I have had discussions with famous artists about it, talked about this on television and even had drawing room discussions about the state of the essentially Pakistan-grown music. And I have discovered that it’s not as bad as it seems. There are so many musicians out there trying to make a name for themselves, and are using social media and the internet to put out their work for the world to see. And for them, to come together collectively in order to have a single platform to showcase their work has been the biggest challenge, apart from selling their music. This is where Patari comes in. Currently in its beta phase, Patari has brought together numerous musicians to provide a single platform to every musician in Pakistan for people to listen to. They have collaborated with over 80 music labels to bring on board all the musical talent in the country and have worked with great music journalists to curate the playlists currently present on the website. Breaking down the website for you guys, the part that got me intrigued was their invite. It’s cleverly designed to lure the user into signing up. But the problem right now is that only a limited number of invites were sent, as the website is currently in its beta phase. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="401"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] As one clicks on and signs up, the website automatically takes you to the ‘Discover’ section where you can find all the genres and choose ones you might be interested in. Apart from the regular genres out there, the ones that caught my attention were ‘Bahngra Pop’, ‘Devotional’ (Sufi music), ‘Naya Pakistan’ and ‘Socio/Political’. With a vast library featuring music categorised according to the kind of lyrics one would want to hear, is something worth checking out. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] Checking out the Sufi genre, you will find Arieb Azhar, Ali Zafar, Junoon along with many new artists like Abdullah Qureshi. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] As you discover, you will see that there are categorisations according to mood as well. You have, from your ‘Break Up’ playlist to ‘Baarish’ (rain) to ‘Funk’ and playlists curated according to the kind of emotions one might want to indulge in. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] The ‘Break Up’ playlist features all cool artists, from Shehzad Roy and Najam Sheraz, to new artists like The Tamaashbeens. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] Apart from already present playlists on the website, you can make your own and ‘favourite’ the songs you might want to put on repeat. There’s also a feature through which artists on board have their bios on their own artist pages. Their songs are categorised according to their albums and are featured on other albums. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Patari website[/caption] With the international market equipped with websites like Spotify, where artists get a part of the revenue generated through subscriptions, Patari.pk is providing local artists an outlet of the same kind. It has a monitisation program through which the artist will get 30% of the cut from Patari’s revenue. This gives hope to upcoming musicians who think that pursuing music is not a financially feasible option. However, keeping all praise aside, the real issue Patari will have to face is engaging its customers when it goes into its commercial zone. Will users pay for the music they want to listen to? Are users willing to pay for something they can surely find on either YouTube or other websites? In a country like Pakistan, where piracy is at its peak, Patari will definitely face tough competition if it wants to stay relevant. With more of the Pakistani community coming on to social media, how will Patari appeal to the masses once it does decide to go commercial? Virtual hipsters will pay for the service, but if there’s a simple music lover who can find the things he/she wants on other platforms, how will Patari lure such people into using it? Only time will tell how Patari does in the future, but right now, it looks like something worth appreciating. Here’s what the Twitterverse is saying about Patari: https://twitter.com/khatmal23/status/576868153092800512 https://twitter.com/_FatimahAhmed/status/576715442095423488 https://twitter.com/JibbyD/status/576463270439202817 https://twitter.com/tweet_qash/status/576413022899466240 https://twitter.com/Aibasy/status/573222682197684224 From how it’s looking, Patari might just be the thing our Pakistani music industry needs to bring our people out from under the Bollywood rock and back to enjoying our own music. So if you’re craving some great Pakistani music, I suggest you sign up and give this a try. Supporting our music industry is very important and this is where you can do it – so stop complaining about what Pakistan lacks and start appreciating the little things we do have!

There is our body, and then there is our soul. When I wake up, both of them seem to take up a life of their own, leaving me out of the equation. My body refuses to move and my soul retaliates from inside, leaving me woozy and heavy-headed. They tell me it is just my hormones and this is how things are at my age. I ask them, is this how you felt when you were in my shoes? Were you even wearing the same shoes back then? The exact same fit, thread to thread, emotion to emotion, skin to skin? As children, we would swim towards the deep end of the pool and we would compete with each other; games that involved going underwater and touching the floor of the swimming pool. I recall the weight building up as I used to go underwater, my body wanting to float, but my will power motivating me to hold my breath and go down under. Now, I do not need the swimming pool to feel the same way. And my will power has gone. It feels like I am stuck halfway. Life can be compared to an ocean now; I keep trying to catch my breath and the water keeps choking me, and the weight of it keeps dragging me down. Only I cannot move further down. I am just dangling in the middle trying to live. Living is hard. Everyday activities seem pointless. And I do not know why. It’s just like that. I used to love biking. I used to love going for a walk in the woods. Now all I want to do is disappear into the sky. They tell me I just need to get out of the house, socialise, and hang out with friends. They say it will be okay once I start ‘acting’ normal. And I start questioning them. What is the definition of normal? What is the definition of being okay? What is wrong with me anyway? You all say you have felt the same way I have, so why single me out and tell me what to do when I just want to get lost in the silence of my empty thoughts? It feels like the sun mocks me every morning. So I just draw the curtains, but my maid keeps opening them. She has to clean the room, but I have to clear my mind. I do not like how I am feeling. But I do not dislike it as well. It is like a tea stain on my favourite tee that refuses to go away. I want the shirt. But then there is a stain on it. The big brown stain on my dinner jacket, which cannot be hidden. But I do not mind. It is a part of me. But nobody understands. Everyone keeps pushing and pushing, pulling at my ropes, giving directions to me, while I just float in the ocean. Empty. Screaming. And yet, you are not willing to hear me out. I just want to be alone. Please let me be. A lot of time has passed since my body gave up on my soul. I have seen and known enough to admit it is okay; I am okay. There is nothing wrong with me. We just like to label people. And unfortunately I got the “depression” label. But it is okay. It is who I am. And the sooner I learn to accept it, the quicker my body and my soul can piece everything back together and be at peace.

Having a commando situation in the opening scene with one of the biggest celebrity cameos Hollywood can pull off (President Barack Obama and his wife), the movie Pitch Perfect 2, directed by Elizabeth Banks, sets the tone for a ride very different from the first one, and I’d like to say, it's not in tune with what it wants to sing about. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2lr4er[/embed] The prequel worked because it was a lot about the freshman struggle and the issue about not fitting in and standing out. It worked because it celebrated the underdogs, whereas the entire second movie talks about competition. While there are other storylines, they all seem undercooked and make the movie come off as haphazard. The humour is another mediocre aspect in the movie since the jokes were dry and seemed very forced and predictable. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] The movie follows the Barden Bellas after winning the acapella championship three times during their final year at college. Due to the opening scene incident, their dean tells them not to perform at any acapella showcases in the future. They lose their rights to tour the US and their spot is given to the best acapella group in the world, The Sound Machine. The movie documents the Bellas being outshined by The Sound Machine at every level except the final battle, the World Acappella Tournament, which, if they win, will restore their right to perform. But of course, The Sound Machine is so much better a group. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Meanwhile Beca (Anna Kendrick) gets an internship at a recording studio where she is hoping to become a music producer. Along with all the Bellas drama, graduation, and worrying about life after college, it is great to see the movie highlighting an average college student’s struggle. The film allows the audience to relate to the characters, and this seems to be the only factor that shows the connection Pitch Perfect had made with the audience in the prequel. Besides that and the relationship drama, the movie seems to be all over the place. With so much going on in one film, the main event, the world championships, passes by in a much shorter time frame and the struggle of the Bellas seems to end up in naught. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] While I understand that new Bellas needed to be added and having Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Emily, on board was a move to attract the younger audience to the film, having a new character storyline seemed very forced. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Coming to the music of the film, composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, it is much better than the prequel. The choreography improved drastically and the performances of The Sound Machine were a visual delight. The Cup song even got a makeover which involved a beautiful and heart-warming scene. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pjyae[/embed] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] I had higher expectations from Pitch Perfect 2 and I was expecting it to take me on an emotional ride, something which the prequel did. Pitch Perfect enabled me to connect with the characters in a film that gave its characters ample screen time to tell their story, but with Pitch Perfect 2 starting when the Bellas are in their final year at college, as opposed to the freshman year in the prequel, there should’ve been more of what made the prequel muster up a cult following. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo: IMDb[/caption] Even with almost two hours of a running time, Pitch Perfect 2 came across as a hot mess, and with so much going on, it did not click like it should have.

In the age of the cloud, things are progressing fast and people are accepting changes coming along with it. The internet has revolutionised not only the way we consume media, but also how the media infiltrates into our lives, and into the lives of the ones who control it. Our music industry is witnessing a positive change, thanks to the internet, and new musicians with their creative music, are showing the world the amount of talent our country has. SomeWhatSuper is one such duo who recently came out with their single ‘Bandook’, a catchy dance track. But here’s the catch, it’s in Punjabi, which makes the track so much more interesting. I recently got a chance to talk to Feroz and Talha, the voice behind SomeWhatSuper, about their experience of releasing and creating the track, and using the uber cool new music platform Patari to take things forth. [embed width="620"]https://soundcloud.com/somewhatsuper/somewhatsuper-bandook-original-mix[/embed] How did you guys come up with the lyrics to the song? What’s the story behind the lyrics? For me, it’s the lyrics which are the really catchy part of the song. What is the girl talking about? I don’t understand the Punjabi bit, so help us understand the song a bit.

The lyrics to the song were not just a random fluke; they were well thought out and were inspired by the research and experiment we did with our kind of music. Two years back, we bought a random sample pack off the internet. This sample pack had bonus vocals that later became the vocals of Bandook. The lyrics, ‘Tureya Tureya janda’ are from ‘Bajra Da Sitta’ whereas ‘Dukhan Di Roti’ is a Sufi poem by Shah Hussain. We call them ‘Tappay’. A typical response to this might be that the lyrics are copied from Badshah, but these are a mix of two very old folk songs that inspired us to give it a twist with a genre of our interest and come up something phenomenal for our listeners out there. Initially, when we started on Bandook, we stopped working on it for a while, but the fact that we often found ourselves mumbling the addictive lyrics and tune gave us a signal to work on it and create something out of it. The lyrics ‘Tureya Tureya Janda’ is where a girl is expressing how fragile her life is and the gun we have on our shoulder, we should be careful with that. The other part is the man, who is responding by saying that this is to feed my sadness, misery, and pain.

Both of us belong to Punjabi families. People who do not belong to Punjabi families, even they are dazzled by the rich culture of Punjab. So the Punjabi background alone was enough to tempt us to work and experiment with Punjabi lyrics. Apart from this, we listen to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan a lot. We listen to him musically and lyrically, and that is what signalled us to fuse (Punjabi and Electronic Dance Music) for good. For us, this is not really dubstep; we call it the Moombahton style. Basically Moombahton can be referred to English bhangra beats, and to easily convert Moombahton to bhangra, the right instruments need to be selected and we did the same for Bandook. The result, although it took quite a while for us to understand the specifics and mechanics, can work for the lyrics we have selected. Besides the Punjabi family background, we wanted to aim for the domestic music industry rather than going for the international industry. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the Pakistani music industry and its listeners, which is slowly dying. The bridging would not only revive it, but also establish a stable platform for others wanting to do the same.

The production process was not a simple one. It was difficult for us, as a team, to work things out and work our way through the lengthy and hectic process of production. The anticipation and interest kept us moving along. We created around 20 demos for Bandook, but somehow failed to get the sound we wanted, until we worked on demo number 21. Even after that, we had to work on three more demos for the final product. We still have two different versions of Bandook. One is for user listening and the other is for us to play during our live performances. We have postponed the releasing of the other version for a while. Things are very unpredictable when one is going through the production phase. You can never be sure how the final track, a demo or changes to a demo will turn out. It was very similar for Bandook too; it took us two years to create the first half whereas the other half was done and finalised within 20 minutes. We knew what we wanted the final sound to be, so it was easier for us to move forward with a clear direction. Producing our own music, when your laptops are your make shift studios is quite difficult, but the journey of Bandook was very stimulating for us.

Being musicians, we appreciate art. It works as an inspiration, it can act as food for the soul or it can even complement the work we do. And that is why SomeWhatSuper and art go hand in hand. For this specific cover, our friends Raza and Amar really helped us put together a fancy and catchy cover art work. We left it at their discretion and the cover took us by surprise. It is not only different and catchy, but completely complements what we have to offer to our listeners. It made our track a complete package, added to the unique element we were banking on, and added vitality to the entire Bandook story.

Aiming for the clubs was never on our list, especially when it comes to Bandook. For Bandook to become the ultimate summer anthem is what we had in our minds; we want people blasting their cars with this song. Many of our listeners and friends have sent us videos and Snapchats of people listening to Bandook in their cars or humming the tune. To take this ahead, we have a lot more to offer but we are very concerned about how we should further progress while keeping the distinctive element people have started associating with SomeWhatSuper and the sounds we work on. Various tracks are in the pipeline right now. There are a lot of demos that need to be revisited and perfected for our listeners.

Initially, it was us who approached and shared our work with the Patari team. We got a response from Khalid Bajwa immediately and he was super excited about Bandook. He pitched a plan to take it forward through his platform of Patari. We left it entirely up to him on how he wants to promote the track. The response and feedback we got through Patari was very insightful and motivating on how we should take this forward from here. It’s been a month or so since the track was launched on Patari, we already have 20,000 hits. We are ranked as number one on their charts. I think we were very lucky to be going live with Bandook the same time Patari is growing too. We hopped on to the bandwagon. As Patari grows, we have a more promising platform to come forward to and we get a chance to grow with it as well. It is an amazing venture for the Pakistani music industry which will further expand the horizon of opportunities for all the music lovers, listeners and musicians out there.

Bandook was not an instantaneous thing; there is no such story behind it to tell. There were instances where it hit us what we want to do to with the track and the production process was steered by us accordingly. We are an electronic group and we don’t really work as a band. Although one of us is a guitarist and the other a drummer, we bring our own specialities and expertise to the table and work together as any other electronic group does. We work from our laptops, collaborate, and keep on polishing it until we like what we hear. During this process, we share the raw demos with a few selected friends, which mostly bring in negative feedback or laughter. We are currently working on four different types of tracks, where two of them are affiliated with one of the biggest names from the music industry. Our next track is completely different from Bandook. We like to experiment with stuff. We will not stick to a single sound or a single genre. Apart from this, SomeWhatSuper is also working on a 30-minute non-stop mix of a kind that has never been done before. This comes out right after Eid, followed by going live with other projects in the pipeline. The year 2015 has already started well for us and going by the plans we have, we see it ending even bigger for us as well as the music industry we cater to.

As the graduation season hits an all high, a lot of students are left facing their futures. Companies will be welcoming some fresh graduates, while others will be seeking jobs desperately. This is a reality graduates will have to face as soon as they get their diplomas or degrees and go back to living their prior lives, with their parents. Some will be on a desperate job hunt while others will be enjoying job offers from multiple places. The thing is, our parents, teachers, and peers forgot to highlight that some of us will not get jobs right away and we will not be enlisted on an enterprises’ payroll as soon as we graduate. While some have earned their way to the top, others will simply be lucky in landing their first job. The fact is that these days, graduates pull a lot of strings to get to where they are. Nepotism and favouritism are commonplace. It is most likely that graduates will not land up with any interview if they do not use their contacts in places they are applying to. But it is okay, because you are not the only one. There are many others just like you. I often wonder why the education system and our families put so much emphasis on succeeding and jobs. All of us are programmed to think we are better than the rest due to our education and we automatically think jobs will be rolling in. But it is hard to get jobs. And it is even harder to see your friends getting hired by the same company you always dreamt of becoming a part of. We create unrealistic images of our lives while studying, of what we want to become and our parents and teachers further fuel these dreams. Dreams so unrealistic that when we graduate, we start suffering from a bout of depression. This depression is a result of not being prepared to face failure. Even though I strongly believe that not getting a job does not equate failure, but unfortunately, many around us believe in this notion strongly. It’s just the way our society expects us to be, but it is better to accept the fact that we will be rejected a hundred times before we get one decent job offer, and even though it will not pay as much as we may have expected, it is something and something is better than nothing. Many graduates think they are over qualified for most jobs and are getting paid a meagre salary. Yes, they might be graduates, that even from the best institutes, but that’s how life is. Take it or leave it. Even if you don’t get a job the first few times, move on and keep trying. It is not just the societal pressure that lacks support, but also the way graduates think. The current generation is convinced that life will hand them everything the way they want, but things never turn out the way we expect them to be. We are so accustomed to being spoon fed that we forget it is all up to us at the end of the day. We have to get up and try to get what we want. Failure is part of everyone’s life, it is an inevitable truth and we cannot let it get to us. We just have to be realistic and optimistic. Do not let societal and peer pressure get to you. Just know that you’ll get there when the time is right. But for now, you have to keep trying, and take every stride with a smile on your face.

A blogger posted a screenshot of Lindsay Lohan’s new Instagram bio. She had deleted all her posts and the bio read “Alaikum salam” which translates to “peace be unto you.” As a joke, I took a screenshot of the bio and put it up as my cover photo on Facebook. One of my friends asked in the comments,

 “What?”

“All she has to do is be herself.”