Na Maloom Afraad-2 & Punjab Nahi Jaongi: Is it really an uphill ride for Lollywood?

I am not sure what’s happening to our Paki-Cinema? I thought it was going uphill, reviving, and revitalizing with all its wit…but nope! 

It really feels sad to say k, our cinema in the name of progressive upheaval, is just sabotaging our (bachi kuchi) moralities. I literally don't know k why our Respected-Most-Senior-Censor-Board-Sir-Gees are playing blindfolded, when these ‘newbies' are khulam-kula demoralizing our young ones.

I guess its enough of the hate speech, and now I actually need to give my reasonings! On this Eid-ul-Adha, everyone has their eyes glued to the two most anticipated full-house, box-office-hits, record-breaker films—Na Maloom Afraad-2 (NMA2) and Punjab Nahi Jaungi (PNJ). 

I haven't seen the ‘old’ NMA, (precursor to this NMA2), neither am I interested in its jalebi like twisted racy story. But I do have clear issues with its songs. I am not sure what this naya-joshila-khoon wants to prove or to be exact are following? I have to be quite crude and bluntly say k I hate their two songs, which ironically got the most hits/clicks/views. The Arabian number is in one word…just-not-us (*i have already written an article on that). 

Then comes this Chal Hug Lay number, an absurd lyrical tongue twister. It’s incomprehensible for me, if our censor-board approved it in the name of light humor…yar it’s literally dirty. 

Second on my list is, I guess the most awaited one of all, PNJ. I liked its cinematography, grandeur, songs, and even crisp dialogues. Its trailer is actually one of the must-watch-ones. My problem is with its title. The words Main Punjab Nahin Jaon Gi, on first hear camouflage as a very bold, blunt, and fearless statement by a female protagonist. But if you ponder a bit…it actually invokes pity and sympathy. I am not sure of the storyline, but I can say one thing with absolute certainty k, despite all the entitled resistance,“our poor girl” will end up going to the Punjab. 

What is our cinema showing or wants to portray? Is it k our Punjabi-Jatt can just never take a “NO” for an answer? Or k our society is just an amalgam of convoluted double-standards? Or k these patriarchs got all the power to fake woman’s independence to highlight their menogamy (if that could be a word)? Or k, no matter what a girl wants or wills, in the end it’s a man’s world, and they are the ones who could decide her fate? 

If you could understand my logics, then I am sure you’ll be as mad as I am right now...while writing this all-out to actually de-strain and share my resentment. 

Two Women...Showcasing the Dichotomy in Pakistan!

Instead of stewing my resentment and despair, I thought kay its best to pen it and share >> my ultimate feel-good strategy!

This is about two women, public-figures, who belong to extremely contrasting professions. One has been in the limelight for over a week now. Whereas, the other one blasted the Pakistani media, almost a day before. Ironically, the first one is being quite appreciated for her revealing aptitude, whereas the later’s revelations are facing an expected* biased reception. (*After all Pakistan was, is, and will remain a patriarchal society)! 

I guess its enough of the trivia, let me reveal their identities! The one who's receiving all the wows and bows is Sadaf Kanwal, for her latest 'item' song, for an upcoming Lollywood movie. The other one, who’s been facing quite a back lash from our very own judgmental nation is Ayesha Gulalai, a MNA and “former” PTI member. 

By now, my train of thought would be quite evident. I am not feeling very happy and excited while jotting down this chaos. More so, I feel sad. Why? Let me wipe the haze… 

Sadaf Kanwal is a beautiful talented model. Nothing negative for her and the profession…all’s good. Here, I am just using her as an example to discuss the latest Pakistani craze. I don't appreciate her and other girls' act of seeding the “item-song-culture” in Pakistan. Because if it worked, which equals financial success, then guess what…all the girls would feel the pressure or God forbids, would feel the need to strip down. No one wants that…!  

We all proudly declare our films as a national asset. Then how can we appreciate or more so even tolerate such an act, where women are showcased as a mere pleasure toy. NO…it’s a big NOO…it’s not profiting in long-run, simply out of respect for our social and moral grounds. Plus, how much bronzed skin should/could be highlighted is another slippery slope discussion...let's not follow that path from the beginning! 

So, please girls stop, and be careful on your own…or do we need any random men to make regulations against this unacceptable aptitude? No, right? Please, don't begin this false rat race. Sorry folks…its just not acceptable…and please don't converge your efforts to prove a wrong, as right!   

The second incident is smoking fresh, yet sad. I don't know anything about Ayesha Gulalai, and didn't even felt the need to dig into her past, present…and even future inclinations. Just out of scope for my discussion! What matters is, she didn't hesitated to confront a culturally tabooed issue. Being a part of our conservative Pakistan, she came upfront and made some upsetting declarations about being targeted for an ethically unacceptable behavior, by the few chosen ones, (we all know their names…). 

Besides digging into the realm of her being right or wrong, my concern is kay she is at the least, courageous. Thanks to her that the women’s issue of workplace (sexual) harassment, which undoubtedly is faced by many, if not all, is ones again in the limelight. I wonder how and why, our efficient leaders just swipe past this most pungent and stagnant problem. And our media (including Social Networking Sites), which amplified it as a scandalous talk, are just blindfolded to understand the gravity of this issue. Isn't it ironic? Before publicly stoning anyone with weird comments and questions, the need is be patient. Let the lawmakers do their job, because truth always finds its way out.

Anyways, hats off to all the ladies who refuse to stay silent, and more so, choose to unzip it all. If not rewarded with any instant gratification, at least be proud of blazing a trail for the rest to follow!

The gist of all aforementioned nitty-gritty details is kay, when one female is depicted as an item…all applauded her. And when one woman opened up to seek respect, all became judgmental! This is the most ironic dichotomy of Pakistan, that we live, breath, and I fear kay our coming generations will also be watering the same holes. To initiate an ultimate change, the chain of ‘such' conservative ideologies needs to be cut. There’s so much that needs to be fixed, but cleanup can only begin when we realize kay it’s literally messy. 

People..please snap out of your illusionary halos...accept the existence of these problems…and demand the responsible-ones to fix them! 

📝 Knowing when to 'skip'…

It's a technique that's literally taught in a class for a hefty price. And here I am just sharing it for free…lucky you guys :) Oh, I hear someone saying kay…good things in life are free…yah right ! 

Currently I'm preparing for an exam (fingers crossed). As a doing-well strategy, we are continually being advised to focus on learning to skip, logically. It’s a proven technique to get better score, under those time-ticking constraints.

According to this skip-ritual, one is recommended to skip a question, that’s too hard, too wordy, too complicated, or just plain gibberish.The goal is to keep going with a consistent momentum, without getting bogged down by the test-makers’ intentionally bestowed humps and bumps.

I am not too sure how much I could implement all that during the exam…still practicing! But as a general rule, this appears to be quite an effective strategy on mundane everyday basis. Most of us are ingrained with doing each and every task to its best and till its completion. Ufff…all will agree kay it’s literally quite exhausting, tiring, and draining. 

Now just imagine the same you…who is free to do any task, in any random order, with the required completion rate of only 70% or 80%. Won’t that be a breath of fresh air? Not worrying about 100% is such a great relief…especially, to all the perfectionist folks (like me). 

So, without making it unnecessarily wordy with reiterations, the simple advice is to learn and practice the art of skipping. It’s okay to not to be THE best or 110% at all instances. Rather, the focus should be on being consistent while staying normal and relaxed. Kyon-kay, ironically our 80% or 100% inputs are just relative concepts…no one can ever gauge it…so why stress out!  

Instead of deciphering all nitty-gritty details of random everyday perplexities, the idea is to be able to keep breathing till the day-end. If you don’t feel like doing something, and know kay it’s not that important, then please don't feel obliged to do that. The world can survive without you being the super-doer...trust me on that ;) So, handpick only few important tasks to complete and ones done…wohla. That’s it…no more…no extra! 

Thus, do less to relax.

📝 Yes...I’m Judging You...

This’ll be a simple, apt, yet a very blunt display of my hatred towards smokers. Though I am not judgmental, but unfortunately for this smoking habit, I am. Period. I just can’t find any logical reason to support this craziness. 

So, without further delay…here comes my crude extraction:  

Insensitive: This is very obvious…even on a sidewalk, they’ll just pass by while puffing out all their dhoowan on a person like me…who just can’t tolerate. Plus, it just surpasses all heights of immorality, when they act so insensitively towards innocent kids—who are unconsciously absorbing everything, even their behaviors.

Stubborn: Because…no matter how many times they read, hear, see, or are told…but most just chose not to quit!

Stressed: Besides initial so-called pleasure…smokers end up adopting it as a habit because it just provides them with an outlet to destress. Seriously, if that’s de-stressing…then believe me you (smoker) are better off by staying fully-stressed!! 

Unhealthy: It’s a no-brainer that taking care of our body should be our top priority. I know there are few down/lazy days…but just few. But smokers, by just indulging into this most-unhealthiest habit drive themselves onto the most dangerous route, which literally got the Dead-End. No matter how many greens you churn…or miles you run…that pack in your pocket got your visa stamped to the *Heavens, (*just trying to be polite…).

Ambivalent: They just can’t makeup their minds, or better can’t just accept the fact that their act is wrong; smoking in no way is accepted, and they should stop. No! On contrary, they try to prove that it’s not harmful…instead all can “safely” *enjoy it. It’s just so irritating!

Pleasure-Seekers: If not just-for-a-puff, then what else are they doing? 

Short-Term Plans ONLY: Or else they’ll be thinking about the long-term side effects of their habit…their future, their family, their kids. No! Instead…they tu just believe in aaj mein jeena…crazy people! It’s impossible to construct any long-term plans with the ones who believe in sole ‘now’ moments. Caution: not good future partners!  

Impulsive: Of course, all that leads up to their impulsive, panicked, and emotional nature. Meaning, they’ll smoke when they got nothing to do…and they’ll still smoke when got a lot to do…just difficult confused people.

Last but not the least, I am not naming this idea/question…because it’s simply a food for thought. If a smoker can’t tame his/herself or get control of their own personality, then how can they expect their kids to be ideal—super-ggod, super-responsible, super-obedient. It just is not possible. Instead this habit is like a chain-reaction…ones initiated…would just ignite all succeeding ones. So, it’s better to stop at your individual level, rather than choosing to force your kids to do the opposite (quit).

Think and Quit! 

📝...if I were to make a ""Masala FilLem""...

I had been thinking of writing this blogpost for almost two weeks,…actually since the day I saw Radha from Jab Harry Met Sejal. Though we’ll be only able to know on August 4th kay what actually happens (this time)…Jab they Met! 

But in the meantime, while listening to my playlist…I unintentionally started imaging new situations for some of my heard-million-times songs. It was fun…so, here I am just sharing my slice of spice…which I enjoyed a lot while creating: )  

Disclaimer: This film is made possible, using the sole input of my trusted playlist…😉. 

So, let’s get get going…Start, Camera, Action. 

Situation: The girl’s entry…grooving with her friends on this funky classic punjabi remix…“Engine ki Seeti”.

Situation: Boy’s entry…singing “Yaaron Sun Lo Zara” with his friends.

Situation: Boy saw and met the girl for the first time in a party…where “O Gujariya” was playing. 

Situation: Both perplexed…and while thinking about each other…they start questioning kay “Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai”.

Situation: First things first…boy’s daring act of confession with “Gulabi Aankhen”.

Situation: Girl, shyly passes her feelings in a quite subtle way with “Deewani Mastani”.

Situation: Someone breaks this news to their parents…and here comes their downtime…the twist…which they enjoy in a most classic way with “Jashn e Baharan”. 

Situation: As expected parents give-in…and this happy occasion of ‘haan’ (acceptance) and Methai sharing is ought to be celebrated with “Shakar Wadawan”. 

Situation: Girl displays her happiness on this whole set-up with imagining…“Rehnuma”. 

Situation: Boy, in a slightly showoff/outrageous way bursts his emotions with… “Pee Loon”.

Situation: Both families meet each other to start Shaadi preps…with “Ishaq Bulava" playing in the background, which of course…only the girl and boy can hear and enjoy ;) 

Situation: Mehndi/Shaddi celebrations happening with all enjoying…“Rang Rang Mein”. 

Situation: Though not needed…but since I also had “Yeh Hassen Wadiyan” on my list, and which I always enjoy…so let’s not ignore that…and stick it to the end, with credits rolling. 

P.S. I know this looks less like a film, but more like a musical…just created to cater all these songs…but it’s okay. After all it’s my film…and I can do anything…right 😉? 

After the "Happy Ending”…a moment....a story....

He was gently hugging her...calmly brushing his hands on her back…she was secretly tip-toeing on his feet...while letting her curls to gently kiss his face…lakin, the door opened…and everyone stepped out...he too, empty handed…she managing her two super-heavy bags...followed him...quietly! 

Astounded, I asked myself…kay what was that? 

Is it 'being-rude' or 'being-used'...?

P.S. This short narrative is solely based on my observation of a couple…who hopped on the train…I was also commuting on...! 

The Reason Why I Stopped Looking For Happiness...?

Lately I had been really confused on the concept of happiness. I know it’s a very derailing n draining topic…lakin I’ll try to keep it short and simple! 

Digging into my bookish knowledge…I found myself always coming across the concept kay…happiness is inside us. Then there’s another entirely different idea kay gee...happiness is around us. And that still is not the end of the story…we got more…it’s said kay...happiness is the feeling we choose to surround ourselves with! 

All really confusing and mind boggling talk…! 

But recently…and by that I actually mean yesterday ;)…it just clicked me kay being-happy got such liberating and relaxed vibes…that it’s implausible to downsize and confine it to a specific definition. It’s just not comprehending for me! 

Keeping it plain n simple, I think, happiness is simply when we smile :) I guess that’s too brief…and deserves its due grant of explanation...

The point is kay…whenever we are happy, we smile…except our super-sensitive Amees …who, even when they’re happily smiling, can always magically transform their eyes into oceans…a pure-desi-mystery…hmmm :) Oh…now I’m floating away...! 

So, when we genuinely smile, it plainly signifies that we are either contented with our current situation or are satisfied with our future prospect. Happiness is simply a feeling of contentment and satisfaction. We don't need to look or search for it—inside, outside, around, or anywhere! 

But it’s really hard to be contended;…we are just not born that way. We are not Angles…who without questioning anything…just follow His given set of instructions and feel contented. It’s hard for us! We are made to think, question, resist, and always look beyond our current circumstances…let’s say for betterment! 

This is the instance, when staying happy transforms into an effort, a tiresome personal battle. My advice is to please avoid reaching that extreme exhausting phase…and try to find satisfaction, peace, calm, and positive in the "now" moment. 

I know its easier said than done…issi liye I believe…if there’s one thing we all can learn, practice, and preach…then that's "contentment".