Saif Ali Khan’s re-entry was a success back in the early 2000s. The hero who had fallen flat in the 90s was seen in a completely new light in movies like Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Dil Chahta Hai, Hum Tum, Salam Namaste, Kal Ho Na Ho, Race and Love Aaj Kal etcetera. And in movies like Omkara and the likes, he overshadowed anyone else who may have been in the film with him.  Unfortunately, nowadays I feel Saif Ali Khan’s performance is a bleak reminder of the hero he was in the 90s – none of the movies he is doing have any nostalgic value or cinematic value nor have they brought in good business; examples being Humshakals and Bullet Raja. On the contrary, Govinda, who was seen in a negative role in Kill Dil recently, has re-launched himself with a bang, with critics applauding his work. This time, in the movie Happy Ending, Govinda is all set to play for the front-row audience. After all, he’s the king of comedy. Let’s see if they both, Govinda and Saif, got their share of brownies this time! [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x27lxrt_happy-ending-2014-hindi-movie-official-trailer-%E1%B4%B4%E1%B4%B0_shortfilms#from=embediframe[/embed] Happy Ending is based on the life of a writer called Yudi (Saif Ali Khan), who published his last book five and a half years ago which turned out to be a major hit. Unfortunately, after that, he couldn’t publish any book and making ends meet became a task. His stardom, as a writer, starts to fade away and then enters a new romantic author in the limelight of the literary world called Aanchal (Ileana D’Cruz). Aanchal gets everything that Yudi once had as an upcoming writer. Soon after, Armaan (Govinda) comes into Yudi’s life. Armaan is the superstar of Bollywood and wants Yudi to write a fresh script (copy of multiple Hollywood blockbusters) for him. Having no other choice, Yudi accepts his offer and starts to alter his lifestyle and terms. The rest of the movie is the journey of how Yudi, as a writer and a person, learns how to end some things and start new things. Performances wise, Saif stands tall and delivers a dependable performance. One can easily recall the comfort he had in the movies Cocktail and Love Aaj Kal. Govinda, as always, is hilarious and owns every scene he is featured in. Nachcho Saaray G Phaar Kay is a song of the film that provided the perfect entertainment to the audience and credit for that goes solely to Govinda. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that if given a good script and the opportunity of outdoing himself, Govinda can still be in the race of the most entertaining actors in the industry. Kalki Koechlin is a revelation, she looks adorable, highly irritating and fits her role perfectly. Ileana is okay too; in fact, she is improving as an actress and is able to handle serious roles quite well. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28elez_g-phaad-ke-official-full-song-video-happy-ending-govinda-saif-ali-khan-ileana_music[/embed] Ranvir Shorey, who plays Saif’s best friend, delivered some good performance. Some of his scenes are truly amazing, especially, (spoiler alert) the scene where his wife tells him that she’s pregnant. There are some surprise packages in the movie like appearances by Kareena Kapoor and Preity Zinta. Preity has an extended role and she looks good but the fact that she is ageing is pretty obvious. The dialogues are fresh, some of which require reading between the lines, but they go along with the mood of the movie. Content wise, Happy Ending will make you feel ‘happy’ at the ‘end’ of the movie. It’s an entertaining romantic comedy with a few hummable songs. I would rate it a 3.5 out of five on the basis of decent performances, a good script, nice music and lightness of the theme. And no, it’s not based on the American TV show, Californication, which most people think it is.

I was happy, content and so engrossed in the performance that the world ceased to exist for a few moments and then, suddenly, the whole act collapsed right in front of me. The performance ended abruptly. The audience didn’t even get a chance to applaud but I could hear a few startled gasps. People didn’t expect such a hurried finish. It wasn’t just hurried, but sudden and shocking. I went outside to catch some fresh air, hoping and praying to return in a few minutes to experience a dramatic ending to the performance, but I was wrong… they left, never to return. It was disappointing and my hopes dashed ferociously through the gaps between my expectations and the reality that I was actually experiencing standing there. The performers were young, passionate and seemed adventurous. To the audience, they seemed naïve but they were not ‘that’ naïve. As a performing arts enthusiast, I could tell that there was something sinister about the whole troupe. They would come close and seduce me, sending a stench of immorality into my nostrils. They were demonic and ungodly but they were such good performers that I kept drawing closer to them. This was turning into an obsession and I would spend all my time watching them, observing them but one day my conscience told me to stand up and leave. While I was packing my stuff to leave the vile creatures, they surprised me by surrounding me like a mob; one of them even clutched my arm. They told me they loved me and suggested that we snuggle together in sleeping bags, under the moonlit sky. It was cold so I decided to stay but I wasn’t going to allow them to use any more charm on me. I would close my eyes but I won’t sleep. I will be alert and ready to attack anyone who tried to harm me. But the long day and the endless hours of being an audience to this magnificent troupe took its toll and I fell asleep. There were thousands there and all the bodies were humming in silent communication. The Muslims were worshipping Allah, their women, donned in hijab, were facing the Ka’aba, the Hindus were chanting mantras and Christians were confessing their love for Jesus. It was a scene of mystic rites of ancient Gods and I could tell I was part of a momentous event. Slowly, we all woke up only to find the performers back on the stage. The Muslim performers had taken off their hijab. Their dresses were a riot of colours, a union of various cultures and regions. The women were flaunting their well-sculpted bodies and the men were parading the hours put into building up muscles, in sheer harem pants. The whole build up to the final act was enticing and attractive. There was no shame in showing off whatever you had that day. Women, men, the young and old, everyone was fused together in a euphoric event of tripping, swaying and whirling. But it ended all at once. No more dancing or singing; there was no reason to celebrate. The festivities ended and everyone started to go back to their cradles but I spotted them once again, confronted them and unleashed my wrath. A little demon inside me suggested it would be fun to chase them, just to see them run…

Before I start, let me first explain the two genres of comedy shows. There is the single-camera setup, which has no ‘laugh track’, similar to a regularly shot TV drama. And then there is the multi-camera setup, which is shot in front of a live audience and does have a ‘laugh track’, often contributed by the audience in front of whom it is filmed. However, as times are changing, more and more networks are shifting to extravagant yet easier ways of shooting comedies. And who can blame them? After all, when you have to shoot in front of an audience, you risk a lot. The cost and time needed to continuously reorganise the set as per the script-demands, with the added issue of the joke not being ‘funny’ enough for an audience, could damage the morale of the producers and actors. Actor William Shatner aka Captain Kirk, complained about not getting adequate responses from the audience continuously on his show $#*! My Dad Says. The producers used to run up to him all the time to work on the joke again until the audience finally laughed. Imagine Captain Kirk having trouble pleasing his audience! Also, with the advent of amazing shows like Modern Family and 30 Rock, the monopoly of live audience sitcoms has been damaged. The monopoly that started in the late 1980s and remained till the early 2000s, thanks to shows like Seinfeld and Friends, is now somewhat suffering. Here are the awards shared between your single-camera setup comedies (without a laugh track) versus multi-camera setup comedies (with a laugh track) between the years 2000 and 2014.  I have taken data from the two awards that matter most in television: the Golden Globes and the Emmys. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] *LT stands for ‘laugh track’ or multi-camera setup shows. No LT means ‘no laugh track’ or single-camera setups. **GLEE is not necessarily a comedy but the award category says musicals and comedy.[/caption] The single-camera setup shows have enjoyed their overwhelming success. In fact, when it comes to the Golden Globes, the multi-camera setup genre has not won a single award. But is it fair to judge a show based on just a couple of awards? No. Not at all. In fact, I for one enjoy the laugh-track loaded sitcoms a lot more. The way the audience changes its expressions and laughs at a good joke is always enjoyable. But the multi-camera setup still packs a punch with its – albeit few – good sitcoms. So what should you go for? Well, it depends. If you want to enjoy great acting combined with amazing locations and a great cast, then the single-camera setup without a laugh track is the thing for you. Shows like Veep, Episodes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and of course, the king of comedy lately, Modern Family, will definitely fulfil your appetite. However, if you have had a dull day and want to laugh like anything (because jokes of multi-camera are funnier) or are short of time, a multi-camera setup with a laugh track is the thing for you. My preference of such shows would be The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Melissa and Joey and please, if you haven’t watched it already, you have to watch Friends before all of these shows to really get a taste of a multi-camera show with a laugh track.

Directed by Nikhil Advani, Katti Batti is a romantic comedy at its core! The plot isn’t ground-breaking or something the audiences haven’t experienced before. In fact, it’s a typical rom-com, perhaps even inspired from a Hollywood romantic comedy, like many Bollywood movies of this genre, repackaged in such a blatantly palpable manner that one can predict the end in the first 10 minutes of the movie, if not five.  [embed width="620"height]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2twiin[/embed] So the story goes something like this – a middle class young architect Madhav (Imran Khan) is smitten by Payal (Kangana Ranaut) who is looking for a ‘casual relationship’. At numerous occasions, the college boy confesses his undying love to Payal. She keeps shrugging off his undying passion until she eventually gets convinced by his incessant pestering and caves into the idea of a live-in relationship, only to find out that it was the worst decision of their lives. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="430"] Photo: Katti Batti Facebook Page[/caption] What happens next? Will these two lead characters have a happy ending? Or would they end up living separate lives? Thank me for not divulging any spoilers, for the very few who intend to watch the movie. In terms of acting and screen presence, Kangana Ranaut is extremely natural and comfortable in her role. She has proven herself as an actress by the likes of Queen and the Tanu Weds Manu series, but unfortunately, her brilliance could not shine through because of the convoluted script. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] Photo: Katti Batti Facebook Page[/caption] Imran Khan too tries hard but it seems he can’t get out of his debut movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na  persona, and acts beyond a college boy in his 20’s. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Katti Batti Facebook Page[/caption] The rest of the cast members are just hanging in the scenes to make the movie progress since none of them deliver any performances which stick out of the mundane mediocrity that is this movie.  The biggest flaw of the movie is that the trailer and the songs make the audiences expect that this movie will send you in throngs of laughter and greet you with a plethora of memorable, quirky one-liners, but let me tell you, this is just a façade. In terms of music, few songs stand out more than the others, specifically Sarphira and Lips to Lips De Kissiya; others just don’t ring a bell or leave an impact. [embed width="620"height]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x31pra9[/embed] [embed width="620"height]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x351qfm[/embed] Tushar Ray’s cinematography in the movie is praiseworthy, but the aesthetics in any movie are secondary and doesn’t add anything to the overall feel of the movie, especially when the foundation of the movie is weak. I would suggest you pass the offer to go watch Katti Batti; perhaps you can watch it in the coming months either on a DVD or playing on your television screens. The uneven pacing, poorly constructed dialogues, incoherent sense of direction that even the very talented Ranuat couldn’t salvage it from doom. Audiences will feel totally cheated and wouldn’t bother wasting their money when they walk out of theatres. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576"] Photo: Katti Batti Facebook Page[/caption] Thank god, the prior name of this movie, Saali Kutiya was axed or I wouldn’t be surprised if cinema goers pelted the cinema with stones after watching the movie. Now we all know why Aamir Khan cried after watching this movie as well. Since it wasn’t emotionally moving unlike Bajrangi Bhaijaan, this time, he was just worried about his nephew’s future in Bollywood. I would rate it a three out of 10 and that’s me being generous.

2015 was a year filled with lots of emotions, drama and masala for the Pakistani drama industry. We have a set of directors, actors and producers who have always made much applauded dramas, while on the other hand, we have a pool of artists who are always set to bring out taboo topics and make an impact. The dilemma to decide which of the dramas rightfully made it big due to its content and which were given overrated popularity for the love of cast and locations is still unanswered. I feel this confusion will always start a heated debate within the household queens as to which drama should be the best one to win the Pakistani Oscar Drama award. Without any delay, here are some of the dramas that stood-out in 2015! 1.  Diyar-e-Dil [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Diyar-e-Dil- Facebook[/caption] With a cast so strong, there is absolutely no way that the audience would not be hooked to the drama serial after the trailer. Diyar-e-Dil, is a story of a broken home where Abid Ali as Agha Jaan had caused the family to break away when he rejected his son’s wish to marry someone else other than the girl chosen for him. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Diyar-e-Dil revolved around domestic matters and at some points, stirred emotions in families sitting at home but I feel the drama, overall, lacked provoking content. Yet, the viewers loved Agha Jaan and his gorgeous grandson! 2.  Mera Naam Yousuf Hai [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Mera Naam Yousuf Hai - Facebook[/caption] Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a story of fierce love, hatred, money driven characters, pain and sacrifice for love. The drama touched upon the conflicts and hypocrisies of the society, where one’s parents are involved in plotting the evil. With actors such as the charming Imran Abbas, beautiful Maya Ali and the most talented Hina Bayyat, the drama had to be nothing but a success. With such a strong script and fierce story, it was really impactful as the audience was captivated throughout by the separation of the forbidden lovers and waited to watch them unite. So if you feel you’d like to relive the classics of all times like Sassui Punnhun and Heer Ranjha then you must add this to your watchlist of dramas! 3.   Nikah [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Nikah - Facebook[/caption] It has become a culture prevalent in our society to get our children married off before they go abroad to study. But what happens if you grow up and have a different set of ideas, priorities and taste? Well, this is an issue portrayed in this drama. This serial is best for people who crave family drama, revenge and romance!  4.   Alvida [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Alvida - Facebook[/caption] This is for the romantics out there! What do we want more than a couple with great chemistry? The Dil-e-Muztar couple has set fire to the screen again with yet another enthralling performance and a great story. The villains of the drama made the serial hard hitting and interesting. The psychotic thrill by Zahid Ahmed as Rameez added the twist in the simple love story. Not only Rameez but also Fareesa was a well thought character that made this serial a hit! 5.  Aik Thi Misaal [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Aik Thi Misaal - Facebook[/caption] This is the tale of a child who comes from a broken family, Misaal is abandoned by her mother and then is mistreated by her father as both the divorced parents are busy in their own lives with spouses and family. This drama gained a fair share of popularity for its great theme! This serial opened a window for the audience to have soft and empathising corner for those children who have suffered and are in need of care. The character, Misaal, is the epitome for such children. Whereas some dramas made it to the charts there are a handful of dramas that will touch the core of your hearts and are simply unforgettable. Here is my list of the most impactful dramas that were outstanding in their way: 1.  Kaanch Ki Guriya [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Kaanch Ki Guriya - Facebook[/caption] The analogy in the name is very interesting as it depicts a woman who faces hardships and is fragile enough to get shattered like a mirror. It is the story of a young cheerful girl who comes to live with her maternal family to convince her grandfather. It is a tale of family ties, revenge, corruption, innocence and positivity. The protagonist depicts a girl who needs love and acceptance in a family that hates and disapproves. The tragedy happens when the protagonist’s grandfather dies and the question of wealth comes up. This serial is a beautifully plotted story, very well executed. A great drama that stole hearts and support throughout! 2.      Mumkin [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Mumkin - Facebook[/caption] Mumkin means possibilities. Mumkin, was a drama with good content as it showed sacrifice, love, jealousy and how a mother acts and reacts when her husband abandons her. The conflict of jealousy shown between two step sisters (later revealed) is an added angle to the controversy of the story. This story has soul like no other sentimental drama and is truly a remarkable serial. 3.  Khuda Dekh Raha Hai [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Khuda Dekh Raha Hai - Facebook[/caption] With Bushra Ansari in the lead, the story is about a dominant religious woman who is an extremist in her values and raises her daughter in a conservative environment. This drama has questioned the social norms of society. The daughter, Sajal Ali, is married to a bad household where the husband is uncaring and an alcoholic. Not only did this serial give the audience a closer look into reality, it was very powerful in terms of story, acting and direction. 4.   Zid [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Zid - Facebook[/caption] This is an uncelebrated drama. Zid advocates the freedom of right and how to use them. The protagonist is rebellious, outrageous and headstrong, which leads to conflicts with her inner self and society. All in all, I feel this drama was a great personification of all modern day trapped 25-year-old girls who wish to pursue their careers and want to find their own love. They are bull-headed; they question society and challenge the norms and values of the status of traditional women in Pakistan. This was a very strong modern story showing how unacceptable liberalism is within old school women. Unfortunately, it didn’t do as well as it should have! 5. Sangat [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Sangat - Facebook[/caption] There are some dramas that you watch just for entertainment, and then there are some that just take a part of your soul with them. Such dramas are the ones that you give your heart and mind to; Sangat is part of that category. The drama set the bar high for a great storyline, powerful characters and a well-planned plot. Saba Qamar, Mikael and Zahid Ahmed are the leading trio. The queens at home surely loved this!

2015 was no different from the previous years if we talk about the morning shows in Pakistan. Morning shows have emerged as one of the mandatory pillars without which an entertainment channel cannot stand amidst others. This trend has taken a good number of years to penetrate into our daily lives and this trend has no threat of going extinct any time soon. From nine o’clock in the morning till 11 o’clock, the slot is fixed for these shows. Sometimes the stretch is to 11:30 am or even 12:00 pm on some channels, every Monday to Friday. The hosts of these morning shows claim that they blow new energy into their viewers every morning and every episode is a rejuvenation dose for their followers. Their popularity particularly amongst housewives proves as a reiteration of these claims. I, however, beg to differ! All these morning shows could be anything but ‘new’. Nothing in them is new or even close to being new or innovative in nature. From Good Morning Pakistan to Satrungi; from Subah Savery Samma Kay Saath to Jago Pakistan Jago, all the channels fail to bring forth content that is new, unique and refreshing. Morning show teams compete in a race to become the best and the pressure to grab the highest Television Rating Points (TRPs) boggling their minds reaches the limit that their heads seize to function rationally. The more they try to become unique, the more they produce content that is clichéd and has already become a trend. Today around 15 national channels, including both entertainment and news, run their own morning shows and all of them seem to follow particular trends and themes. Let’s have a roundup on all the highlights and trends of morning shows of 2015. 1.      The return of old faces 2015 can correctly be called a ‘homecoming’ year for the pioneers of the contemporary morning show hosts. Disappearing from Geo TV soon after a morning show fiasco in 2014, Shaista Wahidi returned to Hum Network without making much noise. Her reason to leave was of a serious nature. Back in 2014, she hosted a wedding week themed show for Veena Malik and a controversy triggered when the effort to do things differently went way too off the track. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1uqupt_veena-malik-shadi-wedding-with-asad-utho-jago-pakistan-shaista-lodhi-geo-tv_news http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1vblko_shaista-lodhi-apologize-after-veena-malik-rukhsati-in-utho-jago-pakistan_people Religious sentiments were aroused in some segments and the matter got controversial which led her to flee from Pakistan. But now she is back with renewed energy to take Sitaray Ki Subha to new heights. The happy-go-lucky Nadia Khan aka ‘Miss Happy To You’ took a long break from TV and parted ways from hosting for many years , but year 2015 saw her reunite with Geo Network in November as she re-launched The Nadia Khan show. Nadia promises to deliver a morning show that would stand out from the rest and won’t be an imitation of the formats other leading morning shows follow. Let’s see if what she brings to her audience is new or not! 2.      Not everybody can pull off a morning show [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] 2015 left us with some realisations that no matter how much we like to watch morning shows or we simply loathe them, to be a morning show host is no easy job. It looks all fun and no work but it in reality it requires a lot of hard work and consistency and not everybody can be a good morning show host. We witnessed Bushra Ansari do a morning show for Geo TV for a couple of months. From Aangan Terha to Loose Talk to Saima Chaudhary, we know the versatility in acting Ansari is gifted with but that couldn’t work with being a morning show host. Similarly former news anchor, Madiha Naqvi couldn’t perform well as a morning show host for all.  3.      Wedding weeks From chiffon lehengas to well-coordinated dancing, the weddings on a morning show have all the ingredients of a contemporary desi wedding that you may be given an illusion of a real wedding just being played on TV. From mayon to mehendi to baraat and concluding valima, everything from the beginning to end is covered in a wedding week. Many morning shows have these themes as a permanent part of their show that is stretched upon weeks at times instead of just one week. I have been trying to comprehend the purpose of these themes since their inception and my constancy at failing is parallel to the consistency with which these themes are repeated and adapted by even more channels. Maybe, the idea of getting married is alien to our people and their morning shows are just trying to help get the people acquainted with the very concept of ‘marriage’.  How I utterly fail to understand the need of such shows. 4.      Let’s remarry the already married Some morning show hosts try to innovate upon the brilliant idea of showing a wedding on a live show that they somehow convince celebrity couples who have already been married for years to play as bride and groom and then happens the re-enactment of the big day just to literally re- live their memories.  5.      Any expecting celebrities around? Let’s throw them a baby shower. There have been days when morning show hosts are tired of their jobs and need to do something to fill the two hour slot, they get paid for. So they scout for a belly with a bump in Pakistan’s land of fame. If the hunting succeeds, they kick off the celebrations for the mom-to-be. The set is painted all pink if it’s a girl, blue if it’s a boy and a mix of both if the gender is still a secret. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wrc9yFHaWw 6.      Mirror mirror on the wall, which morning show make girls fairest of them all? A woman cherishes her beauty and that certainly is her right. But does beauty necessarily mean to be as white as snow? If any part of Pakistan was left uncontaminated with the flawed notion of ‘fair is beautiful’ then the morning shows in 2015 would definitely have carried this message forward. Asian skin is meant to be Asian not European; I never knew it was so hard of a concept. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] 7.      Bored of wedding weeks? Let’s do it differently! Let’s hunt a groom down! Be it aunties next door or morning show hosts, weddings are on their minds. The team of Good Morning Zindagi morning show thought to stand out by finding a suitor for film actress Laila. Potential suitors from all walks of lives competed in different rounds to prove themselves best to win Laila’s coveted heart. Weeks of entertainment passed by with an anti-climactic end to it when actress Meera’s brother who wasn’t even a competing suitor conquered Laila’s heart. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j6vbt 8.      Aamir Liaquat’s journey from Aalim Online to Subh e Pakistan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Seeing Saahir Lodhi being the only male morning show host in 2015, Dr Aamir Liaquat jumped in to give him some competition. Dr Aamir seems to be enjoying to experiment with different ways to adhere to our TV screens and what could be a better opportunity than to be a morning show host. Let’s see if with him as a morning show host, we see morning shows evolve in 2016 or not.  9.      Fortune telling? Yes, please! [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Sugar Pop[/caption] Morning shows which are new and want to have a firm footing in this race of TRPs make sure they have a segment of fortune-telling either in form of horoscope, palmistry, tarot card reading or numerology. Our society that already has an external locus of control is given another opportunity to project their shortcomings onto fate; conveniently brushing away responsibilities of their deeds off of their shoulders. 10.   Cruising away in Istanbul. Newest addition to the morning show trend is Sunrise From Istanbul on See TV that is recorded in Istanbul. The show is hosted by Maria Wasti in a boat; where the ambiance is adorned with Turkish singing, Turkish cuisine and a chilly breeze over the rippling water along with a friendly chitchat with the guest without the interruption from live calls or other on-set distractions. This show is simple in its content and the format is contrary to the conventional morning shows. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Here is a quick list of morning shows of 2015 that were somewhat similar in terms of themes and content: Subh e Pakistan - Amir Liaquat Hussain [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Subha Ki Kahani - Madiha Naqvi [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Utho Geo Pakistan - Bushra Ansari [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Sitaray ki Subha- Shaista Wahidi [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Good Morning Pakistan- Nida Yasir [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Nadia Khan Show- Nadia Khan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Jago Pakistan Jago- Sanam Jung [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] The morning show with Sanam Baloch- Sanam Baloch [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Satrungi - Javeria Saud [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] ATV Morning with Farah [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Morning with Juggun [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Subha Bakhair Pakistan (Capital News) [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] Subah Savery Samma k saath- Saahir Lodhi [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook[/caption] And that’s the wrap folks! Here is to hoping that year 2016 is a year of improvement, rational content and moving-forward but not that of stagnation for the morning

I read somewhere if you continuously compete with others you become bitter, but if you compete with yourself you become better. Anwar Maqsood definitely believes in this because he has outshone his previous plays Pawnay 14 August, Sawa 14 August and Dharna with his latest Siachen. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3baauf Siachen has outdone every brilliant quip and taken this theatre performance to the peaks of greatness! The director Dawar Mehmood doesn’t reveal anything beyond the vague prelude ‘about 20,000 feet away from God Himself’ on the play’s Facebook page. It is the story of a group of soldiers stationed above the clouds, showcasing their struggle in sub-zero conditions, far away from their loved ones. The play grew in momentum on social media, which motivated me to watch it. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Siachen Facebook page[/caption] I reached the venue dressed warmly as advised by the play’s Facebook page. The play engrosses the audience immediately with soldiers pumping adrenaline with their patriotic satire; our aide-memoir to Anwar Maqsood’s unique genre. The enemy (an unknown voice) is heard by all in the auditorium with taunts  like ‘India is better at cricket’, prompting witty quips from the soldiers and fits of laughter from the audience. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Siachen Facebook page[/caption] The play delights with its brilliant use of auditorium space – as dreams seen by soldiers and letters being read by their family members are positioned all across the hall in different spotlights. This varied use of space maximises the engagement of the viewer, not allowing the attention to wander away from the jocularity of the dialogues. I was particularly intrigued by the way the soldiers cracked jokes at each other’s expense. The Captain although was spared the brunt of their banter because of his rank. On one occasion though this reverence is overlooked with a jibe:

“Sir agar aap kaptaan na hotay tu kisi ne nahi hansna tha.” (Sir, if you hadn’t been a Captain no one would have laughed)

On a random Wednesday morning, I ended up strolling inside the Bronx Zoo in New York. Don’t ask me what I was doing at the zoo on a weekday, but I’ll tell you this: Wednesdays are free for visitors. Yes, this was a cheap move, but I was actually only having a stroll to see if this is a place I can bring my younger nieces to, should they visit me coming summer. At the Bronx Zoo, I met another visitor from Pakistan that I wouldn’t have imagined I would meet even in my wildest of imaginations. Hold on to your breath, I’ll introduce him later. The Bronx Zoo is divided into sections that represent different habitats around the world. It is  designed such that the focus of the zoo is for it to be an educational institution for children and not a money-making frenzy. I happened to be walking down the mountainous region when I came across a label reading “Pakistan”. I walked two steps ahead before I realised what I had just read. I retreated two steps back. “Leo” was looking right at me as I stood in front of his enclosure staring back at him. He was a fully-grown snow leopard that had been rescued as a cub from the northern mountains of Pakistan and brought to the Bronx Zoo. We both hadn't been home in a long time so we just stood still and had our little moment. Neither of us blinked and it almost seemed like one of us will initiate a conversation. I had so much to ask him about his journey but even Google couldn’t have helped me speak the leopard language. I wanted to know how he escaped death from local villagers that caught him and ended up being shipped to New York with his new American name ‘Leo’. [caption id="attachment_75873" align="alignnone" width="600"] A snow leopard at the Bronx Zoo, New York . Photo: Julie Larsen Maher/WCS[/caption] I ended up spending the most time at this particular enclosure even though we weren't doing much except looking awkwardly at each other. Leo was probably confused about why I refused to walk away like all the other spectators he entertains throughout the day. I wish I could have explained to him that we share some history at least. Perhaps I should have been upset that he was brought here, a place that isn’t exactly his home. But I was actually glad that he was. He may have been dislocated and brought miles away from home but he is probably still better off living here with some rights than back in Pakistan with none at all. Looking at Leo made me think about the animal cruelty that we grew up watching in zoos of Pakistan. A zoo in itself, no matter how well maintained, is an infringement of animal rights, but this is a debate for some other time. For now, if we are to accept a zoo as a home for rescued animals, there have to necessarily be regulations on how to treat the animals. Pakistan unfortunately is still struggling to give basic rights to its civilians, let alone creatures that can’t speak a word for themselves. In Pakistan, a zoo is run constantly keeping in mind the profit margin; nothing else matters. If the audience wants to see a tiger up close, then a tiger up close is what they will get. A mini squared enclosure with a cement floor and big black bars with absolutely no sign of a natural habitat is the equivalent of a creature left to die within concealed walls with nowhere to hide. Lions and tigers are among the top attractions for Pakistani viewers. Unfortunately for them, with more popularity comes tighter spaces for the animal to move in, in order to ensure that they are constantly in display for the public. These mammals are put under such duress that they frantically start walking back and forth within their confined spaces. The public gets a thrill in seeing a ‘beast ’ pacing so close to the bars but this abnormal behavior is actually among the signs of a condition in animals called ‘zoochosis’. Unknown to the public, the animal is mentally suffering. [caption id="attachment_75874" align="alignnone" width="600"] South-African giraffe dies only a couple days after being shifted to Lahore Zoo. Photo: Express[/caption] I looked back at Leo, as he took a big wide yawn sitting on a rocky terrain built specifically for him to replicate his style of living. He is in good shape and sits at a comfortable distance from the viewers. The enclosure is spacious enough to allow him to move out of sight and sit in peace should he please. His comfort is clearly the priority here and his interests are put before those of the audience. Back in Pakistan, however, the cruelty doesn’t just end on the completely irrational enclosures. Suzi, the popular elephant in the Lahore Zoo woke up each day to entertain thousands of viewers and die a little herself. She was brought to the zoo before I was born in 1992. The first time I saw her, I was too young to remember much. The second time I saw her, I was 15. The third time, I didn’t even get a chance. She had given up on her lonely life. [caption id="attachment_75869" align="alignnone" width="600"] Suzi raises her trunk as a group of zoo visitors pet her. Photo: Ayesha Mir/Express[/caption] Suzi lived 25 years alone never seeing another of her own kind, yet zoo officials “could not confirm the cause of death”. For 25 whole years, she suffered among the heartless souls who saw all signs of her deteriorating health but chose instead to turn a blind eye to it. Only after she took her last breath did the Lahore Zoo officials think it would be a good idea to bring a “pair next time”. Yes, there is always a “next time” in this part of the world. Leo meanwhile has become a father. The label next to his enclosure encapsulates his entire family tree while a screen on top has images of his son, Khyber, growing up in custody of the zoo. In only eight months, Leo’s little champion has grown up, hopping from one rock to another amid crowds that love him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4OW1ds9O4 In this same time span, eight months last year, a leopard cub, two cheetahs, a lioness, a black buck, a hog deer, a camel and an elephant gave up on life in the death cells of Lahore Zoo. [caption id="attachment_75936" align="alignnone" width="600"] 10-year old Simba the lion was found dead at Karachi Zoological gardens in January 2018. Photo: APP[/caption] The director of the Lahore Zoo insisted that death was a “natural process” and why wouldn’t it be when the animals are put in cages designed to ensure they have little left to live for. If Pakistani zoos lack the funding to provide basic necessities to animals, then there is no purpose to have them at all. It is not at all justified to watch animals suffer for our own pleasure. Their habitat is already invaded by our ever-growing population; the least we can do is provide them a half-decent home in our zoos. I was brought out of my thoughts realising I had spent far too much time there and I had to move on from Leo’s enclosure. Minutes had passed by without a word but a promise had been made. I will make a futile attempt to be a voice for those still alive or rather left on a dying clock in the zoos of Pakistan. I owe this much to Leo and his kind back home.