NLX's Tri-Entity Carnival

Dressed up as a fair ground, with halogen balloons strung up the staircase railings, crepe ribbons and coloured flags along the skybox and library extension, Nixor immersed itself into a day on festivity and joy. Organized and executed by Nixor Logistics, the Tri-Entity Day Camp, in which the three not for profit entities; Adopt an Orphanage(AAO), Meri Bhi Aik Khuwaish Hai (MBAKH) & Taleem Sab Kay Liye (TSKL), participated; was perhaps the first major event of the highly anticipated GSD week. 

As soon as the clock ticked twelve in the noon, the little fissions of activities buzzing around turned to full-fledged preparations with the jumping castle being erected, face painting stall being prepared as well as an out vendor bringing in a huge swing. Not just this but the auditorium was getting ready to accommodate for a movie screening and even the mundane library extension got itself donned up as a venue for a competition with tables, chair, blank papers, colour pencils and a variety of stationary. 

Basically, each of three not for profit entities; AAO, TSKL, & MBAKH, had to bring in their kids from their respective work places, for example AAO’s Sirat-ul-Jannah kids, and take part in the three main activities; the art competition held in the extension, a movie screening, and later a fun carnival of sorts. 

For about two hours, the kids scribbled away onto paper, each projecting their imagination, dreams and happiness with colors and bouts of laughter in an atmosphere which was heavy with mirth on the children’s side and satisfaction on the volunteers’. After this some snacks were given to them and they were taken to the auditorium for watching a movie. Many debates and votes later, a movie was finally selected: ‘Chain Khuli Ki Main Kulli’, which I believe was a good choice, seeing most of the kids were orphans and the movie focuses on how being an orphan does in no way restrict the opportunities and favorable fortunes life has to offer.

 Next, the volunteers took them to the cafe for lunch, and right after that, they were taken off to the basketball court where the Ferris wheel and jumping castles were waiting for the children and voila! Anything after that were just children running around from one place to another in sheer enjoyment, while the poor volunteers in sweat, trying to control them. Along with the rides, there were quite a number of stalls like 'Pin the tail', 'Hit the can', and 'Ring the bottles'. If not all of these things were not enough, NLX also managed to conduct a magic show which was quite popular with the kids. With the sun almost down, along with the volunteers’ energy; the children sat down to eat, after which the winners of the competition were announced. 

From an observer’s point of view, the event was executed exceptionally well. Not a single fault could be found in the effort put in by the entities, especially Nixor Logistics. It was clearly evident that a lot of thought, hard work and goodwill was put into this endeavor. From the arrangement of rides to decoration, each and every thing ran smoothly aiding in making the event a success. 

‘Mujhe aaj bohat maza aaya’, a little boy from Mashal Orphanage answered when I questioned him after the event, giving the entities the main reward they were looking for-the kids’ enjoyment, and the thesis for my article.

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Whither Literature

Of the myriad of problems, issues and headaches plaguing our nation, there is one that is often overshadowed and overlooked. It is mutually concurred to be a problem by many but is seriously pondered upon by very few.

Our literature, our reading habits and hence our desire to advance intellectually has declined, greatly usurped by WhatsApp, Candy Crush and Bollywood, and all that is today’s version of what to Churchill was the ‘odious apparatus of Nazi rule’.  Not to say that modern social networks, video games and everything else that the average child is up to his neck in are a complete and utter menace to society, but the scales being tipped far too heavily to one side has negative consequences.

Television star Groucho Marx once stated, “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” He might be turning over in his grave knowing that unfortunately, so many Pakistanis, young and old, man and woman, have served to follow his golden principle the other way around. Appreciation of Urdu literature seems to have evaporated as well. Poems composed by greats such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz seem to have been restricted to rote learning in schools, then shoved aside and forgotten, their true meaning never fully comprehended. Not to mention that the audience for Mushairas and Qawwalis also seem to have slowly faded away. 

You may have heard all this before, but the sheer magnanimity of the situation begs repetition.

Has it not been said and proved that the best way of shaking those cobwebs out of the little grey cells is through a good book? And that the muscles of the brain can hardly find a better stimulant than good literature? Would it not be criminal to deny that exposing oneself to more and more words inevitably causes them to be weaved into ones’ vocabulary?  It is more than obvious of course, what that can do for you: Being able to speak with articulation gives you a confidence like no other. Whatever knowledge a book is able to impart may leave you better equipped to deal with challenges, and is something that can never be taken away from you.

The dearth of reading coupled with a local education system that has utterly massive room for improvement in the creativity sector, has lead to a dearth of creativity and critical thinking skills. Literature has the power to introduce to you ideas and worlds and characters beyond your wildest imaginations. Processing and comprehending these flexes those brain muscles more than you may know and this boost to your creative power is something that can benefit you in any situation. Having opinions on the workings of a plot, understanding and analyzing the various aspects of a story, something that can happen automatically without you forcing yourself to, lends itself to building creative analytical skills, also something that will serve you well in life.

With ‘whither literature?’ I also have the burning questions, ‘whither tolerance?’ and ‘whither empathy’?  Qualities such as these that make up the very foundations of any society seem to be in short supply here.  And that is where literary fiction comes in.

Readers, especially those who tend to be totally immersed in a novel, find themselves establishing an emotional connection with characters, effectively empathizing with them in times of tragedy and trying to understand the way they think.  And when readily acquainted with new ideas and cultures, one gains a natural tendency to understand and tolerate a belief or concept that was hitherto unknown.

This malady of course does not plague only those of the middle and upper classes. The lives of the tad less privileged of our society are also devoid of reading and literature, largely due to the lack of resources and education provided to them. Literature and intellectual advancement rarely occurs to those who find it difficult just to make ends meet.  But when a reading culture is created in society and its importance is established in the minds of people, especially teachers and parents, and schools at every level begin to actively nurture the reading and literature in its students, the benefits shall be far-reaching.  

One has enough material to go on and on when it comes to the necessity of literature in our lives but I shall refrain from doing so. Simply, whenever next you feel stressed out or have some free time on your hands, pick up a book, whatever language it may be.  Make it a habit. Start reading every day. You may find a world you never realised could be created. You may learn things you never knew or may embark on a journey you never felt you could take. One thing you will not do is regret it. 

By Imaad Hasan

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AAO's Valima Organized by NLX

As soon as I entered, the ambiance was characterized by light music playing in the background, and lights gleaming down upon the beautifully decorated stage and seating area.

The volunteers rushed to set everything up, some carrying bottles of water, some checking the arrangements for food, and all of them ensuring that the setup was just perfect. They wanted to make this day the most memorable day for someone. They wanted to bring smiles to little faces, it was evident this day was to be special.

Very soon kids from the orphanage came pouring in, happy to see their friends from Nixor. The kids had a certain smile on their face, of uncertainty tinged with delight. They hadn’t been to a lot of such events before, and so their expressions were understandable, and a little while after settling in, their faces said it all. They were enjoying themselves to the fullest, some even running around. For some catching up with their pals from the AAO brought them unparalleled joy.

NLX put their hearts and souls in to this event and it showed in every aspect of it. The seating area and the stage reflected their efforts. They were so well placed and well decorated that it didn’t even seem as if the event was taking place at a school.

There was a performance by the students for the attendees, which everybody loved. A couple of songs were sung which are a trademark of these kinds of events. Then the food was served, the volunteers put up plates and food at every table, trying to make sure everybody had ample to eat. They carried filled dishes of rice and handi to each table as the attendants patiently waited. Meanwhile, up on the stage the typical ‘Rasams’ took place. There was also a blue and white cake according to the theme which was cut right before the Rukhsati. The bride and groom both looked cheerful and content.

When asked about the favorite part of the event, an AAO volunteer Rahul said, “As we were arranging the kids for their departure to SUJ. A 5 year old girl came running towards me, hugged me and said thank you! This was the favorite part of the valima for me” It was the dedication of the volunteers that was able to stir up such deep emotions and make such an elaborate event a success.

The amount of hard work that went in to making this Valima happen was tremendous but it paid off. It was happiness, it was the smiles on the faces of all the kids, it was the joy in the eyes of the bride and groom and most importantly it was the emotions that it spread around that made the sweat and blood worth it. It was a message of love for others around us, it was a message to spread happiness and fill many hearts with joy with the expectation of nothing in return except internal satisfaction.

It was all thanks to this event that I was able to make a couple of friends from the SiratUl Jannah for myself. I know that whenever I see them I will recall this valima and be reminded of how something that we work towards can help so many people and bring a smile to so many faces.

By Shaheer Ullah Saeed

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The AAO Wedding

The AAO Shaadi organized by Nixor Log-X took place on Sunday 4^th of October. Walking inside into an entirely transformed basketball court, the whole place was strung with fairy lights and it was easy to forget that I was standing in Nixor. Gone were the sweaty guys playing ball with the sun shining upon them in all its glory. Instead a striking stage for the bride and groom was set up, along with seating arrangements for the rest of the guests over a finely carpeted floor. A rickshaw photobooth was seen beside the stage and a mehendi stall was also set up, much to the excitement of the girls. Flowers and twinkling lights completed the arrangement, and one could immediately see the hard work that must certainly have gone on behind the scenes.

The event kicked off with the arrival of the kids from Sirat ul Jannah. Dressed in their best clothes, smiles upon their faces evident as they flocked around the cotton candy machine and posed for selfies, these kids were without doubt the center of everyone’s attention. Upon their arrival it seemed as if all the volunteers forgot their worries, instead, each one seemed eager to keep the kids as happy as they seemed.

The arrival of the groom was greeted with drums and firework candles and thanks to the competent management of NLX, the event proceeded efficiently with the Nikkah and the bringing of the bride to the stage. The guests were kept entertained by the spontaneous as well as prepared dances of the AAO volunteers and dinner was later served followed by the Rukhsati. A very exhausted but extremely pleased Aarass Nadeem rejoiced seeing the function play itself out, it being her very first event as CEO of NLX, and believed that if one puts their mind to it, nothing is impossible.

Despite the groom arriving late and throwing the planned schedule a little off track, one could not help but admire the smooth running of the things throughout the evening. NLX members, who had been on campus all day, displayed never ending energy, as they ran about making sure everything was on track and not hesitating to complete whatever task was put on hand. Any small glitches were immediately straightened out. I observed NLX working as a unit, doing everything from mopping floors upon an accidental leakage of water, to making small wedding favours to hand out. As Arsalan Bachani, CEO of NLX, pointed out, team work is a key part of an event management society, because one person’s negligence would reflect on the whole team’s, hence everyone has to learn to work together and cover up for each other. On behalf of AAO, Zobia Akhtar the CEO, felt NLX did an amazing job they have high hopes for working alongside them to execute further events. It seems mind blowing that a group of 17 to 19 year old students could organize and execute an event of this magnitude, but as the CCO of NLX Fatima Baber put it, ‘That’s what Nixor is all about.”

At the end of the day, the most important thing was the happiness that this small group of Nixor Sharks was able to bring to the beautiful couple and the young orphans. The sentiments and work of AAO when combined with the logistic skills of NLX, made the function a unforgettable one for every person in attendance. The Nixor Community wishes the newly-weds a joyous and prosperous life ahead.

By Roha Sitwat

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The hoof that tramples my rights

Lo and behold, it is that time of the year again. When bells and bleats can be heard in the streets, heralding the return of another Eid-ul-Azha.  Members of prestigious herds, in all their glory can be seen filing into the homes and hearts of many.

But hang on for a second, there is something rather unpleasant that accompanies this Holy Holiday every single time it comes around. Unpleasant though is a light word. Stronger words like ‘utterly revolting’,’ undeniably criminal’ and ‘perfectly blasphemous against the laws of social propriety’, would be rather fitting.

It is not the concept of the slaughter that I am against. I do believe in notions of vegan-ism or vegetarianism. But I do believe one thing. That I have a right to walk through my neighbourhood without having to clench my nose and protect myself from the smell that pervades the air. That I have a right to walk through the streets without fear of stepping into something unwelcoming. That I have a right, as a citizen of this country, to walk freely on Eid day without having to avoid streams of red colour. (Okay so, it wasn't one thing)

My rights are being trampled under a hoof of tyrannous oppression ladies and gentlemen. A hoof that is symbolic of a violation of everything that my constitution grants me. Freedom of movement, unimpeded by something an animal decided to do. Freedom of getting my regular 8 hours, uninterrupted by bleating and mooing. Freedom from the chore of having to wash my tyres because someone decided to open their gates during the qurbani.

Seriously.                                                                                                              

What right do individuals have to park their goats and sheep where I would want to park my car? What right do they have to pollute the streets with blood so that they don’t have to clean up their own porches and gardens? Show me some clause, some amendment, some article of our constitution that permits people to discomfort and inconvenience others due to the reasons mentioned above.

I fully believe that people should not lower the sanctity of the sacrifice by forgoing rules of propriety. Keep your beast where it won’t stand in my way. Clean up after your animal and try to keep it as less vocal as possible. Common sense dictates a local community setting up some enclosure where all the sacrifices can take place with minimal fuss and bother. Minimal repercussions for others. But what is that cliché about common sense not being very common?

So if you are one of those criminals, indulging in the aforementioned transgressions, kindly quit it. Or if you aren't and know someone who is, then get them to kindly quit it. Share this and further the noble cause of “Insan Ban Kar Qurbani Karo”. And make Eid-ul-Azha a momentous and joyous occasion for one and all.

By Imaad Hasan

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Love Stories

So this was prompted by the loads of junk also referred to as chick flick novels that have become the rage these days. To be honest, I couldn’t stand another minute before writing on this because apart from a chosen few, cliché love stories are seriously starting to get on my nerves.

Each starts off with a bad boy and a timid goody two shoes who’s never let loose, never gotten drunk, never skipped class. But then she falls in love with the ever popular and everyone’s desired bad boy and voila there’s a connection! (If life were that easy for the rest of us, rishta aunties would go out of business) Now the boy falls for our heroine who is the geekiest girl you could ever imagine and drops not-so-subtle hints blatantly right in her face to which any girl would immediately react to but no! Our heroine will be still seeing him through the glasses of ‘Can never happen’ and therefore chooses to ignore it thinking he’s out of her league. (Which to be honest, he is.)

Oh, but then they catch themselves in random situations and stolen moments which render them both breathless and the girl spends nights lying awake in her bed smiling at the ceiling, (but no dark circles ever appear because duh love is the cure for everything perhaps even Ebola). Yet even after numerous encounters nothing happens and here the writer builds up a tension between the two and attempts to intrigue us. After about ten more chapters of beating about the bush, it finally happens and we would rather be spared the excruciating details thank you very much. If I wanted to read that, I would have gone elsewhere.

Anyway, the best part is that the bad boy whom we were introduced to in the beginning has entirely vanished at this point and has been replaced by an angel sent from Heaven above. Just a few days of being with the nerdy girl converts the guy into a Saint. Of course they become a couple but since it all cannot be that easy, the author involves a hurdle between the two, maybe a misunderstanding, or a secret untold till this point but together the Terrific Two get over that as well and continue with their happily ever after.

N.B.-I’m not against love stories. I’ve read countless good ones but fact of the matter is, originality is something rarely found these days. It is a sad world indeed.

Written by Roha Sitwat

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The NHPL Experience

Bright lights adorned the court, bathing the ‘pitch’ in a brilliant illumination. Crowds gathered in increasing numbers while players and spectators alike milled around expectantly, conversing, practicing. Sweat-drenched volunteers sprinted hither and thither putting the final touches on the preparations for one of the most exciting and most anticipated events of the summer.  

And so, with Shayan of Alums thundering down the pitch to bowl the first ball, the Nixor Hospital Premier League kicked off. From the get-go one could observe the passion and heart on display as the next bowler Faraz clean-bowled the batsman on the first ball of his over. The Eagle Sharks could only muster a target of 17 runs, which the Alums achieved comfortably although with a bit of an anti-climax: a wide ball gave them the last run.

The number of spectators may have been a tad bit of a let-down but those present did not give the impression that it was the middle of the night. Chatting animatedly and holding earnest discussions of the events that were unfolding as well as cheering jubilantly at the success of any team, the crowd was life and soul of the event. Their wide-eyed observations of the games, as well as the sounds of exuberant laughter depicted fully the enthusiasm that seemed to envelope the very air.  The air that was rich with the aroma of rolls, pizzas and bun kababs which the audience regularly flocked to as time passed and hunger set in. They were undoubtedly buoyed up in this regard by the constant marketing of the food stalls by the pair of witty commentators, Zaid and Usman, who insisted that some of the players would have been playing better had they ate a few rolls and had a can of the ‘Epic Energy’ energy drink which was a sponsor for the event.

Our commentators did not let a dull moment pass, with comments such as ‘Ye Saud buhath achi bowling kar rahay hain, inhon nay aaj iftari mein kya kaya tha?”  After a bowler from Team X bowled several wides to Sir Nadeem, batting for The Great Whites, it was in their highly distinguished opinion that the ball itself was in fact shying away from the Dean in fear of being smashed sky-high. Yet it was Danish bhai who went smashing about in that match. The captain of Team X had remarked on his team’s previous loss, “You win some, you lose some. We have three more matches and shall prove ourselves in the next one.” However, it was not to be as a target of 43 and some fierce bowling from Shabbir bhai put paid to Team X. 

Feeling greatly exhilarated after his victory, Sir Nadeem stated, “I can see there is a lot of talent on display and I love the energy being shown.  Cricket is the one thing in this country that unifies its 200 million people and so it is always good to see it being played, especially since I’m a big cricket fan myself. The organisation is good and I like the cafeteria set-up, very up-beat feel to it. I love the fact that it is at night, and that we’re all here having fun, raising money for a good cause, helping someone out, considering the turnout is good and about 60,000 RS will be raised plus concessions.  After all that is what Nixor is all about.”

The tournament was never short of entertainment. From one of the Juggernauts batsman flinging his bat halfway across the pitch and then sliding across the opposite crease as if someone had greased his trousers, to Shahzaib of the same team bowling with such ferocity that his glasses refused to remain perched atop his nose. Of course, no tournament is free from controversy, and this very same match, where the Juggernauts were playing the Master Batters, saw a fair share of it. Was that last shot by the Master Batters a six or not? As a six would win them the match, they insisted it was, considering that the ball had sailed high into the air and landed in a corner of the sky box. But the umpires begged to differ at first, giving them 1 run, but after a good 5 minutes of old-fashioned ’behas’  the umpires ruled it a draw.

The commentators’ advertising was not limited to the food alone but extended to the arcade where a pair of XBOX 360’s had been set up with FIFA. The arcade saw a pair or two of gamers always present, aiming to prove themselves champions at FIFA while others watching with earnest intent. You have not known what concentration and ardent focus is unless you have observed FIFA being played by two gamers who easily convey the impression that their very lives hang in the balance.

Possibly, the most efficient running of the tournament was exhibited by the Game Changers in their match against the Alums. The excitement reaching fever-pitch as the Game Changers needed 1 run of 1 ball to secure the victory with the crowd wholeheartedly cheering both teams on. With a mad dash from both batsmen, that one run was successfully scored.

The clocks were striking three by the time the first semi-final got underway. A nail-biting finish for the Great Whites, winning by 2 runs to face Alums in the final. The final where, although the Alums were only given a target of 13, an intense display of brazen bowling from Shabbir bhai and Tariq bhai, and a last-ball run out gave the Great Whites the win and the tournament.

The captain of Alums, Faraz, looked far too dazed to give any real comment while Sir Nadeem simply remarked, “Who’s your daddy? The admin.”  A scrumptious celebratory sehri of halwa puri followed, as the players and spectators alike gathered for a much-needed and well-deserved meal, conversing good-naturedly and laughing cheerfully in the last vestiges of a night that would be long-remembered.

For in the end, no one won, and no one lost. When such enthusiasm and passion is shown for a fundraiser, revolving around a sport so dear to every Pakistani’s heart, then victory can safely be attributed to all those who, played, worked and watched. As goodbyes were said and people walked out, it can be said that this roaring success of an event is not likely to ever be forgotten.

Article by Syed Imaad Hasan Jafri

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The Curious Case of Makeup

My lack of enthusiasm towards makeup has my mom (and everyone I know) worried about “what kind of a girl” I’m turning out to be. 

I’ve always been very anti-make up, and on the occasional times that I have worn make-up I have felt really uncomfortable. In fact, it makes me feel worse when people compliment me because then, all I can think of is, “I don’t really look like this” and “do I have to wear make-up for people to consider me pretty?”, and most importantly, “do I really look that bad without anything on my face?” I don’t like having to hide my flaws or “enhancing” my beauty in people’s words. I’ve often had friend’s moms or just aunties tell me how I would look so beautiful if I put on “only a bit of make-up” or did my eyebrows or styled my hair or straightened it or whatever. And although I have grown a thick skin to it, there may be girls out there who haven’t. Because there have been moments when I’ve felt insecure because I went to weddings without anything on my face and have had people tell me how I should wear make-up and “tum shadi k baad kia karogi” (what will you do after you’re married) and “tumhara shohar kia boleyga” (what will your husband say?)? 

If I ever have a daughter, I would want her to be comfortable in her own skin, I would want her to be able to go out bare faced and be completely okay with how she looks even on a day when she’s pulled an all-nighter before and has dark circles and puffy eyes. I want her to be okay with the fact that bad hair days don’t always need to be fixed and that hair straighteners are only damaging. And I want her to know that she should never feel the need to wear make-up just to impress a man. It’s something that we have drilled into our heads by people around us and it’s created this innate insecurity in every girl I know. But no I don’t really blame men for this. I blame the women. Women have created these insecurities amongst women, and these insecurities have been inherited and carried around by women too. There haven’t been many guys who have judged me for not wearing make-up but almost every girl or woman I know has at least once pointed out to me that I could look “prettier”. My self-esteem isn't dependent on a pimple or a scar; it’s healthy as long as I feel comfortable in my own skin and I want that for every woman who feels the need to cover up every little blemish, because they are a part of who she is and she shouldn’t want to wear make-up to cover it out of insecurity because gender-roles are crap and not dressing up doesn’t make you any less of a woman and if you do want to wear make-up, wear it because you want to, not because of an insecurity. 

By Alia Eva  

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The Good Ol' Power Ranger Days

A stick of white tape, serving as a spine label, spans the length of one side of my favorite VHS tape. Judging by the label, my father has limited knowledge of the film, but excellent penmanship. He has, for the past week, been obsessively labelling every single cassette that we own, organizing them in alphabetical order, I think; My six-year-old brain tends to be quite unreliable.

I had watched the movie more times than I could count - I suppose this does not convey the sentiment entirely, in light of my mathematical ineptness. So every afternoon I was splayed out on the floor, face inclined and unmoving, staring raptly at the flickering television screen. Sometimes standing while I watched, allowing myself to imitate the various fight scenes. I could recount every dialogue and describe every scene with unimaginable precision. But that is not the point. What really matters here is that I contemplated it daily.

I have not thought about a film so seriously ever since. I have, indeed, sat in front of my computer screen for hours, watching the sophisticated and dry films of Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch, probably two of the most praised directors, recommended ad nauseam, by every self-proclaimed film critic. My intention here, is not to scorn those who like movies of this sort (as I, myself, am one of them) but simply to convey the limited scope of popular films that we talk about seriously.

What really bothers me, is the mindless activity, that watching commercial films has become. Local theatres, where people congregate, to quietly but collectively engage themselves in a story, is where the hard work is actually required. One may roll their eyes at this, contemptuous of those who watch, or - even worse - enjoy popular commercial films. But that is where the problem lies. Over-the-top special effects, jaded and unoriginal dialogue, and a general lack of intellectual value, keeps us from discussing them. This is why no one really has a sound, intelligent reason for disliking or liking popular movies; Very few people are willing to do the work, and sift through the visually muddled, cliche films.

To stop the very medium from declining, and been seen as only a quick source of pleasure, we must transfigure the way we watch movies, and employ the same effort that goes into reading serious literature, or looking at a piece of art for a long period of time. We must revert to the Power Ranger days. 

A movie poster to specifically remind you of the movie that truly matters

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Of Movies and Changing Ideals

I think that different people have different ways of connecting to certain things. Some might feel that a book or maybe a song helps them express how they feel, and sometimes, you need that slight link between reality and fiction to make you understand that there are so many other ways to go about with your life than just simply focusing on the negativity. Finding that small connection helps you realize that even though you might be going through the worst stage in your life, you’re not the only one who has gone through it because you’re reading about it, listening to it or maybe, as it is the case for most people and what I am going to primarily talk about in this article, watching people go through it in movies.

I think that there are very few people who don’t have a specific movie that have, at some point in their lives, made them feel something and maybe they didn't find the connection in it that I talked about before, but instead found something that they wish they could relate to and that in itself, has a meaning. Because this makes them form an idea in their mind of what they want or what they are looking for, which for this completely indecisive generation, is a pretty big thing. What I am trying to say is this: you probably don’t realize it, but movies can have a great impact on you. They can influence your decisions because they change the way you perceive a certain thing or maybe, they make you want to behave the way a certain character you fell in love with did.

Lets talk about the difference between movies and other forms of expression such as books or songs. Movies can literally transport you to another world and give you a visual image of the way you’re meant to be imagining the story playing out in front of you and this actually helps to take whatever feeling the movie might bring about in you to a whole new level. It lets you connect with your emotions by playing them out in front of you in surroundings you’re familiar with, unless it’s some crazy, out of this world science fiction that you can’t possibly relate to, but the fact that it gives you a visual representation, helps build the whole relationship and connection between you and that movie. It might be argued that movies limit your imagination because unlike books, they tell you exactly how one looks or talks, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need and it might actually lead to a certain character inspiring you and inspiration can take you to a lot of places. It could be what makes you want to start writing, or maybe finally decide to take that dance class you kept hearing about but hadn’t joined because you used to think that dancing wasn’t something you wanted to do. It could lead you to make a lot of decisions could which end up shaping your whole life into something you fall in love with.

To conclude this probably nonsensical article that most of you didn’t read till the end because of my way of not being able to bring a point across ever, movies can change you. So, the next time you’re choosing between which movie to watch, maybe you should learn more about them before you do or actually think about what way they might affect you because trust me, you might not initially realize it, but they do have the power to change the way you feel about certain things.

By: Maryam Ansari

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The Best Movie Posters of All Time

1.

Who wouldn't want to look at BOTH George Clooney and Ryan Gosling's faces in one morphed picture? No one, that's who. 

2.

First thought that comes to mind: trippy. For sure. 

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3.

With an amazing poster like this, I don't think any fans will be letting it go any time soon. 

4.

Every second counts: except the one where he drinks bodily fluids. I kinda wish that second didn't have to count. 

5.

The guy has the same expression on his face that I have when I hear someone say something stupid. 

6.

Listen, the line 'he's pulling out all the stops' is scary enough for me to not even want to watch the movie. 

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7.

Reminding you that Nicholas Cage wasn't always the internet meme people have made him out to be. 

8.

TWO cool movie posters for ONE movie? Above and beyond, obviously. 

9.

"Mooooooom, I don't want to clean my room!" Said the mummy on the movie poster. 

10. 

To be honest, the poster was better than the movie. 

 By: Muneeb Khan (Captions by Sarah Quraishi) 

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TOP 5 BOLLYWOOD SONGS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON

This post goes out to all those Bollywood fans out there, and to those of us that love the occasional catchy tune that may not always make complete sense. These are the top 5 songs that have been burning the charts recently: 

1.  Lovely- Happy New Year 

This song will get you moving as soon as you play it. Let’s not forget that Deepika Padukone looks breathtaking throughout. If that doesn't help, it’s sung by Kanika Singh who may have sung a previous hit about a certain children’s toy. A definite party number, make sure you warn the neighbors before turning up the volume. 

2.Mitti Di Khushboo- Ayushmann Khurrana

The ‘Vicki Donor’ star is back with another soft pop number that shows off his extraordinary musical talent. I’m head over heels for his voice in the song, and it especially works for those of us who might be missing a certain someone. The song will make you feel nostalgic, so next time you want some background music to accompany you in those i-miss-you-loads moments, then this track is one to look out for.

3.Bang Bang- Bang Bang 

Okay, this one will take you back to the 80’s during the Michael Jackson’s reign because of the beat which is quite similar to Thiller. The song features at the end of the movie suggestively called ‘Bang Bang!, which is the Bollywood version of Hollywood film ‘Knight and Day’. Hritik Roshan pays tribute to MJ with his incredible dance moves that leave the audience, and also Katrina, mesmerized.  

  

4. Love Dose- Yo Yo Honey Singh

As cheesy as the title, it’s a pretty catchy hip hop song by India’s very own Punjabi rapper and singer, it's Yo Yo Honey Singh. Considering the number of hits he has delivered in the last year, this one too received just as much love from fans. This one is likely to get stuck in your head for days, maybe even weeks.  The video might not be very family friendly so enjoy this picture of Honey Singh with his breakfast instead. 

5. Sajde- Kil Dil 

Guys, it's Arjit Singh, what more could you possibly ask for? The song is just as heartfelt as the title suggests with excellent vocals provided by Arjit and Nihira Joshi. The song is included in the official soundtrack of the film “Kill/Dil” starring Ranvir Singh, Parineeti Chopra and Ali Zafar in lead roles, which does sound like a bunch of awesome people put together in one movie. This song is probably going to stick with me for a while.


 By Nida Zehra 

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Of Honey Vocals, Flashy Outfits, and Oddly Lit Boxes

Deep down the dark streets of Seoul in  big entertainment companies, lived the uncountable number of Korean bands. Every now and then they would come out with addictive, upbeat songs, dressed in the trendiest of outfits, dancing perfectly in oddly lit boxes. Grabbing a few awards once in a while, this bunch of hard-working teenagers worked even harder to come back with crisp and  flawless dance moves and songs to make all the fangirls swoon.

WHO ARE THEY? HOW ARE THEY SO PERFECT? WHAT DO THEY WANT?

Before these questions could be answered, a crazy old man came in their way.

'Dress classy, dance cheesy' he said.

'Oppa Gangnam Style' he said.

Stealing away the spotlight,he galloped to yet another oddly lit stadium claiming himself a 'Gentleman'  By the name of Park Jaesang he goes. As a Korean phenomenon he's known. But what if I tell you, there's more to the genre known as Korean pop than just the famous (or infamous?) Gangnam style?

 In an industry where fame comes quickly and fades just as rapidly, Korean pop has been on a major roll ever since the decade started. After years of intense training, Korean entertainment companies form bands with the best of talents which can feature as many as 17 members. Not only  do singing skills matter but so does the ability to be a powerful dancer. Later come the artsy music videos. These ever-growing bands are creating a frenzy among their fans by selling out concerts within minutes and breaking through billboard music charts. Every once in a while these girl and boy bands come back with new singles or full albums. What is unique is the fact that their new acts are further promoted through music shows where all these bands compete against each other and show strong live performances with some high notes here and there, and impressive but tough, well synchronized choreography.

 Immensely dedicated fandoms are another special factor of Korean bands. Having a group filled with different personalities, these bands manage to attract a large audiences. International awards are more like a battlefield and boy can things get ugly. Fans even buy the CDs, which no one in this generation seems to do. Never underestimate the power of a fangirl. They can even get their oppas a mansion in Gangnam, a Taj Mahal and Beyonce. Thats right! The key word here is 'Obsession!'

Riddled with idol groups after idol groups, the magical genre of K-pop has painted a picture of loud, crazy and colourful worlds with songs like Go crazy, Gee, Like This and many more. However it also  knows just when to step back and slow it down with melodious ballads like Blue, and 0330. But things do not end here. In the last few years, many east meets west collaborations have been seen. From Kanye West to Diplo, K-pop is slowly entering the American market and gaining a lot of interest. K-pop is all but usual- a mix of expected and unexpected.

All in all, my life being in this K-ingdom has been more of a roller coaster ride. With its crazy dance moves to major outfit fails where you just want to burn the stylist to bits of broken english (see; nonsense) to the pride it gives you when you see your favorite bands taking away worldwide awards. Korean bands not only taught me how practice makes  perfect but also the fact that music has no language. Mad props to these people for changing my life's motto which now goes as

YOLO- You Only Love Oppas!

By: Fizzah Riaz Sheikh 

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Indie, what?

Going through my old MySpace list, I realized how different my taste in music has become through the years. I started off with Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers, and now listen to a whole new brand of music known as “indie”.  It seems to be the choice of a new generation- A generation which I come from. I slowly found myself moving away from the sugar pop music and more towards the “alternative/alt-rock” bands, which were still pretty mainstream but had a sort of electric weirdness to them covered in noisy out-of-tune synthesizers. Coldplay, for example. Their songs like “Charlie Brown” and “Violet Hill” are examples of somewhat unconventional music coming from a popular band.

Earlier before, “indie rock” was the proud successor of “punk rock”. It was defined to oppose the music that was made to appeal to the masses. It was for people who were fed up with  what they heard on their TV and radio. However soon enough, we saw bands like Sonic Youth and Joy Division go commercial. Many of these underground bands started signing with major record labels. Indie had expanded its territory and somewhat dropped its image of ‘weird’ and became more common.  The definition of "indie" remains constantly in flux. Are bands on independent labels the only ones righteous enough to have a illicit claim to the "indie" spirit? Or is indie an aesthetic that belongs to any artist who is willing to be creative or showcase their idiosyncrasies, without caring about the commercial success?

I feel as though anything that can be described as ‘quirky’ or ‘quaint’ now comes under the indie umbrella, and there are more things under it than it can actually take. As indie enters the second decade of the 21st century, its definition has never been less clear. Hipsters that see their favorite bands appearing on popular late night shows and treacherous label signings experience a lot of hurt. On various social networks (i.e Tumblr) I see them lashing out and talking about the good old days of a band before it became mainstream.  It seems hard for people to digest that there can be an in-between. I love listening to Ariel Pink, John Maus, Mac DeMarco and other such not so popular indie artists. But I can’t like listening to Beyonce or Adele without being judged for crossing the other side, even if it is for a little while.

 There seems to be a sense of betrayal in all of this; the movement that had begun to defy conventional pop/rock now seems to become it.

By: Sana Ahmad 

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The Lost Gems of the Pakistani Music Scene

Like any other country, Pakistan too, has produced several geniuses in various fields- most importantly, the music industry. It is, however, quite ironic and sad at the same time, that the same industry which produced legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali khan and Noor Jehan, now bemoans the dearth of talented, if not legendary, individuals who can at least breathe new life into its on-the-verge-of-dying soul.

This article is to throw light on some of the musical gems of Pakistan who revolutionized and dominated the music scene through out the world with their unprecedented talent and unchallenged skills.

Aziz Mian

The period 1970-1988 is often regarded as the "Golden Age Of Qawwali Music In Pakistan". Contrary to the popular belief, it was not Nusrat Fateh Ali who brought Pakistan on the forefront as the soil for best qawwals or qawwalis, but a little known gem known as, 'Aziz Mian'. 

Remember the sultry and sizzling song, "Mein Sharaabi", from the Indian flick, Cocktail, a song which we all went crazy for? Well, the man behind the song was none other than Aziz Mian who rocked the music scene with it when it was released in 1973. Surprisingly enough, it was not the song but the uniqueness of the style in which he sang and his powerful vocals that had an intoxicating effect on his audiences. A testing evidence to this is the fact that a cultural writer reviewing one such Aziz Mian concert in Karachi in 1975 described him as being ‘the Nietzschean Sufi!’ He is not just remembered as a qawwal but as a man who had enough guts to talk about his love for alcohol, which he believed to be a metaphor for the state and the love God had for him, even in the times of the reactionary military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, who had come with the mission of imposing his Islam, which included a complete prohibition of alcohol. His concerts were often raided by the police during the dictator's regime for finding people in a state of unconsciousness, to the extent that Aziz, given his witty and stubborn nature, began making a joke out of this by telling the audiences to remain calm as the police would arrest him and not them, when he wrapped up his concerts with the ever popular, Mein Sharaabi. Ironically, yet sadly, it was his immense love for alcohol that eventually took his own life when he died in 2000 as a result of liver cancer, caused by excessive drinking.

Nazia Hassan

In 1979, a fifteen year old, extremely young and talented, British born Pakistani became the youngest and the first ever Pakistani to win the Indian equivalent of the Oscar- A Filmfare Award. It was the one and only Nazia Hassan, who had rocked the Indian music industry with her song, Aap Jaisa Koi,  a track pictured by the alluring and highly popular film actress, Parveen Babi. 'She came, she saw, she conquered' is what perfectly describes Nazia Hassan when she arrived in the music scene in early 1980's. She left her Indian fans craving for more with Aap Jaisa Koi, until she came back with a bang in 1982, with the release of her album, Star, the songs of which were used in an Indian movie with the same name. The chartbuster of this album was 'Boom Boom' , that was recently remade by Nescafe Basement as well. With just one single and and album down the lane, Nazia had already rocked the world with her melodious voice. She was the one who gave birth to pop music in South Asia with her songs. Disco Deewaane (1983), Young Tarang (1984) and Hotline (1987) , were all the albums she released in the following years. Ankhein Milaane Waale, Disco Dewaane, Dum Dum Dee Dee, Telehone piyar were all big hits off of these albums. Surprisingly they topped the charts in Russia, Poland, Latin America and West Indies as well! Such was the precedent of the popularity and fame of Nazia! Sadly, she left the music world in 1991 with the release of her last album Camera. Just two years later she was diagnosed with cancer, that eventually took her life and the graceful soul departed from this world on 15 August 1997.

Junaid Jamshed

Now this is one individual who is very much alive and still enjoys the same status and popularity that he did two decades ago, but he is a lost musical gem in a sense that he isolated himself from the glamorous world of music and shifted to being a business man and religious scholar ( a job he has so far done very carelessly indeed).

JJ joined the Vital Signs in 1987 when he was still an engineering student at a college in Lahore. His voice and sense of melody were two of the leading reasons behind the Signs' meteoritic rise between 1988 till the group’s demise in 1997. He was also an incurable romantic. Though most of his band mates had a series of flings with a host of women, in 1989 Junaid got embroiled in a torrid affair that pushed him on the brink of suffering a nervous breakdown. Though not noticed much at the time, even during the height of the Signs’ fame in 1994-95, JJ had already started his gradual flip towards a state of mind that would eventually land him as becoming the puritanical Tableeghi Jamaat’s poster boy. 

Soon after the release of the Signs’ fourth album, Hum Tum, in 1995, Junaid started to mail letters to various newspapers complaining that their music pages were promoting and glorifying “druggie music” and bands whose members were “Satan worshippers.” Though by then his two closest allies in the music business, Rohail and Shoaib, had become aware of the growing conservatism in the religious and social ideas held by Junaid, they still couldn’t see through the obvious fact that in front of them was a man spiralling downwards towards a situation in which he would ultimately start questioning their faith! The mid and late 1990s was also a time when a number of Islamic evangelical outfits had begun to mushroom in all the major cities of Pakistan. They almost squarely targeted young middle-class urbanites as recruits and for this they began to ‘covert’ and conscript famous personalities from the Pakistan cricket team and the show-biz scene. Though the Tableeghi Jamaat was far more established, it was in the 1990s that they began to approach young urbanites that were associated with cricket, show business and the military. J

unaid’s conversion into becoming a Tableeghi Jamaat man was not sudden. It was a gradual, slow and rather painful process, unfolding piece by piece. He was the hungriest for success and stardom in the band, not only in pop music but also in film and television. He is on record saying that music was his life as he went on to release two impressive post-Signs' solo albums.  This made him one of the hardest working members of the group and he actually wanted to continue recording with the band beyond Hum Tum (the Signs’ last album). But more and more he was falling prey (rather willingly) to his frustrations, as his desire to work again with the Signs got no serious response from Rohail and his dream to star in a Shoaib Manoor film only got him lazy chuckles from the director.

 In spite of the fact that Rohail’s liberal mindset, tastes and lifestyle always clashed with Junaid’s idea of being an artiste (even though he himself was leading a rather posh and lavish life), this undercurrent eventually turned into open resentment by the time Rohail did come around and agreed to reform the band in 2002 for a special Nazia Hassan tribute concert. It was interesting to note how Junaid responded to Rohail’s call. Only a few days prior to the concert, Junaid had already announced to the press that he was joining the Jamaat full time and would quit making music. In fact he had been spending his time preaching and being preached at a congregation in Raiwind when he suddenly reappeared on the day of the concert flanked by two members of the Jamaat but with his long, flowing beard (that he had begun to sport from 2001 onwards) now trimmed into a neat, stylish goatee. When asked by the press about his earlier statement regarding his retirement from music (and that ‘music was unIslamic’), Junaid said that after consulting with some elders in the Jamaat, he has been assured that there was nothing wrong with playing music. Wearing a T-shirt, denims and with a stylised goatee, Junaid played an excellent set with Rohail, Shahzad and the original VS guitarist, Salman Ahmed. However, at the end of the concert he looked anguished as he started making his way towards his two Tableeghi comrades waiting in the wings to gather him back. Then he refused the lead role in Shoaib Mansoor’s 2007 film, ‘Khuda Kay Leeay.’ He publicly criticised the way Mansoor portrayed jihadis and Islamic evangelists in the film, saying that it is Shoaib who is confusing the youth about Islam and not him. 

But, of course, Junaid’s own confusion regarding the subject is now well documented and his lectures and statements never fail to sound contradictory as he goes about denouncing the material and the ungodly nature of music and showbiz, but continues his long-standing stint as an expensive clothes’ designer and a naat-reciter. He released his naat albums through exactly the same immoral promotional and distribution channels used by his pop music counterparts. After finally deciding to let go of his need for fame and attention through music, he has ironically found almost an equal amount of fame and fortune as a naatkhuaan, televangelist and designer.

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