Jannat 2: True Bollywood cinema
Thrill and adventure is the concept that embodies the work of the Bhatt camp (Mahesh Bhatt and Vikram Bhatt) and this particular invention they managed to churn out is phenomenal. The Bhatts have produced many movies that have been lauded by viewers, some controversial and some with a message. One thing is for sure, they know the mindset of the audience and how to penetrate it. The story line depicted in the movie lifts the audience out of their comfort zone and helps to view a different aspect of mainstream cinema. Movies like Arth, Saraansh, Naam, Daddy, Awargi, Zakhm, Tamanna, Jism, ...
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Treats from the street: Delicious and affordable
Traditional street snacks are a significant part of Pakistani culture. Originating from rural areas, they have also earned popularity in big cities over the years. Not only are they affordable but very delicious too, with a tinge of the typically rural taste. Despite the advent of international fast food chains, the desi roadside snack hawkers continue to run a thriving business; serving eager customers on the streets, at signal stops and outside schools. Most of these snacks are made out of locally grown fruits, vegetables and kernels; thanks to the year round crops of our country. The cooking methods employed use little or no oil ...
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Coke Studio Ep 1: Thank you for ‘Larsha Pekhawar Ta’
The first episode of “Coke Studio” season five has lead to an interesting debate amongst its fans. Did the studio do justice to rap with Bohemia’s rendition? Has Hadiqa Kayani come of age? These questions and others have been making the rounds. One thing that is glaringly obvious is that an artist’s sincerity can be judged from behind the scenes (BTS) clips. For instance, Humayun Khan sounded like a mature artist when he spoke about his experience of completing his education first and then switching to music, that too, at a time when the music landscape of Peshawer was changing. But ...
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Spoiler Alert: The Avengers – entertaining, not excellent
So there it came to an end, whatever excitement I had felt towards watching The Avengers. Don’t get me wrong; I liked it a lot, I actually loved it and will watch it again when I’m in the mood. Perhaps my issue stems from the fact that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had expected; I had very high expectations. Plus, most of you might not agree with me, but this really isn’t the sort of movie that makes a huge impact. It isn’t exactly what you would call ‘motivational’. Where do ...
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Build your froyo tower at Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt
Given my ardent love for frozen yoghurt, when Food Connection Pakistan sent me an invite to a bloggers meet-up as a pre-launch for Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt’s first outlet in Karachi, I just couldn’t resist going. This first outlet, which was scheduled to open on the May 9, 2012, is located on Zamzama (again), and another one will be opening its doors soon near BBQ Tonite. The master franchise is owned by a young man named Salman Niazi who hails from Los Angeles. Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt (TFFY) has been operating successfully for quite some time in Punjab. An interesting piece of information for me was that ...
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Satisfy your peri bite craving
Nando’s has taken grilled chicken to a whole new level and the secret lies in their amazing sauces. If eating at Nando’s can puts a dent in your pocket, you can always buy their sauces at any good grocery store. Like my fellow poultry lovers, I go to Nando’s for the best grilled chicken on the planet. But to truly whip up an appetite and to get the taste of what’s to come, you have to order their peri bites. These mouth-watering chillies are deep-fried with a crisp coating, and have a cheesy centre with a little chunk of their famous peri-basted ...
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10 breakup blunders you can avoid
My cable operator recently found a way to irk me and my childhood friend with a particular music channel that he constantly televises. Repeatedly playing “Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely” by the Backstreet Boys and the Titanic theme song, throws us back into a galaxy far away, purposely buried away, of our first love and the breakup that followed. Nobody likes talking about breakups, but these sappy songs reminded us of some absurdities we have gathered along the way and how to avoid them. Here are a few: 1. Breakup shopping Before throwing away your months’ salary on shoes and bags, just remember, ...
Read Full PostVicky Donor: Of fertility and revolutionary ideas
There was a time when an action sequence was all that was needed to capture the audience. Vengeance and thrill always succeeded at the box office. Add a little romance to the story, and you were sure to have yourself an award winner. Now, however, modern audiences have grown tired of the same old stories. Movies today have different plots, a lot of which address social issues and real life concerns. These would previously have been condemned by people at large which is why taking them to the big screen was never an option. Interestingly enough, the audience of the 21st ...
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Let’s hope your heart keeps going on and on
If you were Jack and I was Rose, you would have sacrificed your life to save mine, said a woman to a man sitting on my right at the cinema. Arif, you would have saved me, right? It’s a Friday and I’m watching Titanic in 3D. I’m slouched in my cinema seat, trying desperately to blend into the surroundings – anything — in order to avoid the romance unfolding on my right. Onscreen Jack is convincing Rose not to commit suicide, but all I could think, “Way to put Arif on the spot, woman.” Picture the same cinema an hour later. ...
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Celebrate with a light chocolate cake
When you are a follower of a club like Chelsea FC, you don’t come across many reasons to celebrate. However, this week in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou, Chelsea against all odds beat the Spanish giants Barcelona to the final. Overjoyed by the victory of my club, I instantaneously decided to celebrate and came up with this interesting version of a chocolate cake. You can call it an imitation of chocolate fudge cake because of the exclusion of butter and sour cream, which have been replaced by corn oil and buttermilk, respectively. This recipe is ...
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