Latest news with #Barzakh
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Abbasi takes on Austen
Is Jane Austen the gift that keeps on giving? Whatever disgruntled literature students may feel, when you are a filmmaker, there is only one answer to this question, and it is this: yes. And thus, as per Variety, Pakistani director Asim Abbasi – he who brought us Barzakh last year, along with web series Churails (2020), feature film Cake (2018), as well as an episode of Famous Five Season 2 – will be stamping his mark as co-director on a production of BBC and BritBox adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister. Abbasi will work with fellow director Jennifer Sheridan to bring the ten-part series to life, which will be based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name. Hadlow's novel, in turn, can be best described as a fan fiction novel paying homage to the plain (and painfully average piano player) Mary Bennet from Austen's Pride and Prejudice. "The series follows Mary as she steps out of her sisters' shadows in search of her own identity and purpose – finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way," reads the BBC official synopsis, also shared by Abbasi on Instagram Stories. "Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention." Mary's tale of independence and reinvention looks to premier in 2026, with UK screen heavyweights Ruth Jones, Richard E Grant, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle cast in key roles. Mary, the titular other Bennet sister, will be played by Bridgerton actor Ella Bruccoleri. Readers who stay away from fan fiction but have devoured Pride and Prejudice may (or nay not) be pleased to learn that the rest of the Bennet sisters will also feature in the series, along with their nemesis Caroline Bingley, friend Charlotte Lucas, and even bigger nemesis Mr Collins. Having brought to life Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed's web series Barzakh last year – a show that got banned in Pakistan within weeks of premiering due to its contentious plot and the choices made by its characters – Abbasi is no stranger to experimenting on the screen and taking on unconventional projects. Churails proved to be groundbreaking in its female-centric story; Cake shone a different lens on family drama and was Pakistan's submission for the 2019 Oscars. Last year, taking on an episode of Enid Blyton's Famous Five series proved the different directions Asim is willing to stretch to; having his name attached to what can ultimately be traced back to Pride and Prejudice highlights the filmmaker's versatility. Whilst it is difficult to categorise a period drama as 'bold' purely due to the subject matter, with Austen's catalogue of work still being particularly relevant to a Pakistani audience, it is only fitting that a director of Pakistani origin will bring his expertise to his latest project. 'Sense and Sensibility' soon It is not just Mary Bennet who is being dragged to the forefront; a much more beloved Austen character, Elinor Dashwood, is also due to have her moment in the sun once again after another film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility starring Daisy Edgar Jones (Normal People) was announced last week. As per the Guardian, production on the film begins next month. The film will be helmed by producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, no strangers to Austen, having previously worked together on 2005's Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and 2020's Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy. The last time Sense and Sensibility was presented to the big screen in 1995, it starred all the names anyone associates with British cinema; Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and (the late) Alan Rickman. Although the film contained a well-known cast, director Ang Lee famously reduced a young Winslet to tears by informing her that she would "get better". In addition, at the time, fans were left unconvinced with Thompson's pairing with a floppy-haired Grant looking eerily similar to his Four Weddings and Funeral role. With all these glaring flaws in mind, news of this latest version of Sense and Sensibility, at least, has not quite upset fans in the same way as Netflix's Pride and Prejudice announcement from April this year. Austen adaptations abound A swift glance at the outpouring of Austen films or series over the past 30 years shows that this Regency author may have died 250 years ago and written a scant six books before doing so, but she continues to be the gift that keeps on giving – despite what disillusioned literature students may have to say about it. Her classic meet cutes and staidly rom-coms – relatable even two-and-a-half-centuries down the line – prove that Austen is the Marvel equivalent of period dramas. There is always another adaptation waiting in the wings. And if the well is running dry vis a vis adaptations, Penguin can always be counted upon for releasing garish, historically inaccurate BookTok-friendly Austen covers in a bid to lure in modern readers. If you want nothing to do with BookTok covers of classics and are also tired of Austen adaptations filling up streaming platforms, you will have surmised by the above that unfortunately 2025 is not the year for you. Not only can we expect The Other Bennet Sister and Sense and Sensibility in the near future, earlier this in April, Netflix dismayed purist fans by announcing that yet another version of Pride and Prejudice is in the works. Meanwhile, straying only slightly further from Austen's work itself, French film Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (telling the story of a woman who yearns to live in Austen's world) unveiled in May. Lesson learned: Austen is here to stay, and has been for a long, long time.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee 5 Take Down All Pakistani Shows And Content After Government Note
New Delhi: Following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and the subsequent Operation Sindoor by India targeting terror camps in Pakistan, the entertainment industry has been impacted amid rising tensions along the border. On Thursday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory asking streaming platforms to stop hosting content that originates in Pakistan. "In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory stated. A quick search shows that major OTT platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Zee5 and JioCinema currently do not host any Pakistani content. Earlier, shows like Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar were available on Netflix but have since been removed. Zee Zindagi, known for streaming Pakistani originals in the past, has also taken down such titles from its catalogue. The much-awaited show Barzakh, starring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, has also been removed from ZEE5. A source close to the channel told India Today that the content was removed before any formal advisory was issued, as a precautionary measure to avoid controversy. Even before Operation Sindoor, YouTube had blocked Pakistani entertainment channels such as Hum TV and ARY Digital in India. Sixteen other channels were also banned for allegedly spreading misinformation. However, Pakistani music content like Coke Studio Pakistan and songs by individual artists are still accessible. A trade source said the advisory came into effect only on Thursday evening and will take time to be fully enforced. "Also, it said that content which had its origins in Pakistan, but a lot of content by Pakistani artists has also been produced in India. So there is no clarity around the same. Coke is a global brand, so we still don't know if Coke Studio falls into the Pakistan-originated content. As time passes, we will have better clarity," they said.
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Glamour and celebrations
One of Sanam Saeed's biggest claims to fame in 2024 was her appearance in the contentious web series Barzakh. So far, 2025 appears to be a quieter year for the film and television star, but no one can accuse Sanam of melting into obscurity. To keep her fans engaged, the Cake actor lit up her Instagram handle with a 20-photo carousel of her life over the past few months, ranging from full-on glamour to casual meals out with friends to a hilariously relatable pouting selfie. Sanam's photo dump begins with her flaunting a deep blue and gold sari at a formal event, holding a golden clutch with her long locks hanging loose. We move on to a snippet of the star clad in a long white gown, touching up her lipstick. In the third shot, Sanam dials back the glamour but is no less stunning in a casual long white skirt and orange blouse as she snaps a selfie in the mirror of a lift. The fourth below-the-chin selfie shows us Sanam pouting, with the camera drawing attention to her full, made-up lips and her on-point mascara as her lashes stand to attention. The next photo shows a behind-the-scenes snapshot of an actor learning her lines, with her script lying open on a bed. We cannot see Sanam's face here, but nevertheless, we are fully drawn into the world of studying, reminded of times when we, too, sat on the bed memorising things out of textbooks. As a special surprise, we travel to a kitchen for Sanam's fifth shot, where she shows off her apron and grins up at fellow actor Humayun Saeed in a kitchen, drinks and cut-up lemons sitting on the counter before them. The next few shots slip into the casualness of hanging with friends and family, although one shot of an awards show sneaks into the carousel, with Sanam showing off a dazzling red gown. For the remainder of the photos, we flicker through yet more shots of celebrations with family and friends. It would be an incomplete Sanam photo dump without a shot of her smiling side by side with her man, actor Mohib Mirza as she rocks a sleeveless floral print dress. To wrap things up, we end with a beautiful shot of the glowing sun setting into the sea. "Life is pie some slices over the last few months," wrote the actor, ending her caption with the hashtag 'photo dump'.
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
"Dramas Are Made in a 2-D Format:" Deepak Perwani on the Regressive State of Pakistani Entertainment
Deepak Perwani is a household name in Pakistan, not only for his iconic fashion designs but also for his acting chops. With decades of experience as one of the country's leading designers, Perwani has carved a space for himself in both the fashion and entertainment industries. Known for his influential work in both areas, Deepak has contributed to Pakistani pop culture as both a creative genius and a public figure. These days, he is shining on the small screen with his role in the hit drama Qarz-e-Jaan. But recently, Deepak turned his attention to the state of Pakistan's entertainment industry, particularly the limitations and censorship challenges plaguing the country's drama sector. He recently appeared on the DigiTales podcast, where he shared his insights on the fashion history of Pakistan, his influential family, and, notably, the stagnation he believes the local drama and film industries are experiencing. While he acknowledged that Pakistani dramas have gained immense popularity both locally and internationally, Deepak also pointed out how the country's entertainment sector remains stagnant due to significant restrictions. He explained that Pakistani dramas, while highly regarded abroad, are still stuck in a "backward" state. 'Our dramas are doing great, but we are still backward,' he said, reflecting on how the industry's creativity is stifled by PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) regulations. According to Deepak, even the portrayal of simple things like red blood in a scene is prohibited, making it impossible to create crime thrillers or show intense dramatic moments that are often central to gripping stories. "How come we don't have crime thrillers? How come we don't have true crime stories?" he questioned. Deepak's frustration doesn't end there. He also pointed out how absurd some of the restrictions are. He revealed that, in many dramas, a husband and wife cannot be shown sitting on the same bed together, even in an affectionate or romantic context. The sheer number of limitations, from banning certain depictions to restricting specific themes, discourages drama creators from taking risks or doing something different. After all, when you have so many barriers, you're just stuck making the same type of story again and again. In an industry heavily burdened by these constraints, Pakistani creators often play it safe to avoid the wrath of the censor board. Shows that are considered 'too provocative' for the mainstream audience or are deemed inappropriate by the board are often banned outright, costing producers huge amounts of money and reputational damage. This results in a cycle of repetitiveness—leading to the production of shows that follow the same tired tropes. For example, dramas like Barzakh and Churails attempted to break away from the formulaic storytelling of typical "saas bahu" plots or mafia and land-grabber sagas, but the risk involved in producing such content is high, and not all networks are willing to take it. The stories that have flooded television for years involve evil mother-in-laws plotting against sweet daughter-in-laws, a charming but scheming sister-in-law, and of course, the cousin who's hopelessly in love with the protagonist and will do anything to tear the couple apart. However, Deepak's podcast appearance didn't solely focus on the limitations of the drama industry. As a fashion icon with over 30 years in the business, he shared some entertaining anecdotes from his career in the fashion world. He recalled a particularly wild night when he received a call in the middle of the night informing him that the lead actor's sherwani had been stolen just hours before a crucial shoot. "I had to rush and grab one of my own sherwanis to get the shoot done,' Deepak said, laughing. The chaos didn't end there; the actress, who was supposed to perform a dance number, refused to dance with the hero's cousin, demanding script changes to have a solo with the hero instead. To close out the discussion, Deepak shared his thoughts on the controlled nature of the state, not just in the entertainment industry but across society in general. He emphasized that in such a controlled environment, it's impossible to build a true cultural foundation. He quipped that without freedom, there is no culture to build! In an industry where creativity is constantly boxed in, it's clear that the real drama in Pakistani entertainment happens off-screen.
