sunday plus magazine 09 october 2011

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Rendezvous

FeatuRe

Fashion

inteRview

Sania Masktiya talks about her ardor for fashion, her exciting and innovative beginning

The dichotomy of the ATM machine

See how designers trot their fashion style in different parts of the world

Amer Pasha discusses the issues of electronic payments systems in financial market of Pakistan.

inside this weekOctOber 09, 2011

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style

Movie

Take a hike to remember from the valley of Thandiani to Nathiagali

62 hoRoscope Astrological forecast for the week

60 décoRRead on to find inspiring ideas to give your room a bit of pizzazz!

64 picks oF the weekGo through the smart wish-list for the best buys and best picks for everyone

Nabeel and Aqeel present their special linen collection 2011

Review of the latest Hollywood flick to hit theatres this week

3808 The reTurn of johnny englishspecTacular saniainteRviewRendezvous

Sunday pluS

editOr’S nOte

Editor-in-ChiefMajid Nizami

Deputy Managing DirectorRameeza Nizami

Editor The NationSalim Bokhari

Editor Magazine:Emanuel Sarfraz

Editorial Staff: Bishakha Khadka Kunwar, Madiha Syedain, Sadaf Pervez & Navirah Zafar

Creative Head:Faiz-ur-Rehman

Creative Team: Shoaib Qadir, Faisal Fazal, HM. Nouman

For advertising:Bilal Mahmood, 0300 - 8493206Muhammad Zaeem 0301 - 8463306Salman Ahmed 0300 - 4116792Shiraz Akbar 0333 - 2310851Khalid Sheikh0345-5130728

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TheNation

Dear readers, we are back with this exciting issue of Sunday Plus. This week, we present Sania Maskatiya, a highly innovative and talented who talks about her humble beginning. Also learn about our very own top designers who give us a glimpse on their foreign engagements. Read our special feature on the use and misuse of ATM machines. Take a pleasant hike from Thandiani to Nathiagali. In our review section, read about ‘Remains of Ruins’ by Professor Bashir Ahmed that addresses the aforesaid apprehensions through unconventional paintings, sculptures and ceramics depicting penalties of war. International interior designer Hamza Tarar is back with his blog exclusively for you. In our business section, we talk exclusively with Amer Pasha who discusses the issues relating to the state of electronic payments systems in financial market of Pakistan. Ushna Suhail, a rising star in the court, is the top ranked Pakistani female player in the international junior circuit and also a national ladies champion. On our style pages see the latest collection of the designer duo Nabeel & Aqeel . And don’t forget to see our section ‘Picks of the week’ for best buys. Send us your comments and feedback at [email protected]

October 09, 201108 Sunday PluS

RENDEZVOUS

By Bishakha Kunwar

From designing at home to opening her flagship store in Karachi this year, the name Sania Maskatiya has rapidly become a household brand in Pakistan. Sania is one of the new breed of designers to be breaking into the ‘grown-up’ fashion scene and stirring things up .

er passion for fashion since childhood took her to the prestigious Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, where she graduated with a coveted degree in textile designing. Upon graduating in 2007, she started designing with the label ‘Chamak’. After two years of working for Chamak, Sana-ia launched her own label ‘Sania Maskatiya’ in 2009. Since then her minimalist aesthetics and clean lines have translated perfectly to her detailing techniques of pleats, drapery and intricate patterns such as block printing that are sure to stand out and impress us. Her talent for cuts, her imaginative bent for form and colours are inherent and masterful.

Her fresh take on amalgamating pure fab-rics with feminine cuts and understated em-bellishments are the fortes of this beautiful yet demure designer. Her designs are a fine balance between style, comfort, practicality and sophistication. Her simplistic approach with an artistic interplay with colours take a cue from her natural setting which she inte-grates into her prêt a porter, diffusion wear and haute couture lines.

As a young designer, she made her runway debut with Fashion Pakistan Week, held in April 2010 and now she is all set to conquer the upcoming PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week to be held in Karachi next week with her luxury

prêt collection. What will Sania have in store for us at the upcoming Fashion Week is no surprise, because it will surely be anything but ordinary.

The Sania Maskatiya label is available at her flagship store in Karachi, at multi brand boutiques, Ensemble and Labels, in Lahore and Faisalabad and at Asmani in Islamabad. She also stocks at Soirée in Dubai and at Ogaan in India.

This young designer talks to Sunday Plus about her ardor for fashion, her exciting and innovative beginning, and her excitement for the upcoming PFDC Sunsilk Fashion week.

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October 09, 2011 09Sunday PluS

RENDEZVOUS


RENDEZVOUS

01 Tell us about your initial journey.Sania Maskatiya: Six months after I gradu-ated from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture with a degree in textile design, I started working from my house making clothes for myself, friends and family. Later I went into partnership with someone much older, worked under the label of Chamak for a couple of years and then went on to launch my own label.

02 The design philosophy that Sani-ya Maskatia swears by every season? Sania: To make affordable, good quality clothes for Pakistani women who have impeccable taste

03 How do you create a different identity or niche for your customers?Sania: By making designs that are imaginative with a unique interplay of colours, using imagery inspired by nature and my surroundings.

04 How comfortable and com-petitive is the fashion industry for a newcomer like yourself?Sania: So far so good, competition is healthy, keeps everyone on their toes.

05What should we expect in your latest collection and your inspirations for it?Sania: My latest collection will be unveiled at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week in Karachi at the end of October. It’s a luxury prêt collection

and until it’s on the ramp it’s a surprise.

06 You get to stay on top of all the latest trends! Can you name some reign-ing summer as well as autumn trends for 2011, as far as what's hot in colour, fabrics and cuts we should be looking out for?Sania: High waisted, wide legged trousers. Colour blocking, soft flowy fabrics, lots of ac-cessories and great drapes.

07 What is one change the fashion industry needs?Sania: To have an avenue where we can promote our brands in the export market.

08 Did you always want to be a fashion designer?

Sania: I was eleven maybe twelve my uncle’s wedding, most people of my age was transfixed with music, dancing and food. However for me, it was all about the stunning clothes on display. I think at this point I knew what my passion in life was.

09 As a fashion designer yourself, do you find it harder to buy clothes designed by other people?Sania: Depends, I personally love the work of a few designers and would happily wear their designs and appreciate their great work.

10 How do you deal with criticism when you find yourself at the receiving end?Sania: If its constructive criticism it’s great, even so if it’s not, you have to take it in your stride. I have learnt to not take it too personally

RENDEZVOUS

as being in the creative field everyone has dif-fering view.

11 What does prêt and couture mean to you? When will couture come to mean more than just bridal in Pakistan?Sania: Prêt to me means to be able to design something beautiful in an affordable price bracket which in turn can be mass produced. Personally I love making couture as each outfit is unique and different with exquisite work embellishments.

12 What does vintage fashions have that contemporary fashion never will have?Sania: What is now called vintage was once contemporary- having said that vintage fashion has timelessness about it.

13 What does success mean to you? Sania: On a personal level, success would mean happy healthy children and a loving marriage. On a professional level my work being critically acclaimed and business being financially rewarding.

14 14. Most classic piece that you have created?Sania: All my bridals – timeless and classic.

15 Who is your favourite designer (Local and International)?Sania: Locally Bunto Kazmi & Rizwan Beyg. Internationally Alexander McQueen, Diane Von Furstenburg.

16 You are addicted to… Sania: Watching cooking shows

17 The best thing that happened to

you... Sania: My baby girl Amani.

18 An unknown fact about yourself… Sania: I have a crazy sweet tooth.

19 One thing you would like to change about yourself… Sania: I wish I would go to the gym more often.

20Style statement and style icons (locally and internationally)…Sania: Less is more. Locally Nabila. Interna-tionally Kate Middleton,

21 Celebrities you would love to see wearing your label… Sania: Mahira Khan

22 Your favourite muse…Sania: My sister, Sarah

23 Who do you think is the most over-rated designer?Sania: Can’t think of any

24 Your first fashion creation…Sania: As a young girl, my mum would take me to make clothes and I have very definite ideas as to what I wanted and made sure my ideas were executed to perfection.

25 Personal weaknesses and per-sonal strengths…Sania: I am fiercely loyal as a person but I am too trusting of others.

26 Special childhood memory… Sania: All the cherished moments spent with my grandparents.



RENDEZVOUS

27 A city that inspires you…Sania: As clichéd as it sounds, for me it’s the city of love and lights, Paris.

28 A person who inspires you the most… Sania: My mum, she makes me want to be a better person.

29 Dream destination and why… Sania: Bora Bora always wanted to go. The pictures always look so stunning.

30 A crazy holiday memory… Sania: When I was eighteen, I went for a bungee jumping in the States.

31 In life if given a second chance would you do anything differently?Sania: No I don’t think so. You live and you learn.

32 The best thing about being a Pakistani…Sania: Having a sense of belonging…

33 One thing I would change about Pakistan is… Sania: Its current situation.

34 Where do you see yourself 10 years from nowSania: Working hard and Insh’Allah would like to be a household name in the Pakistani fashion industry.

35 Your journey so far …Sania: Has been awesome, crazy and ex-tremely memorable.

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL

36 Summer fashion list for you… Chiffon floral blouses, High waisted trousers, chain belts and colourful pumps and lots of jumpsuit variations

37 Most repeated labels in your closet… My own, Zara and Reiss

38 3 must haves in anyone’s closet … Lots of daywear kurtas, fun clutches and lots of black and white tanks

39 Recent purchases… Funky red elephant chapals from Zara Habib

40 Favourite items in your closet… All my linen trousers, my grandmothers antique izaars and aabas.

41 Current obsession… Funky cuffs and bangles

42 Oldest items in your closet… My age old holey tracks which I absolutely adore

43 Fashion Faux pas… Head-to-toe in animal print teamed with bright lipstick and big hair.

FAV-O-METER…

44My favourite gadget… My coffee machine

45 Your current favourite music...Coke Studio

46Your favourite colours…hands down its white

47 Your favourite books… just read room by Emma Donoghue and Elegance of a Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, loved both of them

48Your favourite movie… The Lord Of The Rings trilogy

49Your favourite perfume… Nectarine Blossom and Honey by Jo Malone

50Your farewell line is… Au Revoir (in French it means till we meet again) ... I like it that way as it is not saying good bye forever…

FASHION

October 09, 201116 SuNday PluS

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Fashion sans frontiersNICKIE NINA HEAD TO PARIS, U.K. AND NOW THE UNITED STATES

Nickie Nina recently partici-pated in the highly anticipated and extremely prestigious Pret a Porter Paris show, where they showcased their collection along with other design brands from Pakistan. The response to their showing in Paris was ex-tremely encouraging.Not long after the Paris showing, Nickie Nina headed to London where they showed their collection at a charity show for Medical Aid for Pakistan. Their show was extremely well received and many of their old clients couldn’t wait to get their hands on their collection.

AYESHA KHURRAM HEADS TO UAE

Ayesha Khurram, whose innovative embroideries are winning fans all across the country, had an unbelievable response in Dubai. After a suc-

Most of Pakistan’s top designers have a schedule which rivals that of the country’s President and chief executive officers of various companies. These designers don’t just have numerous commitments in Pakistan: they are also extremely committed abroad.

Here is a glimpse of the foreign engagements of some of our top designers. ..

cessful exhibition at Studio 8 in Dubai, Ayesha Khurram has now become one of the few brands from Pakistan which is permanently present in Dubai. So far the sales figures are go-ing through the roof, proving once again that Pakistan’s de-signers have a huge clientele waiting in Dubai.

SAIM HEADS TO NOR-WAY AND UAE

Designer Saim Ali is rapidly becoming the one designer in Pakistan whose clothes are sought out by stars, rather than the other way around. From actress Nur to superstar Meera, from models walking the red carpet to morning show hosts, all eagerly dress up in Saim’s clothes and pose for the camera.

Now Saim Ali’s fashion is finding fans across the border, with his recent show in Norway and his current show in Dubai. Saim Ali’s Norway

show was a huge hit, with Pakistanis in Norway going go go ga ga over his asymmetrical chiffon cuts, Chanel-style striped palazzo pants and turtle neck lace kaftans.

RANA NOMANRana Noman is still in the

U.K. where he recently did the finale for the Pakistan Fashion Week, U.K , where a number of designers and models from Pakistan participated.

HSYHassan Sheheryar Yasin

has recently been spending a lot of time in the United States of America, especially in New York City where he was busy meeting up with his regular clients and entertaining many new appointments for bridals and formal wear.

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Feature

By Navirah Zafar

The Ka-ChingMaChine

You're short on cash, so you walk over to the automated teller machine (ATM), insert your card into the card reader, respond to the prompts on the screen and within a minute you walk away with your money and a receipt. These were such simpler times when ATM machines processed money with no error. But now as one walks in to withdraw money from the ATM, the user is greeted by the ATM card getting jammed and ‘down link’ on most of the ATM machines, just helping to ignite ones blood pressure to scorching heights.


The Ka-Ching

The ATM or cash machine first came into existence (1967) in a branch of Barclays in Enfield, north London, 42 years ago. The in-spiration struck Mr Shepard Baron while tak-ing a bath. Mr Shepherd-Barron is very much alive to new ideas and inventions, even though his device that plays killer whale noises still needs a little bit of tuning.

These machines now are found at most supermarkets, convenience stores, petrol stations and travel centres. Have you ever wondered about th e process that makes your bank funds available to you at an ATM?

An ATM is simply a data terminal with two input and four output devices as described by Shah Mahmood, an employee in Bank Alfalah credit banking. Like any other data terminal, the ATM has to connect to and communicate through a host processor. The host processor is analogous to an Internet service provider (ISP) in that it is the gateway through which all the various ATM networks become avail-able to the cardholder (the person wanting the cash).Usually the host processor is owned by a bank or financial institution or it may be owned by an independent service provider. Bank-owned processors normally support only bank-owned machines, whereas the independent processors support merchant-owned machines.

A new innovation in ATM cards is debit cards. As briefed by a senior banker Faisal Shah, you can use your ATM card as either a credit card or a debit card; either way it comes out of your account. The only difference is that if you tell the attendant ‘credit card’, the money gets deducted on the banks expense and if you tell the attendant ‘debit card’, money already present in your account gets deducted. Some banks charge you a fee if you use your check card as a debit card (if it costs them more to process those transactions), but not if you use it as a credit card.

Cash may not be disappearing anytime soon, but there can be no denying that its role in the world economy is changing. From cash-preferred consumers to the rise of online shopping and concern over bank stability, the relationship people have with their money is evolving on an almost daily basis.

Sonia Rehman is of the view that, she and her husband just got atm/ debit cards think-ing that it would be a better option. He just started using his and I haven’t used mine as yet. After monitoring the current situation, I’ll be taking his back and locking them both up. Giving him a credit card turned out to be a bad idea and he recently gave it back because the ease and temptation was too much for him.

Now, as the credit market continues to deteriorate, millions of people across the country are starting to move away from credit cards, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and go back to the novel philosophy of only spending money they have in the bank. That means cash, debit or check.

Some families are starting to budget by withdrawing a finite amount of cash from the

ATM each week to pay for all of that week's expenses. Other families are reverting to the Depression-era monthly envelope system, placing cash in envelopes labeled rent, grocer-ies, clothing and so on. When it's gone, it's gone. A cash-only budgeting system might be the only thing that actually works for many Pakistanis.

The only difference is that if you tell the attendant ‘credit card’, the money gets deducted on the banks expense and if you tell the attendant ‘debit card’, money already present in your account gets deducted.

Feature


interview

Digitalizingcurrency with

By Erum Zaidi

Visa incAmer joined Visa Inc in April 2006 and is responsible for continuing to build Visa’s business in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Based in Karachi, he is the Country Manager for both countries within the CEMEA region, reporting to Kamran Siddiqi General Manager for the Middle East area.

visa Corporate profileVisa Inc. is a global payments technology com-

pany that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories, enabling them to use digital currency instead of cash and checks.

Before joining Visa, Mr. Pasha worked with Coca-Cola for six years, leaving the company as Country Manager for Pakistan & Afghanistan, contributing to


growing market share and helped establishing a bottling plant in Afghanistan. He has also held the position of Marketing Manager with Reckitt Benckiser responsible for household consumer brands.

Amer’s interest in the field of sundry marketing of financial services takes lead from his first job at American Express where, during his eight years tenure, he held various positions in Sales & Marketing of Travelers’ Cheques, Cards & Travel Services.

Amer holds an MBA from the Webster University in the US. He is also the Honorary Secretary of the Marketing As-sociation of Pakistan and on the board of the Parkinson’s Society of Pakistan.

In a conversation with Sunday Plus, Amer Pasha, discusses the issues relating to the state of electronic payments sys-tems in financial market of Pakistan.

s+: what is your overview on the performance of electronic payments industry in pakistan?

amer pasha: Pakistan electronic payments industry has been showing remarkable growth over the last 4-5 years. This is caused by improved and modernised financial infrastructure leading to greater penetration of electronic payment products in the consumer segment.

These improvements have generated important benefits for all types of stakeholders, including consumers, merchants and financial institutions.

The plastic card market includes credit and debit cards. Credit card market is called as “buy today pay tomorrow” and debit card market’s slogan is buy today pay today. There

is a prepaid debit market for those individuals who would like to have small transactions. In my opinion, there could be a strong correlation between the growth of the debit and prepaid market in Pakistan.

In fact, debit cards are helping to increase overall banking penetration because of the innovative card-based products. It provides the cardholders electronic access to his/her bank account.

s+: when did visa start operations in pakistan and where does it stand now?

amer: Visa Inc. kicked off operations here in January 2007. Since inception, the company has been dominating the

plastic card market. Here I would like to quote State Bank’s recent quar-terly report on Electronic Payments Systems, which stated that Visa total card-base has grown by 6 million cards. The numbers of banks custom-ers, who are enthusiastic to get debit

card, have been growing substantially due to the benefits that come out by the bank payout. Visa is also doing its level best to promote the debit culture in Pakistan.

s+: How do you see the future of e-payment industry in near future?

amer: Its future is very bright in Pakistan. It is expected that the usage of debit card (also known as bank card or check card) will increase in times to come. There will be more enhanced and diversified electronic payment products for the consumers or cardholders, enabling them to use debit cards at smaller retail outlets.

Such products would cater to the needs of underserved and unbanked people.

interview

rememberA hike to

travel

By Srosh Anwar


travel

s the temperature rises on the plains, the adventurous hearts ache to be close to the nature; to find refuge from the maddening crowds, soot, dust and noise of the cities. A hiking trip is the medicine for soul-healing of the nature-lovers. Thandiani to Nathgali trek gives one the opportunity to enjoy the nature in its purest form. Thandiani is situated at an hour’s drive from Abbotabad. During the three day trek (approximately 39 km), among the pine forests, one stumbles upon murmuring waterfalls, exotic flora and fauna and lush-green pastures.

Spring is the best season to plan this trek and it is advised to be prepared to pack everything important like torches, sleeping bags, food, stove, tents etc. There are two rest houses on the way. Biran Gali is ideal for first nights stay, but be prepared to keep everything which you might need, as the guest-house

A ramble in the pine forest

Trekking amidst the pine forest, leading to Nathiagali

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travel


Lush green meadows leading towards Miran Jani, the highest mountain of Galliyat’s Mountain Range

Flora spotted near Biran Gali


travel

lacks even the basic facilities. Dagri Bungla is an ideal location for second night’s stay. Dagri provides a wonderful view of the surrounding areas.

The sunset at Dagri is a blissful sight with sun like an orange ball, dropping behind the mountains, the sky painted with various hues of orange, red and yellow. If you are lucky enough to be there, when sky is clear, you would even be able to spot hundreds of sparkling lights from Abbotabad, with the sky filled with even brighter lights; the stars. Miran Jani, the highest peak of the Galliyat, comes across on last day’s trek, heading towards Nathiagali – which is the last stop of this magnificent trip.

Sunset at Dagri

Butterfly spotted at top of Miran Jani

Magical evening light at the time of sunset, DagriDagri Bangla


music profile

“Forget you”Cee Lo green:

Multi-talented and flamboyant, Cee Lo Green initially made a name for himself and his trademark crooning as part of pioneer-ing Dirty South rappers Goodie Mob before he broke away in the early 2000s for a colorful solo route. Along with fellow Atlanta rappers OutKast, Goodie Mob laid out the blueprint for the Dirty South style during the mid-'90s, making serious waves with their debut album, Soul Food (1995). Cee Lo was an important member of the group, often singing the hooks to many of Goodie Mob's best songs (e.g., "Cell Therapy," "Soul Food," "Black Ice"). But the group didn't last too long, and after a few releases over a five-year span, Cee Lo split with Goodie Mob for a promising solo deal with Arista. The deal came in the wake of Arista's suc-cess with OutKast's Stankonia (especially the single "Ms. Jackson"), not to mention the burgeoning neo-soul movement charac-terized by the likes of Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, and Macy Gray. Arista label head L.A. Reid no doubt sensed a lot of potential in Cee Lo and gave him the green light to record a solo album. That album, Cee Lo Green and

His Perfect Imperfections (2002), sounded unlike anything else out there -- unlike Cee Lo's past work with Goodie Mob, unlike his neo-soul contemporaries, and unlike pretty much anything else except the weirder corners of OutKast's Stankonia album. The album unsurprisingly never took off com-mercially, despite some colorful promotion on Cee Lo's part (a wild video for "Closet Freak" and a belly-baring live tour), and the tattooed big man went back to the drawing board, returning in early 2004 with Cee Lo Green Is the Soul Machine. This follow-up was just as free-spirited as Cee Lo's debut but was a more focused effort, anchored by some radio-friendly singles produced by big-money hitmakers Timbaland ("I'll Be Around"), Jazze Pha ("The One"), and the Neptunes.

It also featured some nice production by Cee Lo himself. Interestingly, Arista released the album shortly after parting ways with Reid and also after experiencing enormous, Grammy-winning success with OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, an album (André 3000's half, at least) that sounded

quite a bit like Cee Lo's work. In 2006, Cee Lo enjoyed his greatest success to date as half of Gnarls Barkley, a duo also featuring producer Danger Mouse. "Crazy," the lead single from St. Elsewhere, the duo's debut album, was an instant hit in the U.K. and steadily rose to the top of the charts in the U.S. by the end of the summer. The critical acclaim and commercial success of Gnarls Barkley awarded Cee Lo the most attention he'd ever enjoyed in his career to date. Cee Lo and DM followed it up with a second Gnarls Barkley album, The Odd Couple, in early 2008. After reuniting his original group, Goodie Mob, to play dates around the country in 2010, Cee Lo recorded his third proper solo album, The Lady Killer, billed as Cee Lo Green and featuring an ongoing dose of his unique take on soul, pop, and funky hip-hop, highlighted by the Grammy Award-winning single "Forget You!" That song, which went multi-platinum in several countries, helped establish Cee Lo a star in his own right, providing that he continued delivering hits as a collaborator as well as a solo artist.

movie


THE PLAYERS:

director: Oliver Parker

cinematography:Danny Cohen

actors: Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic West, Rosamund Pike

writers: Hamish McColl & William Davies

music: Ilan Eshkeri

genre: Adventure, Comedy & Thriller

RATING: 6/10

JOHnny EnGlIsH REBORn

Johnny English REboRn is a breezy watch

movie

Rowan Atkinson with performersRowan Atkinson & Sunetra SastryGillian Anderson, Rowan Atkinson & Rosamund Pike

SuNday PluSOctober 09, 2011 31

AT THE PREmIERE:

the pLotLast time he was sent to a missionary

in Tibet after having embarrassed the MI7 in a mission failure. But this time he’s the only one who can perhaps divert an attempt on the Chinese Premier’s life. The question is can Johnny English really unfold a web of conspiracy running through the various secret services, especially now that he has just a week to do the job?

the goodSo what if he does not have a suave

knack for accomplishing missions success-fully? So what if he acts as a nerd-cum-wannabe James Bond? And so what if he does not fit into the intelligent world of gadgets. This time mystery, spies and the missing link? There’s something about Rowan Atkinson that suspense becomes the surprise element even if that means moving from Mr Beans to a sequel of John-ny English. To the newcomer, Atkinson’s Mr Bean may be ludicrously hilarious. Children, especially, are attracted to his Bumbling Briton character.

Rosamund Pike and Gillian Anderson are a welcome sight, counter-playing Atkin’s silliness, and it is nice to see Richard Schiff (of TV’s “West Wing” fame) in a cameo. Another star to watch out for is Kaluuva who supports Atkinson solidly as as the bugged-eyed Agent Tucker. This sequel is for those who just can’t get enough of “Mr Bean”.

Though the film is clearly a spoof on James Bond, the laughter is evoked owing to its own standalone funny script. Also fortunately, Atkinson refrains from making his trademark funny faces often, thus

allowing him to slip into his ‘spy’ character with no hangover of his iconic character Mr Bean which works. Don’t expect too much of originality though as most of Atkinson’s funny antics are run-of-the-mill. A lot will remind you of Steve Martin’s ‘Pink Panther’.

the Bad:Just one problem. How much can you

laugh at people walking into stuff, falling off nowhere? However, after a season or two of Mr Bean, most people will him overly slapstick and contemptuous. Worse, the gags get very predictable. And this is how it is with “Johnny English Reborn”. All we see is Atkinson as Mr Bean playing a fumbling spy. Many of the opening gags are laughable, especially those dealing with his kungfu training. However, the laughs and the fun fade when we are faced with an inane assassination plot. If we compare this with Mike Myers’ “Austin Powers” we would find this one a bit more childish.

Also, don’t be misled by the ‘Reborn’ part of the title, though. The film doesn’t see any major transformation in the charac-ter or upheaval in the universe he populates. (Other than the fact that eastern practices have drastically augmented his ability to take kicks to the groin). That being said, the film, for the most part, is successful in putting across an irreverent Spy Hard-like take on a genre that, as seen in the recent Bond movies, has started taking itself a little too seriously.

Not as over-the-top as it could have been, nor entirely tepid, the film is as just about as enjoyable as you would think one centred on a gadget-toting Atkinson giving baddies a run for their money could be. A

Jason Isaacs

sure enough bet for a family outing, (the groin-related exercises being the only risqué part, apart from a swimsuit-clad vixen who distracts English in his African operations) Johnny English Reborn is a light-hearted, zany, but ultimately, a regrettably forget-table film.

oVeraLL: Just one problem. How much can you

laugh at people walking into stuff, falling off nowhere. All in all, Johnny English is a fun film to watch at the weekend with Rowan Atkinson showing off his characteristic flair for comedy once again. All in all, Johnny English Reborn is a breezy watch. So much so that it’s predictability hardly seems to get in the way.


style

LinenLuxuryLinen is seen as a symbol of easy luxury. Linen suits have a long as mark of the vacationing gentleman, particularly in the America South, Caribbean and the Mediterranean. The Internationally acknowledged design house of Nabeel & Aqeel present suits, shirts, slacks and sports jackets in variety of subtle and soft colours. The Linen Suit will last you the whole year round the countries like Pakistan.


style

style

PhotograPhy: Rehan QuReshi Model: MuzaMMil Riaz hair Styling: saleem saloon ConCePt & art direCtion: aQeel iftikhaR deSigner: nabeel & aQeel



Hollywood

The reTurn of

Johnny englishIn his typically understated, British way, Rowan Atkinson is re-living the moment when his passion for fast cars nearly cost him his life. Just seven days before we sat down for a rare interview with the famously private actor, he was driving his McLaren F1 along a wet Cambridge shire road when it span out of control and ploughed into a traffic sign.


Hollywood

Johnny englishIn his typically understated, British way, Rowan Atkinson is re-living the moment when his passion for fast cars nearly cost him his life. Just seven days before we sat down for a rare interview with the famously private actor, he was driving his McLaren F1 along a wet Cambridge shire road when it span out of control and ploughed into a traffic sign.

Hollywood

he crash, endangering arguably the world’s best-loved comic performer, made newspaper headlines around the globe. Atkinson was lucky. Today his right arm is supported by a sling, the result of the only injury he suffered in the crash. ‘A broken shoulder blade,’ he confirms. ‘It’s painful but it doesn’t seem to need any surgery, so hopefully it’s on the mend.’ If there is also a smattering of wounded pride, he’s doing a sterling job of keeping it concealed.

Coming just two months before the release of his new film, Johnny English Reborn, the me-dia attention from the crash will, one suspects, have been as unwelcome as his encounter with a road sign.

Atkinson’s legendary attention to detail has paid off handsomely; today he’s worth an estimated £100 million. His coffers are set to swell further on the back of Johnny English Reborn, the second installment of his affection-ate Bond parody, in which he plays the hapless MI7 agent.

The first Johnny English film, released in 2003 on a budget of $35 million, raked in

$161 million at the box office. This time the budget is much bigger – a move to keep the franchise abreast of the Bond

and Bourne films.‘I loved the Bond movies

as a child, and I still do,’ confesses Atkinson. ‘They are hugely inspiring – a wonderful combination of glamour and adventure. The books were written in the Fifties and were all about Britain as a fading power but they had this bril-

liant secret agent who could make Britain look great again.

‘The Cold War was a very dominant feature of the books, and

that doesn’t exist any-more. The character doesn’t really fit the times and the idea

that a member of the British intelligence would be driving a Rolls-Royce Phantom in this day and age – or even an Aston Martin – is patently ludicrous.

'Johnny English is more complex because he is an adult and a nicer person than Mr.. Bean. He is rather charming and good-natured, and I like that aspect of him,' said Rowan

The new film opens with our hero honing his martial arts skills in a remote Tibetan retreat, having been thrown out of MI7 at the end of the first film. He is called back into the fold re-luctantly by MI7’s new boss (Gillian Anderson) when she learns of a plot to assassinate the Chinese leader and is informed by a key contact that he will only deal with English.

‘We haven’t cast any comedians. Everybody in it (Anderson is joined by Rosamund Pike and Dominic West) either has been in or could be found in a James Bond movie.’ It might be an acutely observed comic homage to 007 but the new film features action sequences that wouldn’t look out of place with Daniel Craig in the frame – a speedboat chase in Hong Kong; a fight across the rooftops in Macau; helicopters and gadgets galore, including Atkinson’s favou-rite, a customised Rolls-Royce Phantom with a unique nine-litre V16 engine.

‘That was deliberate,’ says Atkinson. ‘We wanted to give the story a little more credibility and a little more believability in the hope that any silliness that we indulged in on top would shine out in sharp relief against this very serious background.

‘Johnny English is more complex because he is an adult and a nicer person than Mr. Bean. He is rather charming and good-natured, and I like that aspect of him. I think we sympathise with him. Mr. Bean is not someone in whose company I would like to be for very long. He is a nasty piece of work.’

Given that Mr. Bean has been Atkinson’s most lucrative creation to date – the TV series has been aired in 245 territories worldwide – it is a surprise to learn that he is being consigned


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Hollywood

to the comedy graveyard.‘I think it highly unlikely that I’ll play Mr.

Bean again,’ Atkinson says.’ I think I’m just too old for it. I’ve always seen Mr. Bean as a rather timeless, ageless figure and I think as soon as the performer starts to look middle-aged it starts to lose its appeal, both to an audience and also to me.’

Of all his guises, in person Rowan Atkinson appears to be most like Johnny English, albeit less hapless. When we meet at London’s Lang-ham Hotel, he is dressed smartly in a crisp blue suit, the jacket already folded neatly on a chair nearby. Unfailingly polite, he holds out the hand from his strapped right arm in greeting.

The youngest of four brothers, he was born and raised on a farm in County Durham. As a child, he drove tractors and by the time he was 12 he’d customized his mother’s old Morris Minor and used it to bomb around the fields.

After studying engineering at Newcastle, Atkinson earned an MSc from Queen’s College Oxford. It was there that his performing career began, with the Oxford Revue and sketches with the Oxford University Dramatic Society, and also where he met Richard Curtis, who would become his lifelong friend and creative collaborator.

Atkinson has been married to former BBC make-up artist Sunetra Sastry since 1990 and they have two children. The one area he will not discuss, though, is his private life. When I ask what his children, Benjamin and Lily, make of his characters, his response is typical: ‘I’m afraid I can’t answer a question like that. I never do. I don’t even acknowledge that I have children.

I don’t mind you asking the question as long as you don’t mind me giving you an honest answer.’

On the day I visited Atkinson on the set of Johnny English Reborn, his attention to detail is all too apparent. At one stage several takes are required to capture the tiniest changes of expression. Director Oliver Parker thinks it’s part of Atkinson’s psychological make-up.

‘Rowan trained as an engineer and we have the same approach to comedy – he wants to check every little valve in the joke.’

When I ask Atkinson whether he thinks he’s a control freak, he doesn’t flinch.’ If I felt I didn’t have the control I wouldn’t really want to do it. I’m not very good at playing a game by some-body else’s rules. I need to have my own rules in place before I come out and play at all.’

Despite all the strictures he places on his work and private life, Atkinson is a fierce op-ponent of censorship.’ I’m a great believer that we should have a very high degree of latitude in being able to accommodate jokes that many people find offensive.

There is a scene in Johnny English Reborn in which the blundering agent mistakes Her Majesty for an assassin – and knocks her to the ground. Rowan agrees his most brilliant comic creations - Blackadder, Mr. Bean and now Johnny English - all share an inherent Englishness

‘Yes, I’m slightly concerned about that scene,’ he says. ‘It was a last-minute addition because we didn’t have an ending and we thought that this was as good an idea as any but, you know, I’ve been making jokes about the

Queen for 30 years.‘In Mr. Bean there was a “thing” at the

time about nutting the Queen Mother. We’ve inflicted violence on members of the Royal Family on a regular basis so it seems silly to stop now. But it’s undoubtedly born out of love and respect and wanting them to carry on.

'The last thing I would wish is for it to discredit the British Establishment or the Mon-archy because I need it there – a) as a source of inspiration and b) as a source of comedy.’ I think I am patriotic,’ he adds. ‘But patriotic implies an unquestioning following of something which I’m afraid I’m incapable of.’ I’m a bit like a lot of British people – I’m torn between believing in and admiring the British Establishment and finding it ludicrous at the same time.’ I don’t particularly want to change it but I’m very, very keen to both criticise it and make jokes about it. I’ve done that on a very regular basis for decades now – and I hope to carry on doing it.’

I’m a bit like a lot of British people – I’m torn between believing in and admiring the British Establishment and finding it ludicrous at the same time.’ I don’t particularly want to change it but I’m very, very keen to both criticise it and make jokes about it

5

KARACHI:

society

Tapu Javeri and Arif Mahmood

Kiran Aman & Selina R KhanEmaan Rana

Shamaeel Ansari

Anam Mansuri & Rukaiya Adamjee

Adnan Pardesy & Rizwan-ul-HaqMishi Khan21

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October 09, 2011 42 Sunday PluS

PhotograPhic PersPectives

8 Kiran Aman, Faraz & Mantaha

Markings Publishing proudly launched its third venture, “Dou Rukh”, a photographic representation of two individual perspectives, by acclaimed photographers Arif Mahmood and Tapu Javeri at Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture. The launch by Markings was well attended by an exciting diversity of Karachi’s personalities, including subjects from the book itself.

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society

Sunday PluSOctober 09, 2011 43

9 Selina R KhanSumeha Khalid and Fathma Amir Amean J Umair Tabbani, Sana Shahzad and Nida Azwer

Frieha Altaf with Ayaz Anis Khan

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society


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Batul Rizvi and Seema Jaffer

Hasan Mahmud Shakeel, Shehnaz Ismail and a friend Maliha, Sabeen and Sanam Chaudhry

Rasiq Ismail

Mohsin Sayeed

Imran QuraishiLeon Menezes 1615

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17 18Qawwal Farid Ayaz with a Friend14

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society


23 Nabila and Aamna Haider IsaniNubain and Warda Rizwan Beyg Mantaha and Faraz Maqsood Mathira and Ayaz Anis

Rukaiya Adamjee Marzi Sara Taher Khan Nadia Rafi Zil Lakhani

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KARACHI:

society

Faraz Lodhi and Rubyah Chaudhary

Raza and ShakeelHamza Jafri

Mariam Azmi

Faraz Lodhi and Zakiullah khan

Munazza, Younus and ImamAhsan, Rubiya and Imam21

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BACKSTAGE

Rehearsals for Karachi, The Musical - Nida Butt and Hamza Jaffri’s latest play are in full swing. The mood is exuberant and excited, and also tensed as the final day looms near. Photographer Adil Mufti captures some of the excitement of the play. Media and PR arranged by Voila PR.

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society

Actone, the oldest and most prestigious center for arts and wellness in Karachi, recently kicked off its Battle of the B-Boy event with an exciting and innovative event. Break dancers from all over Karachi arrived at ActOne to fight for the title of the B-Boy. The event’s media and PR was managed by Voila PR.

KARACHI:


B-Boy Battle 1

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6

2

1 DJ Hussain 2 Extreme Motion Crew, Hazan D, DX Crew 3 Vernin Uchong, Hazan D, Amir Akram

4 Bboy Smuffy from the Unknown Crew 5 Hazan D 6 Hazan D, DJ Hussain, Asma Ansari, Zain Ahmed, Natasha, Sanki King

society


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Mohsin Sayeed Kashif Rashid Fathma Amir & Aaminah Sheikh Faisal Waheed, Brand Manager Pantene

Barza Talha Ayesha Oma Brand Ambassadors Meher Najeeb

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Unveiling the brand ambassadorsKARACHI: Pantene recently unveiled their brand ambassadors at a well-attended soiree

society

Aik Hunar Aik Nagar, a project of the federal government, recently launched its first outlet in Lahore at Xinhua Mall. The event’s media and PR was managed by Voila PR. The styling and makeup of the models was done by Nabiha Peracha at The Square.

Shop a cause

LAHORE:

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US Consul General Nina Maria Fite, Chief Executive of Ahan Maroof & Minister for production Anwar Cheema1

Hina Butt, Zoona Saeed & Areesha2 Qaisera Sheikh, Kaukab Parveen & friends43 Model Amna Babar, Umair & Muhammed Sharif

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Malaika Khan, Shireen Warraich, Masooma Adnan & a friend7Nickie & Huma Amir Shah.tif5 6 Shabaz & Talala

Nael &Shahzad

society


, Amna Kardar, Annie of Allenora & Ayesha Nasir

Maria B.

Saim Ali

Natasha Hussain with film actress Nur Aden, Amna Babar & Sadia Faisal

Raazia Adil, Mehreen & a friend Saeera Hassan & Ayesha

Designer Madiha Abrar, Nilma Naveed & Farah Abbasi

Mehru


trends

By Tania Sohail

Will Patiala Shalwarmake a comeback?

The charm of traditional and ethnic look in clothes is timeless regardless of the numerous styles and fashions going around at the time. The three piece shalwar kameez look will hold its importance and will always be around, irrespective of current trends. Although shalwar kameezes come in a variety of styles, the traditional patiala shalwar look is one that had been all the rage a few years back and is still considered to be very fashionable by many.

It is a look that does well on tall and lean women, making them stand out and look fabulous. Many feel that Patiala shalwars may not look as good on shorter and plumpier women, as this style comes across looking bulky, and is worn under short kameezes, thus giving a very unflattering look to some body types. Short shirts, that fall a couple of inches above the knee helps reveal the beau-tiful draping of the Patiala shalwar. Patiala shalwars look best when made of lustrous fabrics that drape well; such as georgette, crepe, silk, rawsilk etc.

Even though Patiala shalwars are a long forgotten style, given the sudden rage of churidaars and slim fitted pants, we still asked some renowned designers and celebri-ties about its possible comeback. Let’s find out what they had to say about this.

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trends

Saira rizwanPatiala Shalwars are not really my most

favorite trend, but as they were very popular

back in the day, it could be very popular again. However not any time soon, as

people are loving the long shirt and tight

churidaar look.

ayeSha Khurram:I personally love the churidaars look so

much that the Patiala Shalwar look is not at all appealing for me for now. I don’t think Patiala shalwars will

not make a comeback because the churidaar and tights style have created its mark on

the masses.

Tia of The Tia Line:I think everything

comes back. I don’t think patialas will make a comeback

soon but it will come back nevertheless, as at its time, the Patiala Shalwar look was very

popular.

Kamiar roKni:Females want to feel

chic and graceful, and that they can

acheive through the long lengths and flowy look of kameezes with minimal emphasis on the shalwars. If the emphasis is mainly on the shalwar part

of the dress, the look would not be as

charming. So for now, let’s forget Patiala Shalwars and let’s

have fun with flowy dresses with leggings

or churidaars.

noorjehan BiLgrami:

Patiala shalwars will come back but I personally feel that short shirts that will be worn with these shalwars are not as

flattering to our body types, longer shirts

look better and people want to stick with

that for now.

Sanam agha:Churidaars are timeless, as for

leggings they could go out of fashion

however I feel that a newer, trendier version

of patialas might come back, but not

the exact same thing that was in fashion

some time back.

miLLi madiha By madiha iBrar:

Fashionable or not, I find Patiala Shalwars very comfortable to wear! But yes at the moment this look is

completely out of date. It might take

some time to make a comeback.

amna Kardar:Well the long flowy

look has become a bit overdone and now short lengths in kameezes are

coming back. This means that eventually

shalwars will also make a comeback and yes I really do feel that Patiala

shalwars will make a comeback because it has a traditional

look and such styles always make a

comeback, just as churidaars have made

a comeback.

iSma meer:I don’t see why not!

Trends are cyclical just like everything else.

Designers in Pakistan are so talented that they have the ability to adapt a past trend so well and make it

stylish again.

Saim aLi:In fashion, trends come and go, and

then there are trends that go out

of fashion and are all the rage once again

within few years. Patiala Shalwars will

definitely make a comeback, as even

though it is not at all in fashion currently; a few years back it was very much in

vogue and stayed so for a considerable amount of time.

So you never know, because whatever

goes back comes back around. But personally

speaking, I am not a big fan of patialas.

I don’t think Patiala shalwars are a big

rage right now. It’s a trend that would be seen worn mostly by youngsters as it does not look good on older females. This trend is like harem pants that

are not really flattering to all body types. Also I dont see it making a comeback any time

soon especially in the next year at least. This is because as you can

see, harem pants, a western form of patiala shalwar was not seen

in the London and NYC fashion week, so I doubt it would make a comeback anytime

soon as people are not ready to let go off the

Anarkali look. That is to say people are enjoying

the long lengths and the churidaar look too much to switch to a trend that does not

appeal to many body types.

Vaneeza ahmed:

frieha aLTaf:I am already wearing Patiala and I am not

afraid to sport it.

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interview

serving up a star

ationally, she has won four Ladies Titles: August 2010 Islamabad, June 2010 Islamabad, March 2010 Islamabad, March 2010 Lahore besides winning 2 Ladies Doubles Titles: March 2009 Multan, July 2008 Karachi. Internation-ally, she has participated in 48 Inter-national Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Tournaments in 17 countries during the last three years. Her career best ranking is 411 on Junior ITF. She was finalist in 2 ITF junior doubles in Amman, Jordan in ITF held in July 2010 and in Bahrain in October 2010.

She is stepping forward to compete for a ranking and we hope that the dreams will soon become a reality. S+ talks to UshnaSuhail:

S+: what’s your coaching routine now?

Ushna: I am doing five hours daily training under the guidance of Rashid Malik to keep myself fit because tennis is a stressful game which demands to maintain the fitness which is only pos-

sible by engaging in strenuous court and gym training.

S+: what has been the role of Pakistan tennis Federation so far in your career?

Ushna:Tennis players in Pakistan have lesser opportunities to sharpen their skills as playing tournaments abroad is an expensive venture and the interested candidates have to sponsor themselves to avail the opportunities in order to be competitive and prepare for the international scale. It should be the job of PTF to sponsor such trips for at least two to three best players. It is also essential to hold as many tourna-ments as they can within the country to promote the sport nationally and internationally.

S+: How was it, training abroad?Ushna: Unfortunately in Pakistan

we do not have the proper infrastruc-ture and facilities to hone the skills and cultivate in a competitive ambience. It is a must for all the enthusiasts to

devote some time for training abroad to get through some mental and physical exhaustion that is worth to surpass the

S+: what are your goals in tennis?

Ushna: This year I am concentrating on training only and preparing myself for the next year to join WTA women circuit.

S+: who are your favou-rite tennis players?

Ushna: Kim Clijsters and Roger Federer are my favourite tennis players. Very few are born as fortunate as Roger Federer and he is incredible in the courts.

n

Ushna Suhail is the top ranked Pakistani female player in the international junior circuit and also a national ladies champion. She is striving to show a good performance and just returned from training camp in Maryland, USA. She started playing tennis at the age of 12 and is a granddaughter of Former Pakistan Great tennis player KhawajaIftikhar.She also had the honour of representing Pakistan in the Fed cup.

Harnessing the ultimate power of the atom is an insatiable desire that prevails worldwide under the unpredictable environment of unrest, despair and frustration. This is a power that can provide

useful energy for peaceful purposes endlessly. It can move mountains and cause immeasurable destruction within seconds. The book ‘Remains of Ruins’ by Professor Bashir Ahmed addresses

the aforesaid apprehensions through unconventional paintings, sculptures and ceramics depicting penalties of war. Art can prove to be an important component of the movement against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It has the responsibility to create a tolerant attitude

among warmongers and create a path of understanding for peaceful solutions.

right OFF thE ShELF


title: Remains of RuinsAuthor: Professor Bashir Ahmad

Pages: 235 | Price: Rs. 3500genre: Art

Ruins in reflection

By Madiha Syedain

SuNday PluSOctober 09, 2011 57

The book is divided into eleven chap-ters and explores the artist’s vision of creating ‘lives’ after the devastating

World War II. According to Professor Bashir Ahmed, “my concepts are based on abstract colour compositions of paintings, ceramics and sculpture forms derived from miniature painting, which is entirely a conceptual art form with environment and stylised rendition that is accepted by the Muslim community and rulers.”

The first chapter, ‘Perception’ deals with his views on art. In other words, his paintings, sculptures and ceramics can be viewed as works which are depicted as a process which plays an important role in the spectator’s experiencing of art. He further highlights the importance of abstraction in his works, “this, is an important medium for the accomplishment of unique artistic attempt of abstract which is obvious at first glance. The function of abstraction in art and its resultant impact would be willing to go along with the implication that abstraction is built into the very essence of art products and essential for experiencing them to diminish anxiety and to empathise with the expression presented. The difficulty of accepting this hypothesis arises mainly from the usual connotation of abstraction, which places it as a contact, consciousness, perceptibility and individuality as well as emotional experience.”

The second chapter on, ‘Painting’ high-lights his compositions done in 1976. One of his paintings ‘The Peace Army,’ was painted in 1976 using a variety of materials based on my personal view of the task undertaken by the peace army.” His paintings include the themes of peace, calamity, fiascos and disin-tegrated human figures.

Third part of the book reveals Professor Bashir Ahmed’s fascination with terrors of war frozen in metal. As he points out, “Look-ing at these daunting examples of destruc-tion of humanity and nature, I feel that these atrocities should be stopped. We should work towards peace, betterment of human-ity, tolerance to each other, respect religions, cultures, feelings, emotions, customs and traditions. We all should promote peace and brotherhood; otherwise we will face destruc-tion and misery which I have endeavoured to portray through the…symbolic works.”

Metal figures and forms of ‘Melded figures,’ ‘Somo (The Wrestler),’ ‘Human Face,’ ‘Plant Form’ ‘Crying Abstract,’ ‘Flying Bird,’ Folded Leaf,’ ‘Dry Bird,’ ‘Penguin,’ ‘Human Abstract’ and ‘Melded Together’ symbolically represent aftermaths of World War and show Ahmed’s vision of peace and harmony.

The metal objects in ‘Museum’ in Chap-ter 4, show the remains of the history of World War II in Europe and Asia. Each object speaks the need to strive for the well-being of mankind, otherwise even the museum of remains will disappear from the face of the earth and nothing will survive.

This part of book is symbolic reflections of cities which were devastated in World War II. The sculpture represents a random scatter of buildings with different heights to represent variations of culture and creed. These objects have been manufactured in brass by sand casting and after several treatments are finally mounted on a base of wire-mesh of oxidized metal. Various cities represent the Russian population, Green City

of Poland, Red City of China and Half City. Similarly, the Japanese Gardens are

represented on plates. These sculptures are mounted on etched stainless steel plates and show the enormous fiasco in the lives of natives and depict the human loss of life which was 60 million.

Professor Bashir Ahmad has used multi-layered ceramics to portray the melancholies and pains of devastating cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the forms of contortions and bends. The message against the malice of

war has been permanently embedded in these objects for the future gen-erations to infer the only one logical conclusion to war: Peace!

The artist has used the sudden extinction of dinosaurs to represent tragic eventualities of a drastic war with dreadful weapons by the modern adversary. Sadness and pain has been expressed in

a variety of colours and shapes, but in a pleasant, tolerant manner so that message is conveyed unimposing manner.

In the end, the artist has explained the process of lost wax casting for making these sculptures, experience of working in metal workshop and pagination of metals and his exhibition for peace beginning from August 7th August 2008-2010 and career highlights.

The book, ‘Remains of Ruins’ by Professor Bashir Ahmad highlight pictorial details and craftsmanship of making these objects which depict the message of peace, harmony and unity. It is a must read for stu-dents, teachers and artist community who understand the message of amity through artistic expressions.

H H H

Synopsis: In 9-11, published in November 2001 and arguably the single most influential post 9-11 book, internationally renowned thinker Noam Chomsky bridged the information gap around the World Trade Center attacks, cutting through the tangle of political opportunism, expedient patriotism, and general conformity that choked off American discourse in the months immediately following. Chomsky placed the attacks in context, marshaling his deep and nuanced knowledge of American foreign policy to trace the history of American political aggression - in the Middle East and throughout Latin America as well as in Indonesia, in Afghanistan, in India and Pakistan - at the same time warning against Amer-ica’s increasing reliance on military rhetoric and violence in its response to the attacks, and making the critical point that the mainstream media and public intellectuals were failing to make: any escalation of violence as a response to violence will inevitably lead to further, and bloodier, attacks on innocents in America and around the world. This new edition of 9-11, published on the tenth anniversary of the attacks and featuring a new preface by Chomsky, reminds us that today, just as much as ten years ago, information and clarity remain our most valuable tools in the struggle to prevent future violence against the innocent, both at home and abroad.

9-11: 10th Anniversary EditionAuthor: Noam Chomsky | No of Pages: 176 | Price: Rs. 1,050 | genre: Current Affairs

right OFF thE ShELF


SPACE TALKS

By Hamza TararInterior designer to international celebrities like singing sensation Gloria Estefan and basketball superstar, Michael Jordon, this Global Pakistani, based in Miami, USA has worked with the best and collaborated with the likes of Alex Turco and Romero Britto, both contemporary international icons in the world of art and design. Now catch his blog exclusively on Splus, as he shares the best trends, styles, and tips on how to electrify your living spaces, and electrify your guests with a “personality-plus” home

This article will show you some easy and cheap ideas to put sparkle in a room, and some very unusual ways to make your room a talking point!

As a designer, I am constantly looking for ideas for my work from all design/art/illustration sources, and I often stumble across images/colors/patterns etc which spark ideas for room decorations, and I want to share these secrets with you now!

So if you want quick fix ideas that will instantly lift the mood of a room-read on!

Here's an easy tip to start with....

1. Add a splash of color like red: For a really striking interior, try keeping walls white and add some really dramatic accents, in red, for instance. Any choice red and black prints chosen carefully would transform a plain wall instantly.

Use sparingly though!- One strong piece of art and a few cushions in the chosen accent color are all you need.

2. Use Photographs: Easy way to bring a great focal point in a room...

Dust off those old albums, scan and blow up old images to giant poster size, or

get your digital images out of the computer and on to those walls!

A great idea is to transform images to black and white, and group them together.

This looks cool with family pictures, which can look a bit fussy if you have

lots of different coloured photos. The black and white theme gives the whole thing a more unified, 'designer' look!

3. Get Inspired: Pick a really fab piece of art you like- then pick out a couple of the main colors from the art- and use this as the base for your color scheme.The 'art' can be a photograph, a poster, a cushion, a vase, anything!It doesn’t have to be expensive- You could frame a colorful piece of fabric or even some funky wallpaper that you re-ally love, and use this as the focal point for the room. Here are some acces-sories/fabrics, and cool designs to kick start that creative streak in you, and get your room out of the doldrums!

4. Add Graffiti: Invest in wall trans-fers from well known graffiti artists or make your own. Use humor and cre-ativity when deciding on what to paint. An example could be stairs painted to distort perspective and add a 3D depth to the room. Many examples of such art and the technique used are available online. Paint a door to a secret garden or a bookshelf. The ideas are only limited by your imagination and creativity.

5. Calligraphy on your wall: If you can turn your hand to some hand lettering on your wall- great!

Try typing out suitable text, quotation, which is suitable for your own lifestyle, and then get it enlarged to A3 or more at local print/repro house.

Trace the text on to the wall (the best way to do this is to trace the text onto tracing paper, then use a soft pencil to trace over the back of the text- Then fix the traced image on the tracing paper directly onto wall with low tack masking tape.

Using a sharp, hard pencil i.e. 2H, trace round the text again. When you lift the tracing paper away, the text will be transferred onto the wall ready for you to paint carefully in a color. Use colors which are slightly darker than the wall colors for a subtle effect.

How to transform aBoring roomIf you are sitting looking at FOUR boring white walls, this is the place to find inspiring ideas to give your room a bit of pizzazz!

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A Living LEgEnd

6. Add a Rug: Throw a rug on the floor of your room to instantly give it warmth and turn your boring room into the coziest corner of the house. Explore colors, prints, textures and materials to find the best fit for your lifestyle and décor choices.

7. Combine Types of Lighting: Avoid a boring single overhead light for the room and include different types of lighting around the space. If you've chosen wonderful art, use art lighting. Track lighting can help you focus light on the space where you'll be working. A fun themed lamp will give color and texture as well as light to a specific area. Combining different types of lights will make the space more inter-

esting. The way light filters into a room can make or break the ambience you are aiming for. Light up the art on your walls using accent lights in niches set in walls. Plenty of natural light always brightens up a room and brings out the colors. You could choose stained glass windows that not only let light in but also splash color in the entire room.

8. Find Interesting Furnishings: There's nothing wrong with plain furniture and walls, but they certainly don't attract your eye and satisfy your senses. With the addition of a perfectly chosen piece of furniture, you can jazz up the space. Think of how a hand-painted armoire would draw the eye. Would a red high-gloss chair

be just the right thing? How about a beautifully textured and upholstered ottoman. Something that might really stand out like a sore thumb might just stand out as the star of the room.

9. Display Fresh Plants and Flowers: There's nothing like flow-ers and fresh plants to add texture and natural color to a space. Be sure the plants are healthy and happy and that artificial flowers in dark spaces are dusted and shiny.

10. Architectural Salvage For texture and old-world charm, install

old pieces of architectural salvage. Brackets, mantels, screen doors, and old windows can be found at salvage yards or on sites when buildings are being dismantled. Iron gates and window surrounds, pedestal columns, and corner moldings are particularly interesting and can be adapted to many decorating styles.

11. Choose a Theme If you really want a unique room,

choose a theme to decorate around. Whether it's the '50s or Hawaii, Provence or an English drawing room, having a focus for furniture, acces-sories and art, can really make a room interesting!

Zodiac

Aries The Ram

(21 March to 19

april)

Venus in your 8th house of legacies will

ensure an inherita

nce, inherite

d wealth

, gifts

,

loans, insurance, w

ills and all a

spects of other

peoples’ goods. You will also gain financially via

marriage, p

artnerships or a

business alliance.

From the 13th onward, th

ere will be an interest

in scientific, metaphysical or occult

subjects.

There will be an aptitu

de for business and other

financial dealings. The position of Mercury

in your 8th house will favor investig

ative

work, research, psychiatry, psychology, police

or detective work provided they are carrie

d

out in partn

ership. Stock speculation will

be uncontrollable. Creativ

e self- expression,

romantic interests and artis

tic endeavors will

be auspicious. You will also be pre-occupied

with your children. Your personal power will

be at its peak from the 10th-12

th. Financial

dealings will be lucrativ

e on the 13th-14

th.

TAurusThe bull

(20april – 20 May)

Your ruler, V

enus in the sign of S

corpio will make

you compelling, secretiv

e and a survivor who

takes control in

periods of crisis. Your w

ill pow-

er will b

e strengthened and you will t

ransform

yourself physically, m

entally and emotionally.

At your b

est, you will

be deeply devoted and

profoundly intimate. A

t your w

orst, you will be

jealous and vengeful. You will h

ave an appeal-

ing selection of p

otential m

ates and an ability

to form

a strong re

lationship, partn

ership and

even marriage. Business partn

erships will be lu-

crative. Afte

r the 13th, you may get e

asily bored

in stale relatio

nships. Intellectual ra

pport will

be sought in close fri

endship and liaisons. Two

or more stro

ng relationships are lik

ely. Mercury

in the 7th house will n

ot only stre

ngthen your

faculty of re

ason but also fa

vor public speak-

ing, communications and all m

anners of public

dealing.

CAnCer

The cRab

(21 June – 22 July)

With the full Moon on the 12th, relation-

ships and friendships will contribute posi-

tively towards attainment of goals. Bril-

liance of thought, personal fulfillment,

emotional outpouring and increased sen-

timentality will be experienced. Sharing

and merging with others is the key. Major

events are likely to occur close to the full

Moon. Assess your progress as emotions

will run high. Make adjustments, adapt

and deal with the fall out. Be careful in

carrying out major decisions during the

hours of the void-of-course Moon on the

13th from 5:08 am

till 6:35 am and the

15th from 3:51 pm

afternoon till 7:15 pm

evening. Avoid surgeries during the void-

of-course Moon. You will be unusually

affectionate and may experience m

yriad

love interests. Teaching, educational in-

stitutions, publication of literature will

be favored. Gain via speculation in stocks,

games of chance or sim

ilar securities will

be auspicious on the 9th and after the

20th.

Leo 2011

The lion

(23 July – 22 august)

The exact conjunction of your ruler with

the planet of discipline, Saturn from the

11th onward will add caution, greater re-

sponsibility, restrain and work load. Bumpy

patches in relationships, break-up of old

relationships and new alliances with older

or more authoritative individuals is likely.

Domestic circumstances will become more

positive. Parents and elders will be far more

supportive. From the 13th onward, intellec-

tual interests, education and learning will

be carried out within the home environ-

ment. Nonetheless, after the 13th, instabil-

ity or changes in your family or home are

expected – signifying a home wanderer.

Financial luck will be on high ebb from the

15th onward. Religion, philosophy, higher

education and long journeys will be of fun-

damental importance from the 10th-12th.

LibrA The ScaleS

(23 septeMber – 22 october)

Your ruler, Venus in Scorpio will consider-

ably increase your emotions and desires.

Jealousy must be guarded against at all

times. A flair for making and spending

money will exist. You may fall in love hard.

Your ability to untangle real or imagined

complication in your life will be commend-

able. Your tendency to over react and

dramatize situations will be considerable.

From the 15th onward, the conjunction

of your ruler with Mercury will add quick

thinking, success in studies, learning capa-

bilities but accompanied by changeability

and restlessness. This week you will be ad-

ept at attracting finances.

sCorpio

The ScoRpion

(23 october – 21 noveMber)

Romantic slant will be evident. Innate

drive for knowledge will prevail. You will

be a hopeless romantic this week. Lazi-

ness may spoil progress. Isolation will be

detrimental. After the 13th, more than one

relationship will be on the horizon. Kind-

ness, sympathy, empathy and extrava-

gance are likely. Element of duality will be

visible after the 13th. Artfulness, cunning-

ness, critical acumen and vulnerability to

nervous tension will be evident. Matters

concerning service, day-to-day routine

work, employment, servants, , employees

and pets will be unstable from the 10th-

12th. Marriages, relationships, business

partnerships and close friendships will be

a source of support from the 13th till the

15th evening. Losses, fears, debts and fi-

nancial obligations will take center stage

on the 15th evening till the 16th. High fe-

vers, sudden illnesses, injuries through ac-

cidents and muscle problems will be your

source of concern. Look after your health

on the 13th-14th.

Your sTAr

THis weekDr. Zaibun nisa

62 Sunday PluS October 09, 2011

Zodiac

GeminiThe Tw

inS

(21 May – 20 June)

Harmonious work environment, a good

rapport with colleagues and social activi-

ties related to work are indicated this week.

After the 13th, your critical acumen will be

pronounced. You may over-tax yourself to

the detriment of your health. A strong ten-

dency to worry may exist. From the 13th on-

ward, your ruler, Mercury moving into Scorpio

will transform you into an original Sherlock

Holmes. You will be able to ferret out infor-

mation and all sorts of secrets. You will be-

come research oriented. Your psychological

instincts will be heightened. You will possess

quick wit and a sharp tongue with biting

sarcasm. Job opportunities will be rampant

after the 13th.

VirGo The ViRgin

(23 august – 22 septeMber)

From the 13th onward, your ruler, Mercury

moving into Scorpio will bestow resource-

fulness, passion, will power and determi-

nation. You will gravitate towards pow-

erful people and aim for the highest – or

the lowest. You may undertake many ro-

mantic short trips. Your love of music, art,

literature and literary capabilities will be

enhanced. Affection will be strengthened

with your beloved via increased correspon-

dence, talking, messaging, chatting, travel-

ing and shared interests. Your relationship

with your brothers, sisters, relatives and

neighbors will become more congenial.

sAGiTTArius

The aRcheR

(22 noveMber – 21 DeceMber)

After the 11th, unresolved feelings may

cause you to question the significance

of relationships, marriage and friend-

ships alike. Till the 11th, children may be

erratic. Romance will be a tussle till the

11th due to your tendency to exaggerate

and overdo things. You may succum

b to

dramatic scenes under stress. A tenden-

cy towards over-indulgence is possible.

After the 13th, secrecy will prevail espe-

cially in love affairs. Inhibition and shy-

ness will be evident. A talent for writing,

covert work, philanthropy and spiritual-

ity are represented. Matters concerning

creative expression, sports, romance,

gambling and children will fluctuate

from the 10th-12th. Success in your job

and service will be experienced from the

13th till the 15th evening.

pisCesThe FiSh

(19 February – 20 March)

Philosophy, religion, educatio

n and great

systems of thought w

ill stre

ngthen you.

You will immerse yourself in

study. Learn-

ing and travel a

re your tickets to

escape.

Avoid being fanatical and too gullible.

After t

he 14th, a

n affectionate re

lation-

ship is on the cards. A

new partnership

may develop while tra

veling. Large aspi-

rations will b

e appealing. You will resent

naysayers and pessimists. M

onetary mat-

ters may be delicate especially fro

m the

10th-12th. AquArius

The waTeR beaReR

(20 January – 18

February)

Parents, elders and other family m

embers will

be extremely supportiv

e of your p

rofessional

objectives. You will s

eek a career that m

ay en-

able you to balance your public and private life

.

After th

e 13th, you may require diversity

in your

career but to

o many changes m

ay mar career

progress. You must cooperate and m

erge with

others in order to succeed. W

orking in isolation

will lead to

setbacks. Afte

r the 14

th, specula-

tion gains and financial w

indfalls are likely.

LibrA The ScaleS

(23 septeMber – 22 october)

Your ruler, Venus in Scorpio will consider-

ably increase your emotions and desires.

Jealousy must be guarded against at all

times. A flair for making and spending

money will exist. You may fall in love hard.

Your ability to untangle real or imagined

complication in your life will be commend-

able. Your tendency to over react and

dramatize situations will be considerable.

From the 15th onward, the conjunction

of your ruler with Mercury will add quick

thinking, success in studies, learning capa-

bilities but accompanied by changeability

and restlessness. This week you will be ad-

ept at attracting finances.

CApriCorn

The goaT

(22 DeceMber – 19 January)

Your ruler close to the Sun will bring forth

the axiom “you reap what you sow”. You

must expect to work hard during this chal-

lenging and laborious period. But it will

also bring security, fulfillment and recog-

nition for work well done. A heavy, some-

times depressive influence may block your

path. Look before you leap. Your caution

will pay off. An active social life will be es-

sential towards your professional success.

You will become the hub of your social

network. After the 13th, your friendships

and group aspirations will vacillate. Af-

ter the 13th, involvement in local groups,

organizations, and committees is likely.

Parents, family members and domestic

circumstances will be changeable from

the 10th-12th. Romance, children, specula-

tion, risks and creativity will be favorable

from the 13th till the 15th evening.

63Sunday PluSOctober 09, 2011

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October 09, 2011 64 SuNday PluS

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ChoCoLate ChunK CooKies

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