800 websites blocked (and counting) to date by our democratically elected government that champions “freedom” as possibly the only vague notion in its rhetoric laden yet bankrupt and obsolete manifesto.

How convenient that the ridiculous Facebook non-controversy has provided the perfect opportunity for the entrenched Personality Cult to systematically attempt to demolish any sort of [...]

I know this is a blog entry that is going to provoke the most hideous retribution, yet it is a burden I need to off load and so I place my neck on the platter and await a mass chopping. I have no regrets; First off, I utterly loathe almost everything about the entire concept [...]

Topping Khooni Dracula was always going to be a tough ask at the very least but director/writer Bhoosan Lal felt an artist’s urge to bring his own interpretation of Bram Stoker’s legendary novel to the screen with one final definitive version and so Dracula (1999) was unearthed to swooning masses. Kiran Kumar – who has [...]

With the passing of the self proclaimed King of Pop Michael Jackson the world has lost a truly unique and irreplaceable and indeed legendary personality. Michael Jackson was not only one of the most successful recording artists of all time but also an icon who impacted not one but successive generations and whether you were [...]

Just as it was time to consider giving the whole Bollywood horror thing an extended break due to rubber-mask burnout, along comes a deliciously weird and wonderful slice of madness to restore faith and continue the lifelong binge into South Asian shlock.
Ladies Hostel, judging by the lame VCD cover and the title of the movie [...]

Naseebo Lal is by far and away the most popular singer in Pakistan and has been so for the last ten years outselling the likes of Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar combined.  She is unquestionably the only worthy and rightful successor to the throne that Madame Noor Jehan abdicated as the Queen of Pakistani popular [...]

In a very grim sort of way, Pakistan has become the most entertaining spot on the planet over the last two years or so.  The last year of General Musharraf’s quasi-military dictatorship was compelling especially with the growth of the local media channels that brought the furore and filth of Pakistani politics right into our [...]

Hail to the King Baby…..Jacko is Backo! but is he still Michael Jackson or hadn’t he recently reportedly “embraced” Islam as many of the worlds top luminaries do.  Cat Stevens, Jermaine Jackson and Mike Tyson among them and apparently even Britney Spears toyed with the idea before Mel Gibson talked her out of it.  I [...]

Having despised Nationalism as the most divisive of political notions for most of my conscious life I now find that it does have certain charms and attractions.  Now, especially as my youth is spent I join former Test Cricketer Saeed Anwer in his call to stop and abolish the menace of cricket which he says [...]

The experience of making a feature film in Pakistan and subsequently dealing with Pakistani businesses and conglomerates and government has been a real eye opener and I feel I need to share this with other aspiring filmmakers in the land who might be as naïve and trusting as I have been.

The first tip is to [...]