meri Shanno:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sunday/Images/256_people_h.jpg

some other great Pakistani women in this picture that I really admire and are/were on my "shortlist" along with Shehnaz are Sahira Kazmi and Faryal Gohar. what amazing, beautiful women....

finally, I'd like to dedicate this thread to Mrs. Misbah Iqbal. madam, if you want to represent Pakistan, please do so like Mehtab Rashdi, Sahira Kazmi, Sultana Siddiqui, Musarrat Misbah, Shehnaz Sheikh, Faryal Gohar, Sania Saeed, Rubina Ashraf have over the years. these women have it all - talent, patriotism, class, intellect, education, self-respect.

there is a lot more to you too than just your body, Mrs. Iqbal. follow in the footsteps of these fantastic ladies and you will have represented Pakistan in the best way possible.

Is Reema in your list as well?

Is Reema in your list as well?

what do you think?

Rubina is my favorite...back in the mid 90s i used to watch Pase-aina every week!

yesterday while driving, I was listening to my favouritest band ever - Vital Signs - after quite a gap. and there was a beautiful passage - made all the more beautiful by Junaid's heavenly voice - in "Namumkin" (from "Hum Tum" which I consider to be the best Pakistani album ever).

here it is. this one is for you, Shehnaz:

sabb doston nay kaha kay
kabhi naheen miltay khwabon kay loag...

dil hamara magar kiyun maanta kay
tera siwa kuch bhee socha na thaa...

chala hua bass yeh soch kay
teray dil mein hay koi doosra...

kay teray dil mein hay koi doosra...

wah.. wah.. I am crying just a little as I type this.

who is ayesha sana, what is she famous for?

Rubina is my favorite...back in the mid 90s i used to watch Pase-aina every week!

Rubina is very good - one of the few actresses who're still working and actually have talent and know how to act. Pas-e-Aina was decent too.

I loved Rubina in Sahira Kazmi's Tapish. she was just magnificent in that drama opposite Jamal Shah - who was great in his own right. I rank Tapish right up there with Tanhaaiyan, Ankahi, Waris, etc. I'm surprised that more people didn't think as highly of it.

What drama's has sania saeed been in? I have seen the face before but can't remember which drama it was.

who is ayesha sana, what is she famous for?

she's done some plays here and there. she's decent.

nowadays she hosts a women's talk and variety show called "Meena Bazaar" on PTV.

she's done some plays here and there. she's decent.

nowadays she hosts a women's talk and variety show called "Meena Bazaar" on PTV.


do you know how old she is?

What drama's has sania saeed been in? I have seen the face before but can't remember which drama it was.


she was in one story of aurat aur char diwari, the one that is addicted to indian dramas and makes her husband go and buy all the stuff the wear in it/

What drama's has sania saeed been in? I have seen the face before but can't remember which drama it was.

err. you'll have to be more specific. she's been in plenty of dramas. though I must say that I'm no expert on Sania.

she's a wonderful actress but isn't one of my personal top favourite ones. having said that, she is a real actress as opposed to the hacks and melodrama queens who dominate the screen nowadays.

do you know how old she is?

mid thirties, I believe.

there was an interview of hers in Images - Dawn's weekly entertainment and arts section.

What drama's has sania saeed been in? I have seen the face before but can't remember which drama it was.

just remembered that Sania had a small role in Tapish as well - as Rubina Ashraf's younger sister. this is when she was very young and just starting out. then, she went on to become a major actress in her own right.

she's renowned for her professionalism on the set.

who is ayesha sana, what is she famous for?

She is staring in that drama called 'Makaan' on geo. I have seen her in another drama on prime as well but the name escapes me.

Shoaib and MT what is the latest regards Shoaib Mansoor film? is it coming out this year or next?

Fariyal Goher is the most graceful and beautiful lady of the lot.

I don't know much. last I heard Rohail Hyatt (of the legendary VS) was composing the film's soundtrack. on his website, he mentions that he's working on something new now and that he's completed "a film's" soundtrack - which I guess could be Shoman's film. so, if that is the case, one would think that it should be out this year.

I've read that Shoaib sahib wants to take his film to film festivals around the world. so, maybe he's waiting for some festivals to start up before releasing the film. one thing is for sure and it is that the film is almost done and will be out at some stage. it won't just get canned like so many other efforts in the past because too much time and effort has been put in already.

no mentioning of uzma gilani, khalida riyasat and bushra ansari?

Fariyal Goher is the most graceful and beautiful lady of the lot.

Faryal is one incredible lady. she was stunning in Chand Grihan as Shafi Mohammad's second wife. there was a certain rhythm, melody, accent to her voice even when she talked normally. she totally captured the essence of the character she was playing - she just became that person. it was a most remarkable transformation.

she also starred in "Zar Gul" - a Pakistani film made by Usman Peerzada - that won best picture at the Toronto film festival in '98. Faryal's performance in that film was widely hailed.

even apart from her acting, she's a very talented lady. she recently wrote a book about the red light district area in Lahore called "Tibbi Galli". she also made a film based on her novel. all in all, she is a remarkable lady.

her sister - Madiha Gohar- is also a very talented actress.

no mentioning of uzma gilani, khalida riyasat and bushra ansari?

I love all three of them very, very much - particularly Khalida and Bushra. but they're not in the picture. and the thread was started based on the picture. you're welcome to post something about them. I've posted my thoughts about them many times.

Khalida, imo, is one Pakistan's best actresses ever along with Roohi Bano and Shehaz Sheikh. Bushra is well Bushra. I love her. Uzma is a great actress too. some of her older work is just incredible to watch. very graceful personality off the set too.

Mutaz

There must be some women who have actually done anything of note for Pakistan who you admire. I don't know how patriotic writing plays is.

well if sticking to the arts as it were its quite obvious the old dramas were far superior..they ahd class, social commentary and a clear distinction in style and identity.,..nowadays its all indian inspired..utter garbage...i remeber jangloos, and others..excellent drama's...

Jangloos was a great drama. That was the only Pakistani made Tv serial or movie which I rented from a video shop and watched.

There must be some women who have actually done anything of note for Pakistan who you admire.

like Farhat Hashmi, Qazi Hussein Ahmed, Maulana Diesel, Doctor Aamir Liaqat Hussein? please excuse me while I go puke...

patriotism isn't the exclusive domain of the armed forces and the religious right. anybody who makes a positive contribution to Pakistan is a patriot in my book. these women have made significant contributions to raising awareness about women's issues while pursuing excellence and perfection in their art. some of them have been offered opportunities to go across the border and make fools out of themselves like Meera, Salma Agha, Zeba Bakhtiar did. but these women refused because they have self respect and they value their Pakistani identity above all else. and they're heroes in my book for that too.

btw, do you consider Faiz a patriot? does he qualify under your system? because after all, all he did was write. maybe he should have picked up a gun and gone on to rape and pillage his own country like our brave army does nowadays? that might have made him a patriot right?

well if sticking to the arts as it were its quite obvious the old dramas were far superior..they ahd class, social commentary and a clear distinction in style and identity.,..nowadays its all indian inspired..utter garbage...i remeber jangloos, and others..excellent drama's...

Jangloos looked very good. I haven't seen all of it - primarily because I'm a little allergic to Shabbir Jan. however, it was Saleem Nasir's last play I believe. so, I'll have to buy a copy and watch the whole of it at some point.

I love all three of them very, very much - particularly Khalida and Bushra. but they're not in the picture. and the thread was started based on the picture. you're welcome to post something about them. I've posted my thoughts about them many times.

Khalida, imo, is one Pakistan's best actresses ever along with Roohi Bano and Shehaz Sheikh. Bushra is well Bushra. I love her. Uzma is a great actress too. some of her older work is just incredible to watch. very graceful personality off the set too.

If I have to choose the best actress on ptv, it will be either khalida or bushra. Uzma gilani comes next in the list. I think khalida and bushra ansari had so much versatilty in their roles whereas uzma gilani has the credit to work with Ishfaq ahmed and bano qudsia's scripts, which were used to be very long, philosophical and multiple shades of meaning.

I also think that ptv drama peeked because of its long plays. Serials were good but long plays were the real taste of artistry. The idea was conceived by a tv producer at lahore station famously known as MNH (M. Nisar Hussain).

I still remember many classics of those long plays. There was one play called 'typist'. There were only 2 characters in it; khalida riyasat and talat hussain. Another great play was 'rassi ki zanjeer', written by dr anwer sajjad and depicted the state of pak youth living in idealism. And there so many others.

I think tv artists of 70s and 80s were amazing. They had to work for very low salaries. If ptv drama was handled right and funded well, these people could have produced very good films upto the standard as we see from countries like iran and china. Alas! it died of commercialism.

MT - how old are you?

MT - how old are you?

why. what's it to you?

What's your problem?

faryal gohar is amazing.

and hum tum the best album in pakistan ?? MT yaar ...

why. what's it to you?Just trying to establish what 'era' you are from - thats all.

Just trying to establish what 'era' you are from - thats all.

he is the class mate of MIG thats pretty obvious. :D

What's your problem?

don't have one. you seem like you do though. so, why don't you go ahead and open up. I'm listening intently.

What are you on about? Who?

faryal gohar is amazing.

and hum tum the best album in pakistan ?? MT yaar ...

Faryal is definitely amazing. beautiful woman.

and yes, I strongly believe that "Hum Tum" is the best modern music album ever released in Pakistan.

which one is your best album?

Shoaib and MT what is the latest regards Shoaib Mansoor film? is it coming out this year or next?


well what i have heard is that it was completed long time ago, some time last year, shooting in usa had finished in december 2005, i have heard about 10 release dates first it was suppose to release on 14th august 05, then 9/11 2005, then eid ul fitre 2005 then bakra eid, then feburary then after muharam, but still theres no sign of it.

on another note, musharaf had announced some time back that a film will be made on allama iqbal which the gov. and norway gov. is funding and shoaib monsoor will direct it.

Just trying to establish what 'era' you are from - thats all.

I'm from the "current" era...

Looks like she also taught you not to reveal your age easily. A neem son neem daughter, fascinating.

If I have to choose the best actress on ptv, it will be either khalida or bushra. Uzma gilani comes next in the list. I think khalida and bushra ansari had so much versatilty in their roles whereas uzma gilani has the credit to work with Ishfaq ahmed and bano qudsia's scripts, which were used to be very long, philosophical and multiple shades of meaning.

my list of (favourite) best actress (in no particular order) is:

Roohi Bano, Shehnaz Sheikh, Khalida Riyasat, Badar Khalil, Uzma Gilani.

I absolutely adore Bushra. she's one of those people that if she's ever on TV, I'll stop doing whatever I'm doing to watch her. imo, she has no peers as far as comedic acting is concerned. however, she hasn't done enough great serious roles for my liking. she's very, very competent. she's light years ahead of today's "actresses". but people like Roohi Bano, Khalida Riyasat, Uzma Gilani are/were on another plane when it comes/came to character/serious acting.

I also think that ptv drama peeked because of its long plays. Serials were good but long plays were the real taste of artistry. The idea was conceived by a tv producer at lahore station famously known as MNH (M. Nisar Hussain).

I still remember many classics of those long plays. There was one play called 'typist'. There were only 2 characters in it; khalida riyasat and talat hussain. Another great play was 'rassi ki zanjeer', written by dr anwer sajjad and depicted the state of pak youth living in idealism. And there so many others.

I loved those teletheatres plays that PTV used to do. one of my favourite plays and one of the earliest I watched was a Roohi Bano long play that starred Firdous Jamal, Khursheed Shahid and a very young Tauqeer Nasir. that play was so haunting I still remember it after some 17-18 years.

the play was about Roohi Bano who is a doctor and lives with her mother. Firdos Jamal wants to marry her but it doesn't work out for some reason. he leaves and in the meanwhile, Roohi adopts a young, sickly boy (Tauqeer Nasir) who is dying. she and her mother work very hard on him to help him get healthier. when he gets older, he falls in love with Roohi. Firdous Jamal also comes back from abroad for Roohi to complicate matters. it was simply an unforgettable play.

another great play was "Tanhai" and starred Qavi Khan. the play was about an old couple who live by themselves because the kids have settled abroad and forgotten about the parents. they've stopped sending money etc but only Qavi knows and he hides it from his wife for as long as he can. a heartbreaking play but what acting. Subhanallah!

I think tv artists of 70s and 80s were amazing. They had to work for very low salaries. If ptv drama was handled right and funded well, these people could have produced very good films upto the standard as we see from countries like iran and china. Alas! it died of commercialism.

they absolutely were. but does anyone know or remember them? you mention Shilpa Shetti on these forums and people can't stop posting. you mention Bushra Ansari and people ask who? a nation that doesn't learn to respect itself will not get respect from anyone. theatre to them means Naseem Vicki, Tariq Tedi and Amanullah doing gutter comedy. now that is sad. film to them means a masala musical. as someone once said that every Pakistani says he wants to see a good film but does he actually know what a good film is?

btw, you seem to have good taste. so I wanted to ask you about a play that I saw a bit of but don't know the name. maybe you know of it. the play starred the who's who of Pakistani drama - Abid Ali, Sikander Shaheen, Asif Raza Mir, Khalida Riyasat, Roohi Bano, etc. it was about a zameendar family. Asif and Khalida are cousins and like each other but family politics and estate gets in the way. the name started with a p. might be Parinda? does it ring a bell?

Looks like she also taught you not to reveal your age easily. A neem son neem daughter, fascinating.

meri jaan, just because you're confused about your gender doesn't mean others are too. I suggest you work out your childhood issues with a good therapist.

Allah nay mod tau bana dia lekin koi aqal ya auqaat na dee.

What is wrong with you? This is the second time you are not getting through to me. What did you mean by the earlier post? What's going on?

is that new "Sania Saaed" ? or that pic is wrong ?

Coz Sania Saaed looks different that than above pic.

Sania Saaed got famous for her drama "Kassak" in early 90s with Salman Ahmad (from Junoon). that was fantastic drama.

What is wrong with you? This is the second time you are not getting through to me. What did you mean by the earlier post? What's going on?

can you please stop hijacking the thread? this thread isn't about you. as a mod, if you're going to post something, it should add constructively to the thread and not be an off topic distraction. you should know that?

is that new "Sania Saaed" ? or that pic is wrong ?

Coz Sania Saaed looks different that than above pic.

Sania Saaed got famous for her drama "Kassak" in early 90s with Salman Ahmad (from Junoon). that was fantastic drama.

nope that is Sania Saeed. she must have straightened her hair.

is "Kassak" the one where Salman and Sania have four daughters and have to face the social pressures of only having daughters? haven't seen it but have heard about it.

I must say that I wasn't a big Sania Saeed fan. nothing against her as an actress - I know she's very good but just wasn't a big fan for some nonsensical reason. however, having seen the state of current drama and some of our newer "actresses" I must say I've learnt to appreciate Sania all over again and what a fantastic actress she is.

it is unfortunate that like many other proper actresses, she doesn't feel like she can work in today's dramas. she very rarely does any work nowadays because of the pathetic standards.

another good actress of the 90s was Huma Nawab. good actress and did good work without really, really standing out.

can you please stop hijacking the thread? this thread isn't about you. as a mod, if you're going to post something, it should add constructively to the thread and not be an off topic distraction. you should know that?You talk to me when I don't talk to you, what do you want me to do?

I don't think that Sania Saeed pic (or pic quality is bvad) As I saw her last night as well in one programme, she doesn't look that old.

Yeah that was Kasak drama where they had 4 daughters and Always had fight over it or other problems.

so I wanted to ask you about a play that I saw a bit of but don't know the name. maybe you know of it. the play starred the who's who of Pakistani drama - Abid Ali, Sikander Shaheen, Asif Raza Mir, Khalida Riyasat, Roohi Bano, etc. it was about a zameendar family. Asif and Khalida are cousins and like each other but family politics and estate gets in the way. the name started with a p. might be Parinda? does it ring a bell?


I dont recall the name of that play but I think I've seen this one.
There was another great play by kamal ahmed rizvi and khalida riasat. I dont recall the name but kamal gave a very intense performance as a person living in a big city, bearing the pressure of fast modern life and hollowness of the industrial age. All of the play was done in one room and in the end he committed suicide by jumping out of the window.

Bushra did a play where she was damn serious through it. I think its name was "ab mera intizar kar", featuring behroz sabzwari and fazila qazi. I think it was a very good performance by her.

like Farhat Hashmi, Qazi Hussein Ahmed, Maulana Diesel, Doctor Aamir Liaqat Hussein? please excuse me while I go puke...

I am sure most of the above named would not be happy with you calling them women even if you add patriotic in front of it. My point was that the women (most) named above have done nothing but make dramas which have had more negative effects on society than positive. Popularising the 3 word talaq's, returning to abusive husbands, promotion of the dating culture...etc are hardly highlighting the plight of the Pakistani women. I think most of these plays glorify domestic violence than anything.

I've personally met Sania Saeed and she's a really sweet, charming and ultra humorous person...its sad her marriage didnt work out.

Faryal is definitely amazing. beautiful woman.

and yes, I strongly believe that "Hum Tum" is the best modern music album ever released in Pakistan.

which one is your best album?

im replying a bit late. been caught up with stuff lately but my choice for best Album is Inquilaab by Junoon by a fair distance. Vital signs are good but they are nothing compared to Junoon music wise

Adat by Jal is a fantastic famtastic album as well each and every song is brilliant except the song her jaga hai Jal.

im replying a bit late. been caught up with stuff lately but my choice for best Album is Inquilaab by Junoon by a fair distance. Vital signs are good but they are nothing compared to Junoon music wise

well I thought you were going to mention some masterpiece by Nayyara Noor or something..

yeah, I stand by "Hum Tum" as the best modern Pakistani album ever. and I do rate the Signs as the best Pakistani band too.

you're obviously a Junoon fan and I'm a VS fan. so, I reckon we'll never be able to see eye to eye on this. :)

I am sure most of the above named would not be happy with you calling them women even if you add patriotic in front of it.

you should know me well enough to know that I don't really care if Qazi, Diesel and the fake doctor are happy or not.

My point was that the women (most) named above have done nothing but make dramas which have had more negative effects on society than positive. Popularising the 3 word talaq's, returning to abusive husbands, promotion of the dating culture...etc are hardly highlighting the plight of the Pakistani women. I think most of these plays glorify domestic violence than anything.

there are a couple of points here:

1) this makes me wonder if you've seen their work. not all these women did the kind of work you're talking about. some of them have done work that talks about domestic abuse, etc. I know for a fact that none of these women have done any work that promotes dating culture.

you must be thinking about the current "dramas". most of these artists have nothing to do with the new trend. most of them have stopped working outright. for example, Sania Saeed was a very prolific performer some time ago but now she rarely does anything anymore. and it is because the current standards don't meet her requirements. she has stated as much publicly. Shehnaz did her last play in the 80s. Faryal does a play once every few years MAYBE. Sahira Kazmi is also in semi-retirement because of today's pathetic standards.

2) there is a difference between bringing up an unfortunate issue for discussion and saying that the status quo wrt the issue is fine. these women's work has only done the former. if they show domestic abuse, they most certainly mean to condemn it. they show it to show the effects of abuse on the woman, the kids and more importantly society at large. they've never made a drama where they showed that domestic abuse was a good thing. they only show it to condemn it and educate people.

however, now if the viewer starts getting new ideas from it, that is the viewer's fault - not the person who made the drama. the drama was made for some entertainment, education, discussion and hopefully to one day eradicate the underlying issue. if someone takes the opposite message, that is that person's twisted brain's fault.

for example, I remember this fine play by Sahira Kazmi called "Zebunnisa". it starred Sahira's daughter (Nida Kazmi), Sania Saeed, Adnan Siddiqi, Adarsh Ayaz etc. the play was about domestic abuse. Adnan Siqqidi abuses Nida because of his relationship with his mother. his mother was abused by his father but instead of the mother teaching Adnan to not continue the circle of violence with his wife, she teaches him that he must not become his wife's "ghulam" and that she is his jooti and similar propaganda. Sania Saeed was the former tenant of the apartment that Nida and Adnan live in and was burned alive by her abusive husband and her ghost comes and talks to Nida because she sees a similar situation developing. in the end, Nida Kazmi walks away from Adnan despite his pleas and apologies with her family's help and Sania Saeed's constant counseling.

it was a very well made play. the acting was superb, the writing crisp and the direction as expected from Sahira. when I saw the play, I felt nothing but disgust for Adnan's character. but if someone watches that play and gets ideas in his head that are the exact opposite of the director and writer's intention, that is that person's fault.

even if you pick up any Haseena Moin play - you'll see one underlying theme to almost all of them - a female protagonist who grows and becomes a strong woman over the course of the drama. that was Haseena Moin's contribution to feminism. watch Tanhyaaian - Shehnaz Sheikh is a shy, nervous early twenties girl who goes on to become a successful businesswoman despite constant doubts by her own family and friends. in Ankahi, same thing - naive girl grows into a confident woman. take Dhoop Kinaray, the silly Marina Khan evolves into a smart, confident doctor. go as far back as the 70s and watch Uncle Urfi. Shehla Ahmed (she was beautiful) turns Shakeel down at the very end despite the fact that everything has worked out because she feels that he treated her like chattel when he pays her sleazy father (Imtiaz Ahmed) to get out of the way.

the underlying theme is to always tell the girls and women of Pakistan that they must have self respect and that they're capable of great things. that is a very noble thing to do in a time and place where cases like Mukhtaran Mai's still happen.

actually Haseena Moin has been criticized for not dealing with serious issues like domestic abuse, etc. in her defence, she said that she can only write about what she's seen. in her upbringing and her surrounding, she didn't see abuse etc, so she doesn't write about it. however, that's a separate issue that can be discussed.

so, imho, these women have done some very quality work - both in terms of artistic standards and in terms of the message. none of them have done work that promotes talaq, dating, domestic abuse. instead they have tried to raise awareness about abuse, etc. for that I admire them and I think they have done great service to our society as artists and educators.

if nothing else, they're much much better than the likes of Farhat Hashmi, Qazi, Diesel, "Doctor" Aamir Liaqat Hussein.

MT

I have seen a Rubina Ashraf dramas where an abusive husband is accepted back by the wife because the drama portrays that, it is the best option. And I think the dramas of the 80's are the real reason behind the shameless practice of three Talaqs.
"Talaq, Talaq, Talaq" would have sounded odd before these dramas glamorised it.
And no it isn't the audience's fault what he or she take away from the Dramas. The directors and actors should be competent enough to be able to potray their true feelings if indeed they are as noble as you think them to be. I think a lot of these "artist" have taken an issue which is close to a lot of people's hearts and made money from it.

There are much better role models for Pakistani women.

im replying a bit late. been caught up with stuff lately but my choice for best Album is Inquilaab by Junoon by a fair distance. Vital signs are good but they are nothing compared to Junoon music wise


i agree with u there octavian, no other Pakistani band can match Junoon. no one even comes close