You did us proud: A look back at the year 2012

     Saving Face

Film-maker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy brought home Pakistan’s first Oscar award for her documentary Saving Face. Calling the achievement “her dream come true” and the feeling “indescribable”, Obaid-Chinoy encouraged other young Pakistani film-makers to continue their aspirations in this field. Dedicating the award to her film’s primary subjects Rukhsana and Zakia, she ended on a positive note, “Pakistan was in the news today for all the right reasons and I am thrilled that we are now recognised as artists and storytellers.”

Lamha

Bodhicitta Film Works’ Seedlings (Lamha) was screened and nominated in various major categories at the New York City International Film Festival that took place in August (it won two awards!). It was also screened at the Delhi Film festival in December. Producer Meher Jaffri said, “I am floored that the talent that is bubbling up from every corner of Pakistan is getting its well-deserved attention.”

Josh

Iram Parveen Bilal’s Josh (Against the Grain) was screened at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival which is organised by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) this year. Bilal is known for her award-winning short films Marwa and Poshak, but Josh is her first debut feature. It’s also the only Pakistani fiction film to be screened in the world cinema category through MAMI in the last five years. Josh has a promising Pakistani cast, including Aaminah Sheikh, Nyla Jafri, Khalid Malik, Mohib Mirza, Kaiser Khan Nizamanim, Adnan Shah Tipu, Parveen Akbar and Naveen Waqar.“My cast is my jewel!” said the proud director. “We had such an extended ensemble cast and we got lucky because as a whole, it was a delight and they took the project very seriously and respectfully.”

Recap ’12 Actors

Ali Zafar

For Ali Zafar he became second Asia’s Sexiest Man.

Sarah Loren

A name change from Mona Lizza to Sarah Loren.

Meera

It was a year of marriage rumours for Meera. In an interview earlier this year, the actor said that her marriage to Pakistani-American airline captain, Naveed Shehzad had been “completely decided and approved by family”. However, later the marriage was called off as the groom-to-be’s father reportedly alleged that Meera is already married. Meera felt humiliated by the allegations and called off the marriage. In 2012, Meera also announced her Lollywood exit.

Manzar Sehbai

Bol’s lead actor Manzar Sehbai was given a Lux Style Award this year for his brilliant performance in the movie. But the disgruntled actor rejected the guild’s award on the pretext that he had not been invited. He also expressed his anger about Mahira Khan accepting the award on his behalf. “The award has absolutely nothing to do with Mahira Khan. I wanted my brother to receive it. It’s my award, they can’t just let anybody receive for me,” he said.

Atiqa Odho

Atiqa Odho tied the knot with PTI’s Samar Ali Khan in a small and intimate gathering in June 2012. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Odho spoke animatedly about her relationship with Samar, which she described as “a love match”. It is Odho’s third marriage and she makes no qualms about it, “The third time around, a woman would be nervous,” she said frankly. Odho is confident about her marriage, and said that she believes in the institution of marriage more now than she ever has before.

Salma, Azfar and Naveen

Azfar Ali and Salma Hasan of Sub Set Hai fame came into the spotlight when Azfar officially tied the knot with Naveen Waqar — the actor who played the role of the infamous Sara that we all loved to hate in Humsafar — after being married to Salma for 11 years. When the news of their marriage became public, outraged fans took to Facebook and Twitter to give their two bits about Azfar’s new marriage; a number of internet memes compared Azfar, Salma and Naveen to the triangle of Ashar, Khirad and Sara from Humsafar were circulated, liked and shared online.

Music

Mathira

The seductive and unabashedly bold Mathira released her single Jadugar just a few months ago. The video of the song itself came under fire as some felt it is vulgar. Provocative content can also be shown in a creative way but sadly, her video doesn’t seem to offer anything more than suggestive dance moves. Mathira lashed back and said peoples’ criticism of her song was “the perfect example of double standards.”

Veena Malik

Controversy’s favourite child Veena Malik released her first single Drama Queen this year. In the video, a toned and skimpily-clad Veena is seen struggling to dance and look sexy and seductive at the same time. The lyrics and video are the perfect ode to the attention-seeking actor.