LIVEWIRE: COMING OF AGE?

It changed into a celebrity-studded show. a extremely superstar-studded one. So glitzy that I predict that, when the 18th Lux fashion Awards (LSAs) are aired on tv, the ratings are prone to shoot sky-excessive. The LSAs may well be about celebrating trend and enjoyment, and recognising talent, but they're additionally very a great deal about inserting out an wonderful display for tv that generates plenty of accolades and goodwill for the title sponsor. The these days-concluded adventure will, in all probability, be in a position to accomplish this last mission.

The LSA red carpet turned into fairly literally affected by stars and the cameras couldn't stop clicking. Meera — on a publish-Baaji high — turned into followed via Shabnam, Nadeem Baig, Mohammad Qavi Khan, Maya Ali, Mahira Khan, Iqra Aziz, Sheheryar Munawar, Bilal Ashraf, Emmad Irfani, Imran Ashraf Awan, Ali Safina, Yasir Hussain, Fahad Mustafa, Ahmed Ali Butt, Aijazz Aslam, Mehwish Hayat, Zara Noor Abbas, Saba Qamar, Faysal Qureshi, Mawra Hocane and Atif Aslam, amongst others.

One did nonetheless be aware how some LSA mainstays have been ostensibly missing, equivalent to Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Reema, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly. also skipping out on the ceremony become a huge chunk of the fashion fraternity — suspiciously, the ones who didn't win effectively weren't there! — and the nominees who had backed out from the awards on the groundwork that it had slotted an alleged harasser, Ali Zafar, in the most fulfilling Actor nominations.

Regardless, the LSAs hauled in a guest listing that glittered with demonstrate company' Gen-X, together with a smattering of longstanding power-avid gamers. Whisk all of them together in a single creation, get some of them to sing, dance, existing an award or make just any inane commentary (more on that later), and you get a suitable-of-the-charts show.

The Lux vogue Awards have all the time been applauded and critiqued concurrently because the country's longest-standing enjoyment-based mostly awards ceremony. At their 18th incarnation, here's each the show's blessing and its burden

Coming back to the LSAs' different goals and targets outlined past, these are tougher to obtain. We reside in contentious times, the place awards consequences are all the time challenged, goodwill is frequently infrequent to locate and everyone is eager to tweet their disapproval. Then once more, the LSAs have always been applauded and critiqued concurrently. because the country's longest-standing amusement-primarily based awards ceremony, this is the demonstrate's blessing and burden.

Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat

but now in its 18th 12 months — to cite host Sheheryar Munawar, the ceremony has "reached adulthood" — the demonstrate needs to be cohesive and gripping. on the possibility of sounding repetitive in every yearly overview, it must birth on time to preserve the viewers fascinated. It additionally has to be held collectively by using a watertight, witty script and hosts who are glib satisfactory to do justice to it. And whereas doing this, it additionally needs to take responsibility and provides out potent messages. This 12 months's LSAs did be capable of achieve loads of this — there was so a lot to like. There turned into additionally so plenty that become missing…

Messages that rely, save one

It turned into very evident that the LSAs have been on a socially conscientious mission. Time and again, presenters emphasised the importance of celebrating womanhood and harmony inside the business. The reveal began off with Unilever Chairman Shazia Syed talking about being inclusive, and turned into adopted by means of Fahad Mustafa recognising the contribution of ladies to the business and how "we need to empower them, as a great deal as we will."

Then came Momina Mustehsan with Eva B, a burqa-clad female rapper from Lyari, chanting Apna Gaana Chalay Ga. The message rang out loud and clear: right here have been two women, from disparate backgrounds, challenging stereotypes with slogans similar to 'Mein Baaghi Hoon' flashing within the history … rapping to a music that turned into very Gully Boy-esque!

The social messages didn't stop however some regarded a long way too forced. Mehwish Hayat and Zara Noor Abbas pointed out sisterhood and the way actors will also be friends. but they did this with the aid of recalling how celebrities in the past would practise 'black magic' on every other. Why ever had been these two very talented actresses slowed down by such senseless dialogues?

Shabnam and Nadeem Baig

In a much greater impactful segment, directors Asim Raza, Saqib Malik, Ehteshamuddin, Sangeeta and Sarmad Khoosat got here on stage to talk about their contemporaries who had been nominated for surest Director. It become a neatly idea-out effort, implying that business veterans guide and applaud every other's tasks. youngsters, Sarmad Khoosat unluckily ended up speakme about bike woman director Adnan Sarwar — who changed into now not a nominee — missing out Haseeb Hassan of Parwaaz Hai Junoon fame, who turned into, basically, nominated. What's a five-hour exhibit devoid of some mistakes, eh? however a blunder this massive?

There changed into an awful lot else that had the audience applauding, despite the fact. When Feroze Khan won the award for surest Actor (Viewers' choice), he brought fellow nominee, veteran actor Mohammad Qavi Khan on stage with him and offered him with the award as a sign of admire.

Stylist Nabila, on successful the Lifetime achievement Award, spoke about how one of the most influential people in the nation have been at the LSAs and that they necessary to combine their efforts and use this impact to bring about change. Frieha Altaf, introducing Nabila's award, lauded the stylist's determination to prevail whereas being a single mum.

To my intellect, one of the crucial profound features about the evening was made with the aid of Bee Gul, who received the award for most effective creator of a television Play. author of the riveting Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila, a play that tackled the topic of sexual predators who lurk within typical households, she observed how, almost immediately after the drama had begun airing, she bought a observe from Pemra, declaring that the drama became an uncomfortable watch. "All I might write lower back turned into that 'sure, sir and i hope that such projects on no account become a snug watch."

Atif Aslam can pay tribute to Shabnam

in a similar way, when the identical drama's director, Kashif Nisar, authorized his award for foremost tv Play Director, he said that he had intentionally watched the play together with his two daughters, and that he wanted "our girls to believe secure."

sadly, notwithstanding the LSA ceremony turned into serious about putting forward social messages, these have been the most effective times when the topic of harassment was addressed at all. One would have anticipated the display to have had a greater direct method against an issue that has been rearing its gruesome head within the leisure industry during this past year.

a number of ordinary personalities had been accused of getting been harassers. The LSAs didn't necessarily should identify names but, for an adventure that aims to symbolize trend and leisure in Pakistan, some commentary should still were made on the theme.

Performances that rocked

Scattered amongst the awards consequences have been some performances that truly pulled no punches. trust it or not, here's a rarity on the LSAs, a exhibit that has often encumbered audiences with sloppy, mundane dances. This time circular, although, the dances have been loaded with power and plenty of chutzpah. There became Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat shaking a leg to their music from the film Load marriage ceremony. And the Lux ladies, previous and present, introduced the residence down with their sequences on revamped songs filmed on actress Shabnam, who became presented with a Lifetime success Award. Meera, Maya Ali and Saba Qamar — also, Asad Siddiqui, who is not a Lux girl however is aware of his strikes — were stunning, choreographed by longtime Lollywood dance director Nigah. credit also goes to the amazing Sahir Ali Bagga, who remixed the songs so smartly. by no means have historical Lollywood classics sounded so first rate!

Zara Noor Abbas and Mehwish Hayat talked about sisterhood and how actors can also be chums

Rivaling the dances have been no longer one however two performances by using Atif Aslam. It turned into heard that Atif desired to face solo on stage, unaccompanied by means of a feminine singer. Some can also consider this arrogant of the star, however seeing him within the spotlight, it became evident that he became greater than adequate to get the viewers cheering. prior within the display, Atif sang certainly one of his personal songs whereas in a while, he sang his rendition of Shabnam and Nadeem's movie music of yore, Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhulana. walking into the audience, he took Shabnam by means of the hand and took her to the stage with him. They were joined there with the aid of Nadeem, the actress' longtime co-famous person, who offered her together with her Lifetime fulfillment Award. Iconic. picture-ideal. And like I mentioned, how can the rankings now not spiral excessive?

there were many extra moments that hit highs and one in all them has became out to be quite controversial…

The concept

Trending rampantly on social media changed into a video of actor Yasir Hussain who decided to suggest marriage to Iqra Aziz — the two had been very open about their relationship for some time now — and she or he permitted. Quintessentially, the thought changed into peppered with a joke right here and there: "you have gained two awards today so i thought that this became a great time to provide you with a 3rd one," after which, "Don't say no, it'll be humiliating for me over here." He proceeded to hug her and kiss her — and the nation's morality brigade together shrieked in disapproval.

turned into the idea planned? Iqra Aziz seemed stunned however on the grounds that that Yasir had a ring with him, it ought to have had been premeditated. were the public shows of affection indispensable? No, but it became an emotional moment for the actors and maybe it was all impulsive. Did it appear to be a publicity stunt? the two actors need to obviously be planning to get married for precise, and never just for the media hype, however so far as the LSAs are involved, it's all any individual may talk about.

A notice in regards to the comedy

And what's an awards exhibit devoid of comedy? one of the most funniest moments of the night were delivered with the aid of Saba Qamar and Yasir Hussain who examine out the information collectively, first rate-naturedly poking enjoyable at fellow celebrities. In a further segment, Hina Dilpazeer and Yasir bantered playfully and, at one aspect, Hina, taking part in a designer, had the viewers in stitches with the line: "Asim Jofa and i have the equal unhappy story — we are each designers but nobody knows this!"

The script for each segments became written by Yasir Hussain and, before you expect that it must have been inappropriate, this time it wasn't. Having observed Yasir, peculiarly on stage enacting scripts written with the aid of Anwar Maqsood, one is aware of his competencies. perhaps he has realised this too and is steering away from making offensive remarks.

tons extra stilted with some comic moments changed into a skit enacted via Syed Shafaat Ali and the gifted, however regularly unnoticed, Ali Safina.

Yawn moments

Hina Dilpazeer and Yasir Hussain

there have been additionally a lot of awkward pauses and feeble jokes. Sheheryar Munawar and Feroze Khan chatted clumsily, Uzma Khan announced an awards effect at the incorrect time, Momina Mustehsan became given the wrong envelope and Atif Aslam turned into very late in coming to obtain his award for premier Playback Singer.

Of path, these fumbles should be edited out for television viewership, but it became clear that the awards are still in need of more advantageous conceived scripts and — more drastically — hosts who're more adept at speaking on stage in a reside demonstrate. One also ignored the energy and wordplay that comes so conveniently to Ahmed Ali Butt, who regularly hosts the ceremony but wasn't doing so this time.

Even in his few moments within the highlight, Ahmed drew laughter. Smiling conveniently, he quipped, "This year, anything phenomenal has came about: Meera is now everyone's Baaji." When fellow presenter Uzma Khan announced Feroze Khan the winner at the wrong time, he wisecracked, "There's so lots suspense, it is a completely sudden result!"

in a while, Meera got here on stage and retorted fortunately, "yes, Ahmed, I'm happy to be everyone's Baaji!" excessive on the success of her latest movie, the actress became on a roll. This turned into her demonstrate — because it turned into for so many others amongst her peers.

And what of the awards effects? Many would say that the winners in the style class have been sudden. The film and television winners were frequently on element, aside from certain surprises, whereas song's categories and nominations are dismally restrained in the meanwhile.

but for all its flaws, the LSAs teemed with trade camaraderie. first rate cheer and applause rang out till the early hours of the morning when the exhibit finally ended. There might have had been extra of it had the exhibit begun on time.

Eighteen years old now, the LSAs, like adults, should gain knowledge of punctuality. Like adults, they should have the clout to handle topics that may be complex to address, mainly given this 12 months's nomination withdrawals, however extraordinarily essential, like #MeToo! All grown up, the LSAs don't simply need to attempt to be the most desirable, however basically become the absolute best.

posted in first light, ICON, July 14th, 2019