#BUZZ: Good Morning, Karachi!

Its alleviating to see that the looming dark shadows  have finally started to melt away, leaving fresh faces and surprisingly, new set of ideas in Pakistani Film Industry. Gone are the days when we were given heroines who could pass for heavy weight championships. There were scarring images of a size 14+ actress pouncing around a tree (causing earthquake or so) in deep cleavage-flashing sequined bra worn over a long skirt-cum-dhoti, that quite often glistened under the sun (and seductively so, in mustached-heros’ eyes).

Jeez, whatever did we do to deserve THAT?!

Nonetheless, after Shoaib Mansoor’s two blockbusters, namely Khud Kay Liye and Bol; followed by a handful few, the Pakistani Cinema has resurrected. Its no longer the quintessential ster/bahu, husband/wife, avenged/avenger or deshum dushum types in making but, rather sensitive topics and well-thought screenplays are being written/produced.

It wasn’t until recently, we got our regular dose of cricket through Main Hoon Shahid Afridi – a movie that is set to reach astounding success on box office. (Followed by Waar, Operation 021 and Na Maloom Afraad) The censor board as well as the audiences are now thankfully accepting a tinge of liberalism and have agreed to watch films with a broader mindset.  Its about time, really!

On the set of  Good Morning, Karachi © Zeeshan Haider

Now its Good Morning Karachi, a first ever fashion-based Pakistani film made under the banner of Vidhi Films (Pakistan) in association with ZDF / ARTE (Europe).

Directed by  Sabiha Sumar,GMK is a story about a young girl from lower middle class  who aspires to become the next big thing in Pakistani fashion industry. Understandably so, the film will feature her journey to heights of fame and hindrances she undergoes in order to achieve her dream. In midst of vivid glimpses shown via trailer, we gather that the  movie will be putting the blurred division between Islamized Pakistan and the Muslim high society to test.

Though, the trailer does not reveal much of the story line (and by no means its supposed to) it whets the audiences’ appetite. Which is EXACTLY why, it intrigued me onto digging a bit deeper.

Upon contacting the film’s producer, Sachithanandam Sathananthan (aka. Dr. Satha, my ex-sociology professor at The Lyceum) I learnt that Good Morning, Karachi, comes from a production house, Vidhi Films, that  debuted with a feature film called Khamosh Pani back in 2003. It was a film that won international acclaim and have had a worldwide theatrical release. Vidhi Films also have numerous documentaries made and shown internationally under its banner. One of such was Dinner with the President: A Nation’s Journey, featuring Pervez Musharaf.

 The script for Rafina (GMK)  is written by Malia Scotch Marmo, Samhita Arni and Sabiha Sumar, with music  produced by Robert Logan. So in many ways, it’s a combination of local and international film makers, which I believe should be the strongest USP for the film’s success.

I was also told that, Rafina (GMK) was screened at the Goteborg International Film Festival, Sweden in January 2013 and has been invited to show at the San Francisco International Film Festival for November 2013.

From the top: Zoe Viccaji, Tapu Javeri, Deepak Perwani, Saba Pervez and Savera Nadeem.  ©Zeeshan Haider.

To name a few, the cast of Rafina includes the industry’s biggest like Deepak Perwani (as star dsigner), Tapu Javeri (star cameo) Saba Perwaiz (Rafina’s stereotypical mother as seen in trailers), Zoe Viccaji (actor/singer), Savera Nadeem, Atta Yaqub, Beo Raana Zafar and RJ Khalid Malik.

Amna Ilyas as Rafina.

Character of Rafina is played by the phenomenal, Amna Ilyas who nowadays just doesn’t get tired of making headlines. Ilyas  was also in lead role for Zinda Bhaag.

Guess there will be a lot of cheering and hooting for this talented one here? Make us proud Amna!

More updates will follow as we anxiously wait for Good Morning, Karachi to hit the local cinemas in the first week of Jan 2015 Till then, feast you eyes on Amna Ilyas as Rafina:

Use proxy. xx

Gulity Pleasure: Top 5 Fashion Biopics.

Christian Lacroix – Haute Couture 2005.

1. The Secret World of Haute Couture:

Be it, Alexander McQueen, House of Dior / John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier or the iconic Chanel, this BBC Documentary is an ode to designers who showcase their haute couture collections twice a year in Paris. For 60 minutes, it made me forget about my butter popcorn and reeled me into its grandeur and theatrics. From the haute-closets of elite coterie to the tight-lipped opulent women who just wont let you in; The Secret World of Haute Couture enables you to fathom its origin and element of surrealism. You’ll aboard on a journey with the wealthy few, sit in the front row and virtually visit the enchanted streets where some of these massive ateliers are located and trust me, you won’t regret it. ALTHOUGH, it’ll leave you wanting more and wishing that maybe someday Pakistani designers will too put on a  visually appealing fashion showdown.

Coco before Chanel movie poster dipicting Chanel’s fondness for menswear.

2. Coco advert Chanel:

If you are one of the unfortunate ones like myself, you’ll regret your decision of watching Karl Lagerfeld’s Once Upon a Time before this. SERIOUSLY. Major respect for Lagerfeld, but boy was he off the mark while making his 9 minute short film on Coco Chanel?! It only made me wonder what he had against her. My objection was not only on casting Keira Knightly as Chanel (ZERO resemblance whatsoever) but it was baffling to show Chanel getting inspired  by her customer’s clothing  (played by the ravishing Lindsey Wixon – the only part of the movie I approve), in order to start her own clothing line. Watch Coco advert Chanel and  you’ll know exactly where Lagerfeld went wrong. Gabrielle’s visionary instincts of breaking the corsets (literally) and making clothing out of ‘men’s underwear fabric’ was purely gradual. Three cheers for  phenomenal acting skills of Audrey Tautou, btw. The only annoying part? The crawling pace of the movie, BUT fluent French, my love for the language and catchy Coco song totally made up for it!

‘ Burning the house down’ Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen photographed by David Lachapelle for Vanity Fair.

3. McQueen & I:

McQueen & I, is probably the ONLY well-documented biopic made on Alexander McQueen’s life, his rise to fame and his involvement with the iconic Isabella Blow. A truly engaging 1 hour 50 minute story encapsulates McQueen’s erotic personality, Isabella’s instincts of recognizing a gem before anyone, till her suicide followed shortly by McQueen’s dramatic end 3 years later.  Any one who isn’t familiar with McQueen’s artistically twisted and critically acclaimed work, MUST see this as it gives the audience front row seat to World of McQueen fashion shows. It includes interviews of McQueen’s boyfriend and brother along with Isabella’s husband and Isabella herself. By the end, it makes you realize that Alexander McQueen was a man in his own league.

Diana Vreeland in her living room where most of the movie is shot in.

4. Diana Vreeland: The eye has to travel:

What better way to learn about fashion and history of fashion from none other than Diana Vreeland, former fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and later head of creative department at Metropolitan Museum of Art? It wont be wrong to say that Vreeland is surely a fashion goddess and  a visionary woman. For any aspiring fashion journalist like myself, this movie is a treat because it teleports you back in time. It takes you through pages of Vogue and Bazaar dating back to history and makes you aware of Vreeland’s contribution to the world of fashion. Vreeland’s candid interview and ability of turning everything she touches – red (literally) will enthrall you. Its a movie you’ll watch a million times and still learn something new!

Colorblocking editorial reshoot for The September Issue of Vogue 2009.

5. The September Issue:

“September is the January of fashion,” said Anna Wintour the Editor-in-chief of American Vogue and you know you’ve been entranced by Anna’s chin length bob, tweed Chanel jacket and Dior knee-length skirt just then. The movie documents Vogue under Anna’s reign, her opinions on fashion, her front-row seat to all fashion weeks and of course, behind the scenes footage of making 2009 September issue of Vogue. Its like your golden pass to meet and travel with Grace Coddington  to Paris for an editorial shoot, hear Andre Leon Talley talk about Anna and witness the chaos that goes within the mortar and brick of fashion heaven: Vogue. It’s a movie that makes you realize that in fashion world words like ‘color blocking’ ‘kitten heel’ and ‘peplum’ are like tea, cookies and sugar! A must watch.

 P.s All pictures were taken off Google. I do not own anything.