The A to Z of 2011

Instep takes a quick look at the year that was 2011 as we welcome the New Year…
By Amina Baig, Kiran Haroon and Maheen Sabeeh

A for Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar may have debuted in Bollywood in 2010 with the indie comedy Tere Bin Laden but it was his role in the prolific Yash Raj production, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011) opposite Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan that really changed the stakes for the singer-turned-actor. Ali played the comedic role with natural ease. With two more films in the pipeline, Ali Zafar, it seems, has finally arrived in Bollywood.

B for Bol

Shoaib Mansoor returned with his second feature film after 2007’s Khuda Kay Liye earlier this year. Simply put, it is a brave film and a bold one too, dealing with issues ranging from misogyny to fanaticism to empowering women to societal repression. It’s a powerful film with a strong message. With riveting performances from Humaima Malik, Shafqat Cheema and Manzar Sehbai, Bol remains one of the most important films to come out of Pakistan in decades.

C for Coke Studio

Coke Studio is the one show in Pakistan that continues to remains inspirational. This was a massive year for Coke Studio. Some artists made a comeback via the show such as Sajjad Ali and Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi while other made their national debut like Mole. This was the season when Coke Studio went seriously experimental and introduced Qawwals Farid Ayaz and Abu Mohammed, classical great Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami and folk artists such as Akhtar Chanal Zahri. For pop music aficionados, there was the easy listening magic of Bilal Khan and the progressive chords of Mizraab, making it a well-rounded season through and through.

D for Daaman

Designer Maliha Chaudhry’s baby, Daaman has been a favourite with – oh, just about everyone since the store opened its doors to Karachi. The awesome thing about Daaman is that you get slickly designed separates for a pretty decent price without any of the tailor-haggling heartache that is synonymous with making clothes in Pakistan. Daaman got an LSA nod this year, have a great website plus a blog, and some gorgeous tops in the winter line. We’re particularly coveting a piece called ‘Red-Setter’. Daaman retails in Lahore and Islamabad, as well as worldwide, through their website.

E for Ethan Hunt

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol is one of the biggest film releases before we wave good-bye to 2011. Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt takes charge in an adrenaline pumping, action packed series of events with his motley crew. This time the very organization the team works for is in jeopardy and it is up to them to clear its name. The fourth installment of Mission: Impossible will be as thrilling as the last three with brand new elements of surprise one of which is Bollywood star Anil Kapoor!

F for Fashion Weeks

Fashion weeks are the biggest fashion events of the year and Pakistan has finally put itself on the fashion map of the world! New designers are getting a chance to prove themselves and international media has also played a big part in the events. Fashion weeks are now sustaining themselves and bridal fashion weeks have joined in as well. PFDC, FPW, KFW et al the more the merrier!

G for Game of Thrones

Based on author George R. R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels, Game of Thrones has quickly attained the status of must-watch TV. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Game of Thrones follows the violent struggles among the kingdom’s families for control of the Iron Throne. The critically acclaimed show from HBO has been picked up for another season and has earned 13 Emmy nominations.

H for Humaima Malick

Humaima Malick had a very rock ‘n roll year. She managed, with her big screen debut, to overshadow a messy divorce, and a very special ‘friendship’ with former Cricket captain Wasim Akram that made headlines for a while. As Zainub in Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol, Humaima captured the attention and emotions of many with a performance that had us bawling with her. Off for a mystery Bollywood debut now, we’re all set to see how Humaima surprises us next.

I for IFAP

Supermodel Mehreen Syed has taken the initiative to start a full fledged fashion institute, IFAP. The International Fashion Academy, Pakistan (IFAP) focuses on all aspects of fashion from modeling to styling and more. The IFAP board features some of the most prominent names in fashion and has us waiting to see what the first graduating class will bring to Pakistani fashion.

J for Jal

After Atif Aslam’s departure from this band, Farhan Saeed joined Gohar Mumtaz and Shazi and the trio of Jal soon became a force within the music industry. Now two albums and countless awards later, the trio has broken up with vocalist Farhan Saeed pursuing a solo career. The band, however, is still alive. Gohar Mumtaz has taken over the duties of lead singer with a third Jal album slated for a March 2012 release.

K for Karachi – The Musical

Nida Butt’s Made for Stage took the big leap and unleashed on Karachi Pakistan’s first original musical, Karachi – The Musical; a story of the underdog triumphing in a Lyari boxing ring. With an original score composed by Hamza Jafri, Karachi starred some great new and old actors, including the brilliantly terrifying Adnan Jaffer, a very fit Raza Shah and a suitably grouchy Faraz Lodhi. Karachi leaves us with hope for more original Urdu theatre in the years to come.

L for Love Mein Ghum

Reema Khan’s second directorial outing in Lollywood, Love Mein Ghum ghummed right into our lives with the title track which featured faces from Pakistan’s fashion and entertainment industries dancing to an incredibly catchy tune sung by Ali Zafar. The film’s story was allegedly adapted by Shaan from Paula Coelho’s famous life bible, Veronika Decides to Die, and Shaan was supposed to be part of the film but was dropped as he was more inclined towards shooting diaper ads than for the film. Love Mein Ghum released on Eid, and did not do that well, but the song lives on as one of the best Lollywood tunes in decades. Reema and HSY led a performance on the song at this year’s LSAs as well, which was definitely the best performance of the night.

M for ‘Mojambo’

Bumbu Sauce, how we love you. We have no clue what you’re saying in your songs, but ‘Mojambo’ grew on us at warp speed. The lyrics of ‘Mojambo’ go from asking the ‘tam’ to saying ‘Sprite Mirinda Teem’, to asking our favourite question of all tam, ‘What the huck?’ The beat is groovy, the guitars are crunchy, and please allow us to say, with ‘Mojambo’, Bumbu Sauce has truly exploded this year.

N for Noori

Noori reigned new energy into the music business when they came onto the scene in 2003 with their debut album, Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan. But two years and another album later, the foursome separated. Noori continued with brothers Ali Noor and Ali Hamza while drummer Gumby and bass man Mohammed Ali Jafri walked a different path. That was then. Now all four original members have gotten back together and the original Noori is back for good!

O for Omar, Adil

Pakistani music doesn’t really have any interesting hip-hop artists but there is one exception, and he is Adil Omar. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Islamabad doesn’t shy away from controversy and produces songs that pack a real, gritty punch. He really came into his own this year when he released the singles, ‘Off The Handle’ featuring Xzibit and DJ Solo-produced tune ‘Paki Rambo’.

P for Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton easily stole the spotlight from her sister Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She wore an equally regal white gown to the royal wedding and her pert bum became the focus of media attention and has its own dedicated Facebook page! Hopes are high that Prince Harry and Pippa hit it off so the world can have another royal wedding soon. Probably not, but the Pippa train is not slowly down, thankfully.

Q for Quratulain Balouch

This has been an interesting year for upcoming singer Quratulain Balouch. She collaborated with Jal on their single ‘Paanchi’ on Coke Studio and stole the limelight with her sheer talent and that raw, deep voice. QB followed this up with the cover version of singles, ‘Akhiyaan Nu’ and ‘Maa e Ni’. And then there’s the soundtrack to the drama, Humsafar, which QB has sung brilliantly.

R for Royal wedding

We followed each and every thing about the Royal wedding from what cake the Duke and Duchess were getting, to which mystery designer was making her dress, to the memorabilia that was coming out of the wedding to…well, you get the picture. Everything. And we weren’t the only ones, the world, at least for a few months, had Kate and Wills fever, which mushroomed on the actual wedding day into Pippa fever and Princess Beatrice’s hat fever. Around 60 million people between the UK and USA alone tuned into the wedding, with a million people actually turning up in central London to witness the processions.

S for Steve Jobs

The Apple Founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, left behind a grand legacy of technological innovation. Jobs was known for his challenging and off beat demeanour and this unconventional style prompted him and those around him to go beyond themselves. He gave the world the most user-friendly form of technology by changing the music industry with the iPod and the way we communicate with the Apple iPhone. People around the world mourned his death and wondered what would become of technology without the greatest inventor of our time.

T for Twitter

The world is moving at a super fast pace and the only thing that is keeping up with it is Twitter. The Twitter community is a tightly knit network of people sharing random thoughts with their followers. Our favorite Twitter celebs are @LaHaq: the supermodel that is now living it up as a sometime model and full-time wife. @AliZafarSays: the official account of the singer/ actor. @TheMeeraJee: yes Meera is on Twitter and we love her whether she’s being profound or her usual self.

U for Uth Records

Uth Records, the new music reality TV show debuted this year with much aplomb. The brainchild of producers Gumby and Omran Shafique with Zeeshan Parwez in tow as director, the show introduced six new artists and mixed it up by inviting some mainstream artists such as Ali Noor, Faraz Anwar to collaborate with the younger acts. It was light, fun and served as a great platform for upcoming artists. With season two on the cards, it’s been reported that Omran Shafique has pulled out of the show due to certain constraints. Our bet: Noori will make its presence felt in the show come next season.

V for Veena Malik

Aka, V for Pakistan’s Vendetta. Veena Malik is like the pesky houseguest in India that no one wants around but is also endearing in ways. With her scandalous Bigg Boss appearance last year, Veena has now graduated to another reality show on which she might get married, and has a controversial ‘doctored’ FHM cover which features her clothes-less. In the weeks that have followed the outrage caused by the cover, Veena has issued statements, been disowned by her father, and been lost and found. Here’s to another few decades of Veena’s own brand of entertainment in the world.

W for Waar

Ace music video director Bilal Lashari has turned his attention to films with Waar, an upcoming action/thriller flick set to release in the summer of 2012. The film which deals with the issues of the effects of the war on terror not only marks Lashari’s turn as a director but will also feature Shaan Shahid, Shamoon Abbasi, Ali Azmat and Meesha Shafi in pivotal roles with rock band Qayaas behind the soundtrack.

X for Xander’s Café

Xander’s Café is a quaint eatery that has become the place to see and be seen. Ladies who lunch are the usual clientele because the cafe is housed within the premises of multi-designer boutique, Ensemble. The café has become extremely popular in the short time since it’s opened. It has some of the best burgers and coffees and a beautiful green and light wood interior. The perfect place for a spot of shopping, catching up and a bite!

Y for Younus Khan

Younus Khan is one cricketer who delivers for Pakistan when we need it the most. He’s not the most spectacular guy on the field but he is one of the most solid batsmen Pakistan has ever produced. Just recently during the Pakistan-Bangladesh series, Younus went past 6000 Test runs, and notched up his 19th Test century and third Test double-century. During 2011, Younus Khan has scored nearly 800 runs and is amongst the top-ten batsmen of the year.

Z for Zoe Viccaji

Zoe Viccaji has been around for some time but her real coming out party took place this year when Zoe released the cover of Strings’ famous tune, ‘Mera Bichara Yaar’ (which is now a certified hit) and reappeared on Coke Studio, not just as a backup vocalist but also as an artist, collaborating with Asif Samraat Hussain on ‘Senraan Ra Baairya’. She followed this up with her first live and solo performance in Karachi and stunned the audience with her incredible vocal range and pleasant, charming demeanour.