ISLAMABAD: Indian entertainment channel ‘Zindagi’ announced on Tuesday that it would be removing its popular series, ‘Barzakh,’ from YouTube Pakistan amid a public outcry over the content of the fantasy drama series.
The show stars Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Khushhal Khan, Sajid Hasan, Salman Shahid, Nighat Choudhry and Uzma Beg. It premiered on July 19.
Directed by Asim Abbasi, the drama stirred a controversy in Pakistan when many viewers said they considered its themes “bold,” “provocative” and against Islamic values.
“In light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan, effective August 9, 2024,” Zindagi said in an Instagram post.
“This decision underscores our dedication to honoring our audiences without causing alienation.”
The channel extended its gratitude to its global audience for their support for Barzakh, a show it said was “created to bring people together everywhere.”
The final episode of the fantasy drama is scheduled to air at 8pm on Tuesday. People in Pakistan can watch the show on YouTube until August 9.
The story of the show centers around a reclusive 76-year-old man who invites his estranged family to his remote valley resort for an unusual event – his wedding to the ghost of his first love, prompting reflections on life’s mysteries, the afterlife and the enduring power of love. The series tackles themes of mental health, postpartum depression, generational trauma and gender inclusivity. It also explores the role of folklore in human experience. The controversy began when two of the male leads in the series nearly share an intimate moment.
Indian channel pulls popular show ‘Barzakh’ from YouTube Pakistan after public outcry
https://arab.news/2tu2w
Indian channel pulls popular show ‘Barzakh’ from YouTube Pakistan after public outcry
- ‘Barzakh’ stirred a controversy in Pakistan when some viewers said they considered its themes ‘provocative’ and anti-Islam
- The show stars Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Khushhal Khan, Sajid Hasan, Salman Shahid, Nighat Choudhry and Uzma Beg
From Sweden to Hollywood, Arab designers shine among celebrities
DUBAI: From US actress Grace Van Patten flaunting heels by Andrea Wazen to British singer Ellie Goulding hitting the red carpet in a Zuhair Murad gown, celebrities kicked off September in style.
Van Patten opted for the Katy Lace Sling heels by Lebanese footwear designer Andrea Wazen at the season 2 premiere Of Hulu's "Tell Me Lies" in California.
(Getty Images)
The actress, who has appeared in two Netflix films and two Hulu mini-series, paired the black heels with a baby pink slip dress at the premiere.
For her part, Goulding showed off a floor-length number by Lebanese designer-to-the-stars Zuhair Murad, hailing from the label’s Resort 2025 collection. The “Love Me Like You Do” singer chose the dress for an appearance at the Perfect World Foundation's Honorary Conservation Award ceremony in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she was given The Perfect World Foundation Award, following in the footsteps of previous recipients such as Sir David Attenborough, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Ragnhild Jacobsson, CEO and co-founder of The Perfect World Foundation, praised Goulding's environmental efforts in a released statement, saying: "Ellie Goulding is a respected force as a climate and nature champion. Her inspirational efforts to mobilize the youth in saving our planet's biological diversity are admirable. We are proud to honor her as this year's recipient."
In another landmark achievement for an Arab designer, Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi, the founder of Paris-based Ashi Studio, saw US actress Demi Moore grace the cover of Variety magazine in one of his creations.
Moore was photographed for the cover of the Hollywood title’s September issue in a black gown from Ashi’s Sculpted Clouds collection — his Fall 2024 Couture show.
Ashi became the first couturier from the Gulf to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023 and has since shown his collections on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar.
Directors show solidarity with Palestinians during Venice Film Festival speeches
DUBAI: The final ceremony of the Venice Film Festival on Saturday saw multiple winners use their acceptance speeches to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
“As a Jewish American artist working in a time-based medium, I must note, I’m accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and 76th year of occupation,” said US director Sarah Friedland as she accepted the Luigi de Laurentiis prize for best first film for “Familiar Touch.”
“I believe it is our responsibility as filmmakers to use the institutional platforms through which we work to redress Israel’s impunity on the global stage. I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their struggle for liberation,” she continued.
The director’s comments were met with strong applause, Deadline reported. Her speech comes amid Israel’s 10-month military campaign in Gaza in which more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than 16, 000 children, have been killed. The current conflict was sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,139 were killed, including 36 children.
Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti accepted the best screenplay prize in the Horizons section for his films “Happy Holidays.”
“I stand here deeply honored, yet profoundly affected by the difficult times we’re living through over the past 11 months, our shared humanity and moral compass have been tested as we witness the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” he said on stage.
“This painful reality reminds us of the devastating consequences of oppression, which is a theme in our film. Our film looks at how moral narratives can bring us together as communities, but also blind us to the suffering of others.”
Meanwhile, “The Room Next Door,” Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language debut starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, topped the Venice Film Festival and was awarded its Golden Lion award.
‘Colonizer to colonized’: Pakistani photographer travels from London to Quetta ‘without flying’
- Danial Shah’s 58-day-journey brought him home to Quetta via trains, ferries, buses and taxis at a cost of $2,509
- Historic Quetta-London Road was once a popular route for international tourists and considered a ‘gateway’ to Europe
QUETTA: Earlier this year, Danial Shah, a Pakistani photographer and filmmaker currently pursuing a doctorate in visual and performing arts in Brussels, got an idea: to travel from the land of the colonizer, Britain, which had ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947, to the land that was colonized, present day Pakistan — but without flying.
Thus began a journey that took him from London to the southwestern Pakistani town of Quetta, the city of his birth, via trains, ferries, buses and taxis at a cost of $2,509.
“I wanted to start my journey from London, the reason is that Britain ruled our country for a long time, colonized us and it is Britain that gives us [Pakistanis] visas with great difficulty,” Shah, a 35-year-old documentary filmmaker and photographer, told Arab News in an interview in Quetta.
“So I thought if I get a visa, I will start my journey from the place where the colonizer lives and reach the place which they colonized.”
Spending his early childhood in Quetta, Shah was always thrilled by the stories of foreign travelers who frequented the area and often arrived using what was dubbed the historic Quetta-London Road, once a popular route for international tourists and considered a ‘gateway’ to Europe.
“I often used to see foreigners here and when you asked someone their story, they would say, ‘We have come from Germany, from London, traveling through Turkiye and Iran’,” Shah said. “So, when I found time, I thought I should go on this journey also.”
Frequent public commuting through the Quetta-London route, stretching over thousands of miles, began after the end of World War I and people even used it to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, according to Dr. Irfan Ahmed Baig, a Quetta-based historian and author of the Urdu-language book ‘Quetta My City.’ European tourists choose the route to enter Turkiye via Greece and continued onwards to the Middle East and Asia. The route was diverted to Central Asia from Afghanistan, from where to leads to India and Bangladesh via Pakistan.
“A Quetta-London bound bus service was started in the 1950 but it was suspended due to unknown reasons,” Baig told Arab News. “During the Soviet Union’s incursion on Afghanistan, tourist movement through this route declined due to security reasons.”
Shah’s journey through a stretch of the route also did not come without difficulty as he faced strict border security checks on account of holding a Pakistani passport, considered one of the weakest travel documents according to global rankings, and amid fears about human smuggling and illegal migration.
“At various border crossing points, I was the only one off-boarded from buses and questioned by border security forces,” he said.
But he powered on and the journey that began in London on July 3 took him through Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, to Pakistan’s Balochistan province on August 21.
“From London, I traveled to France. From France, I went to Italy, where I took a boat to Croatia. From Croatia, I went to Serbia, Serbia to Bosnia, and from Bosnia to Montenegro, Albania,” the University of Antwerp student said.
“From Albania, I entered Greece. Then I took a boat from Greece to Turkiye and from Turkiye I took a bus to Iran. From Iran I traveled through buses and taxis and reached Pakistan.”
He said he was grateful for the people he met along the way and the hospitality and warmth he was offered.
“I enjoyed Bosnia the most, followed by Albania, and then Turkiye and Iran, because their manner of hospitality is similar to our Quetta,” Shah said.
His next plan is to save up for journeys to ever new countries and cultures.
“I wish to plan a year-long journey after saving some money to see more countries and additional stay,” Shah said, “because I met many people who were on the same route but traveling to Central Asia via Iran and Afghanistan to Vietnam.”
Roberto Cavalli closes Dubai Fashion Week with bold animal prints, vibrant hues
DUBAI: The Italian luxury label Roberto Cavalli closed out Dubai Fashion Week this week with a presentation of its spring/summer 2025 collection, marking the brand’s first showcase in the Middle East.
Models descended onto the runway against a backdrop featuring the brand’s signature golden emblem. The runway was framed by a textured wall, with lighting that emphasized the collection.
The show kicked off with a powerful display of bold black-and-white printed outfits, featuring eye-catching patterns reminiscent of animal motifs, setting the stage for what was to come.
The models strutted down the runway in long, structured coats and tailored suits, complemented by wide-brimmed hats and high boots.
Sleek tailored suits, glamorous mini-dresses, and flowing gowns reflected a mix of modern sophistication and bold statement pieces.
As the collection progressed, the color palette began to shift from monochromatic tones to vibrant hues, starting with a bold introduction of bright greens. Flowing pleated dresses and figure-hugging designs in various shades of green took center stage.
The green hues were followed by striking pinks and deep reds, with rose patterns adorning halter-neck dresses and flowing gowns.
In addition to the vivid colors, the collection featured a variety of textures. A standout piece was a fuchsia snake-patterned suit. Pleated fabrics added movement, while corset-style dresses highlighted structure and femininity. Flowing silks and airy satins further contributed to the collection’s dynamic mix.
The show was attended by several celebrities and influencers, including “Dubai Bling” star Loujain Adada, Egyptian actress and model Enjy Kiwan, reality TV sisters Nadine and Farah Abdel Aziz, Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi, Emirati actress and TV presenter Mahira Abdel Aziz, Saudi designer and fashion influencer Tamaraah Al-Gabaani, Iraqi fashion blogger Deema Al-Asadi, and Egyptian style star Soha Taha.
The show concluded with Fausto Puglisi, the brand’s new creative director, stepping out to thank the audience.
Founded by the late Roberto Cavalli in the 1970s, the brand quickly became synonymous with Italian luxury and glamor. Roberto Cavalli has long been a staple on international runways and red carpets, and is known for its bold use of tropical patterns and animal prints.
Saudi-supported ‘Front Row’ screens in Toronto
DUBAI: Algerian filmmaker Merzak Allouche’s family dramedy “Front Row,” supported by the Red Sea Fund, screened this week at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival.
Allouche’s 19th feature tells the story of two matriarchs, Zohra Bouderbala and Safia Kadouri, who find themselves in conflict during a day at the beach. Zohra, accompanied by her five children, arrives early to secure a desirable spot, but tension arises when the Kadouri family is placed directly in front of them by a beach attendant.
As the two families engage in a passive-aggressive battle, teenage romance quietly unfolds in the background, adding to the drama.
The film stars Fatiha Ouared as Bouderbala, Bouchra Roy as Kadouri, and Nabil Asli as Hakim, the beach attendant.
