"The entertainment industry kept getting bigger and
better this year, with people returning to the cinemas, and theatre
creating an alternate audience for itself. Many groundbreaking ventures
took place, changing the entire structure of the entertainment industry
permanently"
1. Waar
Waar
was undisputedly the biggest game changer of the previous year. Not
only was it finally released after a three-year hiatus, the movie also
managed to smash one record after the other at the local box office. Its
English dialogues became the talk of the town, with everyone making fun
of the actors’ accents in the film.
2. Anwar Maqsood
Building on his new beginning in theatre, which kick started with Pawnay Chauda August, Maqsood and his plays achieved multiple milestones in 2013. Sawa Chauda August, the sequel to Pawnay Chauda, had an incredible run all across Pakistan which was followed by Aangan Terha, and now Haaf Playt. Maqsood’s words are timeless, and so is the public’s love for them.
4. Our very own Oscar committee
Pakistan finally formed its own national Oscar Committee, comprising of seasoned academics and artists. Headed by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy,
the committee came under severe criticism for its choice of members by
UPA (United Producers Association), but nonetheless managed to make Zinda Bhaag Pakistan’s second ever entry into the Foreign Film Oscar race, and that too after a gap of 50 years.
6. Hamza Ali Abbasi
Abbasi
turned out to be the pick of all the actors who showed their talent on
the big screen. His impeccable portrayals of both a Pakhtun cricketer
in Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and police officer Ehtesham Khan in Waar clearly showed the promise he holds as a major player for the Pakistani film industry in days to come.
7. Zoe Viccaji
Zoe
is one of the most hardworking female singers in Pakistan, because she
has consciously worked on her shortcomings as a vocalist and her intent
to improve with each offering reflects in her songs. She is undoubtedly
the voice of the year, a voice that was heard in every jingle, some
catchy OSTs and brilliant solo tracks. She was all over the billboards
for Cornetto Music Icons and Coke Studio, with the later doing justice to her talent.
8. Aamina Sheikh
Aamina Sheikh
is the only person prolific enough to have made it to our list of game
changers for both 2012 and 2013. She was definitely the female star of
the big screen, offering memorable performances in both Lamha and Josh. This year, she also introduced Youmatter, a smart phone application aimed at raising Breast Cancer awareness.
10. Mathira
Last, but certainly not least, is Vibe Tv’s gift to Pakistan, the gujji gujji girl Mathira. She finally walked the talk, and featured in a song
that can be considered the first ever item number in modern day
Pakistani cinema. Her thumkas and her belly dancing was much appreciated
by (almost) everyone. Despite Shahid Afridi’s misgivings about her item
number, Humayun Saaed deserves appreciation for taking such a
courageous step and incorporating it in a Pakistani film.
13:25
