Sunday Plus Magazine

August 21, 2011

STYLE | TRENDS | BOOKS | INTERVIEWS | arT | q&A | SOCIETY

TheNation

rEndEzvOuSaYESha Khurram:a nEw ChapTErIn STYLECOmmEnT

rECOrd BrEaKInG FEaTTravEL

STudYInG InnEBraSKaBLOG

BIGGEr ISBETTEr

TropicalParadise

08

18

14

22

IntervIew

Style

report

travel

Nouveau designer, Ayesha Khurram, talks about her designs, her whimsical creations and many more

Showcasing Waseem Noor’s latest collection in Faisalabad

Pakistani youth are united to rejoice the air of freedom and participated in Independence Day celebrations

Take a tour of the Nebraska, Beatrice and learn about American state of the art farming technique

inside this weekaugust 21, 2011

32

26 14

18

28

38

32

Hollywood

MovIe

Style

James Franco about his character and the ethical dilemmas he faced while acting in ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’

56 décorLearn from designer, Hamza Tarar, ten ways to make your small rooms look big!

44 SocIety Report on the happenings and events in your metropolis

64 pIckS of tHe weekGo through the smart wish-list for the best buys and best picks for everyone

Review of the latest Hollywood flick to hit theatres this week

Enter the world of fantasy, style and charm with Saira’s forest collection

2008 A CLASS APARTA NEW CHAPTER IN STYLEIntervIewIntervIew

sunday plus

Editor’s notE

Editor-in-ChiefMajid Nizami

Deputy Managing DirectorRameeza Nizami

Editor The NationSalim Bokhari

Editor Magazine:Emanuel Sarfraz

Editorial Staff: Bishakha Khadka Kunwar, Madiha Syedain & Sadaf Pervez

Creative Head:Faiz-ur-Rehman

Creative Team: Shoaib Qadir, Faisal Fazal, HM. Nouman

For advertising:Bilal Mahmood, 0300 - 8493206Muhammad Zaeem 0301 - 8463306Salman Ahmed 0300 - 4116792Shiraz Akbar 0333 - 2310851Khalid Sheikh0345-5130728

54

TheNation

Dear readers we are back with another exciting issue of Sunday Plus. This week we are in conversation with a new designer Ayesha Khurram, who is creating ripples in the fashion industry with her innovative and intriguing designs. 5,857 young people of Pakistan have created a world record by singing the national anthem together by the seaside in Karachi. Read our special report on the event. Fashion finally makes inroads in Faisalabad. Designer Waseem Noor showcased his latest collection there in a grand fashion show. Learn about the experience of studying in Nebraska in the small city Beatrice. Watch out for mini screen star Nadia Afgan in tete-a-tete with Sunday Plus this week. Wearing replica designer sunglasses may not be good for your eyesight. Read a special report in this regard. Interior decorator Hamza Tarar is back with his blog especially for you. And don’t forget to see our section ‘Picks of the week’ for best buys.

Send us your comments and feedback at [email protected]

From designer at home to two new stores in less than a year, Ayesha Khurram’s journey has been an exciting one. This Lahore based designer has been in the fashion business for 10 years. But she started her nouveau collection only last summer and decided to expand her pret line by launching her very own signature store in DHA. Her new line boasts many elegant, contemporary designs - using a combination of

embroidery and sequins that has yet to be seen in Pakistan. Today she has quickly found herself amidst the league of some of the most credible designers. Her timing was perfect. The entry she made

RENDEZVOUS

August 21, 2011 08 SuNday PluS

By Bishakha Kunwar

Khurram: ayesha

styleA new chApter in

Her experiments may turn out quirky, but she churns out pieces that you will adore! Her experimentation with geometric patterns, figures and faces has been a phenomenal success and continues to be a trendsetter in the Pakistani fashion market. Within a year, she has been successful in creating an impact on the fashion scene with her bold, feminine and whimsical designs. Like the ones with the Buddha figures and the embellished figures of faces that might be predictable and obvious, but Ayesha makes it work in her clothes. As a designer, she continues to show potential that means one can’t help but vouch for her audacious style of mixing colours, with checks, stripes, figures and fun prints. She dares where another designer wouldn’t tread, she knows not what is safe, and props to her for that! Ayesha talks to Sunday Plus about her phe-nomenal success, her love for the late Alexander McQueen and her rise to the top.

S+: Your design philosophy? Ayesha Khurram: My design philosophy is to strive

for uniqueness in all my clothes through simplicity and elegance.

S+: How do you create a different identity or niche for your customers?

Ayesha: My clothes are different because I put special effort to ensure that I provide designs that have not been seen before in Pakistan and I am glad people like it.

S+: What are you most comfortable designing; pret or bridal?

Ayesha: Pret

S+: How did your jour-ney as a designer start? Do you have a degree in fashion designing or are you self-taught?

Ayesha: Before I started work full time, I worked from home. I took orders from friends and family and soon it grew into a flourishing business. I’m self-taught and I believe that design-ing is about expressing myself through fashion.

S+: Can you name some reigning Eid trends, as far as what’s hot in colour, fabrics and cuts we

RENDEZVOUS

SuNday PluSAugust 21, 2011 09

was apt as the industry is full of the same monotonous clothing, so a fresh take was warmly welcomed.

RENDEZVOUS


should be looking out for?Ayesha: I always believe in simple cuts,

solid colours and minimalistic designs. So for Eid, I expect the trend to be very simple and flowy.

S+: What is your take on the surge of younger designers in the recent years? What role do you think fashion councils and fashion weeks have played in this regard?

Ayesha: Young designers are the ones who keep this industry modern and up-to-date. I believe that fashion weeks and exhibitions are really encouraging for the Pakistani fashion culture.

S+: Is fashion today more than just clothes?

Ayesha: fashion is about expressing yourself and standing out from the crowd.It is much more than just the clothes you wear.

S+: When will couture come to mean more than just bridal in Pakistan?

Ayesha: The change is already happen-ing in Pakistan. We will soon be seeing true couture and not just bridals.

S+: What does vintage fashion have that contemporary fashion never will have?

Ayesha: Vintage fashion has a certain charm, a magic that is hard to compare to contemporary fashion.

S+: What does easy chic mean to you?

Ayesha: To me, easy chic means effort-less. Something that flaunts your natural style without being hard or overbearing.

S+: What does success mean to you?Ayesha: Success, in my opinion comes

from within. If I’m doing what makes me happy and getting some recognition, I have become successful.

S+: Most classic piece that you have created?

Ayesha: Embroidered faces

S+: Who is your favourite designer?Ayesha: Alexander McQueen

S+: Your day starts with….Ayesha: Coffee

S+: You are addicted to…Ayesha: iPad

RENDEZVOUS


S+: Style statement…Ayesha: Contemporary and original

S+: Celebrities you would love to dress…

Ayesha: Lady Gaga

S+: Your favourite muse…Ayesha: I really don’t have a muse. I like

to be inspired by many different things.

S+: Who do you think is the most over-rated designer?

Ayesha: A lot of designers are slowly becoming overrated.

S+: Personal weaknesses and per-sonal strengths…

Ayesha: Weakness is that I am too emo-tionally involved in my work and my strength is that I know how to handle myself.

S+: Most beautiful childhood memory…

Ayesha: there are so many to choose from, but I enjoyed every aspect of my childhood.

S+: A city that inspires you…

Ayesha: Paris

S+: Dream destination and why…

Ayesha: London because I absolutely love that city.

S+: A crazy holiday memory…Ayesha: All holidays with my family are

crazy. We’ve done everything from safaris to beaches.

S+: In life if given a second chance would you do anything differently?

Ayesha: No, I stand by my decision and have had a lovely life.

S+: The best thing about being a Pakistani…

Ayesha: the best thing about being a designer in Pakistan is that I can fuse west-ern and eastern designs.

S+: One thing I would change about Pakistan is…

Ayesha: More open-mindedness towards fashion.

S+: Your journey so-far …Ayesha: Everyday is a new adventure

and I find inspiration everyday.

ClOset cOnFiDentiALS+: Summer fashion list for you… Summer fashion for me is all about pastel colours and simple cuts.S+: 3 must haves in anyone’s closet … Killer heels and lots of simple clothes.S+: Recent purchases… My gorgeous Jimmy Choo heels. I’m in love with them.S+: Favourite items in your closet… My Alexander McQueen skull heels, a must have.S+: Current obsession… I’m currently obsessed with the Savage Beauty exhibition by the late Alexander McQueen.S+: Oldest items in your closet… Chanel bag.S+: Faux pas… Over the top outfits.

FAV-O-Meter…S+: Your favourite gadget… my iPad.S+: Brands you buy… Everything and anything that looks good to me.S+: Your favourite books… The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho.S+: Your favourite movie… How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days.S+: Your favourite perfume… Juicy Couture.S+: Your comfort food… Potato crisps.S+: Your farewell line is… I hope you all come and check out my designs for yourself!

H H H

The hope to have a better nation seems a far flung notion. The systems through which we as a society

are governed are presided by power-hungered stake holders who care little for logic and ethics in order

to bring themselves benefit. With more than 1,100 killings in Karachi, amid rising prices, poverty and

unemployment it seems at times as though there is no hope left for an average Pakistani.

RECORD BREAKING FEAT

COMMENT


But even in this drought time as the sun starts to set, the youth of Paki-stan feel it’s their duty to patrol all

the major avenues in their respective cities, or better yet, start wheeling around. Families come out to see the lights, and even though for the past four years we’ve had an energy crisis, people have not faltered in their tradition of planning a family outing. This year around many land embarking events took place on August 14, 2011; first was seen in Karachi as a successful attempt to create a “Pakistan National Anthem World Record” and the second in Lahore, the long awaited inaugural ceremony of Kalma Chowk Flyover.

In Karachi on the auspicious night of August 14, 2011, an event was organised

By Navirah Zafar

COMMENT

SuNday PluS August 21, 2011 16

H H H

by Abid Beli and Waqas Pai along with Faisal Qureshi who gathered youth to join and break the world record of most people singing the National Anthem. The previous record holders to date are 5,248 students, staff, faculty and alumni of MSU-IIT (Philippines) who sang ‘Lupang Hinirang’ Philippines’ National Anthem in Iligan, Philippines, on September 1, 2009. Another record of most people singing a national anthem simultaneously is 104,637 and was achieved at an event organized by The Art of Living Foundation (India), where participants sang ‘Vande Mataram,’ India’s National Anthem, in Pune, India, on January 12, 2010.

In order to glorify the essence of ‘Pakista-niat’ we Pakistani’s need on constant intervals a boost or push to showcase our right of patronage. For us a country’s unity is only felt when a simple cause creates a magnitude upraise among the bewildered. On August 14, 2011 at 12:00 am a total number of 5857 Pakistani’s gathered to sing “Pak Sar Zameen” our beloved National Anthem in DHA

stadium, Karachi. For a city engulfed in mass violence, the heart and will to go beyond all terror and massacre and create a memory, a world record showed a sense of zeal among our country. The record is still unofficial as it is not recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Another mass gathering was present at the opening ceremony of Kalma Chowk Flyover on August 14 2011; the over-joyed independence crowd hogged the standing monument like bees hovering around a hive. The commotion seen at the venue was a sight to cherish, surrounded by white and green the Kalma Chowk Flyover exuded optimism. Throughout Pakistan exited youngsters and happy senior citizens rejoiced the day of freedom and participated in Independence Day celebrations. If having productive demonstra-tions or gathering makes us unite as one then why not strive for more platforms to eradicate the cloud of despair our country and youth is enveloped in.

style


Waseem Noor showcased his summer collection with top models walking the ramp

in his designs. The fashion show was managed by Bilal Mukhtar Events & PR.

Fashion in FaisaLaBaD

style


style


How do you think you would feel landing at the Washington DC international airport as a foreign exchange student from Pakistan? Afraid, or excited, or a little bit of everything? For

me it was a little bit of everything. I was excited because I knew I was among the few Pakistanis who were coming to

the US for the privilege of an education but afraid at the same time as felt I was an ambassador to my country and

responsible for countering the souring image of Pakistan that many Americans carry in their minds.

Studying in

TRAVEL


I got selected among 100 students from Pakistan to study a semester in a college in US under Global Undergrad Program

from Pakistan. My scholarship was funded by the US department of State. Under this program, all of the selected students were placed in different states and in different universities and colleges across the US. I was placed in Southeast Community Col-lege in a small city of Nebraska State called Beatrice. I was the first Pakistani in 30 years to be seen in Beatrice.

While I spent five months in Nebraska, I felt like I lived in a totally different world. But that doesn’t mean that it was an ideal life for me. Definitely, it had some pros and cons if I compare it with our very own Pakistani

By Talal Raza

Nebraska

TRAVEL


society.There were certain things about Beatrice

that really fascinated me. The very first thing was the way farmers did their farming. As I lived in the dorms on campus, luckily, two of my room-mates were farmers and were study-ing in the Agriculture program of college. They were the primary source for me to learn about American farms. In fact, I was even able to visit one of these farms.

Even though, Pakistan and Nebraska are both farm-based communities, I observed that Nebraskan farming has been revolutionized by technology and safety measures. For the most part, the farmers in Nebraska are independent. They do their own investment that is usually not less than millions of dollars. Starting from the sheep on the ranch to a four-wheeler on the farm, everything is insured. Also, unlike our tractors and seed-sowers, American tractors, thrashers and seed-sowers have computers and GPS system, hooked up to the satel-lite in the space. It means that whether you sow a seed or harvest a crop, all you need to do is feed some commands in the computer and the computer will drive the tractor itself. The driver will only sit and oversee how the computer does the job. In fact, this technology and equipment help farmers to do their work speedily and the work that our farmers would do in two three days, can be completed in a matter of hours. Also, as my roommate told, with the equipment that he had on their farm, they could sow seeds on 300 acres of land in 8 hours; definitely which is something impos-sible for our farmers to do.

Another fascinating thing about Beatrice was the role of different welfare organizations and groups that have been working efficiently for years. The presence of rotary club and optimist club which are known internationally

Nebraska Capitol

for their welfare work and also the presence of girl scouts in such a small town amazed me. It is because, even in such a small town, people are getting exposure and the opportunity to be community leaders and serve them. It is something that people living in our small towns in Pakistan totally miss.

Now while Beatrice fascinated me mainly because of the following reasons, my aca-demic life in college was also a unique learning experience. I felt curious hearing about subjects like public speaking, photo journalism and interpersonal relations which I ultimately studied. The day I was leaving the campus, I felt lucky and a bit unlucky at the same time. Lucky because I got the opportunity to study some of the subjects that I never heard of and unlucky because I wasn’t able to take every course due to my short study program.

While I liked my community for the farming and education but still, I believe that Pakistani community is still sticking to certain morals at least at the family level. In simple words, as I observed, the morals that we think are essential for the stability of a family and society are ignored a great deal in an American society. Because of that, there are many single parents, the divorce rate is high and it’s not an issue if you are having a baby out of wedlock. Alcohol is another issue that has been surrounding the American society. Teen-agers get drunk and at times, they become victims of drunk driving. Many families have lost their sons and daughters in accidents caused by drunk driving. Not getting into a debate whether some “Westernized” people in Pakistan don’t consider them an issue or not, but the fact is, I found the morals of American

Big Pivots are used to water the fields

TRAVEL


society contradictory to my own values that I learned from my surroundings.

It’s no doubt that America is a super power in the world. There were certain things I observed and I believe that because of which they have been dominating the world. For instance, honesty, hard work, devotion and volunteerism are some of the main traits that can be regarded as the essence of an American society. People

are devoted towards their work, and they un-derstand the meaning of deadline. Secondly people are more educated and that makes them responsible enough to follow the law and order. Thirdly, the passion to volunteer and serve their community is quite notice-able and there are more organized channels through which volunteers are encouraged to serve their community.

I consider myself lucky to be in US at

a time when there were already a lot of misconceptions on both sides. Americans think that Pakistanis hate the USA because they are Muslims and are obligated to kill all non-Muslims. I explained to them that it’s not that we hate non-Muslims; in fact many innocent people have lost their lives in this “war against terror” due to which people are resentful towards Americans.

Also, I broadened the vision of my American peers through various country presentations on Pakistan I delivered on different venues. Americans thought that a woman in Pakistan, generally speak-ing, doesn’t go to college and that we are “conservative” to the point that all our ladies cover themselves with hijab. As a citizen of one of the biggest cities of Pakistan, Lahore, I helped them understand that not all people are like this and that females in hundreds and thousands study in schools, colleges and universities, work in restaurants as well as offices and in fields and finally, not every woman in Pakistan uses veil to cover herself. To reinforce my point, I would tell them about my university and people I know who have been actively participating on different forums. I told them that more or less, they all belong to middle-class families.

If I look at my time in US as a foreign exchange student, I believe that this op-portunity helped me learn many things. I have been able to observe American people quite closely. Generally, to me, Americans have appeared to be a tolerant nation. They don’t mind if you are going to college at the age of 70 or 18. Having a boy-friend or girl-friend is not only common, in fact in some groups, it is desirable. Bars and club culture is quite common. It’s just everyone has a fair freedom to do whatever they want within the boundaries defined by law.

Not only that, my stay in US also gave me courage and confidence to speak for my country in front of people from different cul-tures. It strengthened my faith in the belief that my country can progress and taught me the lesson to serve the country. I have come back to Pakistan not with any regret but with the passion to serve my country with full enthusiasm. It is because I have learned that nations do not progress with a good government, rule of law or democracy, rather they progress with the will to struggle and stand on their own feet. I believe that is the key to change our society. That is the way to revolutionize Pakistan. That’s the only option we should consider if we want to progress as a nation. At the end of the day God helps those who help themselves.

H H H

Honesty, hard work, devotion and volunteerism are some of the main traits that can be regarded as the essence of an American society.

Space Museum near Omaha City, Nebraska

An air-conditioned seed sower looks like from inside

August 21, 2011 26 Sunday PluS

heritage

Dr. Shaukat Mahmood

he word mausoleum is derived from the first major struc-ture of its kind, the tomb of the King of Caria Mausolus (ruled 377-353 BC). His tomb was built in 353BC by his sister and widow Artemisia. The structure was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and became so popular that soon similar structures began to be built. The word became assimilated into Greek around this time as Mausoleion, and later into Latin as Mauso-leum, by which time it was being used to describe all such structures. A mausoleum (plural: mausolea) is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument that encloses the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A mausoleum may be consid-ered as a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum.

Mausolea are found throughout the world, across geographic and cultural barriers, and although there are numerous ideological variations, they are almost univer-sally places of religious and/or national significance.

Study of old mausolea reveals much about the society’s attitudes and beliefs concerning death and the afterlife, as well as providing information about the

people and their society who constructed the mausoleum. There has been a tendency for rulers around the world to construct monuments. Most societies honour their dead, and monuments and other physical signs to commemo-rate and recognize their lives and achievements are typical of human beings. The practical as well as spiritual and cultural considerations are all reflected in mausolea.

Abu Ibrahim Ismail ibn Ahmad ruler of Bukhara died in November 907. He is also remembered as Amir Adil (the Just Commander). He was a Persian Samanid amir of Transoxiana (892-907) and Khorasan (900-907). His reign saw the emergence of the Samanids as a powerful force. He was the son of Ahmad ibn Asad and a descen-dant of Saman Khuda, the founder of the Samanid dy-nasty who renounced Zoroastrianism and embraced Islam.

Ismail Samani ordered the construction of the mau-soleum above the very simple grave of his father, and he himself is buried here as well, together with his grandson Nasra. The mausoleum was constructed at the end of the 9th and continued in the 10th century. The construction started in 892 and ended in 943. The tomb is a fabulous demonstration of the high level of development of science

the greatmausoleum

at BukharaT

August 21, 2011 27Sunday PluS

heritage

H H H

and construction during the Samanids’ rule.According to a Bukharian who wrote history in

943,”Ismail was indeed worthy and right for padishah-ship. He was intelligent, just, compassionate person, one possessing reason and prescience...he conducted affairs with justice and good ethics. Whoever tyran-nized people he would punish...In affairs of state he was always impartial.”

The celebrated scholar Nizam al-Mulk, in his famous work, Siyasatnameh, states that:

“Ismail was extremely just, and his good qualities were many. He had pure faith in God (to Him be power and glory) and he was generous to the poor – to name only one of his notable virtues.” The monument which he built for his father also counts for the respect he had for the elders.

“The monument is unique in many aspects. Here for the first time, such building materials as baked brick of Standard format are held together with a special ganch-based solution, providing the required strength. As Bukhara at the time was a world centre for science, the most precise mathematical calcula-tions were applied. The level of precision and the intri-cacy of the structure and layout are simply stunning.”

This monument signifies a new period not only in Central Asia but also in the total history of tomb building in Islamic architecture. Though not the first example of funerary Islamic architecture neverthe-

less it is considered as one of the earliest examples of tombs in Islamic history. The tomb building shows a stunning demonstration of use of bricks. Apparently from a distance the building looks like a simple cube of refreshing simplicity. It is topped by a gently sloping large dome, surrounded by four smaller domes. All elements used in the structure and design are based on diagonals and squares, which form geometric lines. The intricate design work is amazing and the building exemplifies the versatility of the brick as well as the expertise of those who used the brick in such a creative method. The total result of this masterpiece is beautiful; it is a pure, clean-lined and graceful structure. “The monument is very rich in symbolism. The cube symbolizes the earth, or ground and soil. The dome represents the sky. Together the combination of earth and sky expresses the unity and harmony of the Universe. The decorative circles on the columns represent the sun and planets.” Bricks, when they are used in depressed and protruding manners and then vertically, horizontally and obliquely, they generate an amazingly bewitching interplay of light and shade as from morning to evening the sun changes its angle. Every passing moment changes the very appearance of the decoration. Till today this mausoleum stands as a prototype and as a benchmark of brick architecture and decoration in brick.

August 21, 201128 Sunday PluS

hollywood

A clAss ApArt:

JamesFranco‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ combines fantastic storytelling with the next leap in Visual Effects for an emotional and action-packed motion picture experience unlike any other. Man’s arrogance sets off a chain of events that leads to intelligence in apes and a challenge to our place as the dominant species on the planet. . Caesar, the first intelligent ape, is betrayed by humans and rises up to lead his species’ spectacular race to freedom and the ultimate showdown with Man. In Caesar, WETA – the Oscar-winning visual effects team behind Avatar – have created a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence.Check out what James Franco had to say about the film below.


hollywood


hollywood

q: can you tell us a little bit about your character and the ethical dilemmas he faces in the film?

James Franco: My character is a man named Will Rodman, he’s a scientist who’s looking for a cure to Alzheimer’s. He’s very set on finding this cure – partly because he has a personal stake in this discovery, because his father has Alzheimer’s. Ethi-cally he does some questionable things. He brings his work home. Because he is emotionally wrapped up in this search for a cure he does a couple things that are a little rash. I guess it goes back to the old rule that a surgeon shouldn’t operate on a family member because you are emotion-ally wrapped up in the outcome. My char-acter Will does get wrapped up emotion-ally with his Fathers recovery so he does a couple ethically questionable things.q: Caesar and will’s relationship has an interesting arc and dynamic.

Franco: Yeah. When Caesar comes to live with Will, at first it’s like a Kramer vs Kramer kind of situation – where a young man is forced into a parental role, not knowing anything about being a parent. But in addition to that, because Caesar is so smart, Will is also examining him as an example of the drug in action. So he’s both raising Caesar as his son and a positive example of the drugs effects. As the movie progresses I think the Father/Son relation-ship takes over, Will becomes even more humane and less of a scientist, he starts to care a lot more about Caesar than he does of his drug.q: what was it like working with andy serkis as caesar?

Franco: Working with Andy Serkis was an amazing experience, it was one of the reasons I signed on to do this film. I do like new kinds of acting experiences. Because I heard so much, and watched so many interviews of behind-the-scenes videos of the performance capture process on the Lord of the Rings films, King Kong, Avatar, I wanted to try it and see what it’s like. I was overjoyed that I got to do it with Andy Serkis – who is the master of this kind of work. In the end it felt just like acting opposite a normal actor. It’s just that there is one more step. Andy and I could act opposite each other and generate these scenes that were emotionally grounded and connected. Then there’s that next step where the computer graphics guys come in and paint over Andy’s performance, but underneath it’s still Andy’s very grounded, very real, and very emotional performance.

It was a great thing to be a part of.Andy Serkis has created this new kind

of performance in a way. He fell into it, he was cast as Gollum just because of his voice, and then I guess Peter Jackson realized what a great physical performance he can give, he should try to capture that in some way. Andy kind of fell into this performance capture world, he’s really pioneered it. While we were acting he was not in an Ape suit, he was in this grey pyjamas looking thing with sensors all over his body, and dots on his face that will help the effects team read his expressions on the computer – so everything Andy was doing was captured. From the first scene we had together it was actually easy, because Andy is so good at the behaviour, he’s so connected to what he’s doing and the other actors, he lets my imagination takeover so that I can really treat him as though he’s a Chimpanzee.q: were you a fan of the old planet of the apes movies?

Franco: Not really, although I did study them. If you compare our movie to the other ones, I think there’s a huge shift in theme. The early Apes movies are much more about cultures clashing, and the later

ones became much more about race. In ours, they’ve shifted the emphasis—it’s a Frankenstein story. But Mary Shelley’s book was more about a scientist playing God. Our film is really a cautionary tale about what can happen when experimen-tation is unchecked. q: what’s the difference?

Franco: I took a required class about the ethics of science as an undergrad at UCLA, and it was all about who gets the funding. I suppose there must be altruistic scientists out there working for the bet-terment of humankind. But like anything—movies, religion, anything—money gets bound up in it all. That’s where it gets dangerous.

I just watched this movie, Limitless, which was, you know, really well made, but it was weird. The main character is a nov-elist, and he takes a pill and realizes all his intellectual potential. He can do anything now, because he’s so smart. So he writes his novel in four days, and then he gives up writing and goes into, like, speculating on the market. And there’s no critique of that. That’s our hero—this guy who’s going to make a lot of money. On the other hand, maybe that’s a great reflection of how our country operates. Granted, I fell asleep, so maybe they critique his actions a little bit in the end. But I don’t think so.q: do you have a particular favourite scene or sequence?

Franco: I think the sequence on the Golden Gate Bridge is incredible. One of the images that stand out the most from the original film was when the Ape appears on Horseback. This film does its own ver-sion of that; it was an incredibly striking image. I thought that was great, it was a great development of a very impressive image from the original.

Artiste Nadia Afghan is a household name. Best known for her comic roles she has acted in many hit

TV plays. Her role as ‘Mishi’ in the play ‘Shashlik’ made her one of the most popular actresses ever. She has acting in TV plays since 1998. Nadia has also hosted some talk shows. Currently Nadia is working on several TV projects. She has a very charming smile, and describes herself as a ‘happy-go-lucky’ person.

S+: Are you a born actress or a taught one?

Nadia: To be honest I think a little bit of both. We are all actors, isn’t that what Shakespeare said, but I act because I love it.

How did your acting career start?N: By chance. Shah Nawaz Zaidi, the

head of Fine Arts Department, Punjab Uni-versity where I studied asked me if I wanted to act in a TV play. I replied positively and then there was no turning back.

Which of your roles has been the clos-est to your heart?

N: Playing the role of Mishi in ‘Shashlik’.How do you balance your personal and

professional life?N: What’s there to

balance, both of them are my lives and enjoy every bit of both. I don’t fuss and plan, so things just fall into place.

About your plays

‘Shashlik’ and ‘Shashlik xtra hot’, what are the differences between these two? Which has been your favourite?

N: I loved ‘Shashlik’ as all my friends were in it....and in ‘shashlik xtra hot’, well it was new team but it was still fun... it brought back memories of the old one and this time it seemed much easier to do it.

What is the worst rumour you have heard about yourself?

N: I and Sarmad are married! How can one marry a brother? (she said laughing)

Your day starts with...N: Tea and telling myself it’s going to be

a great day!You are addicted to…N: Tea and books, my phone and friends

and spending time with my niece Maheen.An unknown fact about yourself…N: It is still unknown…One thing you would like to change

about yourself?N: I wish I had more hair.Who is your favourite actor (locally

and internationally)?N: SHARUKH KHAN all the way!Which role do you feel you

INTERVIEW

August 21, 2011 31SuNday PluS

H H H

By Sabeen Zahra

THE Mini scrEEn’s BiG sTAr: NADIA AFGAN

would have played better than some other actor in any recent drama or movie?

N: There are such bad actors in our plays I always feel I could do a better job! And movies I don’t know!

Have you ever done anything you shouldn’t have?

N: (Laughing with great joy) Yeah, so many times. And it’s always been great fun!

What drives you: money, fame or success?

N: Happiness!Define your sense of style?N: Ohh it’s really good some days and

really bad on other days. I think I am a Bohemian!

What are your up-coming projects and future plans?

N: Well, I am doing one sitcom which is on-air at PTV. I am acting in a play for Wa-seem Abbas. It’s called ‘Black and White’. I am also acting in a serial called ‘Mandi’. Then I will be acting in director Mazhar Moin serial after Eid.

Your journey so far…N: Has been a fantastic one... God has

given me so much I can never thank him. I am loved, have people in my life that I love, should thank God for this.


style


style

Rabia Butt enters the fantasy world of Saira’s forest collection, where vibrant colours blend with jungle prints and motifs. Inspired by the rainforests, the outfits are fierce and dramatic in their cuts but highlighted by traditional accents. Also, did we mention the prices are to die for?

TropicalParadise

style


style


style

Designer: Saira R

izwan M

odel: Rabia B

utt Photographer: Maram

Abroo M

akeup: Maram

Azm

at Co-ordination by Voila PR


style



movie

Evolution becomes rEvolutioneter Chernin must be grinning from ear to ear. The former second in command to Rupert Murdoch left News Corp two and a half years ago to try his hand at being an entertainment producer and it looks like he made the right choice. While Murdoch suffers the slings and foam pies of outrageous misfortune, Chernin Entertainment's first feature, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, stormed to the top of the US charts on a terrific $54m over the weekend, according to Fox estimates.

THE PLOT

A single act of both compassion and arrogance leads to a war unlike any other and to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The Oscar-winning visual effects team that brought to life the worlds of Avatar and Lord of the Rings is breaking new ground, creating a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence, and epic battles on which rest the upended destinies of man and primate.

THE GOOD:

Action: As both a simian simile and a wonder of technology, Rise of the Planet of the Apes deserves to be in the company of the great original Kong. This year’s sixth “origins” story of a fantasy franchise (after The Green Hornet, Thor, X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern and Captain America: The First Avenger) is also the year’s finest action movie.

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” traces the roots of the venerable franchise back to a single resident of contemporary San Fran-cisco, a supersmart simian named Caesar.

An origin story set in present day San Francisco, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

P


movie

In the process, the film, which Rupert Wyatt directed from an audacious screenplay by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, rises above its dra-matic deficits, boosts the collective IQ of this summer’s movies and swings into flights of kinetic fantasy that blow the collective mind.

THE SO-SO:The biggest disappointment of the half-

hearted, digitally impersonal Rise of the Planet of the Apes, apart from how just-okay it is in almost every way, is that the grandeur is gone unlike good sci-fi, it doesn’t signify anything, or really even try to — it’s just an apes-on-the-rampage creature feature, with a decent setup, a wobbly second act, and a glorified-videogame urban-action-war payoff.

Constructed around the reliable premise that if you slather on the spectacle, audiences won’t notice the script’s idiocies — otherwise known as the Avatar effect — this so-called

origin picture is no more than a narrative out-line padded with moderately special effects, a teaser for the sequels that will surely follow.

THE BAD: James Franco: Faced with the horror from

which he can’t escape, James Franco allows himself to be steamrolled by his pet monkey. The proof is the dynamic between the multi-hyphenate entertainer and his infinitely more animated animal co-star in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a relationship not unlike the one between the actor and Anne Hathaway at the 83rd Academy Awards.

James Franco looks more bored and distracted in Rise of the Planet of the Apes than he did when he was hosting the Oscars. Has there ever been a film with a less engaged protagonist?

THE PLAYERS:

DirEcTOr: Rupert Wyatt

PrODucErS: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark

AcTOrS: James Franco, Andy Serkis and Freida Pinto

wriTErS: Pierre Boulle, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver

GEnrE: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

RATING: 8/10

AT THE PrEmiErE

Andy Serkis

Molly Sims

Claire Coffee

Frieda Pinto & James Franco

Emily Montague

Tom Felton

Loretta Devine

\John Lithgow

Rupert Grint Rupert Wyatt Louise Griffiths


food

Hors d'oeuvresLight and Nutritious starters are the best part of every meal. There are

hundreds of recipes for Hors d'oeuvre (appetizers) but basic, easily made potato wedges, buffalo wings and baked tomatoes are the most popular

starters, all around the globe


A living legend

Buffalo Wings

savoury Baked TomaToes

PoTaTo Wedges

ingredienTs (nuTriTion)• Oil for deep frying • 1/4 cup butter • 1/4 cup hot sauce • 1 dash ground black pepper • 1 dash garlic powder • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 10 chicken wings

ingredienTs (nuTriTion)• 8 large tomatoes• 2 teaspoons lemon juice• 1 tablespoon olive oil• 2 tablespoons water• 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped• 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely diced• 1 level tablespoon plain flour• 7 floz milk• 7 oz tinned tuna, drained• 1 level teaspoon capers, rinsed• 3 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese• freshly ground black pepper• fresh oregano to garnish

ingredienTs (nuTriTion)• 1kg/2lb potatoes• 1 tbsp olive oil• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper• rosemary, chopped, to taste• crushed garlic, to taste

meTHod1. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The oil should be

just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or so deep. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving.

2. In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large nonporous glass dish or bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes.

3. Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together.

meTHod1. Cut the tops off the tomatoes,chop the tops finely.

Hollow out the tomatoes by discarding the seeds and cores.

2. Sprinkle the insides of the tomatoes with lemon juice and put them upside down on kitchen paper to drain.

3. Cook the onion, carrot and chopped tomato in the oil until soft. Add the water and continue cooking until thickened.

4. Stir in the flour. Gradually add the milk and bring it to a boil.

5. Turn down heat and cook for a few minutes. Stir all the time until the sauce thickens then remove from the heat.

6. Add the tuna,capers,breadcrumbs and cheese and then spoon the mixture into the tomato shells.

7. Put them into an oven proof dish. Bake at 200 degrees C. for about 15 or until browned on top.

meTHod1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.2. Wash and dry the potatoes, but don’t peel them. Cut the potatoes into large wedges and

place into a bowl. 3. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix well. Tip the potatoes onto a baking tray.4. Transfer the potatoes to the oven and bake until golden-brown and cooked all the way

through (about 30 minutes).5. Serve the potatoes hot from the oven.


feature

By Sabeen Zahra

unglasses are a form of protective eyewear designed to prevent damage and discomfort to the eyes. In our part of the world, especially in summer, the usage of sunglasses is at its peak.But then every person wants to look better than the other people. Designer sunglasses are all the rage these days. Those who cannot enjoy the luxury of designer wear go for the cheap replica designer sunglasses. Most of them do not know about the dan-gers that are associated with their usage.

Before moving on to finding out what are the disadvantages of using replica designer sunglasses that are sold by vendors on roads and in shops in the cities across Pakistan, we must first look

into why sunglasses are necessary. In order to protect your eyes from outdoor pollutants, sunglasses are a necessary product. And there are various sunglasses applied to different occasions. Even if you just drive in the car, you still need a pair of sunglasses because of the bright sunshine that we have most of the year in Pakistan. There are so many varied sunglasses. They all fill the needs for eye protection. Therefore, sunglasses are not only applied to prevent UV rays, but also save your eyes from the glare of

other shinny products. For this reason, sunglasses are needed all the year

around.Many brands such as, Ray

Ban, Christian Dior, Ver-sace, Adidas, Armani, Gucci,

levy’s, Nike Porsche, for men and women are easy to buy

online from different companies. However, in Pakistan hardly a few

individuals buy online. Mostly people buy the branded sunglasses from top

fashion stores. Except for a few stores that you can count on your fingers mostly the replica designer sunglasses are being sold at most shops.

The first give away of a fake sunglass is its price tag. A Gucci, Prada, D&C, Chanel, etc. will cost a few hundred dol-lars. And even with a heavy discount, an original will still cost a couple of hundred dollars. Thus, when one see’s that de-signer sunglasses are being sold for just Rs 1600 to Rs 2500, it is bound to be a rip off. An authentic Gucci will obviously not be sold for a throw away price.

When buying designer sunglasses, one visits an uptown mall or departmental store. One does not expect Gucci to sell their wares with street vendors or small retail stores.Always look who’s selling! A genuine product is never sold at a heavily discounted price no matter, what it is.

These are some of the pointers for spotting fake sunglasses. You should also have a look at the made in tag. This will give you an idea if this is an authentic

you go in stylethink before

S


feature

H H H

accessory. This will help you spend precious money by investing only in the genuine, authentic, designer sunglasses.

The stars have been known to wear designer fake sunglasses from time to time.Top use of sunglasses in films such as Jake & Elwood wearing Ray-Ban in “The Blues Brothers, The Terminator wearing Gargoyles in “The Termina-tor”, makes them more popular, among their fans. The latest trend is to mix the imitation with the real to create the exact fashion look that someone is in search of. Thousands of people like to wear ‘fake designer sunglasses’. Famous or not, designer inspired sunglasses are ideal for the fashion savvy person who shines with the charisma of a star! Also people want to buy a branded sunglass but don’t want to pay the price. Higher brand name sunglasses sell for around Rs 24,000 to 65,000 per pair. Thus, designer fake sunglasses for those who cannot afford appear to be the perfect alternative to the brand name sun-glasses.

Fake sunglasses are made from cheap material, are lightweight and tend to rattle. If one wants to purchase authentic sunglasses than they have to check the material. It would not be very light weight. According to the Inter-national Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition counterfeit sunglasses shatter easily and the screws loosen quickly, because they are of low quality.

The scribe in a survey around Lahore tried to explore replica sunglasses’ sale and purchase. A salesman at a store in Liberty market said the replica sunglasses of different brands can be brought from the wholesale Shahalmi Maket. There are small factory units manufacturing them in the Shahalmi area. Another shopkeeper on condition of anonymity said that sunglasses that are rejected by the branded companies for being faulty get smuggled into Pakistan. “They are sold in wholesale in terms of weight in kilograms and not as individual items. The traders buy them in bulk and then sell them to vendors mostly Pathans and small shopkeepers,” he explained.

“I cannot buy branded sunglasses. I can’t afford the luxury of wearing one. So I am buying this Ray Ban for Rs 1900,” a customer Munir Hussain who works in an insurance company said.

The shopkeeper explained that what he was buying was a good quality replica that has been imported from Thailand and was not Chinese made. According to him most of the cheap sunglasses are Chinese made.

“We demand three times more than the actual price. All customers love to bargain and we are ready to do that. Sometimes we sell at small margins while at other times we make a lot of profit,” a vendor selling sunglasses outside the Naqi Market on Mall Road told this scribe.

All the make-shift stalls in the bazaars and in markets across the country, sell replica designer sunglasses. There is always a small crowd of the customers at these stalls. The vendors hold the mirrors for the people to try on the sunglasses before they decide which ones look good on them.

Sunglasses for children are eas-ily available. They come in a range of colours and designs. The cost of these sunglasses ranges between Rs 30 to Rs 100. Made from cheap plastic the chil-dren should not be allowed to wear them for longer periods of time. “They must be regularly cleaned and disposed of after one month usage,” shopkeeper Aslam at the Anarkali Bazar said.

Eye specialist Dr.Moein said that replica designer sunglasses that are pre-manufactured, have strain or scratches and should not be used. “Those that do not provide ‘UV protection’’ must never be used. Those who use contact lenses can also use sunglasses but before doing that quality of sunglasses must be checked. The sunglasses must be brought after consultation from doctors at the various optical centres in city,” he was of the view.

“UV protection guaranteed sun-glassesshould be purchased. Good quality sunglasses have durability and one can use them for years. The cheap replica sunglasses that are being sold on the streets weaken your eyesight if they are continuously used,” Dr Moein maintained.

Majority of people wearing the replica designer sunglasses have no idea what risk they are taking by using them. It is mostly the young people who buy these replica sunglasses. An awareness campaign needs to be launched in this regard.

society

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recently performed at a charity show at Pearl Continental Hotel for the Garage School, Karachi. The event was organised by J&S and sponsored by the US consulate.

Rahat’s chaRity

galaLAHORE:

3

55 6


4

7

8 9

Mehreen, Aamir, Natty & Hamza Nina & Nickie 1 2 Naveen & Humaiyun3 4 Jalal, Jennifer & Tristram Ridah & Misbah5

Ayesha, Madiha & Farwa6 Carmela Conroy87 Omar Satti with his mother 9 Yousuf Salahuddin

1

2

10 11

Ghazala, Shumaila & Sherjan10 11 Almaas &Shahmina

Amna & Junaid

society

Sunday PluSAugust 21, 2011 45

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Emania & Zubair

Hinan & Anum

Hassan & Randy

Amina & Malaika Asifa, Anem & Maryam

Amna & Maha Bisma, Fizza & Sana

Latif Khosa

Zarmeen & Amna

Saadi & Joanna

society

August 21, 2011Sunday PluS

Abid & Khizra Ahmed & Anum1 2 Shahid & Naveen3 4 Faraz Manan Loisa, Arooj & Abeer5

Mahrukh, Fasih-ud- Din & Seema6 Khuban with a friend87 Komal, Ayesha & Sadaf 9 Lamia & Sahar

3

5 64

7 8 9

1

2

10 11 12 13

Iman Ali10 11 Farooq Naqsh & Annie1312 Mehreen & Mariam

46

5

ISLAMABAD:

Trafalgar square replica

society

Mr. & Mrs. Umar Mudassar Burki & UmarAleezayMahvish Sofia AliFarri & Ayesha MalikAyesha & Tanya21 763 4


6

7

1 3

4 5

2

Umar Mudassar hosted a grand PR Red Carpet launch of Gloria Jeans Coffee (café )at Bahria Town. The event was held at the new Trafalgar square of London’s replica square in Bahria town. The event was organised by Rezz PR and Events.

society

Sunday PluS August 21, 2011 48

98 Begum Aliya & MahrukhTehseenMaria & Hasnain Nadia & Javeria Rezz @ the red carpet with the hostesses10 11 12

9

10 11

12

8

5

LAHORE:

Get quizzical

society

Afia, Mariam & Hurya Faiza Chuadry OmarNoor, Areeba and KiranAsad, Ahmed & Aftab21 3 4


Stylish British brand, Quiz, launched its 150th store worldwide and 2nd store in Lahore at the Mall of Lahore recently.

1

3

4 5

2

society

Salman & FriendWafa, Larab & Ishera 76


98 Hafsa, Fatima, Arouba, Ayesha & TanyaAhmed & NatashaAsad, Ali, Alina & Noshi 10

6

7

9

10

8

5

ISLAMABAD:

Republic hits islamabad

society

Fabrizzio with a guest Shalla with friendsZara & Fatima Kamal & MominaMaria and AsimZo & Azlan21 63 4


Republic was inaugurated in Islamabad at Modeville by the Italian Ambassador. The event was organised by Verve and the city’s fashion savvy crowd was in attendance.

6

1

3

4

5

2

society

Farzana with a friend7


98 Nasir & Fayeza AminSamir & Joao BellocSana Mir, Ali, Nahyan & Zeeshan10 11

12

7

9 10

11

8


SPACE TALKS

By Hamza Tarar

(1) De-clutter.

I know it's easier said than done but it is vital in a small space.

Storage, storage, storage

Top Tips:a) Where possible use built in storage.

This helps to disguise it and melt it away into the walls. You can then disguise the storage by using the same treatment as on the walls i.e. painting it the same colour, or even wallpapering it. You can also continue any architectural details such as coving, skirting etc.

b) In an asymmetrical room, box out the wall recesses and build in storage in the same way to blend in.

c) Stools and poufs can provide useful occasional seating; choose ones that provide storage in the base.

The Japanese are way ahead on this so look in Japanese design books for ideas.

(2) Choose appropriate sized furniture.

Measure, measure, measureInterior design books are full of huge

sofas which look great but in a small room they can be overwhelming and make a small room seem tiny. If reducing the size of the furniture doesn't help or is not pos-sible at a given time, having less furniture in a room will help.

(3) Use Mirrors

The appropriate use of mirrors can visu-ally double the size of a room. Sheet mirror above a fireplace can be a very cost effective way to do this. Go to framing suppliers as they can often sell beautiful frames much cheaper and it is simple to add some mirror to it. There are many pieces of furniture around currently with mirrored surfaces which help bounce light around also.

(4) Lighting

a) Obviously utilize all the natural light you can.

b) If your ceiling is low, spot lights are your best friend.

Pendant lights i.e. hanging lights can make the ceiling seem lower or ‘bring the ceiling down' (not liter-ally!) Spots accentuate the height and make the ceiling seem higher and therefore the room more spa-cious.

c) If you can get recessed spots put in at the early stages of build or renovation all the better. If not, look for ceiling mounted spots on bars or tracks.

IS BetterBiggerHere are ten ways to make your small rooms look big!

iving spaces in this day and age seem to be getting smaller and smaller, while people are getting bigger and taller (that’s a whole separate discussion on its own). Interior design magazines are full of shots of loft spaces, villas and 20 kanal mansions and Victorian houses, or worse stories about what Mr. and Mrs. XYZ did with their run-down farm house, castle, barn, and old mill etc. This article is for all of us who do not have that much space. It does not mean we can’t create space and that is what we are discussing today! Here are ten really good tips to make your rooms look bigger.

L

Interior designer to international celebrities like singing sensation Gloria Estefan and basketball superstar, Michael Jordon, this Global Pakistani, based in Miami, USA has worked with the best and collaborated with the likes of Alex Turco and Romero Britto, both contemporary international icons in the world of art and design. Now catch his blog exclusively in Sunday Plus, as he shares the best trends, styles, and tips on how to electrify your living spaces, and electrify your guests with a “personality-plus” home


d) Light all four corners of the room. Again angled spots can do this for you. Or you can position wall mounted floor mounted lights or table lamps strategically to draw the eye outwards and thereby visually expand the size of the room.

e) If the ceiling is low empha-size all the verticals by using:

• Stripedwallpaper• Fulllengthcurtains• Uplighters(lightfittingwhichdirect

light up the wall)• Useglosspaintontheceilingto

bounce light down• Choosearecedingcolouronthe

ceiling.

(5) Colour

TEST, TEST, TESTUselightrecedingcoloursonwalls.WhatareRecedingColours?Also

called cool colours, receding colours are said to make walls appear to recede. Warm colours are said to make walls advance. Receding (cool) and advanc-ing (warm) colours. On the right hand side of the colour wheel you find the warm or advancing colours such as orange and red and on the left hand side are cool or receding colours such as blue and green.

SPACE TALKS


6) NeutralsNeutrals can also be termed ‘non colours'.

They are very easy to work with and can be a great choice for a beginner who is unsure of colour. Another advantage of neutral colours is that they all go together and can be layered, mixed and matched as no neutral colour can be dominating over another.

Neutrals don't appear on the colour wheel and include black, grey, white and beige and sometimes brown.

Working with colour takes a lot of practice.Colourscanlookverydifferentindif-ferent parts of your home as the type of light in a space can affect the colour dramatically. Don't be too hard on yourself if you make some mistakes, most of us have at some time looked at a wall colour and thought "did I choose that!"

Big Rule for finding the right colour for walls is ...Test Test Test

UsingToneontonecoloursforfurnishingsis another great way to add to the illusion of space, i.e a cream (neutral) sofa against a dark cream wall, the sofa will blend in and recede. In other words select furnishings that blend in with the background colours of the room. Big dramatic red or purple sofas are best used in a large room where they can't swamp the room.

So by now maybe you are thinking... but I don't want a bland neutral room full of reced-ing colors!!! I want individuality, flair even Drama.TheWowFactor(Ihatethatphrase!).This is where accent colours come in.

(7) Accent colors

Accent colours can be used as complementary colours. They can be used in small quantities to lift or to give a 'wow-factor' to a colour scheme. An accent colour works best if it is a bright,

vibrant colour. If you are scared of using a strong colour, accent colours are perfect as you can simply add a splash of colour and compliment this with matching accessories such as cushions, a throw or a vase. Try to keep most of your room in shades and tones of one single colour. Chooseanumberofitemsinaharmoni-ous colour and then pick out a few objects to be painted in an accent colour.

(8) Clashing colours

If you want even more Drama, Try ClashingColors.Clashingcolorsusedto be a 'big no' but when they are used carefully, then can look fabulous. Make sure they are of equal tonal strength, you can mix them together. You don't have to stop at two clashing colours, rather you can use three or four but be aware that if one colour is paler or weaker, then the rest may get lost in the overall look.

(9) Your Own Treasures

Interior décor is an expression of self so.Useyourowntreasuresaspointsof

focus and drama.InvestinadisplayunitorCurioCabi-

net. Rather than hiding all your childhood memento's, holiday or travel souvenirs vintage finds in drawers, display them. Light it up artfully to pull focus onto the pieces and away from aspects of the room that are less attractive.

(10) Wall Art

A piece of dramatic wall art can give the impact and individuality you seek without dominating the room the way a highly coloured or large piece of furniture would. Also it is easily changed or moved to another wall or room as required over time.

I hope this helped you get a basic understanding of creating more space in limited resources and can help you making your house or room look better. I hope these tips will be helpful to all of you and if you have any inquiries or questions you can always email me at [email protected]. A very happy Ramadan to you all!

SPACE TALKS

FASHION


1750 B.C. statue from India depicts a dancer whose arm is covered with bangles from wrist to elbow, and gold serpents to coil around the wrist appeared in the 3rd century B.C. Ancient Andean peoples became fine jewellers, and Chavin culture master-pieces still inspire Peru's contempo-rary designers. In Mexico, the Mixtecs crafted superb silver bracelets. Silver was the medium of choice in Africa, but Ashanti tribal chiefs had private workshops for gold jewellery.

The handmade bracelet probably evolved from talismans. Fashionable in the 1950s, they recently experienced a revival and the charms are usually personal or symbolic. Handmade leather bracelets vary from braids with sterling silver to wide leather bands that communicate a sense of power.

Fashion Bracelets are edgy, fun and stylish. The perfect fashion bracelet gives your outfit an at-titude and add a little glamour to your day. These fashion bracelets are inspired by celebrity styles and designed to distinguish you from the rest of the crowd. Fashion Bangle Bracelets are perfect as a stand alone accessory piece with your favorite summer dress or shirt and jeans combo. Today's beaded bracelets are traditional but also may include ceramic globes, gem-stones and even beads made from recycled magazines. The simple elegance of tennis bracelets makes them a perennial favourite. And unusual materials like brass, palm fibers, bamboo and wood each have an informal beauty on their own.

Bracelets alone or in clusters are one of the most popular forms of jewellery. Present since the earliest times, a hinged hoop bracelet inlaid with gems was found in the tomb of the Egyptian Queen Ashhotep.

A

Growing Up Bin Laden purports to be the memoirs of Osama’s first wife, Najwa (mother of 11 of his children), and her fourth son, Omar, now 28 and married to a British woman. Their accounts have been woven into a fascinating narrative by an American writer, Jean Sasson. Anyone who has read the letters of Stalin’s daughter, say, or the memoirs of Hitler’s entourage, will recognise the same tone of bewildered loyalty warring with appalled disbelief.

Living with

OFF THE SHELF


Indeed, the careers of Hitler, Stalin and Bin Laden seem to have many of the same toxic precursors: an absent father

(Bin Laden’s died when he was 10); a strong maternal presence; a grudge against the world, nurtured in childhood; high intel-ligence, manifested by a prodigious memory (Bin Laden had such a genius for mental arithmetic “men would come to our home and ask him to match his wits against a cal-culator”) and an inner coldness (“my father…never cuddled me or my brothers”).

Life with such men is seldom congenial, but in terms of sheer domestic awful-ness Bin Laden seems to be in a category of his own. Najwa, only 15 at the time of their marriage, describes him as “the most serious man I’ve ever known”, so devout in his Muslim faith that “everything lively was

banned”. There was no music in the house-hold, no television, no toys, scant, furniture and, even in the heat of Saudi Arabia, no western fripperies such as a refrigerator or air-conditioning. Najwa succumbed to a re-gime that in the West would be seen as little better than slavery, thickly veiled from head to toe, forbidden to travel alone or set foot out of doors unaccompanied, powerless to control her children’s upbringing (she claims to have borne Bin Laden seven sons and four daughters), obliged to share her husband with three other wives in strict rotation.

Even before he became a terrorist, Bin Laden’s idea of family fun was to make his wives and children go into the desert and sleep in holes in the sand. “No one pro-tested, not even our babies. Everyone did as told, slowly easing our bodies into those dirt

Title: Growing Up Bin Laden: Osama’s Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their Secret WorldAuthor: Najwa Bin Laden | No of Pages: 320Price: Rs. 795 | Genre: Biography

Osama Bin Laden

OFF THE SHELF


H H H

holes, waiting for a long, long night to pass.” Laughter was permitted only if the teeth were not exposed. Prescription drugs were forbid-den except for dire emergencies: young Omar, a chronic asthmatic, was told to relieve his symptoms by breathing through a honeycomb, a useless remedy. If Bin Laden’s sons failed to conform to his rules, he beat them vigorously with his cane. “Although our father was a quiet figure, and generally spoke softly, his patience hung on a short thread. He was easily angered and could reach a point of violence in an instant.” Bin Laden actively sought out hard-ship. “Life has to be a burden,” he lectured his son. “Life has to be hard.” Hence the overnight stays in holes.

For much of the 1980s, Bin Laden was away from his family, fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. In 1991, at the time of the first Gulf war, he offered to bring 17,000 Mujahed-din to Saudi Arabia to fight Saddam Hussein. The Saudi royal family, however, rejected his offer and instead invited in the infidel Ameri-cans to defend the kingdom. In response, Bin Laden openly accused the government of treason and called for an Islamic world revolu-tion. Exiled to Sudan, he survived an assas-sination attempt and was then expelled by the Sudanese government to Afghanistan, where a local warlord in Jalalabad gave him his own mountain in the Tora Bora. It was to this bleak spot that Bin Laden, in 1996, summoned his

vast family.His previously well-to-do wives did not find

it easy to adjust to mountain life. In a scene reminiscent of Eva Gabor in the American sitcom Green Acres, Najwa peered through her veil at her new surroundings: “I saw no taps for running water, although I did not raise the topic. I spotted a new portable gas burner with only one ring, the kind that people use on camping trips.” There was no electricity, no sanitation and no fresh food — not that this bothered Bin Laden, whose only self-indulgences seem to have been the odd glass of sultana water and two spoon full of sugar in his tea.

In time, with the consent of the Taliban, he moved his entourage into abandoned Russian military bases. With his cane and his Kalashnikov always close at hand, he spent his days listening to the BBC World Service and ranting into his Dictaphone about the crimes of the Americans, the British and the Jews. Nobody could address him without his permis-sion (“Dear prince, may I speak?”). The only journalist he trusted was Robert Fisk of The Independent (“He will be fair”).

Najwa was “numb” at the turn her life had taken. For Omar the final straw came when his father gathered his sons together in a circle at his feet and suggested an exciting new career: had they considered becoming suicide bombers? “I knew then that I was

leaving,” writes Omar, “and leaving soon.” In 1999, with rumours of a huge operation being planned against the Americans, he persuaded his father to let him take Najwa (now pregnant for the 11th time) back to Syria to give birth. Both returned briefly in 2000, but neither was in Afghanistan when the twin towers were destroyed.

With the greatest respect to Sasson, it is impossible to tell how much of this is true and how much made up with hindsight, based on published accounts. For obvious reasons, we have no independent verification of family life with the Bin Ladens. Najwa, if she still exists, is a recluse living back in her native Syria, who has never given an interview. Omar’s formal schooling ended when he was only 12, which makes one wonder whether his fluency here owes more to ghost-writing than to nature.

Nevertheless the book seems to ring true, and the psychological portrait of the world’s most wanted man is all the more devastating for being written by two people who appar-ently once revered him. Like the “incorruptible” terrorist in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent, Bin Laden is “frail, insignificant, shabby, miserable — and terrible in the simplicity of his idea, calling madness and despair to the regeneration of the world”. He is wicked, and absurd.

Synopsis: Join world-renowned consciousness teacher and healer Richard Moss in an exploration of the power of presence in your life. Presence is associated with feelings of aliveness, connection, creativity, satisfaction, and flow. It is presence that frequently is the “difference that makes the difference” in your ability to enjoy life, heal emotional wounds, experience intimacy, and support the growth and transformation of others. This inspiring book presents powerful principles, tools, and practices for transforming self-limiting patterns of thought and behaviours and for staying in the present even in the midst of very difficult feelings. Drawing from individual counselling sessions and utilizing practical exercises, Dr. Moss demonstrates how awareness and presence can be applied to support change in yourself and others, thereby creating a solid bridge between knowing and doing. Inside-Out Healing will help you.

inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life Through the Power of PresenceAuthor: Richard Moss | No of Pages: 288 | Price: Rs. 1,395 | Genre: Mind, Body & Spirit

Synopsis: Based on wide ranging interviews with former employees, board members, and others who have intimate knowledge of Mortenson and his charity, the Central Asia Institute, Three Cups of Deceit uncovers multiple layers of deception behind Mortensons public image. Was his crusade really inspired by a desire to repay the kindness of vil-lagers who nursed him back to health when he became lost on his descent down K2? Was he abducted and held for eight days by the Taliban? Has his charity built all of the schools that he has claimed? This book is a passionately argued plea for the truth, and a tragic tale of good intentions gone very wrong.

Three Cups of deceit: how greg Mortensen, humanitarian hero, Lost his wayAuthor: Jon Krakauer | No of Pages: 96 | Price: Rs. 595 | Genre: Current Affairs


gallery

A ‘Photo Festival’ was held at the Racecourse Park in Lahore on the eve of Independence Day. It was a unique initiative from the Lahore Photo Journalists Association in which a selection of photographs printed in billboard size (8X 12 feet) was displayed. Thirty seven photo journalists participated in the photo exhibition, which highlighted the culture and daily life of Pakistan through pictures, portraits and landscapes.

Life and sounds of Pakistan

arif aLi

waqar BaBriMehMood qureshi

nisar raza tariq said


gallery

arif najMi

waseeM niaz

rana irfan

oMer sharif

shafiq MaLik

shafiq MaLikrafeeq nasirtariq hasan

azhar jafri

Zodiac

Aries The Ram

(21 March to 19

april)

You will be driven to delve into the lim

its of

whatever you are involved in. You will be

motivated with regards to

your home and family.

Your ruler, M

ars in harsh aspect with

the planet of

suffering, Saturn may still cause domestic uproars

or accidents as well a

s little

accomplishment in

the face of ill-discipline. M

ercury turning direct o

n

the 27th will ease your re

lationship with

siblings,

relatives and neighbors. Venus and Sun in

your

work sector after the 22nd will

provide work

opportunitie

s – other work re

lated hassles will

also abate after th

e 27th. Financial dealings will

be auspicious on the 25th. Speculatio

n gains will

prove successful from th

e 27th onward. Matte

rs

regarding communications, lit

erary based work,

travel and interactio

n with brothers, sisters or

cousins are highlighted on the 22nd-24th.

TAurusThe bull

(20april – 20 May)

Your ruling planet, Venus will

enter your 5th

house of love affairs on th

e 22nd – an indicator

of romantic affairs, not m

arriage, all m

anners of

artistic endeavors, pleasurable impulses, stock

speculation, children, drama and the desire to

express one’s feelings. An appreciation for au-

thority figures, politic

al heads and elders will

persist due to

the proximity of th

e Sun. Finances

will experience ups and downs on th

e 22nd-24-

th. Communication, learning, change, curiosity,

movement and siblings are highlighted fro

m the

24th-26th. Family matte

rs will take precedence

on the 26th evening and 27th. Financial concerns,

love and children matte

rs will improve fro

m the

27th onward when Mercury is direct. Watch your

nutrition and stomach. Health

will be delicate on

the 26th-27th.

CAnCer

The cRab

(21 June – 22 July)

Mars in your sign will bestow a love of chal-

lenges, competition, adventure and sports.

The Moon in the last quarter from the 22nd

onward will make you moody, self-destruc-

tive and insecure. Be wary of the void-of-

course Moon on the 22nd from 5am-6am,

24th from 2:30 pm-3:30 pm; 25th from 6pm

onward till the 26th night. Venus and Sun

entering your 3rd house from the 22nd on-

ward will provide new opportunities to learn,

read, write, communicate, adapt, educate

and travel. You will harbor love for books,

your neighbors, siblings and close relatives

after the 22nd. From the 27th onward, Mer-

cury will turn direct – paving the way for you

to overcome expenditures, deal effectively

with the law and promote all manners of

communication and literary work. Isolation,

secrets, and behind the scenes activity are

highlighted on the 22nd-23rd.

Leo 2011

The lion

(23 July – 22 august)

Much of your energy, anger and passion

will be hidden. Nonetheless, spending

time in isolation will revitalize you. You will

be far more effective working alone. With

the Sun visiting your financial sector from

the 23rd onward, your vitality will revolve

around your assets and financial status.

Venus also residing in your monetary sec-

tor from the 22nd onward will compel you

to spend money – fortunately, you will

be adept at generating income. From the

27th onward, Mercury ruling your finances

will turn direct thereby augmenting your

economical scenario. Matters concerning

friendships, supporters, benefactors, net-

working and association with large groups

will improve after the 27th. You will feel

close to your group of friends or the orga-

nization you belong to on the 22nd-23rd.

Moments of isolation or your spiritual

needs will be crucial on the 24th-25th

LibrA The ScaleS

(23 septeMber – 22 october)

After the 22nd, you will prefer to be

alone with an emphasis on secret rela-

tionships, passionate sacrifice for your

beloved or simply a deep, divine love.

The Sun joining Venus from the 23rd

onward will make you revel in m

ysticism

-spending time away from

mainstream

thinking and everyday life. After the

27th, Mercury turning direct will improve

your luck factor and enhance matters

concerning higher

education, learn-

ing, travel, justice, philosophy, religion

and foreign lands. Spiritual activities,

law and learning are highlighted on the

22nd-23rd. Career perspective will be

extremely im

portant on the 24th-26th.

Friends and social networking is indi-

cated on the 26th eve and 27th. Watch

your health on the 24th-25th.

sCorpio

The ScoRpion

(23 october – 21 noveMber)

After the 22nd, your collective energy,

grand causes and loyalty to friends will

receive a boost in a positive direction.

You would love to be part of a group,

enjoy big gatherings and will reciprocally

be admired by your social circle. After the

27th, many of your hopes and dream

s

will be fulfilled. The end of the week will

improve joint financial m

atters, tax and

inheritance concerns. Emotions, intim

acy

and your partner’s money are highlight-

ed on the 22nd-23rd. Travel, spirituality,

overseas matters and knowledge based

ventures are highlighted from the 24th-

26th. Professional decisions are likely on

the 26th-27th. Health will be delicate on

the 26th-27th.

Your sTAr

THis weekDr. Zaibun nisa


Zodiac

GeminiThe Tw

inS

(21 May – 20 June)

Controversial financial scenario, conflict

related to movable possessions or un-

controllable spending are represented by

debilitated Mars in your financial sector

–nonetheless, the 24th-25th will be suitable

for financial dealings. Mercury turning direct

on the 27th after nearly a month will bestow

clarity of thought and ease in personal af-

fairs. Venus along with the Sun visiting your

family sector after the 22nd will bestow

a love of tradition and family as well as a

predilection to decorate, cook, garden, and

entertain in your safe haven. Your personal

energy and accomplishing power will be at

its peak on the 22nd-23rd and 24th morning

despite retrograde Mercury.

VirGo The ViRgin

(23 august – 22 septeMber)

After the 22nd, you will fall in love with a

new version of yourself -exhibiting charm,

amiability and unsatisfied love. The Sun in

your personality sector after the 23rd will

bestow a leadership potential, radiance

and pride. Your ruling planet, Mercury turn-

ing direct on the 27th after nearly a month

of backward motion will enhance the

way you think, your manner of expression

and ease personal issues. After the 27th,

your career scenario will greatly improve.

Nurturing your career objectives, public

dealing and professional moves will take

center stage on the 22nd-23rd. Friends,

social interaction and group activities are

highlighted from the 24th-26th.

sAGiTTArius

The aRcheR

(22 noveMber – 21 DeceMber)

After the 22nd, you would love to be suc-

cessful. You will seek to be admired by

the public. A tendency to work with the

arts, fashion or designing will be there.

You will be goal-oriented. You will be fo-

cused on your ambitions. After the 27th,

career impedim

ents will slowly dissolve.

Relationships and marriages will im

prove

steadily from the 27th onward. Com

mu-

nication gaps with your partner will be

resolved at the end of the week. Relating

to your partner or spouse is highlighted

on the 22nd-23rd. Financial favors are

likely from the 24th-26th. Travel, spiritual

breakthroughs and your mentor will take

center stage on the 26th evening and

27th. Cough and digestive complaints

can occur.

pisCesThe FiSh

(19 February – 20 March)

After th

e 22nd, you will

seek committed

relationships. You will fi

nd vitality

by relat-

ing to a stro

ng partner. A

fter th

e 27th, the

stumbling blocks in m

arriages or e

xisting

relationship will d

isintegrate. Home, fa

m-

ily and parental concerns are indicated

on the 22nd-23rd. C

hildren, romance and

leisure activities are positiv

ely highlighted

on the 24th-25th. Jo

b related concerns will

be effectively dealt with

on the 26th-27th.

Look after your lu

ngs, arms, shoulders and

digestive tract. W

atch your health

on the

22nd -23rd. AquArius

The waTeR beaReR

(20 January – 18

February)

After the 22nd, you will

love to explore the

depths of your in

ner life. You will y

earn for p

as-

sion, mystery and will l

ove to unfold new secrets.

Physical and emotional intim

acy will play a

fundamental role. You will s

eek to heal yourself

and the lessons learned th

rough pain. Afte

r the

27th, matte

rs concerning romance, children and

leisure will be im

proved. Joint financial sector

will also re

ceive a positive boost a

fter th

e 27th.

You will embrace your creativ

e work, children

along with

a deep vulnerability to

romance on

the 22nd-23rd.

LibrA The ScaleS

(23 septeMber – 22 october)

After the 22nd, you will prefer to be

alone with an emphasis on secret rela-

tionships, passionate sacrifice for your

beloved or simply a deep, divine love.

The Sun joining Venus from the 23rd

onward will make you revel in m

ysticism

-spending time away from

mainstream

thinking and everyday life. After the

27th, Mercury turning direct will improve

your luck factor and enhance matters

concerning higher

education, learn-

ing, travel, justice, philosophy, religion

and foreign lands. Spiritual activities,

law and learning are highlighted on the

22nd-23rd. Career perspective will be

extremely im

portant on the 24th-26th.

Friends and social networking is indi-

cated on the 26th eve and 27th. Watch

your health on the 24th-25th.

CApriCorn

The goaT

(22 DeceMber – 19 January)

After the 23rd, you will become idealistic

and will consequently spend time learn-

ing or teaching. Matters concerning truth,

justice, knowledge and religion will be pur-

sued. You will become an explorer or an

inventor. All things foreign: language, food,

locations and people will appeal to you.

Expansion of your ideals and broadening

your horizons will be crucial. After the 27th,

travel plans and overseas interests will be

enhanced. Road blocks in your employ-

ment sector will be abolished after the

27th. Matters concerning job, office routine

and colleagues will be important on the

22nd-23rd. A strong desire to relate to your

spouse or partner will be predominant

from the 24th-26th. Generosity from your

partner, intimacy and extreme emotional

responses are indicated on the 26th eve

and 27th. Watch your health closely on the

24th-25th.


Café 9,located in the popular dining and shopping area of Zamzama, is an upscale café and restaurant serving continental dishes in a contemporary atmosphere. The newly remodelled two-storey café presents an exhilarating ambiance of modern décor and sleek lines which creates a perfect backdrop for the sophisticated recipes being offered at Café 9.The modern café is lively with an extensive array of culinary expertise and pallete.

Location: 5-E, 9th Commercial Lane, Zamzama Phase-5 DHA, Karachi

PICKS OF THE WEEK


Café 9

Braids & Buttons, where we seek to bring to you the lace you never thought you’d find, the buttons & brooches that are meant to go with that lace and the ribbons that are needed to add the perfect finishing touch to it all. We offer not just an exclusive variety of accessories to adorn your fabric with, but also quality customer service, competitive rates and a pleasant ambiance to shop in! Shopping for laces has never felt this way before! Believe us, we know. We have stood on the other side of the counter one too many times! So come have a look. It might just be your one stop, find all! Timings 10:45 am - 9:15 pm.

Shop No.3, 5/C (Opp. French Bakery), Stadium Lane 1, Phase V, DHA, Karachi.

Braids & Buttons

Made from only the best raw materials, and lovingly crafted from genuine leather Isma Meer’s shoe collection is a piece of art. Her exquisite collection of chappals and pumps are designed in great detail with attention paid to every stitch and ornament. The pumps are available in a wide variety of colors and shades, while the chappals are adorned with stones and other embellishments. If you’re looking for a shoe to compliment your Eid jora, you need to look no further. This high-quality luxurious shoes will last you a lifetime.

Available at Labels in Karachi and at the Saniya Maskatiya’s retail outlet on Khyaban-e-Bukhari and launching soon at Labels Lahore & Faisalabad.

We at Sunday Plus are sharing our exclusive recommendations with all our readers. Read on for the best buys, the trendiest brands and the most palate enticing eateries that you need to know about. We slog through the jungle to bring you the hippest happenings and must-have information, right here in your copy of Sunday Plus: Your essential weekend luxury.

Isma Meer’s Luxurious Shoes

HOTTEST, NEWEST, LATEST…

Under Wraps is all about gifts, designer gift wraps, trousseau, favours & lots more, be it a family wedding and you need mehndi thaals, valentines, bridal showers, anniversary, engagements or birth announcements Under Wraps is the solution! This Ramadan they have created Ramadan Gourmet Baskets ideal for sending it with iftaris or as a gift at iftar parties or it can be turned into a gift for the li’l ones’ PEHLA ROZAS’. So just let them know what you want and they will work it out for you.

Contact: [email protected] or 0300-3608400

Ramadan Gourmet Baskets!

Sunday Plus Magazine

Documents

new designer ayesha

new line

designer waseem noor

new stores

best picks

replica designer sunglasses

best buys

fashion industry