Entertainment: 5th death anniversary of Ahmed Faraz observed

Entertainment: 5th death anniversary of Ahmed Faraz observed: 5th death anniversary of Ahmed Faraz observed ISLAMABAD: The fifth death anniversary of renowned poet Ahmed Faraz was observed on Su...

Entertainment: Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afrid...

Entertainment: Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afrid...: Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afridi's reservations KARACHI: Pakistani film about a boy emulating the fairytale car...

Entertainment: Man Alive After 45 min of Death

Entertainment: Man Alive After 45 min of Death: Ohio man declared dead, comes back to life 45 minutes later OHIO: Doctors have declared an Ohio man a walking miracle, and his story h...

Man Alive After 45 min of Death

Ohio man declared dead, comes back to life 45 minutes later

OHIO: Doctors have declared an Ohio man a walking miracle, and his story has stunned medical circles nationwide.

On August 5th, Tony Yahle was legally declared dead. Doctors had exhausted all attempts to revive a heartbeat - they had given up.

An entire 45 minutes went by when Yahle suddenly showed signs of life.

Doctors say there is no medical explanation. Yahle believes it was divine intervention.

"It definitely strengthen my faith, my family's faith, everybody I know's faith," Yahle said. "And like I said, if it strengthens everybody's faith then I'll take the lumps for it."

Yahle has been home for a week now, and says he feels just fine.

Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afridi's reservations

Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afridi's reservations

KARACHI: Pakistani film about a boy emulating the fairytale career of cricket star Shahid Afridi hit cinemas Friday despite objections from the player over "obscene" scenes he fears could damage his image.

The $1 million Pakistan-made movie "Main Houn Shahid Afridi" ("I am Shahid Afridi") tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero's footsteps.

The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to the producers, but last week reacted angrily to an "obscene" scene shown in trailers for the film in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.

He also raised objections to an "item song", a musical performance featuring Pakistani actress Mathira Khan. Dance numbers such as this with scantily clad women are often used in Indian cinema and have little to do with the story.

"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.

But the filmmakers went ahead with the release without removing the scenes.

"The item song was the demand and if Afridi had any objections, it's his mindset," Mathira told reporters at a private premier of the film Wednesday night.

Cinema-goers had mixed reaction to the movie.

"I don't see any obscenity in the film," said 27-year-old shopkeeper Liaqat Khan. "If we can watch Indian movies in our cinemas which are full of objectionable scenes, why can't we watch this film."

But middle-aged housewife Samina Ali said she was embarrassed after waching the movie.

"I came here on the insistence of my kids who are die-hard fans of Afridi, but this film cannot be watched with kids," she said.

Afridi, who hails from Pakistan's deeply conservative tribal district of Khyber on the Afghan border, has so far played 27 Tests, 354 one-days and 59 Twenty20 matches for Pakistan.

He became an instant hero when he hit a 37-ball century in only his second one-day against Sri Lanka in 1996 -- still a world record.

Afridi also holds the record for hitting the most sixes in one-day international cricket, with 308 in 354 matches.

Pakistan's film industry has been on the skids for years, unable to compete with India's Bollywood.

But filmmakers are hoping the phenomenal popularity of one of the country's best-loved cricketers will translate into takings at the box office. (AFP)

5th death anniversary of Ahmed Faraz observed

5th death anniversary of Ahmed Faraz observed

ISLAMABAD: The fifth death anniversary of renowned poet Ahmed Faraz was observed on Sunday.

Ahmad Faraz was born in Kohat‚ Pakistan on 14th January 1931. He was considered one of the greatest modern Urdu poets of the last century.

Faraz is his pseudonym 'takhallus'‚ whereas his real name is Syed Ahmad Shah.

Outspoken about politics‚ he went into self-imposed exile during the Zia-ul-Haq era after he was arrested for reciting certain poems at a mushaira criticizing the military rule.

He stayed for 6 years in Britain‚ Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan‚ where he was initially appointed Chairman Academy of Letters and later chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years.

He has been awarded with numerous national and international awards. He was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2004‚ in recognition of his literary achievements.

He returned the award in 2006 after becoming disenchanted with the government and its policies.

Ahmed Faraz‚ who has been compared with Faiz Ahmed Faiz‚ holds a unique position as one of the best poets of current times‚ with a fine but simple style of writing. Even common people can easily understand.

Ethnically a Hindko speaking Pashtoon‚ Ahmed Faraz studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University. He later became lecturer at the Peshawar University.

Ahmed Faraz died in Islamabad on August 25‚ 2008. (PPI)

Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afridi's reservations

Cricket feature film screened despite Shahid Afridi's reservations

KARACHI: Pakistani film about a boy emulating the fairytale career of cricket star Shahid Afridi hit cinemas Friday despite objections from the player over "obscene" scenes he fears could damage his image.

The $1 million Pakistan-made movie "Main Houn Shahid Afridi" ("I am Shahid Afridi") tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero's footsteps.

The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to the producers, but last week reacted angrily to an "obscene" scene shown in trailers for the film in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.

He also raised objections to an "item song", a musical performance featuring Pakistani actress Mathira Khan. Dance numbers such as this with scantily clad women are often used in Indian cinema and have little to do with the story.

"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.

But the filmmakers went ahead with the release without removing the scenes.

"The item song was the demand and if Afridi had any objections, it's his mindset," Mathira told reporters at a private premier of the film Wednesday night.

Cinema-goers had mixed reaction to the movie.

"I don't see any obscenity in the film," said 27-year-old shopkeeper Liaqat Khan. "If we can watch Indian movies in our cinemas which are full of objectionable scenes, why can't we watch this film."

But middle-aged housewife Samina Ali said she was embarrassed after waching the movie.

"I came here on the insistence of my kids who are die-hard fans of Afridi, but this film cannot be watched with kids," she said.

Afridi, who hails from Pakistan's deeply conservative tribal district of Khyber on the Afghan border, has so far played 27 Tests, 354 one-days and 59 Twenty20 matches for Pakistan.

He became an instant hero when he hit a 37-ball century in only his second one-day against Sri Lanka in 1996 -- still a world record.

Afridi also holds the record for hitting the most sixes in one-day international cricket, with 308 in 354 matches.

Pakistan's film industry has been on the skids for years, unable to compete with India's Bollywood.

But filmmakers are hoping the phenomenal popularity of one of the country's best-loved cricketers will translate into takings at the box office. (AFP)

Angry Afridi demands cut to 'obscene' movie

Angry Afridi demands cut to 'obscene' movie

KARACHI: Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi Wednesday demanded that the producers of a film about a boy emulating his rise to stardom cut an "obscene" scene which he fears could damage his image.

The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to "Main Houn Afridi" ("I am Afridi") but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray.

The $1 million Pakistan-made movie tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero's footsteps.

Afridi was furious at a scene in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.

The scene was shown in trailers for the film on various TV channels.

"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.

"I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life."

Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.

"A lot of kids and families would go to watch the movie because of me and if they see things like that they will feel bad, so I hope they remove those scenes and run the film," he said.

The movie had already suffered technical glitches which stopped it being released over the Eid holiday weekend.

Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially wanted Afridi to take the lead role, but the cricketer said it would not be in keeping with the traditions of his tribe.

Afridi said he was also concerned because the film's promotional material wrongly suggested he had acted in the film.

"I had declined the offer to act because my elders are against acting, nor did I charge a single penny from them," he said.

The movie was expected to lift the sagging Pakistani film industry, which struggles to compete with glitzy, big-budget Bollywood in neighbouring India.

Veena Malik gets her body painted

Veena Malik gets her body painted

LONDON: Pakistan’s controversial actress, Veena Malik has once again come under media spotlight after getting her body painted from a Finnish artist, Geo News reported Saturday.

Talking to Geo News here, the Lollywood and Bollywood star said that some of the pictures were such that she had to think many times whether she should go ahead with the project or not.

However, Veena Malik took the plunge and completed project in collaboration with Finland’s well-known visual artist Vesa Kivinen.

Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra gestures during the launch of the initiative "Our Girls Our Pride" in New Delhi, India, Monday, Aug 19, 2013

Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra gestures during the launch of the initiative "Our Girls Our Pride" in New Delhi, India, Monday, Aug 19, 2013

Indian Bollywood film actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses during the launch and press meet of the Lodha Group's largest private landscape in south Mumbai, 'The Park', in Mumbai on August 19, 2013

Indian Bollywood film actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses during the launch and press meet of the Lodha Group's largest private landscape in south Mumbai, 'The Park', in Mumbai on August 19, 2013

'Humble' King Khan enjoys life as global star

'Humble' King Khan enjoys life as global star

MUMBAI: As Indian cinema celebrates its 100th birthday, its biggest modern-day star Shah Rukh Khan has no doubt about Bollywood's growing global popularity -- nor of his own worldwide fame.

"With all humility, I would like to say I have been fortunate to be part of Indian cinema and films which have somehow opened up new territories," the actor known in India as "King Khan", told AFP in an interview.

"Humbly put, I am a global star. They like me all over the world."

In a career spanning three decades, the 47-year-old has made himself the biggest box office draw in Bollywood as the hero of romantic dramas and high-octane action movies.

It is a career that has coincided with increasing popularity for Bollywood movies outside of the Indian sub-continent.

Khan's latest movie, "Chennai Express", which opens in India this weekend, will play to cinemas in countries such as Peru, Morocco, Israel and Germany as well as more established markets such as Britain and the Gulf states.

The big budget action-comedy, whose release has been timed to coincide with the festival of Eid, has been sub-titled into nine languages besides Hindi.

Khan says he is more than happy to travel around the world to promote Indian cinema, which made its first movie in the silent era in 1913 but now pumps out almost 1,500 films a year in various languages.

"If I go to Peru, I will talk about Indian cinema and maybe the way I talk -- with hope and pride -- appeals to people," Khan told AFP at his home in Mumbai, the capital of Bollywood.

"Maybe the kind of films I do have more of an appeal to an international audience for Indian films than others," he added.

Khan's promotional tour for "Chennai Express" took him around India as well as to Britain and Dubai.

"As long as I can, I would like to help take Indian cinema global. You cannot sell something to someone who doesn't want it. If they like this film, more films will go there and that helps increase business."

In "Chennai Express", Khan's character falls in love with the daughter of a mob boss while on a train journey from Mumbai to the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Khan, who has appeared in more than 70 Bollywood movies after starting out in television, says he chooses his roles based on his "state of mind".

"Now that I have done a comedy, my state of mind is to play a bad guy," he said.

"I believe that's how an actor should decide what he wants to do: have fun with the people who are making the film and only then can you make the audience happy."

His popularity is such that he now has almost 4.6 million followers on Twitter, although he says it is now a forum on which he is unwilling to open up about his personal life.

"Actually I have a love-hate relationship with the analysis of my status updates and tweets," he said.

"Things are taken out of context, so I have decided not to share anything personal. I talk about my work and generic things.

"Some days I feel very social, on other days I feel unsociable and I like to keep it like that. I like most of the people on my Twitter. The ones I don't love, I ignore."

Khan says he is still upset at how he felt forced into announcing the premature birth of his son AbRam, who was born to a surrogate mother, after rumours circulated of an illegal pre-natal gender test.

"It broke my heart to write that note. As decent, educated and nice as it sounded, it was not how I was feeling at that time," he said.

"I did not want to do it. Why should I have to explain what is going on in my home, with my child who is prematurely born? When you are passing through a difficult time it is not nice to have to explain."

As a movie star, an owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team the Kolkata Knight Riders and as a businessman (his company Red Chillies has co-produced "Chennai Express"), Khan's life is constantly subject to scrutiny.

Fans often gather outside his Mumbai mansion hoping for a glimpse of the actor who built his brand as the romantic hero of films such as "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "Om Shanti Om".

Despite having to live life under a spotlight, Khan says that he enjoys stardom.

"You work so hard to become a star that you have to work harder to enjoy it," he said.

"I love the amount of people that love me, the crowds that collect, the controversies, the responsibilities I have, the success and even the failure.

"It's an exciting life. Better than a 9-6. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, so it's a great life."

Hollywood on course for biggest summer box office in 2013

Hollywood is on course for its biggest ever summer box office in the US despite several high profile flops.

Big budget films The Lone Ranger, Will Smith's After Earth and animation Turbo all hugely underperformed in America.

However figures show studio films have earned $4.1bn (£2.6bn), close to 2011's previous high of $4.4bn (£2.8bn).

Sci-fi Elysium, from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp, topped this week's North American chart earning $30.5m (£19.7m) in its opening weekend.

Starring Matt Damon and South African actor Sharlto Copley, the film had a fairly modest debut after costing $115m (£74.3m) to make.

Elysium matched studio expectations but opened with a lower figure than director Blomkamp's surprise 2009 low-budget hit, which took $37.3m (£24.1m) in its first three days.

Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony, said Elysium would be "very profitable", adding "international is going to be the big, big win on this film for us".

Continue reading the main story

In a crowded week for new releases, Jennifer Aniston's comedy We're The Millers took the second slot with $26.6m (£17.2m) while Disney animation Planes took $22.5m ($14.5m).

The weekend's takings brought 2013's total box office to $7bn (£4.5bn) so far.

Sci-fi Pacific Rim and Jeff Bridges' action comedy R.I.P.D were other high budget films which left studios disappointed at the box office over the summer.

Chris Aronson, the head of distribution for Fox, admitted 2013 had seen some "high-profile failures," but added, "the summer's been fantastic despite the gloom and doom some in the media have portrayed".

The summer flops have been offset by the success of films such as World War Z - which has crossed the $500m (£323m) global takings mark despite rumoured problems and reshoots - and the doomsday comedy This Is the End, which has made $96m (£62m) - three-times its budget.

Animations Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University also earned huge box office numbers worldwide, taking $746m (£482m) and $637m (£412m) respectively to date.

Sci-fi thriller 'Elysium' tops US box-office

Sci-fi thriller 'Elysium' tops US box-office

LOS ANGELES: Science-fiction thriller "Elysium" took top spot in the North American box-office this weekend, beating out competition from raunchy Jennifer Aniston comedy "We're The Millers," estimates showed Sunday.

Starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, "Elysium" is set in a dystopian future where the poor have been left to inhabit a ruined Earth while the rich live on a luxurious space station.

The movie, written and directed by South African filmmaker Neil Blomkamp ("District 9"), earned $30.5 million in its opening three days, estimated figures from box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations showed.

In second place was Aniston's R-rated comedy "We're The Millers," which stars the former "Friends" actress and Jason Sudeikis in a romp about a bogus family attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States from Mexico.

The film took $26.6 million over the three-day weekend, placing it just ahead of Disney's latest animated offering "Planes."

An effective spin-off of the hugely successful "Cars" franchise, "Planes" took $22.5 million to place third.

Fourth place was occupied by another debutant, "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters", the latest adaptation based on the book series by Rick Riordan about a schoolboy who is in fact the son of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The film took $14.6 million.

Last week's number one, the Denzel Washington-Mark Wahlberg action comedy "2 Guns" earned $11.1 million this weekend.

Sony's animated sequel "The Smurfs 2" was in sixth spot with $9.5 million, just ahead of Hugh Jackman's comic-book based blockbuster "The Wolverine. The latest big-screen adaptation to feature the claw-fingered "X-Men" character added another $8 million in its third week on release.

In eighth place was horror film "The Conjuring", the low-budget shocker which took $6.7 million. So far the movie has earned $120.7 million in four weeks, a phenomenal return for a film which cost a relatively modest $20 million to make.

Animated children's comedy "Despicable Me 2" was ninth with $7.4 million, as another sequel "Grown Ups 2" took 10th.

Rounding out the top 12 were Woody Allen's acclaimed drama "Blue Jasmine", with $2.5 million and animated children's flick "Turbo" with $2.3 million.

Edinburgh Fringe: The hot tickets

A one-woman play about a fighter pilot who discovers she is pregnant,Grounded has received five-star notices from The Scotsman, What's On Stage, the Evening Standard and Fest magazine. The Scotsman hailed the play, which stars Lucy Ellinson (above), as "a searing one-hour monologue". The Standard praised the "superb" Ellison and predicted that the show would "snowball into a word-of-mouth hit".

Hrithik Roshan back in action after brain surgery

Hrithik Roshan back in action after brain surgery

MUMBAI: Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan is back in action after undergoing brain surgery last month for an injury suffered while performing a stunt for an upcoming film.

Roshan, 39, said he was "doing absolutely fine" as he launched the trailer of "Krrish 3", the latest movie in the hit superhero franchise.

"Even with a hole in my brain, my spirit has been intact," Roshan told a news conference in Mumbai on Monday, his first official appearance since his operation on July 7.

"Life hits you hard. But it takes you three seconds to decide if you are a superhero or not. I am," he added.

Roshan, who enjoys a huge fan following because of his macho on-screen persona, was injured while shooting an action sequence for "Bang Bang", an Indian remake of the Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz hit movie "Knight and Day".

The injury triggered headaches that were caused by a subdural haematoma or clot, often caused by bleeding in the brain due to a blow to the head.

Afterwards, Roshan underwent surgery.

Doctors told the actor to rest for four weeks after the operation, delaying the shooting schedule of "Bang Bang".

The first two movies in the Krrish series drew huge turnouts at the box office.

All three movies have been directed by Roshan's father, Rakesh Roshan.

"Krrish 3" will be released in November during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which is one of the country's biggest celebrations.

اداکارہ میرا کے لیے بری خبر ، ، کیپٹن نوید کیلئے ضرورت رشتہ کا اشتہار دیدیا گیا

اداکارہ میرا کے لیے بری خبر  کیپٹن نوید کیلئے ضرورت رشتہ کا اشتہار دیدیا گیا

لاہور…اداکارہ میرا کے لیے بری خبر ہے، کیپٹن نوید کے والد نے نوید کی شادی کے لئے ضرورت رشتہ کا اشتہار دیدیا، اشتہار میں پڑھی، لکھی خوبصورت دوشیزہ کا رشتہ مانگا گیا ہے۔ 2 برس قبل لاہور میں کیپٹن نوید اور اداکارہ میرا کی منگنی ہوئی تھی، کیپٹن نوید نے میرا کو 8لاکھ روپے کی ہیرے کی انگوٹھی پہنائی تھی۔ نوید کے والد راجہ خالد نے اشتہار کی تصدیق کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ وہ آیندہ چند روز میں امریکاسے پاکستان آرہے ہیں، ایک دوماہ میں نوید کی شادی کردیں گے۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ میرا کومنگنی ختم ہونیکابتادیاہے۔

رنبیر کیساتھ چھٹیوں کی تصاویر منظر عام پر آنے پر کترینہ میڈیا سے ناراض

رنبیر کیساتھ چھٹیوں کی تصاویر منظر عام پر آنے پر کترینہ میڈیا سے ناراض

ممبئی…این جی ٹی…بھارتی میڈیا میں بالی ووڈ کی باربی ڈول کترینہ کیف اورنبیر کپور کی پروان چڑھتی دوستی کا خوب چرچا ہے جو آج کل اسپین میں ایک ساتھ چھٹیاں گزارنے میں مصروف ہیں۔ حال ہی میں منظرِعام پر آنے والی تصاویر میڈیا میں زیرِ بحث ہے جن میں دونوں اداکار اسپین کے ساحل پر ایک ساتھ پکنک مناتے ہوئے دیکھے گئے ہیں۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق کترینہ کیف اپنی اور رنبیر کی ساحل پر بنی ان فوٹو گرافس کے منظرِ عام پر آنے سے ناصرف کافی پریشان ہو گئی ہیں بلکہ ذاتی زندگی میں مداخلت پر میڈیا سے ناراض بھی ہیں۔ واضح رہے کہ دونوں اداکاروں کو کئی جگہ ایک ساتھ دیکھا گیا ہے اور دو بالی ووڈ اسٹارز کے درمیان بڑھتی ہوئی یہ دوستی میڈیا کے ساتھ ساتھ فلمی حلقوں میں بھی ایک ہاٹ ایشو بنی ہوئی ہے۔