01/05/14 - News

India successfully launches cutting-edge cryogenic rocket

<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="dropcap" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Arial, 'helvetica neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 50px; line-height: 50px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">I</span></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">NDIA has successfully launched its first rocket using domestically made booster technology, taking another step forward in its ambitious space program.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The Indian-made cryogenically-powered rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota as scheduled, as Delhi tries to join an elite club of countries which have mastered the complex technology.</span><br />
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India successfully launches cutting-edge cryogenic rocket

I NDIA has successfully launched its first rocket using domestically made booster technology, taking another step forward in its ambitious s...

23:32

BLOODY NASREEN TO COME TO THE BIG SCREEN

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2GVuMPP6prQbyOnlLADuEBB8pfas8C4EcuLQW_JlEMlm5c2WGVPCmK9yS895ccU5enwevf4kwtqtN8PbQPjAV4ttdpCYj5wn5-WVD1v0ORhorc2JjBYaNjfH-FWl39qMwuKpuZru_Kcn/s1600/654857-image-1388853938-120-640x480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2GVuMPP6prQbyOnlLADuEBB8pfas8C4EcuLQW_JlEMlm5c2WGVPCmK9yS895ccU5enwevf4kwtqtN8PbQPjAV4ttdpCYj5wn5-WVD1v0ORhorc2JjBYaNjfH-FWl39qMwuKpuZru_Kcn/s1600/654857-image-1388853938-120-640x480.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">Usman Mukhtar teams up with creator of graphic novel for new feature film, set in futuristic Karachi. PHOTO: PUBLICITY<br /></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', times-roman, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong class="location" style="color: #555555; display: block; float: left; font-size: 13px;">LAHORE: </strong><div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 7px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="color: #555555; font-size: 13px;">Who exactly is Bloody Nasreen? Most of us don’t have a clue. Bloody Nasreen is the creation of graphic artist Shahan Zaidi, who says that his fictional character is a contemporary bandit-queen, who fights against injustice and evil.</strong></div>
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While his graphic novel is still in progress, Zaidi’s character has been drawing quite an interest from several upcoming film-makers, who want to make a film based on the character. It was announced last week that film-maker Usman Mukhtar would be collaborating with Zaidi, for a detailed plan to create a full-length feature film based on Bloody Nasreen.</div>
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“I have been approached several times, not only for movies but also for games and T-shirts, and many fans have even purchased the posters,” says Zaidi.</div>
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“Usman showed great interest. I saw his work and he seems to be passionate [about comics]. I hope he will do justice to the character.”</div>
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The character Bloody Nasreen has gained relative cult popularity via social media. Zaidi started out as cartoonist in 1997 and is a painter and concept artist, who has worked in several major production studios, but comics seem to have taken the forefront for him.</div>
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“In 1999, when I was 17, I made a comic for a local magazine called <i>ID Magazine</i>. It was about a superhero fighting crime in futuristic Karachi. It was published, but I couldn’t continue it due to my studies.” It was then that Zaidi decided that he would be making another comic series based on local characters.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“The comic book culture isn’t particularly prevalent in Pakistan, but we have had a number of movies based on comics that have released in the past few years,” says Zaidi. The artist believes that people have now become familiar with the medium, and more artists are releasing comic books in the country. “I think social media has played a big role, particularly Facebook, and also, the revival of cinema has helped,” says Zaidi.</div>
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“I grew up reading comic books and graphic novels, I think it’s the second best way of telling stories, after movies,” he adds. Another reason for producing a graphic novel was that Zaidi didn’t have the resources to make a film. “Since I am not a professional writer, I haven’t yet finished the novel, but much artwork has already been produced,” he shares. Now, Zaidi will be involved in the creative aspect of the film, and that is something he is very excited about.</div>
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“I am sure if it is made right, this movie will be fun to watch. I think a cult audience will like it, just like Tarantino movies. Of course, if someone goes to the cinema with a Godfather type drama in mind, they will be disappointed,” says Zaidi.</div>
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Regardless, Usman Mukhtar says that the project was a dream, since he is a comic-fan, who has been searching for the perfect Pakistani superhero. He is expecting a two-year production time, in which they plan to complete the film. The two have already begun creating a screenplay and storyline.</div>
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“The challenge is that we have to create an entire world!” says Mukhtar.  “We do not want to exaggerate it, but keep it very close to reality, so the challenge will obviously be finding the right creative team, since nothing like this has ever been done before.”</div>
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The challenge of finding an actor who can easily fit into the role of Bloody Nasreen, a powerful female character, will be challenging. But Mukhtar says they plan on doing all their homework before making a decision on the casting.</div>
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“We live in a male-dominated society, and generally, most superhero films have male leads. I think it will be interesting to see how this turns out,” says Mukhtar. “The challenging part will be finding someone to play Bloody Nasreen. If you asked me right now, I would say the only person I can think of is not from Pakistan but India. We will need to conduct local auditions, and the character will require a lot of dedication in terms of time, training and diet which most likely will affect other projects.”</div>
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We look forward to seeing not only a female protagonist in a film, but a crime-fighting one at that.</div>
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2016 is gearing up to be the year for Bloody Nasreen!</div>
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BLOODY NASREEN TO COME TO THE BIG SCREEN

Usman Mukhtar teams up with creator of graphic novel for new feature film, set in futuristic Karachi. PHOTO: PUBLICITY LAHORE: Who exac...

23:25

CHAMBAILI TO HIT UK THEATRES IN FEBRUARY

CHAMBAILI TO HIT UK THEATRES IN FEBRUARY

The movie was released in Pakistan a couple of weeks before the May 11 elections and did an average business. PHOTO: PUBLICITY KARACHI: ...

23:22

ISHQ POSITIVE: ADEEL PK ANNOUNCES HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">Adeel has been working on productions since he was a teenager, and has recently played an active role as editor of films such as, Bhai Log and Ishq Khuda. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY<br /></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', times-roman, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong class="location" style="color: #555555; display: block; float: left; font-size: 13px;">LAHORE: </strong><div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 7px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="color: #555555; font-size: 13px;">Even before he has entered through the gates of Evernew Studio, it is apparent that Adeel Pervaiz Kaleem knows his way around it. Several people greet him with a sense of respect, as his career is keenly followed there. He is working towards bringing a new edge to the old studio with his latest venture <i>Ishq Positive</i>.</strong></div>
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“You may remember me as the one who played Shaan’s child in the 2001 film <i>Moosa Khan</i>,” says Adeel, who likes to use Adeel PK to distinguish himself from his father, veteran film writer Pervaiz Kaleem. 25-year-old Adeel, who has both experience and a film legacy to his name, disclosed his plan last week to make his directorial debut, which he will start shooting on January 7 in Lahore.</div>
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“Everyone has been giving  their blessings and is really happy, because they know me and how hard I have been working since I was a child, so I suppose there will be a lot more focus on the work I do as well,” says Adeel.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53LuSPdC79owKyYLpR0MKW4uFRDSaz0D9fKMgqsn2a55aVCI5d9uh-RifQsn2Ho-224zyqTv7U6TXhYQdd4FhDgomZRlTjoDJAXqDgevNbC_51_2RCqM_AseaJ_Igoh9E5uMv5fbGfCrc/s1600/pkr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53LuSPdC79owKyYLpR0MKW4uFRDSaz0D9fKMgqsn2a55aVCI5d9uh-RifQsn2Ho-224zyqTv7U6TXhYQdd4FhDgomZRlTjoDJAXqDgevNbC_51_2RCqM_AseaJ_Igoh9E5uMv5fbGfCrc/s1600/pkr.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 7px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The news of <i>Ishq Positive</i> was first announced at the launch of Raga Boyz’ single <i>Channa</i>, the music video of which is directed by Adeel and features actor Noor Bukhari. The story will centre around two people, who both run away from their respective villages to the city. They are working in the same area and are forced by circumstances to live together. As the story evolves, they eventually develop a romantic relationship. There is a catch however, despite the fact that they are clearly in love, both characters have run away from previous relationships.</div>
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Adeel has been working on productions since he was a teenager. Eventually, he began taking on a more active role as film editor in major films such as<i> Bhai Log</i> and<i> Ishq Khuda</i>.</div>
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With <i>Ishq Positive</i>, Adeel hopes to shift away from previous experiences and give the industry a film based on comedy — a genre that has been overlooked by the recent boom of films coming out of Pakistan and, according to him, has now been primarily confined to Punjabi stage theatre.</div>
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“I myself am the action sort, but I felt that there was already a lot of action taking place in the country, so I have planned a romantic-comedy musical, which will offer people relief and let them enjoy,” he elaborates.</div>
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His rise has been relatively slow ever since he entered the industry. Adeel has been involved with local film projects for quite a while now. He has drawn inspiration from people such as Shaan and his own father. He believes that his experience with them has taught him to adapt to the uncertainties that the industry always seems to provide.</div>
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“I think in Pakistan, if you learn theory before practical experience, it does not work. You have to be a guerrilla film-maker on many levels because you have to deal with so many things,” says Adeel.</div>
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<i>Ishq Positive</i> stars Wali Hamid Ali Khan of the Raga Boyz, who is making his way slowly into Pakistan’s entertainment industry, both as a singer and an actor who recently made his debut in a Punjabi film. Noor Bukhari will be returning to the silver screen for her role as a female lead in the film. Javed Sheikh will also play a significant role in the film, which has been written and directed by Adeel.</div>
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The music for the film was completed during the pre-production phase. The soundtrack will feature music by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and the Raga Boyz, along with Indian artistes Shreya Goshal and Sunidhi Chauhan.</div>
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