Video Mix
'Janan'
Hadiqa Kiyani's duet with Irfan Khan is melodic innocence, with a video to match

Amina Baig
Karachi

On the surface of it, there is nothing about Hadiqa Kiyani's newest single 'Janan' that can be referred to as ground-breaking or even something off the beaten path as far as Hadiqa herself is concerned. Pakistan's biggest female pop act has after all never been one to let herself stagnate, be it her music, the way she looks or even the many avenues in entertainment she might dabble in from time to time.

That is why, watching 'Janan' at first will probably elicit, well, no reaction. It takes a lot to stir an audience so used to being thrilled by all kinds of newfangled visual and auditory delights. Hadiqa herself is an absolute risk taker when it comes to what she is singing, be it the solidly composed but weakly sung (in terms of diction) 'Living This Lie' with Aamir Zaki, or the very breezy Punjabi 'Meher Ma'.

'Janan' on the other hand is a decent enough folk song in Pashto that will probably make many people reach for their remotes and switch to something with a little more punch.

But stop. Hold the urge to click away through countless channels to find something half interesting to watch, and listen to 'Janan'. It will grow on you, just a little, by the time it is winding down. If you can, listen again. The melody is pretty straight forward, but it has a lilt to it somewhere in the midst of the expected rubab and flute that will catch your attention. Once again, the lyrics (if you understand Pashto) are fairly run of the mill, but the tune winding them together is such a quietly fantastic one that it doesn't matter. Of course, if you don't get a word of Pashto, the exoticism of the song just multiplies.

The way the music progresses also blends well with the images that are set to it. To anyone who has traveled through Pakistan in the north, the music will freely bring to mind images of driving on roads lined with thickets, hills and mountains that contain and stream sunlight. 'Janan' echoes deeply and lightens sunnily. And that works with exact perfection with the video, which is shot somewhere in North Pakistan.

Irfan Khan, Pashto pop singer who is seemingly very popular with his listeners is a real find. He has a great voice. That is really all that matters if you want to be a singer, at the end of the day (sadly) even an okay grasp on vocals will get aspiring singers far enough - and take the painfully few who positively command their vocals to go in any direction even further.

In 'Janan', Irfan and Hadiqa play off each other quite well, which one would expect from Hadiqa in any case, but to see someone as 'new' to the scene as Irfan being effortless with his voice and transitions is impressive. Pashto speaking fans online have commented that Hadiqa does a fair job of singing in the language, although her accent is far too soft.

Equally effortless is the simplicity of the video which is just about a young couple gearing up to see each other. The girl lines her eyes with kohl and the guy, played by model Ibrahim swings his shawl around his neck and grins into a mirror. She walks through woods and reads his letter, and a pesky kid snatches it from her and runs off. This is where one had thought for a second that maybe the village elders will intervene and marry her off to someone else or lock her in her room, but nothing quite so glum happens in this video. Ibrahim drives on with his beloved's photo hanging off his rearview mirror and imagines her eyes reflected in it. It's all very serene.

There has been criticism of the video being too simple, which Hadiqa has countered with reasoning - the song is meant for a Pashto speaking audience, most of which will come from a conservative place, and she does not want to offend their sensibilities in any manner. 'Janan's' director Jovi has handled all the limitations that he was presented with in making the video, by channeling creative impulses through utilizing beautifully composed frames.

The wardrobe for the video has been done by Munib Nawaz who has managed to strike the right note with the flowy blue outfits both Hadiqa and the female model in the video wear. Hadiqa looks quite pretty, but perhaps should have gone a little easy on the makeup, which is too severe for her face. Ironically, or perhaps intentionally, Hadiqa and Irfan's faces are echoed in the models', who look strikingly like the two singing about their love.

Having said all these very many things - 'Janan' is definitely a song to give a chance to. There is nothing unlikable about it, be it the gentle words and sounds or the lush visuals, all of which are a silent and slightly heartbreaking reminder of all the loveliness that exists in the topography and cultural dossier of our country.

StarBytes
Bipasha to don 9 avatars for Pankh

What's Your Rashee? was a film that left much to be desired by the public and the only thing it had going for it was Priyanka Chopra and the twelve avatars she donned for the twelve suns signs. The failure of WYR? hasn't deterred Bipasha Basu to take on a role for her next flick, Pankh, in which she will wear nine different looks. Bips will star opposite newbie, Maradona Robello. Another feeling of déjà vu since Priyanka also worked with the fairly new Harman Baweja. Let's hope all similarities end there!

Bips role in Pankh is that of an embodiment of emotions for the protagonist - his imagination is what drives the varied looks of the fantasy woman. When our hero feels serene we can expect to see her in cool colors and soft make-up and when aggressive he envisions her with a vampy look. The nine completely different get-ups are attributed to designer to Bollywood stars Rocky S and director Sudipto Chattopadhyaya. What's unique about the top to toe fashion is that Bips' looks have been created by fashion industry bigwigs. Inspiration has been taken for the nine looks by superstars such as Jennifer Lopez, Liza Minnelli and Sophia Loren. Bip's herself was very actively involved in bringing together the avatars.

The film itself will be based on egos and alter egos and it could make for an interesting viewing because so far it all seems to be in the protagonists head. And when a man has Bipasha on the brain we can only guess what happens from there.

Angelina Jolie's Afghan school to open its doors

The UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador is spreading the goodwill. She has single-handedly funded a primary school for girls in Tangi, Afghanistan. UNICEF has been working in the area and has successfully set up many functional classrooms yet parents of the girls were hesitant to send them to a co-ed school. Jolie had donated $75,000 of her own money to see that there are no problems for girls to be educated in the area. A report states, "The facility features eight classrooms, a well and eight latrines, and is set to begin classes next Monday, when their school year begins."

800 girls will be starting school which is massive considering what the future might have held for them and their families if these young students would have been deprived of an education. "I always had hopes and dreams of going to school. The hope to become a qualified teacher has revived in me," Us magazine quoted a 14-year-old girl named Laila.

Jolie has been known to frequent the poverty stricken areas of Afghanistan and even North Pakistan. Unfortunately the actress was unable to attend the opening since she is shooting for her next movie The Tourist in Venice. Regardless her efforts are being appreciated by not only the students but their parents and Igbal Azizi, head of the region's provincial education whom stressed the importance of Jolie's gift, saying that Tangi girls, "otherwise would have been deprived of education."

Britney goes blonde and breaks up with Jason Tarwick

Rejoice everybody who wants to marry her, Britney Spears is single again! And she is blonde again, thankfully. And she has come out somewhat a winner at the end of her relationship, as Jason Tarwick, the man who was supposedly going to be dad to Brit's kids, will still be managing her. Oh yeah, he was her manager.

"They were fighting a lot and have not been getting along," somebody close to the former couple dished. But apparently the jury is still out on this one as Britney and Jason make a habit of taking time off from the relationship and getting back together. They call it the absence/ fondness equation, we call it too much drama for a year old relationship.

And anyway, Britney Spears seems to be someone who has never benefited from any of her relationships after Justin Timberlake. Also, for some reason, she keeps dating people who work for her. Madonna would tell her that is not a good idea, and explain the why's and how's using a bar graph with JLo's picture on it.

Besides, anyone who makes you actually, physically look bad is not someone you want to marry. Brit's time with K-Fed left her bigger than ever (yes, we know she had two babies…but Heidi Klum has one every other year and look at her), dressing badly and eventually shaving her head. Her time with Jason had her looking like Dita Von Teese, which should have set her crazy radar off.

But now, she's back to blonde, and Jason free...it seems like Britney has dodged this bullet…so far.