Jimmy Khan re-imagines Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Ajeeb Dastaan’

We first heard the talented Jimmy Khan take on a classic in the most recent season of Coke Studio. Producers Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood had encouraged Jimmy to incorporate strains of ‘Gaari Ko Chalana Babu’ in his song ‘Nadiya’, and the marriage of his original with the oldie was a great success! The song, which also featured the vocals of Rahma Ali, bagged the distinction of being the most heard track in that episode. Jimmy now returns to re-imagine a family favourite that fans have seen him perform umpteen times, Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Ajeeb Dastaan’ from the 1960 Raj Kumar and Meena Kumari-starrer Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai. Joining him to make the magic is Rahma Ali once again.

A fun and delightful ballad, the song is carried blithely from start to finish by the sweet vocal chemistry of the duo. While Jimmy Khan’s talent has been known to us for a while now, the song reminds us once again of Rahma Ali’s incredible vocal prowess. We know the singer has contributed to the soundtrack of Moor, and we’d love to see her behind the mic more frequently.  

Jimmy Khan’s rendition of ‘Ajeeb Dastaan’ also features Zain Ahsan on ukulele, Sameer Ahmed on bass and Raavail Sattar on percussions.

 

 

Female filmmakers win at the Saudi Film Festival

Is Saudi Arabia, which has long been scrutinized for its unapologetic conservative norms, turning over a new leaf? Just a week ago, the second national film festival was held in Dammam, despite a ban on cinemas; now, they have stunned the world with another pleasant surprise – the Academy Awards may have discriminated against women but the Kingdom just gave a female filmmaker the award for Best Drama!

According to Daily Mail, filmmaker Hana al-Omair took the Golden Palm Tree prize for her drama Complain on the awards night held on Tuesday. The film revolves around the life of a hospital worker who dares to complain against her colleague only to make everything go wrong in her life. Despite the limitations, the film festival which was only the second one to be organized in Dammam in seven years, saw as many as 60 entrants come out to participate. The second prize for the drama category was also taken by a woman Shaheed Ameen for Eye & Mermaid while the award for the Best Documentary went to Faisal al-Otaibi for Grand Marriage. Abdullah al-Eyaf, the head of the festival jury, said that despite the objections, the fact that they have all this talent makes Saudi Arabia emerge as a winner on its own.

 

 

 

Instep’s Oscar predictions 100% accurate

Did you know? Instep’s Oscars predictions were 100% accurate! Our film critic Khusro Mumtaz, who gives us the weekly lowdown on films to watch and films to avoid in The Final Cut, was spot-on in his picks for the top contenders in the five main categories.

“My heart’s with (Boyhood),” he wrote about the Best Picture nominations, “but I have a feeling that Birdman may take the prize since it is currently riding a wave and for its artistic flamboyance.”

“Iñárritu’s pyrotechnics may swing the vote and, usually, the Best Picture wins Best Director as well,” he stated of the first-time Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu.

“(Michael Keaton) deserves to win but he will lose to Eddie Redmayne’s fine portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything,” he surmised about Best Actor nominations, “because the Academy loves performances of true-life triumphs of the human spirit over physical disabilities and insurmountable odds.”  

“Julianne Moore will finally win for her touching, sensitive portrayal of an early on-set Alzheimer’s sufferer and nobody merits it more,” he enthused about the Still Alice star who picked up the Best Actress award.

“J.K. Simmons will win – deservedly – for his tightly wound performance as a tyrant of a jazz music teacher” and “Patricia Arquette is a lock for her superbly effective and insightful portrayal of a long-suffering but well-meaning mother…” he predicted about Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.