latest NEWS

Kösem has been the all-powerful Valide Sultan and regent to her son Sultan Murad IV for nearly a decade, when the military unrest causes the latter to deprive her of her authority and the two clashes. With the control of the state fully in his hands, Murad sets his plans of restoring the empire to the times of prosperity and conquest and checking corruption in motion. At the same time, the Hungarian princess Farya Bethlen seeks refuge at the Ottoman court and the instant attraction between her and the Sultan causes reactions. A strain is also put on Murad’s relationship with his sister Gevherhan after the execution of her husband, as well as in hers with their mother, when she eventually opts for love instead of power games. Their half-brother and Crown Prince, Bayezid, though loyal himself to the sultan, is drawn in conflict too, due to the ambitions of his mother, Gülbahar, who has been long obscured by Kösem; all the while the other princes’ and infidels’ agendas remain unknown and anti-Ottoman sentiments and plans resurface in the West.

Urdu 1’s Baaghi has been the new drama serial that has stolen all the limelight. The story has everything a good drama serial should contain with a star studded cast, a solid story, good development and conflicts. Baaghi’s popularity has been on a meteoric rise, helping Urdu 1 to grow even further in terms of popularity. It seems that Baaghi’s and Urdu 1’s growth both shares a positive relationship with each other. Baaghi is a show inspired by true events and it’s pretty evident in that case. It’s about a young woman named Kanwal Baloch, played by Saba Qamar. Kanwal is shown as a rebellious female lead that does not conform to the misogynistic, discriminatory pillars set by society and wants to get into the spotlight, show biz and its glamorous lifestyle as she herself hails from a village, a pre-dominantly male social system. Saba Qamar seems as if she was made to play this role, perfectly resonating the gravity of every situation, showing how she reacts in peril or either in happiness. She’s has done a bang on job at playing the complex character she’s been given to fit in. Baaghi as a drama surely is one with a gripping hook to it and a multi-dimensional storyline which leaves the viewer’s asking for more.

The drama that was on the lips of every television viewer, setting up milestones after milestones for the show business, by being the number one show in Pakistani television. Baaghi just dropped the curtains for the final time, putting an epic finale to a show that made its own legacy. An inspiration from the sad demise of Qandeel Baloch, highlighting her struggles, the misogyny and the notorious glass ceiling the females have to face in any society which has a dark side. Pakistanis and TV enthusiasts alike were taken aback by the story telling, the build-up and the brutal truth aired on the last episode, taking their voice to social media, they commended on the bravery of the show and its plot. Osman Khalid Butt, who shared a role in the drama, expressed his emotions on Twitter with the airing of the final episode, highlighting how sad, bitter and cold and honest the last episode was. It is now accepted that this drama has resonated some real emotions throughout and left many of its viewers in tears with its final episode just like Osman Khalid Butt. More likely because it is based on true events and viewers have actually related it to the saddening incident.

Based on the life and made-up lies of a very prominent character in the Pakistan media industry, Baaghi Urdu1’s hit drama has been making highlights since the first episode. Comprising of an overly talented cast, brilliant screenplay and flawless direction, it is no surprise that it has now become the most watched drama in Pakistan. Originally Baaghi was set to be snubbed by the LSA (Lux Style Awards) committee, but after much uproar from the public they succumbed to public opinion and included Baaghi in the nominations charter such as “Best TV play” and “Best original soundtrack”. What Baaghi portrays so beautifully is the actuality of the star’s life without letting it being consumed by just several directions and edits wherever they might have thought necessary and that is the beauty of the media industry. Letting the people see for themselves, the true side of every story and this story of a star where fame got the end of her isn’t something new, but is still fresh in Lollywood. The good thing is that all these mistakes were corrected just before the voting started across the country. This means there was ample time for viewers to vote for their favorite show.