‘Have u seen the moon yet??’, ‘Is Ramadan going to start tomorrow??’ seems to be on everyone’s lips as the evening before the first day of fasting wears on. Excitement hangs in the air. Somehow, Ramadan always seems like a magical month. As a child growing up in the middle east -being awakened in the wee hours of the morning, hearing a multitude of masjids call one for prayer and sitting and listening to my parents as they narrate incidents from the Holy Quran on charity, self-restraint, and repentance has always been special.

Gia Ali - a name that spells trouble. An actress who ends up chasing more trouble than any other actress in the business. Wild. Wanton. Home breaker. Man-eater. One-hit wonder… All these allegations and a lot more resound whenever the name of Gia is mentioned; anywhere. But is she as bad as she has been painted? Let’s ask Gia.

You had to your credit one of the biggest hits of Pakistani cinema, Deewanay Teray Piyar Kay. But even its mammoth success didn’t have directors lining up at your door. Doesn’t this make you a one-hit wonder?

A Pakistani cultural troupe is slated to present a play in Jammu and Kashmir next week on Baba Bulleh Shah, a 17th century Sufi saint who was revered by both Hindus and Muslims in his time.

The troupe of 20 artistes, comprising qawwals and actors of the Pakistani group Ajok, will give a performance in Jammu on Jan 27 and 28.

Jammu is preparing in a big way to receive the artistes with theatres fully booked.

The group, which has won acclaim for its play “Ek Thee Nani”, is led by two well known Pakistani artistes, Maliha Gauhar and Shahid Nadeem.

Would you like a Slurpee with that?” says the brown skinned, turban clad Sikh man behind the 7-11 counter. And this introduction serves as the basis for most Americans’ perception of the South Asian experience.

We supposedly work 27 hours a day at gas stations, Patel-owned motels, quick shop marts, Subway stores, computer firms, or emergency wards — and that’s it. On television, our entire culture is represented by television icon Apu Nahasapeemapetalan, the Indian immigrant owner of “Kwik-e- Mart” on The Simpsons. A visually one-dimensional cartoon character with more animation and character than the one-dimensional cardboard caricatures seen in most Hollywood movies, TV shows (with the exception of Naveen Andrews in Lost); talk radio, and academic history books. Desis are also in the news because of “outsourcing:” Our brown brethren of the East are supposedly systematically destroying the American job market by working the same job for 1/10 of the pay.

A period movie is a daunting undertaking, even for experienced and accomplished directors and financially profitable production houses. In Laaj, former civil servant Rauf Khalid has ambitiously selected a true story from British India (1936) for his debut as a producer, writer and director. That made the production a multiple challenge. The film starts with love blossoming between a rich Hindu girl and a poor Muslim boy, which culminates in an armed clash between the British colonial rulers and the Pathans. How has he fared?

It is an offbeat movie, but nothing should detract from the fact that it is an important effort that tries to break fresh and extremely difficult ground. In our times of absurd local cinema, distinct from cinema of the absurd, Laaj should be welcomed as a breath of fresh air.

The waleemah is a food reception which follows the consummation of marriage, to make the marriage public. It is offered by the parents of the married couple, by their friends, or by the newly married couple themselves. Friends, relatives, and neighbors are usually invited.

The companion Anas reported that the Prophet SAW saw a trace of yellow on Abd Ar- Rahman Ibn Auf, and asked what is this? He answered: “I got married”. Then, the Prophet SAW said,

“May Allah make it a blessing for you. Have a waleemah, even with only a sheep.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Abu Dawood and Maalik]

Rising star Noor, who started her acting career as a child star and become a heroine in her very first movie Jan Jan Pakistan, wants to marry Indian superstar Hrithik Roshan who has become the craze of young women.But there’s a condition - he has to become a Muslim first. Does Hrithik got a say on the subject ?

Unlike the Indian , her first picture couldn’t break any ice, yet she got a dozen new assignment but they were all for side roles including No Paisa No Problem ,which was released last month.Noor says she is eighteen years of age and wishes to remain on the big screen at least for ten years.