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MUSIC
 The
music categories for the Lux Style Awars 2010 are confusing. The
categories for Best Album, Song of the Year, Best Music Video and
Best Music Production have been replaced by Best Artist, Singer
of the Year, Best Music Video Director and Best Music Producer.
This move has apparently been made because one record label wanted
payments of royalties for nominations of albums for which they own
the rights. The Lux Style Awards office is clear that "We do
not want to commercialise the awards. In the spirit of the ceremony,
if we start paying for nominations, then other nominees will also
want royalties for using their names," said Fareshteh Aslam
of Unilever while talking to Instep. "This would make the awards
unfeasible and in the long run, it would boil down to people saying
that so and so got nominated because they didn't want payment while
this talent wasn't nominated because the awards refused to pay him.
It would harm credibility. And in principle, awards shouldn't be
an institution that pays nominees."
So here is the rather skewed nominees list as released for Lux Style
Awards 2010.
Best
Artist
Mariam Kizilbash, Mekaal Hassan Band for Saptak, Overload
for Pichal Pairee, Rahim Shah and Shiraz Uppal
It will be interesting to see how this category pans out. If it
were a popular awards category, the clear winner would be Rahim
Shah who sells more than anyone else. However, now the award could
go to incredibly talented Shiraz Uppal or the iconic Mekaal Hasan.
Because the LSA office has not been able to give nominations clearly,
they have decided to do away with music being a popular awards category,
introducing an inhouse voting system that relies on a two tiers
of music insiders as judges. So who knows, we may even be surprised
by Mariam Kizilbash or Overload winning.
Best
Music Video Director
Ahsan Rahim, Bilal Lashari for Chal Buleya by Mekaal Hassan
Band, Farhad Humayun for Mela Kariya by Overload, Sohail Javed and
Zeeshan Parwez
If there is any justice in the world, then it will be an Ahsan Rahim
win again for the video of 'Qismat Apnay Haath Main', which one
can guess he's been nominated for. Like 'Laga Reh' the year before,
it was 'THE' standout video of last year with it's aesthetics in
the right place, creative, innovative and a hit with the awam at
large. The rest pale in comparison, though we can't pinpoint exactly
which videos Sohail Javed and Zeeshan Parwez have been nominated
for. While one sympathises with the nominees for the skewed list
and not giving them their due, we can only hope that by next year
the nominations issue will be resolved so there is clarity, which
is necessary for a category as important as music.
Singer
of the Year
Imran Khan, Chal Buleya by Mekaal Hassan Band from Saptak,Zain
ul Abedin, Rahim Shah and Shiraz Uppal
Again, what is the difference between best Artist and Singer of
Year? Both categories sound too similar. However, if they are giving
this award to Song of the Year, then as far as mass appeal goes,
it has to be Imran Khan for 'Amplifier', the tacky yet hugely catchy
electro bhangra tune from the Pakistani born Dutch boy that came
out of nowhere and caught on like wildfire last year.
Best
Music Producer
Mekaal Hassan for Saptak, Farhad Humayun for Pichal Pairee,
Overload Shiraz Uppal for Ankahi, Shani and Kami for Rahim Shah
and Rohail Hyatt for the Coke Studio Sessions
Finally, some clarity in the music nominees and here, again there
is no question of it being a close competition. This award should
hands down go to Rohail Hyatt for the Coke Studio Sessions that
are history in the making. While attempts at fusing classical, folk
and pop have been made before, Rohail has taken music production
to a whole new level. There is no comparison between Coke Studio
and any album that was produced last year. Which reminds us, Singers
of the Year should have been Saeen Zahoor, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza
for 'Aik Alif'. If there was one song that truly touched the soul
of Pakistan last year, 'Aik Alif' was it!
FASHION
Achievement in Fashion Design – Pret
Deepak Perwani, Kamiar Rokni, Khaadi Khaas, Sara Shahid
at Sublime and Sonya Battla
The first nomination for Deepak Perwani for Pret is well deserved.
His star, as far as womenswear is concerned, rose with the fabulous
Milan Fashion Week collection that he then showed at FPW 1 and proceeded
to sell in his stores with pants to make the tunics more local.
Clothes that work in both East and West show that the designer has
found a vision for where he wants to take his brand. And all his
competitors are truly worthy. Kamiar Rokni has become one of the
most coveted brand names at Ensemble and is a must have in most
high fashion closets. Sara Shahid of Sublime is doing well in both
cities, but of course the only match to Deepak's retail prowess
is Shamoon Sultan's Khaadi Khaas that is becoming huge, just like
Khaadi. And of course, there is hugely talented Sonya Battla whose
opening collection for FPW 1 showed how to make cotton classy. This
one should go to Deepak Perwani. Showing in Milan is no small feat...
and with clothes he has managed to sell successfully in the local
market. That's pret for you!
Achievement
in Fashion Design – Luxury Pret
Iman Ahmed at Body Focus, Nomi Ansari, Rizwan Beyg, Sana Safinaz
and Shamaeel Ansari
Having done away with Couture/Bridals after the inception of the
fashion week culture Luxury Pret is the new need of the day. Highly
stylized clothes are the elements of this categories designers with
Iman Ahmad of Body Focus, Shameel Ansari and Sana Safinaz having
done the most outstanding work in this category. Nomi Ansari showed
a super strong Western collection at FPW 1 as did Rizwan Beyg who
also wowed Milan with the artistry of his Salt Range collection.
We aren't even going to guess who this one should go to. This is
how a category should be, a neck to neck race that leaves one breathless.
Best
Menswear Designer
Amir Adnan, Fahad Hussayn, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, Ismail Farid
and Kuki Concepts
Deepak Perwani has moved out of this category to women's wear leaving
yet another possible win for Ismail Farid who's been going strong.
HSY has been doing the international rounds for a long time and
his suave menswear has been truly regal as his women's wear. Among
the other entrants Amir Adnan, Kuki Concepts and Fahad Hussain;
there has been not enough innovation for Amir Adnan, who relies
on a classic look to mass market, and perhaps a tad too much innovation
on part of Kuki Concepts and Fahad Hussain. This will be a toss
up between last year's winner Ismail Farid for the military menswear
he showed at FPW 1 and HSY who has been innovating with his menswear
as it should be done, making it stylish while ensuring that it remains
wearable.
Best Retail Brand
Crossroads, FNK Asia, Generation, Khaadi and Stoneage
Necessity is the mother of invention and Crossroads and Stoneage
came to the rescue. Crossroads and Stoneage gave the people what
they yearned for: local wearable western wear. While Generation
is a strong brand and has been trying its best to move with the
times the potential to do more is still there. Khaadi is a staple
in this category and will remain unhinged. FNK Asia was a success
with FPW2 but whether it can carry the trophy home, we're not so
sure. Stoneage just might win it due to the inspired move to collaborate
with HSY.
Model
of the Year (Female)
Aamina Sheikh, Cybil Chowdhry, Fayeza Ansari, Mehreen Syed and Rabia
Butt
Rather than Best Female Model this category should be renamed Golden
Girls. Cybil has made a terrific comeback and is being touted as
the new Vinny. Whereas we believe Mehreen Syed needs to find a quiet
place to retire, Rabia Butt and Fayeza Ansari also qualify as the
best we have. Aamina Sheikh is a great presence in print and not
tall enough for ramp but her television work overshadows her modeling
career by far. This one is a toss up between Cybil, Fayezah and
Rabia.
Model
of the Year (Male)
Abdullah, Arsalaan, Iffy Zafar and Rohail Peerzada
Mohammad is sorely missed from the Best Male Model category and
instead has wound up in Emerging Talent. This guy had all eyes on
him at fashion weeks and has been doing the rounds at all events
as Khawar Bhai's requisite arm candy. The same sass can be attributed
to Arsalan who is nominated but his attitude came across as arrogant
on the ramp rather than fierce. Abdullah may be a staple sweetheart
in male modeling but his engine is losing steam since he had gained
major weight prior to fashion week and was almost not considered
to be part of the line-up. Ouch! Rohail is still a newbie working
on and off but his presence among this heavy weight category makes
him a force to be reckoned with. All said and done we hope Iffy
Zafar walks away with the trophy for his undeniable print work and
catwalk prowess.
Best
Fashion Photographer
Fayyaz Ahmed, Guddu Shaani, Khawar Riaz, Maram Abroo and Rizwan
ul Haq
Fayyaz Ahmed and Maram Abroo are the ones that have brought a new
vitality to fashion photography as the art form that it is meant
to be. Taking risks and coming up stronger than the mainstays of
this category shows that new talent is out there and waiting to
be harvested if we give them the encouragement to do so. Having
to fight off a lot of negativity at the start of their careers Fayyaz
Ahmed and Maram Abroo are here to stay, taking fashion photography
in the right direction. Khawar Riaz, Guddu Shani and Rizwan ul Haq
round off the nominations in this category. While Khawar Riaz continues
to work on big budget campaigns giving us fresh faces and clean
photography, Guddu Shani are slowly taking over Lahore while working
on creatively charged shoots with their work on designer catalogues
like that of Sana Safinaz. Rizwan ul Haq always reminds us that
less is simplicity at its best and that there is no need for more.
Best Emerging Talent (0-3 years)
Ayaan Ali (Model), Ayaz Anis (Photographer), Feeha Jamshed (Designer)
M. Mubarak (Model) and Raana Khan (Stylist)
Photographer Ayaz Anis and stylist Ranna Khan are two consistently
good individuals who usually work in tandem on most projects. Ayaan
Ali is a model that shows us that quantity over quality can get
you nominated, she is everywhere, but she is good. Another model,
Mohammad Mubarak, sits pretty in this category with one of the best
portfolios this year. Our fingers are crossed for Feeha Jamshed
of Teejays for re-branding one of the oldest design houses and restlessly
working towards higher standards. Of course, there are those who
will say that her clothes aren't as readily available as Teejays'
were at the height of her father's peak. But hey, she is young and
her talent shone brighter than any young designer's at both fashion
weeks.
Best
Hair and Make up Artist
Altaf at Nabila, Khawar Riaz, Nighat at Depilex, Rizwana Khan and
Saba at Sabs
Altaf at Nabila has been strengthening Nabila's Salon for years
while the creative genius has been working on other big projects,
this nomination for Altaf has been a long time coming. Rizwana Khan
has worked hard to make her name in fashion though she has been
beautifying brides for quite some time now. The controversial Saba
of Sabs Salon has been another woman who is making her mark in the
field having done major shoots and fashion weeks. Khawar Riaz works
on the biggest ad campaigns like Gul Ahmed and Chen One and this
could be the reason why he has walked away with the trophy many
times over.
Let's see if he does it again, or the judges decide to promote fresh
blood.
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