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BIG 5
In the summertime…
Instep takes a look at the five things to watch out for this summer - from the upcoming nuptials of a comic book couple to the big budget releases headed to the cinema screen
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Get your cricketing whites on
Recapture the cricket mania that the World T20 tournament has spawned by following the Pakistan cricket team as they play a test-series against Sri Lanka in July. The T20 World Cup win and the brilliant performances by cricketers such as Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi as well as the return of Abdul Razzaq to the fold are definitely reasons to start loving cricket again. While watching test matches truly requires patience, with an unpredictable team like ours all you need is a bowl of popcorn and 'Dil Dil Pakistan' playing and you're set!
Sink into Pakistani writing
This summer will see another spate of fiction and non-fiction books by Pakistani authors including the much talked about debut novel by Ali Sethi, The Wish Maker, Salman Ahmed's Rock n Roll Jihad. And if you're interested in a heavier read, books on Pakistani politics that will be in stores this summer include Musharraf: The Years in Power by Murtaza Razvi and The Al Qaeda Connection by Imtiaz Gul. Or you can opt to read up on cricket with Shadows Across the Field: 60 years of India-Pakistan Cricket, co-authored by Shahryar Khan and Shashi |
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| Tharoor. Also to be announced this summer will be the winners of the Life's Too Short short story competition, which is being judged by Pakistani authors Mohammed Hanif, Kamila Shamsie and Daniyal Muenuddin. |
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Bollywood goes West
The East-West crossover film Kambakkht Ishq is finally premiering in Pakistan on July 3 after having been delayed for ages due to the standoff between producers and multiplex owners in India. Starring Bollywood A-listers Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor and with cameos by Rambo/Rocky Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Superman Brandon Routh, this should definitely make for brainless entertainment. More East-West crossover will be seen in the film Kites, which premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival and stars Hrithik Roshan, Mexican actress Barbara Mori and Kangana Renaut.
Also releasing in July is Imtiaz Ali's next venture after Jab We Met, the Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer Love Aaj Kal, which also features Rishi Kapoor and Rahul Khanna.
One of the more cerebral films to watch out for this summer will be Omkara director Vishal Bharadwaj's Kaminey, with Shahid Kapur in a double role and Priyanka Chopra. The film's trailer premiered to great reviews last December in Indian multiplexes and is definitely worth watching on YouTube. One can't wait to see how Bharadwaj brings out the best in Kapur and Chopra like he did with the cast of Omkara. This definitely looks set to be a very rangeen summer!
Will Archie Andrews tie the knot with Veronica?
This is the wedding of the decade! Even those who had outgrown the much-loved comic book series, news that the most indecisive bachelor ever - Archie Andrews - is tying the knot this summer came as a huge shock. It wasn't just that Archie had made up his mind to finally settle down - it was whom he's marrying - since Archie is picking rich spoilt brat Veronica Lodge over girl-next-door Betty Cooper. Whether Archie and Veronica actually follow through with the wedding will remain to be seen this August when the issue hits the stand. The cover for that issue, which has been released, shows Veronica saying 'YES!' to Archie's proposal while Betty sobs and Jughead looks shocked!
Watch out Muggles!
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger return this summer with their wizarding magic in the much awaited film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. J.K.Rowling's magic continues on in this film, which is set to release in mid-July and is the sixth in the bestseller book and multi-million dollar film series. Boasting absolutely otherworldly graphics and deviations from the book (the part with Dumbledore's funeral has been removed to avoid repetition with the final part, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) fans of the franchise should keep their wands out and their eyes tuned to the wizarding hour.
– Saba Imtiaz |
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