Jemima Goldsmith with Yasmin Whittaker-Khan at the film’s press screening, Vue, Leicester Square, 12 January 2023. Photo: ​​Sanam Hasan

What’s Love Got to Do With It? A feel-good South Asian rom-com with a sturdy message

Released in the UK on February 24 and in Pakistan on March 3, the film is a refreshing masterclass on how to adhere to the classic romantic-comedy structure, delivering a delightfully fair representation of multi-heritage families in cosmopolitan London and Lahore.

When the magic of Faiz got overshadowed by the Javed Akhtar controversy

But it was Akhtar’s few brief comments about the Mumbai attacks that spread rapidly on social media, picked up by mainstream media in Pakistan and India. Back home Akhtar had to defend his visit to Pakistan but his hosts. Faiz Festival organisers, have refused to comment on the controversy.

Zia Mohyeddin: Mourning the passing away of a progressive Pakistani poet and theatre artiste

Pakistan’s progressive movement revolved largely around the great poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, whose work Zia Mohyeddin so eloquently recited in his signature style, his distinctive, gravelly voice set him apart from others. 

A legendary Indian songwriter, a daughter married in Pakistan - and a family torn apart

Before moving to Pakistan, Kishwar often accompanied her father to recordings after school hours in Mumbai. After marriage, with relations between the two countries deteriorating, she found herself progressively isolated from her family and the world. 

More on Medley

Hyderabad-based cancer surgeon conferred with prestigious UK honour for improving breast cancer care

He founded South Asia's first dedicated comprehensive breast health centre and a breast cancer charity to raise awareness about the disease

Zojila Tunnel project - India's longest tunnel - Is powered by local Kashmiris

About 900 out of 1000 men working on the 13-km long Zojila Tunnel are from Jammu and Kashmir

Need to uplift Kashmir's youth by educating them, says India's Supreme Court; rejects loan denial to student studying in Bangladesh

“She is a younger person and is pursuing her 2nd year in MBBS in Bangladesh. There is lax on her part (sic), she is a youngster. Many young people make mistakes. Have we not done mistakes when we were young?” remarked Justice Chandrachud

'Asia's largest' tulip garden opens in Kashmir amid tourist rush

As Kashmir witnesses a massive rush of tourists amid easing of Covid restrictions in the rest of India, the tulip garden has been one of the major attractions vital to boosting tourism this season, tourism officials said 

Autistic Indian girl swims across Palk Strait, as Sri Lankan and Indian Navy provide security cover

Jiya Rai, the autistic daughter of a senior sailor of the Indian Navy, brought laurels to India by swimming across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanuskodi (India), a distance of 29 km, in 13 hours and 10 minutes

Pakistani girl wins 13th World Speed Reading Championship

Beating over 100 competitors from across the world, Emma Alam, a Pakistani girl, did her country proud as she won the 13th World Speed Reading Championship final which was held in a hybrid form due to the pandemic

Muslim family in India donates land to build 'world's largest Hindu temple', taller than Angkor Vat

Without the help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project for Hindus, the Mahavir Mandir Trust head added

Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya get Sports Icon award from the Maldives

Former India cricketer Suresh Raina and former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya were felicitated with the prestigious Sports Icon award at the Maldives Sports Awards 2022 by the Maldives government

Jaipur 2.0: Keeping the flame of freedom alive

The Jaipur Literature Festival once again created that avenue where not only did the readers get a chance to listen to and interact with their favourite writers, but the writing fraternity too engaged in constructive conversations as opposed to destructive criticism, writes Saket Suman for South Asia Monitor

Sans music and female cast, Taliban controlled Afghan film company screens two documentaries

Afghan Film, Afghanistan’s state-run film production company, now controlled by a Taliban grandee, screened two documentaries as “entertainment programs” - but without featuring any female actor and music, a stark reminder of the tectonic cultural and social changes the country has gone through when the Islamists seized power in August last year

Pakistani girl evacuated by Indian embassy thanks PM Modi

If war brings out the worst in people, it also brings to the fore humanity's nobler instincts when India evacuated a stranded Pakistani girl along with Indian students from war-hit Ukraine resulting in the Pakistan girl publicly thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Embassy

‘Lunana, A Yak in the Classroom”: Bhutan’s Oscar entry to encourage its small film industry

‘Lunana:  A Yak in the Classroom’, a Bhutanese film, shot by just 35 local crew in a remote far western Bhutanese village,  was among five films nominated for an Oscar award last month in the International Feature Film category—a first for the Himalayan country of  750,000 people

Tanzanian video blogger is 'inspired' by Modi's praise

Tanzanian video blogger and content creator Kili Paul, whose song and dance videos lip-syncing Indian hits with his sister Neema are a huge hit with Indian audiences, and have been praised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has said he was thrilled to bits by the Prime Minister's compliment and it has "inspired me a million times"

Child marriages: A perennial social and legal challenge in Pakistan

Despite years of efforts by the government, child marriages in Pakistan continue to remain a major challenge for authorities

Heart to heart: Tamil Nadu man's heart bridges distance to save life of woman from Kashmir in India

A beating human heart travelled 350 km, from a man from Tamil Nadu in south India to a woman from the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, whose only hope of survival was early life-saving heart transplantation

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