LSA 2017: Did HSY deliver under pressure?

With a mix of hits and misses, Lux Style Awards 2017 saw everyone go home on time

KARACHI: Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, popularly known as HSY, took over Lux Style Awards (LSA) from Frieha Altaf for the first time since its inception 16 years ago. A huge responsibility as it is, the ace designer was confident enough to prove that he can do as well as his predecessor. But did he?

LSA 2017 was definitely an improvement in some areas. With a more hands-on approach, HSY managed the timing issues, with the show ending around midnight, unlike LSA 2016 which ended at dawn. And while it may have been as entertaining as last year’s, it at least didn’t drag and suffice to say, it also didn’t involve forced humour in bad taste (like poking fun at dwarves as was done last year).

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But where HSY nailed the time management, he ended up compromising on the overall experience. As good as Osman Khalid Butt’s humour quotient was, the highlights were all scattered and one had to wait for the best. Like a screenplay of a Pakistani film, it relied too much on talking where there was an entire visual experience waiting to be showcased.

One can argue there was no need for long boring monologues about films which had remained in the limelight for the past year. Whether it was done to justify their nomination or merely extend the screen time, they became the lowest points of the night.



As hip as the show was, HSY couldn’t match the grandiosity and lavishness that Altaf had us hooked to. While her previous showings were like a haphazard movement inside an atomic nucleus, it was a still a spectacle to witness because of its high octane performances. While the visual appeal of HSY’s set and arrangement added a lot of oomph, the entire show wasn’t put together well enough to be memorable.

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Celebrities brought their A-game to the LSA 2017 red carpet. From Syra Shehroz and Anum Malik (who bagged the Best Dressed trophy) to Aamina Sheikh and Mahira Khan, everyone looked majestic. Further, LSA 2017 was also a night of many firsts, starting with the superstar Atif Aslam hosting the event to a surprise glimpse into Ali Zafar’s Pakistani debut film Teefa in Trouble.

Albeit shaky at a few points, Aslam hosted the extravaganza pretty well, considering it was his first time. He managed to hold his own with Osman Khalid Butt in the comedic segment. But he really took off when he mimicked Ali Zafar and Sajjad Ali. Singing in a heavy voice similar to Zafar’s and a softer, more melodious voice of Sajjad, Aslam had the crowd in splits.

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But more than anyone, the scriptwriter of the show Osman Khalid Butt must be commended for coming up with interesting ideas, especially that of ‘morning shows’. He parodied the recent infamous publicity stunt, brilliantly orchestrated by Sahir Lodhi after his debut film Raasta bombed. Butt and his team portrayed the hilarity of Lodhi vs media, which became the talk of town a couple of weeks earlier, perfectly.

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Furthermore, his digs at United Airlines, and Saba Qamar’s absence were cleverly timed. Faiza Saleem deserves a special mention. Her expressions are truly the stuff of nightmares. I don’t think I have ever gotten that scared and laughed hysterically at the same time. Way to go, Saleem!

But where there were hilarious moments, there were also heart-touching ones. The main event of the show involved Aslam paying tribute to Junaid Jamshed. The performance brought everyone together to remember JJ’s contribution to Pakistan’s music industry and brought back all the nostalgia of yesteryears.

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While Butt may have rightfully poked fun on how socially aware celebrities pretend to be, Ahsan Khan’s tribute to Mashal Khan was much-needed and deserves to be respected. One surprise for Mera Sultan fans was seeing their Sultan live. Halit Ergenç graced the stage to receive his ‘international icons’ award and also give out the Best Film award, won by Actor In Law.

When it came to awards, most were won by deserving candidates but it’s frustrating to see Mahira Khan win it every year, when most thought Saba Qamar or anyone else would be recognised. And Aslam won the Best Singer for Dil Dancer when it wasn’t the best sung song of the year. It wasn’t even his best. But again, it was great to see some new additions to the industry, such as rapper Abid Brohi being given the spotlight to shine.

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