10 wishes we hope to see come true in 2022
From bringing Bollywood back to the cinemas to PM Imran commenting on women's clothing, we yearn for a better year
KARACHI:
"Dream on but don’t imagine they’ll all come true," said Billy Joel on a rather bittersweet note as he paved the way for all of our own Viennas waiting to be discovered. Junoon emphasised that while all dreams may never be fulfilled, they give us a reason to move forward in life. As we bid farewell to an emotionally taxing 2021, we hope to see fewer dreams shattered and more culminated in what we aspire to be a year of newer formulas and brave expression.
Of course, it’s easier said than done and it is quite likely that we would be stuck on the same bucket list a year later but no one can stop us from dreaming and hoping that someday, someone decides to break out of the rut.
As we step into a new year, we walk into 2022 with new aspirations, dreams and yearning. Here are ten wishes we hope to see come true this year.
1. We wish to see less harassment at concerts
Reports of unruly crowds - specifically at concerts - have been making headlines lately. The miscreants have often forced the artists to pause the ongoing performance midway while calling out the wrongdoers. Aima Baig, Talha Anjum and Atif Aslam recently lashed out at certain attendees for wreaking havoc while they were onstage.
In another performance, the Doori singer left after complaints of women being groped in the audience came to his knowledge. In a country where concerts are rarely organised, the least attendees can do is make sure it goes on smoothly. In 2022, we wish to see concerts without incidents of harassment or being marred by a rowdy audience. I know we are asking too much too soon but let’s keep asking, no?
2. We wish to see Pakistani films draw crowds post-Covid
The multiplexes in the country have finally opened their doors, after a year and a half hiatus thanks to Covid-19. With a rather positive outpour of the crowd since Marvel's much-awaited latest installment of Spider-Man hit the screens, we wish to see more attendees making their way to the popcorn queues and extend the same support to the Pakistani cinema circuit.
With films such as The Legend of Maula Jatt, Money Back Guarantee, Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad, Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer, Ghabrana Nahi Hai among others set for theatrical release, the future of the cinema culture is in for an upcoming experiment and we wish it doesn’t fail.
3. We wish to see Bollywood films back in cinemas
I'm just going to cut to the chase. The idea of banning Indian content might seem like a healthy take to promote local content, however, it doesn't apply all too well on paper. Since Bollywood has been a no-show in the country, cinemas in Pakistan have been suffering - quite considerably - monetarily.
Pakistan is home to a large audience of Bollywood films and their offerings, so prohibiting Indian content has affected the cinema business substantially. It's high time we come face to face with this truth.
4. We wish to see Bollywood we grew up with
While making a case for Bollywood to return on the big screen on this side of the border, I do have some reservations. While we drink, breathe and adore Bollywood, the Bollywood we have been witnessing off late isn't the one we fell in love with.
A significant number of mainstream Indian films are soaked in jingoism these days and it's getting really tiring. To anyone listening, can we please have more films such as The Sky Is Pink, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Pagglait instead of Phantom, the Tiger franchise, Mission Majnu, Shershah and the likes?
5. We wish to see more digital content creators on TV
If there's one good trend we saw coming out of 2021, it was the rise of digital content creators on the small screen. CBA famed Arslan Naseer truly proved his mettle when he starred in Danish Nawaz's Ramazan special Chupke Chupke as Hadi. The YouTuber was praised by the audience for holding his own in the star-studded sitcom.
2021's internet sensation, the Pawri girl, Dananeer Mobeen, too, managed to bag her first-ever drama serial, the empowering Sinf-e-Aahan. Dare I say, Waqar Zaka wasn't wrong when he emphasised giving a proper platform to the content creators. Here's wishing we see more (*cough* Waliya Najib *cough*) influencers and YouTubers making debuts on television.
6. We wish to see more content for children
Gone are the days when at six o clock in the evening meant reruns of Captain Planet, Ariel: The Little Mermaid, Legends of the Hidden Temple and Popeye, followed by Blues Clues, MAD. As Pakistan’s private TV production apparatus got more formalised, we saw a prominent decline in content for kids on television.
Since YouTube has taken over as the primary entertainer for kids, the onus of producing infomercials, quiz shows, cartoons for the kids on television has been compromised. In 2022, media heads should actively work towards producing more content for kids.
7. We wish to see more food trucks
Karachi is finally catching up with the food truck culture! Snacc food truck, in Gulshan, became somewhat of an OG when it came to comfort food on the go. What followed was Bao Buns, The Hot Chick, Street Dudes and Wok On, offering a variety of cuisines.
While food truck culture has always been prevalent in the west, we are still taking our sweet time to adapt it wholeheartedly. The owners of the aforementioned businesses have never really compromised the quality of their products but we are yet to see more food trucks in the city.
8. We wish to see celebs walk the talk
There has been frequent talk about the troublesome narratives in the drama industry. We've had conversations about changing the platitude, we've had Instagram lives on moving on from scripts that pit women against women, we've had protests against showing abuse on television. We've said it all. Our celebs have said it all. Several Pakistani artists have also been outspoken about the quality of scripts that are being written.
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However, when offered the same script, they rarely make an effort to change it, refuse it or perhaps challenge the system. The tall claims of not working with an ‘abuser’ sound socially conscious and jolly but when push comes to shove, the same celebrities hardly walk the talk. In 2022, we hope our artists follow through with their words - otherwise what really is the difference between our parliamentarians and our actors?
9. We wish to see Imran Khan phrase his arguments about women and piety better
Even though you did clarify – numerous times - about the problematic statements you’ve passed on, I'm on my knees, dear premier. Let 2021 be the last year where you comment on women's clothing and put the onus of being raped, harassed and assaulted on them rather than the culprit.
PM Imran says wearing 'few clothes' in a society like Pakistan's may lead to rape, Twitter disagrees
Let this year truly be the new beginning where you weigh your words before sharing ill-informed takes on the rise of sexual crimes in the country. As always, the responsibility of any nature of sexual assault falls upon the accused, never the accuser.
10) As I wrap up this article, there's one more wish I have. This year, we truly hope to see Zindagi Tamasha in the cinemas without any more hurdles.
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