Dramas

‘The Glassworker’ Makes History As Pakistan’s First Animated Submission To Oscars

Pakistan’s first-ever hand-drawn animated feature film, ‘The Glassworker’ written by Usman Riaz, has been selected for the animated films category among other eligible flicks for the 97th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday that 31 animated features, 169 documentaries, and 85 international films stand eligible for Oscar nominations this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A production of Geo Films in collaboration with Mano Animation Studios, The Glassworker’s inclusion as the first animated submission to the Oscars from Pakistan marks a historic moment for the country.

In the animated feature category, the film finds itself competing with industry giants such as Pixar’s Inside Out 2, already celebrated as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot.

Other significant contenders include Kung Fu Panda 4, Despicable Me 4, and the Japanese entry Kensuke’s Kingdom.

‘The Glassworker’ took 10 years in the making and was critically acclaimed by enthralled viewers for every filmmaking aspect — from storytelling and cinematography to music, composing, art, animation, and voice-over performances.

It takes the viewers through the story of a young boy named “Vincent” and his father “Tomas”, running a fine glass workshop in the country. That is when they find their lives uprooted by an impending war in which they do not want to participate.

Earlier, the film was officially selected for the 2025 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, alongside entries from 84 nations, including India’s Laapata Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao.

Palestine’s submission, From Ground Zero, has also secured a place on the list.

This year’s competition features several critically acclaimed works, such as France’s Emilia Pérez, Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and Brazil’s I’m Still Here.

The shortlists for these categories are set to be revealed on 17 December, narrowing the field before the final nominations, which will be announced on 23 January 2025.

Dramas

‘Even I Wasn’t Ready’: Hania Aamir Reacts to Viral Drama Scene

Hania Aamir has responded to the overwhelming fan reaction following a dramatic twist in the latest episode of Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, which has set social media abuzz.

The actress shared a behind-the-scenes clip on Instagram showing her character Ayra confessing her love to Kamyar (played by Bilal Abbas Khan), accompanied by a heartfelt caption: “Even I was not ready for it.”

The post quickly went viral, with fans enthusiastically sharing and reacting to the unexpected moment. Comments sections flooded with responses, from “I haven’t been this happy since passing my exams!” to “Ayra, you’ve fallen in love at last!” and “Now I understand why ARY made us wait so long.”

Viewers particularly praised the emotional depth and on-screen chemistry between Hania and Bilal, calling it a pivotal moment in the drama. Many admitted the confession caught them completely off guard, amplifying its impact.

Airing on ARY Digital, Meri Zindagi Hai Tu delves into intricate relationships and emotional struggles. The 13th episode, which aired recently, delivered the long-awaited scene that has now dominated online discussions.

The drama boasts an impressive cast featuring Hania Aamir, Bilal Abbas Khan, Meher Jaffri, Ali Rehman, Vardah Aziz, Alyy Khan, and Javeria Abbasi in key roles.

Dramas

Real-life couple Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari are back on TV together

If you didn’t hear the news: real-life married couple Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari — who now have a baby girl — are teaming up again on screen! Their new drama Faaslay will air on Green Entertainment starting December 5.

The trailer, out last week, has already got fans excited to watch the pair in lead roles together. This isn’t their first on-screen collaboration — they starred in the 2019 HUM TV thriller Naqab Zan (produced by Momina Duraid) before tying the knot.

Saboor and Ali got engaged in 2021 and married in a star-studded but intimate daytime nikkah in 2022. Earlier this year, in March, they welcomed their daughter Serena Ali and shared the happy news with fans via heartfelt posts.

Directed by Fahim Burney and written by Moona Syed, Faaslay is a love story filled with ego, tension, and emotional drama. The show’s OST, “Ishq Ve,” also dropped last week, giving fans a sneak peek at the multi-character plot.

Fans are extra eager to see Saboor and Ali’s chemistry in this post-marriage project — it’s a dynamic they haven’t shown on screen before!

The drama also features big names like Azfar Rehman, Mashal Karim, and Saba Hameed in its cast. For director Burney, Faaslay is his sixth project for Green Entertainment — his recent show Iqtidar was a major hit for the channel. Catch the premiere on December 5!

Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari—who co-starred in 2019’s Naqab Zan—got engaged in May 2021, tied the knot in an intimate star-studded Karachi nikkah in January 2022, and welcomed daughter Serena Ali in March 2024, with their marriage rooted in mutual connections and family support.

Dramas

Is Main Manto Nahi Hoon Living Up to the Hype?

The much-hyped drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon has quickly become one of the most talked-about shows on Pakistani television. Written by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar and directed by Nadeem Baig, the mega project is airing on ARY Digital with an ensemble cast that boasts Humayun Saeed, Sanam Saeed, Sajal Aly, Asif Raza Mir, Babar Ali, Saima Noor, Saba Hameed, and Saba Faisal, along with rising stars like Azaan Sami Khan and Nameer Khan. With such a lineup, expectations were sky-high, but has the drama lived up to its promise?

From the beginning, Main Manto Nahi Hoon has been marketed as a poetic, intense tale with awesome storytelling. The show is structured around a 70-year-old rivalry, intertwining themes of love, betrayal, and societal vices. Its dialogues carry Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s trademark lyrical style, making each scene feel like a blend of literature and cinema.

Azaan Sami Khan as Farhad has emerged as the antagonist, adding an element of unpredictability to the story. Meanwhile, the presence of seasoned actors has added gravitas, while the younger cast members are beginning to carve out their space. Supporters of the drama praise its cinematic production value, powerful dialogues, and strong performances. “This is television on a big screen scale,” one fan commented. Others admire the depth given to even secondary characters, something not often seen in mainstream dramas.

Yet, for every admirer, there’s a critic. A section of the audience finds the drama unnecessarily “flowery” and believes the dialogues overshadow the story itself. Some have raised ethical concerns over certain dynamics, particularly the depiction of a teacher-student relationship, while others argue that the narrative leans too heavily on the familiar trope of men versus women.

This divide has sparked an ongoing debate online: is Main Manto Nahi Hoon an artistic masterpiece or a missed opportunity? For some, it’s refreshing to watch a drama that challenges conventional storytelling; for others, it feels dated and disconnected from contemporary realities.

With only a handful of episodes aired, the final verdict on whether Main Manto Nahi Hoon is a true hit or flop remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the drama has succeeded in sparking conversation and in today’s fast-paced media landscape, that alone is a form of success. Whether the show cements itself as a classic or fades into controversy will depend on how the story unfolds in the coming weeks.