Talk of the town

Eatery Swing faces flak for trivialising trafficking in its latest marketing stint

We’ve often seen restaurants stooping down to marketing tactics that are way beyond the belt to gain attention, and the past week was no different, especially for Swing. After using a sequence from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie Gangubai Kathiawadi to advertise a “men’s day” special discount, a well-known restaurant in Karachi, Pakistan, has come under fire.

As soon as the video clip was uploaded to social media, it, faced ire on majorty of the platforms for using a painful scene from the film in which a sex worker, after having been trafficked and left at Kamathipura, attempts to get a customer. The footage from the film and the dialogue used by the restaurant in a post read: “Aja na Raja – what are you waiting for? Swings is calling out all the Raja’s out there. Ajao and avail a 25% discount on Men’s Monday at Swings!”

To make things worse, the eatery unable to digest the failed marketing strategy came out with another post justifying their distasteful campaign in a newspaper clipping that read “Movie kare tou aag, restaurant kare tou paap” which translates to, “If a film does it then it’s explosive but if a restaurant does it, it is a sin.” With a caption that claimed the ad was ‘ just a concept.’ ” We didn’t mean to hurt the sentiments of anyone. The movie and this post is based on a concept. Like before, we’re open to all and will be serving you with the same love like we always have,” the restaurant wrote.

Taking the onus of calling out such sexist portrayals has become one of the internet’s primary responsibilities. While it is refreshing to see social media users point it out, we wish strategists behind such campaigns used their common sense instead.

Adnan Siddiqui refuses to attend the US event hosting Indian artistes

Following the hate-fuelled, sacrilegious comments made by the now suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, actor Adnan Siddiqui has announced he will not be attending an event conducted by the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) — an American non-profit organisation headquartered in Westmont, Illinois, United States – due to its decision to host Indian artistes.

The APPNA is the largest medical organization of expatriate Pakistanis in the US. Set up by Dr Zaheer Ahmed, a Pakistani gastroenterologist based in Michigan, the organisation aims at providing a platform for social gatherings and a vehicle for educational and humanitarian projects in Pakistan.

The APPNA is planned to convene its summer conference in the Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, New Jersey, between July 13 to July 17, as per statements made on its Facebook page. Its going to feature a mix of Indian and Pakistani artists which include Ali Zafar who is scheduled to perform on July 15, and Indian playback singer. Sunidhi Chauhan who is gearing up to perform July 16. It has also announced a cultural night that will witness performances by Farhan Saeed and Quratulain Baloch on July 14, Thursday, among other festivities during its five-day run. The artistes have not yet shared the announcements on their own social media handles.

It has also announced a cultural night that will witness performances by Farhan Saeed and Quratulain Baloch on July 14, Thursday, among other events during its five-day run. The artistes have not yet shared the announcements on their own social media handles.

Junaid Khan launches Jeem films

The name Junaid Khan has become synonymous with not just great singing but also great acting. From concert stages – performing in front of thousands of adoring Call fans – to television and film screens exploring various roles, his acting career has gone from strength to strength. The artist is all set to launch his own production house, Jeem Films, through which he hopes to create even more diverse content. The production house aims delving into genres like action, mystery, and thriller, which are a rare find on the Pakistani screens and most production houses find themselves shying away from exploring such genres.

The inaugural projects for Jeem are Junaid’s own music videos, he recently treated fans with the song Yaadan’s official poster that features Hira Mani.