The Lux Style Awards come as the most awaited validation of excellence in Pakistan. Several other award shows like the Hum Awards have emerged over the years but launched by TV channels, they are perceived as being favourable to the host, which is all but natural. The Lux Style Awards, now in its 17th year – making it the longest standing award showing celebrating contemporary fashion, music, cinema and television in Pakistan – is still considered the most credible and the most non-partisan. That does not, however, mean that it is controversy free.
The LSA TV nominations – the toughest category, I feel – were announced on Friday evening and there has been heated dispute over several inclusion and a few unbelievable snubs. I want to make a couple of observations as I go over the categories.
Let’s take a look…
Best TV Play
Alif Allah Aur Insan
Muqabil
O Rungreza
Sammi
Sang e Mar Mar
It’s a little unbelievable that Baaghi and Yakeen Ka Safar did not make it to the list as both drama serials were (and Baaghi still is) extremely big, especially in comparison to Sammi and Sang e Mar Mar. From the given list, I’d say the award will go to Hum TV, for either Alif Allah Aur Insan or for O Rungreza.
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Best TV Actor
Adnan Siddiqui in Sammi
Ahad Raza Mir in Yakeen ka Safar
Imran Abbas in Khuda Aur Mohabbat
Mohin Abbas in Muqabil
Noman Ijaz in Pinjari
Ahad Raza Mir’s popularity may just land him this award BUT I would vote for Adnan Siddiqui, who was stellar in Sammi. Infact, he was the strongest link in the play. I would have hoped that Furqan Qureshi would have landed a nomination for his role as Noor in Khuda Mera Bhi Hai.
I would also like to point out that this category has to expand. There should a Best Supporting Actor/Actress category too because Adnan and Ahad do not serve the same purpose in both plays. And if we’re going beyond the protagonist, then Noman Ijaz is just as strong in O Rungreza. TV has grown incredibly since the LSAs started 17 years ago; the segment has to grow accordingly too.
Best TV Actress
Bushra Ansari in Seeta Bagri
Kubra Khan in Muqabil
Saba Qamar in Baaghi
Sajal Aly in Yakeen Ka Safar
Sajal Aly in O Rungreza
This is an exciting category and while all nominees are worthy, it’ll be a battle between Sajal Aly (in O Rungreza not YKS) and Saba Qamar. Both actresses have displayed intense range in their characters, Sajal creating an absolutely original persona with Sassi and Saba recreating Qandeel with Fauzia/Kanwal Baloch.
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Best TV Director
Ahsan Talish for Alif Allah Aur Insan
Farooq Rind for Baaghi
Kashif Nisar for O Rungreza
Safie Hassan for Sammi
Saife Hassan for Sang e Mar Mar
Kashif Nisar may be a popular choice but O Rungreza’s direction has seen many ups and downs; it’s not been consistently strong. I think this award should go to Farooq Rind for Baaghi because it’s not easy to recreate a story as complicated as Qandeel’s was.
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Best TV Writer
Mustafa Afridi for Sang e Mar Mar
Noor ul Huda Shah for Sammi
Qaisara Hayat for Alif Allah aur Insan
Saji Gul for O Rungreza
Zafar Mairaj for Muqabil
I’m surprised that Baaghi is not nominated because again, to write Qandeel Baloch’s story for the screen could not have been easy. I also feel Khuda Mera Bhi Hai should have been nominated as it was an extremely difficult story to pen. I don’t think O Rungreza should win because the story tends to wander all over the place. Alif Allah and Muqabil are strong contenders for this category but I feel Nur ul Huda Shah should win for Sammi.
Best Original Sound Track
Adnan Dhool and Sana Zulfiqar for ‘Bay Khudi’
Ali Azmat for ‘Rasm e Dunya’
Jimmy Khan for ‘Tumharay Hain’
Nabeel Shaukat for ‘Woh ek Pal’
Richi Robinson for ‘Shayad’
This is the only category that I don’t have an opinion on; in fact, if there are limited awards to give in TV then this should be replaced by Best Emerging Actor/Actress to encourage new talent. I really can’t say which OST should win from the given list but I am shocked that two of the best and most popular songs – from Baaghi, O Rungreza – are not on the list.
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