Umru Ayar - Review

It has often been criticized that Superman is not a real hero. Ofcourse he fights evil, helps and rescues people  and all that good stuff. But the reason why a lot of critics do not give him the title is because Superman is invulnerable; his enemies cannot harm him with earthly weapons. Hence he risks less than the other, earthly-mortal superheros and devoiding him off the title.

Umru Ayar is one of those earthly-mortal superheros who gambles his life to fight evil and to help and rescue people who need him. When I use the word 'gamble', I mean it quite literally. Yes, Umru's imperfectness as a superhero is his greed and he does, what he does, for a price. But don't fret, Umru is brave and as the word 'Ayar' suggests; clever. He is just like any superhero you know, only this time, he is desi.

The soft launch of Umru Ayar was held on the 11th of April, 2013 at Kachee Goliyan's crib. After reading the first issue and quite a bit of laughter on the 'donut' joke, we got down to business. Positive, energetic and friendly; the team was more than willing to answer our questions and doubts about the project and made sure that we went home convinced.

The comic book, Umru Ayar, is inspired from the famous early-Urdu stories, published under the same name, and the Kachee Goliyan team has done a wonderful job in not only keeping the original concept intact but also in tuning it to the modern day criteria. The team is targeting maximum audience and has decided to launch the comic book in both: English and Urdu. The artwork is incredible. Great attention has been given to the details, like the use of traditional dark colours through out the comic, signifying that the artist has put his heart and soul in to the project. The dialogues, in both English and Urdu, are fun and grasp attention immediately. And the concept, new and original, leaves you excited for more.

The idea of a comic book, in this part of the world, is inexperienced. The errors in it are evident but forgivable. And the issue might leave you feeling that there is some little thing amiss. But the effort behind the whole project is sincere, devoted and apparent; promising that as Umru Ayar burgeons, it will get even better.

The official launch of the comic book, Umru Ayar, is scheduled for 6PM on the 14th of April, 2013 at T2F (The Second Floor) where the ambitious team awaits you and I, too, urge you to go support them.

In a country where people have grown afraid to step out of their houses, Kachee Goliyan has found a brilliant way for you to spend time home. So sit back, relax, grab a copy of Umru Ayar, enjoy and stay safe. 

Spellbound

There is this thing about Karachi. Dozens are murdered on its streets everyday. Crime and corruption are at their peak. In fact, it has been compared to the fictitious Gotham city.When you'll come here, there is going to be so much violence that you're gonna want to run away. You might witness people firing at each other. You'll probably see tires burning on some major road. And you will definitely read a newspaper filled with news you wouldn't want to read. The city will leave you breathless because nobody will let you take a break for even one moment. But that's not all there is to Karachi.

Karachi has magic. It has beauty so wild that it will leave you amazed and love so passionate that it will shake you to your very core. But it's not something that you can just find in a day. It's something you'll have to live here to see. Something you'll have to observe and appreciate over the days that pass by. You'll have to take a walk on a chilly night (Just don't take your wallet or phone). You'll have to give in to its evening's gentle wind. You'll have to learn to move with its broken roads. You'll have to survive a day without electricity in its brutal, summer heat. You'll have to dance in the rain on its dirty beaches. You'll have to ride on top of a bus. You'll have to enjoy a cup of tea at a dhaba. You'll have to stick through a bad day to see how, in the end, its people come together to help. And you will have to have people here, who you love, to be able to see the magic. And once you've seen the magic, this city will enchant you in a way that you won't be able to leave.

As I was writing this, a random guy asked me why I was smiling. I said one word and the smile was on his face too: Karachi.