Desi web series about one man’s quest to find his soul mate… on a matrimonial website

Farhan Arshad is currently part of the TV Comedy Development team at Sony Pictures Television. Prior to that, Farhan interned with Comedy Central and in 2009 was one of five writers selected to participate in the Comedy Central Rocktern program and was invited to submit jokes for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Upon completion of the program, Farhan was commissioned to write promos for The Jeff Dunham Show.

Our Desi World recently talked to Farhan about his brand new venture: Brownies, a Desi web series about an an AB(C)D’s quest for true love. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

It’s been a while since I wrote. The kids kept me busy during the summer, and when they were at their dad’s house, there was just too much work to do.

Today’s ramblings are a reminder to all those parents out there that take the time with their children for granted. I used to be one of those mothers too. Sure, I spent time with my kids and enjoyed the holidays with them, but I was also glad to have them back in school so I could have some time to myself.

It’s when you have to share your children with your ex as well as the school that you realize how fast they’re growing and how little time you have with them. I now value each and every moment of the time I get with my children.

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While my husband and I were still together, I had a conversation with him about Javed and Shamoon.

We knew them both socially. Javed and his wife were a part of our “inner circle” of friends; yet the men in our group disliked Shamoon. We liked his wife, but had been instructed by our husbands to keep our socializing with her limited to lunches and events without the men as much as possible.

Not understanding the reason behind this, I asked my husband why he disliked Shamoon.

For today’s post, I would like to share a conversation I had recently. My son had gone to his friend’s house for the evening, and I went to pick him up when I had this conversation with the friend’s mother. I will call her “Reema” and skip over to the interesting part. The whole conversation took place at their door and didn’t last for more than 10 minutes, but here’s the part that blew me away…

Ever since I remember I was always concerned about my reputation. I didn't have a bad character, so why was I so worried about my reputation? I believe it may have been due to the fact that my character may have been good, but it was weak. I always looked for outside approval because I didn't think my own approval mattered. Too many women believe that. Especially women from our culture. Some women figure out that this belief is wrong on their own, others (such as I) need to go through turmoil before they realize it, and unfortunately, many never do.

Family. I never realized the importance of a KHANdan until I arrived in college. Sure, there is a lot of freedom, and – don’t get me wrong – I LOVE it. But, there are times when I just want to go home. I just want to smell the biryani that my mom is cooking, hear my dad shout for joy as the Pakistani team surprisingly wins a cricket match, watch my sister turn pages of The Hunger Games, or give my little brother a hug for saying he missed me.

As we arrive in college, parents’ worst nightmares soon become real. Yes, this includes desi parents as well. You may have taught your child all the good you possibly could, but your child is still a child. A child is going to see what’s out there and explore.

So anyways, one of my close friends went through this recently, and I’d like to shed some light on the topic of alcohol and drugs. Parents please note that this can easily be your child.

Who am I? As humans, we ask this question about a million times. We go on a journey called life to try to figure out who we are, and what’s our purpose. So now we are talking about who we are/what’s our purpose in terms of ourselves, our American and Desi culture, and Islam. As a young woman, is it my job to study and have a career? Perhaps to get married through an “arrangement” or even worse, Shaadi.com, and cook/clean/take care of my kids and my momma’s-boy-husband? Or is to pray and read the Quran and focus on the afterlife? I think my head is about to explode.

Noted journalist and Dawn editor Shagufta Naaz recounts how it was growing up in Karachi in the 70s & 80s. “It was a dreary place, with no concept of Internet, cell phones, malls or fast food franchises.” We all remember “crabbing, the beach, Funland, videogame arcades, Tit Bits book stall...and the VCR!” Until “2006, that became the year of the revival of cinema; the year when Shoaib Mansoor delivered his superb debut, Khuda Ke Liye. Suddenly going to the cinema was the in thing to do.”

Salman Ahmad of Junoon collaborates with Peter Gabriel to Open Your Eyes

I recently caught up with Salman Ahmad of Junoon. It so happened he was about to release his brand new single for Pakistan, Open Your Eyes – a cause close to heart. Not only that, this song was a collaboration with none other than Peter Gabriel, who was the frontman and founder of one of my favorite British pop-rock bands of the 80s, Genesis! Before he knew what had hit him (and considering we go way back), I had roped him in to do a candid one-on-one exclusive for Our Desi World.

Here is our little tête à tête about Open Your Eyes and other things that are keeping Salman up… and going.

Travails and Triumphs of Two Pakistani Women

Meet Nausheen Dadahboy, a Pakistani-American film-maker whose first instinct after hearing about the catastrophic earthquake in Pakistan was to get there!

She had not imagined undertaking such a project when she was studying Film and Video Production at the California State University at Long Beach, nor did she know that she would be shooting a film in the remote areas of Pakistan even before starting on the MFA degree program in Cinematography from the American Film Institute that she later completed.

California Foodie Interview

Recently Our Desi World spotted Zareen Khan on Facebook in a photo album where she was giving step by step cooking lessons to local enthusiasts and foodies in California. After a little research we were impressed with her business model. Our Desi World went on to interview entrepreneur Zareen Khan of Curry Village Foods and asked her how she balances home life and business with such success.

We also asked her to share one of her favorite recipes and Zareen happily obliged with this mouth watering dessert recipe for Flan or Caramel Custard with Orange Zest.

Here is Zareen chatting with ODW.

Desis in the USA are a peculiar species. They are rampant and they flock together. They are also easy to spot – if you know what we mean ;)  Enjoy these crowd-sourced tips on how to recognize that not-so-rare breed of honest-to-goodness, down-to-earth, true-blue Desi in Amreeka!

It was just another day in November 1999 when Shabina Mustafa’s maid convinced her to convert her garage into a school for the children of the basti. “I told her, well, you clean out the garage – it was full of junk – and then we’ll see.” Thus began the one of the most inspiring stories to come out of Karachi.

Say Karachi and breakfast in the same breath and the first words that come to mind are halwa puri (ok, anda paratha works too.) Anyone who remembers the Karachi of 10 years ago probably cherishes memories of a feast of piping puris, spicy chick pea curry and the extremely orange suji ka halwa topped off with a cup of doodh patti which could all be packed and taken home or eaten right there, off tin plates, at a rickety table at your neighbourhood dhaba.

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