Food, fashion and faux pas: What defined 2024 for Team Images

A: ‘O Yaara’ from Coke Studio 15 was definitely a warm, nostalgic hug. With its delicate blend of indie and ghazal influences, the song wraps around you. The tender interplay between Abdul Hannan and Jaffer Zaidi’s vocals feels deeply personal. Its soothing melody and heartfelt lyrics invite you to pause, breathe, and let its gentle embrace wash over you.

M: ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish. The soft, intimate soundscape coupled with beautifully personal lyrics, invokes a sense of warmth in the listener. The minimalistic production and Eilish’s delicate, almost whispered vocals create an atmosphere of vulnerability and comfort, and made me feel like I was wrapped in a warm blanket. The lyrics and her impeccable vocal delivery remind me of my loved ones.

S: ‘Too Sweet’ by Hozier. I wouldn’t consider this a traditional song to include in this section, but it’s a hug nonetheless.

A: Globally, it has to be ‘Not Like Us’ by Kendrick Lamar. The Drake diss, complete with allegations that could destroy his career, went viral this year for all the right reasons. With its scathing song-writing, contagious production, and power-pact delivery, ‘Not Like Us’ became Lamar’s mic-drop moment of 2024, eviscerating Drake and solidifying his place as the ultimate boss in the rap game.

A: Charli xcx’s ‘Apple’ and ‘365’ from her album brat have to be this year’s cultural phenomenons. In fact, the whole album, with its glitchy beats, blending hyperpop and experimental sounds became a sensation. Not only did it inspire several TikTok trends but its bold aesthetic also channelled a wave of “brat fashion”, with fans donning cyberpunk looks to playfully recreate its edgy spirit.

M: ‘Espresso’ by Sabrina Carpenter. That’s that ME espresso. Sabrina Carpenter’s summer bop screams main character energy, she knew her worth and she was letting us know too.

A: Before ‘Espresso’ became all the rage, Ariana Grande’s ‘Yes, and?’ channelled the kind of main character energy I was looking for this year. The track, a bold fusion of pop and R&B, is a celebration of owning one’s supposed ‘flaws’ and turning them into strengths. Grande’s vocal delivery is as powerful as ever, transitioning effortlessly between velvety verses and a soaring, unapologetic chorus. The phrase “yes, and?” is an act of defiance in itself. The song’s dynamic beat, lush harmonies, and a sense of theatricality that mirrors the drama of a protagonist’s defining moment are both empowering and infectious.

S: ‘Rockstar’ by LISA. I’m not a huge Blackpink fan but this song makes you feel like the main character.

M: Netflix’s Nobody Wants This. The show defied the usual tropes of romantic comedies and refused to be utopic or dramatic, choosing instead to show a very real portrayal of love. The main characters, Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah Roklov (Adam Brody), go through realistic issues and resolve their problems through communication and confrontation, which is what mature, real love should look like. Both characters were independent and unlike stereotypical rom-coms (and real life in Pakistan) did not bind themselves to the traditional timeline of love, which made their relationship more natural. Joanne and Noah were unabashedly and unapologetically themselves, a refreshing departure from being told that love needs one to change themselves.

A: I’d say Bridgerton Season 3. This season shed its fairytale veneer to introduce the friends-to-lovers trope. Unlike its predecessors, rich in bookish exoticism, it cut down on the romance to build tension and shed light on the courage it takes to be honest. It explored themes of accountability, and personal growth, carving a story that presents love, not as an escape, but as a transformative force.

**S:**Queen of Tears. I’ll be the first to admit that many K-dramas are dripping with tropes and often very repetitive, but there was something about this drama that really tugged at the heartstrings. The couple started off seemingly hating each other but by the end, we were all in tears watching how they resolved their issues and reunited.

M: I don’t watch sad television shows. Life is depressing enough as is. Thank you, next.

A: Baby Reindeer was without a doubt one of the most powerful shows I watched this year. It left me in tears with its harrowing exploration of trauma and abuse. Episode 4, in particular, was so dark and disturbingly honest in its depiction of sexual assault that it reopened old wounds for me. What made it even more unsettling was knowing that Richard Gadd, the actor and creator, was reliving his own experiences on screen.

S: No TV shows released this year made me cry — but is that a reflection on my emotional state or the content I watch?

M: Jafaa. For its representation of domestic violence and highlighting how difficult it is for women to leave abusive partners, even with financial stability.

M: Black Honey.

A: I don’t do coffee.

S: Black Honey, hands down.

M: Coffee shops in Karachi. Listen, I love coffee as much as the next gal but there is now a coffee shop on every corner you turn. Yet, people still flock to their usual spots — places that actually sell good coffee. We need fewer cafes with mediocre milky coffee and day-old stale croissants. Enough.

A: Pistashio in literally EVERYTHING. From pistachio lattes and ice creams to pistachio-flavoured croissants and even cocktails, this trend has reached a saturation point. It’s an overkill.

Siham: Every other restaurant in Karachi trying to make their own version of Test Kitchen’s lime chicken sandwich or Xander’s Babar’s Pasta. Please innovate and come up new things. As much as I love these dishes, I don’t want to see versions of them everywhere I go.

M: Bisan Owda. She won an Emmy, she won a Peabody, and she continues to live through an ongoing genocide. Throughout it, the Palestinian journalist Owda continues to cover what, by all rights, seems like an extermination campaign ceaselessly, posting video updates every few days and shedding light on stories that would have otherwise gone untold without her voice.

A: This has to be Bisan Owda. The Palestinian journalist has been at the forefront of reporting from Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the territory last October. She’s been busy bringing stories of Palestinians to the global audience through AJ+ and her 4.8 million Instagram followers. This year, she also won an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story and a Peabody Award.

S: Motaz Azaiza. The Palestinian photojournalist has used every opportunity and venue available to him to talk about Palestine, the impact of Israel’s assault on his people and their living conditions.

A: Talha Anjum and Umair. These two really popped off this year with numerous collaborations, churning out albums and EPs and emerged as the most streamed artists on Spotify. I guess you could say that theirs was the most productive friendship of the year.

M: Badshah and Hania Aamir. The duo made headlines multiple times this year, with rumours swirling that they were dating, however, both maintained that they’re good friends. Badshah and Aamir spoke about each other in multiple interviews, and the actor answered rapid-fire questions about the rapper to near perfection on BBC Asian Network. Soon after, Badshah also appeared on the same show and answered all questions about Aamir correctly. I can’t help but stan this cross-border friendship!

S: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo holding fingers during the Wicked press tour and the rest of their insane interactions. I don’t even know if they’re actually friends but their interactions have been hilarious.

M: Anand Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding. The entire affair was the epitome of extravagance, from performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber to Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and the entirety of Bollywood attendance. The multi-event spectacle sprawled over months, continents and easily cost billions (not that Mukesh Ambani has any problems with that). The unparalleled opulence makes it one of the most expensive weddings in history, with many criticising the lavish spending as obscene.

A: For me, the most over-the-top moment would be Kashif Rana, known by his stage name Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, coming out with his audacious “rendition” of Noor Jehan’s classic, ‘Akh Lari Bado Badi’. It was so funny it made him an overnight sensation, not just in Pakistan, but in India as well. The cover inspired a slew of reels and memes, making Rana unstoppable.

A: “Only reason I don’t hold grudges against people is because it affects my skin,” by Shalini Passi — Iconic. Also, “Wow, what a self-respect!”

M: “Very demure, very mindful”. No explanation needed.

S: They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs.

M: The Hawk Tuah girl. As one X (formerly Twitter) user said, “it’s increasingly clear that Ellen DeGeneres was an environmentally significant apex predator in the media ecosystem; she’d have extracted all entertainment value from the Hawk Tuah girl in a three-minute segment and banished her back to anonymity.”

This is exactly what needs to happen with the meme, it needs to be banished into anonymity, and removed from the minds of the American right-wing, who have (for some reason) claimed the girl. Also, it’s just gross.

A: The “Good morning pineapple” memes and “I’m looking for a man in finance.”

S: Very demure, very mindful, very overused. Just stop!

M: The cringey motivational reels with iconic dialogues splashed over picturesque scenery and Dramamine by Flawed Mangoes playing in the background. Art.

A: “Mummy main depression me jarahi hun” but make it dramatic:

S: Everything from the Pakistan Sweet Home Instagram account, but especially this ‘we forgot to thank Beyonce’ meme.

M: Palestinians, young and old, gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid the intense Israeli assault, in the northern Gaza Strip, September 11, 2024. Photo by Mahmoud Issa for Reuters.

A: Exaggerated platform boots. Can we stop with that?

M: Alaia’s ballet flats in fishnet, priced at a staggering $890. The recent mesh flat shoe trend is not the vibe, I do not need to see your entire foot through a thing net veil! Shoe choices aside — I’m pro-choice! — why on earth would anyone pay so much for some fishnet and a sole?!

S: Blush that makes you look like you have a second degree burn on your face. Blush blindness is real!

A: Those barely-there plunging necklines… the ones that require adhesive to keep everything in place…

M: Crocs, especially with fancy outfits or when people dress up their crocs. I never understood the trend — there are comfy shoes out there that also look good. And now, people like India’s biggest influence Orry are promoting the brand. Let it go, just leave them, there is no way to make Crocs better.

S: Apple watches with weddingwear. Please, your Apple watch doesn’t need to be paired with a sari at a wedding!

M: Whatever this Mawra Hocane outfit was. Nope.

A: This Sahir Ali Bagga outfit because did he really think the only way for him to shine on the red carpet was to drown in glitter?

S: Atif Aslam in whatever this was. It looked like he was trying to make a statement but it fell flat.

M: Ananya Panday in Faraz Manan. In the words of the iconic RuPaul, “eleganza extravaganza”.

A: AP Dhillon in this meticulously crafted creation by Faraz Manan at the Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding.

S: Alia Bhatt in a black Faraz Manan number at the Ambani wedding — but I’m sensing a theme here…

M: Challengers. What was this movie about? Tennis? The unwavering love for tennis? Love triangles? Friendship? All of the above? Regardless, the movie was pure entertainment and had some excellent cinematography. The plot, however? Mid. The film takes itself so seriously that it unintentionally feels like a comedy. Worth the watch, but I don’t understand the hype.

A: Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal hands down. If I had to rate this movie on its entertainment value I’d give it a nine. It was just so over-the-top, in a bad way, that it was hilarious. I feel like this film didn’t even deserve to be review-bombed because how could anyone take it seriously?

S: Gladiator II. I didn’t watch a lot of movies this year, but I have to ask, what was the point of this one? The story was all over the place, the pacing was weird and the conflicts resolved in such funny ways that I was convinced I fell asleep watching it and missed some of the movie. The part that made it incredible was the inclusion of Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal. And the sharks in the Colosseum.

M: The Glassworker. A decade-long labour of love, The Glassworker is arguably the most incredible animation to emerge from Pakistan. Director Usman Riaz’s efforts and hard work were evident in each spectacularly picturesque scene, accompanied by a beautiful score that he helped compose. The film was also selected as Pakistan’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards and was longlisted. Despite the movie failing to be shortlisted, it will remain one of the greatest films to come out of Pakistan.

A: The Glassworker. Not many Pakistani films have been released this year but this one put Pakistani animation on the world map. As a Studio Ghibli fan, this film had the themes, stylistic choices, and nuances that make an animated feature truly stand out for me.

S: Is there any answer for this other than The Glassworker?