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8 'surreal' moments from the Magnum Chocolate Party last night

8 'surreal' moments from the Magnum Chocolate Party last night

Because the surreal was too surreal in its surrealism
Updated 23 Sep, 2016

A party without weird moments is like a phoopi without rishtas in her kitty, i.e. boring.

Last night's Magnum Chocolate Party 2016 promised to keep guests well-supplied with chocolate and well-acquainted with surrealism. We're here to say that they delivered on the latter.

If the party was meant to make us feel removed from reality, it succeeded on that end. Like most parties, this one also had its fair share of unforgettable, or should we say 'surreal' moments.

Here are 8 such moments:

1) Was that a doorway or a dress?

The chocolate dress that made it really uncomfortable to go under. Photo: Instagram
The chocolate dress that made it really uncomfortable to go under. Photo: Instagram

Entering the Magnum Chocolate Party was a slightly awkward experience. We were required to ahem, go under this chocolate lady's dress, which felt a little indecorous. Thankfully, looking up while walking through didn't yield any surprises.

Understandably, the party sought to highlight fashion as much as fine art, but walking through a ball gown wasn't necessary to drive that point home.

We say this only because the dress doorway made us uneasy, not because it wasn't beautiful.

2) Ali Xeeshan got cocky

If not the glasses, then the clothes, if not the clothes, then the... cocky hat?

We still weren't over Ali Xeeshan's Non La and kimono jacket at the Lux Style Awards, and he graced us with yet another red carpet style statement, that made us crosscock-eyed. Note how this miracle cock laid an egg on Ali's shoulder - how's that for surrealism?

Seriously though, how did he manage to keep that on his head without it falling off?

3) The gallery

Photo: Instagram
Photo: Instagram

Sameera Raja of Canvas Gallery curated an exhibition of surrealist works in the gallery, and what stole all the attention were the central costumes on display. They took the spotlight on Instagram and were the major talking points as people milled about and waited for the fashion show to start. What was surprising was that the human sculptures obliged onlookers with a selfie or two.

Photo: Instagram
Photo: Instagram

The only thing that could tear our eyes away was the dessert table. It was teeming with decadent chocolate goodies. Sadly, because the show had started we had to skip them. Walking away from chocolate at a chocolate party seemed unreal.

4) Ali Zafar's 'performance'

The event promised a performance by Ali Zafar, but it didn't involve him singing.

Instead, he wrapped a gown-clad model in a white shroud. Then, he thought for a second and unwrapped the said model. He went on to paint her likeness on an easel, all done in a few magical brushstrokes. The crowd cheers -- it's Ali Zafar, after all -- and he flips the easel to reveal a surrealist portrait of the model.

Perhaps the performance was meant to reference a surrealist work. We're just glad he didn't paint with chocolate (gasp, so wasteful!).

A shout-out to Joshinder Chaggar, who was a welcome distraction during this performance. Her lithe moves proved once again why she bagged the opening act.

5) The tree of obstacles

Yeah it looks pretty harmless and small at the extreme left, but it was annoying and big.
Yeah it looks pretty harmless and small at the extreme left, but it was annoying and big.

Who places a tree in the middle of a stage, such that it bars the view of audience members on the side? Ideally, no one. But such was the case of the Magnum Chocolate Party.

This huge tree prevented many from viewing the huge projector screen. It was hard enough to make out the faces of the models from afar, and without the benefit of the close-ups projected on the screen, it was really the question of who could squint the best. The result? phone back in the bag

6) Ali Zafar's gallantry

A model struggling with her long dress became a damsel in distress situation, and Ali Zafar swooped in to save the day. Sweeping the trail off the floor, he made it easy for her to walk all the way backstage. A fairytale moment.

But then he came back out, blew a kiss to the audience, did a slight bow and clapped for his own chivalrous behaviour. Umm. Good deed undone, we think.

7) Ali Xeeshan's exits solo - without his showstopper Mawra Hocane

Magnum Party 😍❤ #MawraHocane #AliZeeshan #BirthdayMonth #MagnumParty #Bae @mawrellous @mawrellous

A video posted by Mawra Hocane Fanpage (@_mawra_hocane_fanpage) on

Designers usually give their celeb showstoppers the honour of walking back with them to the backstage, but Ali Xeeshan is an exception to that rule.

Mawra Hocane walked the runway as Ali Xeeshan's showstopper, the designer came out, took his bow, raised his arms in victory and then walked back with flair... and without Mawra!

8) When no one could quite figure out who this showstopper was supposed to be

Here's proof that art really is open to interpretation. Nilofer Shahid's showstopper first seemed Khaleesi-inspired. "Is that white hair?" we asked amongst our group.

This was until we spotted a baby in Amna Ilyas' arms.

After a brief debate about whether this really was a bold representation of a revered religious figure, it was realised that the theme is surrealism, and the inspiration for the piece far different (more on that in our next report).

Cue our sigh of relief.

Comments

Moona Sep 22, 2016 06:38pm
Hahaha. Talk about stupid!
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Apache Sep 22, 2016 07:32pm
Disgusting!
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SK Sep 22, 2016 09:28pm
WTF...trippy, are we sure it was only chocolate being served!
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Mani Sep 22, 2016 09:30pm
Most of the scene here is pretty much the same. You have been to one, you have been to all.
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@ Sep 22, 2016 09:31pm
defini. choclati party
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awais Sep 22, 2016 10:00pm
OMG, its so stupid.
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sana-1 Sep 22, 2016 10:27pm
These cartoons have got nothing else to do.....BTW he should've had a real rooster on his head, that would have been more fun..
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Specialist Sep 22, 2016 10:30pm
R.I.P Fashion.
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mehkan Sep 22, 2016 11:57pm
LOL! There is something called unconventional and then there is stuff that happens in Pakistan. Pakistanis try to be very unconventional and very different, but they lack the basics of style, elegance and the right pop of weird. Lol, why do they even try?! P.S I am a Pakistani too..
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Jutt Sep 23, 2016 12:34am
Disturbing - Take them or me to psychologist
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Indian bhedya Sep 23, 2016 12:51am
Pakistani people will be like whadd did we just see?:p
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aussie Sep 23, 2016 03:57am
rubbish... doesn't make sense at all.
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Karachi Wala Sep 23, 2016 05:06am
great and innovative idea
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JB Sep 23, 2016 05:56am
Awesome.
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Talha Sep 23, 2016 08:10am
Ali Zafar's part was fine. Everything else was disgusting. It wasn't surreal one bit, it was totally bizzare. Probably the organisers don't see the difference between the two.
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bali Sep 23, 2016 08:29am
Waste of money.....
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Amer Sep 23, 2016 08:32am
Circus crowd of Pakistan still too busy in their childish antics.
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Mir Owais Alam Sep 23, 2016 09:14am
What crap! A rooster on the hat ... really?
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sadface Sep 23, 2016 11:43am
If people cant understand what they see, then they lack imagination. Please don't criticize just because you have to, and appreciate others for trying something new.
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Edd Sep 23, 2016 12:20pm
Different is not always easy for people to accept. I see in comments. I like the idea.
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ak Sep 23, 2016 04:26pm
Dear God this is embarrassing. What the hell are these "hey look at me, I'm fun"ies doing. Pathetic.
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ak Sep 23, 2016 04:28pm
Seriously, rooster, really. I mean c'mon, did this guy forgot to take his meds. And what's with the glasses. How is this fun. Or fashion. Or surreal. Or whatever they were trying to do. Phoopi without a rishta sounds more appealing than this...... whatever this is.
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Hopistan Jack Sep 23, 2016 04:52pm
@Karachi Wala either you're being sarcastic or you really have no clue what "great" and "innovative" really mean. In any case, your comment, like your handle, is useless!
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ali Sep 24, 2016 01:19pm
confused nation
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Iqra Sep 24, 2016 06:19pm
wow nice..
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Iqra Sep 26, 2016 09:56am
@mehkan Even britishers are found doin all this. Its nice
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Iqra Sep 26, 2016 09:57am
wow awesome
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Karim Mombani Sep 26, 2016 01:49pm
Ali Xeeshan was wearing cock on his head.....how could he even do that..... wow!
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