The man is absolutely amazing! Read the bit in bold for the Nach Panjaban controversy.
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/images/images1.htm
The king of controversy
By Mohsin Jafar
When you chat with Ibrar-ul-Haq you get the impression that he is a very traditional and submissive person. But as you get to know him better you discover he is fun loving and a happy- go-lucky kind of chap. The fact of the matter is that Ibrar is very different from his public image. But then he is not the only one in showbiz with this dilemma.
“I don’t think that there is a big contradiction between myself and my songs. Everyone has a lighter side. I can give you the example of Allama Iqbal. We all know that he was a very serious poet and philosopher but at the same time he was a very witty and humorous person. I can quote you his jokes. I also have different shades in my personality but I am a serious person too.”
Then there is that impression that after seven successful years in pop music, Ibrar still doesn’t consider himself a professional singer.
“It is true. I still take music as a hobby, a very serious hobby.” That’s perhaps due to my background since I belong to an agricultural family. When I started singing I faced a lot of opposition from my family. But it was my mother who supported me and it is my sheer belief that behind my sucess, it has always been her prayers. But she died just after the record sucess of Billo dey ghar. At that time I was teaching in Aitcheson College, Lahore. My salary was only six thousands rupees. I wanted to do something big for my mother. To achieve this goal, music was the only option as I couldn’t do anything in my salary. When I decided to quit teaching my family opposed me but I was adamant. I was sure that I could create good commercial music." Ibrar decided to a build a hospital near Narowal in his mother’s memory. To achieve this goal he pursued the field of music full time. “Earlier I had thought about doing CSS but I dropped the idea. But sometimes I regret my decision. I feel that I should have continued my studies after doing my Masters. It is my dream to study at Oxford. Maybe some day I will quit music and take admission there if it is possible. I want to now do my PhD.”
Another interesting aspect of Ibrar’s music is that most of his songs become controversial and make headlines in newspapers. His first song Billo dey Ghar was opposed by many religious group. They termed it as immoral and unethical. Recently his new song Nuch Punjaban again became a controversial issue when a women’s organization termed it as an insult to Punjabi women. As a result Ibrar was forced to change the word Punjaban to Majajan.
"I don’t know why my simple emotional songs are considered controversial. When I was writing these ditties I never thought that it would create any kind of controversy. Billo dey Ghar was a simple romantic song. But I don’t know why some people found it immoral. Some religious groups gave statements against this song but when they met me they, off the record, praised my music. Nuch punjaban is again an example of this attitude. I was thinking of the dances we usually have during our marriages and other domestic celebrations. I changed the lyrics because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But still people like this song and it is considered a number 1 hit in music charts. Originally the song was titled Nuch Punjabi instead of Nuch Punjaban. Then I thought that it might not be appropriate to use the word Punjabi, because it could create a linguistic problem. But look at what happened later."
In the music industry professional rivalries are common and there is an impression that Ibrar has an attitude problem, especially with some of his colleagues.
“This is absolute rubbish and quite baseless,” Ibrar said in a deep voice. “I am glad to be given a chance to clarify this false impression. The fact is that I have very good relations with almost all of my colleagues. Shehzad Roy is my best friend and I consider him as my younger brother. Salman Ahmed is not only a good friend but we also share a common idealogy about life. Junaid Jamshed is also a good friend. I get along with Ali Haider, Hadiqa Kiyani, Rahim Shah and Sajjad Ali. I don’t know as to how some journalists have gotten this impression that I am a bully. Basically I am a very down to earth person and it is very painful for me to hurt someone.”
There have been rumours too,that behind Ibrar’s social work, lies his ambition to come into politics.
“No way!” Ibrar replied laughing. “It’s the last thing I would want to do. I have no interest in politics. In fact I hate Pakistani politics. I am very happy to be an artist. I am doing social work only because it gives me spiritual satisfaction. My NGO Sahara for Life is working in rural areas which are neglected by public and private sectors. It is my belief that the government can’t improve the situation alone. Every Pakistani should play his role for the betterment of our society. I am only playing my part in this. Our first hospital is half completed and, Inshaallah, its doors will open for the poor very soon.”
Some music critics say that Ibrar’s songs have become popular due to his lyrics which are very different. “I write my own songs. If I am going somewhere suddenly an idea pops into my mind and I start writing it. I usually write while travelling because my mind is relatively free during flights. My wallet is my diary. I take any piece of paper and write it on it and then put it in my wallet and later I work on it.”
A few months back a survey was conducted through a website to see that who was the most popular pop artist of Pakistan? Ibrar was declared number one in that survey and Hadiqa Kiyani came second. “I think all pop artists are the same - we are all bad,” Ibrar laughed. “But I am thankful to God Almighty that I am considered number one which is a very big thing. Two months back Lux Style Award’s organizers also conducted a survey and on its basis I was given the best Pop Star award which is an honour for me. But the real honour is the love of my fans which I am enjoying for the last six years.”
