~ Pakistani Music ~

Entertainment Showbiz Pakistan , Bollywood & World Entertainment
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Heads-up Ali Zafar fans! dreamy

Let’s face it; Ali Zafar has been the bona fide pretty boy of the music industry. Considered a double treat he sings well enough to get popular acclaim, has catchy songs that appeal to the teeny boppers in the country and has the good looks to make him an ideal candidate for endorsing products, he is the epitome of a Pakistani pop star.

However, it is perhaps the light, bubbly perception of himself as an artiste that one feels Ali has, time and time again, tried to disprove. The fact that he is also artistically-inclined also shows the level of visual detail that has previously gone into his videos. Prime examples are his self-directed Yeh Pal, Rangeen, Chal Dil Mere and the Ahsan Rahim directed Sajania. The way he immersed himself into the character he portrayed in these videos perhaps showed his inclination towards acting as well.

Ali is back with a new video that is currently creating quite a buzz on the airwaves. From a high-class conman/bank-robber to becoming completely ghetto as a street thug, Ali seems enamoured by the gansta lifestyle. We see his otherwise pretty face distorted into expressions of angst, frustration and downright aggression. He is a prime example of, according to music video director Ahsan Rahim, a wasted youth.

When you are young, said Ahsan, you tend to make some very rash decisions that sometimes end in your life being wasted. That was the idea behind making the video.

Ali Zafar plays the typical hooligan off the streets who indulges in petty street
crimes robbing people on the sidewalk, stealing mobile phones, creating mischief and ending up in gang-fights and what not. He also considers himself to be somewhat of a ladies man. He has a sweetheart that he locks eyes with now and then, but doesn’t really make a move. Well, he’s a hero-type apni taraf se, said Ali about the character, like your writer wrote, he thinks he’s the best looking man around! he said, referring to the protagonist of Sidrah Haque’s Secret blog of a self-assured pop star series published in Images.

But on a more serious note, Ali firmly iterated that, The video is not a dance video. It’s not a fun video or a glamour video. It’s hard and it’s painful. It portrays our mindsets in these present times. (It represents) our issues; the crime scene here

But it looks at it from more of a personal angle. How when someone steps into the dark side can end up in a darker zone. The Aap Jaisa Hai Jawan video is introspective and explores human psychology, of how negative emotions/situations can affect and alter our behavior and perception.
When asked about working with Ali again, Ahsan Rahim responded with a laugh,

Ali ki sari achi videos Ali Zafar, the gangster?mainay banai hain! (I’ve made all of Ali’s good videos). He added that now he was in the thought-process of making Shahzad Roy’s next video, of the title song from his album, Qismet Apnay Haath Mein.

The hero-type in Ali’s music video meets a gory end as he ends up being cornered by the police and gets killed in a crossfire. The moral of the story is clear: Evil deeds meet a just end. Contrary to popular belief, I do think about the problems we face and how to deal with them, responded Ali to his recent absence from the music scene, I need time because I am working on a big project.

The musician remained tight-lipped about what this project was but promised to divulge the details the moment they were finalised. The fact that he’s on a trip across the border makes one speculate whether this so-called project has something to do with Bollywood.

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Pictures from his new video.

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Re: ~ Pakistani Music ~

well i heard that he was working on Ahsan Rahims movie. :konfused:

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Jal cancels it's tour of India in protest of Indian allegations against Pakistan

thumbs-up

Questions about 9/11 that you still dont have answers to
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**Pakistani stars react to the escalating tension between Pakistan and India

Pakistani artistes – musicians and actors especially - have been making hay while the sun has shone brightly on the peace process between India and Pakistan. But that relationship-building process seems to be in jeopardy now that the bridge has been dislodged. Instep Today talks to the stars who frequent India and get their opinions on what might happen next…**

Fakhir

"Blaming the Muslims straight up without any evidence is childish. It's disappointing to see the section of media blaming Pakistanis and Muslims for crimes against humanity. We condemn this violence in Pakistan as well as anywhere in the world and we feel for Indians. There will be a political showdown, muscle flexing and drama for some time and hopefully nothing serious is going to happen in the end. I'm hoping 2009 would be a better year. Last night, I saw scrolls of news stating Pakistani films, musicians and dramas are banned in India and I thought it was bizarre. Politicians and philosophers in the world don't react like that.

If Indian films and channels are restricted here, like very smartly restricted in India, it would be great for our own dramas and music industry. Indian channels were restricted earlier and that's when Pakistani pop bloomed. And that way, we will learn to defend our own people and expertise. It would be an opportunity for us."

Xulfi

Of course the Mumbai blasts have affected not only the Indo-Pak relationship but the whole exchange of talent too. We were supposed to travel to India this month for the shoot of our two songs which are being incorporated in upcoming movies, 'Aloo Chat' and 'Aasman' but we had to call off our trip. We were even there for their music launch because of the whole situation. We were supposed to shoot one of our songs in India too but now we are going to Malaysia for its shooting.

The producers asked us not to come right now but that was not because of any anti-Pakistan sentiment but purely because of the security reasons. There are few people who blame Pakistan for it and they are probably the political sources. The general people have no hatred for Pakistanis. And, we know very well that the political stance is always different from the general stance. So politically there might be the element of detestation but on a people level, they are very welcoming.

For now, we can only wait and watch how the situation turns out to be in near future because it's not that we are afraid to go to India, we are not even safe in our country. Don't forget what happened at the World Performing Arts Festival and the recent riots in Karachi. It's really difficult to go indulge in any recreational activity at home too, so crossing the border is a different ball game altogether.

Rohail Hyatt

I don't think anyone can say that what happened in India was right. It's a very complex situation and to get a full flavour of what happened one needs to see the whole picture. However the role played by the Indian and western media has been so irresponsible, while our media has played a more responsible role, even if there are some war mongering elements here. I may sound stupid, but I feel like this is a trap and people seem to fall into it. Personally, I was very sad at what happened. But then within the first hour - CNN, BBC and then the Indian media all joined and said it's Islamic terrorists who have done it. On what basis? It's shocking - it's instantly b*****ng us as guilty, both because of the country we belong to as well as our faith. From empathizing with India, I felt this anger at the fingers being pointed at us, that we've been implicated in this. And there are so many conspiracy theories - how do they know the attackers were from Pakistan? One can quite easily distinguish between Indians and Pakistanis and the faces that they've shown on television look like Indians. And no one in Pakistan knows of these people, where they've hailed from, no one has come forward saying they know them. We have been suddenly sidelined and told off as guilty!

Anger has started rising - I was watching television yesterday and these people were calling in saying cinemas should be closed which have Indian films running in them. But the kind of angry sentiment that has come out from the Indians, it is like they haven't accepted the reality of Pakistan. Indians have to do some soul searching. I was watching this program on Indian television, which had an SMS poll where 90 percent of respondents said India should attack Pakistan. There's war mongering going on. India is not a tolerant society - they have hard line elements like the BJP there.
Bal Thackeray has already announced that Pakistani comedians or singers shouldn't come to India. And where is the western media when Christians are being massacred in India or unarmed protestors are being killed in Kashmir? Isn't that terrorism as well? Or when 160 people are killed in Afghanistan because a bomb fell on a wedding; and most of those who die are kids.

What I think needs to happen is that people have to come together and it has to be a people-to-people movement. However there isn't any easy solution to this. I'd be the biggest fool in the world to have Indian artists come here to perform in this situation, for instance. What we need to do is to set a good example, and lead by it if the spotlight is on us. We need to not compromise on our defense but also have a very friendly approach. How that translates into art and media is still something that needs to be seen. We cannot have a tit-for-tat approach. There will be a ray of hope when better sense prevails, and I see the future in the people.

Shallum Xavier

Indian media just needed someone to blame it on and of course Pakistan is the easiest target. It's just a political game because of which the entertainment industry is suffering. In fact their party, Shiv Sena, has announced that they won't let any Pakistani artist come to India for an album launch or a concert. It's not that everyone is against Pakistan over there but there are extremist forces who are very vocal about their sentiments towards Pakistan.

We should understand the whole political game. They will be holding elections within a few months time and BJP probably wants to come back to power as it has the support of Indian extremist parties. By instilling anti-Pakistan sentiments they might increase their vote bank too.
The Mumbai blasts were a major set back for me as well as. I have been to all the places that are damaged under the attack. We used to hang out at the Leopolds Café in Colaba market which is supposed to be one of the most secure places of the city. And something of that magnitude happening in such safe areas is shocking as well as saddening.

The whole incident has already started affecting the relationship between India and Pakistan. We had to tour India this month, then in January again and something was planned for February too but now everything has been called off. I repeat, not postponed but called off! And, it's not just because they didn't want to put our lives in danger but also because they don't want us to come to their country now.

I personally recommend all Pakistani artists not to visit India as it's not safe. Especially, for the singers because concerts are more publicized so there is a greater risk to perform. Just think out of the box and be safe wherever you are!

Mekaal Hasan

Its too premature to say anything. Given the statements made about Pakistan in India, relations will probably be affected for the worse, but one can't say at this stage. One hopes that things work out using the diplomatic channels between the countries.

Ali Noor

Initally Ali Noor refused to comment on the incident because he believes his views are 'different' from the rest and that's why he doesn't want them get in print. But later he agreed to give a statement on record.
"Instead of crying over it, do something!"

Haniya Aslam

Our tour to India has been postponed due to the blasts. The organizer who we were to perform with called us and told us the Pak-India issues need to be sorted out. He said it has been postponed, not cancelled due to the uncertainty about what is going to happen next. I guess there is a feeling that is bad but it will hopefully blow over soon. There is a sense of disappointment as this was our first tour to India. With time, everything will get better as it will blow out of the water. There have always been complications between India and Pakistan and they always tend to get sorted out. "

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Re: ~ Pakistani Music ~

i seriously think that our artists should stay in pakistan and promote their stuff.... even if some things are postponed..... our artists should cancel them!!! they should start exploring their own talent now.... make their own recording studios and what not..... stop going after them.......

today in 50 min program on geo tv.... amjad sabri was like.... we Pakistanis dont have tolerance... Indians would sit and listen to qwalies which has Allah Rasol (SAW) ka naam for hours... and we as Pakistani.... wont even think of listening to their bhajans....... I was so pissed off...... coz if those indians were listening to those qwalies with so much love... they wont be spilling mud on our faces!!!

its time that we stand up for eachother, and prove that we dont need outside help.... thats the only way we will get the respect bak!!!

as for Ali Zafar!..... he is just too good......... all i want to know.... is about the letter his love interest reads...... didn't she torn it? then uss ko kahan saye kya mila???

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Re: ~ Pakistani Music ~

Pakistani artists running off to India, "its love for money" !

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good :k:

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Our artists have their wits around.. and aren't as passionate as them.. Bravo JAL!

**"You can only grow where you're planted."

Ace drummer Gumby says that Pakistani musicians need to stop relying on India as the alternate platform

**"The one good thing to come out of the Mumbai attacks," says Gumby, "is that our artistes and musicians will stop relying so heavily on India. They'll realize that they have to grow here before they can grow anywhere else. You can only grow where you're planted and our roots are here.

He added that while the attacks were very unfortunate; the one way they would benefit Pakistan's music industry is by cutting off the lifeline, albeit momentarily.

Gumby, who has made a name for himself in Pakistan as being the country's best drummer, was speaking to Instep Today at a private concert hosted by Nabila and Emu, the Fuzon keyboardist who also joins Gumby in the Kolachi Quartet. The Quartet also comprises guitar maestro Abbas Premjee and bassist Khalid. Together they have configured 'ethnic jazz', introducing a sitar player to the predominantly western genre of music. And reviving heritage and reinventing our own traditional music is exactly what Gumby speaks about when he says that musicians should strengthen their bases here before branching out to India and giving in to the Bollywood bandbaja.

"I really respect musicians like Atif Aslam who had massive following here before he ventured across the border," Gumby says, "and this is the best time to make the industry stronger here rather than have everyone going off to India whenever something goes wrong in Pakistan."

It's a difficult task to take up in times when security is a huge risk but Gumby rightfully pinpoints that our musicians need to focus on establishing their market in Pakistan - by the way which is a huge market indeed - before looking towards India. To be self sufficient and independent is the only way to ensure stability.

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Guest of the Week - STA
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Re: ~ Pakistani Music ~

the type of work our singers get in india is quite substandard compored to what they do in pakistan.like shafqat's mitwa was nothing compared to khamaj. atif's pehli nazar was a copy of some korean song. Pakistani market allows our musicians to be more creative whereas indian market is so restrictive and formula ridden. don't understand why our singers want to sing cheap bolly inspired songs.