Atif Aslam’s ‘Kinara’ employs too many ideas for one video’s good
Atif parachuting down to ground. Atif buried in the sand. Atif as a superstar. Too many ideas are as bad
for a video as too many cooks are for the broth
Maheen Sabeeh
Karachi
A music video is supposed to lift a song. Not take it down. Unfortunately, in Atif’s latest video, the former happens.
When Atif Aslam revealed that his next video would be with Bilal
Lashari (well-known for his stand out videos of Jal’s ‘Sajni’,
Overload’s ‘Dhamaal’, Abrar’s ‘Islamabad’ and Atif’s ‘Hungami Halaat’),
it came as a nice surprise. After all, barring ‘Hungami Halaat’, Atif
has had a string of music videos that simply haven’t left a lasting
impression. That he has become a star despite the abysmal quality of
most of his videos is astounding and speaks of true talent and star
quality.
One had hoped that another team-up with Bilal Lashari would bring
something intriguing to the forefront. However, Atif’s latest with
Bilal, despite many expectations, is hardly memorable.
‘Kinara’ is quite unique to say the least but it is unique in the
sense that it leaves you weirded out. Directed by Bilal Lashari and
shot partly by Atif himself, it is, simply put, a weak video from Atif.
Not that it is Atif’s weakest video. That honour will always belong to
‘Hum Kis Gali Ja Rahein Hain’. But ‘Kinara’ fails to leave a mark
because it is laced together quite disjointedly.
Featuring Atif as a protagonist, touring, performing at crowded
venues, singing underwater, buried neck down in sand and flying down to
planet earth via a parachute… sure, there are some moments that raise a
brow, just for the sheer novelty, the first glance – we are talking
about Atif placed in sand – but overall ‘Kinara’ is forgettable. The
video has its foot in performance and in a storyline but the two do not
compliment each other. It comes across as a half-baked job.
The fact that Atif featured his live band in the video is
commendable. It is great to see star singers include the men who work
behind the show. Ali Azmat did it in ‘Gallan’ recently and Atif is
following suit. The shots of Atif and the musicians singing underwater
and in the sand as floating heads are cute� sort of. The rest… footage
of Atif in hotel room, performing at a packed-concert, playing himself
as a successful musician just doesn’t work. The shoddy camera work
doesn’t help either.
Atif’s superstar image and that performance-angle of him taking the
stage, are not new ideas. They are themes that have been a part of
videos before, even if as a subtext to a boy-girl storyline. Atif
previously played a successful singer in ‘Chor Gayi’ and before that in
‘Doorie’. Even watching him perform as a singer in a video is too
overdone. He’s done it many times before. The magic of Atif Aslam as a
singer epitomised as a massive icon – that he may well be – the whole
appeal, has worn thin now. Perhaps the only clich� Atif has missed is a
love angle with a girl. And that remains ‘Kinara’s only silver lining.
The weakness of this video actually takes attention from the song,
which is one of the more decent tunes Atif has done. Off his third solo
album, Meri Kahani, this tune is one of the few where Atif has managed
to tackle the rock genre with command. It’s blistering in sound and
lyrically it stays away from the usual clich�s one associates with
Atif. ‘Kinara’ as a song lingers on.
Coming back to the video, it is disappointing work coming from Bilal
Lashari. Videos have become very crucial for musicians at this stage.
In the wake of lesser concerts, unstable political environment and
economic recession, concerts have decreased throughout. Music videos
are the most effective mode to connect with fans.
Last year, musicians and directors raised the bar high. Whether it
was Strings or Ali Azmat or Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Zeb and Haniya –
their videos were sharp in content, stylishly executed and shone out.
This is what is needed from Atif Aslam on the visual front. He has the
voice and the talent. But the visuals must change.
