It
is hard to imagine now but when Atif Aslam, the little kid from Lahore,
came onto the music scene five years ago (the same time that Emraan
Hashmi's sleaze�sorry blockbuster Murder was released), no one could
have imagined he'd become the sensation that he has. With no formal
vocal training and a constant object of critique for being off-key, he
stepped onto the very big Pakistani pop scene and blew people away.
Atif may not have the musicianship that one associates with someone
like Ali Azmat but the man definitely has an incredibly unique set of
vocal cords. That 'zing' factor remains unique to him alone. It absorbs
listeners no matter what the song might be. And that is a talent that
few men possess in the music industry.
That same
uniqueness applies to Emraan Hashmi who has always been eyed with
skepticism as an actor. For one, his reputation as 'serial kisser' has
not helped nor has the kissing-brooding hero stereotype. But the role
of good hearted gangster was meant for him. Be it films
like Kalyug or Awarapan or Jannat, Emraan has made his mark and his
films do well. Of the new crop of actors, this is a face that always
gets noticed. It isn't just because Emraan has the sleazy bad boy thing
going for him. He is a decent actor and in a way is unique just like
Atif. And like Atif, his popularity has increased with time, his films
becoming as big a hit as Atif's albums.
Twinkle twinkle little star
Atif
isn't the most articulate of musicians when it comes down to
musicianship. But he is a showman. Whether it means singing a rocked-up
cover of the hit Omkara song 'Beedi' or dressing up as a cop at the Lux
Style Awards or the various other stunts he is known to pull for
attention (including flying down to a stage on a magic carpet), he
remains one of the most attention grabbing acts in the business. Atif
Aslam doesn't conform to any norms. He will do Bollywood tunes and he
will dress up in strange, bizarre clothes, which often come across as
costumes but he gets away with it because his presence is very strong
and bizarre is what is expected from him now. Atif is one of the
biggest icons this generation has seen. And that fact just can't be
denied irrespective of critical acclaim or album sales. Atif Aslam is a
man for the masses because he is someone who many can relate to.
Likewise,
people would now be shocked if Emraan Hashmi didn't do one of his
infamous kissing scenes in a film. But he pulls Bollywood out of a
crunch every time. His career began with Murder (2004) - the ripped off
Indianized version of Unfaithful - and it was a blockbuster. Emraan as
the sleazy lover was despicable but that was the beginning.
Awarapan,
Gangster, Jannat and the latest Raaz 2 (2009) - all these films have
good numbers at the box office. In fact, from the new crop of actors,
Emraan is a sure-bet for producers. He gets the viewers, in India and
even in Pakistan. Emraan is neither the most good looking guy on the
block nor is he the next Aamir Khan or even Hrithik Roshan for that
matter. But he is someone the people, the masses, can relate to. And
that is why Emraan is an incredibly bankable star, just like Atif.
Rebels with or
without a cause
Atif
Aslam will do things his way. No matter how many times he has been
criticized for his videos, he continues to churn out videos that
indulge in unabashed cheapness. And he doesn't apologise for them.
Atif's
music is another subject altogether. After a fairly decent debut, Atif
released the over-the-top Doorie. It was an out and out commercial
album which didn't bring out the musician in Atif to the forefront. But
it was a gamble and it worked. Despite severe criticism, Atif has
always stood by it. His third album, Meri Kahani didn't possess the
magic of Jalpari. But it was an effort nonetheless. And after Doorie,
it was a 360 degree turn and shocked fans. Atif stands by Meri Kahani
as well.
This
non-conformist attitude of Atif gives him an edge over many others who
play it safe and stick to politically correct and diplomatic attitude.
Emraan
Hashmi has been stereotyped as a thug. He doesn't care. His kissing in
films is legendary. And Emraan's answer to the criticism has always
been the same: "Those who don't understand my sensibilities can f***
off."
Emraan
Hashmi may be a decent actor but in five years, he hasn't given a film
that brings out his talent in full force. But he doesn't seem to care.
Most Emraan Hashmi films are unwatchable. The scripts, stories and the
overall execution of the films border on mediocrity. And yet, Emraan
works. Emraan knows how to sell sleaze and get mileage out of it. And
he never apologises for it. He doesn't play it safe at a time when many
actors in India are conscious about their "image" as good guys on and
off-screen.
SOURCE : Instep Today 22nd Feb, 2009
