Filmfare Interview: Atif Aslam strikes a few discordant notes [Nov 15]
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BEYOND BORDERS
Atif Aslam strikes a few discordant notes.
Devesh sharma records his beats.
Pakistani singer Atif Aslam who zoomed up the charts with musical
knockouts like tere bin(bas ek pal).Aadat(kalyug) and woh lamhe(Zeher)
was in India recently to promote his latest album meri kahani.He says
it's a tribute to the pitfalls that upcoming singers face while
struggling to make a mark for themselves. "The album is my homage to
underground bands everywhere" he says. "these people create real
music.I love to visit small clubs all over the world and listen to
neighbourhood bands perform.That's true music."
Surprisingly,despie sounding big on bands.he himself has broken up his
band Jal and parted acrimoniously with his one-time friend and partner,
Goher Mumtaz. Atif downplays the breakup and says that everyone needs
breathing space. "Goher has moved away and so have I.Yes, we had great
times together but then creative differences emerged and u can't work
in a vicious atmosphere.So its better to part ways."
He is concentrating on his solo singing career now and singing for
Hindi films is high on his agenda. He already has a partner , music
composer Mithoon, who has worked with him in Bas ek pal and is raring
to make new acquaintances. "Hindi film music is big,man" he drawls
adding "you sing one hit song and u have got it made." He is happy that
hindi film composers are now open to experimentation right now, thereby
giving more opportunities to unconventional singers like him. Citing an
example he says that normally a song like bol na halke halke from jhoom
barabar jhoom would have been sung by Shaan or Sonu Nigam but composers
like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy made Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sing it, lending it a
unique sound.
The success of fellow Pakistani singers like Rahat or Shafqat Amant Ali
(who sang the song Mitwa from Kabhi Alvidaa naa kehna) fills him with
joy. He believes that Pakistani singers are doing well in India because
they a more earthy voice than Indian singers. "Indian singers are like
Rahul Dravid," he cites a cricket analogy' "all style and elegance but
Pakistani singers are like Yuvraj Singh or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who
bring the whole stadium up in their feet."
Atif's pet peeve is that being a Pakistani national he has to report to
a police station every time he comes to India. "Everyone knows that i
am not a smuggler or a terrorist, then why this treatment?" he asks me.
HE laments that our countries are constantly at war with each other and
hopes that someday there will be no more bloodsheed. He was delighted
to know that my forefathers too were from Pakistan and invites me to
visit Pakistan," Aap aao toh, woh khatirdari karenge ki aap taumar yaad
rakhenge. (Come over to Pakistan and you'll remember our hospitality
forever)"
Going further down his brotherhood road,he says that music has no
boundaries and that Indian and PAkistani ppl will come closer by
cultural associations. For the current generation, the two-nation
theory doesn't mean much and the same is the case with Atif too. He
says that he doesn't have the same feelings about the partition as his
dad or granddad. "I come to India all the time and find ppl warm and
supportive.We share so many things that sometimes I find it hard to
believe I am not back home in Karachi or Rawalpindi."
One thing he sure misses here is the live music scene which is thriving
in Pakistan,despite it being such a closed society. "Live bands are a
niche bunch in India whereas in Pakistan they are the ppl's voice. I
think the masses relate to them b'coz they just dont do the usual love
songs but hard-hitting, thought-provoking songs talking about the real
life situations"
Next on the cards is an acting assignment in Indian films. Atif informs
me that he has a rock music based script, something like 8 mile (which
stars the rapper Eminem) in mind and would like an Indian filmmaker to
produce it. "I keep getting acting offers" he states' "and i tell
everyone my film idea. I have yet to find a filmmaker courageous enough
to commit ot it. Mostly, they all talk big and i never hear from them
ever again."
Meri Pasand:-
Dil chahta hai -- dil chahta hai
Tanhai -- dil chahta hai
Aaj kal paon zameen par -- ghar
Mera kuch saaman-- ijaazat
Naina thag lenge -- Omkara
International beats:-
Foo fighters
Audioslave
Coldplay
Jahn Mayer
U2 |
| Category: Atif aslam interview | Added by: Danoo (2010-04-20)
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