PakiUM.com Updates

Introducing The Band XXI (21) with Ufone Uth Records 2.0 Episode Four!
Bilal Khan announces second album Maktoob, releases video teaser of Chupee
The Sketches – Nind Nashe Vich (Audio/Video Review)
Bol and Tamanna Got Shortlisted for 14th London Asian Film Festival
Shaan Escaped Serious Injury While Filming Acha Gujjar
Zeb and Haniya Interview on Urdu Voice Of America (VOA)
Indian Director says Veena Malik is Similar to Angelina Jolie
Momi Bukhari Bijli Na Pani (Music Video)

Introducing The Band XXI (21) with Ufone Uth Records 2.0 Episode Four!

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 02:28 AM PDT

[Pakistan – 13^th March 2012] Following Ufone Uth Records 2.0 third episode artist Affaq Mushtaq the youth music platform is now set to introduce, XXI (21). The underground band features a versatile trio of talented individuals comprising of Moheet ul Islam and Mohammad Taimoor on Guitars with Yahya Farid on vocals. Ufone Uth Records 2.0 Episode Four featuring XXI (21) will air on all leading channels and official social networks on Saturday 17^th March 2012.

XXI (21) will be performing their original composition “Taare” at Ufone Uth Records 2.0 platform with musician Ahad Nayani featuring as a guest drummer on the track. According to the band, the song has been inspired by those who define and weigh love and relationships on material gains – the message of their song suggests that feelings and emotions should be strong enough to break away from material gains. In the near future, XXI (21) hope's to see their music "making silence die with its noise."

Akbar Khan Chief Marketing Officer of Ufone has said: "It is always heartening to see young musicians expressing themselves through various forms; XXI (21) is one such example with their recorded single 'Taare' highlighting change; their message is simple yet catchy and will not be surprised if their message spreads."

Speaking about working with Jarar, producer of Ufone Uth Records, Louis J 'Gumby' Pinto said : "The band 21 is a perfect example of the outcome of a massive media boost about a decade ago. A huge influence of the bands that emerged around that era is what you hear in these guys. The trio have a very pop rock, lively feel to their song and during their stay at the Uth house I learned that Taimur had just started playing guitar not too long ago, and I was amazed at how well he played on the track. Moheet is very solid on rhythm guitar and all the girls, watch out for the Ali Zafar look alike haha. Kidding, he was outstanding on the bass and vocals. So all the rock pop fans look out!"

Describing their experience at Ufone Uth Records, members of XXI (21) said " [it was] simply amazing, an experience which we would not give up for the rest of our lives."

Directed by Zeeshan Parwez, Ufone Uth Records 2.0 Episode 2 will be airing on AAG, Aaj News, Apna Channel, ARY Muzik, ATV, A plus, Channel G, CNBC, KTN, Kashish, Metro, News One, Oxygen, Play TV, PTV Home, Style 360, TV One, Waseb and Wateen Cable Network as well as across Ufone Uth Records’ social media platforms, on Saturday 17^th March 2012.

Bilal Khan announces second album Maktoob, releases video teaser of Chupee

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 02:09 AM PDT

By Danish Mughal

Bilal Khan, after the successful release of his debut album Umeed, has now announced the name of his second album. Maktoob is the name of his second album which is actually an arabic word that means “It is written”.

Talking about the album Bilal Khan said, “The philosophy of the second album lies in being positive because of a belief in fate, destiny, stars or whatever you may call it. That there is less need to be worried about what will happen tomorrow as it is already written.”

Below is teaser of what’s to come on this new Bilal Khan music album, Maktoob. The song is called “Chupee.”: Enjoy the Promo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7beO9U8NCA

The Sketches – Nind Nashe Vich (Audio/Video Review)

Posted: 12 Mar 2012 11:25 AM PDT

By Hataf Siyal

Formed in 2003, The Sketches –– a sufi-pop-rock band hailing from the roots of the beautiful city of Jamshoro, Sindh –– made it big last year when they were featured in the fourth season of Coke Studio, which is by far the most-watched and most-loved show when it's on the air. The band, comprising of vocalist Saif Samejo and guitarist Naeem Shah, is known for their popularity in Sindh.

More on, the way they express their music is rather unique in its own way –– the brilliant mixture of classical Sindhi poetry and modern-style trademarked-Sketches guitar. According to Saif and Naeem, The Sketches' music is all about promoting the lovely culture of Sindh, its traditions, and Sindhi folk.

Nind Nashe Vich is one of the most popular songs of The Sketches as it has already had more than 60,000 views in 50 days. The song had an earlier version which featured Fahim Alan Fakir, son of the legendary Pakistani Sufi musician Alan Fakir. However, with no particular reason explained, the band decided to come-up with a fresh version, expelling the powerful voice of Fahim Alan Fakir, and thus removing the oomph of the song.

The audio starts off slowly and smoothly –– with the amalgamation of an instrument called tabla, playing along with the stunning guitars of Naeem Shah, and in the background you could hear the vigorous vocals of Saif Samejo warming it up lightly. As we move on, another –– yet new, in terms of The Sketches' music –– instrument comes into the play; nagara.

The pace, nonetheless, picks up casually afterwards, thus adding a whole new dimension into the song. It'd have been better though if the band would've provided the translations, just like they've done with their previous songs. To sum up, as far as the audio is concerned, Nind Nashe Vich is one of the few tracks of The Sketches that never gets you in boredom; instead, it grows on you and leaves a calming effect.

The video, directed by Zeeshan Ahmed and edited by Khurram Naveed, serves the purpose of exhibiting the radiant city of Jamshoro well. Not only the director and editor, the cameraman also deserves full credit in bringing up refreshing images from the fertile land of Jamshoro.

Right after Junoon and Abida Parveen, The Sketches band are the only artistes whom I could call as "the (new) pioneers of Sufi music". Their work, in my personal opinion, will always be remembered in ages to come due to its never-ending love for promoting not only the Sufi music of Pakistan but also the particular Sindhi folk.

AUDIO RATING: 9/10
VIDEO RATING: 7/10

Bol and Tamanna Got Shortlisted for 14th London Asian Film Festival

Posted: 12 Mar 2012 11:17 AM PDT

By Sidrah Zaheer

The success of Bol is nothing surprising given the talent of the whole cast and crew who dedicatedly brought forward a worthy film. According to The Express Tribune, both Bol and Tamanna, which has not even been released yet, have been shortlisted for the 14^th London Asian Film Festival.

There are a total of seven nominations for the film Bol:

Best Female Actor – Humaima Malick

Best Male Actor – Manzar Sehbai

Best Director – Shoaib Mansoor

Best Film Production – Bol

Best Music Talent in a Film – Atif Aslam

Best Film – Bol

Best New Talent – Amr Kashmiri

Besides this in the category of Best Music Talent in a Film, Rahet Fateh Ali Khan has also been nominated for his song Koi Dil Mein from Tamanna. Both Atif Aslam and Rahet Fateh Ali Khan are competing against A. R. Rahman in this category.

The film festival will take place on March 16 and will end on 24. The festival is known for choosing those films for recognition that help to focus on issues that Asian countries face. From Pakistan, Shoaib Mansoor's Bol will be screened followed by a Q & A session attended by Humaima Malick. Then there will be a documentary film on the making of Tamanna followed by discussion on the film and the conditions of filmmaking in Pakistan and the industry.

While expressing his joy about this, Sahir Ali, Tamanna's music director said:

"Following the Oscars, this is a huge breakthrough for Pakistani music and cinema."

Shaan Escaped Serious Injury While Filming Acha Gujjar

Posted: 12 Mar 2012 11:11 AM PDT

By Sidrah Zaheer

Recently, while shooting an action sequence in Lahore's Iqbal Town for Acha Gujjar, a Punjabi film, Shaan injured himself. But it was just an ordinary cut or rash, but it was a minor back injury to land him in Razzaq Hospital in Shalimar Bagh.

Now for the next three weeks, he has been medically advised to have bed rest. He was filming a duel with co-star Shafqat Cheema according to Masood Butt, the film's director. But he was injured when the car hit him, which was supposed to be part of the scene in another manner.

Butt said:

"He flew forward in the air around 7 feet, luckily he is alright and he will be resting."

However, for a little moment there was a scare that he might have damaged himself permanently.

Zeb and Haniya Interview on Urdu Voice Of America (VOA)

Posted: 12 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT

By Ata ur Rehman S.

Voice of America’s Sarah Zaman talks to Zeb and Haniya, Pakistan’s only female pop music band at the moment.

Zeb and Haniya talks about the negative perception of Pakistan that is found in West regarding Terrorism. The musical duo also talk about their music and its distribution worldwide. They are of the view that they do not have any problem with Free Music Downloads and its distribution, as in whole their life they listened to FREE MUSIC. They also had to say that Free Downloads didn’t hurt artists that much as Record Labels did.

Watch out below Zeb And Haniya interview for more scoop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmRCBCDHbjM

Indian Director says Veena Malik is Similar to Angelina Jolie

Posted: 12 Mar 2012 05:03 AM PDT

By Ata ur Rehman S.

Angelina Jolie has a clone in Bollywood and she is none other than our very own controversial queen Veena Malik. This is what a very experienced director Anand Balraj has to say about this talented young actress.

Veena Malik was complimented by Anand Balraj after the latter observed her acting skills during the shooting of his film Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai in which Veena is the playing the lead role.he says, “Veena’s acting reminds me of Angelina Jolie. She is as comfortable in front of camera as her and she is more attactive also.”

Veena just completed the dubbing of Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai recently.So wait for the film Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai to see our Desi Angelina Jolie in action!

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