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Pakistani Cinema |
- Music at its best in 'Ishq Khuda': Shazia Manzoor
- Ahmed Rushdi: Remembering the voice of 'Ko Ko Korina'
- Ishq Khuda may bring Lollywood back to life
| Music at its best in 'Ishq Khuda': Shazia Manzoor Posted: 11 Apr 2012 11:13 AM PDT  Pakistani veteran singer Shazia Manzoor talks to Daily Times about her current projects, her music experience with upcoming movie 'Ishq Khuda', and how Pakistani artists should actively work in their home country more. Q. Tell us a little about the music of 'Ishq Khuda'. A. As the title suggests, most tracks have a Sufi element to them. Most importantly, the songs are not just classical and commercial but situational as well. You see, a good script makes room for good situational songs. That's what the film's music is about. The songs are composed by Wajahat Attre and the lyrics are penned by Riazur Rehman Saghar. Q. Why did you take a 12-year gap from music? A. It was just the circumstances. Hardly any good movies were being released, plus I was busy with my own music albums, 'Ishq Sona', 'Tu Badal Gaya' and 'Balle Balle', all which were released internationally. That took up most of my time. But, nevertheless, I'm happy now with my current music projects, especially lending my voice for 'Ishq Khuda' music. Q. What genre of music are you most comfortable in? A. Playback singing is something in which you can't be picky and choosy about genres. Had that been the case, for romantic songs we would have had other singers, for fast tracks, there would have been others. You have just got to be versatile and seasoned in your attitude towards music. Q. Tell us about your inspirations and musicians you look up to. A. Oh many! From Whitney Houston to Lata Mangeshkar. From Mariah Carey to Mehdi Hassan. From Noor Jehan to Mehnaz Begum. I'm just crazy about music. Mehnaz had the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. There has never been anyone like her. Q. Would you collaborate with foreign artists if given a choice? A. Why not? I have, in fact, worked with Kailash Kher, Sukhshinder Shinda and Balli Jabpal in the recent past. It's always a joy working with foreign artists. A true artist loves experimenting. I'm also working with an American singer 'Doll' on an album. Q. Did you compose any songs for 'Ishq Khuda' other than singing for it? A. Actually no. The songs themselves were so well-written and amazingly composed, I was more than honoured to just lend my voice. You see I've worked with Shehzad Rafique in his last projects as well, so I know how beautifully composed music his films offer. Q. In that case, which is your favourite song of 'Ishq Khuda'? A. I have two favourites. 'Din Langda Nahin' and 'Pul Pul Janda'. People would just fall in love with these songs. The background score of 'Ishq Khuda' itself is just mind-blowing. You can say music is at its best in 'Ishq Khuda', with stupendous picturisation. Q. What's next for you? A. As I mentioned earlier, I'm collaborating with an American singer on an album. I'm really looking forward to that as it's going to be something exclusive, I just know. Also, I'm working on the music of a new drama serial 'Annie Ki Aaegi Baraat'. It's music album would be launched by the name of 'Baraati Song'. Next up is my world tour starting from June this year. I'm really excited for all this. Q. We wish you all the best for that. Please tell us what's music for you? A. Thank you. Well, for me, music is something that I cherish and hold dear more than life itself. I can't live without it. Q. Comment a little on the current music scenario of Pakistan. A. Pakistani artists are making some tremendous and beautiful music. However, the sad thing is that most of them are working anywhere but here. No doubt they are international artists now; Ali Zafar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Annie to name a few. But why not work actively in Pakistan? There seems to be hardly any music situation here.  |
| Ahmed Rushdi: Remembering the voice of 'Ko Ko Korina' Posted: 11 Apr 2012 11:07 AM PDT Twenty-nine years on, Koko Korina still reverberatesin the hearts of Pakistanis thanks to Ahmed Rushdi – the man who changed theface of playback singing in Rushdi's unparalleled careerkicked off as a presenter on Radio Better known as the "voice ofWahid Murad", Rushdi was one of Rushdi sang more than 150songs in 60 movies for Pakistani film actor Wahid Murad. Both icons ruled thePakistani film industry in the 60s and 70s. His fame was such thatcritics say the history of Pakistani film industry music will be incompletewithout mentioning Rushdis name. On the eve of  |
| Ishq Khuda may bring Lollywood back to life Posted: 11 Apr 2012 10:39 AM PDT  If there's one person who canchange the positioning of Lollywood and give the industry a new appeal, it hasto be film-maker Shehzad Rafique. With hits like Mohabbatan Sachiyan andSalakhain on his directorial resume, Rafique is set to return with hismuch-awaited comeback film Ishq Khuda, which is scheduled for a global releasethis Eid. Star-studded cast With film stars like Shaanand industry legends like Syed Noor as his biggest supporters, the film-maker'slatest venture has once again roped in a multitude of artists and musicalpersonalities. Ishq Khuda stars actors Ahsan Khan and Meera in the leadingroles and features guest appearances from Shaan and Saima. For Rafique, putting astar-studded cast was easy since actors like Khan, who are well-aware of thefilm-maker's talents, needed little persuasion. Khan, who is popular for hisacting on television serials, had previously turned his back on the filmindustry but changed his mind when Rafique offered him this opportunity. "Idon't normally act in films but there are very few people who can match thework done by Rafique," said Khan. Intriguing plot and theme Written by Saleem Zuberi and PervaizKaleem, the film is based on a love triangle between Khan, Meera and anotheractor yet to be revealed. Centred on the theme of Sufism, Khan explains thatthe film intends to show that when a person fails in the pursuit of worldlyendeavours and passions, they start to question their reason for existence andstart to struggle for a higher love. Regarding the plot and cast,Rafique said, "It is based on the idea of Ishq Majazi (temporal love) and IshqHaqeeqi (eternal love). I have always chosen the cast according to therequirements of the role. I think the chemistry between Ahsan and Meera will beexceptional." Acting debut Moroccan artist Wiam Dahmani,who is popular in the Filming in Swat Ishq Khuda is extensivelyshot in the war-torn and flood-affected region of Swat. Rafique, who had justreturned from a shoot in Swat, also thanked the Pakistan Army and the people ofSwat for their support during the filming process. "As a director, I wanted tocapture the beauty of the region through the camera. Soundtrack Musically, the film willfollow the footsteps of Mohabbatan Sachiyan, which featured an array ofacclaimed musicians and artists. Leading playback singer Shazia Manzoor, whohad officially left the film industry 12 years ago after the decline of Urdufilms and the increasingly lyrical vulgarity that accompanied Punjabi films,has agreed to lend her melodic voice to Ishq Khuda's soundtrack. Regarding the decline of thefilm industry and its impact on the music industry, Manzoor said, "Whilesingers can go to The film's music has beencomposed by Wajahat Attray and lyrics have been penned by Riazur Rehman Saghar.Besides Manzoor, the soundtrack will also feature Sanam Marvi, Rahat Fateh AliKhan and several other major artists. Published in The Express Tribune,  |
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