A new voice on TV

There is a new channel on cable called AVT Khyber. With this channel, now we have two major regional languages covering cultural and current issues with Khyber covering Pushtu and KTN, a Sindhi channel already running successfully for the past 2 years. KTN also covers interviews in Urdu if the situation demands and today they had an English current affairs program. This is an excellent development. Already the coverage of these channels is reaching every corner of the world and the expat community can get closer to the language.

Similar success awaits Khyber because any successful business venture that targets a population spread through out the world can generate (a) immediate sponsorship and (b) license fee or coverage fee from international viewers. Khyber can basically emulate the success story of KTN.

So more power to the regional languages I say. These channels provide a vehicle for indigenous cultures to thrive and make the national integration a reality because as I mentioned these channels are multi-lingual with major emphasis on either Pushtu or Sindhi but interviews and programs in Urdu given coverage if the audience is multi-lingual. So the Sindhi newscaster would be reading the news in the regional language but when she goes live to Islamabad and speaks online with Chory Shujat the conversation shifts to Urdu, that is if you can understand what the good Chory is saying.

One can now pick up the words and learn these languages.

I do hope that some investor in the Punjab would take a leaf from this book. For far too long, there has been a need to have a Pakistani Punjabi channel. Mind you there is an ETC Punjabi already being beamed from India but mainly sikh religious songs are played along with the omnipresent bhangra. I would much rather have these Pakistani regional channels than the Indian films that are a complete waste of time and increasingly vulgar indian remix songs have made parental control necessary.

Oh an example of an indian remix song to let you know what pisses me off. For those of us who know the oldies, there is a song from the 50's by Suraiya Begum that goes "kabhee aar kabhee paar laaga teeray nazar". Now the Indian remix version is "khabee aar kabhee paar ....come on and get me babe, come on and give it to me babe' and there is this dancer who is giving a lap-dance to a guy and while the song goes 'aar paar aar paar', this lady simulates not the nazar that was supposed to be going aar paar through the jigar (liver) but her pelvic movements simulate a phallic fantasy. And I swear I am not exagerating that the last shot of the video shows the same guy looking totally spent on his couch as he wakes up from this fantasy/dream that he had had of this girl greasing his pole.

Video rescues the rock star

Video may have killed the radio star in the US but it is redefining the music scene in Pakistan eversince the cable operators were restricted to carry indian channels. Thanks to the private channels, there has been a resurgence of local music scene. Now that the ban on indian channels is lifted, the Pakistani pop scene continues to thrive.

I am sick of bands with their obligatory national song on every CD, one track sponsored by Shahi Supari and other track by Coke. This sell-out is sickening but the greater economic opportunity is fueling a much larger pool of talent to come to the front. There is also now an alternate music scene.

And the best band to emerge on the scene is the Meekal Hasan Band (MHB). The first video was also a bit 'hat kay' to use the word of the industry (different from the norm), the most captivating aspect about MHB is the instrumentation.

The first few guitar chords and the signature flute immediately tells you that a lot of effort has gone into studio work which is so solid that the sounds resonates right through you. We get a live stage feel to the whole album. And apart from Bhangra singers, no mai-ka-lal has balls to take the risk of giving Punjabi poetry the sound of modern instrumentation. After Nusrat Fateh Ali, no one has attempted to lend music to Sufi poetry to this effect.

So to think of Meekal Hasan graduating with a music degree from Boston and paying homage to his culture with this scintillating first album on his return is something that people like I can relate to, for taking a similar plunge and trying to make it in this madness.

MHB has been to Karachi but I have missed them every time as the concerts have been low key. They also do not have these airs about them of being rock stars. There is no hype hence one does not get to hear about their concerts like mega events. They only play to audiences that pack smaller venues.

Coming back to the quality of their music, something that works in every track are the powerful vocals. So there are themes of love (1st track), prayer of mercy (to the creater) and the cost of human lives at the time of partition. Say what? Partition, hardly a theme that could be covered musically. But Amrita Preetam's 'aj aakhan waris shah noon' (let me say this to Waris Shah today) which in my opinion is the best track of the album.

I would love to see this track played on TV as a symbol of hope as India and Pakistan come closer to each other. Manmohan Singh was born in a small hamlet what is now in Pakistan. He must have witnessed first hand the chenab river becoming watery grave for thousands that were murdered in 1947, a line that evokes this imagery in the track.

So the first 4 tracks are simply magnificent back to back sufi and human themes. Two of these have got significant coverage on the music channels. (Sajan and Raba)

The 5th track seemed to be most disappointing at first. Surprising that the beautiful flute intro of the title track, Sampooran, was followed by synthesizer the sounded a bit odd. Coming after 4 tracks that were heavy on the flute, the electric sound was disappointing. The CD material was also bad. I had been unable to listen to the CD beyond the 4th track so my assessment of the 5th track was initially based on only the intro.

I was so mesmerised by the first 4 tracks that I purchased the CD a second time and made sure that all the tracks were playing. The 5th track blew me away when I gave it a listen in one-go because after the intro, the drums and guitar work (that I previously could not listen to) was amazing.

Then the haunting vocals take you to a new level. (Teray bin mohay naheen chayn)
Anyone who likes semi classical, just give this line a good listen. Especially the 'chayn' part. I feel a strong sense of elation when people can sing so well the sur is taken from arsh to farsh, what range and breadth of vocals. Truly amazing.

The last few tracks of the CD are mostly instrumental and devotional. "Ya Ali, mushkil kuhsa, mushkil kusha keejeeyay". I would hardly think that I would have the privilege of listening to someone singing and pleading as beautifully "Gar Tum Na Karo Gay To Karam Kon Karey Ga, GarTum Na Sunno Gay To Meri Kon Sunay Ga".

Local music reviewers notice bands that have slightest hint of lilting sound to their acoustic guitar and drums to be branded as Pakistani Pink Floyd. This label does great injustice to both MHB and PF. MHB has a process of its own and Pink Floyd is a concept-band. MHB has comeout with only 1 album and the Pink Floyd has a body of work that most Pakistani listeners are unaware of. To them Pink Floyd is a cliche, not a composite of their entire body of work.

So MHB needs to be appreciated for the quality of the music that they have created. Any reference to a western band when we speak of MHB would be unfair. Their debut album has now been in playing in my car for the last 1 year, no other album has achieved this milestone and after writing this much, I am sure to hit the 6th track of this album after I turn on the ignition and take the long way home :)

Mushy and Chory

PTV carries an interview with the President and the constipated looking Chory Shujaat.

What transpires is extremely funny, a military dictator maintaining that he is part of the parliament and the Chory from Gujarat sort of jaded.

I like Musharaf but he doth protest too much. "Pakistan main democracy achee chal rahee hai". I just smile. He is such a sweeto. I know he means well but he really ought to think before he speaks on live television.

Camera then shifts to Chory Shujaat. "PM sab, aap kee kya policy hongeen?" the PTV holds the mic to his face. Chory sb goes "mmm maa maa mmm maa maa mmm maa maa President Musharaf mmm mmm mmm unkee policy mmm mmm mmm". I swear this is exactly what he said.

What is this thing with his face. He has a serious case of stiff upper lip (not the way they mean it in the cliche like being a anal retentive jerk). He does have a stiff upper lip and when he speaks there is this annoying slur. I would hate to have any drink with this guy. God knows what will happen to his slur. He will be more of a blur :)

His lips hardly move. Can you blame the opposition that someone else is speaking on his behalf and it does seem as if a military man is wearing this rubbery mask and pretending to be Chory of Gujrat.

PTV needs to be watched these days before its too late and the minister of information is back at work. In the last two days, I have seen PTV cover the opposition and talk show featuring MMA. I think that while there is no minister of information (due to cabinet reshuffle) to tell PTV what line to tow, these nincumpoops at PTV are crossing all limits. They actually gone ahead and have given opposition some air time.