Spilling the Beans – A Column By Goher Iqbal Punn

Mumbai, a city of dreams where the world’s mammoth entertainment industry is situated, welcomes every enthusiast who is laced with a talent to make a mark in the world of showbiz. A land of opportunities, the city sees people coming from every part of the country and the world to try their luck every day. Who get a chance to display their histrionics stay there and the rest whose luck does not support them pull the socks up to go back to their homes. The city certainly has power to help you become a star if you are passionate and determined enough to see the heights of success in life.

It’s not a new wave that Pakistani artists are making their presence felt in Indian entertainment industry rather they have been endowing them with their dexterity since quite long. In 80s, Reshma crooned the track, ‘Lambi Judaai’ in the legendary filmmaker Shubash Ghai’s blockbuster, ‘Hero’ and looted the music aficionados’ hearts not only in India and Pakistan but also across the world. The song proved to be the mega hit of that time. In that era, the ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali warbled the ghazal, ‘Chupke Chupke Raat Din’ for the film, ‘Nikah’ and pocketed huge popularity in Hindi filmdom. After that, he released many albums there. And till date, the music lovers have been soothing their ears with his mellifluous voice. The gorgeous actress Salma Agha, who gained film education in an institution in Mumbai where bad man Gulshan Grover and angry man Anil Kapoor were her classmates, too made her Bollywood debut in the movie, ‘Nikah’ opposite Deepak. Ghulam Ali’s ghazal, ‘Chupke Chupke’ had been picturized on both of them (Salma and Deepak) so artistically and creatively that even today’s moviegoer loves to watch and extols the cinematography of the track. One cannot forget the luminous works of the brother-sister duo, Nazia and Zohaib Hassan in the field of singing, which they contributed to Hindi film industry in 80s. Just unlock the box of your memories, the golden epoch begins to boogie in front of your eyes where you see Nazia and Zohaib Hassan trilling the foot-tapping numbers like ‘Disco Deewane’, ‘Dil Bole Boom Boom’, ‘Aap Jaisa Koi Mere Zindagi Mein Aaye’ and many others in various Hindi flicks.

After some space of time, the dashing cricketer Mohsin Hassan Khan who married to Reena Roy (the big actress of Bollywood of that time) made his journey to the glittering world of Hindi films. He appeared in many movies with the coveted stars. The notable films in which he showcased his deftness are: ‘Batwara’ and ‘Saathi’. But unfortunately he had to return to Pakistan after his divorce with Reena Roy. The showman, Raj Kapoor introduced the heart-hitting beauty Zeeba Bukhtiyar in his film, ‘Heena’. Post Heena, she stayed there in Mumbai and enacted in many films but returned back to the country eventually to pursue her showbiz career in Pakistan. Dev Anand’s discovery Anita Ayub too gave her manifestation in his flick but could not survive in Bollywood.

The legendary qawwal late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan got popular with the Indian film industry when he was invited by Raj Kapoor to sing in a specially arranged mehfil at the marriage ceremony of his son Rishi Kapoor. After some hiatus in 90s, Ustad Nusrat made his way to Bollywood to show his talents and released albums there. The soundtrack, which touched to heights, was ‘Awargi’ that he did with the famous lyricist Javed Akhtar. Nusrat’s compositions for the films were hugely admired. Many other coveted vocalists of Pakistan turned the face to India to prove their mettle as well such as Ali Haider, Sajjad Ali, Komal Rizvi, Junoon band and others. And their works were appreciated.

Adnan Sami, the world’s fastest pianist who has the record of playing the Indian classical music on piano, too packed the baggage and took the flight to Mumbai to show his talents of music and singing. When his album titled ‘Kabhi To Nazar Milao’ was released (which he did with Asha Bhonsle) in year 2000, his popularity graph soared sky-high in a jiffy. After that, there has been no looking back for the songster cum musician. And now he is today’s hot singer-musician of Bollywood amongst the biggies of the trade.

In recent past, we have witnessed horde of Pakistani artists going to Mumbai to make their career. The question arises in mind as to why they prefer making their career in India to Pakistan? The answer is very simple. Since the entertainment industry of Pakistan is too small to venture into and besides there are no resources available to churn out projects of international standards and above all the cinema industry has collapsed, the stars’ preference turns to Bollywood because it has a wide international market and the people, associated with it, get international fame and they are paid handsome amount as well. Over the past few years, the large number of Pakistani artists who went to India are: Muamar Rana (Who Sashi Ranjan gave a small role in his film, ‘Dobara’), Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (who had sung in many film functions in India but it’s Pooja Bhatt who introduced him in her movie, ‘Paap’ to croon the very humable track, ‘Laagi Tumse Man Ki Lagan’), Amjad Islam Amjad (who has been reciting his poetry at adbi mushairas in India since long but Pooja Bhat helped him write the song, ‘Laagi Tumse Man Ki Lagan’ for the film, ‘Paap’. Earlier the late poet Qateel Shafai had also been penning lyrics for the Indian movies), Atif Aslam (who was launched by none other than Mahesh Bhatt to warble the energetic spongy number, ‘Woh Lamhey’ in the movie, ‘Zeher’), Meera (she was also introduced by Mahesh Bhatt in his film, ‘Nazar’), Javed Shiekh (whose launch pad was the film titled ‘Shikar’), Strings (they had released their albums in India earlier but their entry to Bollywood was with the flick, ‘Zinda’ made by Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Dutt. Since the legendary litterateur-humorist Anwar Maqsood is the lyricist behind String’s songs, his contribution is also counted to Hindi film industry), Ali Zafar (Frankflin music company launched him in India), Jal band (Home Records released their album in India), Jawad Ahmad (who trilled ‘Bin Tere Kya Hai Jeena’ in the film, ‘Woh Lamhey’), Zulfikar and Ainee (who sang the tracks ‘Tu Phir Aao’ and ‘Mahiya’ in Bhatt’s ‘Awarapan’), Sana (who was seen in a last year’s release ‘Kaafila’ opposite Sunny Deol) and many others made their appearance in Indian entertainment market.

Did Pakistani artists succeed in Bollywood industry? Without any doubt, they have done brilliantly well over there but they are only the singers who the people of Bollywood acknowledge and would like to continue work with. You have witnessed that Meera did only two movies there, Maumar Rana was offered nothing more after ‘Dobara’, Sana too has not been seen in any other film after ‘Kaafila’. It is only Javed Shiekh, who is still there in Hindi movies? But do you think, he is getting the roles, as his worth is…? No…absolutely not…! The superstar of Lollywood, who has rich experience to his credit and who is regarded colossally in the country, is not being given the status, he deserves. Although the Indian media name him ‘Pakistani Dilip Kumar’ but when it comes to cast him, they offer him small roles in the films. Look at the movies, he has done there such as ‘Shikar’, ‘Jaan-e-Man’, ‘Apne’, ‘Namaste London’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’. His roles are of small importance. But the man is still standing there…don’t know what is in his mind? Only the vocalists are gaining huge popularity, fan following, handsome amount and bright future in Bollywood. Atif Aslam has been signed exclusively by the music giant, ‘Tips Industries’. Tips Industries are also in talks with Ahmad Jahanzeb to sign a contract with him. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is singing in every second film. And the same is happening with all the singers of Pakistan. Music companies and the film production houses are after the Pakistani vocalists and they are ready to put the mammoth amount at stake for them since they have rock-hard confidence in their skills.

Now the question is…should all the Pakistani artists try their luck in Bollywood? The answer is… ‘Yes’ because if they succeed, the sky is the limit for the opportunities.

- The writer is an experienced-coveted Bollywood & Indian TV Analyst and laced with good rapport with the swanky worlds of Bollywood and Indian television fraternities. He can be approached at the E-mails: goher.punn@yahoo.com, bollywood.tv.analyst@gmail.com and goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk

Courtesy: Eye Candy (Daily The Post)