Showing posts with label Peter Gabriel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Gabriel. Show all posts
Pakistan doesn't value its artistes-Adnan Sami
7:51 AM
Two years after he procured his Indian citizenship, Adnan Sami reflects on what prompted him to switch nationalities; singer to perform live in India for the first time
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 24, 2017)
Former Pakistani national Adnan Sami seems unperturbed while chronicling the struggles he faced from the neighbouring country, even confessing to being bullied by social media users online. As he celebrates three years since he procured Indian citizenship in December 2015, the singer tells mid-day how Pakistan gave him little hope as an artiste.
"Pakistan doesn't value its artistes. I will get trolled for what I have said, but, that is the reality. It is unfortunate. Pakistan never valued Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab until English songwriter Peter Gabriel started collaborating with him. After that, the country suddenly realised that it has an amazing talent. This is the story of a lot of artistes there."
Following a decade-long struggle to receive an Indian passport, Sami was denied Pakistani citizenship a month before he became an Indian national. The move has left the singer with bitter memories. "The way the Pakistani government treated me is only testimony to the ill-treatment meted out to artistes. There was outrage against me. People were amazed that I had applied for citizenship in India. I don't give a damn about getting trolled. I have earned immense respect and love in India," says Sami, who is gearing up for his first live performance in the country.
That the neighbouring country has also failed to condemn terror attacks perpetrated against India has also irked the singer. He points out that while Pakistani artistes have condemned the attacks in Orlando (2016) and Munich, few spoke against the September 2016 Uri attacks in India. "When Indians have loved and embraced Pakistani artistes, why can't the latter come out in their support when injustice has been meted out to the people? No one wants these artistes to wage a war against their government. People didn't demand that they condemn their own country. They just expected them to say something for the sake of humanity," Sami says, as he recalls Mahesh Bhatt pleading Pakistani artistes "with folded hands" to condemn the attacks.
Sami is looking forward to performing at the charitable event, World's Biggest Guestlist Festival, which will educate one lakh underprivileged kids. "It is surprising that I have never performed live here. I am happy that with one performance, I will be able to educate so many kids. I will always be proud of this."
Sami first grew to fame with the
chart-topper, Lift Kara De (2000) with Govinda. Ever since, he has
collaborated with several Bollywood artistes, including Rani Mukerji,
Ameesha Patel and Dia Mirza.
I'll act in a Bollywood film by the year end-Atif Aslam
7:52 AM
Atif Aslam also plans to release his first English album with Peter Gabriel by the end of next year
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2015)
Buzz is, you're acting in a Bollywood film?
Inshaallah. I'm a little confused between two films but I should be acting in one by the end of this year I've already experimented with drama in Bol. Now I want to play a romantic hero. Hopefully, I'll sing too. All my songs have been on the charts.
Why don't we hear you more?
I'm selective, focus on quality. Also, the audience needs a break. Recently, I took a couple of months off to focus on my life. And returned with the single Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main, which was released by Bhushan Kumar's label last weekend and has crossed a million views on YouTube. It was Tiger Shroff's idea. He's the opposite of his father Jackie Shroff who I was a fan of after Rangeela. It was difficult to perform choreographer Ahmed Khan's steps. Tiger had been rehearsing for months, I had only 20 minutes to practise. I'm doing more songs, singles and an English album.
English album?
Yes, I'm in talks with Peter Gabriel, who is my mentor. Inshaallah it should be out by the end of 2016.
Will you sing for Race 3?
I've sung a lot for the Tauranis in the last six years. Now that my contract with them is over, I'm free to sing for others. If Race 3 is made by another producer I will.
What's your equation with Fawad Khan?
He's a dear friend who used to sing with his band earlier. Their single was a hit but the album didn't do well and he moved to acting. He was appreciated in the TV serial Humsafar and now is doing really well in Bollywood.
Another Pakistani singer-actor, Ali Zafar, has turned producer. If offered, will you act in his film?
If the script is good, why not? He started his singing career before me, then we took over the market.
Devdas and Sholay released in Pakistan recently, did you watch either of them?
No, though I'd love to watch Sholay, it's a classic. Our audience prefers newer films and imitates the dance moves of Salman Khan and some of the new actors. I love India and Mumbai and would love to buy a house here. I hope we can bridge this divide soon. Everyone's trying.
You tried with the talent hunt TV show, Sur Kshetra on which Abhijeet Bhattacharya said that you couldn't sing. You didn't react. Why?
I don't like controversies. I try to understand where a person comes from and where he is. I could have responded in kind but that would have harmed this cultural exchange. So I didn't react, but my fans reacted for me.
Inshaallah. I'm a little confused between two films but I should be acting in one by the end of this year I've already experimented with drama in Bol. Now I want to play a romantic hero. Hopefully, I'll sing too. All my songs have been on the charts.
Why don't we hear you more?
I'm selective, focus on quality. Also, the audience needs a break. Recently, I took a couple of months off to focus on my life. And returned with the single Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main, which was released by Bhushan Kumar's label last weekend and has crossed a million views on YouTube. It was Tiger Shroff's idea. He's the opposite of his father Jackie Shroff who I was a fan of after Rangeela. It was difficult to perform choreographer Ahmed Khan's steps. Tiger had been rehearsing for months, I had only 20 minutes to practise. I'm doing more songs, singles and an English album.
English album?
Yes, I'm in talks with Peter Gabriel, who is my mentor. Inshaallah it should be out by the end of 2016.
Will you sing for Race 3?
I've sung a lot for the Tauranis in the last six years. Now that my contract with them is over, I'm free to sing for others. If Race 3 is made by another producer I will.
What's your equation with Fawad Khan?
He's a dear friend who used to sing with his band earlier. Their single was a hit but the album didn't do well and he moved to acting. He was appreciated in the TV serial Humsafar and now is doing really well in Bollywood.
Another Pakistani singer-actor, Ali Zafar, has turned producer. If offered, will you act in his film?
If the script is good, why not? He started his singing career before me, then we took over the market.
Devdas and Sholay released in Pakistan recently, did you watch either of them?
No, though I'd love to watch Sholay, it's a classic. Our audience prefers newer films and imitates the dance moves of Salman Khan and some of the new actors. I love India and Mumbai and would love to buy a house here. I hope we can bridge this divide soon. Everyone's trying.
You tried with the talent hunt TV show, Sur Kshetra on which Abhijeet Bhattacharya said that you couldn't sing. You didn't react. Why?
I don't like controversies. I try to understand where a person comes from and where he is. I could have responded in kind but that would have harmed this cultural exchange. So I didn't react, but my fans reacted for me.
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