KARACHI:
Older generations fondly remember Madam Noor Jehan’s contributions to the Pakistani film and music industry. Noor Jehan, also known by her honorific title Malika-e-Tarannum or Melody Queen, had a legendary career spanning more than six decades. She was renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers of her time in South Asia. She received many awards including the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 1966. Today, Noor Jehan’s patriotic songs are an important part of our national history.
My generation grew up dancing to both Noor Jehan’s Punjabi songs at weddings and grooving to pop music at Junoon’s concerts. It was literally like having the best of both worlds. However, despite being a Junoon fan, the insensitive remarks made by Ali Azmat about a national icon like Noor Jehan is highly condemnable. Recalling his childhood memories on a YouTube channel, Vakeel Online, he expressed how he found her boring to watch. For Pakistan, Noor Jehan is a name synonymous with musical greatness, an artist that made her country proud. It is no wonder that people have reacted with so much anger. Our sentiments have been badly hurt. Ali Azmat has recently released a five-minute video reassuring his respect for Noor Jehan. It would have been more appropriate if, instead of a clarification and passing the buck onto surgical editing et al, an apology was meted out. It would build him up as a person if he had simply said sorry. It is bizarre how he had the audacity to criticise the late and respected Noor Jehan’s signature saree, heavy jewellery and make up which he finds over the top.
Ali Azmat’s comments are simply in bad taste and outright rude, especially when that person is no longer alive. Netizens and her family have issued statements against him on social media, condemning his disgraceful utterances that broke the boundaries of respect and decorum. These derogatory remarks cannot be disguised under the garb of ‘freedom of expression’. There must be limit to everything.
Salma Tahir
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2021.
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