Azaadi Rocks concert: Atif Aslam, Fuzon prove why they’re the best in business

Fuzon, Atif Aslam prove why they are counted among Pakistan’s top musical acts

KARACHI: Even if we as a nation are not united all year round, we always tend to get our acts together on one particular day of the year, August 14.

While no additional excuses are required for any Pakistani to celebrate this day, Karachi gave us one anyway in the form of Azaadi Rocks Music Festival.

Headlined by perhaps one of the biggest pop stars of the subcontinent, Atif Aslam, the show included performances by Fuzon, Zoe Viccaji, Mai Dhai, Kaya band and Chronicles of Khan.

However, the most interesting bit was the choice of venue; the show was held in the heart of the old city at Eduljee Road, in an attempt to reclaim public spaces of the metropolitan while celebrating independence. Surrounded by some magnificent architecture, the festival attracted a large crowd from all over the city. However, the chaos and traffic on the way to the venue, starting near Mazar-e-Quaid, affected some so much that they seemed to have been drained of all energy and enthusiasm by the time they reached.

It seemed at one point that nothing could get the crowd hyped up. The efforts of UAE-based rock ‘n’ roll band Chronicles of Khan went in vain – this may either have been due to a lacklustre performance, or because people were mostly anticipating the arrival of the Aadat crooner.

Kaya band too attempted to do the same but to no avail. Lead vocalist Natasha Beyg indeed had the energy about her; but she failed to convey it to the crowd, and thus another act went amiss. By this time, the crowd seemed to be interested only in purchasing food and beverages, and had started walking away from the stage.

Mai Dhai followed up the act with a few tracks, including her Coke Studio number Kadi Aao Ni and there were no negatives here. She mesmerised fans of folk music and those with perhaps a more sophisticated taste, however few they may be.

There was no head-banging or dancing your feet sore; but a welcome soothing bliss. Nevertheless, it came at the expense of turning some youngsters away. It was only when Viccaji turned up on stage that the crowd began to show a bit of energy. But what really roused the crowd from its slumber was Fuzon’s electrifying performance. Starting with the classic Ankhon ke Sagar, which they dedicated to the late Nazia Hassan (it was her death anniversary on August 13), they won the crowd over and ended with another massive hit, Ankhiyan.

With people now completely in the zone, it was finally time for the grand finale, the culmination of the show. As the crowd chanted for Aslam, host Ahmed Godil built a ton of anticipation for the megastar who made quite an entrance. The crowd erupted in cheers. Men, women and children, all stood on their chairs to take a better look, with cameras clicking away right, left and centre. It can be safely said that there isn’t anything the former Jal member cannot do. Entertaining the audience with a bucket load of hit songs from his albums as well as from Bollywood films, he worked the audience to their feet.

With every track, the crowd seemed to be going wilder. From Doori to Tu Jaane Na and Tera Hone Laga Hoon, Aslam was pretty much controlling the crowd like a sorcerer, changing the pace and tone of the festival at his will. Everyone sang along, danced and hummed to each song he performed. To end the show that had already gone past midnight, he gifted the audience with what is perhaps his biggest hit to this date, Aadat.

Fireworks followed the star’s exit from stage. Judging by the smiles on people’s faces, the festival succeeded in bringing together Karachiites for an evening they are not likely to forget anytime soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2016.

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