Clash of the Titans

Watching Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar go head-to-head is a treat for the senses!

LAHORE:

It was a celestial night under a black velvet sky. Asif Jha’s atmospheric haveli played host to Pakistan’s rich and infamous, the corporate gurus who form the crux of Standard Chartered’s priority banking clients. Among the night’s entertainment were inimitable talents such as Sanam Marvi, Arif Lohar, Ali Zafar and Atif Aslam. It was a heady concoction of folk and pop that coaxed, intoxicated and elevated the senses.

Who would have thought that Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar, the two reigning princes of pop, would come together on a single platform? The grapevine has always been ripe with rumours of massive egos concealed under the cloaks of professional rivalry, but the Standard Chartered event brought these incredible talents together seamlessly, as if they were just two stitches of the same tapestry.

By placing these talents shoulder to shoulder, one could assess the unique, individual qualities of both of these powerhouses. The night was a glaring testament to the fact that the industry needs both talented artists.

With his warm and forthright manner, Ali Zafar engaged the audience by cracking jokes and initiating banter with Arif Lohar that included personal references to Zafar’s family, who were seated amongst the crowd.

Eventually Zafar threaded through the audience and waltzed with his wife to “Channo.” His style and image complimented Lohar’s persona of a mast Punjabi, as they both danced and sang in unison to Zafar’s “Rangeen hai tu Rangon se bhi ziada”. Zafar was clearly in his element in the spotlight. A true artist, he brought forth the complete star package: The smouldering good looks, the charming smile, the wit, the theatrics and the mellifluous voice.

Aslam, on the other hand, walked onto the stage with just one weapon in his arsenal — his voice. He has ventured onto the silver screen with film producer Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol, due to hit cinemas this summer, but his acting skills are suspect. As far as singing goes, he has been censured for being nasal and out of tune, particularly when he hits high notes. As his career progressed, his voice evolved, but many dismissed this evolution, since Aslam focused on making music that was sellable in Bollywood’s biggest banners. After one stunning stint at Coke Studio, all tongues stopped wagging. The credit was then passed on to music producer Rohail Hyatt for bringing out the best in what was considered Aslam’s very commercial voice.  If there were any doubts left, his performance at the Standard Chartered event quieted those who didn’t believe in his prowess.

This was fusion music at its most exciting and eclectic, as Aslam composed his own set and did the unthinkable by singing a rendition of “Sweet Child of Mine” with Bulleh Shah’s kalaam, a huge creative risk that he had taken once before, at Coke Studio with Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean”. Then he put a jazzy and bluesy twist on his commercial Bollywood hit, “Tere Bin”. The results were astounding and proved that he may not be the performer that Zafar is, but he has his own voice and vision. Those who doubt Atif Aslam need to experience Aslam doing fusion, which is where he truly outshines even the greatest vocal chops around. Had Standard Chartered not taken this leap of faith, this new star, the fusion maestro Atif Aslam, might never have been born.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2011.