From amongst the numerous artists that cross the border, none manage to make a big impact. DESIGN: SANA KHAN & HINA HANIF
Despite having risen from the same soil and sharing a common heritage, Pakistan and India have distinct identities. Pakistan, though, suffers from a dilemma – where should it draw its cultural identity from? Historically, it would connect us to the ancient civilisation of Mohenjo Daro, built around 3,000 BC, however, that coincides with India. Geographically, it should derive from individual pieces of land whose culture is a by-product of different invaders and survivors like the Persians and Assyrians to name a few. Religiously, our history dates back as long as the advent of Islam in the subcontinent which is somewhere around 1,200 years ago. With so many aspects to consider, the ‘culture’ is bound to be an amalgamation.
While we are struggling to strike a balance between “Pakistani” and “religious” when it comes to culture, our neighbours have taken their culture seriously and built upon it. So much that their culture has become their biggest export and identity. Ironically, our contributions to their culture are considered “imports” from Pakistan.
Bollywood is the major reason why our artists haven’t switched to office jobs. With India opening its doors for our talent, the number of artistic imports has surely increased but the overall quality has deteriorated.
While a myriad of musicians and actors have traveled to India, only a few succeeded in making an impact. Acting for films has never been our forte. Be it the likes of Zeba Bakhtiar and Talat Hussain or Pakistan’s version of a chocolate hero Ali Zafar, we haven’t been able to leave a memorable mark. Although Zafar is trying hard to make things work with his multiple talents, but so far he has failed to impress with his acting skills which is probably the reason no major production has featured him in a lead role.
Joining the list of imports is Meesha Shafi, who has recently acted in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. We are aware of Shafi’s raw voice but her work as an actor for TV or even a film like The Reluctant Fundamentalist has been below average. Humaima’s performance in Sher with Sanjay Dutt is yet to be seen. While she did a good job in Bol, we can only wonder how she will fare across the border. The less that said about Meera, Veena and Sarah Loren’s performances in Bollywood, the better.
Music, however, is a domain where our real power lies. Our artists no longer have the vision or impact that our legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had, who made a Bollywood debut with his music for the film Aur Pyar Ho Gaya and never looked back. From the critically-acclaimed album Sangam with lyricist Javed Akhtar to other various projects including one with Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan went there to prove his mettle and did so with utmost style. His so-called successor Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has lost his charm and is living entirely on catchy compositions by Bollywood composers. Though, he might be getting more popular with every track and minting money, it seems he has lost his finesse as a raw performer.
While Shafqat Amanat Ali is playing it safe, Zafar hasn’t produced music that will be remembered. As for Atif Aslam, fame came to him a little earlier than expected and this may be the reason he couldn’t refine his talent. Regardless of that, the range he demonstrated in Mori Araj Suno from The Reluctant Fundamentalist, speaks volumes about his resilience as an artist. After Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, he is probably the most influential artist from Pakistan in Bollywood and if he carries on his solo projects simultaneously, he will do wonders.
So should we expect more talent budding from within Pakistan? Yes. But will it be better? No. That’s because artists such as Meesha Shafi are more or less residues of our raw musical talent. These budding stars are so focused on making it to Bollywood that they are unable to produce something different and remarkable.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
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This article is well written on broader way, but it didn't give any clue why and how Bollywood expossure helps these talented artists from Pakistan. Remember, it's that simple to understand either Indian or Pakistani singers can survive only in those 2 countries plus Middle eastern countries if at all(?). We may have huge talent, but there is almost zero chances to shine in western countries due to our culture or physical appearance. Western countries will encourage all british/australian and american actors in same way, just because they all have fair skin and looks same. It's pretty much same with East Asian countries, as we have different looks and cultures which they can't take it. You can see how China, Japan loves S Korean artists/dramas. This is just b/c they have similar looks not culture.
So, now only choice left for Pakistani and Indian artists is to help each other as we have pretty much similar in all aspects discussed above. As Bollywood is well known and it has its own share in Middle-east and east asian markets too. Also, Indians are now spreader over in all major countries and bollywood is getting millions of dollars for each movie now a days. It will give pakistani singers a huge market in countries like USA/UK/Middle east where they can have live shows similar to what Indian singers are doing for years.
@stevenson: Sahab if you acknowldge aryan incvasion, I hope you are also welcoming of the fact that the muslim invasion and forced conversions were the basis of islam in todays pakistan.
How can Islamic societies create film industry where there is no tolerance for other views ?
Only that the Indus was not Pakistani, it was Indian and Hindu. Pakistan and India are distinct cultures for a reason,and its not religion. Pakistanis are of Scythian, Parthian east avestic stock(Semi Hindu barbarian tribes) who settle down in the geographically defunct and abandoned Indus, after the drying up of the Saraswati. Scythians are also known to Hindus as Saka or Kamboja. Secondly, Aryan is not a race, such a term doesnt exist in Hindu India, except for Hitlerian propaganda . The Word Arya does exist, meaning noble or principled in faith.Ps - all Caucasoids, Mongloids walked out of India and not into it.For the average mediocre reader, Hinduism begins not in modern India but in a sunken landmass that connected India, Africa and Australia together/also called the land of ancestor Manu.
Islamic culture and ultra conservative society doesn't allow Pak to build its industry . Of course they will come to India or will go somewhere else . What is new in it ?
Which history so rich Indian heritage or adopted Arabian heritage @SB:
I'm Indian and I find Meesha Shafi much more beautiful with lovely smile and very good voice . Sonam kapoor is no comparison to her . I wish she was unmarried ;-) .
Pakistan can produce good movies. It is upto the talented people to do so
But given the environment of insecurity now, i think the challenges are immense to develop this
In late 80s,my parents used to visit stores to find Pakistan plays ,so its not as if the people are not talented enough
Its all about the money now. Talent will go where the money is. Lots of european actors go to hollywood. No different to pakistani artists going to India. No big deal
We are Muslims. And our heritage is so rich. Everyone knows. All we have to do is to realize what we are and we are made for.
it is not Pakistan's history, it is a sub continents history.If Pakistanis can claim it to be theirs,i see no reason why Bangladeshis claiming the advent of Islam as their history would be a flowed one.
The first will researched piece in tribes on culture
@Abu salim: please take your infatuation, and complexes about india elsewhere.
the only reason pakistan hasnt been able to achieve the worldwide recognition, is because there isnt a recognisable platform for people to showcase their talent. perhaps its time to end this obsession with bollywood and focus on what pakistan has to offer.
@ Abu Salim
Please keep your 'daily bread' to yourself. This kind of attitude is losing India even friends (colonies) like Bhutan!
The author wrote "Pakistan, though, suffers from a dilemma – where should it draw its cultural identity from? Historically, it would connect us to the ancient civilisation of Mohenjo Daro, built around 3,000 BC, however, that coincides with India."
Mohenjodaro was 5000 years ago. Why do Pakistanis want to erase their heritage and ancestory , starting from the end of Mohenjadaro to the beginning of 8th century ?
@Syed: There is no identity.Its like a baby born with out having father and mother.
India no longer promotes its culture but western crap. Gone r the days.
Talent is not confined to one country or region.Talent is all over the world,Talent flourishes under liberal conditions.pakistan suppressed so many things under the name of religion,talent in various fields never get a chance to come up.If i say religion in pakistan has to be a private affair and it cannot be wore on the sleeve, many people will not only disagree but will go and issue a fatwa.
I agree on point that our artists should focus on making quality stuff and not making it to billywood
Bollywood, Bollywood, Bollywood....Get Over it!!! Pakistan has a different culture to that of India and must look forward to create its own identity...
I think pakistan has produced good amount of talented people in singing and few in acting. Pakistan shouldn't cry too much about that Bollywood has not given pakistanis a fair amount of due. Well, other countries treat pakistanis in third class way. The pakistanis should be thankful to Indian that they are at least able to provide a pakistanis a daily bread to pakistanis artists which pakistan itself couldn't provide to their artists.
Meesha shafi has a minuscule role in BMB - but she is pretty. And seriously, we are looking for a replacement for Sonam 'two expressions and a manic laugh' kapoor.
I don't think you should look at this as a Pakistan vs India thing anymore - the talent needs to be marketable. Thats all there is to it.
Frankly I think it's silly to see Pakistani artists working in India promoting another country's culture and media when they should be helping to build it in Pakistan. Despite your infatuation with Indian culture, many Pakistanis have no such affection for Indian culture. By the way, the Indus Valley Cities and Civilization predate HInduism and Hindu India by several thousand years. Some historians argue that Mehergargh and the Indus Valley cities are over 5000 to 7000 years old - at least 1000 years before the Aryans even entered South Asia.
Historically the land of present day Pakistan had been the source of Bollywood talent. Peshawar gave great Dilip Sahab and Kappors and the Saharukh Khan. Old timers Om Prakash, Manoj Kumar, Shamshad begum, Shyama etc all came from Pakistani part of Punjab. Sadhna came from Karachi. Pakistan has been a gold mine of talent. Same has been the case with Bengal which produced greatest musicians and actors. Bombay provided the stage to all of them to show their talent. In a way Bombay has been a honest broker for talent without any consideration to ethnicity, region or religion. Bollywood and Lollywood produced almost same quality stuff till about 70s as both had the same old common talent pool from undivided India time. Pakistan could not maintain the supply chain from 80s onwards. Pakistan still has some great singers. Ali Abbas and Sara Khan are no less than anyone. However, Pakistan is too small a market for them. From Bollywood one gets the world wide audience which is not possible from Lollywood. . Bashir Ahmed was a great singer, but lost visibility after 1971.
Wish we have some system under which Pakistani talent is groomed further and provided Bollywood stage for wider audience. In Sprint Pakistani singers might be better than Indians, but in long race they tend to loose.