Bollywood can do a lot better in music: Ali Zafar
The musician-turned-actor says traditional instruments like sarangi, tabla and sitar getting ignored
Singer-actor Ali Zafar. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
Our favorite Bollywood actor Ali Zafar has said that although there is good music being made in India, the Hindi film industry can do a lot better considering the resources available to it.
"To be honest, there is some great music and some not-so-good work as well [in Bollywood]. Considering how big the industry is and the kind of infrastructure available for musicians, a lot more good music can be produced here," he said during an interview with Hindustan Times.
"I look up to the Bollywood music of the '60s and the '70s and that is the kind of potential the industry in India has. I think there is desperation to bring in western music influences. So, the strength of the indigenous sound of India and of instruments like the sarangi, tabla and sitar is getting ignored," he added.
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
When asked if tension in India-Pakistan relations affects music as well Ali said, "Yes, of course. I feel art and entertainment ko sabse pehla jhatka lagta hai. No one can deny that there is friction; we just need to keep working. I am an optimist and I feel art goes on despite all difficulties."
Ali also spoke at length on the current music scene in Pakistan. "Independent music has a lot of presence in Pakistan because the Pakistani films don't dominate the country's music industry. In India, Bollywood is the biggest thing and every musician wants to be a part of it. But in Pakistan, artistes make songs for themselves. Work there is not driven by the demands of the producer," he said.
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
Speaking about the influence of Sufism on Pakistani music Ali said that actually the country's younger generation is hugely influenced by western music.
He was asked why he didn't release any more singles despite the success of Sajaniya which earned him instant fame in India. To this he replied, "I regret not being able to do that. But now I will. I did compose a few songs for Coke Studio Pakistan. But Bollywood has taken over everything, so pop music hardly gets any space today. When Sajaniya came out, a lot of pop music used to play on music channels on TV. But now, it's mostly paid content. It takes a lot of money to put a song on air. That is why private albums suffer."
Ali revealed that he composed Sajaniya during a flight which is where he composes most of his songs. "Music can be made anywhere, mujhe sirf mahaul chahiye hota hai... I feel that is a place where there is no disturbance."
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
He was also asked how often Indian artistes perform in Pakistan. "Security is an issue in Pakistan, and that's why India is a much safer place to perform. Over the past few years, even we've found it difficult to perform there at times. There was a time when I used to do 11 concerts in Pakistan in three days, and now I do those many concerts in six months. But Indian stars do visit our country. Mika Singh and Naseeruddin Shah saab performed there recently."
"To be honest, there is some great music and some not-so-good work as well [in Bollywood]. Considering how big the industry is and the kind of infrastructure available for musicians, a lot more good music can be produced here," he said during an interview with Hindustan Times.
"I look up to the Bollywood music of the '60s and the '70s and that is the kind of potential the industry in India has. I think there is desperation to bring in western music influences. So, the strength of the indigenous sound of India and of instruments like the sarangi, tabla and sitar is getting ignored," he added.
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
When asked if tension in India-Pakistan relations affects music as well Ali said, "Yes, of course. I feel art and entertainment ko sabse pehla jhatka lagta hai. No one can deny that there is friction; we just need to keep working. I am an optimist and I feel art goes on despite all difficulties."
Ali also spoke at length on the current music scene in Pakistan. "Independent music has a lot of presence in Pakistan because the Pakistani films don't dominate the country's music industry. In India, Bollywood is the biggest thing and every musician wants to be a part of it. But in Pakistan, artistes make songs for themselves. Work there is not driven by the demands of the producer," he said.
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
Speaking about the influence of Sufism on Pakistani music Ali said that actually the country's younger generation is hugely influenced by western music.
He was asked why he didn't release any more singles despite the success of Sajaniya which earned him instant fame in India. To this he replied, "I regret not being able to do that. But now I will. I did compose a few songs for Coke Studio Pakistan. But Bollywood has taken over everything, so pop music hardly gets any space today. When Sajaniya came out, a lot of pop music used to play on music channels on TV. But now, it's mostly paid content. It takes a lot of money to put a song on air. That is why private albums suffer."
Ali revealed that he composed Sajaniya during a flight which is where he composes most of his songs. "Music can be made anywhere, mujhe sirf mahaul chahiye hota hai... I feel that is a place where there is no disturbance."
PHOTO: facebook.com/aly.zafar/
He was also asked how often Indian artistes perform in Pakistan. "Security is an issue in Pakistan, and that's why India is a much safer place to perform. Over the past few years, even we've found it difficult to perform there at times. There was a time when I used to do 11 concerts in Pakistan in three days, and now I do those many concerts in six months. But Indian stars do visit our country. Mika Singh and Naseeruddin Shah saab performed there recently."