Pakistan’s Strings and India’s Euphoria erase boundaries as they sing in unison at the Aman Ki Asha concert in Kolkata on Wednesday

PRIYANKA DASGUPTA & ASHOK CHATTERJEE Times News Network

There was a nip in the air and Kolkata was still shrouded in grief. A little more than 24 hours ago, the city had paid its last respects to its dear departed leader. Lacs and lacs of people had waited patiently in serpentine queues and dotted every inch of space on the roads where Basu’s last journey had meandered through. It was an emotional connect that hadn’t resulted out of being shepherded by any diktat. In many ways, it was a similar kind of an emotional connect on Saraswati Puja that got a huge crowd to gather on the Nicco Park Big Lawns to witness yet another historic venture — the Aman Ki Asha project — a move towards peace between India and Pakistan that has been initiated by The Times of India and the Jang Group of Pakistan. As band members of Euphoria and Strings together took the stage, the frenzied crowd knew that their spontaneous turnout was an indication of being on the right side of history.

The long-term consequences, as Faisal Kapadia (Strings front man) had pointed out earlier, stand true. It took eight years for cultural exchange to develop between the two countries. It was because the door to India was finally opening up, enough for a Lollywood diva to debut in Bollywood with Mahesh Bhatt’s Nazar. Atif Aslam’s career took off and he is flying high since. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and so many others became bigger entities at home and across the border as a result. Since 26/11 attacks, things have been at a standstill but it seems the fog is clearing. Slowly, things may be changing once again.

Jal’s front man denies any anti-Pakistan sentiment. Strings also felt the same.

They represented Pakistan at the South Asian Bands Festival at Purana Qila, New Delhi.

“We performed at the same festival two years ago. We were representing Pakistan. We performed in the same festival two years back but after 26/11 attacks, the situation was tense and so we couldn’t perform last year. It was good to return. It was a good ice-breaker.

Faisal elaborated further, “There were performers from countries like Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. And they really made an effort to bring it all together.”

From South Asian Bands Festival, Strings also landed at a college in Delhi. And college-goers make for an excellent crowd.

“It was high energy and it was incredible.”

And then the guys went off to Jaipur and Bangalore, where they performed at the Hubba Festival. Hubba?

“Hubba Festival,” explained Faisal, “features everything from classical music to pop.”

And Strings are happy with the response they garnered even after a one-year sabbatical from regular Indian tours, due to obvious reasons.

Describing the experience, Faisal said, “We performed on the Pop Night and we were the only act performing. Getting so many people as an audience was a high. It’s different than when one is performing with a bevy of artists because such shows can pull in bigger crowds. But to be able to perform alone and generate such a good response was elevating.”

Before the Indian tour, Strings recently performed in Karachi as well at a small but super successful gig. Talking about the Karachi gig, Faisal said, “Karachi was a blast.”

They also performed in Lahore recently and more prominently at the recently concluded T20 cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the U.A.E.

“We’ve performed in stadiums before. We performed once when Pakistan was playing against South Africa and later at a World Cup,” reminisces Faisal, “But we had one song slot in those series. This was different. We had a proper stage with mics and a huge audience. It was great.”

It’s unfortunate that an act like Strings who made a comeback in the spotlight (not that they ever truly left…) in early 2008 – with Koi Aanay Wala Hai’s release – cannot show off their live skills too often in Pakistan anymore. Live concerts still take place, but not often and the scale of designing a ‘concert’ hasn’t truly come in. This is a time when venues are undisclosed until d-day.

“It’s a tragedy,” says Faisal. “Consistent performances have become rare under our current climate. Do people want to come out of the house?” he asks rhetorically and continues, “But after Muharram, we are hoping to plan a tour of Pakistan.”

Try as you might (be my guest), Strings are hard to ignore, whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em. Their last video, ‘Titliyan’ is perhaps one of the most honest and inspiring tribute videos ever done in Pakistan.

“We’ve had a tremendous response to the video. In such times, we often don’t feel inspired or in the spirit of entertaining others amidst such chaos. But ‘Titliyan’ is different. It’s different from anything we’ve ever done,” says Faisal.

Not surprisingly, the video has not only given director Soheb Akhtar some weight but has also generated a positive response from viewers across the board.

“It’s not just the youth appreciating the video, but people from all walks of life,” says Faisal.

And why not? ‘Titliyan’ is so nostalgic and commands attention, not just for the soft melody (signature Strings stuff) but for those images – that range from Waheed Murad to legends like Iqbal Bano and Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – that remind us of the talent and the power of those who paved the path for future generations in their respective fields.

“Every time you sit down and watch those images (in the video of ‘Titliyan’), you get the shivers,” divulges Faisal.

The impact of ‘Titliyan’ didn’t go unnoticed in India where the crowds, as Faisal reveals, chanted “Titliyan’”.

The video hasn’t launched in India but people have already seen it, thanks to the age of Internet and YouTube. And Faisal believes in the power of the Internet. “Internet will become so strong and ultimately it is the future, with new mediums on the rise.”

The globe-trotting pop superstars are now planning to take a break.

“For now, we are taking a break but we are looking at a full-fledged Pakistan tour in the coming weeks.”

In the case of Strings, never say never.

Strings fans could be seen in full force last Friday evening at the Royal Rodale Club in Karachi where Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood got off to a bumpy start amidst the muffled voices in the background. They belted out their first track of the evening, Humsafar, from their album Koi Aanay Wala Hai, which is somewhat fast becoming a signature opening number for their performances. The sound system too was good enough to pump energy into the audience.

Sans any glaring glitches or behind the scenes blunders, it was an amazing experience to be at the concert. Although the entry of stags and boys in groups was refrained following the club’s policy, the energy level wasn’t missing.

Acclaimed for their rhythms, beat and melody, and enriched with poetic values courtesy Anwar Maqsood, Strings with Adeel on the lead guitar, Shakir on the bass guitar, Haider on keyboards and Qaiser on drums belted out Deewana and Aik Do Teen, and brought the house down with their fiery energy on stage. Chaye Chaye and Durr electrified the ambiance with the crowds singing along and dancing to the upbeat numbers.

Soon it was Bilal’s turn and after blazing through Sarr Kiye Yeh Pahar he moved on to Mil Gaya Woh and Mera Bichra Yaar. In spite of 2009 being a dull year with terrorism overshadowing all kinds of activities and with hardly any public concerts, Strings has managed to be in the spotlight even though it has been nearly two years since their last album was released.

Be it was their appearance at fashion events, their live act at the UAE T20 cricket match, the music video of Humsafar shot in Moscow featuring Bollywood superstar John Abraham, their tribute to Pakistani legends with Titliyaan, the second season of Coke Studio, or their social involvement with Unicef and their US tours, the band has sustained its presence in the news unlike their contemporaries.

The band went through all their popular numbers including Anjane/Na Jaane Kyun, Alvida, Yeh Hai Meri Kahani, Zinda, Dhani and Koi Aanay Wala Hai. A surprise appearance by Anwar Maqsood brought new energy to the scene, no doubt taken as a gesture of support to the new generation from the older one.

In a post-gig chat for Images on Sunday, Strings had this to say:

Q. How has tonight’s show been for you?

A. It was an interesting venue — doing a concert on a rooftop felt amazing. The stage was good, the crowd awesome and sound arrangements perfect. We had a blast.

Q. It has been quite some time since Strings did a concert. Where have you been?

A. Things were either on a halt or they were kept private due to the turbulent law an order situation. We have planned to arrange a series of concerts throughout Pakistan with a telecom service provider, though not on a massive scale as it is neither secure nor practical.

Tonight was basically a test gig which kicked off nicely. Next, we are flying to Lahore and then to India where we have a series of shows lined up in Delhi, Jaipur and Bangalore. We will be back after Moharram to resume touring.

Q. How has 2009 been for you?

A. It has been a depressing year generally and the entertainment industry is no exception. Besides terrorism, the common man had to fight on several fronts including inflation, economic crisis, etc. It was not a good year musically as well and we have had to postpone a number of tours due to security concerns. But we all need to fight this gloom and doom, and the entertainment industry can play a significant part in doing so.

Q. How has the experience of doing a video like Titliyaan been?

A. Great. We got good feedback for the song and the video of Titliyaan.

Q. Who was the first to come up with the idea and what motivated you?

A. Originally the concept was that of Bilal and later Soheb Akhtar took it over and executed the whole concept very well. We feel that as a nation we have a short-term memory. We are unfamiliar of the work of our legends and their achievements.

Basically, the idea of Titliyaan was to pay rich tribute to all icons that Pakistan has had over the decades — from music legends Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Malika Pukhraj and Iqbal Bano to writers and poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ashfaque Ahmed and Parveen Shakir, artists like Sadequain to Gulgee, and actors like Khalida Riyasat, Saleem Nasir, Yasmeen Ismail and Mehboob Alam.

Q. Wasn’t it difficult to summarise all in a few minutes’ video?

A. It was and credit goes to Soheb Akhtar for making it sound so touching. With it we have strived to create awareness in the younger generation regarding our rich traditions, and the people who helped us reach where we are today.

Q. What surprises does 2010 hold for Strings’ fans?

A. Well, 2010 is dedicated to concerts and tours that unfortunately couldn’t materialise this year. After India, we are heading to the US in March. But there is a project that we are engaged in along with Atif Aslam and that, we are sure, would be a pleasant surprise for our fans.

Q. How was it doing a live act at the UAE Cricket Stadium in T20?

A. Really great. The band has always been associated with cricket. It was for the first time that the UAE Stadium management took it so seriously and made the arrangements for a live concert by giving the kind of sound system a stadium should have for a concert. It was fun performing live and later when Pakistan won the match it added more to the excitement.

Q. Can we expect a new album in 2010?

A. I don’t think so as 2010 would be too early. We usually start working on an album when we are done with the concept/storying of the album. We haven’t started working on it as yet.

Q. Will you be discussing social issues in your albums?

A. We have already recorded a few documentaries with Unicef for creating awareness regarding Aids, and soon these would start making their way to the media.

Q. Recently, both of you made a presence on the ramp at a fashion show. What was that all about?

A. It was an interesting experience and we were dragged by Freiha Altaf into doing a lip synch act for two of our songs, Koi Aanay Wala Hai and Sarr Kiye Yeh Pahar. The fashion industry is doing quite well here and we believe that music and fashion co-relate to some level, therefore the idea attracted us. We had done a similar act in India as well for John Abraham who launched a clothing line there.

Q. What else is keeping Strings busy these days?

A. The Internet has turned the world into a global village, making interaction with people a whole lot easier. Strings is quite active through different social websites such as Facebook, besides we have our own website where fans can directly interact with us. It has benefited us as we get instant feedback from our fans.

The ‘Titliyan’ video is undoubtedly one of the most poignant videos to have been released this year. The song itself gained a new lease of life this summer via the reworked version for Coke Studio’s second season. But this newly released video will definitely compel fans of Strings to revisit the original on the 2008 album.

The video itself is a fitting tribute to Pakistani icons that have passed away – some long forgotten and scarcely remembered, and others, who have left us so recently that the shock of their departure hasn’t settled in yet.

Shot entirely in black and white, the ‘Titliyan’ video intersperses shots of Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood performing on a set akin to a photographer’s studio. It opens with a couplet: ‘naseem-e-subah ke jhonkay humein bhee choo ke guzar / humein bhi yaad hai kuch mausam-e-bahar se log’. Beautiful photographs of icons flash by; from musical legends like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Iqbal Bano to the actors Saleem Nasir and Khalida Riyasat and literary icons like Parveen Shakir and Ashfaq Ahmed, to mention a few. And the video has its literal moments too: as the verse ‘rangon mai mujhse kuch kehti jaayein’ plays, a photograph of the painter Gulgee appears.

A painful reminder of the loss this country’s cultural landscape has borne, replete with the sadness that reflects from every note of this song, the ‘Titliyan’ video isn’t just poignant because it reminds us of who we have lost. It is poignant because it is a reminder to all of us to keep their memories alive – and to honour those who are still amongst us.

And so Strings – in their fourth video from the Koi Aanay Wala Hai album – have managed to produce a heartrending effort with the promising Soheb Akhtar at the helm of affairs. If only all tributes were as soulful and well-meant as this one…

– Saba Imtiaz

Saba Imtiaz
Karachi

From a very personal perspective, I hate surprises. Particularly surprise phone calls, where you spend at least three agonizing minutes while the caller makes you guess his/her identity. Or surprise birthday parties, which are a pain to organize and by the time the victim is ’surprised’, one’s fake-ooh-look-at-what-we-pulled-off expression has been plastered on for hours. And even though surprises at a fashion show are rare, the organizers of the recent Veet show pulled a rather lovely one off.

One had heard rumours of a surprise at the show – which featured collections by Faiza Samee, Saadia Mirza, Ayesha F. Hashwani, Zara Shahjahan, HSY and Sonya Battla – but the details had been kept under wraps. In the midst of the Saadia Mirza segment of the show, the music changed to Strings’ ‘Koi Aanay Wala Hai’ and as the models walked out, so did Faisal Kapadia, lip-syncing along to the band’s popular hit from their last album. Faisal – who seemed completely at ease on the runway – was met with resounding applause, and after his exit, came Bilal Maqsood with a guitar in tow to perform ‘Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar’, that original Strings classic that continues to be one of their most-loved and most recognizable songs. The duo then united on stage to groove to ‘Dhaani’, from their 2003 album of the same name. Credit to the models for not even batting an eyelid, but LSA winner Nadia Hussain did pause to smile at Bilal Maqsood as she made her turn down the runway.

The concept of having musicians perform at fashion shows is fairly new to Pakistan (earlier only seen at the TRC/Ensemble Ponds show and award ceremonies like the Lux Style Awards) but made popular worldwide by the annual Fashion Rocks concert that has seen artists like Bryan Adams, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani and Bon Jovi perform during fashion shows. It was an absolutely fantastic move though. And it marked an all-too-welcome change from the usual ‘tableau/dance’ segment the Veet shows have been known for (that have left one cringing in their seat as opposed to grooving along with, as the audience did this time around).

Kudos to Frieha Altaf of Catalyst PR for putting this together, and finally doing away with the tableaux; that in previous years have featured warped versions of the stories of Eve and Cinderella replete with dancing boxes of Veet. This move not only guarantees that the show gets its ratings (after all, music does outsell fashion any day of the week) and in a country where music and fashion have formed so many linkages it made absolutely perfect sense. Strings were the showstoppers (with many apologies to those who hate Madhur Bhandarkar for popularizing the word) of the night.