Sa Re Ga, a tribute to Pakistani music, was recently arranged by Hum TV.

By all measures the news of Shazia Manzoor performing at the show was the surprise of the evening. The talented singer jumpstarted with the fast-paced Ballay Ballay with ease and élan. In the middle of the song, she invited Bushra Ansari to join her. Shazia then chose Ishq Samajh Na Aaye and delivered yet another flawless performance.

Fareeha Pervaiz with her two numbers, Hai thora thora pyar and Yeh dil bole, did a fine job while another good piece came from Zainul Abdeen — Liye aankhon mein gharoor aisay baithay hain hazoor.

The evening was chock full of surprises and the credit goes to producer Khurram Anwar who brought Tehseen Jawaid, yet another superb vocal artiste, out of oblivion.

Shazia Manzoor

Q: After 16 years in the music industry and seven albums, why do we get to hear so little from you?

SM: Quantity has never been my concern. Quality work has always been my priority and I guess that is what makes me Shazia Manzoor.

Q: What do you think about Pakistani singers doing playback in Indian films?

SM: I think there is nothing bad about it as in a personal capacity whatever a singer does across the border he represents his country in one way or another. But he should be aware of the fact that he is an ambassador of his country. As far as collaboration is concerned I think both countries should also come together to make music.

Q: With hardly any noteworthy films being made these days, how much do you really miss playback singing?

SM: Playback is a complete industry. A lot of things blend to make one good film song: pronouncing a sentiment through a single word, standing before the mike, controlling your voice throw, situation of the song, character and even the artiste performing that song in the film as well as its connection with the main story. All these things deliver a great learning experience. I miss it terribly and pray for the revival of Pakistani cinema. — A.K.

Tehseen Javed

Q: It’s been more than a decade that you left Pakistan and music. Why?

TJ: I settled abroad and it took me a while to sort out a few things. But I kept performing wherever I was, though there were few and far occasions. Now that things have finally settled down, I’m in a position to concentrate more on music and here I am.

Q: Don’t you miss artistes of your league such as Mohammed Ali Shyhaki, Afshaan, Alamgir, etc?

TJ: Yes, indeed. We did great music together with great people of the music and television industry. That was an amazing period. I can vividly recall the time when in just one night I recorded a complete album of 13 songs in a single track studio. There was a lot of dedication and that is the reason why the music made in that period enjoys a connection with the people even now. Q: Don’t you think that you all should guide new talent in this era of media boom?

TJ: I know and I do understand that with no training institutions around our responsibility towards new talent becomes more important. I was caught up with business issues abroad which I have sorted out, and now I’m there for the music. However, I find that most of the people from my league have either left the industry or vice versa. Sajjad Ali and I were there in Dubai recently and we discussed a project that we will start work on soon.

Q: How do you plan to continue with music?

TJ: I want to perform in my own style but in a more improvised form.

Q: Do you support change?

TJ: When we joined music, it was the time when our singers used to go to the studio armed with a diary and singing to a mike fixed on a stand. Then we arrived and things started to change. With a little opposition in the beginning, people later started accepting pop and that was how we made them adapt to change. Now with the media boom and so much foreign channels around change is inevitable and I strongly support that new ideas with contemporary approach are pre-requisites not only for survival but also for going global.

Q: What advice do you have for the burgeoning talent in music?

TJ: I want to tell them that aacha music wohi hota hai jo aacha sound kare. Instead of becoming a part of the rat race they should work hard on the quality and the true essence of music. — A.K.