SOME are born with a silver spoon in their mouth; but as far as Ahmed Jahanzeb is concerned, it very much seems that he was born with art in his soul.
Since he was as little as four years old, Ahmed has been pursing singing his dream with the same dedication and enthusiasm as he does now. “I used to attend musical gatherings and parties a lot. Since I was brought up in a family where musical evenings used to happen very often, I was quite close to music,” says Ahmed Jahanzeb. At the age of five he performed in the TV show Neelam Ghar, which was his first major appearance. “Even before that I used to sing the national anthem at different occasions,” he informs. Although there is no doubt about Jehanzeb being a well known and talented singer, his first major entry in the local pop industry was Aik Baar Kaho Tum Meri Ho. Says he: “I was already started performing in concerts, but this song fetched me great appreciation throughout Pakistan.”
In movies he likes watching action packed spy-thrillers. “I have always liked watching action movies because I find them entertaining,” says he. Although he claims to watch every good movie, on being asked to name at least one of his favourites, he comes up with The Matrix. The reason is its uniqueness from other action movies. To me this movie has brought about a new change in the action movie genre. The graphics and effects that have been used in the flick are wonderful. It’s just like Star Wars which, when it came out, was the trendsetter in its era,” says Ahmed.
Coming to Indian movies, although he does not watch that many Indian movies, Ahmed Jehanzeb is truly a big fan of one of India’s biggest blockbusters; Shahrukh Khan’s Dilwale Dulhania Lejaengay. And the reason he gives: “I like this movie because of its music. It really pleases me. No doubt the entire movie is very good, but the composition is great.”
However, when asked to comment on Pakistani movies, Ahmed remains silent. Doesn’t he like Pakistani movies? “Well I hardly watch Pakistani movies. But I can see there is a lot of effort being put in film making nowadays in Pakistan. You see a lot of new faces entering the industry and this is actually a good sign that more hard work and money is devoted to the movies. I think Pakistani film industry has now got on to a progressive track,” Ahmed said as he finally had something to say about our cinema.
Coming back to his territory which is music, Jehanzeb claims to have love for every kind of music. We do know he has been brought up in a music loving family, but what does he like most in music. “Well, you can’t just have one particular number in your mind all the time. But if you ask me I would say I like classical music the most. I have always enjoyed listening to Mehndi Hassan Saheb and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb. To me both are among the best classical singers the world has ever produced,” says the classic lover. Ahmed Jehanzeb himself learnt classical music from a well known Indian sitarist. It is difficult for him to name just one particular number which is his most favourite, however, “I would say Mehndi Sahib’s Mohabbat Karne Wale Kam Na Honge is my most favourite classical number. The composition, the voice, in fact the entire song is great. And as far as Nusrat Khan sahib’s songs are concerned I would name Afrin Afrin as my most favourite. And the reason for this is definitely Khan sahib’s voice and his distinctive composition,” he says.
In Indian music, however, Ahmed Jehanzeb prefers listening to A.R. Rehman’s composition. “His music is actually of my type. I mean it is always so unique that every one around you will have to praise it. I am very much fond of listening to his music and my most favourite in this regard are the songs of Bombay and Roja,” says Ahmed. To him A.R. Rehman is a pioneer in the music which is of its own kind. “He actually introduced something which nobody had ever presented. He is really a big name in the global music industry,” says Ahmed.
However, when asked about western music Ahmed came up with U2 as his most favourite. As a singer whose voice has delighted and is still pleasing millions of ears, which does he think is his most favourite number of his own? Jehanzeb quickly replies, “Kaho Ek Din is my most favourite.” Why? “Because the lyrics are amazing besides its soothing melody. And a lot of hard work was put into this song.”
Ahmed says the song was the last in the album but later got so popular that he had to come up with a video of the song as well. Without a doubt the song which has really made almost every listener say at least once, Kaho Ek Din, can easily please its maker also.
When asked about the growing number of pop singers in Pakistan’s music industry, Ahmed says, “It is a healthy signal that we are having more and more fresh blood in the industry. It actually brings competition and consequently every one has to perform well, in fact better than others. So eventually the listeners are treated with quality music. I think the audience has also matured, more than in the past and they too also want something unique and fresh all the time. And with that, the quality of music survives.”
After calling it a tiring day, Ahmed Jehanzeb hardly gets the time to read books. “Books reading is something that actually my father does. He has a huge collection of books. However, whenever I sit with my father to discuss literature I come across knowing a lot about it. But I don’t, as such, read many books,” he confesses. However, Ahmed does like to read magazines and weeklies, whenever he gets the time.
Having travelled a lot and finally settled in the country in search of quality music, Ahmed Jehanzeb is always up to launching something exceptional, better than the past and lovely for the listeners.
FAVOURITE FILM: The Matrix
FAVOURITE BOOK: Magazines
FAVOURITE MUSIC: Mehndi Hasan Mohabbat Karne Wale Kam Na Honge
SOME are born with a silver spoon in their mouth; but as far as Ahmed Jahanzeb is concerned, it very much seems that he was born with art in his soul.
