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A mixed night
Musical shows are a dime-a-dozen these days. But it’s up to the invitees to sift the good ones from the bad. A multinational’s Lakhoon ka Mausam, comprising daily draws of Rs100,000 every day, commenced on a grand draw of Rs2.5 million, and the ‘Mauj Masti’ musical event held on Sept 22 at the DHA Golf Club was the platform to announce the grand prize winner.
The hosts of the evening were the towering Ali Salman, who is really going places these days, and the elfish lass, Natasha. Together, they made some interesting music of their own.
Jawad Ahmed, who was lined up for the performance, did not make it for reasons better known to the organizers or himself. Later, however, it was learnt through reliable sources that the singer was supposed to perform at 11pm, but he showed up at around 2am, whereas the show had ended at 1:30am.
The other artists performing that night, however, more than made up for it, namely Amir Saleem, Naeem Abbas Rufi, the boy-wonder of local pop, Ahmed Jehanzeb; Hanif Raja, a new lahore-based band called Noori, Shazaman and Najam Shiraz.
While the earlier two sang both old and new numbers from their previously-released albums as well as those recently out, it was Ahmed Jehanzeb who shone out among the rest like the bright star that he is. The boy is a musical genius, and both the songs he performed — Tu Jo Nahin and Ek Bar Kaho — are also currently topping the country’s music charts.
Next to follow was a steamy dance number on a song from Javed Sheikh’s newest offering Yeh Dil Aap Ka Hua, leaving the audience, rather than the performer, short of breath, and again to Hadiqa Kiyani’s Buh-i-Bariyan.
After a long wait, it was time to announce the lucky winner of the Rs 2.5 million bumper prize, as Bushra Ansari was ushered on stage. The hefty sum went to a Mrs Noor Jehan, but what sounded extremely odd was that her address was read out loud — a definite security risk for the poor woman any way you look at it.
After all the hullabaloo, it was finally time to get back to the show, and Hanif Raja came on stage armed with his wit. The adrenalin-pumped back benchers who were, until now, making a nuisance of themselves, were Hanif’s main target, and squirmed uncomfortably under the ace comedian’s piercing jabs. For someone who’s seen Hanif Raja in action more than once, however, the act was not a new one, and most of his one-liners had been rehashed. Still, he did manage to deliver the goods and saved the day for organizers Dr Riffat Sajjad and Fauzia Shamshad, even receiving an encore!
Next to perform was the new band from Lahore, Noori and they were good. The gypsy-like sounds of Manwa Re were eagerly lapped up by the young audience, thirsting for more of the good stuff. And more did follow.
Finally, it was time to announce the name of the tall and lanky Shazaman, who has become a familiar face on the music scene. He was given a warm, hearty welcome by all those present, and through an unwritten rule, it was expected that he would open his act with the fusionistic Laila. However, that was not to be the case. Nachna was the track which got the opening credit, followed by another, and finally, Laila came, which drove the young crowd wild with frenzy.
It seemed there was no stopping the good time people were having, but Shazaman finally vacated the stage for someone called Shahzad Chandi to make his debut performance in Karachi. His call for ‘hands up’ sounded like someone who was about to hold the crowd hostage — a premonition of what was to follow. After three very forgettable hardcore Punjabi numbers, he was off the stage, only to make room for a band called Craze. The less said at this point, the better. Mr Chandi is in the process of making a music video featuring Badar Khalil and Rija, a comparative unknown, in the set up of a saas and bahu relationship. Good luck to him, for he’ll certainly need it. Finally, it was time for Najam Shiraz and his whirling tunes, but by now, the crowd, who had already had enough, started parting. People were literally high-footing it for the exit, desperate to put an end to the evening’s entertainment, this reviewer included.
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