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A song for the people
Not content with just a simple cricket series, it seems that Pakistani and Indian musicians are busy cementing ties that are taking this vast subcontinent’s people in the right direction. Enter chief cheerleaders Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, or Strings, as they are more formally known.
With more than a dash of cricket mania between them, the two Karachiites thought hard and found the perfect way to contribute their two bits to the ongoing friendly efforts between the two neighbours. In celebration of the commencement of regular cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, they have teamed up with Indian pop group Euphoria and co-recorded a brand new song, Jeet lo dil. “The song is not about winning or losing on the field, it is about winning the hearts of millions who want nothing but peace in the world,” says Faisal who, along with his band-mate Bilal, has been kicking out snappy jams since 1989.
“On the part of Strings, this song is our small contribution to the ongoing efforts to bridge the differences between the governments and the people of the subcontinent,” Kapadia adds.
‘The song is not about winning or losing a cricket match; rather, it’s about winning the hearts of Pakistanis and Indians. It is our small contribution to the ongoing efforts to bridge the differences’
Spanning a total of two minutes and 45 seconds, the song is the official anthem of the in progress Indo-Pak cricket series. And as is hoped that the cricket series will strengthen friendly ties between the two people, the focus of the song, too, is more about sharing common bonds that tie over a billion people. The video also amply aids in delivering the message, as it shows children playing street cricket in Pakistan as well as in India, with both the bands singing in the background.
Roy Menenzes composed the song, while the video was directed by Zap, a well-known Indian commercial director.
Strings’ sojourn to India to record the song is the latest that they’ve recently undertaken. Says Faisal, “We’ve always felt welcome in India and there’s a need to enhance the dialogue between the ordinary people of both countries.”
Talking about the opening of opportunities following the easing of relations between the two neighbours, Faisal says that there is a lot of room for improvement for both the Pakistanis and Indians. “However, though the Indians have strong musical traditions, they still have a long way to go in contemporary pop music, something in which ‘we’ Pakistanis are very good at.” In fact, according to the two, the scene is more happening in Pakistan than in India. In India, they are relying more on filmi songs and remixes, something that really pains fellow Stringer Bilal Maqsood.
“Many talented Indian musicians bank on remixes. With talents like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, A. R. Rahman etc, why do you need remixes to make money?” Asks a concerned Bilal. Both agree that there’s still a lot of room for co-operation between Indian and Pakistani pop musicians.
As for Strings, they are still going strong 15 years after they released their first song. And though the four-man band split in 1991 — after Strings 2 — these two decided to return in 2000 for their third album, Duur. Currently, they are preparing for the Indian launch of their latest album, Dhaani, after its success in Pakistan.
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