Music

I didn’t get my due: Shafqat Amanat Ali

“Bollywood has place for artistes from across the world, then why point figure at artistes from one particular country?”

He comes from the seventh generation of the Patiala Gharana, started singing at the age of four and has been fondly named ‘Rock Star Ustad’ by music composer Salim Merchant. Still, singer Shafqat Amanat Ali insists that he has a lot to do in life and make a lot of dreams come true.

“There is no one who does not dream. We are all dreamers and the one who stops dreaming does not live. I don’t dream the unachievable, but yes, I do dream,” says Shafqat in a very poetic way. The singer is excited about his second solo album. “This time we have kept in mind what the youngsters would like to listen to. There is a lot of fusion and rock music in this album,” he says.

Shafqat used to be the lead singer of the band Fuzon. The band belted out some chartbuster songs like Khamaj, but split in 2006. Shafqat has never gone into details of why the band split. “Without going into the details, I can say that the reason for the band’s split was insecurity. I tried my best to keep everything under control but one fine day I lost all my patience,” he says. His band members Imu and Shallum had once said in an interview that Shafqat took the finances of the band under his control and also started doing solo concerts in India. “Money was not even the last thing that I was interested in when I was a part of the band. Earnings were divided equally among band members. And in fact, I had not started performing in India till then. It was only after I had officially split from the group that I started performing in India,” he clarifies and claims that while he did most of the work for the band, he never got the due credit. “I don’t want to sound like I am boasting, but when I was a part of Fuzon, I was doing the vocals, was designing the backup vocals, composing and writing the lyrics. More or less, I was doing everything. Then later I read somewhere that my band members had said that they had composed the album, and that hurt me. They should have given me credit. Interestingly, there were almost seven raag-based compositions in the album and they didn’t know anything about raagas, so how could they have they composed the music for it? This all was very sad … very sad!”

After Shafqat started performing India, he caught the attention of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and was later offered to sing Mitwa in Karan Johar’s movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. “I have been very lucky to work with the artistes who are the best in their field, like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman. Whenever I have been called to sing for a Bollywood movie, I have been called for something special,” he shares.

Shafqat is not the first Pakistani singer to make a space for himself in Bollywood and Indian hearts because of his talent. There are many Pakistani artistes who have made it big here. However, some Indian artistes think that too much importance is being given to Pakistani artistes. “Bollywood is a vast business area and has room for artistes from the rest of the world. So why point figure at just one particular country’s artistes?” asks he, adding, “I am glad that Aman Ki Aasha was conceptualised. This, I hope, will only get the brothers from both sides of the LOC closer. I only can hope, pray and help in my own way for this initiative so that it reaches its destination. More attempts like this can bridge the divide between the two countries. I hope I live to see the day when we don’t need visas to travel between the two countries.”

Music

Ali Sethi’s Album ‘Love Language’ Set for August 1 Release

Music fans, mark your calendars: after catapulting into 2025 with singles Maya and Tera Sitam, Pakistani-American singer Ali Sethi is on the brink of releasing his long-awaited upcoming album Love Language, slated for release on August 1.

“Love Language, my first full length studio album, is out on August 1,” penned the musician in a simple caption in an Instagram post on Thursday as he credited the artwork and photography underneath. “A ragamala rendezvous. I made it for me and you.”

Accompanying the message were three photos from the upcoming album’s cover art. While Ali didn’t lean into Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend shock tactics, there’s no denying that one colour in his carousel demands attention: red. Shiny red leather gloves, a red lace-like shirt, and a jewelled red headpiece draped across Ali’s face – all work in tandem to seize the spotlight.

The red leather gloves are worn by Ali himself – never one to shy away from experimentation – alongside yet another oversized piece of jewellery, too large to be a ring, stretched across the fingers of his left hand. Against a muted blue backdrop, this striking red motif becomes part of his signature: it’s the font colour for his name, the album title, and the names of the new tracks. In case you missed them, Ali’s red-gloved hand points directly at the swirling list of songs featured in the second photo of the carousel.

Fans will be delighted to learn that Love Language comprises sixteen songs, (including the already released Maya and Tera Sitam). When Ali delivers on August 1, here are the eclectically named Love Language tracks you can expect to add to his catalogue: O Balama (Censored Love Song), Hanera, Rocket Launcher [ft Maanu], Nursery Rhyme (Interlude), Lovely Bukhaar, Jhatka in Jaunpuri (Interlude), Hymn 4 Him (Ghoomray), Villain, Bridegroom, Jadugarni, Kaava, Horizon, Subho Shaam [ft Natania], and Escape From Jhaptaal.

The final photo shows Ali gazing pensively at something just out of frame, one red-gloved arm poised as if ready for action, the chains of red jewels still draped dramatically across his face. If there’s any man who knows how to make a statement, it’s him. And with the post already racking up over 2,000 likes from eager followers within just seven hours, it is clear that this crimson-splashed statement is one his fans have been waiting for.

Also Read: Ali Sethi’s Mother Reveals She’s Not a Fan of ‘Pasoori’

Music

Annie Khalid’s Hit ‘Mahiya’ Remixed by Indian Producer

Indian music producer Yashraj Mukhate went viral by remixing Annie Khalid’s iconic 2006 pop hit Mahiya, blending it with a humorous clip of a South Asian man expressing his dislike for relatives.

Known for turning viral dialogues into catchy tunes, Mukhate paired the man’s blunt response with playful lyrics like: “Meri bua ki bhabi ke beti ki shaadi mein kyun jaon, mahiya, ke hoon mein pareshaan, mahiya.” The video quickly gained over 12 million views on Instagram.

Pakistani celebrities including Mawra Hocane and Zoya Nasir praised the remix, and Annie Khalid herself responded with laughter and enthusiasm. Mukhate, calling her “The OG,” celebrated the interaction. Khalid’s Mahiya was a breakthrough hit that defined mid-2000s Pakistani pop and opened doors for women in the industry.

Who is Annie Khalid

Annie Khalid was born to a Kashmiri father and a Yemeni mother in Lahore on 27 March 1987. When she was just six months old, her family moved from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, first settling in East London and later relocating to Essex.

Annie Khalid launched her music career with the single “Mahiya,” which became a massive hit in Pakistan after its 2005 release. Indian filmmakers later featured the song in the film Awarapan.

On 25 November 2010, she released her UK debut single “Be My Baby,” accompanied by a remix from British DJ Judge Jules. After meeting the English–Norwegian boy band A1 at a charity event, Khalid collaborated with them on the single “Just 3 Words” and joined their tour, performing across Norway and the UK. In 2011, the Pakistan Media Awards nominated her for Best Female Singer.

In September 2013, Khalid teamed up with Beenie Man to release the single “Boom Boom Danze.”

Also Read: Annie Khalid – Tharki Saala (Music Video)

Music

Muhammad Ali Shehki Says Romance Is Key to Great Music

In an interview with Imran Ashraf, veteran musician Mohammed Ali Shehki revealed that romance—real or imagined—is central to his musical process, and urged other artists to embrace the same mindset.

He admitted to envisioning a muse while performing, saying, “An artist has to be in love all the time, whether it’s your wife, girlfriend, or someone from your imagination.”

Tapping into that romantic energy, Shehki performed his hit Pyar Kiya Mein Ne Dil Diya, then reflected on his rise to fame in the 1970s. “There was a lot of craze in that era. Now, with so many singers, no one knows who’s who. Back then, it was just a few of us—actually, just two,” he said, referencing himself and Alamgir.

Shehki recounted how makeup artist Lily Raza, who shared his Irani heritage, helped him break into the entertainment industry. Before his big break, he performed in hotels and eventually landed a spot on a show hosted by Tara Ghanshyam. When Ghanshyam fell ill, Shehki was asked to perform their duet solo.

“I thought I’d lost the opportunity,” he recalled. “But Ghazanfar Ali sahab told me, ‘You’ll sing this solo without any complaints.’ So I did, and the song became a superhit.”

Shehki, also known for acting in films like Dekh Tamasha and Choron Ka Badshah, credited that moment as the turning point in his career.

Also Read: Ajay Devgn Shares Musician’s Apology to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan