Music

Pakistan’s musical talent takes center stage once again

The popular music reality show Pakistan Idol is likely to return to screens in July, with its television broadcast expected in August. Director Nadeem J confirmed that the show had faced a temporary delay due to post-production challenges and external disruptions.

Speaking about the production process, Nadeem J said the team had worked with full commitment and had already completed around four episodes before the project was interrupted. He explained that four episodes had been completed before Ramazan, but work slowed during the month due to external circumstances, including conflict-related disruptions. Afterward, execution problems caused further delays, forcing the team to pause production.

The director confirmed that production has now resumed and that four remaining episodes still need to be completed. These include episodes 37 to 40 of the season, while post-production work is currently being reorganised. He said the team is hopeful that the project will be back on track by the end of July, allowing the show to air in August.

Nadeem J said the large scale of Pakistan Idol made the project challenging to manage, especially because it involved multiple stakeholders and an international format licence. He added that some coordination problems affected the workflow, but described them as miscalculations rather than intentional mismanagement.

The show is produced under the global Fremantle format with regional coordination. According to Nadeem J, the international team remained professional throughout the process and focused on ensuring the format’s success. He said the local team followed the required guidelines and tried to maintain international production standards.

He also highlighted broader challenges faced by Pakistan’s entertainment industry, particularly limited budgets and weaker advertising revenue compared to India, where Indian Idol continues to run with strong corporate and sponsorship support.

Nadeem J explained that India has a much larger advertising market and a stronger sponsorship structure, which allows reality shows to run more consistently. In comparison, Pakistani productions often face gaps due to financial limitations. Despite these challenges, he said Pakistan Idol has received a strong audience response and has shown improvement in production quality, especially through 4K visuals and enhanced sound design.

Reflecting on the season’s most memorable moments, the director said several performances deeply moved the judging panel, which includes well-known Pakistani musicians and industry figures. He shared that there were moments when judges became emotional, with at least three judges moved to tears during different episodes. He said this response reflected the depth of talent emerging through the competition.

He also mentioned a special episode featuring live performances by both judges and contestants, describing it as one of the standout segments of the season.

Discussing the contestants, Nadeem J said several young singers have the potential to build long-term careers in Pakistan’s music industry. He said at least five contestants stand out, while two or three are likely to reach the finale. According to him, some contestants have unique vocal identities that could help shape the next generation of Pakistani music.

The director added that Pakistan’s entertainment industry has gradually improved in recent years, particularly with the arrival of international reality formats such as Shark Tank Pakistan, MasterChef, Got Talent, and Rap Icon. He said that if such formats continue to succeed, they can strengthen the industry and attract more investment and sponsorship.

He noted that the future of the entertainment sector will depend greatly on economic and political stability, but expressed optimism that the industry can continue to grow if current progress is sustained.

With production now moving forward again, Pakistan Idol is aiming to restart its final recordings in July, followed by an August broadcast on Express Entertainment. The team remains hopeful that the remaining episodes will be completed on time, bringing the long-awaited season back to viewers after months of delay.

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Abrar ul Haq reveals the inspiration behind his hit song ‘Nach Punjaban’

Renowned singer Abrar ul Haq has revealed how his hit song Nach Punjaban was created, including the story behind its famous line, “Thora jiya gaane nu de de Punjabi touch.”

Speaking in a YouTube interview, Abrar said he was writing the opening lyrics of the song when he asked his cousin Tipu for feedback. His cousin told him the song sounded good but needed a stronger Punjabi touch.

Abrar said the remark stayed with him and later inspired the line, “Thora jiya gaane nu de de Punjabi touch, thora jiya music nu de de Punjabi touch.” According to him, that phrase gave the song its identity and helped shape the final version of Nach Punjaban.

Abrar ul Haq rose to fame in 1995 with his debut album Billo De Ghar, which became a massive success and established him as one of Pakistan’s leading pop and bhangra singers. He is credited with popularising modern bhangra music in Pakistan.

Nach Punjaban later became one of his most talked-about songs, though it also faced criticism over the use of the word “Punjaban.” Abrar later released a revised version titled Nach Majajan.

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Sajjad Ali denies giving Indian TV channels permission to use his songs

Pakistani music legend Sajjad Ali has clarified that he never gave permission to any Indian television channel to use his songs, after his popular track Raavi was performed on an Indian reality show.

In a video message shared on Instagram, the singer responded to the recent performance of Raavi by two young contestants on the Indian Punjabi singing competition Voice of Punjab Master Champs Season 10.

Sajjad Ali began by thanking his fans across the world for their love and support. He said he appreciates cover versions of his songs and often shares his reaction whenever such performances come to his attention.

However, he said recent social media discussions had created confusion, with some people in Pakistan assuming that he had allowed an Indian TV channel to use his music while not permitting contestants on Pakistan Idol to perform his songs.

Rejecting the claims, Sajjad Ali made it clear that he has never granted copyright permission to any Indian television channel. He said his song was used without his knowledge or approval.

“They are using our song without permission. They neither sought our consent nor obtained any authorization before broadcasting it,” he said.

The veteran singer added that his legal team would contact the relevant Indian channel over the alleged unauthorised use of his copyrighted work.

Speaking about the Pakistan Idol controversy, Sajjad Ali said his position had been misrepresented for almost a year. He expressed disappointment that his remarks were taken out of context, causing misunderstanding among the public.

Sajjad Ali is one of Pakistan’s most respected singers, composers and songwriters, known for his unique voice and contribution to pop and classical music. Over the years, he has delivered several memorable songs, including Babia, Chief Saab, Har Zulm, Cinderella and Raavi.

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Sajjad Ali’s Song Featured On Indian Reality Show Raises Questions

Sajjad Ali is among the top names in the Pakistani music industry. His soulful voice has been lifting up our hearts for the last four decades. From Babiya to Ravi, his stardom has only grown and people love him. He was in the news since the time back when he was criticized for not letting his music flow openly.

Pakistan Idol was a show which received love despite its controversies. Sajjad Ali was in the news as he refused to let the show feature his songs and no one could sing his music during the show’s run.

Now a controversy is starting as his famous song Ravi was featured in the Indian Reality Show Punjab Masterchamps. A young singer was seen singing it and people have questions.

People have questions now and they want to ask if Sajjad Ali will sue the show or not. One person wrote, “Will he have any issue about his song in Indian show?” Another added, “He had an issue with a Pakistani show and he allowed the Indian show?” One said, “Indian also just keep copying.”