It has been a brief yet anxious wait. Finally, Atif Aslam appears on stage, strums his guitar and that oh-so-famous voice fills the autumn air. The audience asks for more. Critics may have a contrary view, but there is no denying that Aslam’s vocal chords evoke an elated response in the sub-continent, right from Karachi to Kolkata. “I cannot differentiate an Indian audience from a Pakistani one. For me it is all the same,” he points out.
His popularity may be the common grounds between two countries but the Pakistani singer’s journey to glory, began on a humble note. “My debut as a professional singer happened at a McDonald’s outlet in Pakistan. The effort earned me `500 and I still have that note,” he recalls with a smile.
Aslam scripted his first success story with the band Jal, but the association was short lived. “I have no regrets at all. Rather, quitting the band was the best thing to have happened to me. It just so happened that another of the band’s member was jostling for my position as the lead vocalist. I chose not to compromise with my creativity and opted out,” he says matter-of-factly.
That move unveiled a new chapter, as Aslam’s solo career — and the Indian connection — worked wonderfully in tandem, making the singer a much sought-after name in this part of the globe. “Playback singing may have established me as a household name, but I will admit that live concerts give me the adrenaline rush. The sheer energy and response from the crowd makes the whole affair a more memorable experience,” he feels, adding, “A few days before the 10th anniversary of September 11 terror attacks, I was performing for a charity event at Times Square with Slash. On an impromptu note, I sang Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and dedicated it to the 9/11 victims. The response was overwhelming, especially keeping in mind that it was an all American gathering and not of the desi folks. As an artist, such mome-nts give one a certain high and it becomes the driving force.”
The singer voices his concern about Bollywood dominating the music scene, but is still optimistic about the survival of non-filmi music. “Coke Studio Pakistan is a phenomenal platform for artists, it is innovative and provides the singers enough room to explore and experiment. I was part of the second season and enjoyed collaborating with other artists,” he claims.
Ask him to name an actor who gels well with his voice? “Probably Ranbir Kapoor,” pat comes his reply. It is followed by a surprise declaration where without mincing words, Aslam says, “Frankly I would give Emraan Hashmi a miss. I am not comfortable with his image and the manner in which his songs are picturised.”
While singing remains his priority number one, he is not entirely averse to the idea of donning the greasepaint. The much talked-about Pakistani film Bol paved the way for his career as an actor back home and Bollywood could be the next move. “So far, the offers that have come my way have not been interesting enough. The films should have a musical connect or a global appeal, like Dil Chahta Hai or Monsoon Wedding,”
he says with a sheepish grin.
Unperturbed by criticism or his lack of professional training as a singer, Aslam signs off saying it’s only passion and dedication that finally underline one’s creativity.