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A Junoon for film music
MOOD INDIGO: Ali Azmat, lead singer of Pakistani band Junoon
Ali Azmat, lead singer of Pakistani band Junoon, says that whenever his group
has performed in India, the overall impact has been multiplied by nine. “We have
a great following back home in Pakistan. But ever since we began performing in
India five or six years ago, we realised that there’s a special thrill in
performing here,” he says.
Azmat has recently recorded the song Garaj Baras for Pooja Bhatt’s film Paap.
Interestingly, the film also contains two songs by Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh
Ali Khan, while the rest have been composed by Anu Malik.
Garaj Baras has composed, written and sung by Azmat. The song has a very Junoon
flavour, and though you suspect the guitar has been played by Junoon’s Salman
Ahmed, Ali clarifies that he’s played it himself.
“I prepared this version of the song about a year ago. There have been other
versions which Rahat and I have sung together. I played this one to Munish
Makhija, whom I’ve known since his days at Channel [V], and he was very keen
that I give it for Pooja’s film,” says Azmat, who looks completely different in
his head-shaven avatar.
Adds Mahesh Bhatt: “I found a certain passion in these songs. I am sure Paap
will be richer after the inclusion of Azmat’s and Rahat’s songs.”
Now that he’s entered the Hindi film circuit, Azmat is open to the idea of doing
a song or two if they interest him enough. “I shall definitely do songs for Mr
Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja. Before this, the only offer I got was for a Salman Khan
film, but things didn’t work out,” he says.
What about reports that Junoon had been approached for a couple of songs for the
Mahesh Manjrekar-directed Rakth (on which Vijay Mallya is joining hands with
Suniel Shetty’s Popcorn Entertainment for co-production)? “It’s too early to
talk about other films. But I am now looking to create songs keeping the film
genre in mind,” he says.
Speaking on his responsibility as a musician to help spread the message of
peace, Azmat says, “Junoon has always been part of that social activism process.
Even in our early albums, our emphasis was to talk about peace. We believed in
singing songs of hope, celebrating humanity.”
The singer says that in Pakistan, there is a huge youth platform which has the
same beliefs as the Junoon members. He explains: “My generation is completely
far away from the hatred that our elders’ generation has gone through. We are
ready to throw off all that baggage and move on,” he says.
While Junoon last released its album Deewaar, Azmat hopes to release his solo
album later this year. “Yes, I am keen on expanding my horizons. But as a group,
Junoon is keen on doing more shows here too,” he says.
Narendra Kusnur
Mid Day
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