A VOICE CROSSING THE BORDERS…

Music knows no boundaries. This has been proved by the latest Pakistani music sensation Atif Aslam, who has become a rage in Pakistan as well as in India. His album Doorie broke all the records on music charts and now his latest album Meri Kahani is making the mark in both the countries. Born in Wazirabad, Gujranwala, this 25year old singer always aspired to be cricketer until he discovered the passion of music in him.

Academics
Atif’s education started with “Kimberley Hall School" in Model Town Lahore to Saint Paul's school, Islamabad then again to PAF College Lahore. He cleared his 10the grade at a young age of only 14 due to his double promotions at Kimberly Hall for being an outstanding student.

Aspirations
Cricket was his childhood passion and was selected for ABN AMRO bank team and was offered a first class cricket match until he faced a failure in the subject of Chemistry at his college by just getting 29 out of 100.

Appreciation
In 1998 at PAF College Lahore and sarogodha. Atif's friends forced and encouraged him to participate in a singing event on Independence Day. While he performed at that event on stage that evening people were thrilled to hear him out and therefore he won first place. He kept on winning these competitions every semester until he announced that he will no longer participate in next competitions so that someone else can also win the competition.

Admirations
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan songs and Kishore Kumar were an inspiration to him. Atif says “There was a time when R.D. Burman had such good melodies, lyrics and arrangements, that's not happening now. Everything is run of the mill as they have to produce and produce that there is no original music anymore. I listen to all the music that is around me. I have a wide spectrum of listening spanning from Noor Jehan to Pink Floyd to U2 and Eric Clapton. Personally I prefer to listen to Nusrat's memorable qawwalis and do so whenever I am alone. This is in turn what shapes me as a musician and stimulates my creativity.”

Albums
Jalpari is a music album released on July 20, 2004. It is his first solo album after he left the Pakistani rock group, Jal. Two of his songs from the album were used by Bollywood film directors. His three songs Aaadat, Ehsaas and Yakeen were included in a Hollywood art movie Man Push Cart. The film had its world premiere at the 2005 Venice Film Festival.

Doorie was the second album by Atif Aslam released in 2006. This album was produced by Sachin Mithoon and Atif himself. All the recordings were done in Mumbai.
Meri Kahani is his third album. The album was officially released on 8th January, 2008. It was reported to be leaked on the Internet before release. Like his earlier albums, this one also got a huge response in Pakistan as well as in India. His latest song "Pehli Nazar" from the movie Race is creating sensation.

Affection
Atif describes himself a deep and a passionate person, which shows in his kind of music. He says “Doorie is not my kind of album, but it gave global fame which I could never get in Pakistan.” His first album Jalpari is near to his heart which was a bigger hit than Doorie in Pakistan. He says “I want to experiment and come up with something new and totally different each time. I want to surprise others and myself as well. I believe I have to create a lot of music to define my own genre and this will take time.” Atif says that many of his fans are really near to his heart and recalls one such fan, “One of my fans from India, who is a doctor, told me that my songs are used in their psychiatric ward as therapy for mental patients. The song helps the patient relax. All this gives me a great sense of satisfaction.” He says I want to be a “Simple guy making great music”, rather than a rockstar.

Achievements
· Best song, Best Composition, Best Lyrics "Aadat"- 2nd Jazz Indus Music Awards.
· Best playback singer, Best debut singer - Sahara Sangeet Awards (India).
· Best Song, Best Lyricist, Best Composition - ARY Music Awards (Pakistan).
· Most Wanted Male - The Musik Awards (Pakistan).
· Best pop star of the year - Filmazia awards (Pakistan).
· Best album of the year "Doorie" - 2007 LUX style awards (Pakistan).
· Received Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Star-of-Excellence) from the Pakistan
government.
· Best stylish musician of 2007 - MTV Pakistan style awards.
· Most stylish MUSICIAN - MTV STYLE LYCRA AWARDS INDIA


Like every star Atif has also been surrounded by controversies. During his college days he formed a band called ‘Jal’ with Goher, his college mate. But soon the band dispersed and the copyrights of the song Aadat became an issue and the case is still pending in the court. A very recent one is, when Atif didn’t turn up for the concert at Pragati Maidan in Delhi in December 2007.

Royal Albert Hall is the most prestigious place in Europe for a concert. Only legendary artists from around the globe have performed there and it was dream come true for Atif Aslam to perform there. The only Pakistani artists that have performed over there till now have been Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahib and Junoon.

Atif Aslam may be a singer idolized by millions, yet deep down he really is, what he claims to be: a ‘simple guy.





Courtesy: www.aadeez.com