Entertainment

Pakistani, Indian artists team up to celebrate South Asia heritage

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Born in Saudi Arabia and based in Pakistan, singer-songwriter Rutaba Yakub is among the most promising artists of this decade. She went national with her selection in Nescafe Basement followed by Pepsi Battle of the Bands. Rutaba and her music group, Roots, didn’t win the top prize in the competitive PBOTB but did find a loyal audience.

2022 seems to be the year where Rutaba will go all-out. A sign of this can be seen in the number of songs she has dropped. Among them is a collaboration with Indian artist Abhilasha Sinha for a song called “Nazar/Surma”.

The song was deliberately released last month as part of celebrating South Asian Heritage month. The two artists never met but knew full well that music transcends borders and employed technology. The music video is surprisingly strong with a clear idea driving it. The sonic side fits well into Rutaba’s growing discography and is full of synth, electro, and dancehall vibes.

She seems open to trying new things as has become apparent with releases such as “Anay Wala Kal/Ghubaray”, “Dair-e-ufuq”, and “Nazar/Surma”.

Talking to Instep Today, Rutaba explained her Indo-Pak collaborative song ‘Nazar/Surma’ and how it came about.

“The story behind ‘Nazar/Surma’ is a discussion on what we would be like or how we would behave and live our lives if we knew no one was watching us, no one was judging us or have expectations.”

Social media’s many, many platforms, biometrics, metadata, drones watching/attacking from the sky above, the militarization of space and CCTV cameras define the very basics of modern times.

Big Brother is always watching.

Rutaba isn’t just talking about Big Brother, though. As she explains, our behaviour, our surroundings and the people around us affect us in unfathomable and overt ways.

“Everything we do is kind of reactionary and sometimes it’s very hard to lose yourself in it and realize that you’re not really this person. If there were no external factors, you’d be someone completely different.”

The narrative Rutaba is talking about can be found within the lyricism of the song.

The Urdu lines that start off the song may sound overwhelming to those who suffer from a case of weak Urdu. But its meaning, according to Rutaba, is based on a similar thought process.

“For no reason, without us asking, it’s so regular for people to give us either their opinion or their critique.” She’s right there. As for the collaboration with Indian artist Abhilasha Sinha for ‘Nazar/Surma’, Rutaba expressed how both artists are fond of each other’s music.

“She really understood the narrative of the song (‘Nazar/Surma’) and she wrote her verse for it, reiterating the same question(s) but in a different way. But she’s also building up the story to say that we will break free and find the freedom to be our own selves. We’re sharper and we will thrive.”

The music video’s narrative is a split screen as it begins with childhood videos of both the artists respectively. “We were sharing our home videos with each other and realized the similarity in each other’s childhood. Even though we are borders apart, there are so many similarities.

We are South Asians so the birthdays and vacations were similar. And, because of South Asian Heritage Month, in August, we feel we should try to share those similarities instead of focusing on the differences.” Rutaba, through her music, is challenging the typical side of music and deliberately taking risks. But in her own fashion.

“To be honest, I’m completely alright with being an artist who has one specific sound and who’s not experimenting all the time and doing different things with every song.”

Rutaba Yakub describes herself as a collaborative artist and ‘Nazar/Surma’ is simply the latest example. The music video reflects the ideology of the song and though experimental and risky, it is introspective and therefore sounds very cool. With a debut music album called nostalgia @ the keryana store in the pipeline, Rutaba has the confidence and the talent to reach greater heights. This is her third release from said album. She previously released an EP called S**t I’ll Never Finish (2020).

Entertainment

‘Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan’ is a new song teased by ISPR for Solidarity Day

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

A new anthem, “Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan,” was issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday (tomorrow) in honor of Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Every year on February 5, Kashmir Solidarity Day is commemorated to show solidarity with the people of Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

Renowned musician Ahmed Jahanzeb sings the song, which sends a powerful message of solidarity and dedication to the liberation fighters of Held Kashmir.

Imran Raza wrote the words, while Irfan Saleem and Kamran Khan composed the music.

The song was composed especially to commemorate the momentous day and to reaffirm support for the courageous and tenacious people of Kashmir, who are fighting for their right to self-determination, as guaranteed by the documents of united nations

Entertainment

Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen’s tight relationship has sparked rumours!

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen, co-stars of the famous drama series ‘Meem Se Mohabbat,’ have piqued the public’s interest with their blossoming off-screen chemistry.

The drama has received accolades for its upbeat atmosphere, interesting storyline, and outstanding supporting cast.

Ahad’s mother made a special gesture.

Ahad’s mother, Samra Raza Mir, recently made a sincere gesture for Dananeer, which fuelled the rumours. She made Dananeer’s favourite ‘Dumba Karahi’ using her mother’s secret recipe.

Dananeer

Dananeer expressed her delight on social media, posting a picture of the dish and thanking the person for their considerate gesture.

Ahad’s family has been actively involved in his career and projects, with his father, Asif Raza Mir, also playing a role in ‘Meem Se Mohabbat.’ The family’s close bond with Dananeer also clear, as they previously celebrated her graduation together.

Fan Reactions

Since his divorce, Ahad Raza Mir has lived a low-key personal life. Fans, on the other hand, have been eager to speculate about a possible romance between the two co-stars, citing their developing friendship and family participation as evidence of a budding relationship.

Here’s what the fans said:

“Is Had’s mother cooking for Dananeer?” This is becoming intriguing!”

“They look so good together in the drama; maybe there’s something more?”
“Ahad deserves happiness after everything, and Dananeer seems like a sweet person.”

While the speculations are mainly based on fan observations, the bond between Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen continues to pique their followers’ interest.

Entertainment

Kubra Khan has officially announced her wedding date – Here are all the facts!

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

Kubra Khan, a distinguished Pakistani actress known for her performances in popular television dramas such as Sang e Mar Mar, Alif Allah Aur Insaan, and Sinf e Aahan, has verified the current wedding rumors about her.

In a recent succinct dialogue with Irfan-ul-Haq for Irfanistan, Khan disclosed her intention to marry in February.

The actress, acclaimed for her role in Noor Jahan, was inquired about the internet rumors regarding her marriage to actor Gohar Rasheed. Khan stated, “Yes, I am reportedly getting married in February.”

Kubra Khan’s statement offers clarification; nonetheless, she did not elaborate on the wedding. Her employment of the term “apparently” introduced uncertainty, inciting curiosity among both fans and the media.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Speculation on the prospective union of Khan and Rasheed has been prevalent for a while, especially following the actor’s enigmatic social media updates.

Rasheed had earlier shared films documenting the preparations for a wedding ceremony, with hashtags such as “Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi,” which intensified curiosity. He subsequently teased his fans, indicating that he would soon reveal the identity of the individual getting married.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Khan and Rasheed have consistently preserved a tight friendship, both articulating their reciprocal admiration for the other. Nevertheless, they have maintained the confidentiality of their personal lives, addressing the persistent rumors in the public sphere only sporadically.

Khan remarked on her tenure with Hum TV, emphasizing the significant importance of Sang-e-Mar Mar, since it was her debut with the network.

The actress has long been a prominent figure in Pakistani culture, recognized for her diverse performances and commanding screen presence.