Bollywood film Cocktail won the Zee Cine award for Best Music this year. Besides being popular at mehendis, the jointly-made music album, created hype in Pakistan as the album includes four songs by Pritam and four by Pakistani artist, Sahir Ali Bagga. The album also features several leading Pakistani singers, such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Jawad Bashir and several others.
Bagga, whose studio is based in Lahore, said that he was thoroughly excited about the win as he had made 50% of the music on the soundtrack. He termed the achievement a “good omen” for Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
“Music which has made strides in the whole world is coming from Pakistan and will continue to come from Pakistan,” says Bagga. “My composition of lyrics in Mein Sharabi has been a hit in India and is topping the charts, so I am extremely pleased about this award and the way I have been able to represent my country.”
Following the success of Cocktail, Bagga’s focus is to leave his mark on the Indian music industry; he intends to move forward with a couple of new projects.
“I am currently focusing on working in India, because I think that Pakistanis, who work there indirectly, end up supporting the entertainment industry in Pakistan — it inspires our musicians and creates passion,” says Bagga.
“In terms of male vocals, I am pretty clear that there is no better country to look for talent,” he says. “However, there is a shortage of female vocalists either when it comes to Pakistan.”
He feels that the revival of the music scene in Pakistan is possible if local artists collaborate and bring more music to the limelight. “Pakistan has everything — it’s just about working well together and producing some good music,” he adds.
Bagga points out that our music industry is not on the decline. Several new films are on the horizon, including a film by veteran director Farooq Mengal titled Hijrat, for which Bagga will be producing music. The rest of the tracks for Hijrat will be done by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Imran Aziz, Ali Azmat and one by himself. He will also be going to India to collaborate with several known Indian singers, including Shreya Goshal.
Bagga emphasised the importance of female vocalists. “Locally, we have to encourage female singers as the environment is now a positive one for them.” He ended the conversation by telling us, “We have started to promote Mengal’s film and I think it will be a major film for Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2013.
Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.