Jingle Bells, Soap Bubbles & Other Such... (I)

If you are a Shafqat Amanat Ali fan like me, who sits waiting impatiently for his next song.. his next album, who loves listening to all that he has sung to date but just crave for something more, then there might be something for you in this series of posts. It is about the work that he has done apart from Bollywood and the 3 albums that he has released so far and includes  jingles, promotions, songs for Pakistani TV dramas, patriotic songs, tributes and more.

It was a few months ago when while flipping TV channels one day a familiar singing voice filled my room. It was none other than Shafqat Amanat Ali singing this title song of a popular Geo TV program called “Geo Shaan Say”. Of course his voice left me mesmerized as usual and now Geo TV is on the favorite channel list of my TV menu, as I tune in once in a while to check if they are playing this by chance. I have even watched the show a few times just to catch the voice each time the host announces a break! J

And a YouTube search led me to this one. Who would’ve imagined that a masala commercial could sound so heavenly? Have lost count of the number of times I’ve heard it- yes, a masala commercial!

And then there is this one called -Paiman It is actually a video produced by the John Hopkins Center for Communication Programs- for promotion of mother and child well-being. What a beautiful depiction of some special moments in a family! “Mohabbat karo zindagi se- Aane waali roshni se”- Love Life and the  bright joy that it brings! – Words that come to life when Shafqat sings them…

This spirited song to promote vaccination in children. Joyful! Wonder why in our  anti-polio campaign, Big B was never made to sing- maybe we could eradicate polio much faster :P

I got a link for this one from my friend in Pakistan- another die hard Shafqateer- Thank You Ehtisham Amir! What a lovely song, what a lovely concept for a mobile ad,  a very sweet video and what do I say about the voice... it is romance personified!

And this one called Yahan- This Place, is special. Produced to promote tourism in the Gilgit-Baltisan region of Pakistan, it has been written and composed by Shafqat Amanat Ali. The lyrics are said to be inspired by local tales and beliefs and the music arrangement includes some of the indigenous musical instruments. The making had its share of adventure and drama (read here). 

                                                               The video shoot

And why it is close to my heart is because the song reminds me so much of the hill state that is my home in India. It is in areas like this, which are still relatively cut off from the frenzy and madness of big towns and cities, where serenity still resides , fairy tales still get written and simplicity still means beauty and vice- versa.

Video courtesy: Serena Hotels & Zarminae Ansari

And the seemingly simple words convey so much and take you right there..

Manzar mile ga na yeh kaheen pe

Dekhna ho jannat ko zameen pe

Aa jao

Dekho yahaan

Qudrat ke karishmay yahaan

Ek baar jo aye

Dil yahaan reh jaye

Jana chahe na phir

Yahaan se

Phoolon ki shahzaadi

Muskuraye yahaan

Angrayi leti bahaarein

Bhi mileingi yahaan

Tum aao, chahe jiss se milo

Rehta hai har mausam yahaan

Raat ki kya kahein hum

Taaron [e rakh ke qadam

Badlon ki shaal orhe

Vadi mein ho jayein gum

Chalte rahein, buss chalte rahein

Le jaye yeh rasta jahaan

Jitni haseen vadiyaan hain

Dil bhi utne haseen

Aise dil, aise chehray

Na milenge kaheen

Chehray haseen, manzar haseen

Aur pyari si hain boliyaan

MY TRANSLATION:

A sight like this, where else can be found

It’s like the heavens descended to the ground

Come and experience

Nature’s miracles abound

Just once is enough

To win your heart

And then from this place

You’d never want to part

The Princess of Blossoms

Smiles right here

Inviting, enticing, beckoning

The spring is in the air

Come here, and you get to see

Each season, in its full glory

What do we say of the nights…

When you can step on the stars

Wrap the mist around your shoulders

And walk into the valley, afar

And you keep walking, just keep flowing

Till where the path leads, till where it’s going

Like the gorgeous valleys

The ever so lovely hearts

Beautiful souls, pretty faces

Are what set this place apart

Charming people, breathtaking sights

And the sweetest conversations, that delight!