Atif’s music goes global

Singer might collaborate with John Mayer, Coldplay and Jimmy Page

He is looking forward to the Indian release of his acting debut, ‘Bol’, but if all goes well, Pakistani singer Atif Aslam will be part of a much bigger partnership, reports the Times of India. He might just end up collaborating with big-ticket musicians like John Mayer, Coldplay and Jimmy Page (the founder of famous hard rockband Led Zeppelin). Aslam is a member of The Sonic Peacemakers’ ‘Pakistan America: Peace Through Music’ — a project aimed to bring Americans and Pakistanis closer, and support and develop the country’s artistic talent.

“Whenever I’m in the US, I keep aside a week to work only on my collaborations with artistes. Be it raising money or tying up with musicians, I’m doing everything on my own,” says Atif. “We are planning to collaborate with Mayer, Coldplay and Jimmy Page, but nothing is finalised yet.”

A hit Bollywood singer too, Atif says, “I’m keeping my fingers crossed because, after all, they are busy people.” But is it likely to happen? “We will keep everyone informed about it,” he says.

Atif has already recorded four songs with the ex-members of iconic American band Guns N’ Roses — Slash, Gliby Clarke and Chris Pitman for the album The Dreamer Awakes. “With the initiative, I plan to bring Pakistani singers — including our Sufi singers — and American artistes together for musical collaborations,” he says.

Regarding the upcoming release of Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol, Atif mentions, “It’s always exciting to work on new projects. ‘Bol’ is a very serious film and not just meant for pure entertainment.” Admitting that he was nervous about the film, he adds, “Although I have acted in my music videos and that helped, mouthing dialogues, that too intense ones, is a completely different ballgame. Shoaib Mansoor is a one-of-a-kind director. I loved his last film, ‘Khuda Ke Liye’.” Credit : Daily Times Pakistan 

‘Bol’ beats ‘My Name Is Khan’ record

KARACHI: Shoaib Mansoor’s movie ‘Bol’ released under the banner of Geo Films has not only established new success records, it has even set a new business record at the box office. It has become the film earning the highest gross in the first week of release, smashing all previous records.

Shah Rukh Khan’s film “My Name Is Khan” had done business of Rs21.658 million in a week, whereas ‘Bol’ has done business of Rs22.038 million in just six days. It is expected that when record of the full week is available, this film will make a gross earning of Rs25 million setting up new business record.

It may be recalled that ‘Khuda Key Liye’ the first movie of Shoaib Mansoor too had set up new records and now his second venture is maintaining the tradition. A large number of fans are making a beeline to cinemas and multiplexes. Families are specially being attracted to the movie and they want to see it at the earliest. Since its first show on June 24, the film is continuously on the march to success. By thronging the cinemas, viewers have proved that if good and standard films are produced, they will definitely be attracted to cinema houses.

‘Bol’ continues to receive overwhelming response

LAHORE: The latest presentation of Geo Films ‘Bol’ has received tremendous response from the audiences and most of the cinema houses displayed house full boards at the third day of release.

Shoiab Mansoor’s ‘Bol’ starring pop-icon Atif Aslam finally hit the big screens across the city on Friday and the third day witnessed even a bigger crowd trying to get the tickets.

The movie expects a bumper business this season across the country due to its unusual subject mainly focusing on women’s rights and raising voice against the odds.

‘Bol’ has brought together some flaming issues, weaving them together in an engaging narrative along with exceptional acting. That is why, the flick is receiving overwhelming response from the viewers.

Bol, the much-awaited film by Shoaib Mansoor, is likely to be released after the cricket world cup

LAHORE: The film which was earlier set to be released in February is now likely to hit cinemas in mid April. The release was delayed to settle matters related to distribution. It was cleared by the Film Censor Board in November last year. It is the second full-length feature film by ace director Shoaib Mansoor.

Film pundits desperately await the release of Bol, the plot of which remains a hot topic of debate. Though it may have caused immense chatter in the film industry, the director’s lips stay sealed regarding the release date and the central theme of the said film. However, a reliable source confirmed to The Express Tribune that the movie is based on the plight of women — a sensitive issue in Pakistani society.

Based in the heart of Lahore, the story takes place in a house full of daughters, teeming with the vibrancy of life but restricted to bloom.

“Bol is a roller-coaster of emotions. It carries subtleties that make your heartbeat stop. It questions the worth of a human being, be it a woman or a person born with a birth defect. It questions the authority of reproducing human beings into this world without taking responsibility of acknowledging their worth,” a statement on the film’s website reads.


The soundtrack of the film is quite impressive, and includes the likes of Shabnam Majeed, Sahir Ali Bugga, Bina Jawad, Atif Aslam, Hadiqa Kiani and Faiza Mujahid. Mansoor has also written and composed a song “Sayyan Bolain” sung by Majeed, Bugga and Jawad.

The cast of the film comprises of Humaima Malick, Atif Aslam, Iman Ali, Mahira Khan, Shafqat Cheema, Manzar Sehbai and Zaib Rehman. Several students from the National College of Arts (NCA) filmmaking department have assisted Mansoor in the film.

Mansoor, who on principle does not market a project prior to its release, made an exception and issued the statement: “Having been so blessed in life, I often think of the things that I should be grateful for. The list seems to be never ending, but invariably it ends at one thing . . . that I was born as a MAN. Nothing in the world scares me more than the thought of being born a woman or a eunuch in a country like Pakistan, where obscurantism has deep roots. It is very unfortunate that we make tall claims, full of pride, about the rights of women granted by our religion and yet when I look around in the underdeveloped Muslim countries in general and Pakistan in particular, I find the ground reality to be the polar extreme. Tragically, our interpretation and application of religion seem to begin and end with women. Leaving the five per cent of the urban educated elite aside, women seem to be the playground (battleground) where we practice a medieval form of religion”.
The Express Tribune spoke to the actors regarding their experience and the delay of the release. Atif Aslam, who plays the character of a doctor wanting to become a musician in the film, said: “I am doing a lot of work and am not really relying as an actor on this film. I did this film because I wanted to do a film and didn’t want to play the ‘chocolate hero’. Bol gave me the opportunity to be a part of something substantial. I think it is for the director to decide how and when the film is to be released”.

Mahira Khan, who makes her debut with the film, said: “It was truly a learning experience for me, Shoaib saab is an institution in himself, we all are waiting for Bol; and I hope it brings great business to the cinemas”.
Mansoor’s first film Khuda Kay Liye went on to win several international awards and from the looks of it, Bol may well do the same.

Credit : The Express Tribune Pakistan