He is the voice behind the track 'Bin Tere Kya Hai Jeena' from Mahesh Bhatt's film 'Woh Lamhe' and it was Jawad Ahmad's first song in India as a singer. The Pakistani singer’s recent track 'Samjhawan' was used for the film 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' and was sung by Alia Bhatt.

'Samjhawan' was originally sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for the Indian Punjabi movie 'Virsa'. Ahmad was both the music director and one of the three producers of the film.

Ahmad is loved in Pakistan for his music and was awarded Tamgha- e- Imtiaz (Medal of Distinction) for his services in music and arts. He was also awarded Sitara- e -Eesar (Star of Sacrifice) for his social and humanitarian work by the government of Pakistan. In this week’s Musical Rendezvous, Jawad Ahmad speaks to Radioandmusic.com about his music.

Film and non-film projects

Seven years ago, Mahesh Bhatt took my song for the first time which was a huge hit in Pakistan and now recently my song was used in the film ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’. Now, I have decided that it is time to expand my reach in India. I was getting many projects in Pakistan so I never got the time to take anything up but now I hope to do more projects in Bollywood. I am still in touch with Mahesh Bhatt, and I look forward to do projects with him.

I am focussing on non-film and film projects. I am talking with many film-makers and planning to have my own album.

Live music in India

I would love to do gigs in India as well. Live music is my strength and many know me in Pakistan for this but in India people do not know me. For instance, people know Rahet Fahat Ali Khan and Atif Aslam for the music they do in Indian films, otherwise they would never know or hear many of their projects in Pakistan. There are many big artistes in Pakistan who are so busy with projects there that they do not get time to come outside Pakistan and they do not make fans in different part of the world.

Freedom of expression for musician in Pakistan

I am of the view that every musician has his or her point of view but at the same time they have to be careful that their work is not such that they are banned from expressing their view in future. But bans like this (Laal band) should not affect the work of an artiste. People should continue doing their work. The work should not stop any point of time. It is important for people to make their point clear in a manner that it reaches in a right way to people and that they should not be radical in the way they present their view. I believe that freedom of speech and expression is very crucial but one should never misuse the freedom provided to them by the state.

Lyrics

I love writing tracks that are of mixed genres. I like writing songs that speak about romantic relations, Bhangra, other relationships, spiritual trends and lyrics implying humanity or other social causes. I like writing lyrics that talk about the hardship in the life of the working class. The class lacks education and a good standard of living so I like to talk about it through my work.

If I am given an option to write lyrics then I can write songs that would cater to working class in a manner that would appeal to larger audiences. This class of people work hard for us and make the basic things available to us. It is the farmers who toil to provide us with our daily meal. It is essential that they are made known about the rights and privileges which would help them to live a prosperous life. The onus is on us as we are living better lives compared to them so we should contribute our bit to help them.

I am a stern believer of egalitarian society and like promoting it through my work.

Today’s music

Now-a-days, music is diversified and everyone has his or her colour. These artistes are doing their work and people like listening to them and accept them. It is good that people like them but I cannot do the work others do as it is not my style. There are some works I can do and there are some works I do not want to do. I would never like to pen lyrics that elderly members take offence to. One will earn money through such songs but in the society it would offend many people. Musicians are doing that because they have room for such music. I will not state the work of anyone wrong or right.

Music composers

I am ready to work with all music composers. The only catch is that the song should be good and I should like it. In case I do not like it then I would not like to work with that person. If you reach a position, it is very difficult to sell one’s soul for little fame. I hope that no one has to sell their soul for fame. I am open to every kind of music provided that I like it.

Popular music

If there is popular style, which in enjoyed by mass audiences and it fits my moral and ethics than I would do the song. The song I do should not clash with my state of being then I can do the song. I am open to popular songs as I do popular songs myself. I strongly believe that there is a room and space for me in the music industry.

Pakistani Musician making big in India

There are three points that I would like to highlight. I am happy that musicians from Pakistan are making it big in India because they are talented. Second point, Pakistan never made them big; it is India which has made them big so they have to be in debt to India for helping them achieve the status. Third- it is the Indian film industry that helped them achieve the target and it is the marketing campaigns and the advertising skills that were beneficial in helping the artistes’ grow.

There are artistes who are renowned across the globe because of their stint in India. There are many artistes in Pakistan who are much more popular in their country as compared to names that keep surfacing in India. The artistes who are a house-hold name in Pakistan are not famous around the world only because they never worked in India. So there are many people who go unrecognised. For instance, if I ask people if they know any songs of Rahet Fahat Ali Khan and Ali Zafar that they did in Pakistan there will be only few people who will know their songs.