Current Final

Tag: Meesha Shafi

  • Meesha Shafi’s rendition of ‘Boom Boom’ gets a thumbs up from Zoheb Hassan

    Meesha Shafi’s rendition of Nazia Hassan’s iconic Boom Boom created waves across the country and had everyone grooving to the tune and remembering the late pop queen. The latest person to appreciate the rendition is Hassan’s own brother, Zoheb Hassan.

    In a message posted to social media, Zoheb lauded Meesha’s tribute to his sister as well as the song’s producer Bilal Maqsood.

    Responding to his message, Meesha said: “Of all the love and appreciation pouring in from all over the world, nothing can match the emotional value of this acknowledgement.”

    “This means the absolute world to me and all those who worked on this tribute.”

    “Millions of Nazia Hassan and Nazia-Zoheb fans continue celebrating their undying love for an iconic legend today just as passionately as they did decades ago,” she added.

    Boom Boom was released as part of the Velo Sound Station produced by Bilal Maqsood and co-directed by Bilal and Yasir Jaswal.

    Shafi, known for her powerful vocals and edgy style performed a dance club cover of Nazia’s 1982 pop hit. Her powerful voice with outstanding control and projection is heard reciting these evocative lyrics as the words waft down cloud-like on the oversize LED screen: “Can you feel this force, this sweet design. How our minds are together, how we are so aligned. Felt the hush in the world. The only sound I heard was the way you made my heart go Boom Boom.”

  • RFAK steals the second episode of CS2020 with ‘Dil Tarpe’

    RFAK steals the second episode of CS2020 with ‘Dil Tarpe’

    With the first episode of Coke Studio 2020 well-received by both critics and the public alike, Coke Studio dropped Episode 2 on Friday featuring performances by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Meesha Shafi and Ali Pervez Mehdi among others.

    RFAK joined hands with classical singer Zara Madani to perform a beautiful tarana Dil Tarpe, bringing a fusion and Qawwali-like flavour to the track.

    In the song, the protagonist is exhibiting distress by emotionally imploring their beloved to have mercy on the heart; longing for the comfort and peace of their beloved’s company.

    Talking about the song, Zara said, “This song is about longing with a very special spiritual connotation; a conversation taking place between a person and their inner self where one pleads for help from the Almighty.”

    Excited about the new collaboration, Khan said, “I don’t think anyone has ever experimented with a tarana the way that we have tried to in this season.”

    In the second song of the episode, newcomer Wajiha Naqvi debuted with a solo performance titled Yaqeen. The song has been written and composed by the artist herself. Carrying a modern pop-rock style, the song has pronounced elements of Indian classical instruments, thus classifying as raga rock, a popular musical genre from the 60s.

    With its powerful lyrics, Yaqeen tells the story of a woman showing resilience and self-reliance in the journey of life. Speaking about the song, Naqvi said: “If men and women are not encouraged or taught to rely on themselves or have faith in themselves, this usually leads them not really knowing who they are and what they are truly capable of. If each person is given the opportunity to explore and discover his/her own self and true potential, they can contribute to society in a more informed manner.”

    Lastly, Ali Pervez Mehdi and Meesha Shafi came together for a catchy Punjabi folk song Gal Sunn. With a contemporary funk element, the song represents the longing between lovers. The rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves create a toe-tapping and danceable feel.

    “In these times, going through [Covid-19], I wanted people to listen to something positive and fun. That is why I created this song,” said Mehdi, adding that the song gave him hope.

    “I dance to it and I want everyone else to dance to it too!,” he added.

    Meesha, while talking about the song said: “This song has a lovely flirtatious vibe. It is a beautiful composition. Ali has a beautiful voice and his songwriting is really really catchy.”

    Along with a groovy bass line, Serbian brass players have also been incorporated playing the trumpet, tenor saxophone and trombone enhancing the funk feel to this desi melody.

    Produced by Rohail Hyatt, CS2020 started on December 4 and will have only 12 songs, featuring 13 artists.

  • Meesha Shafi’s take on the iconic ‘Boom Boom’ creates waves

    Meesha Shafi’s take on the iconic ‘Boom Boom’ creates waves

    Meesha Shafi’s rendition of Nazia Hassan’s iconic Boom Boom has been the talk of the weekend. The song was released as part of the Velo Sound Station produced by Bilal Maqsood and co-directed by Bilal and Yasir Jaswal.

    Shafi, known for her powerful vocals and eddy style performed a dance club cover of Nazia Hassan’s 1982 pop hit. Her powerful voice with outstanding control and projection is heard reciting these evocative lyrics as the words waft down cloud-like on the oversize LED screen: “Can you feel this force, this sweet design. How our minds are together, how we are so aligned. Felt the hush in the world. The only sound I heard was the way you made my heart go Boom Boom.”

    The singer received a lot of love and appreciation for her performance, to which she personally responded on social media. The singer, in response to a journalist, also shared that the melancholic undertone to the song was the sadness she has “carried for almost three years at being kicked when I was down by so many of my colleagues”.

  • Coke Studio 2020 premieres with a powerful all-female anthem

    Coke Studio 2020 premieres with a powerful all-female anthem

    The premier episode of Coke Studio 2020 consisted of three original tracks featuring a lineup of emerging artists including Mehdi Maloof, Seher Gul and Wajiha Naqvi, along with industry veterans Meesha Shafi, Fariha Pervez, Ali Noor, Sanam Marvi and Zara Madani.

    According to the press release, producer Rohail Hyatt has ensured that not only will this be a season featuring purely original songs, but the focus for this year has also been on content and social messaging which includes an all-female anthem called Na Tutteya Ve with veteran female vocalists including Sanam Marvi and Meesha Shafi.

    In addition to this, CS debutant Mehdi performed Dil Khirki, a song written and composed by the emerging Indie artist. According to the singer, the song, with its typical college sing-along feel, is about “opening your heart to the world regardless of life’s circumstances”.

    “In accepting one’s circumstances, one is able to submit to fate which ultimately results in a greater understanding of both life, and the self,” said Mehdi.

    In the third song of the episode Jaag Rahi, Fariha sings about suffering sleepless nights, longing to be united with her Beloved (Almighty). Ali’s voice responds to this longing by explaining that he suffers the same predicament and that she is not forgotten. The song is an interesting and contemporary take on the classical thumri.

    The 13th edition of Coke Studio or CS2020 will only have 12 songs this year featuring 13 artists and international musicians.

  • Coke Studio 13 to include an all-female anthem, international musicians

    Coke Studio 13 to include an all-female anthem, international musicians

    Coke Studio Pakistan has revealed the official artist lineup for the thirteenth season, confirming the arrival of Coke Studio 2020.

    According to a press release, the upcoming season will be shorter with only 12 songs. The reason for a shorter season is the nation-wide lockdown and restrictions due to COVID-19 this past year.

    CS2020 is produced by Rohail Hyatt and was administered under careful management and maintenance of COVID-19 SOPs which resulted in both singers and musicians being recorded separately. Technology was used to make communication easy for the artists, resulting in an errorless outcome.

    The teaser of every artist was uploaded on Coke Studio’s official YouTube Channel.

    The season includes 12 new songs featuring 13 artists, out of which four emerging artists will make their debut on this platform. This includes an assortment of singers ranging from industry veterans like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Meesha Shafi, Fariha Pervez, Umair Jaswal, Ali Noor, Bohemia and Sanam Marvi alongside new-comers such as Mehdi Maloof, Aizaz Sohail, Sehar Gul Khan and Wajiha Naqvi as well as experienced artists such as Zara Madani and Ali Pervez Mehdi.

    Not only will this be a season featuring purely original songs, but the focus for this season has also been on its content and social messaging including an all-female anthem on women’s empowerment. Interestingly, this will be the first time ever in CS history that all the female artists of the season will be singing together, although each artist was recorded separately.

    Moreover, given the new format and advantages of technology, this season has also collaborated with international musicians from across the world including Turkey, Nepal, Lebanon and Serbia.

    “Working on this season has been a valuable learning experience. It has left me with a realization that in order for anything to survive, it must have the ability to change and adapt to the circumstances that surround it. Even in trying times, we must not give up but instead re-invent ourselves and keep moving ahead. Despite the limitations of this pandemic, everyone on the team, especially the artists, willingly left their comfort zones only to help keep alive the tradition of sharing music. It is with this same spirit that we bring CS to you this year; a humble effort to share something familiar, yet new.” said producer Rohail Hyatt.

    Given the extraordinary circumstances under which this year’s season has been produced, it will be deliberately referred to as CS 2020 and not CS Season 13.

    The first episode of Coke Studio 2020 is set to air on December 4, 2020.

  • No, Meesha Shafi does not want to date Babar Azam

    No, Meesha Shafi does not want to date Babar Azam

    Meesha Shafi has shut down all rumours and reports that suggested that she would like to date Captain of the Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam.

    In a story posted to her Instagram, Meesha shared a post by Babar Azam Fan Army which stated that the singer is a big fan of Azam’s, adding that Meesha would “love to date him”.

    Rubbishing the claims, Shafi wrote: “I have no idea who this is or why it exists. It makes zero sense. 100% concocted out of thin air.”

    “This quote is fabricated,” she added and requested Instagram to remove it.

    Later, Meesha also shared that she received an apology from the Instagram account that posted the news and that she now “considers this ridiculous matter closed”.

    Meanwhile, Shafi is gearing up for the 13th edition of Coke Studio and is looking forward to spinning “some musical magic” with Rohail Hyatt.

  • Dawn in trouble ‘for suggesting Shireen Mazari got FIA official sacked on daughter’s call’

    Dawn in trouble ‘for suggesting Shireen Mazari got FIA official sacked on daughter’s call’

    English daily Dawn has landed in hot water “for suggesting that Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari got a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official removed from office on the call of her daughter, Imaan Mazari”.

    As per the details, Asif Iqbal of FIA’s cybercrime wing had registered an FIR against singer Meesha Shafi, actor Iffat Omer and seven others for their alleged involvement in a vilification campaign against singer Ali Zafar.

    Iqbal, who often uses his social media to share details of different cybercrime laws and punishments, was removed from office after a tweet mentioning Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Media Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

    A notification by FIA director (cybercrime wing) announced the suspension of assistant director Iqbal soon after the said tweet.

    “Service of Muhammad Asif Iqbal, assistant director/senior investigator (BPS-17) cybercrime reporting centre Lahore is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect till further orders,” read the notification without any reason, prior warning or show-cause notice.

    Dawn had quoted an official source as saying that Iqbal was suspended on the basis of the tweet.

    It wasn’t later that Twitterati, including prominent ones, started alleging that some influential person in Islamabad was behind the sacking.

    Amid the claims and the subsequent report by Dawn, hashtags ‘#JusticeforAsifIqbal’ and ‘#SackShireenMazari’ started trending on Twitter.

    “Dawn sunk to new lows by publishing a maliciously motivated incorrect news story about how I had an FIA cybercrime official suspended after my daughter tweeted,” Shireen Mazari said soon after.

    “FIA put out an immediate rejoinder to the Dawn story but some are bent on maligning and character assassination,” she added.

    Meanwhile, her daughter tweeted that she will be serving a legal notice to Dawn for insinuating her involvement in the removal of the officer.

    “[I] have nothing to do with this and to publish a false story implicating me is unacceptable. This false story resulted in vicious online abuse and this reporter should now come to court with evidence,” Imaan wrote.

    FIA, on the other hand, has issued a statement saying it suspended Iqbal for acting as its “unofficial” spokesperson.

    “Assistant Director Asif Iqbal was suspended and issued an explanation for maintaining a private Twitter account bearing cybercrime wing Lahore. He was acting as a spokesman for the cybercrime wing on his own accord without permission which is against disciplinary rules,” a statement posted by the wing’s spokesperson read.

    This provided yet another little twist to a rare case where the agency had sought to discipline one of its own staffers.

  • Meesha Shafi extends support to victims of harassment at Lahore school

    Meesha Shafi extends support to victims of harassment at Lahore school

    Meesha Shafi, who is one of the pioneers of the #MeToo movement in Pakistan, has extended her support to women and girls who have broken their silence over being sexually harassed by their male teachers at a private school in Lahore.

    In a tweet, the singer said that she feels “like the pain and trauma I have suffered is worth so much.”

    “Your bravery is my reward. I am with you all,” said Shafi, who had accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in April 2018, propelling the #MeToo movement in Pakistan.

    When a follower suggested that victims should opt for the legal route, Meesha responded with sarcasm.

    On Sunday, dozens of girls came forward with accounts of harassment and inappropriate behaviour by teachers at Lahore Grammar School (LGS) 1A1 Ghalib Market Branch. The management of the school, including female teachers, also came under fire for brushing the matter under the carpet for years. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the girls studying at the school were minors at the time.

    Such incidents had reportedly been going on for the past four or five years and the victims had been reporting the matter to the admin and their teachers. However, they took no action and resorted to victim-blaming. Strict and immediate action was only taken after the girls shared their ordeal on social media and the matter became public.

    According to details, students have come forward and shared their experiences of being harassed by three teachers namely Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, Umer Shareef and Zahid Iqbal Warraich. All three teachers were fired soon after the allegations surfaced.

    Following the uproar on social media, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said that she has taken serious notice of the allegations and has alerted regional offices of the ministry. Education Minister of Punjab Dr Murad Raas also said that he will personally deal with the case.

  • Money Heist’s Pakistani lookalikes you won’t believe

    The Netflix series has been trending in Pakistan and was number one when part four came out. It was even bigger this time since this year it included invaluable help from Pakistanis for the rebellious gang. Every Pakistani fan was so excited to have Pakistan be a part of the revolution and the joy hasn’t died down yet.

    RELATED: Money Heist characters get Pakistani CNICs

    So we had to ask? Doesn’t every single major character in the show look like a Pakistani actor? Don’t believe us? Here we go:

    We have to begin with the Professor because we love him. And who better to play him than the distinguished Fawad Khan, who keeps his cool, deals with so many people and always looks like he has a plan. Moreover, with a beard and glasses, you can barely tell the two apart.

    READ MORE: ‘Money Heist 4’ features an Indian actor as the Pakistani hacker

    Monika is everyone’s hot favourite this season and there is literally no difference between her and Ayeza Khan; and after seeing her stellar, strong performance in Meray Paas Tum Ho we all know that Ayeza can totally pull the role off.

    Rio’s innocence can only be replicated by Shehroz Sabzwari. He might not act well enough to be Rio but he’s definitely got the look.

    RELATED: Spoiler-free review: ‘Money Heist Part 4’ — almost a left-wing masterpiece

    We literally couldn’t tell these two apart. Meesha definitely has the looks, and the fire, to play the rebellious Tokyo.

    Dashing and smooth? Adnan Siddiqui is the top search result for Berlin.

    Fire, spunk and the guts to take the police and government on, Nausheen Shah is the perfect fit for Raquel.

    Our favourite, our warrior and the star of this season, Nairobi, could only be played by the impeccable Saba Qamar.

    Did you think we could actually forget Denver? No way! We can’t forget how similar Ali Rehman Khan looks to this conflicted and emotional character.

    Even though our beloved Humayun Saeed didn’t make the final cut, we all remember the time when rumours began that he was a part of part four.

  • Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed demand the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

    Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed demand the release of Sarmad Khoosat’s ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

    After Sarmad Khoosat came forward and revealed that “a few troublemakers” were creating hurdles “for their political ends” in the release of his film Zindagi Tamasha, several industry A-listers have stepped forward to support the filmmaker and demanded the government to facilitate the release of the film. Sarmad had also appealed to the Prime Minister, President and Chief Justice of Pakistan to help release his film.

    Read more – Sarmad Khoosat appeals to PM, President to facilitate his film’s release

    Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed and Ali Zafar were among those who requested the government to facilitate filmmakers and make things easier for them.

    In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Dr Arif Alvi, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Chief of the Army Staff and Minister for Information, Khoosat detailed the problems his film was facing in its release.

    Along with that, he clarified that “As a law-abiding citizen and with full conviction that there is nothing offensive or malicious in the film, in response I submitted the film for another review to the censor board. It was cleared once again with a few cuts to appease the complainants.”

    Meesha Shafi, Mira Sethi and Ali Gul Pir had also extended their support to the film and its team.

    Written by Nirmal Bano and directed by Sarmad Khoosat, Zindagi Tamasha starres Arif Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleman and Ali Qureshi in the lead. The film is centered around a naat khwan Rahat Khawaja (played by Hassan) and his family who are outcast from the society when a secret of Khawaja’s is leaked.

    The official synopsis states: “The film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.”

    The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival held in October 2019 where it also won the prestigious Kim Ji Seok Award.