Ali Azmat

Last updated

Ali Azmat Butt
علی عظمت بٹ
Ali in Orange.jpg
Born (1970-04-20) 20 April 1970 (age 53)
Havelian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Relatives Mustafa Zahid (cousin)
Musical career
Origin Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active1986–present
Labels

Ali Azmat Pacha (born 20 April 1970) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He is best known as the lead singer for the influential Sufi rock band Junoon and for his subsequent solo career later followed by a career as an actor as well.

Contents

In 2001, with Junoon, he became part of the first Pakistani band ever to perform at the United Nations General Assembly. [1] [2]

Early life and education

Ali Azmat Pacha was born in Havelian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, into a family of ethnic Kashmiri descent, where his grandfather was posted as station master of Havelian railway station. He grew up in Garhi Shahu, Lahore and speaks Punjabi as his native language. [2] [3] His father Nazir Ahmed Butt was a middle-class businessman who passed away in 2013. [4]

Azmat went to Sydney, Australia, for his higher studies but soon returned to Pakistan before completing university.

His first band Jupiters was known for performing covers at small gigs in Lahore.

Music career

Jupiters

Ali Azmat started out his career with Jupiters in 1986, based in his hometown of Lahore. Jupiters were known for doing covers of American pop and rock songs at small gigs. [5] While with them, Azmat wrote his legendary hit song "Dosti". He later sang and recorded "Dosti" with Junoon, after which the song gained national fame. [4]

Junoon

Azmat left Jupiters in 1990 to join Junoon. [6] He released his first album Junoon with the band. The album was produced by band's founder and lead-guitarist Salman Ahmad. Azmat's vocals featured on all the songs except for "Khwaab", "Jiyain" and "Jogiya". After launch of the band's second album Talaash , both Ali Azmat and Junoon rose to fame. [7]

In 1995, Azmat, alongside Junoon, launched Kashmakash , the first compilation album in Pakistan. One song from this compilation "Ehtesaab" caused a major controversy.

The band's 1996 album, Inquilaab, was a major hit and its only single, "Jazba-e-Junoon", was a super hit and topped chart, it became the band's signature song and national song of 1996 Cricket World Cup and the Pakistan national cricket team. Azmat gained further success after release of the Sufi rock hit single "Sayonee" from their fourth album Azadi (1997).

Azmat got international fame after release of Azadi in India.

Azmat featured on four more albums Parvaaz (1999), Andaz (2001), Dewaar (2003), and Infiniti (2007) with the band. After release of Infiniti, the band broke-up, and Azmat continued his solo career.

On 25 December 2016, Junoon made a comeback after 13 years when they performed at a reunion concert in Karachi arranged by Sooper. [8]

Solo career

After breaking up of Junoon, Azmat released his first solo album Social Circus (2005), whose single "Na Re Na" received positive reviews and became a major hit in country. Azmat released further four albums Klashinkfolk (the Urdu term for the AK-47; used to reference it's developer, Mikhail Kalashnikov) in 2008, Josh-e-Junoon (2010) whose title track "Josh-e-Junoon" became the anthem for the Pakistan cricket team during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Bum Phatta (2011) and Chalta Main Jaun (2011).

Bollywood

Azmat stepped into Bollywood in 2003, when his single "Garaj Baras" from Junoon's album Azadi was used for the movie Paap .

In 2012, Azmat recorded two songs "Yeh Jism Hai Toh Kya" and "Maula" for Bollywood erotic thriller Jism 2. [9]

Acting career

He launched his acting career in the 1990s with Talaash , a telefilm featuring the group Junoon, and later in cinema with notable roles in box-office hits such as Waar (2013) and The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022).

Personal life

Family

Having married at the age of 41 due to family pressure, he's the father of two daughters. [10]

Politics

Ali Azmat is close to Islamist defence analyst Zaid Hamid and hosted his TV show Iqbal Ka Pakistan in 2008–2009, where both discussed the philosophy of Allama Iqbal and a supposed Zionist conspiracy against the Islamic world. [11]

Discography

YearSong(s)Album(s)
2003"Garaj Baras" Paap
2005Social Circus
2008Klashinfolk
2008"Garaj Baras", "Mein Challa" Coke Studio Season 1
2010Josh-E-Junoon
2011Bum Phatta
2011Chalta Mein Jaaon
2012"Maula", "Yeh Jism Hai Toh Kya" Jism 2
2012 Josh
2013 Waar
2013"Babu Bhai" Coke Studio Season 6
2015"Rangeela" Coke Studio Season 7
2015"Main To Yahin Hoon Lekin"
2016"Man Kunto Maula" Coke Studio Season 9
2018"Dil Hai Pakistani" Coke Studio Season 11


Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleChannelNote
1993 Talaash Ali PTV Telefilm [12]
1996Pal do PalDr. Khush BakhtDrama [13]

Films

YearTitleRole
2013 Waar Ejaz Khan
2022 The Legend of Maula Jatt Gogi

Awards and nominations

Junoon won the Best International Group award at the Channel V Awards in New Delhi in 1998, beating The Prodigy, Sting and Def Leppard. The band's first international release, Azadi, went triple platinum in India alone. "Sayonee" was at the top of the MTV India and Channel V charts for over two months. Junoon won the Award for Best Rock Band at the Indus Music Awards in 2004. Indus Music Awards and from ARY Asian/Bollywood Awards. Junoon has also been awarded several awards for their contribution towards peace and South East culture by BBC, UNESCO, and South Asian Journalists Association. Junoon was nominated for Best Musical Group at the Lux Style Awards several years in a row.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junoon (band)</span> Pakistani Sufi-rock band

Junoon is a Pakistani sufi rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, and Tappan, New York, formed in 1990. The band is directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Salman Ahmad, who was soon joined by keyboardist Nusrat Hussain, bass guitarist Brian O’Connell and vocalist Ali Azmat. Junoon is Pakistan's and one of South Asia's most successful bands. Since their inception, the group has released a total of nineteen albums: seven studio albums; one soundtrack; two live albums; four video albums; and five compilations. They have sold over 30 million records worldwide.

<i>Junoon</i> (Junoon album) 1992 studio album by Junoon

Junoon is the debut album of the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released on 30 September 1992. It was released by EMI and recorded at the EMI studios in Karachi in 1990. The album is produced by founder, songwriter and lead guitarist Salman Ahmad. The album contained a total track list of twelve songs with eight tracks being in Urdu language, three tracks in English and one instrumental.

<i>Inquilaab</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Junoon

Inquilaab is the third studio album and the fourth overall album of the Pakistani band Junoon. Although previous albums by Junoon also achieved considerable success, 'Inquilaab' contained the band's first major hit, the patriotic song "Jazba-e-Junoon". The album also contained the hit "Saeein," which marked Junoon's foray into what later became the sufi rock sound that Junoon is most popularly associated with. Other hits from the album were "Mera Mahi" and "Husan Walo".

<i>Azadi</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Junoon

Azadi is the fourth studio album and the fifth overall album of the Pakistani sufi rock band, Junoon. The album was released in 1997 and established the Sufi rock sound that the band pioneered on their previous album, Inquilaab. The album was popular worldwide, bringing fame to Junoon.

Pakistani popular music or shortly Pakistani pop music refers to popular music forms in Pakistan. Pakistani pop is a mixture of traditional Pakistani classical music and western influences of jazz, rock and roll, hip hop and disco sung in various languages of Pakistan, including Urdu. The popularity of music is based on the individual sales of a single, viewership of its music video or the singer's album chart positions. Apart from within Pakistan, Pakistani pop music has also achieved an influential following and popularity in neighboring countries and is listened by members of the Pakistani diaspora, especially in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

<i>Millennium 1990–2000</i> (album)

Millennium 1990-2000 is the second compilation album and the seventh overall album released by Pakistani rock band, Junoon. It was released in 2000. The album features some best songs of band. It also includes two live versions of "Allah Hu", "Lal Meri Pat". It includes emotive song "Azadi" from the movie based on the life of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The song is a tribute to Jinnah and his work towards the creation of Pakistan. "Azadi" is followed by Neend Ati Nhin one of Junoon's early hits. It also features sufi songs such as Ghoom which has an emotive guitar solo and emotive vocals. It has Junoon's patriotic song Jazba-e-Junoon which was released as single for the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Released in 2000 album was received well in Pakistan.

The Jupiters were a Pakistani music band who are considered one of the pioneers of pop music in Pakistan. Although the band released only a few albums, it became a breeding ground for many notable future singers. The hit song "Yaaro Yehi Dosti Hai" sung by one of the vocalists Ali Azmat topped the charts in the early 1990s, and is still a famous number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junoon discography</span>

Junoon is a Pakistani sufi rock band founded in 1990 by lead guitarist and only original member, Salman Ahmad. The band has released seven studio albums, as well as numerous live albums, compilations, singles, video albums, music videos, and soundtracks. Keyboardist Nusrat Hussain left the band after the first studio album release and was replaced by bassist Brian O'Connell. They released their self-titled debut album in 1991; which barely made a dent in the Pakistani music industry. Guitarist Mekaal Hasan and band producer John Alec replaced O'Connell, and have been playing bass for live shows since O'Connell's departure.

<i>United for Peace</i> 2000 video by Junoon

United For Peace is the second video album and the tenth overall album by the Pakistani band, Junoon. The album contains four music videos from Junoon's previous albums, which include Azadi, theme from Jinnah the Movie, Bulleya from Parvaaz, Jazba-e-Junoon from Inquilaab, and Zamane Ke Andaz from Andaz.

<i>Dewaar: The Best of Junoon</i> 2004 greatest hits album by Junoon

Dewaar: The Best of Junoon is the third compilation album and the fourteenth overall album released by Pakistani rock band, Junoon. The album is produced by the band vocalist and lead guitarist, Salman Ahmad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garaj Baras</span> 2003 single by Junoon

"Garaj Baras" is the seventh track on the 2003 album Dewaar by the sufi rock band Junoon. The song is written by the band's vocalist, Ali Azmat and lyricist, Sabir Zafar. The single was selected as part of a Bollywood movie soundtrack in 2003 for the film Paap directed by Pooja Bhatt. The song topped the charts in both India and Pakistan in 2004.

Inquilaab – The Story of Junoon is a 44-minute radio broadcast documentary presented by Omar Bilal Akhtar, broadcast on City FM 89, on March 13, 2009. The documentary explores the journey of the South Asian rock music band Junoon and the struggle they face to become one of the biggest band in the world.

"Talaash" is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon. It is the seventh track and the only single released from the band's second album, Talaash (1993), released on EMI Records. Written by guitarist Salman Ahmad, it is the lead single on the album. The song uses blending of rock guitars and bluesy vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas. It remains one of the band's most popular songs. In addition, the album version of the song featured in the compilation album, Kashmakash, released in 1995.

Sayonee is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in April, 1997. It is the first track from the band's fourth album, Azadi (1997), released on EMI Records. Written by lead guitarist and founder of the band Salman Ahmad and writer Sabir Zafar, it is the lead single on the album, the song uses blends of rock guitars and bluesy vocals with traditional musical elements like the tabla percussion drums, Hindustani raga-inspired melodies styled and blended into Pakistani folk music.

"Yaar Bina" is a song by the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released in April, 1997. It is the fourth track from the band's album fourth album, Azadi (1997), released on EMI Records. Written by lead guitarist and founder of the band Salman Ahmad and writer Sabir Zafar, it is one of the lead single's on the album, the other being "Sayonee", the song uses blending of rock guitars and bluesy vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas, raga-inspired melodies and traditional Pakistani folk music.

<i>Junoon 20</i> 2011 compilation album by Junoon

Junoon 20 is the fourth compilation album and the nineteenth overall album of the Pakistani band Junoon. The compilation album served as a tribute album for the 20th anniversary of the band and is divided into two volumes. The first edition of the album featured many well known musicians like Bilal Khan, Outlandish, Aag, Usman Riaz and Laal’s Taimur Rahman, paying tribute to Junoon by covering some of the band's famous songs. The first volume of the album was released on September 30, 2011, and was made digitally available on October 5, 2011.

Sabir Zafar is a leading poet and lyricist in Pakistan. He has written songs for many Pakistani films, singers such as Nazia Hasan, Sajjad Ali, Ali Azmat and his band Junoon, as well as many successful TV drama serials. He was awarded a Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 2010.

<i>Talaash</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Junoon

Talaash is the second studio album of the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released on September 3, 1993. The album was to be their first with bassist Brian O'Connell, who joined the band after Nusrat Hussain departed from the band to pursue his career as a solo artist and released his debut album Amrit in 1992. This was also the first Junoon album produced by Salman Ahmad and O'Connell, both also went on releasing several other albums by Junoon before O'Connell left the band after Dewaar in 2003. The album also served as a soundtrack for the Pakistani television show Talaash, which featured the band and its novel storyline was based on the band.

References

  1. ↑ Agha, Saira (19 August 2018). "Pride of Pakistan: Ali Azmat". Daily Times . Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ali Azmat tests positive for coronavirus". Dawn Images . 20 April 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Interview with Samina Peerzada. "Ali Azmat on Rewind with Samina Peerzada | Junoon | Relationships | Episode 8", uploaded on YouTube on 8 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 Mahmood, Rafay (2 March 2013). "For Ali Azmat, the show goes on despite father's death". The Express Tribune . Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ali Azmat's family thought he was robbing places before he invited them to a gig". The Express Tribune . 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ali Azmat takes a dig at younger musicians in leaked video". The Express Tribune . 26 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Paracha, Nadeem F. (21 May 2015). "Vital Signs and Junoon: The magic, the rivalry, the history". Dawn . Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sooper Hai Junoon live-concert rocks Karachi to the core | Pakistan Today". Pakistan Today . 26 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Srivastava, Priyanka (17 July 2012). "Banned in Pakistan, Junoon's Ali Azmat scores big with his Jism 2 songs". India Today . Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "ALI AZMAT EMBRACES FATHERHOOD IN ALL ITS GLORY". OK! Pakistan.
  11. ↑ Gill-Khan, Chloe (2019). "Pakistani Music, Politics, and Social Reform". In Abbas, Tahir; Hamid, Sadek (eds.). Political Muslims: Understanding Youth Resistance in a Global Context. Syracuse University Press. p. 197.
  12. ↑ Paracha, Nadeem F. (21 May 2015). "Vital Signs and Junoon: The magic, the rivalry, the history". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Profile". Archived from the original on 31 March 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Ali Azmat Awards". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  15. ↑ Qamar, Saadia (21 October 2010). "When the stars start to shine". The Express Tribune . Retrieved 2 January 2023.
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