The author is a culture critic based in Lahore
In the budget announced last week, another attempt has been made to rejuvenate the cultural scene; and in particular, to revive the film industry
The takeover of the Taliban last year has so to say rolled history back. The future of music and the performing arts seems to be under a dark cloud
As more Pakistanis are being recognised abroad, there seems to be a disconnect between the values that are seen as determinants in the assessment of...
Remembering Ustad Sharif Khan who was not just a sitar virtuoso but also a master of the vichitra veena
The group from Ukraine, Kalush Orchestra, were triumphant with their song Stefania; an ode to a mother, which became the first Eurovision winning...
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, who died last week, was undoubtedly the greatest player of the santoor in the subcontinent
Naushad was the one who gave Indian film music the stature for it to survive and even thrive as a form of music in the region extremely rich in the...
How the theory of music, and if it can be said, putting music in a larger context became attached to the culture of the subcontinent
All the leading vocalists of Pakistan have sung Iqbal. The first vocalists to capitalise on his poetry and name were the qawwals
Despite two hundred years of European rule, no artiste or musicians made a significant impact on the West though many of their maestros, scores and...
The most critical factor in judging an artiste’s work is the availability of the work or the easy accessibility of the artiste for it is difficult...
The All Pakistan Music Conference resumes routine activity
The urs of Shahbaz Qalandar is one of the biggest festivals in Pakistan. A look at his contribution
In the past couple of years, due to the pandemic, the only venues open to the holed-up people were their computers and the streaming services that...
Over time, many festivals have been re-invented and many have disappeared while many others have taken their place. Collectively, they relate to a...
Faiz Festival had the familiar ring to it – the lectures, talk shows, book launches, discussion rounds, remembering those who have left us and...
People who heard Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan swore by his singing but his recordings did not measure up to that reputation
The introduction of music video channels, YouTube, mobile phone apps and platforms created a whole new scenario.
Bappi Lahiri revolutionised film music compositions
Lata Mangeshkar was the bridge between contemporary music and melodies derived from the rich repertoire of compositions that had travelled down...
