Truly one of the best video directors in Pakistan, Sohail Javed has come a long, long way. His videos have left a mark in the Pakistani pop music industry, and have been an inspiration for the new generation of video directors.
How many years have you been in this field?
It’s been eleven years. I started out in 1993 as a director, borrowed money from somewhere and made a programme.
Were you assisting someone?
Nope. I’ve never assisted anyone. I am not the sort who would assist someone. I know people who were assistants eleven years ago and are still assistants, or are trying to figure out what they want to do or have changed their profession. They’ve been let down and mistreated.
Under which banner are you working?
My company is called Saya films. It’s an independent film company. We ‘ll be starting a film this January.
Film as in film?
Yes. It’s basically a 100-minute English film. The script is 70% in English, 20% in Urdu and 10% in Punjabi. It’s called Baavan (52). Shahzad Nawaz is producing it, and I’m directing it. We’re making it on 35 mm.
EP’s first release was reputed to be filled with weird electronic sounds, synthesizer magic and the poppish guitar-driven anthems, long before the album saw the light of day or the introspective title Irtiqa was associated with this ambitious effort. With all the hype surrounding the album, Irtiqa is certainly one of the albums that Pakistani aficionados have anxiously been waiting for. Now, living up to all the hype and expectations, I imagine, is probably one of the band’s prime concerns. The album does deliver. Ambition and dedication is clearly visible or audible, rather, amidst the rising and falling of synthesized crescendos, aggressive alternative rock guitars and the meticulously crafted and programmed drums.
In the recent past, the Pakistani pop scene has blossomed into a mature music industry. Even a fierce critic of Pakistani pop, one would find it exceedingly difficult not to acknowledge the worth of the recent crop of songs that have lately hit local TV channels and music stores. They’re melodic. They’re catchy, they’re groovy and they’re soulful.