We don't miss Atif Aslam: Gauhar Mumtaz

Members of one of Pakistan's most popular groups 'Jal (Water)' are now in Dhaka. They have come to sing at the 'Legend of the Decade' concert. On this occasion, the band's vocalist and popular actor Gauhar Mumtaz appeared in a press conference yesterday. He talked about band career, Atif Aslam's departure from the band, etc. Written by Masid Ron

Masid Ron: Today's concert has been postponed.

Gauhar Mumtaz: Yes. After making all kinds of preparations, if the concert is canceled at the last minute, it is heartbreaking. Also today (September 27) marks 20 years of our band's debut album 'Adaat'. It was supposed to be celebrated today at the 'Legend of the Decade' concert. But that too did not happen at the right time. In fact, we have no hand in natural events. It is not safe for anyone to hold a concert on an open stage on such a continuous rainy day. Keeping that in mind, the organizers have postponed today's concert. But I will not return without listening to the songs of my beloved fans in Dhaka. The new concert date will be announced this evening. Hope we all enjoy a great evening.

Masid Ron: How do you feel when you come to Dhaka?

Gauhar Mumtaz: After an age I came to Dhaka to sing. When I first came, I kept thinking, we sing in Urdu and everyone here speaks Bengali. How much will the audience here understand our song! But I was surprised every moment when I got on stage. Every line of every song in our band is memorized by them. That time I returned to Pakistan with a different experience.

This time too, it doesn't seem that I have come after so long because our band was not even a day away from the audience of Bangladesh. I think Bangladeshi fans are the cutest. They love us selflessly. Whenever we post any new song, video or social media, the first reaction we get is from Bangladesh. They constantly invite us through social media to sing in Bangladesh. Finally we have fulfilled their expectations.

Masid Ron: Two former members of the band 'Jal' Atif Aslam (one of the most popular artists in Bollywood and Pakistan) and Farhan Saeed (now a very popular actor in Pakistan). Did they have any problems leaving the band?

Gauhar Mumtaz: I wouldn't exactly call it a problem. But a kind of challenge is created. When you work with a structure it takes time to reorganize when it changes. The same happened with our band. After they left we faced the challenge of starting again in a new set-up. But since we have been singing most of the songs in a unified voice, the audience did not feel the lack of a particular person. It's been an age since they left and our band hasn't changed. We did a lot of new songs during this time. We are still alive because the audience likes them. We wouldn't have come this far as a band if the fans missed anyone. And as we do our old songs, so does Atif in his solo shows. I think the songs are getting more recognition by doing this.

Masid Ron: Don't you miss a singer like Atif Aslam in your band?

Gauhar Mumtaz: Honestly, I don't miss it. This happened 20 years ago, everyone knows the story of why he left the band. He wants to build his solo music career. And an artist has that freedom. What is the use of holding him back or missing the decision that will be good for him? But I still have a good relationship with him. We still talk about music. I have immense respect for him.

But I am not familiar with Atif because of the song. We studied in the same university. He was two years younger than me. I've been into songwriting, composition ever since. I composed the song 'Adaat' for the first time. But I was not so confident about the song. My friend also said what kind of song it is? But Atif liked my music. So they wanted to make music together. This is how we started our journey and got introduced to people.

Masid Ron: Your band's last album came out in 2013. Why didn't you make an album after that?

Gauhar Mumtaz: There is no album culture in Pakistan now. Everyone releases singles now. So we also released more than 15 singles in last 12-13 years. Besides, we are regularly making songs for Pakistani serials. Recently we did an entire album for the first full-length movie. Apart from me, artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Aima Baig have sung there.

But we get many requests to make albums from different places including India-Bangladesh. So now I have started working on a new album. Not yet announced in Pakistan. Since the fans of Bangladesh are very special to us, we announced our third album here. The name of the album is 'Barish'. I hope that next time I will be able to entertain you with the songs of this new album.

Masid Ron: Recently you made your debut as a hero…

Gauhar Mumtaz: Yes. I have acted in 6-7 serials before this. After mastering myself in acting, I went to the cinema. A few days ago my first movie 'Avi' was released. My co-star were stars like Kubra Khan, Hareem Farooq. The movie directed by Asad Mumtaz Malik was well liked by the audience.

Masid Ron: Pakistan has a political history with Bangladesh. How much do you know about the recent political changes in Bangladesh?

Gauhar Mumtaz: It's worth commenting on. I don't know as much as it is important to know. But the issue must have caught my eye through the headlines of Pakistani newspapers. But since I was very busy with the promotion of my first film, there was no time to think about anything outside of that. But I can say this, if you are satisfied with the changes that have come in this country, then the whole world is satisfied with it. It is applicable for any country. If the people of that country are good, it is good for the whole world.