KARACHI DIARIES: KOMAL RIZVI VDO Launch / Press Conference

First Published in Economic Affairs (Islamabad) / June 2014

This brother / sister duo came highly recommended. Their music video launch / press conference held at Port Grand, (Karachi) will be the talk of town. And their experimental new sound would be put up for review.

Komal Rizvi, who made her debut as a singer / actress / VJ in the 1990’s, was staging a comeback with her new single - ‘Kalli Kalli’ in April 2014. Hasan Rizvi stars in the video with his sister; Sohail Javed directs. It would be Komal’s first launch and Hasan’s umpteenth choreography.

The filming had been eventful, the storyboard toyed with the elements - water, fire,,,, etc, as did the musicians; one was scorched, the other drowned, several times over reportedly. Nothing had dampened their ardour, or kept them from bombarding Sohail with a steady stream of creative input. ‘Add a tabla’ one would say, ‘how about a sitar’ the other would suggest.

The award winning director survived, and was later hailed for his artistic vision, and fortitude. The stylists were praised for their masterful creations. Bushra Ansari played host and a Show reel of Pakistani music was screened. Zeba Bakhtiar was in the house, and a short montage of her had been added; a promo of Meher Jaffri’s internationally acclaimed film, ‘Seedlings’ (Lamha) received a well deserved ovation. It was heartening to see the spotlight trained, however briefly, on music’s brightest moments and the industry’s proudest achievements.

Hasan Rizvi, the resident choreographer who had forgotten his prepared notes at home still managed to give an eloquent speech despite Bushra Ansari’s delightfully irreverent interruptions. Video making is a labor of love, sans monetary benefits apparently. The media moguls huddled together with showbiz royalty, and a political personality, who had melted away in the background, appreciated their passion for the arts, and the shades of humility visible in their composition.

Komal finally took the stage, noting the strange new terrain, her determination to stay the course, and efforts to bring music to regions in the eye of the storm. She also performed 3 unplugged versions, including ‘Kalli Kalli’ before lifting the veil of secrecy from their latest masterpiece.

There would be no Q/A on the menu; flashbacks, celebrity cameos, and an impromptu dance routine by Hasan and his merry men however ended the evening on a high.

PR: PitchMedia