KARACHI:
After eleven years, Pakistan Idol is returning with a new panel of judges: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, former Strings member Bilal Maqsood, vocalist Zeb Bangash and actor Fawad Khan.
Pakistan Idol is an adaptation of the British musical talent show Pop Idol and first aired in 2014 on Geo TV, attracting thousands of viewers and participants from across the country. Junoon’s Ali Azmat, actor Bushra Ansari, and singer Hadiqa Kiani served as judges. Zamad Baig from Lahore was crowned winner of the season.
Pakistan Idol launched careers. “It advertises you,” said Waqas Ali Vicky, a contestant from Season One, in an interview with the Lifestyle desk at The Express Tribune. “You are musically groomed when you go to this show.”
One of the finalists of the competition, Rose Marie, said, “Every artist wants a boost in their career and Pakistan Idol is a stage where all of the country can watch them and appreciate them. Something at such a big scale in Pakistan was amazing and the management was great too.”
The show has helped young artists learn by experimenting with genres. “All of us boys who went into Pakistan Idol were raw talent,” said Vicky. “We learned how to dress ourselves. There are people to teach you and there is an environment where everyone is focused upon their music only. Everyone has different music styles so you observe and learn to experiment from each other.”
Pakistan Idol has proven helpful in making industry connections. “I got to know a lot of people from the set, and later continued to stay in touch with them,” said Marie. “These people gave me a lot of work. I did original soundtracks for dramas, film songs, and advertisements.”
Through Pakistan Idol, these emerging artists were able to find a community. Vicky did not belong to a musical family and the show helped him build a sense of identity. “Your name gets attached to this platform and people start getting to know you,” he said. “They start to follow you from around the world and you stay engaged with your fans this way. In Pakistan, an opportunity like this becomes a great chance for gully boys who want to do music at an international level.”
Zoya Merchant, director of MHL Global, responsible for streaming the show across five TV networks, said in an interview with Variety, “Pakistan has incredible musical talent, and this platform will not only spotlight it nationwide but elevate it to the global stage.”
The show aims to launch online auditions and casting calls, and a premiere date will be announced soon.
