Does this ‘Sooper’ reunion mean Junoon will now create new music together? The real question is, can they?
Of the many Junoon albums we have listened, absorbed and revered, it was Azadi that, in many ways, put the band on the global map. With thrilling, edgy music videos for songs like ‘Sayonee’, ‘Yaar Bina’ and ‘Saeein’ adding to their flair, they were going places no one else in Pakistan could imagine.
And to be fair, the whole record was filled with electric gems, including the song ‘Khudi’ which had the distinction of featuring poetry by Allama Iqbal.
The original version, running a little over four minutes, may not have come with a music video but was just as compelling and remains one of the most memorable Junoon songs in history and that’s saying something, given they have so many.
Junoon have unveiled the music video for their classic song ‘Khudi’ – backed by biscuit brand EBM. Sadly, the reunion feels like a partial sham, even as the men who form Junoon do their best to play their roles – that is of being inspirational (or so it seems) but the rebels have left the building with this ode. Ali Azmat does steal the show, at least showmanship-wise. Otherwise, this is a great (read: disappointing) display of lip-syncing.
The song, that originally ran over four minutes, has been cut down to a little over three minutes. Whether it was done in a bid to make it palatable with our increasingly short attention spans, remains the great unknown.
And as far as tribute music videos go, which this one aims to be, it’s a bizarre effort. Interspersed with shots of the band as they perform to the song are shots of several individuals who have done well for their country including Ronak Lakhani, Shaheer Niazi, Laraib Atta, Fakhar Zaman and Captain Maryam Masood. Though these individuals should be celebrated while they are still alive, it somehow doesn’t do justice to them or the band and the result is mixed at most. Plus, the spirit of the song, the battle with one’s ego, already had the original song going so this one kind of blows.
How much motivational stuff we can swallow is another question.
In the end, this ‘Khudi’ video is merely a reminder of what once was and what will never be. And as a fan obsessed with Junoon (and Vital Signs), it’s both disheartening and reflects on the larger industry issues and of course political ones.
As far as tribute videos go, I can’t think of a more memorable one than ‘Titliyan’ by Strings, which was released by the band in the year 2008 from their album, Koi Aanay Wala Hai. Directed by Soheb Akhtar, the mournful, monochrome music video remembered Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Roshan Ara Begum, Sadequain, Nisar Bazmi, Malika Pukhraj, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Salamat Ali, Waheed Murad, Guljee, Rani and many others. What this reunion brings us next, only time and reconciliation by authentic fans will tell. Will Junoon create new music together? Can they, is the real question. Reliving on past glory days will only take you so far.
