How did the whole journey on IM start for you?
I had just given my A levels and was waiting for the results to come when this friend of mine in Production, Azfar Ali contacted him for a voiceover in an advertisement since their main guy had disappeared. The boss, who was Ghazanfar Ali really liked it and asked me to do a show called Music Channel Charts.

Around that time I was already doing a program on 106FM (which was one of the few English programs on radio during that time) and doing something on TV sounded good to me so I went on to do Music Channel Charts for about 8-9 months. While hosting, the movie Jinnah went into production and I became Location Assistant on the movie.

I worked for about 7 months there and they liked my work so much that they made me Second Assistant to the Director! I was really into writing and so I took some of my stuff to an advertisement agency called Manhattan International (MIL) to work as a concept writer.

I had gotten into New York University but since I couldn’t go there due to financial problems, I started work at MIL. I was on Music Channel Charts when I got an offer from Pepsi to do a show called Generation Next in which I worked with Fakhr-e-Alam.

At around the same time I got an offer from Interflow to be a concept writer and took that job as well (which I did for about 4 years). After this, I did a few more programs sponsored by Pepsi such as Ask For More, Tez Raftaar, World Cup 99 Deewane and Inside Edge. Inside Edge was a 5 minute program basically about cricket in which we gave cricket tips by cricketers scripted and directed by me.

I wanted to do more filming as I had grown out of advertising and since I knew Ghazanfar Ali since ages, I talked to him and we worked out a deal. So I started reading news on the Indus Network and around that time IM was happening so I started directing promos for it and eventually became a VJ.

So how was your experience? Did you face any problems with anything or anyone?
Not at all. Indus had a chilled, relaxing atmosphere. I mean I used to read the news while wearing shorts at times!

Being a VJ, how important do you think it is to be involved in the Music scenario?
I feel it’s extremely important for a VJ to be involved in the music scene. I know that it was easy being a VJ for me since I had always been into media related stuff and knew about the history of the people directly involved in the music scene. Furthermore, I believe in ‘intellectual fulfillment.’ For example, I would ‘recharge’ my self before every show by reading up on virtually anything and then discussing that on my show.

Moving onto other grounds, what exactly happened at Indus that made you, amongst the others, leave?
Basically the new channels that were coming up were giving really good offers and had really good financial backing. There were newer markets to explore which everyone looking forward to and all these factors influenced us.

News is that you were being forced to sign a contract. Either that or you leave?
Yes the contract was there and it was quite unfair. But the biggest factor for me leaving IM was the excitement of doing something new due to so many offers. Money was not a problem since we got good money from IM. Indus might have a bad reputation regarding financial stuff but they took good care of us.

And what would you say about the new VJs at IM?
I saw ‘Café Current’ and I think they’re doing a pretty good job there but there’s a definite room for improvement.

 

I haven’t seen my show yet so I can’t really comment on that.

Which bands top your list right now and what would you say about the current music scene?
I see The Call on top right now. They’re making really good music. E.P is improving as well and I’ really looking forward to Ali Azmat’s album.

Thanks for your time.