By Sher Alam Shinwari

KARACHI: Haling from Swat, district Buner, the valley of enchanting beauty,
Rahim Shah got his break on PTV, from Karachi Centre, with a Sindhi song in
1996.

Born on April 3, 1976, bred and educated in Karachi, Shah’s family shifted there
many years ago. His maiden album Ghum came out in 1998. On hearing a popular
Afghan folk music tune one day, he wrote the lyrics on clay. Anwar Razvi
corrected its Urdu rendition. Rahim shows some scars on his hands, recalling the
beatings he had received from his family because of his attempts at singing. His
grandfather had ousted him from his home and for a month he had to take shelter
in a Hindu temple situated in his neighbourhood. His elder brother, Rahim Shah,
however, helped him overcome family restrictions.

“I exchanged my original name Qabool Shah with him for his immense support. I
retained my nick name Babloo at home. In music, my sole mentor is Salman Alvi
who, during my childhood taught me humanism, good manners and music,” says Rahim
with a sense of pride.

The new style of singing Pashto tapa, a two lines folk musical genre, in its
Urdu version shot him to fame and mass popularity. “I was born with a passion
for singing. Haroon Baacha, a young folk singer had sung it in Pashto before me
but I was the first one to render it in Urdu and give Pashto tapa a global
recognition. An Indian singer also plagiarized my song but at least the credit
should go to me for its widespread popularity,” adds Rahim Shah.

Each of his nine albums - Ghum, Peera Saba Ru, Channa, Piyar Naheen Melta,
Dehray Dehray, Meida Meida, Laila and Yarana has proved a superb hit and topped
the pop music charts.

“My focus is on fine poetry, balanced music arrangement and quality video work.
I have used 35mm camera for better results of all my music videos. I have sung
many numbers of Rahman Buneri, a young Pashto poet and my friend,” informs Rahim
Shah.

He rates Ghum and Jhola among his mega hit tracks. “These two songs gave me wide
recognition. Peera is the first pop album in Pashto. When it comes to my
personal likes and dislikes I crave for traditional Pashto musical instruments
like rabab, tabla, harmonium and flute. I believe pop music is short-lived while
traditional music reigns supreme since times immemorial. I like the sarangi,
which actually means hundred colours,” defines he.

His favourite singers are Salman Alvi, Nayyra Noor and Asha Bosle and from among
the older ones, he likes Madam Noor Jahan, Muhammad Rafi, Lataji and Mehdi
Hassan.

“Fazal Wahab, Zar Sanga, Khiyal Muhammad, Sardar Ali Takkar, Nashanas and Gulnar
Begum are my all time favourite vocalists in Pashto. If asked to choose one,
then my choice is Sonu Nigam,” maintains Shah.

“Pashtuns are a bit conservative about music but now there is a big change.
Pashto music is rich in all flavours and tunes, and so are Punjabi, Sindhi and
Balochi. I have recorded Pak-Afghan Yarana for my Afghan brothers that cost me
six million rupees. Earlier, I had given up releasing any album because of the
increasingly unabated piracy and non-implementation of copyright rules in our
country,” he informs.

He also complains about Pashtun cultural organizations for not considering him
fit for any award. “I take pride in saying that a Punjabi track Tere Ishq Ney
Qeetey won me great accolade in Punjab,” says Rahim. “President Pervez Musharraf
is among my fans. During concerts, he has often asked me to sing Jhola, and a
Pashto song Maa Pa Seyzay,” he says proudly.

As for reading, he says, “I am learning the translation of the Holy Quran from
my father, who is a religious cleric. I browsed Urdu and Pashto classics after
completing my graduation in 1995. The novels of Naseem Hijazi, the short stories
of Mumtaz Mufti and Bano Qudsia have fascinated me a lot. Among the poets, Faiz
Ahmed Faiz, Munir Niazi and Wasi Shah touch my heart. I have gone through the
prose works of Khushhal Khan Khattak and romantic poets like Hameed Baba and
Hamza Shinwari. My favourite poet is Ahmed Faraz while my favourite book is
Khushhal Khan Khattak’s Swatnaama, which is a wonderful versified description of
my homeland.

“These days I am unable to give much time to reading due to my tight schedule
but I do like browsing through books,” he affirms.

He also found Raja Gidh by Bano Qudsia and Shahabnaama by Qudratullah Shahab to
be books worth reading, but what he finds more interesting is reading the
English translation and explanation of the Holy Quran by Abdullah Yousaf Ali.

“It is disheartening that most of our youngsters have altogether given up
reading. Reading good books is essential for one’s personal growth. It sharpens
our thinking process and fires our imagination. It also helps us a lot in
enhancing our creativity,” Shah observes.

Commenting on the travelogues of Mustansir Hussain Tarar, Shah opines, “I have
been to many countries but Tarar Sahib’s books have made me strongly believe
that our country is the most beautiful one on God’s Erath.

It was a surprise to know that this singer has never seen a movie in a cinema
hall! “I have never been an avid movie buff so I have never been to a cinema
hall despite living in a mega city. I have watched some Urdu, Pashto and Indian
movies on TV. My favourite heroes are Govinda, Nadeem and Badar Munir,” admits
the pop star.

Rahim continues, “Among the television actors, I like Moin Akhtar for he is an
excellent performer. Ismail Shahid is my favourite actor and that is why I cast
him in the video of Yarana. Whenever I find leisure time, I watch his telefilms.
I am thinking about making a teleplay to send a positive message to our
youngsters.”

Pakeeza of Nadeem and Yousaf Khan, Shehar Bano of Badar Munir are among his
favourite movies. However, Shah has no taste for English movies. “I have
declined offers from Urdu, Punjabi and Indian film makers for acting but I shall
do it for a Pashto film or a serious teleplay,” Shah pledges.

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