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In
retrospect:
a year in videos
2006 was a showcase of videos that were inspired, innovative,
edgy, surreal and simply rocking! They say a lot about how far
this medium of art has evolved in Pakistan. Instep takes a look
at ten best videos of the year...
By Maheen
Sabeeh
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Artist:
Strings
Video: 'Beirut'
Director: Omair-Shehryar
Subdued, subtle and straight from the heart, 'Beirut' is a video that
will always stand out because it is the one video that we all identify
with. The prime focus remains on images from the very recent war in
Lebanon and places like Iraq and Palestine |
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taglines that tell one what the real cost of a war is. Even as you
hum this beautiful melody, you also think and that makes this a video
to remember.
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Artist:
Ali Azmat
Video: 'Teri Parchaiyaan'
Director: Zeeshan Parwez
'Teri Parchaiyaan' was one of the most captivating videos to come
out in recent times. A drowning city, a young boy riding dolphins,
and flying on an eagle – these were some of the symbols in the
video. Shot in animation, it was a video that gave one hope. Intense,
edgy and surreal and thought-provoking, what more does one want from
a video? |
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Artist:
Noori
Video: 'Meray Log'
Director: Mandana Zaidi
If you want to see the real Pakistan, hamaray log from all walks of
life, just the way they really are, 'Meray Log' is the video to watch.
The faces are random, from school going kids to the average man on
the street to families. It is just a very sensitive and natural video.
What a winner it really is! |
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Artist:
Hadiqa Kiani and Aamir Zaki
Video: 'Iss Baar Milo'
Director: Jami
'Iss Baar Milo' is a great example of how a dark concept can be weaved
into a video and add power to a song. This video shows Hadiqa in an
asylum, she hallucinates Humayun Saeed and ends being medicated for
it, which is, not being able to see him or talk to him. No doubt the
concept was dark but the attention given to detail was phenomenal.
Zaki smoking a cigarette and playing guitars, the teal-gray colour
effect and Hadiqa's acting – it was all top notch. |
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Artist:
Arieb Azhar
Video: 'Husn-i-Haqiqi'
Director: Zaman Hazir
Simply shot and amplified by a kaleidoscope effect, 'Husn-i-Haqiqi'
was a moving video, literally. A reflection of faces in the streets
of Lahore, images that merged and disseminated with the pace of this
Sufic track, it was a fabulous video to see. A definite see for all.
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Artist:
Ali Zafar
Video: 'Masty'
Director: Shiraz Bhattacharya
'Masty' is the epitome of what an Ali Zafar concert usually looks
like. A performance-based video but just the way it has been shot
and the energy that penetrates out of it makes it a cutting-edge video.
The concept compliments the song and watching Ali Zafar fly over 200
hundred screaming girls is just a lot of fun to watch. |
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Artist:
Aaroh
Video: 'Raag Neela'
Director: Jalal-Amir
'Raag Neela' is a perfect example of a great performance-based video.
Aaroh looked like a rock band for the first time in any video. The
backdrop that changed from red to blue, the bar on top of which all
of them performed, the attitude and style with which each member carried
himself – all these made 'Raag Neela' the best Aaroh video to
date. |
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Artist:
Coven
Video: 'Sailing Fast'
Director: Uns Mufti
Shot in the happening streets of Tokyo and a Pakistani village, 'Sailing
Fast' was such a funky video to mark the debut of Coven. One witnesses
a complete role reversal in the concept; an English song (excellent
by the way) being sung by dehatis (as shown in the video). The three
Coven men also work in fields to save up money to send to a chick
in Tokyo. It remains inexplicable to date and that's why it is so
interesting. |
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Artist:
Salman Ahmed
Video: 'Al-Vida'
Director: Ruhi Hamid
Based on a true story, 'Al-Vida' remains a groundbreaking video, not
just for Pakistan but also for all Muslim nations. The message it
brought was that AIDS victims should not be discriminated against.
Nadia Jamil played the protagonist who contracted AIDS from her husband
and despite facing discrimination from society, she did what was needed,
that is create awareness for others. Just for that feat alone, it
deserves to be lauded. |
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Artist:
Manjeet Singh
Video: 'Ishq'
Director: Sohail Javed
'Ishq' is the kind of video that touches your heart. Romantically
morbid, this video remains a cut above all other sappy love videos
because of the treatment given to it. Burning cigarettes, thick
smoke, spilling red wine, movement of the camera and emotions that
remain visible throughout – this was a great video to watch.
Everything gelled – the mood of the video with the heartbreaking
song, the acting from Sanam Agha and Moammar Rana, the expressions
they carried and the way it was shot. Fantastic!
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