Of anthems and pop videos
// August 21st, 2005 // Music
On the 14th the new ‘official’ national anthem was unveiled:
Whatever its other uses may be – taking part in the anachronistic evening closing rituals of PTV will probably be its main purpose. Sorely missed will be the equally dated, crumpled and buckled original version that I grew up watching. The circa 1980s film was an interesting freeze frame if you will, a time-capsule, which featured our then greatest achievements; the newly commissioned Pakistan steel mills, Pak-suzuki (I think) and other dubious sources of patriotic zeal.
In Pakistan now awakening to the wonders of slick tv productions and spin, a new (some of ‘symbols of pride’ of old still feature) pop-ified version comes to us thanks to Asim Reza and Najam Shiraz (in no particular order).
One must be thankful atleast that someone has taken the initiative – but having watched it a couple of times, I remain marginally ambivalent about it.
You certainly cant argue with the individual merits of the shots Asim takes. Some of them are indeed are quite good, with spectacular lighting and even the odd sublime transition. But as a storyboard in total, I think it disappoints. There seems to be an overabundance of track-shots* with some quick-stills furthing ruining an at best patchy flow, apart from a few exceptions, the scenes also feel self contained with little fluidity and rhythm.
On the plus, some of the slow motion takes are cool and tastefully done, even if somewhat trite. The PAF shot also features the recently inducted female fighter pilots which I thought was a smart idea and a not too subtle nod to ‘enlightened moderation’, of note also was the transition where a mosque/gurdwara/church/temple flash in quick succession (nestled by colourised versions of some baba tapes).
Hair splitting it may be – but an irritating issue I often have with such ‘patriotic’ videos in south asia (particularly across the border in India) is their dreamily romantic, and really completely ridiculous depiction of the Thar / Thal / Rajasthan / Kutcch desert dwellers. The directors always insist these people are shown as rustic variants of E popping 24 trance hoppers, whirling away in the scorching 50 degree desert heat like lunatics… it just seems so wantonly effected and dramatised. I’m quite certain they don’t actually do this out there- inspite of my faith in intelligent design, I am sure they still would have long gone extinct.
So in conclusion, on the whole – noble effort, even if najam X15 is a bit harsh on the senses, but I only say that the production team would have done it justice had they spent some more time in post production.
* What can I say, the man likes his track shots-although it has to be said, he used them to great effect in what is arguably pakistan’s best television ad ever, the one he directed for Paktel
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Of anthems and pop videos
// August 21st, 2005 // Music
On the 14th the new ‘official’ national anthem was unveiled:
Whatever its other uses may be – taking part in the anachronistic evening closing rituals of PTV will probably be its main purpose. Sorely missed will be the equally dated, crumpled and buckled original version that I grew up watching. The circa 1980s film was an interesting freeze frame if you will, a time-capsule, which featured our then greatest achievements; the newly commissioned Pakistan steel mills, Pak-suzuki (I think) and other dubious sources of patriotic zeal.
In Pakistan now awakening to the wonders of slick tv productions and spin, a new (some of ‘symbols of pride’ of old still feature) pop-ified version comes to us thanks to Asim Reza and Najam Shiraz (in no particular order).
One must be thankful atleast that someone has taken the initiative – but having watched it a couple of times, I remain marginally ambivalent about it.
You certainly cant argue with the individual merits of the shots Asim takes. Some of them are indeed are quite good, with spectacular lighting and even the odd sublime transition. But as a storyboard in total, I think it disappoints. There seems to be an overabundance of track-shots* with some quick-stills furthing ruining an at best patchy flow, apart from a few exceptions, the scenes also feel self contained with little fluidity and rhythm.
On the plus, some of the slow motion takes are cool and tastefully done, even if somewhat trite. The PAF shot also features the recently inducted female fighter pilots which I thought was a smart idea and a not too subtle nod to ‘enlightened moderation’, of note also was the transition where a mosque/gurdwara/church/temple flash in quick succession (nestled by colourised versions of some baba tapes).
Hair splitting it may be – but an irritating issue I often have with such ‘patriotic’ videos in south asia (particularly across the border in India) is their dreamily romantic, and really completely ridiculous depiction of the Thar / Thal / Rajasthan / Kutcch desert dwellers. The directors always insist these people are shown as rustic variants of E popping 24 trance hoppers, whirling away in the scorching 50 degree desert heat like lunatics… it just seems so wantonly effected and dramatised. I’m quite certain they don’t actually do this out there- inspite of my faith in intelligent design, I am sure they still would have long gone extinct.
So in conclusion, on the whole – noble effort, even if najam X15 is a bit harsh on the senses, but I only say that the production team would have done it justice had they spent some more time in post production.
* What can I say, the man likes his track shots-and he even used them to great effect in what is arguably pakistan’s best television ad ever, the one he directed for Paktel
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