RAW Uns Mufti

THE MAGAZINE

Interview with
Uns Mufti
by Nabeel Aejaz

Here is an interview with Uns Mufti

a self-confessed noisy person with
wild dreams that have the potential to
become a reality. Discover him below
in an exclusive interview for RAW.

Who is Uns Mufti?

“Damn man I’d like to know too. If you

ever find him please let me know. I’d like
a few words with him…. “

I do not refer to myself in the third

person and would not be able to answer
this question for you. Uns Mufti is the
name I was given at birth. Since then
it has been associated with numerous
mistakes, the kind I would like to refrain
from making here.

Tell us about your educational and

work experience background.

I grew up in Islamabad. I consider every

educational degree I acquired after my
primary education, a complete waste of
time. I hated school and loathed college.
Most of my time was spent running
away from school. I only attended
class if there was a good looking girl
to look forward to. This was rare since
my parents insisted I go to an all boy’s
school. They thought I should have fun
when I am their age.

Until fourth grade I studied in a a “baboo burger” overnight. Cannot the nuns and the girls, is way better
government school, knew no English complain though, years later, I was than my English. This is because I
and wore a shalwar kameez uniform. employed as an English copywriter at learnt it way before fourth grade. My
I repeated 4th grade after my parents an ad agency in Karachi and got paid grandfather, Mumtaz Mufti to me is the
enrolled me in to the Convent of Jesus way more than my Urdu counterparts. father of Urdu and I have spent more
and Mary. There I learnt English at time with him than I did with my father.
the hands of the most respected and I also want to add here that I do have My mother was an Urdu teacher at the
feared nun in the federal capital of a Masters degree in English Literature convent. Some kids called her “the
Islamabad. from Punjab University, and I chose to butcher” but rest assured I kicked their
sit for the examination rather than pay a** when they said it.
Thank the lord for the nuns at my for the degree. ‘That was a mistake too.
elementary school who taught me I should have just paid for it.’ What is your inspiration and whom
how to read and write English. I wore do you admire?
coloured clothes to school, and played There is a dark secret I must reveal
dodge the ball with the girls. I became at this point. My Urdu, even after all I would have to say that boredom has

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THE MAGAZINE

been my only inspiration, assuming We never got a decent enough release resides in London. Rola is where I work
you are referring to my musical locally. We were casually released out of. It is where I prepare advertising
inspiration. The lack of fun activities in India. Now we are in the studio material, websites, radio spots, TV
while I was growing up was the only doing another album. Do you think spots, also where I have my audio
reason I picked up the guitar and we should release it immediately or studio. The bit of song writing not fit
actually learnt the 3 chords that I know. wait for another 4 years? I thought for the musical Rushk makes its way
Song writing, storytelling and directing immediately would be good. It will be out through Rola.
are my desperate cry for attention and a change. I welcome change. But the
the only means of having fun without only way it is going to happen is when Tell us something about your
taking my clothes off. we get to know everyone. How do we expansion to London?
do that? When no one, besides a few
I admire people who are hell bent on fluent English language speakers have Well now that Vasi is in London we
having fun but they are mostly very rich heard sawaal in its entirety, the way it thought he might set up Rola there. It is
people who can buy their freedom to is meant to be heard. still in its experimental stage. I do want
indulge. This admiration offers a sense to have a branch office somewhere
of security I cannot do without. What do you think is the future of else on the planet; Tokyo, Moscow or
Rushk and its upcoming videos and Washington DC if London does not
Again, I will have to thank the albums? work out.
missionaries without whom words like
inspiration and admiration would have Well someone shouted “feature film, Tell us the concept behind ‘Main
meant nothing. urban cinema in Pakistan”, so we Nahin hoon’ and who is Joey?
jumped and recorded the title track
What is your ambition in life? for it. It was good. It kick started our The concept behind the video is all
recording sessions for the next album. over the video. It is hard to miss it. It is
‘Is it to colonise another planet - Lush There will be a new video and single how conflicts occur, how one is put on
green fields, lakes and springs, milder out soon. a pedestal and how one falls.
climate.’
Then there is the second album and the Joey aka Yousaf Paracha is a rock star
No, I just want to be a Hollywood Star. I live show. The live show is scarrying from Karachi. He is one of my friends.
want to be “Risky Business.” me to death mainly because I always
Why do you mostly focus on gays
over do it with the description. But
How did Rushk start and what is your and lesbian subjects? Any particular
the live show has to be theatrical so
role in Rushk? reason?
putting it together is going to be painful
The new Rushk started when Ziyyad and expensive. We are trying to get You have to be gay or lesbian to read
fell for a demo tape I did with our to a stage where the live shows seem into any of our videos like that. It’s a
previous line up in Islamabad. Since painless and cheap. connection for which I’m grateful.
then he has taken over the band and I
What was the concept behind ‘behti ‘Behti Naar’ was an excellent statement
don’t complain because he is a better
naar’? What did you achieve making about sexuality in Pakistan. Too bad
musician and talented when it comes
it? the perception here was restricted
to sound. He is a stickler for detail,
which is why the album sounds the way to homosexuality alone. Maybe the
I achieved cult status. Now I can walk
it does. I’m the noisy one. You know heterosexuals don’t want to see
into any room in Defence and people
empty vessel make the most noise. It themselves that way. In any case I feel
recognise me. ‘Behti Naar’ was Saquib
makes for interesting contrasts. it’s the boldest statement Saquib’s ever
Malik’s baby. The video was conceived,
made.
shot and edited by him. The only good
Tell us about the recent album release
thing I ever did on the set was watching Khuahish having sexual and surgical
of sawaal under the BMN records.
my wife’s hair sway in all direction and connotations was just about world
Why was it delayed and why has it
then watch Tariq shave them off. order and where we fit in.
been released now?
I also met Iraj, heh! Mein Nahi Hoon was main nahi hoon. I
Late for what? You mean they’ve
already blown the whistle and now I’m feel dumb explaining the video.
What is Rola, who all are part of it
crossing the finish line while everyone and what is your role in Rola? What Tell us something about the upcoming
else has gone home, retired and moved is its objective?
to Florida or Islamabad. Do you really projects through Rola especially the
think that? That would be late. animated Kaptaan Pakistan feature?
Rola is a Creative Hot shop in Karachi.
I started this with a friend who now Vasi and I wrote Kaptaan Pakistan and

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even started work on it. Many a frames were made and many voice-overs recorded. A trailer and a teaser were also
developed.2 D animation, where the artist has to draw every frame, is tough to get done in Pakistan. You ideally want the
best artists and engage them for a long period of time. So while we have scripts and frames etc ready we don’t have a
financer to foot the bill for the production.

I am not worried though. This one will find its way out. It is that good! We are always toying with the idea of getting it
produced elsewhere in the world. We want a stunner!

What is Nira and what are its objectives?

Rola was making too much music at a certain point so we created Nira as a brand extension that can serve as our music
platform. Nira remains a design / production unit catering to musical talent.

This is how we released Rushk, and will release Co-Ven and Rola. This is where we put together the new Rushk album and
bands like Positive from interior Sindh. This leaves Rola to engage in more pressing assignments like corporate videos, TV
commercials, songs, print and web designing for our corporate clients.

Tell us about your upcoming Co-Ven projects and videos?

I love Co-Ven. I want to shout this out from the highest mountain. At last a song writer, I cannot stop admiring the album
titled Vol 1 and 2. I get more excited about good bands from Pakistan than I do with bands from abroad.

Co-Ven is great. Sample them now at www.nira.rola.tv . I am doing their upcoming video. I am so excited I can’t wait to
get it done.

What are your views regarding the current underground music scene of Pakistan?

A good question! Next question please.

What are your comments on the Art and Design standards in Pakistan compared to European and American
standards? Are we getting there or can we ever take our culture and values to that level?

The problem is not the “high art” in American or European design. The problem is our complete denial of who and where
we are.

Consider this, most cases in a clinic during the summer months in Pakistan are women with burns and boils on them. Their
clothing caters more to the current culture than the weather. In conditions such as ours I think we should be discussing
about irrigation or how we can make rain and/ or roads.

What would you say regarding creating and producing music, videos and art/design in the light of Islam? It is forbidden
then why do we do it.

The only thing that is forbidden is thinking that any kind of knowledge or expression is bad for humanity. Religion has
often inspired and paid for the greatest works of art in human history.

The Prophet was a poet. If you had to tell him at the time that poetry, song writing, verse, design, and typography are
forbidden, how would you have known what you claim to know now?

Your views and comments on the current government and its encouragement of arts.

The current government is like any other. They are too busy trying to make money, make fewer mistakes, seem civilized
and earn respect much like any other government of any other country.

They should encourage arts and people who make bold statements. That way they will score more points and earn
respect.

What would you suggest to a new comer coming in to the field of music and arts?

Leave your “forbidden in our religion” theory at the door. Travel far and wide.

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