Apologies for the delay between the last post and this. To cut a long story short, I've been busy with exams and travelling, but now I'm back at the heart of Bollywood Ki Baatein :)

Thanks to Mahesh Bhatt's great taste in music, we are seeing a new trend in Bollywood music. It was Mr Bhatt who first launched the ever popular Atif Aslam to the Bollywood scene, we all felt the wave created by "Woh Lamhe", "Aadat" and "Tere Bin". Atif Aslam stormed to new heights, and India recognised a new style of music.

In the recent Awarapan, Mahesh Bhatt again dived into the heart (Lahore) of Pakistan and pinpointed Roxen, a Pakistani Rock band who were riding high in Pakistan because of their underground single "To Phir Aao". The album of Awarapan saw not only "To Phir Aao", but also the smash hit "Tera Mera Rishta" in the vocals of the lead singer of Roxen. The music of Awarapan has been a phenomenal success in India.

It is not only Atif Aslam and Roxen that have been picked up by India, but also many other Pakistani Rock/Pop artists, such as Annie, Adnan Sami, Rafaqat Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Bol Na Halke Halke), Shafaqat of Fusion (Mitwa), Strings (Yeh Hai Meri Kahani) and more.

Rock music is extremely big in Pakistan, there are hundreds of underground Rock bands in cities like Karachi and Lahore. There would be many artists in Pakistan who would be craving to enter the Bollywood market like Atif Aslam and Roxen, but one artist who without entering India/Bollywood has already sweeped a chunk of south asia; he has won the hearts of virtually every Pakistani girl out there - he is the heartthrob of Pakistan, and is creating waves everywhere - Ali Zafar.

Rumours are he has been offered many chances to sing for Bollywood, but he has declined them all. Maybe he is waiting for the 'right' moment, or maybe he wants to establish himself in Pakistan first. He is only two albums old, with super hit tracks like "masty", "sajania", "huqa pani", "chal dil mere" and the ever famous "channo ki aankh", which was incidentally adopted by Bollywood, without Ali Zafar's vocals in the movie Fight Club. My prediction is that Ali Zafar will end up singing in Bollywood one day, and take my word he will be a BIG hit with the Indian audience!

Ali Zafar's latest single is called "Dekha", it can be seen on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APLH-kO9xaM

In Pakistan there is alot of talk about Ali Zafar vs. Atif Aslam - who's better? Both have amazing voices, but the heated debate continues. Maybe i'll write about the rivalry in another article, til then zinday kay mazay lo...

Yeh aakhri alvida naa ho (",)