Things have been looking up for the band Call ever since pop singer and actor Junaid Khan reunited with vocalist Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan (aka Xulfi) and bassist Sultan Raja.
The band that gave us romantic ballads such as Kya Hua Jo Lari Chhooti — which Xulfi later sang for a Bollywood movie Ek Chalees Ki Last Local (2007) — and Ho Jaane De, has been doing concerts in different parts of Pakistan. And on March 23, they created a unique drum anthem that saw around 40 drummers (labelled The Drummers of Pakistan) and percussionists from across the country come together to chant “Pakistan Zindabad” (Long Live Pakistan).
The idea, as producer Xulfi put it, was to “renew the spirit of the chant. As Pakistanis, there is no chant that feels more fulfilling.”
Elaborating on the concept of the anthem, he said, “These days, there are very few occasions where we have the opportunity to come together and say a wish for our homeland.”
Xulfi is also reported to have called the anthem “a movement.” He revealed that all the musicians who had taken part in it had done it for the love of their country and, therefore, didn’t charge a penny. He announced that all proceeds from online monetisation shall go towards supporting the drummers’ fraternity “by donating drum kits to music academies.”
Xulfi’s own music career goes back to his college days, in the mid-1990s, when he led the Call band as a vocalist and guitarist. Later, he came to prominence as a music producer, composing and producing for Entity Paradigm (EP), as Call had disbanded. More recently, his TV show, Nescafe Basement, saw him mentor underground bands. The show, which features live, studio-recorded music performances, completed its four seasons last year. It also has a simultaneous webcast.
