Interview in Sunday magazine
Sunday, 28 May 2006

:: Exclusively Salman :: From doctor to cricketer to rock star and a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, Salman Ahmed of Junoon has made it to the top. Using his celebrity status, this guitarist from one of the top rock bands of South Asia, Junoon, is working for the positive image of Islam abroad, especially after the events of 9/11. He is also working towards creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in South Asia. Having performed with world's number one band U2 and Aerosmith besides other artistes from abroad, Salman now has the honour of performing with pop diva Madonna in Deepak Chopra's upcoming Hollywood film, How to know God. Here is an exclusive interview of Salman Ahmed with Eyecandy

Marian Sharaf Joseph It is an honour to be the second artiste from Pakistan, after Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, to perform in any of Hollywood's soundtracks. How do you feel about it?
I studied and performed with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib, before Ali Azmat and I formed Junoon. I was inspired by his bold decision to take Qawali into Hollywood films such as The Last Temptation of Christ. This helped in making him a global phenomenon and put Pakistan on the cultural map. By the Grace of God, now I have also been offered a similar opportunity to provide my music, Ghoom Tana, for an upcoming Hollywood film How to Know God.

Ghoom Tana was released about two years back. It is still the talk of the town. Why?
Ghoom Tana is a song which I composed by taking inspiration from classical music. My mother's family comes from Patiala, India. It is a city which is well known for it's wonderful ustaads, singers and musicians. I composed Ghoom Tana in Khamaach thaat, which is mostly used in the evening raagas (kalavati/rageshwari).I then asked India's Shubha Mudgal to sing a duet with me. It is the fusion of classical and rock music which has made Ghoom Tana such a popular song. In fact, the first time Naseer-ud-in Shah and Nandita Das heard it, they fell in love with Ghoom Tana.

Deepak Chopra has invited you to perform in his latest film How to Know God. When did he make this offer to you?
Deepak Chopra and Hollywood director Ron Frank got in touch with me after listening to my album Infiniti and song Ghoom Tana and said they want to use it along with Madonna's song Ray of Light.

Why do you think he did that?
Deepak met me in New York in January this year and we talked about the need to create understanding between cultures and religions through music, films and television. Both of us happen to be trained medical doctors and I guess healing is a subconscious part of our creative work.

Whose idea was it to include Madonna's Ray of Light in How to Know God besides your Ghoom Tana?
Madonna is a very good friend of Deepak's and is also very much interested in spirituality. As a matter of fact, she was very much eager to be a part of the music of How to Know God.

Q.What is How to know God' about?
How to Know God is a film which explores divine intelligence and how people perceive God in the 21st century.

What genre of music will it feature?
The musical soundtrack of this film will be both modern and traditional music.

Who are the other artistes performing with you in it?
Aside from Ghoom Tana the only other song in the film is from Madonna. This song is Ray of Light as I mentioned earlier. This song also has a spiritual hint to it but its music is contemporary.

Do you have any further plans to work with other artistes from Hollywood?
Regarding further plans, I've also been asked by the U.N. to perform at the U.N. General Assembly during the upcoming UN HIV/AIDS summit in New York on June 1, this year. I will also screen Al-Vida, my music video on HIV/AIDS and appear with other UN goodwill ambassadors, including Hollywood actors Richard Gere, Whoopi Goldberg, singer Mary J Blige and others. The summit will be hosted by UN secretary general Mr. Kofi Annan. Al-Vida is the world's first ever HIV/AIDS video from a Muslim country. It's currently running on MTV India and is number 1 on North America's channel MTV Desi.

 Why did you release Infiniti in USA?
Infiniti is the first Pakistani rock album to be released on apple I-tunes and I have been invited by U.S colleges like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, etc., to perform and talk about Sufi music and Sufi poetry. I will especially talk about its importance in building tolerance between nations and people.

What is your contribution in promoting Pakistani music abroad?
I have recently organised a trip for 25 Pakistani artistes. These include Strings, Fuzon, Mekaal Hasan, Ali 'Chano', etc., to fly to Bombay and participate in a musical dialogue on FM Radio Mirchi with Indian composers and musicians. I think Pakistani and Indian artistes can help raise the standard of Indo-Pak music, film and television if they are able to work together more freely. An example of this is the music video of Ghoom Tana in which I chose a Pakistani director Saquib Malik along with Indian artistes Nandita Das, Naseer-u-din Shah, Shubha Mudgal and an Indo-Pak production crew to make a cross cultural music video which people in both countries can be proud of.

What are your plans about your HIV/AIDS cause as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador?
As U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/Aids I'm planning to do a South Asian college tour titled Al-Vida to AIDS. The countries include Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. This will focus on HIV/AIDS awareness and woman's empowerment to fight the stigma, discrimination and ignorance in our society. The tour will commence after summer.

Do you plan to live in USA permanently? Why?
I'm spending more time abroad because of my music, recording, performances and my work with the UN. However, I will be coming to Pakistan later in the year, Inshallah.

How far do you think have you succeeded in working for the American Muslims abroad?
I was recently awarded the Voice of Courage and Conscience Media Award in Los Angeles by MPAC for promoting a moderate vision of Islam and Muslims through my films and music. I am also using my celebrity status to tackle difficult social issues like HIV/AIDS in South Asia.

 What do you think is the future of Pakistan music in the international scenario?

Since Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib was from Faisalabad and I was born in Lahore, it proves how musically fertile the land of Pakistan is. We need to encourage and recognise Pakistani artistes the same way other countries appreciate theirs. Even in regard to unknown but talented Pakistani artistes who are struggling to make a living, it is the government, the business community and the people's responsibility to make sure that they are taken care of, so that they can work harder on their art and shine internationally. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a great cultural ambassador for Pakistan and his sad demise in 1997 is irreplaceable. It takes a generation for an artist of his caliber to develop and we have lost many such Pakistani artists without providing for them during their lifetimes.
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