 Newspapers abroad have covered - albeit a bit too naively - the 'emergence' of Pakistani music that is 'defying' the spate of extremist forces fighting in the country. But while the music they have showcased is in English and targeted towards a certain segment of society, one person who really has 'defied' all odds in the music industry has to be Rahim Shah. An incredibly popular singer whose album Maama Dey released over the Eid weekend, Rahim Shah has shown a spirit of actually working when the times get tough. News junkies may remember that Rahim Shah's family was caught in the midst of the military operation in Swat, and that he appeared on several news channels to talk about the very real plight that he was facing (a cousin of his sustained four bullet wounds). The fact that he has defied that situation and gone ahead with producing music that his legions of fans listen to is what is heartening. It proves that even despite personal turmoil, Rahim Shah is sticking to what he knows and does best - music - and that's why he is Instep's hotstepper of the week. |
