Sitting across Nida Yasir for a conversation on a multitude of subjects, father-son duo Waseem Abbas and Ali Abbas graced the set of Shan-e-Suhoor. The constructive back and forth that went on for more than hour consisted of various gems, but one particular segment particularly caught our attention.
Forgetting Legends
When a question regarding the industry was brought up, Ali Abbas stated that while there are many opportunities (that do, however, factor in hard work), the collective memories of all parties involved seems to be lacking. Here, Waseem Abbas animatedly shared how true legends of yesteryears remain forgotten, and are not taken into account. He drew a comparison with our neighboring state, angrily highlighting how there, older stars do not fizzle out.
In what he called a “besharmi ka daur,” Waseem Abbas pointed out, “Woh apne 70 saal purane actor ko nahi marne dete – aap ne sab ko hee maar dia hai.” His disdain for an emphasis on prioritizing glamor was made evident as well. “Thori tameez seekho, thora unko project karna seekho. Yeh humari legacy hai,” stated the star.
Where Does The Responsibility Lie?
Waseem Abbas gave an example about how he struck up a conversation about Habib Jalib with someone, only for the individual to ask who that is. He went on to say that it is not solely the fault of today’s generation – there is not enough material taught or displayed in programs to double as a resource.
Ali Abbas interjected the heated monolog to share that this would be the responsibility of the state, to which Waseem Abbas firmly rejected this idea. At this point, Nida Yasir decided to go for a break. However, Ali began to clarify that his position on the responsibility of the state stemmed from the fact that the archives of PTV were never restored, to which Waseem Abbas stated that there was never a need for that to begin with.
A Closer Look At The Industry
Waseem Abbas then zeroed in on the industry more closely, talking about how the people who once ruled the screens – people whose mere presence was intimidating and commanded respect – have been reduced to parodies or have become the punchline to many jokes. He reiterated that celebrating these names is not the responsibility of the state, but that of private channels. He made it a point to name a few as well, stating how channels like ARY HUM TV, and Geo conduct award shows, but commemoration of these legends is rare.
On Awards
Waseem Abbas then went on to take a dig at award shows as well, highlighting how absurd it is to award people in various ways for different parts of their attire and physical appeal. A frustrated, “What is this?” escaped his mouth at the mere premise of such awards, with him putting forth his belief that these awards lowered the standard and capacity of the institutions.
He even went on to state that while he has the Pride of Performance award, he dare not feel any pride regarding the same, given every third person now has the same award. He reiterated that this devalues the award itself, and such honors must be bestowed upon people with careful deliberation.
A Proposal
Waseem Abbas went on to put forward a proposal, asking why a show cannot be created around the legends of the industry. He states with certainty that the show would be grand, with excellent ratings and viewership.
On Music
He also pondered over the state of music within the industry, asking for even one example of quality music from films in recent times. He even asked Nida for an example from her own film, and then talked about how films have minted crores, simply based on their music as well, highlighting how music has that strength in its presence. Waseem Abbas also mocked the judges on music shows, stating that they themselves don’t know much about music to begin with.
Closing Thoughts
There is much food for thought, and room for both agreement and disagreement within this short interaction. Regardless of whether or not one believes that what has been stated is true, it can be said with certainty that this is an essential debate that must be had. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
