Atif-Popularity beyond borders

Since music has no languages and boundaries, we are fortunate to relish the popular music and unique voices of artistes from across the border. A singer who has really made his mark in India and South Asia with his songs and his voice is Atif Aslam, a Pakistani pop singer. 

Remember Pehli Nazar mein, the song from the movie Race which was an instant hit. There are many songs which have been highly appreciated by youngsters. He is well-known for his powerful vocal belting technique.

Atif Aslam (Mohammed Atif Aslam) was born in 12^th march, 1983 in Wazirabad in the Gujranwala province of Pakistan. He studies at PAF College, Lahore where he completed his F.Sc (Pre-Engineering) in 2001. 

He participated in cricket and represented his college in various events in other cities. He won his first singing competition in the Independence Day (Pakistan) celebrations. He completed his Bachelor in Computer Science from University of Central Punjab.

Atif met Goher— a guitarist, in college and they went on to form a band which was called Jal. They performed at their college canteen and various hotels in the city. They performed in the songs of Junoon and Strings. They came out with their first album Jal Pari which was a hit. Atif left Jal due to personal differences and Atif released another album Doorie in 2004. His albums were popular in Pakistan and India.

Atif’s songs were in a Hollywood movie, Man Push Cart. These songs were taken from his debut album Jal Pari. He has become the third Pakistani singer after Strings and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to be featured in a Hollywood movie.

Atif has sung for many Hindi movies. Some of his songs which were huge hits in India were Pehli Nazar Mein from Race and Tere Bin from Woh Lamhe among others.

Atif is truly a popular singer. He is liked and admired by youngsters of India and Pakistan. If only music could be used to bridge the difference between India and Pakistan, both countries would have been the best neighbours.

What is trending today?

Internet is volatile, ever-changing and unpredictable. Something that tops the trending charts in the morning may disappear into oblivion without leaving a trace in the evening. But trending charts produced by Internet giants such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and Twitter tell it all.

Trending is not a new term for tech-savvy Internet users. Trending topics tell us about popular topics of the day on the Internet. There are many websites that regularly update the list of popular searched for terms in their websites. Many search engines, news websites, micro-blogging and social networking websites have begun showing trending topics of the day to inform their users about the most-searched for topics on their website on any given day.  

Trending topics on a website like Twitter are topics that are the searched for because they prompt users to talk about them because of their importance on any given day. Usually, the names of the topics on Twitter are followed by the ‘#’ hash sign.

Many a time trending on these websites are the results of concerted efforts by the fans of a celebrity or the marketing department of a brand. To make their trending results authentic and accurate, Google, Twitter and other websites, which display trending topics on their websites regularly, change the algorithm of their search results to check manipulation by users.

To make trending easier for common people, Google launched called Google Trends in May 2006. This enables users to see what were the popular search terms over a period of time on the search engine. According to the website, "Trends for Websites combine information from a variety of sources, such as aggregated Google search data, aggregated opt-in anonymous Google Analytics data, opt-in consumer panel data, and other third-party market research. (...) Additionally, Google Trends for Websites only shows results for sites that receive a significant amount of traffic, and enforces minimum thresholds for inclusion in the tool."

Google Trends has added many new features under the tag Google Insight for Search to tell users about ‘hot searches of the day’ and other information based on their research. The site is updated on an hourly basis. Users can know the estimated number of daily visitors on a specific website and also the number of people who visited a website in the previous seven days or in a month. The website also provides country-specific data. 

Choice is yours

RICHARD Blechnyden wanted to promote Indian tea at the St. Louis World Fair. It was very hot and no one wanted to sample his tea. Blechnyden saw that iced drinks were doing a flourishing business. It dawned on him to make his tea an iced drink, mix in some sugar and offer it for sale. People loved it. That was the introduction of iced tea to the world.

Human beings are not like a nut. It can not decide whether to become food for squirrels or grow into a giant tree. Human beings have choices. If nature gives us a lemon, we have a choice: either to cry or make lemonade.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, AS THEY SOMETIMES WILL, YOU CAN REACT RESPONSIBLY OR RESENTFULLY—IT IS UP TO YOU.

Impact of movies on society- Is real life copying reel life in violence against women?

The objectives of film production and the structure of society are so closely interwoven that both look interdependent. This fact emerged out of a survey conducted by Sambad Plus Team among 400 cine viewers of Bhubaneswar to ascertain the impact of modern films on society.

According to our survey 79 percent people believe that films are the mirror of society and the cycle of social events happening in real life is depicted on the big screen, while 21 percent people believe that film stories have nothing to do with real life.

Films are a good medium of entertainment; they come under scrutiny and criticism every now and then. In answer to a question, 49 percent people voted that films make a great impact on society and that they are an effective medium to mould public opinion. Thirty five percent people feel that films do not make a good impact on society. Sixteen percent of the people were neutral in their reaction.

Old movies vs. new movies

New films are far better than the old ones in terms of technique. Yet there are people who are still diehard fans of old movies. According to 83 percent people, the central theme of the old films revolved around social issues and such films were inspiring, while new films are made keeping box-office collections in mind. Seventeen percent people liked the new movies for better technique and locations.

In answer to a few questions related to the impact of modern films on society, 85 percent said that fashion and films are complementary to each other while 71 percent people said that films are misleading youth into fantasyland. Sixty seven percent people feel that these films are the cause of increasing atrocities on women, 

76 percent blame films for the declining moral values and 70 percent point out that films are the main reason of rising crime in society. Eighty nine percent people have raised a question mark on the role of the Film Censor Board on the subject of its issuing different certificates to similar types of movies.

Overexposure in movies

95 percent people were of the opinion that ‘adult movies’ should not be shown in cinema halls. Five percent said there is no harm in showing such films but youngsters below 18 years of age should not be allowed to see such movies.

In the view of 34 percent people, the audience itself is responsible for the growing exposure in films, while 27 percent held the producers responsible, 20 percent blamed the actors and 12 percent blamed directors while according to 7 percent the cheap story line of the film is responsible.  

Impact On children

32 percent people feel that the unbelievable stunts of the ‘hero’ in the movies are responsible for increasing delinquency in children. On the other hand, 28 percent feel that the temptation to emulate one’s favourite actor is the main reason behind it, while 23 percent blame the glamour of movies. On the contrary, 17 percent said that it would not be astonishing for them if students bunked school to watch entertaining movies.

In an answer to an interesting question ‘whether they impersonate any actor or actress or not, 57 percent politely refused to answer. Twenty four percent of people said that they sometimes try to adopt the looks and mannerisms of their favourite actors.  Nineteen percent of people said ‘no.’ 

Fusion is here to stay!

Do you remember listening to something peppy, but with simple and rustic lyrics? A combination of tabla, electric guitar and drums! It’s fusion. A fusion of various sounds of traditional and Western instruments.  It has created a fresh form of music which is also called contemporary or world music by some. But the concept and visualization is fusing two different forms of music and the result is ‘Fusion’.

Fusion music has become popular in the last decade in India. Fusion means the combination of two separate forms of music. When they forms are combined, a third form called Fusion is created. Fusion music was conceptualized by musicians who wanted to combine the best of two worlds and also to promote easy listening.

Several bands promoted fusion music in India. Tavleen Singh, the famous percussionist, is known as a great fusion artist. Similarly, Colonial Cousins , a band comprising singer Hariharan and music director Leslie Lewis became quite popular in the Nineties. They made some memorable hits like ‘Sa Ni Dha Pa’ and others  which are typical fusion songs.

Indian Ocean, a band comprising four close friends, developed an idea by Rahul Ram, the vocalist. Their album ‘Kandisa’ became a popular  hit amongst the youth, particularly college students. Their songs ‘Maa Rewa’ and ‘Kandisa’ were huge hits. Remember, ‘Peepli Live’ which had some Indian Ocean songs like ‘Desh mera rangrezia babu’. The songs of Indian Ocean describe various issues of life in a simple and rustic manner.

 One of their songs, ‘Hille le’ was originally written by a famous poet from Bihar, Gorakh Pande, and it is a satire on issues like corruption and aristocracy. It has a rustic feel to it. But it uses electric guitar, tabla, drums and synthesizer in harmony. The result is a power- packed song which is truly soul stirring.

Fusion music was popularized by the Pakistani band ‘Junoon’ which used various famous sayings in a totally different and modern form. Their song ‘Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle, khuda bande se khud poochhe, bataa teri raza kya hai’ is an adaptation of a popular saying by poet Allama Iqbal which tells a man to be strong and totally in control.

Fusion music has been criticized by experts who see this as corruption of music. But as long as fusion is pure and sends out a message, it will be popular. Youngsters can be inspired as fusion songs do not use any explicit lyrics. So, as long as you are listening to something which is pleasing and is also soul stirring, go for it. Who knows you may come out with your own album someday!

Online gaming: easy entertainment

Internet gaming has grown over the years. Millions of people worldwide are caught up in a whirling vortex of online gaming and the number of addicted people is increasing with each passing year. The addiction of gaming began with hand-held video game devices on which children could play simple games such as Tetris, Car Racing and Feed the Snake.

Nowadays, video games have become essential part of gadgets. Mobiles, computers, tablets TVs and set- top boxes come loaded with games such as Sudoku, Cricket, Solitaire, Tetris, etc. Users can instal third-party sophisticated games on their computers which are played on Play Station and X-Box. There is a huge market for games on Android or iOS enabled smart phones and they can be bought from their respective stores.

Fast broadband Internet connection, interactive social networking game applications and availability of games as browser add-ons have given a boost to online games. The success of online games such as Angry Birds, Farm Ville, Fruit Ninja, Mafia Wars, Bejeweled, etc., can be gauged by the number of users playing them online.  More than 700 million copies of Angry Bird alone have been downloaded on different platforms since its launch in 2009. According to Facebook blog more than 236 million people play games on the social networking website.

There is a variety of games available such as arcade games, racing games, war games, strategy games, word games and sports games on hundreds of gaming websites. There are many websites on the Internet for playing different kinds of games.

Zynga.com has one of the largest collections of free games and the site claims that it has over 240 million monthly users. Some of the most popular games available on the website are CityVille, Zynga Poker, Draw Something, Hidden Chronicles, FarmVille, CastleVille, Words With Friends, Empires & Allies, Scramble With Friends and Mafia Wars. A Bit Lucky is a developer of high-quality games such as Lucky Space and Lucky Train that are among some of the highest-rated games on Facebook. The games designed by this developer are available on Facebook and other social media platforms.

Roundgames, Gamesam, Addictinggames are a few websites which regularly update their database of flash-based games. Twoplayergames.com and Flyordie.com have a large collection of multiplayer games that are played by two or more players simultaneously and then scores are tallied. A few websites such as Zapak.com and other are websites that allow game developers to submit their games. One should regularly update browser plug-ins such as Adobe Flash Player for playing online games because most of these games are flash-based. 

No tension

Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress everyday and can benefit from learning stress management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult, or painful and they do not have the resources to cope.

Teens can decrease stress with the following behaviour and techniques

1. Exercise and eat regularly.
2. Avoid excess caffeine intake, which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.
3. Avoid consuming drugs and tobacco.
4. Learn relaxation exercises, for example, abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation techniques.
5. Develop assertiveness training skills, for example, state feelings in a polite and firm manner and not in an overly aggressive or passive way. “I feel angry when you yell at me. Please stop yelling.”
6. Rehearse and practise situations that causes stress.  One example is taking a speech class and see if talking in front of a class makes you anxious.
7. Learn practical coping skills, for example, break a large task into smaller, more attainable tasks.
8. Decrease negative self-talk— challenge negative thoughts about yourself with alternative neutral or positive thoughts. “My life will never be better” can be transformed into “I may feel hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I work at it and get some help.”
9. Learn to feel good about doing a competent or a ‘good enough’ job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others.
10. Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to friends, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.
11. Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.

By using these and other techniques, teenagers can begin to manage stress. If a teen talks about or shows signs of being overly stressed, a consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or qualified mental health professional may be helpful.