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The Rocking RJ Almost overnight Khalid Malik has developed a cult following
By Sumeha Khalid
W
ithin a short span Malik has developed a cult following. Khalid Malik the radio jockey (RJ) and actor came, saw and literally conquered! Credit goes to him for bringing the educated lot back towards radio. In the last couple of decades radio had become the masses’ toy. Today, be it a school-going kid, teenager, housewife or a top executive – all are tuned in to FM89, especially during the morning hours, to listen to Breakfast with Khalid. He is best known for his various versions of birthday song that he renders for his loyal listeners. Following are the excerpts of the Khalid Malik interview with Lounge. Q: Could you have imagined five to eight years back you would have a cult following? How does it feel to be the Khalid Malik? A: Wow, I never saw it that way and I don’t think I ever will. It’s strange! You sit in a studio and wonder if anyone is listening. I get a few texts and realize “yeah they are listening”. But I could never have imagined that the show would do so well. I never did the show with the end in mind. I always did my show every day as if each day were a new day. I’m just so glad that people have begun listening to the radio again. It’s a blessing. Q: How and when did you decide to become an RJ? A: In 2004, I was living in Sydney and I went to meet a media company for some work not related to radio. The CEO and I got to talking. Out of the blue he asked “hindi bol sakte ho”? And I said, “ji ji, urdu bhi bolta hoon, Punjabi bhi”. He sent me to the radio station they were just starting up, and I nailed the audition. Q: Who gave you your first break?
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A: Well I initially trained as an actor from Melbourne, so TV came first. But it was all part of a divine plan; for me to get to radio eventually. Q: Do you feel you are as successful o n television as you are on the radio?
A: She was and still is very charismatic. She started up this radio station in Australia, her name is Saleha Waseem. She used to anchor the news for Doordarshan, and then was a part of some major radio station start ups. I remember as part of my audition, I had to write my own script, and in the script I had written “aur mai hoon apka chaheeta Khalid Malik, ijazat…” after the audition she said “abhi tum kisi ke bhi chaheete nahi ho”. To this day I remember those words, and work each day as though it were the first. Q: Why an RJ specifically? A: Radio came accidentally into my life. When I started radio I decided to go and get some training which I did. It has changed my life quite literally. I owe radio a great deal. Q: You are also an actor. What came first radio or TV?
A: I am definitely m o r e successful on radio. When I am alone and speak at inter views I often catch myself smiling on the inside thinking how amazing life has been; that I trained as an actor first but Radio has become my life, my breath. Q: How ridiculous can callers get? Any anecdotes you would like to share with us. A: The best part of what I do is that I get to meet and talk to people from all walks of life, and each one is a different personality. Thankfully they have all been kind to me. Bless them. I feel like we are friends. Q: There was news circulating that you were about to be featured in a local flick? How true is that. A: Very true. I have acted in two films. One was “Rafina” directed by Sabiha Sumar, which is yet to be released. The other, and more recent, is a film directed by Iram Parveen Bilal called “Josh”. This premiered at the Mumbai film
festival recently. Q: What’s keeping you busy currently? A: Well life is really keeping me busy. Just finished a kids’ quiz show that I am quite excited about, a music video in the middle of all of this, and of course the Breakfast Show. And most importantly getting ready for a wedding… busy busy. Q: Does Khalid Malik ever feel insecure in life? If so what is your greatest insecurity/fear? A: I am human and I have my good days and bad days. But when I get into that studio, something happens, I forget everything and it breathes life into me. I read a lot and it helps me gain perspective on whatever it is that I am feeling at the time. Something that I often say on my show and it’s been my philosophy “no matter what the circumstances, there is always more right than wrong going in any given situation”. Q: Anyone else in the family involved in showbiz/creative arts? A: No one in my family is even remotely associated or involved with the creative arts or showbiz. Q: How important is family to you – what comes first work or family? A: Family is very important. Family comes first. I hold family close to my heart. I think maybe I am old fashioned in many ways when it comes to family. I like the idea of eating around the dastarkhuan, and sharing mangoes (which is what we used to do in our family with relatives – I miss that). Q: What’s your zodiac sign? A: 21st January. It’s called genius, I think! Q: What were you doing before you got into showbiz? A: I completed my Masters in Business Management and was working in advertising for a number
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of years as an account manager. Targets, targets, targets! I hated it! Q: What is a typical day for you like? A: I get up around 6:30am… head to studio. Finish the Breakfast Show then meet with my 89ers to catch up
overly nervous I have a tendency to peel the skin off my fingers… sorry! Q: One person you could not have done without…and why? A: Everyone that I have met throughout my career – from the CEO of the first radio station to the director on set, about 11 years ago, who told his assistant to get rid of me because I was just an extra on set. They have all helped me and were a part of this divine plan. Q: If not an actor/Rj… A: I think definitely a healer, herbalist, hakim. Q: Are you thronged by people when you go out to markets – do you feel harassed?
on any campaigns. I head back home try to catch like a 45-minute nap and then head to a shoot (if there is a shoot that day) and get back home around 11:00pm. It can become a long day. Otherwise my day is generally filled up with meetings and follow ups and preparing for the breakfast show. Q: Something no one knows about you… A: Career: Covered the IIFA 2006 in dubai where I interviewed Amitabh Bachchan. Personal: When I get
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A: I love it when the kids come to me and take photos. The breakfast show has certainly grown and it’s good to see radio get that recognition and it’s great to see that RJs are getting that public recognition. People do come up for photos etc and the most common question is “how are you so chirpy in the morning?” Q: Words of advice for your fans… A: Whatever it is that you do, do it with eloquence, do it with utmost attention. And always work to enable others and you will see your dreams come true.
Khalid in a flash… Your kind of music… pop / eastern classical / qawwali / mushy stuff What gets you going… love A neatness freak or a disorderly dude… yikes, I think disorderly KM the actor or RJ… RJ Your first love… radio Your first heartbreak… film Your kind of girl… big warm eyes, saanwli, the biggest smile – my desi girl You hate most… when people do not stick by their word You love most… a nice big tight hug. Be warned I love hugs! One thing you’re dying to change about yourself… to see things as they are. Work in progress! Love for you is…Chicken in coconut curry A perfect date… I think probably by the bonfire at the sarai in fairy meadows Perfect companion... someone who treasures love for all that it means and will always be by my side, no matter what!
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A thing of beauty is a joy forever By Ayaz R Malik
A
house with the right choice o f
furniture and accessories reflects the personality of the one who owns it. It speaks volumes of the person’s taste and style. To cater to this very requirement Shahnaz Noon and Attiya Rashid of Home Couture Furniture and Accessories flagship store welcomed many on its fabulous launch in Lahore on the 8th of November 2012 in Gulberg III. Cinnabon were in brand partnership for the launch regarding hospitality. A delicious launch it turned out to be indeed! The media and public relations were managed by Lotus PR. Distinctive is the word that best fits Home Couture Furniture and accessories’ outlet. It is solely an artisan-handmade-based furniture assortment of heirloom style furniture. “We are proud to have launched a dedicated standalone retail space for Home Couture, a brand that first started with exhibitions under the brand name F&S
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Attiya Rashid. The furniture brings to life the era of the Raj - thick set single-seater sofas, tables with a mix of gujrati, kashmiri and British blends. One of the most beautiful pieces of furniture was the set of wicker chairs – crafted in the exact fashion as it used to be in the 18th century. And to go along with such classic furniture, accessories like the candle lanterns made from glass and iron in various
furniture with geometric perfection and comfortable multi-layeredcushioning to it. And to gel with the sort were accessories like Japanese lamps, classic three-legged- glasstopped corner tables, banisters, racks (designed intricately in different styles and shapes). A complete home store, the range at Home Couture also includes furnishings such as beds, sofas, tables and armchairs; accessories include home decoration pieces, scented candles, lamps, cushions, tray tables, stools, trays, book ends, mirrors, vases and bowls and custom designed services. Home Couture uses the finest seasoned sheesham (Rosewood), a heavy and hard indigenous wood of Punjab, Home Couture carves its furniture with a harmony of traditional and modern influences, aligned with their passion for rekindling the concept of furniture as a functional treasure. Indeed the team at Home Couture believes in
colours were a pleasant and relevant addition. It all seemed a must-have as soon as you laid your eyes upon it. On the m o d e r n front you could find
crafting long-lasting, premium and aesthetic, yet affordable pieces… All beautifully crafted so that even the joints are concealed. It’s heartening to see a concept Furnishing store that is for real with pieces you can actually buy and be proud of… pieces you can flaunt in your home, be it the drawing room, living area, lounge or even the study. Home couture is surely a welcome entry in this arena and it is here to stay.
Furniture. Home Couture draws inspiration from classic pieces of furniture; passed down through the generations; we believe that such furniture acquires heirloom and vintage status and we interpret this within a modern context. Our inspiration behind the launch of our flagship store was driven by our vision to house a large collection of quality classic contemporary home furniture and accessories under one roof, which is premium yet affordable” said, Shahnaz Noon and
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Leisureclub
Kids Fashion Show Faisalabad Leisure Club, The Pakistan’s No.1 Family Fashion Destination, organized a “Kids Fashion Show� in Faisalabad after Lahore, as a part of kids fashion show series in major cities of Pakistan. More than 2,000 kids from the top schools and institutes of Faisalabad auditioned to be a part of the event & the selected outstanding students walked the ramp and transformed into mini-superstars.
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Hundreds of people including the parents of the kids attended the show in Serena Hotel Faisalabad & stared on in sheer awe, joy, pride, and at times, disbelief as they saw their children walk with a new swagger; a new style, and a new smile. The idea was so novel and executed so well, that many top-notch channels of the country along with the magazines showed immediate interest and the event
received extensive and nation-wide coverage. Through organizing such a fashion show of its own kind, Leisure Club has not only helped to boost the morale & confidence of kids towards new horizons but has also laid a paradigm for how kids fashion is perceived in Pakistan.
Books
Of an estimable report The present hand book comprises the annual report of the Punjab Ombudsman meant for submission to the Governor of the province as required under the provisions of the law on the subject
By Syed Afsar Sajid
T
he concept of Ombudsman in its classic form has a Swedish origin when the Swedish King, Charles XII, created the King’s Highest Ombudsman in 1713 to make sure that while he was in exile in Turkey, the government officials, judges, and the military were acting properly and following the rules the King had left for them. In case of any deviation, they were liable to be indicted by him. An ombudsman is ‘a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between either the state (or elements of it) or an organization, and some internal or external constituency, while presenting not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests’. In the modern usage, he is an official appointed by the government or parliament but with a marked degree of independence, who is ‘charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individuals’. The modern
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Ombudsman Punjab (Annual Report 2011) Pages: 136
‘Out of a total of 12,525 complaints filed during the preceding year (the year relating to the instant report) 9,640 were settled, leaving a balance of 2885 which had been filed at the fag end of the year – the average time span for disposal of a complaint being 2-3 months’
Khalid Mahmood, Provincial Ombudsman Punjab
concept of ombudsman tends to limit his role to check and rectify maladministration at different levels of governance. Its (the ombudsman’s) prototype might have existed in China (221 BC), Korea, Egypt (Tribunes of the Plebians), the Roman Empire (the Roman Tribune), Caliph Umar (RA) (Qadi al-Qadat) and Turkey (Diwan-al-Mazalim) to monitor government officials and look after the populace. Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers is purportedly a contributory factor in the institution of the Swedish Parliamentary Ombudsman (1809) that preceded all of the extant ombudsman institutions in the world. The word ‘ombudsman’ in today’s parlance denotes a state official deputed to check government activity in the interests of the citizens and oversee the disposal of complaints of improper government activity against them. Besides that, ‘many private companies, universities, non-profit organizations and government agencies also keep an ombudsman to serve internal employees and managers and/or other constituencies’ and report to the CEO or BOD’s as the case may be. The office of ombudsman however spread to other countries
in the 20th century like Finland, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, France, Portugal, Austria, Spain and the Netherlands. The transition to democracy in many parts of the world including Latin America, Central and East Europe and parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific, in the recent past led to the ‘establishment of the classical ombudsman, human rights ombudsman or other hybrid ombudsman’. Back home, the institution of Ombudsman was set up, through successive legislative enactments at the federal level in 1983 followed by the province of Sindh in 1991, and Punjab in 1996, the incumbents in Punjab being Justice ® Muhammad Munir Khan, Justice ® Manzoor Hussain Sial, Justice ® Sajjad Ahmad Sipra, Rao Abdur Rashid Khan, and. Khalid Mahmood. Likewise two separate offices of Banking and Federal Tax Ombudsmen were also created. The Provincial Ombudsman has been ordained by the Act of 1997 to protect rights of the people, ensure adherence to the rule of law, diagnose, redress and rectify any injustice through maladministration and suppress corrupt practices as identified in it. The present hand book comprises the annual report of
the Punjab Ombudsman for the year 2011 meant for submission to the Governor of the province as required under the provisions of the law on the subject. The report opens with a profile of the Ombudsman Mr. Khalid Mahmood who was inducted in office in December 2008. He is a veritable man of parts – scholar, writer, columnist, sports enthusiast (ex-Chairman PCB) and a former bureaucrat with a variegated but distinguished public career. In his address to the Governor, the Ombudsman has summarily mentioned that out of a total of 12525 complaints filed during the preceding year (the year relating to the instant report) 9640 were settled, leaving a balance of 2885 which had been filed at the fag end of the year – the average time span for disposal of a complaint being 2-3 months. Touching the question of ‘maladministration’, he contended that his prime objective in dealing with these complaints was ‘to bring about a systematic change and improvement in the quality of governance’. Acknowledgements of complainants and facsimiles of press reports on the performance of the Ombudsman’s office serve as sound indicators of its inspiring leadership, institutional expertise and quality workmanship.
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