| Laal | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Genres | Sufi rock, Classical music |
| Years active | 2007-present |
| Labels | Fire Records |
| Website | www.laal.com.pk |
| Members | |
| Taimur Rahman Shahram Azhar Mahvash Waqar Haider Rahman |
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Laal (Urdu: لال, literal English translation: "red") is a musical band from Pakistan known for singing socialist political songs, especially on the poetry written by leftist Urdu poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib. The band received mainstream attention during the Lawyers' Movement, in which it led support to the reinstatement of the then deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
In just one year the band has gained recognition all over Pakistan.[1] They have performed in almost all the major cities as well as many smaller towns. On their fanclub page, Shahram has invited all to join the "Laal Tehreek", a revolutionary movement of young and enthusiastic revolutionaries committed to the emancipation of the people.
Reminiscent of another great Pakistani band Junoon, Laal has not only managed to reconnect the people of Pakistan to the forgotten revolutionary socialist poets, but also introduced them to the youth. The youth will invariably play an important role in the politics of the country in the years to come. Surprisingly, the band has avoided criticisms for its leftist tendencies and has enjoyed mainstream success without having its material challenged by the public or media.
Laal has complained that the Pakistani media, in an instance of self-censorship, has refused to air the video of its song Jhoot ka Uncha Sar because it is deemed to be critical of the Pakistan Army.[2][3]
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The band's name "LAAL" means "RED" in Urdu and symbolizes its progressive message.
The debut album is titled Umeed e Sahar and has been released released by Fire Records (owned by Geo TV).