Atif attended High School at PAF College Lahore, where he played cricket and became interested in music. He attended PICS (Punjab Institute of Computer Science) to do his Bachelors in Computer Science (BCs). It was at PICS Lahore that he met guitarist and talented, young composer (like himself), Gohar Mumtaz. The two became friends and started jamming together. This lead to performances at their college and at various restaurants eventually pushing the pair into finding a name for their subtly formed band, which they duly named "Jal" - which means Water - (the issue of which musician was truly responsible for the name “Jal” is still disputed).
Working together, the pair recorded the song Aadat (with the help of Salman Albert, amongst other established and accomplished Pakistani musicians). It became popular on a host of promotional Pakistani music websites. The song was also played on such Pakistani radio stations as FM100 and FM105. The music video for Aadat was shot one day in a warehouse in Karachi. On the base of this one song, “Jal” began their tour of Pakistan—such was the strength of “Aadat”. However, whilst on tour, personal problems led to a verbal bust-up resulting in an unannounced and indefinite hiatus, during which Atif launched his solo career.
Atif Aslam, after leaving Jal, released a new solo album, Jal Pari (ironically meaning "Mermaid") which was a big hit. The Songs Woh Lamhey, Dil Haarey and few others were smash hits on both Pakistani radio stations and Music Channels. As both the Jal, “Aadat”, and Atif’s album, Jalpari, shared certain tracks (such as “Aadat”, “Bheegi Yaadein/Wo Lamhey”, “Ankhon se”) an unofficial war over rights began which resulted in both sides claiming to possess hard proof to support their respective claims (that, they alone owned the concerned songs). The hype this feud gave to both Atif and the new Jal was extraordinary and split the musical nation with the fans of each side backing their respective favourite.
Whilst the drama of lyrics & composition ownership was rolling on in Pakistan, Atif Aslam's soulful voice crossed the border over into India when Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt called Atif Aslam to seek his consent to include "Woh Lamhey" in the soundtrack of his new motion picture, Zeher (2005). The song (especially the remix version) became a huge hit & dominated airplay on almost all major FM stations throughout India for a period of 6-8 months. This pattern of a slow playback song by Atif in the movie, supplemented by a remix version released for radio airplay was to become standard procedure with Atif’s songs on the Indian market.
Atif has continued to grow and is becoming a bollywood playback singer in great demand at such a young age, with very few OSTs to his name. He recorded a song for the movie Kalyug, entitled 'Juda Hokey Bhi' - a slight variation of the ever famous Aadat song. Like with “Wo Lamhey / Bheegi Yaadein”, a slow version became the theme for the movie and part of the official soundtrack, whilst a remixed version was released to hit the radio stations and desi clubs worldwide.
After recording for Kalyug, a Pakistani director in Hollywood contacted Atif and within very little time, Atif recorded three songs for that same director’s Hollywood movie, 'Man Push Cart' and was rewarded with a small cameo role in the movie itself!
All of a sudden, after a relatively quiet summer, Atif re-emerged in the subcontinent with a new track, “Tere Bin” (translation: [Without You]) for the Bollywood Movie, {Bas Ek Pal}. Yet again, the song was remixed and as expected it became popular in a very short amount of time. Once again, Atif’s voice is electrifying the airwaves on radio stations throughout the subcontinent.
In between the copyright war and media war with Gohar ( Jal ) and recording Bollywood songs, Atif had been touring the world and working on his new album.
Atif visited various countries in Asia, Europe & The Americas which include Pakistan, India, UAE, UK, Canada & America—taking his sound to the “pardesi” (expatriats of the subcontinent) worldwide. Atif’s new album has been entitled 'Hangami Halaat' and is due to be released in the summer of 2007.
He has recently sung two songs for the movie "Ajab prem ki ghazab kahani".Name of the songs are "Tu jaane na" and "Tera Hone laga hoon".Both songs are big hits in India and all over the world.
Mahi Ve
Atif Aslam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan
Mahi Ve Tairey Dilaan Diyan Galan
Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan
Jaadoon Badal Garjey Saanh Ruk Javey
Ankhaan Tainu Vaikhun Hunjoon Muk Javey
Kade Aa Mahiya Ve Sadey Wairhey
Muk Jaan Mairey Sarey Veechorey
Soona Jaag Sara Mainu Bulavey
Kade Meri Ooo Kadar Na Pavey
Kade Aa Mahiya Ve Sadey Wairhey
Muk Jaan Mairey Sarey Veechorey
Mahi Ve Tairey Dilaan Diyan Galan
Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan
Mahi Ve Tairey Dilaan Diyan Galan
Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan
Soona Jaag Sara Mainu Bulavey
Kade Meri Ooo Kadar Na Pavey
Kade Aa Mahiya Ve Sadey Wairhey
Muk Jaan Mairey Sarey Veechorey
The lyrics of Atif Aslam's song Mahi Ve speak of longing and separation, with the singer expressing his desire to reunite with his beloved. The lines "Mahi Ve Tairey Dilaan Diyan Galan" translate to "My beloved, the talks of your heart," with the singer wanting to hear what's on his beloved's mind. He wants to be close to her and feel her presence, singing "Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan," which means "Let the winds blow around me."
The lyrics convey the pain of separation, with the singer singing of the thunderous clouds that stop and the sight of his beloved that he misses so much. "Jaadoon Badal Garjey Saanh Ruk Javey, Ankhaan Tainu Vaikhun Hunjoon Muk Javey" signifies the feeling of being stuck in time, waiting for his lover's return, and how her memory haunts him. The singer also sings about the longing to be reunited and the hope that their togetherness will erase all distance that separates them, hoping that they will be able to reunite and live without the pain of separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Mahi Ve Tairey Dilaan Diyan Galan
My darling, your heart's talk is mesmerizing
Mainu Look Look Dain Hawavaan
Breezes tease me with glimpses of you
Jaadoon Badal Garjey Saanh Ruk Javey
When thunder roars, my breath stops
Ankhaan Tainu Vaikhun Hunjoon Muk Javey
I fall silent gazing into your eyes
Kade Aa Mahiya Ve Sadey Wairhey
Sometimes come, my love, to my abode
Muk Jaan Mairey Sarey Veechorey
Let all my separations come to an end
Soona Jaag Sara Mainu Bulavey
The whole world calls me in solitude
Kade Meri Ooo Kadar Na Pavey
Sometimes my worth is not recognized
Contributed by Zoe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.