Shehzad Roy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shehzad Roy
SI TI
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Roy in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
شہزاد رائے
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| Born | 16 February 1977 Karachi, Pakistan |
| Genres | Pakistani pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, music video artist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Fire, Spectrum |
| Associated acts | Wasu aur Mein, Chal Parha |
Shehzad Roy (born 16 February 1977) is a famous Pakistani singer, songwriter, and social worker. He started his music career in 1995. Since then, he has released six albums. He is known for many popular songs like "Saali" and "Kangna." His 2008 album, Qismat Apney Haath Mein, became very famous for talking about social and political issues.
Shehzad Roy is also the head of Zindagi Trust. This is a non-profit group that works to make education better for kids in Pakistan. He has also created and hosted two TV shows. One show, Chal Parha, looked at public schools in Pakistan. The other, Wasu aur Mein, followed his travels with a villager named Wasu. They explored ideas like progress, poverty, and love for their country.
For his important work, Shehzad Roy has received several awards from the Government of Pakistan. These include the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2005 and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2018. He also carried the torch for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Shehzad Roy was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on 16 February 1977. His father, Kabir Roy, was a businessman. Shehzad shared that his father always encouraged him to follow his dreams. This was because his father wasn't allowed to play cricket when he was young. Shehzad finished his high school studies in Saudi Arabia.
Starting His Music Journey
Shehzad Roy released his first album, Zindagi, in 1995. Just two years later, his second album, Darshan, came out in 1997. His third album, Teri Soorat, was released in 1999. He continued to release music, with Rab Janey in 2002 and Buri Baat Hai in 2005.
Music for Change: Qismat Apne Haath Mein (2008)
Shehzad's sixth album, Qismat Apne Haath Mein, was a big change. He started singing about important social issues instead of just romantic songs. In 2008, he launched this album at a jail in Karachi. He wanted to bring attention to the many prisoners in Pakistan who were waiting for trials.
The first music video from the album, "Laga Rahe," talked about the country's political situation. It showed issues like rising prices and crime. The main song, "Qismat Apne Haath Mein," was about people in society who have fewer opportunities.
Music in Bollywood
Shehzad Roy also contributed to the Indian film industry. A song by him was featured in Akshay Kumar's 2010 film, Khatta Meetha. This song combined two of his popular tracks, "Laga Reh" and "Qismat Apney Haat Mein."
Working with Other Artists
Shehzad Roy has worked with many other talented musicians. In 2014, he released a patriotic song called "Mere Dhol Sipahiya" with Ayesha Omer. This song honored the brave soldiers of the Pakistan army.
In 2013, Shehzad performed with famous rock stars like Slash and Macy Gray in Los Angeles. This was a charity event, and some of the money raised went to his Zindagi Trust. They even sang classic songs together, like The Beatles' "Come Together."
In 2007, he collaborated with the Sufi singer Abida Parveen on a song called "Zindagi." This song supported his idea of "Equality in Education." A year before that, in 2006, Shehzad brought Canadian rock star Bryan Adams to Pakistan. They held a concert called "Rock for a Cause" to raise money for earthquake victims and Zindagi Trust. He also sang a duet with Indian singer Sukhbir in 2005 to promote cultural exchange.
PSL Brand Ambassador Role
Shehzad Roy is an ambassador for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), a popular cricket league. He released the official song for the 2017 Pakistan Super League called "Ballay Ballay." He also performed it at the opening ceremony in Dubai. He is also an ambassador for the team Karachi Kings and has released anthems for them. For the 2018 Pakistan Super League, he released another song, "Lo Phir Say Miley."
Other Songs
In 2016, Shehzad Roy recorded the official song, "Bus Khail Nahin," for the first Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games.
TV Shows and Films
Wasu aur Mein: A Journey of Discovery
In 2011, Shehzad found a villager named Wasu Khan on YouTube. Wasu was rapping about Pakistan's political past. Shehzad found Wasu, and they made a powerful song together called "Apney Ulloo." The music video showed how common people can be taken advantage of.
This collaboration led to an 8-episode TV show in 2012 called Wasu aur Mein. The show followed Shehzad and Wasu as they traveled across Pakistan. They learned from each other's different views on history, poverty, and what it means to be a Pakistani citizen.
Chal Parha: Exploring Education
In 2013, Shehzad produced and hosted another TV show, a 22-episode documentary series called Chal Parha. In this show, Shehzad rode his Harley-Davidson bike across 80 cities in Pakistan. He visited over 200 public schools. Each episode looked at a different issue in public education, like teaching methods or school rules.
The show highlighted problems in schools but also showed amazing teachers and students. For example, an episode about hitting children in schools (corporal punishment) helped lead to a ban on it in Pakistan. The show aimed to make people aware of their right to good education. It also suggested ways for the government to fix problems in public schools. Chal Parha also showed off Pakistan's beautiful scenery and diverse cultures.
Future Film Projects
Shehzad Roy has signed on for a film project. In 2018, news reports mentioned he would star in a film written by Faisal Qureshi. This film is said to be a new version of the old TV comedy drama Alif Noon. Shehzad Roy is expected to play the character Allan in the movie.
Helping Others Through Zindagi Trust
In 2002, Shehzad started Zindagi Trust. This is a non-profit organization that works to make education better for children in Pakistan.
Paid to Learn Program
In 2003, Zindagi Trust started a program called "I-am-paid-to-learn." This program helps children who have to work instead of going to school. It teaches them basic education in about two years. These children often work in car repair shops or other stores. The program also helps top students continue their education in regular schools.
Improving Public Schools
Shehzad realized that the "Paid to Learn" program wasn't enough to help everyone. Most children in Pakistan go to government schools. These schools often have problems like teachers not showing up, old buildings, and old-fashioned ways of teaching.
Campaign to Reform Exams
In 2016, Shehzad Roy started a campaign to change how exams are done in Pakistan. He released a music video called "Sirf Bandhi Hai Kamar." The video showed parents and teachers changing into strong characters when their children asked questions. The campaign pointed out that exams in Pakistan often just test memory, not understanding. It called for changes to test how well students can use what they learn.
UNODC Goodwill Ambassador
In 2017, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) named Shehzad Roy a National Goodwill Ambassador. He released a song called "Zulm Kay Khilaf" (Against Injustice) at a juvenile jail. He said he wanted to bring real change from the ground up, especially for children in jail.
Awards and Special Honors
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award from the President of Pakistan in 2018 for his public service.
- Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) from the President of Pakistan in 2005.
In 2014, Shehzad performed at a special peace concert in Oslo, Norway. This concert celebrated the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winners, Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi from India. Many important people attended the concert.
In 2013, Shehzad was invited to Harvard University to speak about his music, activism, and his TV show Chal Parha. He shared his experiences visiting schools across Pakistan. He also talked about how artists in Pakistan have tried to bring social change.
In May 2013, Shehzad Roy performed in Rome, Italy. The concert was part of "The Night of Museums" and showed Pakistan's rich music and poetry to the Italian audience.
In 2009, Shehzad Roy received the Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellowship. This award recognized his efforts to improve education in government schools. It also honored his goal of helping Pakistani youth value education. As a fellow, he spent time in Chicago, sharing ideas about education and helping others.
On 23 March 2018, he received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his work as a UNODC ambassador.
Music Awards
Shehzad Roy has won many music awards throughout his career:
- 1999 – PTV Awards – Best Pop Singer
- 2003 – 1st Indus Music Awards – Best Male Artist
- 2005 – Indus Music Video Awards – Best Performer in a Video ("Saali")
- 2006 – Indus Style Awards – Best Stylish Song
- 2006 – 3rd Indus Music Awards – Best Pop Song ("Saali")
- 2006 – 3rd Indus Music Awards – Best Patriotic Song ("Hum Aik Hain")
- 2008 – Mtv Style Awards – Best Video ("Laga Reh")
- 2009 – Mtv Music Awards – Best Lyrics ("Laga Reh"), Best Pop Song ("Laga Reh")
- 2009 – 8th Lux Style Awards – Best Album (Qismat Apne Haath Mein), Best Video ("Laga Reh")
- 2013 – 1st Hum Awards – Best Solo Artist
- 2017 – 5th Hum Awards – Nominated for Best Music Single ("Jind Jaan")
