Fakhar-e-Alam (Urdu: فخر عالم) (b. January 19, 1976 in Lahore, Pakistan) is a Pakistani actor, VJ and singer, popular for introducing the pop/bhangra genre of music in Pakistan. Though he is still considered a pioneer of pop/bhangra music culture in Pakistan, now he is much more popular for hosting TV shows and appearing in military/governmental sponsored music shows. As a social worker, Alam has a huge fan base and is respected for his untiring relief efforts in the wake of the October 8, 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.
Career
Alam burst into the scene in 1993 by launching the super hit single "Bhangra Pao" and establishing himself as the king of pop/bhangra/rap music in Pakistan. The single then made way as the first Pakistani video to be shown on MTV. Though not isolating himself from music, he simultaneously began to host the music show "Music Channel Charts", interestingly the same program which launched Alam's debut single.
Following his first album and VJing stint, he jointly performed "Pyar diyaan Gallaan" with the bands Fringe Benefits and Arid Zone. Though his patriotic single 'Proud Pakistani' with Nadeem Jaffery was notable, Alam's later albums did not make any ground in the Pakistani music scene. He later switched to acting and hosting TV shows. Fakhar also starred in a Lollywood movie Very Good Dunya, Very Bad Log as a hero along with filmstar Nirma - the movie did not meet much success. But Alam won the National film award for best actor for his debut film. He has more than 4000 TV shows under his belt as an anchor and a host. He was known for his high energy performances on stage, though he never performed after the 2005 earthquake. He was awarded the presidential medal Sitar e Eesaaar by President Musharraf for his humanitarian work in the 2005 earthquake. Fakhr Alam was also flown to USA by CNN for a worldwide LIVE interview about the earthquake which was telecast LIVE from the CNN headquarters. Alam was the only Pakistani to be given this honor. No representative of the government or any other established NGO was given the opportunity. Recently in the SWAT IDPs issue which came about as a result of the Pakistan Army operation against Taliban, he singlehandedly organized for more than 11 chilled water filtration plants with a total capacity of 240,000 litres to be put in the IDP camps. He was also appointed as the MKRF ambassador at large.
TV Hosting
Fakhr Alam is unquestionably the most recognized and critically acclaimed TV anchor of this generation. His experience is spread over 15 years, and he has to his credit Music chart shows, Political and social talk shows, game shows, entertainment magazine shows etc. His directors titled him THE BLESSING, because Fakhr Alam is known in the industry to be the most fluent imprompto speaker of all times, and that saved the directors from scripting issues. Fakhr Alam has done shows for all major TV networks of Pakistan. GEO, ARY, TV one, INDUS, AAJ TV etc.
Very recently for GEO Television, Fakhar-e-Alam successfully hosted the show Bolain Kya Baat Hai (English: Tell us what the matter is) telecast on GEO Super in which he interviewed various sports personalities and discussed cricket and other sports-related events. The show and its host proved to be very popular with the audiences.[1] Though he no more hosts the show, Fakhar provides background voice for the channel's promos.
[Politics
He was offered a ticket by MQM for the last National Assembly election, but due to his commitments abroad he declined. He is known to have very strong connections with influential political leadership of Pakistan, and does not want to commit himself politically as yet. However certain quarters believe that he will participate in politics at some stage. Whenever he is confronted with the question, he politely refuses to comment on the issue.
Alam and Alam
Fakhar-e-Alam is currently CEO of Alam and Alam, his family business. He built the company over a period of last 5 years. Today the company has several divisions including renewable energy, real estate, ports and shipping and the most recent and successful division of homeland security.
The security business of Alam & Alam has taken off really well. The company is being recognized for its outstanding portfolio of international products that are represented by the company exclusively in the region.
It is learnt that the company has received a few government contracts in the region for supplying high end security equipment.
Discography
Albums
- Rap Up (1994)
- No More School Remixes (1995)
- Laut Aao (1996)
- Malang (1997)
- Falam Connection (2001)
- Falam Ab Tak ( last release in 2004 which contained the hit single Akh we larani hai.)
Trivia
- Alam has a huge fan base and is respected for his untiring relief efforts in the wake of October 8, 05 Earthquake in Pakistan.
- He is also known as Falam to his music fans.* He claims to be the first Pakistani rapper of international standard.
- he recently finished recording of a music album in India with Shaani Haider, Pakistans leading music producer. The duo is known as DESITEC or DT and their album is anxioulsy awaited by fans.