Season 7 Artists

Javed Iqbal

Javed Iqbal's love affair with the violin began at a very early age. As a toddler, Iqbal would sit by the radio listening to classical music eagerly waiting for a violin solo. By the time he was seven he had made up his mind to learn how to play the instrument, and when he turned nine Iqbal's father brought home a baby violin. There was no looking back from there. "I used to sleep with my violin," recalls Iqbal fondly, "at that time I forgot about food or drink, only the violin mattered to me."

Learning how to play the violin was a challenge for Iqbal. He spent a decade practicing at least five hours a day. “I practiced no matter what the weather,” he says, “In the cold winter of Lahore my teacher would make me put my hands in icy water and then give me up-tempo tunes to play.” The grueling regimen produced results and Iqbal started his career as a professional musician playing the violin for film songs. He later secured a place as a musician on the “Alamgir Show” which aired on Pakistan Television. Here he received the opportunity to work with the likes of Fareeda Khannum, Iqbal Bano, Adnan Sami and Nayyara Noor.

In 1984 Radio Pakistan advertised a vacancy for violinists; Iqbal auditioned and was selected. He has been working at Radio Pakistan ever since.

Today Javed Iqbal admits that he knows little about anything other than music. Every aspect of his life revolves around the art form. "I have no idea what I would have done with my life if I didn't play the violin," states Iqbal, "God has a destiny for everybody and this was what God chose for me."