- An overly idealistic American pop singer on a mission in Pakistan to live through a stampede, target killings and nationwide skepticism to write and release a popular national song with the "Shakespeare" of Pakistan.
- "The Unity Project" TV series chronicles the ups and downs of the making of the Unity Song with GRAMMY member International Recording Artist, Heather Schmid, Rafay Mehdi, MD, Pakistan's Shakespeare- Anwaar Maqsood, and Pakistani Composer-Ashaad Mehmood.
- Rhythm and Raga follow the collaboration and making of a popular National Song in Pakistan with the 'Shakespeare of Pakistan', the President of the National College of Arts, and GRAMMY International Recording Artist Heather Schmid.
The series has: Glamour: Celebrity, Glamour, music, the life of a celebrity musician
Struggle: Difficulties of collaborating in an emerging market, corruption, target killings, cricket performance stampede, relationship struggles
Skepticism: Doubt and fear of foreigner, fear of intentions.
Embracing: Public embrace of the song, TV performances, appreciations for struggles. Family.
Content is about coming together, making connections through our common humanity, celebrating life through music, travel, adventure, and overcoming adversity. Rhythm and Raga follows the making of a now popular song in Pakistan called Pehlay Hum Pakistani Hain. The series documents two near-fatal target killing incidents in Pakistan and a cricket stadium live performance the devolved into a stampede and had to cut the transmission. Pakistan was very dangerous during the time of filming the series, which is documented, but the popularity of the song, the repeated interviews and performances provided a gradual understanding of the people of Pakistan. The song, on the day it was released was widely celebrated. The song is played on August 14th every year as part of the national celebrations. Rhythm and Raga follow the collaboration and making of a popular National Song in Pakistan with the 'Shakespeare of Pakistan', the President of the National College of Arts, and GRAMMY International Recording Artist Heather Schmid.
The series has: Glamour: Celebrity, Glamour, music, the life of an all American celebrity musician
Struggle: Difficulties of collaborating in an emerging market, corruption, target killings, cricket performance stampede, relationship struggles
Skepticism: Doubt and fear of foreigner, fear of intentions.
Embracing: Public embrace of the song, TV performances, appreciations for struggles. Family.
Rhythm and Raga is about coming together, making connections through our common humanity, celebrating life through music, travel, adventure, and overcoming adversity.
It was a dangerous time in Pakistan during the making of the song. There were many bombings, target killings and violent clashes with the military and outside influences. Heather got away from two near-fatal target killing incidents in which she narrowly escaped with her life. One incident at a cricket stadium live performance that devolved into a stampede, had to cut transmission and had Heather and her Pakistani born husband, Rafay worried about the safety of their young children. But, as the nation began to see through repeated interviews and performances, the couple's altruistic intentions became clear. The documentary builds up to the release of the national song on Pakistan's independence day August 14. Was the song a success? Did the Pakistani people embrace the effort? Were the many personal sacrifices, the Utopian idealism, all for nothing?
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