LAHORE — Musician Bilal Maqsood, famed member of pop band Strings, recalled on Thursday how his father, literary icon Anwar Maqsood, encouraged his early creative pursuits, even when they were far from perfect.
Speaking as a judge on auditions for the upcoming season of Pakistan Idol, Bilal shared that Anwar would praise his songs and drawings regardless of their quality. “When guests came over, he’d tell them to ‘listen to Bilal’s song,’ and I’d be sitting at the keyboard, 8-9 years old, singing for them,” he said.
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Bilal said such support helped instill confidence in him and played a significant role in shaping his music career. “If parents start rejecting you at an early age, saying ‘no, don’t do this, you’re doing it wrong,’ that’s the end,” he added, emphasizing the importance of nurturing creativity in children.
His remarks came during a conversation with 28-year-old contestant Sadat Samoo, who noted that his father’s encouragement for singing inspired him to compete on Pakistan Idol. Samoo said he had similar experiences of performing for guests as a child.
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Bilal has consistently used his public platform to advocate for children’s development and well-being. Recently, he contributed to the third season of the children’s television show Pakkay Dost, which initially aired in Urdu and later included Sindhi dubbing and sign language interpretation to broaden accessibility.
In a society where creative pursuits are often considered secondary to academic achievements, Bilal’s reflections highlight the value of supportive parenting in fostering children’s confidence and individuality.
