Murtz
Encyclopedia
Murtaza Ali, better known as Murtz, is a British Asian
television and radio presenter
.
After a long running television series Mutz Cutz with the UK's largest Indian Satellite channel Zee TV
, Murtz became a recognised personality establishing himself with a massive cult following to thousands of British Asian families across the UK and Europe. Currently signed to the BBC Asian Network, Murtz presents his weekly Murtz's Request Show every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm. As of 2009 he is married to British Asian model and television presenter Gulzaeb Beg Ali.
, Murtz started out pursuing an interest in dancing whilst studying Business Management at the University of Westminster
in 1999. He performed to audiences of over 10,000 people with the some of top Bollywood choreographers and actors including Anil Kapoor
, Akshay Kumar
, Karishma Kapoor, Mahima Choudry, Sunil Shetty and Gulshan Grover
to mention a few. At the same time he was asked to model for many of the large UK Asian fashion houses and was also featured in several print advertising campaigns for mainstream clients including British Telecom and a television commercial for Chamption Atta.
In 2000 Murtz moved on from dancing to presenting events as a host/compere for University of London Asian Society shows. In the same year he was head-hunted by television networks and at the age of 20 was signed-up as the newest resident presenter or VJ for Zee TV with his own TV show.
The show was hugely successful establishing Murtz as a broadcaster, journalist and creative director. Popularity of ‘Sorted’ even caught the attention of mainstream media with Murtz being featured in the Channel 4 documentary Culture Clash. He was interviewed by the late veteran broadcaster Sir Charles Wheeler to get his insight on the impact of 9/11 on British Muslims.
After 18 months and recording over 100 non-stop editions of Sorted, Murtz left the programme to focus on completing his degree.
The programme requirement was to play viewers video requests and read out their email messages. Murtz took this basic format and transformed his half-hour of air-time into the staple viewing diet of British Asian audiences across the UK and Europe by incorporating his unique personality, style, jokes and personal experiences into the show. Within 6 months Zee commissioned an extra weekly slot Mutz Cutz Pluz to cater for their viewers need to see more Murtz on their screens, and the programme aired non-stop without break for 7 years.
In 2005, Murtz was awarded the Eastern Eye Newspaper Award for Best Presenter - after which he introduced viewers to his old dancing partner and friend, Madhu Singh - who was to be only heard, but never seen on the show!
Murtz’s popularity grew still, with him becoming an icon and role model to British Asians and a loved personality in Asian homes across Europe. Mutz Cutz became an advice show with viewers of all ages asking him for his opinion on general issues concerning their lives.
for the 4th series of the British Asian Arts and Lifestyle show Desi DNA
. In the programme Murtz interviewed three people who had taken the idea of looking good and twisted it into an art form, using their bodies as the canvas to pierce, paint, sculpt and scar.
as a presenter after several stints of filling for Ameet Channa, to host their weekly two hour Bollywood chart show, Sunday Soundtrack. In 2006, Murtz was then selected to be one of the presenters for the Asian Network's flagship four hour Bollywood programme Love Bollywood. It was in 2008, Murtz was promoted to present his own three hour weekly request show.
, in 2007 Murtz recorded the BBC World CBeebies
advertising campaign whiched aired in India.
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
television and radio presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
After a long running television series Mutz Cutz with the UK's largest Indian Satellite channel Zee TV
Zee TV
Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which broadcasts various programmes in Hindi and other regional languages of India. Broadcasting is also present in various nations of South Asia, Europe, the Middle East,...
, Murtz became a recognised personality establishing himself with a massive cult following to thousands of British Asian families across the UK and Europe. Currently signed to the BBC Asian Network, Murtz presents his weekly Murtz's Request Show every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm. As of 2009 he is married to British Asian model and television presenter Gulzaeb Beg Ali.
Early life
Born and raised in HarrowHarrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
, Murtz started out pursuing an interest in dancing whilst studying Business Management at the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
in 1999. He performed to audiences of over 10,000 people with the some of top Bollywood choreographers and actors including Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor is an Indian actor and producer who mainly appears in Bollywood films. He won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Yash Chopra's film Mashaal ....
, Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
, Karishma Kapoor, Mahima Choudry, Sunil Shetty and Gulshan Grover
Gulshan Grover
Gulshan Grover is an Indian actor, who has acted in over 400 films through a career spanning over 30 years.Gulshan Grover is one of the first Indian actors to have made a successful transition from Bollywood into Hollywood and international Cinema....
to mention a few. At the same time he was asked to model for many of the large UK Asian fashion houses and was also featured in several print advertising campaigns for mainstream clients including British Telecom and a television commercial for Chamption Atta.
In 2000 Murtz moved on from dancing to presenting events as a host/compere for University of London Asian Society shows. In the same year he was head-hunted by television networks and at the age of 20 was signed-up as the newest resident presenter or VJ for Zee TV with his own TV show.
Sorted
Sorted was Murtz's first on show with Zee and radically different to other conventional shows targeting British Asian television audiences. In every weekly edition of Sorted, Murtz would take his viewers on a trip into the crazy Asian party scene in London and across the UK, speaking to revellers getting their thoughts on a host of subjects and topics - all this as they partied on the dance floor, whilst trying to hide away from the camera, (so their folks at home wouldn’t find out!).The show was hugely successful establishing Murtz as a broadcaster, journalist and creative director. Popularity of ‘Sorted’ even caught the attention of mainstream media with Murtz being featured in the Channel 4 documentary Culture Clash. He was interviewed by the late veteran broadcaster Sir Charles Wheeler to get his insight on the impact of 9/11 on British Muslims.
After 18 months and recording over 100 non-stop editions of Sorted, Murtz left the programme to focus on completing his degree.
Mutz Cutz
Graduating from University in 2002 and to much popular demand, Murtz re-joined Zee TV to focus on new a studio based show. To acknowledge Murtz’s success, Zee Muzic labelled him as their UK brand ambassador by naming his next show after him, with Mutz Cutz being born and first airing on Zee Muzic in October 2002.The programme requirement was to play viewers video requests and read out their email messages. Murtz took this basic format and transformed his half-hour of air-time into the staple viewing diet of British Asian audiences across the UK and Europe by incorporating his unique personality, style, jokes and personal experiences into the show. Within 6 months Zee commissioned an extra weekly slot Mutz Cutz Pluz to cater for their viewers need to see more Murtz on their screens, and the programme aired non-stop without break for 7 years.
In 2005, Murtz was awarded the Eastern Eye Newspaper Award for Best Presenter - after which he introduced viewers to his old dancing partner and friend, Madhu Singh - who was to be only heard, but never seen on the show!
Murtz’s popularity grew still, with him becoming an icon and role model to British Asians and a loved personality in Asian homes across Europe. Mutz Cutz became an advice show with viewers of all ages asking him for his opinion on general issues concerning their lives.
BBC Two: Desi DNA - Extreme Bodies
In 2007 Murtz presented the Extreme Bodies story on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
for the 4th series of the British Asian Arts and Lifestyle show Desi DNA
Desi DNA
Desi DNA is a British television show on the BBC covering Desi art, culture and entertainment, currently broadcasting its fifth series in 2008....
. In the programme Murtz interviewed three people who had taken the idea of looking good and twisted it into an art form, using their bodies as the canvas to pierce, paint, sculpt and scar.
BBA Online and Urban Sound Radio
Murtz began his radio career in 2003 presenting several shows for internet radio station BBA Online. In early 2004, went on to host the internet station's local sister FM radio station Urban Sound breakfast show.BBC Asian Network
In 2006 Murtz officially joined the BBC Asian NetworkBBC Asian Network
BBC Asian Network is a British radio station serving those originating from and around the Indian subcontinent. The music and news comes out of the main urban areas where there are significant communities with these backgrounds. The station has production centres in Birmingham, Leicester and London...
as a presenter after several stints of filling for Ameet Channa, to host their weekly two hour Bollywood chart show, Sunday Soundtrack. In 2006, Murtz was then selected to be one of the presenters for the Asian Network's flagship four hour Bollywood programme Love Bollywood. It was in 2008, Murtz was promoted to present his own three hour weekly request show.
Voice Over
Being bilingual in English and his mother tongue of UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, in 2007 Murtz recorded the BBC World CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
advertising campaign whiched aired in India.