Episode 3 of Coke Studio had shown all the signs of providing an hour of great listening this Sunday. The promos featuring the ethereal Gul Panra, the powerhouse of Punjabi verve Arif Lohar and the soulful Ali Sethi hinted at an episode showcasing an interesting and diverse range of musical talents and some strong collaborations.
Did it live up to its promise? All but one number on the show have received extremely mixed responses. Pashto singer Gul Panra reimagines the classic Iranian love song ‘Man Aamadeh Am’ in her dreamy Persian vocals and Atif Aslam complements in Urdu. The original, sung by legendary Iranian pop diva Googoosh, channeled a sexy, quirky sophistication; unfortunately the current version is way too sanitized to sound like anything but a pop tune.
Arif Lohar’s ‘Rung Jindri’ fares slightly better. However, Lohar has had the (mis)fortune of giving Coke Studio one of its most memorable songs ever in ‘Jugni’ that featured a masterful collaboration with Meesha Shafi. Anything he ever does again on this platform will be judged in light of that and thus, ‘Rung Jindri’, while infectious and enjoyable enough at places, falls short of delivering that punch one has come to expect from the popular Punjabi musician.
The saving grace of this episode turns out to be Ali Sethi. The young vocalist is slowly making waves with his powerful vocals and impeccable classical training and his ‘Umraan Langiyaan’ shows why that’s so. It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of a classical great, but Sethi not only does justice to the ghazal first sung by Asad Amanat Ali Khan but also manages to imbue it with a distinct personal touch. Fusion is an integral part of Coke Studio and while it doesn’t always work, here the blend of western elements into the musical background brings the purity of the verse and Sethi’s vocals into sharp focus. Nabeel Shaukat comes in towards the end to provide able vocal support but it is Sethi who is the undeniable star here. His sharp diction, the ease with which he soars through the composition and his confidence on stage mark him out as the musician to watch out for this season.
