Latest news with #CokeStudioPakistan
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Atif Aslam's Father Dies Months After Heart Attack, Singer Pens Heartbreaking Farewell
Pakistani singer Atif Aslam announced his father Muhammad Aslam's death at 77 on Instagram, calling him his "Iron Man." The music world woke up to heartbreaking news on Tuesday, August 13, as Pakistani singer Atif Aslam announced the death of his father, Muhammad Aslam, at the age of 77. The man whom Atif fondly called his 'Iron Man" breathed his last months after battling health issues, including a heart attack earlier this year. Atif, whose voice has given Bollywood and Pakistani music some of its most cherished love ballads, shared the loss with fans through an emotional Instagram post. While his social media accounts remain inaccessible in India, screenshots of the tribute have been circulating widely online. Alongside a tender photograph of himself with his father, the singer wrote, 'A final good bye to my Iron Man. Rest in love Abu g." Take a look: According to Pakistani media, Atif also made a heartfelt request to his followers to remember his late father in their prayers during this difficult time. Muhammad Aslam's final rites will take place in Valencia Town, Lahore, following Asr prayers. The news of Muhammad Aslam's death has brought a wave of condolences from the entertainment world and beyond. Celebrities, fellow artists, and fans have shared messages of support for Atif and his family. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also sent her condolences, praying for their strength in this difficult time. Atif Aslam is a celebrated Pakistani playback singer, songwriter, composer, and actor, popularly known by his fans as Aadeez. Recognised for his powerful vocal belting technique, he has lent his voice to numerous songs in both Pakistani and Indian films. Born in Wazirabad, Pakistan, Atif began his musical journey in the early 2000s, releasing his debut album Jal Pari, which became an instant hit. His Bollywood debut came in 2005 with the song Adaat from the film Kalyug. Over the years, he has delivered chart-topping tracks across the Indian (Bollywood) and Pakistani (Lollywood) film industries. Atif has also been a standout performer on Coke Studio Pakistan, with renditions like Tajdar-e-Haram (Season 8), Wohi Khuda Hai (Season 12), and Man Aamadeh Am (with Gul Panra) garnering millions of views on YouTube and widespread critical acclaim. While he primarily sings in Urdu, Atif is also known for performing in Punjabi, Bengali, Persian, and Pashto. In recognition of his contributions to music, he was honoured with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2008. May his father's soul rest in peace! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Why Chaleya isn't Shilpa Rao's best, even if it won a National Award
In the recently announced National Awards for 2023, when playback singer Shilpa Rao finally won her debut National Award for Best Playback Singer (Female) for Chaleya – the Anirudh Ravichander composition from Jawaan (2023) – it reminded one of all the times that she didn't. For some of the most underrated and brilliant songs in her discography, built over almost two decades. The win for Chaleya, a breezy track produced with mass appeal that got considerable runtime on radio and television, is less a win for the song and more a belated acknowledgement for a relatively undervalued voice. We are happy to note that the jury finally noticed. Even if the song is just about ordinary. A post shared by Shilpa Rao (@shilparao) While Rao's win was long overdue, since she sang her debut piece – the quietly aching Tose naina in director Manish Jha's Anwar (2007) – followed by the warm Khuda jaane in Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), the glistening Mudi mudi in Paa (2009), the hushed and introspective Manmarziyan in Lootera (2013), the impassioned Bulleya in Ae Dil Hai Mushqil – all of which could have easily won the coveted honour. Even in 2023, she sang the wonderful Rang rasiya (Safed), a brilliant thumri rendered with a lot of heart. A post shared by Shilpa Rao (@shilparao) The year for which the award has come – 2023 – was also the year when Rao's Besharam rang from Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan was caught in controversy generated by those who thought that colour saffron to be a part of their cultural legacy and how they thought that Padukone shouldn't have sported a tangerine swimsuit. Social media was rife with how even Besharam rang is better than Chhaleya. Well, just about. But there was more support for her song Tere hawaale from Lal Singh Chaddha (2022). I agree. Besides a film music career, Rao is also a popular name in the independent music scene, and travels globally for her ghazal concerts with renditions of Begum Akhtar, Ghulam Ali, Farida Khanum and Jagjit Singh ghazals. Last year, in a viral Instagram reel, Rao was also seen rehearsing her popular Telugu number Chuttamalle — also a Ravichander composition — from the Jhanvi Kapoor and NT Rama Rao Jr film Devara 1. Sheeran collaborated with her during his Bengaluru concert in February. She is also one of the two artistes to perform on Coke Studio Pakistan; the other being Sharmishtha Chatterjee who sang Kinaarey with Mekaal Hasan band. In season 9 of the show, Rao collaborated with Ali Noor and Ali Hamza of Pakistani band Noori and sang Paar channa de, disse kulli yaar di (Across Chenab, I can see my lover's hut) — an age-old Punjabi ditty where Sohni of Sohni Mahiwal is in conversation with her ghada (clay pot), one she wants to use to cross the river. Rao met Hamza and Noor in Delhi, where the Pakistani band had come for a gig. A post shared by Shilpa Rao (@shilparao) Rao, whose voice is unconventional and the result of a new idiom of filmmaking that began at the turn of the century, where the script dictated what song and how it was to be used and not because six songs had to be there in an album, was born as Apeksha Rao and grew up in Jamshedpur. Her name was changed to Shilpa later. Rao was trained in Hindustani classical music under her father. She was 13 when she visited Mumbai and met vocalist Hariharan there, who asked her to learn from Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. She won a Delhi reality show judged by composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan, who asked her to move to Mumbai and helped her with a few contacts that eventually led her to singing jingles – a route taken by many playback singers. Rao also completed her post-graduation in Applied Statistics from St Xavier's College while trying to establish a career. She was still in college when she met Mithoon, who was 22 then and trying to establish himself as a composer. He asked her to sing Tose naina in Anwar (2007). Other numbers like Wo ajnabee (The Train, 2007) and Sayiyaan re (Salaam-e-Ishq, 2007) followed, cementing her position as an unconventional voice in film playback. In an interview a few years ago with this reporter, when Rao had just returned from Pakistan after her Coke Studio stint, the characteristically low-key singer mentioned how she tried to remain away from the ways of Bollywood playback singing, where many singers are made to record one song and how there's uncertainty on whose version would be kept. 'Unlike a lot of singers, I get to sing one song a year. In that case, most composers understand what I bring to the table.' This was then. Rao is certainly a lot more in demand now, recording more with actors recommending her for their films. She, however, is still battling the trend of five singers singing a track and one voice finally brought to the finish line – the popular modus operandi in Bollywood music. The National Award for Rao for an easy-to-forget song should be seen as a representative, catch-up award for many previous significant others that continue to echo.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ali Sethi, Shaé Gill's ‘Pasoori' hits 1 billion plays on YouTube music
Listen to article Ali Sethi and Shaé Gill's globally acclaimed track Pasoori has crossed a remarkable milestone, becoming the first song from Coke Studio to hit 1 billion streams on YouTube Music. The song, released in 2022 as part of Coke Studio Pakistan's Season 14, has enjoyed immense popularity, not just in Pakistan but across the border in India and neighbouring countries. Its infectious rhythm and unique fusion of traditional and contemporary elements made it a sensation on social media, where it continues to thrive. The track's success also brought international recognition to Shaé Gill, catapulting her to global fame. She continues to perform Pasoori at concerts worldwide, where it remains a crowd favourite. Producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan (Xulfi) celebrated the achievement on social media, praising the team for creating a song that resonated with audiences globally. With this milestone, Pasoori cements its place as a cultural phenomenon, reflecting the global appeal of Pakistani music.
