It's that time of the week, folks: Coke Studio is releasing the fifth batch of its singles today, and the return of Ali Azmat to the platform gives us enough reason to celebrate.

Rockers have united for his track titled 'Rangeela': while the lyrics were written back in the day by songwriting legend Sabir Zafar, 'Rangeela' was originally composed by Bilal Maqsood, and will feature Omran Shafique on the guitars for this performance. This is Ali's third song for Coke Studio; 'Babu Bhai' from Season 6 was a hit in 2013, and we hope 'Rangeela' is just as delightfully irreverent.

Mekaal Hasan — Photograph by Kohi Marri
Mekaal Hasan — Photograph by Kohi Marri

Another rockstar in the episode is Mekaal Hassan, whose relatively new Pak-India band line-up with Sharmista Chatterjee behind the mic and Ahsan Papu on the flutes, will grace the Coke Studio stage for the first time. Their track is titled 'Kinarey'.

Asim Azhar — Photograph by Kohi Marri
Asim Azhar — Photograph by Kohi Marri

As for reinterpretations of the classics this week, Bakshi Brothers's rendition of 'Khalis Makhan' will segue into Saieen Zahoor's 'Peera Ho', while debutantes Samra Khan and Asim Azhar will take on Noor Jehan's 'Hina Ki Khushbu', in which Asim has interspersed some of his own lyrics.

Opinion

Editorial

GB Assembly’s demand
Updated 21 Jul, 2026

GB Assembly’s demand

THE newly elected Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly last week adopted a unanimous resolution asking the centre to grant the...
Spain’s statement
21 Jul, 2026

Spain’s statement

IT was a one-sided affair for the most part. The FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded in the early hours of Monday for...
Slow death
21 Jul, 2026

Slow death

MANCHHAR Lake, which is situated at the foot of the Kirthar range, was once Pakistan’s largest freshwater body ...
Unmasking stability
Updated 20 Jul, 2026

Unmasking stability

THREE reports last Friday — a widening food trade gap, return to a current account deficit, and the government’s...
Flood data gap
20 Jul, 2026

Flood data gap

HAVING endured one of its worst floods last year — triggered by intense monsoons and compounded by sudden water...
Zero-dose alert
20 Jul, 2026

Zero-dose alert

ALTHOUGH Pakistan recently announced its first National Vaccine Policy, it will take time before the immunity gap ...