Coke Studio Season 9 has taken off. While I completely understand the hard work that goes into the making of the songs and acknowledge the acclaim that they have received over the years globally, it was a little disconcerting to see the first episode of the latest edition.

It seems as if the makers, this time round, are trying to impress the connoisseurs of music more than anyone else. Aaqa by Abida Parveen and Ali Sethi is a praiseworthy effort (although Abidaji alone could have easily pulled it off) but the rest of the songs leave much to be desired. Here’s why. Zeb has a fantastic voice. But I’m not sure if Aa Ja Re Morey Sayyan was up her street, because such a song requires a certain kind of khanak in the voice aided by complementing musical arrangement.

Ali Khan’s Janay Na Tu sounded like a track from a contemporary Bollywood love story with not much budget allocated for music. And Naseebo Lal and Umair Jaswal’s Sasu Mangay was a so-so mangay effort.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine August 21st, 2016