Independence Day vibes: Coke Studio promo honours Sohni Dharti

E-Paper | May 12, 2026

The country's most anticipated show is soon to be back on television with a bang!

Coke Studio's (Season 8) new sneak peak features countless legends and some fresh faces coming together to showcase their patriotism with Shahnaz Begum's Sohni Dharti, presented as a tribute to composer Sohail Rana & Masroor Anwar.

The two minute long video reveals an impressive line-up for the upcoming season including Atif Aslam, Kaavish, Sara Haider, Ali Zafar, Mai Dhai, Arif Lohar, Quratulain Baloch and many others. This season will be produced and directed by Strings.

The teaser got people on social media pumped for the launch, slated for 16 August.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

PM Shehbaz meets President Zardari amid rumours of possible move to roll back 18th Amendment

Bank of Punjab, flat owners challenge IHC verdict on One Constitution Avenue lease cancellation

Senate panel seeks info on use of Pakistan Railways premises by ‘influencers’

Yasir

Aug 04, 2015 02:45pm

This is seriously awesome. To see so many talented singers joining hands to pay tribute to one of the melodious songs Pak has ever produced, literally brought goosebumps. Strings are doing a wonderful job and its pretty unfair to compare them with Rohail Hayat. So happy to see Meekal Hasan as well. Good luck.

Recommend 0

Jan

Aug 04, 2015 02:45pm

beautifull!!

Recommend 0

Syed

Aug 04, 2015 02:50pm

It is simply killing. Excellent works.

Recommend 0

Aug 04, 2015 03:02pm

Loved it!

Recommend 0

Shahram Khan

Aug 04, 2015 03:31pm

Why Strings? Let Makal Hassan Take on the Reins from Rohail Hayat.

Recommend 0

Waseem Sarwar

Aug 04, 2015 03:48pm

Awesome Brilliant and fantastic. goosebumps

Recommend 0

Patras

Aug 04, 2015 04:13pm

Incredible!

Recommend 0

loyal citizen

Aug 04, 2015 04:20pm

Mind blowing

Recommend 0

M Akram

Aug 04, 2015 04:25pm

Coke Studio - never seen of heard it before, too busy with work. But listening to this 2 minutes promo looks like promise of a gold mine of good music to come and many happy hours ...

Recommend 0

Fraooq

Aug 04, 2015 04:33pm

Who are the organizers of Coke Studio , does anyone know their contacts or emails , I have a suggestion for a long forgotten Punjabi song , which if they sing with the modern digital instruments , will knock everyone out, GUARANTEED. Would appreciate if this info can be sent to my email address.

Recommend 0

jimmyali

Aug 04, 2015 04:50pm

Flop

Recommend 0

Hamaad

Aug 04, 2015 05:40pm

Excellent promo. This is my all time favorite milli naghma.

Recommend 0

Meethi Methai

Aug 04, 2015 06:02pm

Excellen, wonderful work coke studio, you made me emotional.

Recommend 0

Siddhartha Shastri

Aug 04, 2015 07:34pm

I have a very old cassette recording of this song from a live performance by Farida Khanum in London. A lovely song, sung with affection and gusto, to a thrilling accompaniment of Dholak beat. The audience responded with tremendous enthusiasm, as the singer gracefully acknowledged their appreciation. I am sure many have a copy of that recording, and it would be great if someone can confirm exactly when and where that specific performance ws held. BTW the text is universally applicable, and although it was meant to be for Pakistan, Indians loved and enjoyed it too.

Recommend 0

faiz

Aug 04, 2015 07:45pm

Inspiring and prompting unity !!!

Recommend 0

Aug 04, 2015 07:52pm

Dil khush hoo gaya, very well done.....

Recommend 0

azkhan71

Aug 04, 2015 10:40pm

Awesomly Composed...PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!

Recommend 0

saghir USA

Aug 04, 2015 10:57pm

Fourty years passed by and away from pakistan. I could not stop crying after listening this song and I wondered why.

Recommend 0

zafar_raja@yahoo.com

Aug 05, 2015 02:08am

@Siddhartha Shastri well said Sid!

Recommend 0

Taimoor

Aug 05, 2015 02:10am

Glory to Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Doniya

Aug 05, 2015 03:47am

Why I love coke studio so much?? Because it's simply brilliant.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Aug 05, 2015 03:53am

OMG .....QB is back and Gul Panra's first appearance in coke studio. It's awesome!!

Recommend 0

Jamal

Aug 05, 2015 06:31am

This is hardcore stuff

Recommend 0

Siddhartha Shastri

Aug 05, 2015 06:51am

@zafar_raja@yahoo.com - Thank you sir. Since you have taken th etime to respond to my original comment, may I ask a sincere question? India's "Vande Mataram" song as is typically sung at national events basically elaborates upon the "Sohni Dharati" aspects in the Indian context without naming India. All the praise showered upon the motherland in that song could apply equally well to the land of Pakistan as well. And yet "Vande Mataram" seems to have generated negative vibes amongst many Pakistanis. Is it a lack of understanding of the text, or is there some other reason?

Recommend 0

Ayan (Super Hero Not Super Model)

Aug 05, 2015 09:18am

Exceptional............ A few changes may make it more powerful. Ali Azmat is mismatch with legend Farida Khanum Shafqat Amanat Ali or Sajjad Ali deserve to be Farida Khanum. Secondly, melodious Tina Sani is missing! Anwar Maqsood is Gem of Pakistan, I feel from his aggrieved face how much he misses Moin Akhtar.

Recommend 0

KaKa

Aug 05, 2015 09:23am

Thats' all we do and thats' all we can do...singing on national day....in the later part of the evening on Aug'14 musical programs, Indians songs are sung also.

Recommend 0

Azam

Aug 05, 2015 10:45am

Amazing song......melts my heart......and the leaders of our Dharti burn my heart.... May we be blessed enough to have the true spirit of this song in our hearts. Regards, Azam

Recommend 0

sash

Aug 05, 2015 10:46am

Coke Studio! there is no comparison. every time i listen , make me feel how creative they are! this patriotic song again set another way!

Recommend 0

ali

Aug 05, 2015 12:35pm

Way to go Strings. All the best. Looks like meekal hasan is getting geared up for producing future seasons. Lastly, Malang party. Just cant wait.

Recommend 0

Amin

Aug 05, 2015 01:07pm

@saghir USA - Me too ... I Actually Cried myself - then kept listening and crying .... I Miss my country and these politician won't understand that oversea's Pakistan would love to come back home and help - Its just the circumstances doesn't allow :( Love it - All the best "Coke Studio"

Recommend 0

Insha

Aug 05, 2015 07:17pm

Just gone mad to see Atif Aslam again in coke studio n for the 1st time Asim Azhar too :) Glaaaaad Great Job!

Recommend 0

Dumbfounded

Aug 06, 2015 09:19am

Some of the singers really work hard to improve their pronounciation. There is a difference between 'Qadam' and ' Kadam.' Coke studio producers should pay attention to this aspect of program also.

Recommend 0

Kabir

Aug 06, 2015 02:15pm

The idea behind this is all nationalities are united and singing for land, but unfortunately not all nationalities have been represented in this promo......... no sindhi singer no balochi singer!!!! shows the discriminatory attitude of producer.

Recommend 0

Awais Khan

Aug 06, 2015 11:20pm

Sohni Dharti is superb,lots of respect for it.But I'm not impressed with the singers line up for Coke Studio season 8.It is lacking professional singers,and having too many novices.I was expecting to watch Falak Shabbir,Annie Khalid,Imran Khan (the Amplifier guy),Shahida Minni (due to her simliar voice with Noor Jahan) and many classical singers from PTV who have never been in Coke Studio,instead of overrated singers like Atif Aslam or Ali Zafar.But lets hope for the best.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Pakistan’s first premium plug-in hybrid E-SUV officially hits the roads as Chery Master begins Tiggo 9 PHEV deliveries

This accelerated rollout is backed by the manufacturing strength, operational capability and over 60 years of industrial and automotive legacy of Master Group.

'Where Silence Falls and Survival Speaks': The last guardian of Gabral Valley

In the remote Hindu Kush, Gabral Valley empties each year as winter approaches, leaving behind only one man who stays to guard its frozen silence.

Master Group of Industries: Driving Pakistan's future through carbon negative innovation

By embracing clean energy solutions, the group continues to contribute toward lowering dependence on conventional energy sources and encouraging a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.