Once a year, Coke Studio comes around, brings together the biggest artists from the country (and sometimes even outside of the country) and binds them in a relationship with music. Not all songs are hits, but there is always that one song that kills you on the inside, in the best way possible.
Coke Studio Season 10 took flight and gave us a song that validated our entire existence. After songs by legendary singers like Ahmed Jehanzeb and Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, to faces we’ve seen all over the place like Amanat Ali and Hina Nasrullah, and newcomers like Momina Mustehsan (well, fairly new) and Daniyal Zafar, we get what we’ve been waiting for a really long time: Ali Sethi.
Now, it’s no secret that Ali Sethi loves his classic music and he pays tribute to legendary singers through his music
From Muhabbat Kerne Wale to Aaj Bazaar Mein Pabajolan Chalo, Chan Kithan and Kithe Nain Na JoriN, Ali Sethi has always had the knack of giving his contribution towards the betterment of the music scene of our society. It’s not very easy to get a mainly electronic generation to sit down and listen to ghazals. But Ali can and has done that.
And ever since the new season of Coke Studio began, he’s reinforced our faith in him as the saviour of music
The biggest takeaway from the opening episode of this season (completely in my opinion), was Ali Sethi paying tribute to the voice of Mehdi Hassan and the words of Ahmed Faraz with Ranjish Hi Sahi. It was this ghazal that got it’s maker to the peak of his success, earning him National Awards like the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Pakistan.
Ali chose that one misra that’s least chosen by singers who remake the song, which is coincidentally also one of the most beautiful misras of the entire ghazal. The misra was added into the ghazal by the Shahensha of ghazal, Mehdi Hassan, himself, taking from the writings of Talib Bhagpati.
Maana ke muhabbat ka chupaana hai muhabbat
Chupke se kisi roz jitaane ke liye aao
(Granted that the essence of love is in the concealing of that love,
But, come to me someday, secretly, to proclaim your love)
The rest of this ghazal, is possibly one of the most heartbreaking pieces of writing you’ll ever read; and after industry legends, Ali Sethi has managed to set this poetry in motion
The ghazal speaks of love lost, that remains lost. It speaks of desperation for that one last glance of your mehboob, it speaks of yearning to be back with the one you loved the most, the one who loved you back, once. Faraz says,
Kis kis ko batayein ge judai ka sabab hum,
Tu mujh se khafa’a hai tau zamaaney ke liye aa
(Who all will I explain the reason for our separation to,
In spite of your displeasure with me, come back for the sake of the world)
Pehle se maraasim na sahi, phir bhi..kabhi tau..
Rasm-o-reh dunya hi nibhaaney ke liye aa
(If not for the past we have shared, together,
But still..even if seldom…come to fulfil the rituals and traditions of this world, at least)
The thing is…the ghazal isn’t just about love that’s lost…it’s about trying to get that love back at the cost of your own sanity and the risk of self-destruction
And that’s what the most beautiful thing about this is. Thank you Ali, for bringing it back.
People are loving the performance
A new favorite: Ali Sethi, Ranjish Hi Sahi, Coke Studio Season 10, Episode 1. by CokeStudio https://t.co/EsYWgoqMeH on #SoundCloud
— Nimra Gull (@nimragull) August 14, 2017
Actual tears though, actual tears
No voice, no other voice touches my soul, moves it to bits like his does. Tears. @alisethimusic is Khuda-Baksh! https://t.co/rr2uExCXDa
— रेलिमाई (@MissusRTT) August 14, 2017
10/10 would wait another year if we had to
Can't get over of Ali sethi's ''Ranjish hi sahi''.
It was worth waiting a year for this season.#CokeStudio10— Emran Reza (@UljhaMizaaj) August 14, 2017
Too beautiful friend, too beautiful
Ali Sethi sung the most beautiful rendition of my favourite ghazal "Ranjish Hi Sahi".
Coke Studio never disappoints. Wow. Quality music ??— Ayyan~ (@Ayyan_1) August 12, 2017
Nailed it is an understatement
#AliSethi #RanjishHiSahi Has Nailed it Amazinnng !
— حسان (@Puff_Pastryy) August 12, 2017
In other words, Ali Sethi – we love you
@alisethimusic seriously man you are awesome #ranjishhisahi @cokestudio
— Twahaa Ahmed (@IamTwahaa) August 13, 2017
With the rest of the season ahead of us, we really hope Coke Studio manages to maintain the standard they’ve set for themselves within the first episode, alone. What did you think of Ali Sethi’s rendition of this ghazal?