Atif Aslam Breathes New Life into Mehdi Hasan’s Timeless Ghazal with ‘Zindagi’

Remaking a song, particularly one hailed as iconic, poses a challenging decision. While many artists try to infuse their personalized touch into old classics, only a few succeed in captivating longtime fans with their rendition of a memorable tune. Atif Aslam takes on this challenge with his latest track, “Zindagi.”

There is no denying the intent behind “Zindagi,” a song crafted, in part, as a heartfelt homage to the late Pakistani ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hasan. Atif collaborates with the multi-instrumentalist duo Leo Twins to transform the classic ghazal into a contemporary Sufi-oriented electronic-driven folk-pop ballad. The mere labels of genre-bending experiments alone signify a significant undertaking.

Atif’s smooth vocal delivery unmistakably steers the song in a more sombre direction, drawing inspiration from both Mehdi’s virtuosity and the modernity of electronic pop. The violins and piano work together to create a gradient of timbres and textures, supporting tender articulations of unconditional love.

This organic orchestration incorporates a contemporary aesthetic, introducing programmed finger snaps and phased samples of synth and guitar to add another layer of rhythm and atmosphere to this cover. However, the instrumentation tends to overpower the ghazal’s lyricism in certain instances.

Visuals of the Song

On the visual front, Rizwan Sherazi’s direction finds actor Saboor Ali playing a lost lover to Atif’s main guy. Slow motion shots of candid pillow fighting underscore the couple’s romantic history; the torn feathers frame Atif’s mournful gaze in a little too many scenes. Another familiar motif is a teary-eyed Saboor tearing up old letters.

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