Celebrities
Atif Aslam Responds to Noori’s Criticism of Hit Song ‘Aadat’
Singer Atif Aslam recently opened up about a pivotal moment in his music journey, revealing that the band Noori harshly criticized his debut track Aadat during an informal review session in the early 2000s.
In a resurfaced video interview shared by a fan-run Instagram account, Anam S (@byyouraadee), Atif recounted how he played Aadat for Noori after a mutual friend arranged the meeting. At the time, Noori stood as a major force in Pakistan’s music scene.
“They were all sitting in a room,” he said in the clip. “I played the song. When it ended, most of them started criticizing it—calling it bad, nonsensical, and even cheap. They said there was no place for it in the market.”
Atif mentioned that only one individual in the room appreciated the song, though he chose not to reveal the person’s identity.
Undeterred by the negative feedback, Atif independently promoted Aadat, which quickly gained momentum. Released in December 2003 as part of the underground rock duo Jal with Goher Mumtaz, Aadat went viral through the internet and local music channels, ultimately becoming a defining anthem for Pakistani youth.
Atif, then 17, used his own pocket money to record the track, which marked the beginning of his breakthrough in the music industry.
In the same interview, Atif pointed out that within two years of the initial criticism, Noori performed as part of the lineup at one of his concerts—before his own set.
Fans flooded the comments section of the resurfaced video with praise for Atif’s perseverance and resilience in the face of early rejection. Neither Atif nor Noori has released further statements about the incident.
Aadat remains one of the most iconic tracks in Pakistan’s pop-rock history and continues to symbolize the launch of Atif Aslam’s celebrated career.
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