Pakistani singer Atif Aslam diwcussed India-Pakistan music conversation after sharing his thoughts on Coke Studio Pakistan and its Indian counterpart, Coke Studio Bharat.
In a recent interview, Atif was asked what he believes makes the Pakistani version of the popular music franchise different from the Indian edition. His answer was “Jaadu” — magic.
The singer explained that he does not believe the difference is necessarily about the quality of the compositions. In his view, both platforms have produced strong music. What sets Coke Studio Pakistan apart, he suggested, is the connection to the roots and rawness of the region’s musical traditions.
Atif said he feels those deeper musical roots are not as noticeable in the Indian version. He also drew a distinction between the creative approaches of the two platforms, arguing that Coke Studio Bharat appears to place more emphasis on commercial appeal.
According to the singer, Coke Studio Pakistan gives greater importance to original compositions and allows musicians to add their own identity to a song. He described the process as a collaborative one, where multiple people can work on a composition before the singer is encouraged to perform it in their own style.
For Atif, that combination of collaboration, originality and individual expression is what creates the special quality he associates with Coke Studio Pakistan.
