Torn by a heavily armed border, Indians and Pakistanis have discovered a new way to digitally unite. Pasoori, a Pakistani song, has won the hearts of many Indians, including some of Bollywood’s top stars.
It has received attention in Pakistan and worldwide, and keeps going up the music market. Ali Sethi and Shae Gill sing it so beautifully that even I can’t get with it. It has over 100 million views on YouTube and is one of Spotify India’s most popular tracks. It’s also in Spotify Singapore’s top 20.
The great song, which was released in Season 14 of Coke Studio Pakistan, is evocative of folk rhythms common in both Pakistan and India. It has seized the world by storm, thanks to its sophisticated rhythms.
It has been played on the air all around the world since its release 3 months ago, from Chicago to Delhi. The song is based on a raga, which is a traditional Indian structure for melodic composition. It has a catchy beat that sounds South Asian, Middle Eastern, and, strangely enough, Ragaton, which author-composer Sethi describes as “a new hybrid genre of music that blends raga and reggae, among other sounds”.
When Sethi, who resides in New York, was approached to collaborate on a project in Mumbai, the song was developed. According to the New Yorker, he had visited Mumbai several times for literary festivals and music performances. However, any journey to India by Pakistani citizens is subject to current politics, and the producers informed Sethi that he wouldn’t be allowed to work there as a Pakistani artist because extremists would set fire to the studio.
In a thrilling duet with Pakistani singer and Instagram star Shae, Sethi delivers this song in Punjabi with graceful agony. By only hearing this, you can easily tell that it’s a song about desire even if you don’t comprehend the lyrics.