Life & Style

Adnan Sami Khan refused to produce Coke Studio Pakistan

Before Strings and Mekaal Hasan Band, the India-based Pakistani pop star was offered to replace Rohail Hyatt

Rafay Mahmood June 26, 2015

Before Strings and Mekaal Hasan, the India-based Pakistani pop star was offered to replace Rohail Hyatt. Photo: File

KARACHI: Rohail Hyatt’s exit from Coke Studio was a shocker for fans and the music industry. For some it was an end to a glorious legacy, for others it was a break from the monotonous sound that couldn’t evolve beyond Season 4. Whichever side of the argument you’re on, the magnanimity of songs like Aik Alif and Alif Allah Chambay Di Boti made one thing clear: Coca Cola had some really big shoes to fill.

This is perhaps why the decision to hand over operations of Coke Studio to Strings, a band with no prior experience in music production, came as an even bigger surprise. After all, even Coke Studio @ MTV (the Indian version of Coke Studio) took Rohail’s blessings to start their own edition of the reality music show. However, it seems that the decision to hire the band as producers of the show was a desperate one, as none of the other alternatives agreed on the terms and conditions put forward by the corporate giant.

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Among the possible alternatives to Rohail was India-based Pakistani pop star Adnan Sami Khan. He was reportedly the first option, but unfortunately, the deal fell flat. Though insiders told The Express Tribune the deal with Adnan couldn’t materialise because he was asking for a lot of money, the singer suggests other reasons.

“Yes I was offered to produce Coke Studio Pakistan,” Adnan Sami Khan told The Express Tribune. “I didn’t end up producing the show due to an international tour and other prior commitments.”

Sources claimed the reason Adnan didn’t come on board was because the show couldn’t afford to pay the sum he was asking for: nearly twice as much as what Hyatt was charging. When asked to share their version of why he wouldn’t come on board, the brand team of Coca Cola Pakistan refused to comment on the matter.

Sources added Mekaal Hasan was the second option, but a Facebook post, in which Hasan criticised Coke Studio and its approach towards music, took the deal away from him.

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“There is no truth in this statement. I was never approached to produce Coke Studio,” Hasan told The Express Tribune. However, the Mekaal Hasan Band will perform in Coke Studio 8 as featured artists with their new lineup, which includes Indian musicians as well.

According to insiders, the third option was Strings. And the band is currently producing the show at the lowest cost ever. The brand team of Coca Cola refused to respond to this claim as well.

However, there is a possibility that Hyatt might return to the forefront later this year with his own show called Coke Studio Live. The show will have nothing to do with the regular Coke Studio episodes and will only be released on DVD and online. Coke Studio Live will feature some of the most frequent performers at Rohail Hyatt’s version of Coke Studio with a more earthy and live feel.

The eighth season of Coke Studio is set to feature a host of Pakistani music icons such as Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam and Ali Azmat. Many local names are also expected to debut on the show. Pop star Ali Haider and ghazal maestro Ustad Hamid Ali Khan are among those gearing up for their first stint on the show, expected to air on August 16.

COMMENTS (14)

Mohammed aslam | 1 year ago | Reply Pakistan has huge talents but due to marketing tactics they short fall a few behind big giants on a mainstream level.

Malik | 9 years ago | Reply The writer should not disgrace the efforts of Strings for their first stint as producers. Even if the the Strings produced the last season at the lowest cost ever, their efforts were not appreciated by the writer which shows his biased feelings towards the band. The last show was excellent and ofcourse a mix of good and excellent music. Keeping Rahat Fateh and Abida Parween together to produce a great divine music was an excellent effort and must be appreciated. The recently released 'Sohni Dharti' which is next to our National Anthem, is not less than any great effort. So keep up the good work 'Strings' and 'Coke Studios', we are proud of the Real Soulful Music you produce. We appreciate Indian Music as well as the music has no boundary, so, learn to appreciate the music work irrespective from where its coming, a good work is a good work.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Lakhkar Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @whatever: You must be living in the 90s thinking people still watch DVDs. Everything is available online these days and pretty much everyone in the world has access to watch. I am not impressed with what Indian film and music industry produces. I think Pakistan produces the best soaps/dramas. I rather watch Pakistani soap/dramas than Indian made sub-standard movies.

whatever | 9 years ago | Reply @Lakhkar Khan: it seems pakistanis only watch bollywood on their pirated and smuggled DVD. Let me introduce vastness of Indian film industries. following are list of some film industries,feel free to try their pirated DVDs too.. Assamese cinema,Bengali cinema,Kannada cinema,Malayalam cinema,Oriya cinema,Marathi cinema,Punjabi cinema,Tamil cinema,Telugu cinema,Bhojpuri films.

Lakhkar Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada: Just thank Adnan Sami for us for NOT taking the job. No one wants him and no one misses him. Just curious what will Bollywood do without borrowed Hollywood story, MTV dance and Pakistani music?

Saleem Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Rafay Mehmood, Coke studio is the only brand keeping the Pakistani music scene alive. Your continuous bashing of the show or more appropriately of STRINGS, is rather appalling. Based on my experience the continuous bashing means: 1) They refused you an exclusive interview on Coke Studio 2) They don't give you the kind of respect you think, you deserve?! 3) Your a spiteful man?! I am sure you have heard of the saying " sticks and stones may break bones, but a poison pen is the best revenge" Why dont you encourage the industry? Why do you continuously bash STRINGS? Why are you spreading poison in an otherwise, almost dead industry?

Shakil Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply Misleading headline, if Adnan asked for more money whats wrong with it? he has right to charge what he wants. If Coke cant pay him that means there is no deal why paid Adnan in negative for this as if he refused for other reasons?

Azam Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada: Did you Indians not use the word "Ghaddar" for some who married Pakistanis.

mk | 9 years ago | Reply didn't shiv sena want this guy OUT of Mumbai.

Prada | 9 years ago | Reply He has a luxurious lifestyle in India, and lives a peaceful life there. Why would he want to come back to Pakistan which is burning everywhere?

FAZ | 9 years ago | Reply May be he was busy in line waiting for Indian nationality?

Asad | 9 years ago | Reply Keep Adnan Sami away. He doesn't consider himself a Pakistani anymore anyways. Why bother?

Ali S | 9 years ago | Reply If he put down his ego, Mekaal Hasan would have been the best option after Hyatt - he has produced many excellent modern Pakistani albums (including Junoon's Parvaaz).

Spyrogyra | 9 years ago | Reply Good. Pakistan has good, capable artists and producers in Pakistan and don't really need the likes of Adnan Sami. Never really liked his style of music. Also, Strings are not doing a bad job at all.

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