I could’ve done a better job in Coke Studio: Ali Haider

Says ‘Jiya Kare’ was never his choice but show did help resurrect his career

KARACHI:

Coke Studio is inarguably one of the biggest music shows in Pakistan, with both old and new singers striving to give their best when roped in to perform on the coveted platform. But that is not to say their efforts always translate. In fact, some music veterans have expressed discontent over their performances on the show, the latest being Ali Haider. While the singer-songwriter’s debut on the show’s latest season with the song Jiya Kare announced his return to mainstream music, he was less than satisfied with his stint. His jeans may be purani but his approach to creating music is anything but that.

Haider says that had things panned out a little differently, audiences would’ve seen a more improved performance. “There is always room for improvement and, obviously, I feel that I could’ve done a better job on the track,” he tells The Express Tribune. Haider, who performed a duet version of his single Jiya Kare alongside Sara Raza, also shares the track was not his first choice.





“Had it been my decision, I would most definitely have gone for Zaalim Nazron Se,” he notes. Haider disclosed that he did record Zaalim Nazron se and Shaam Dhal Rahi Hai, but understands why the producers did not fancy the tracks. “I think they didn’t choose Zaalim Nazron Se because it is a very commercial and popular track; so, it may not have fit their model. They might use those tracks later on,” he explains.

Haider was all praises for his collaborator Sara. “Personally, I think Sara did a brilliant job on the track and I was really impressed by her vocals,” he adds. Although total creative control lay with the show’s producers, Haider clarified he does not blame them because they were very cooperative. “Throughout the process, Strings kept me in the loop and also took my input on several instances.”

Unaffected by the lukewarm response the track generated, Haider stresses the cameo brought him back into the limelight and reinvigorated his career after several false dawns. “It doesn’t worry me if the song was a hit or a miss because at the end of the day, I got to appear on Coke Studio, which helped resurrect my career,” he says.

Citing an instance, he said that he had been approached for a three-concert tour of North America and the United Kingdom but following his stint on Coke Studio, the promoters requested him to increase the number of shows. “When the Sohni Dharti promos came out, the organisers asked me to increase the number of shows owing to my popularity. The final tour comprised 22 shows, which I did over a span of three months.”





Cinema calling

With more and more Pakistani actors going on to appear in Bollywood films, the singer shares he had almost been roped in for a Nishant Shekhar-directed film Mission Bhaijaan. “Unfortunately, my busy schedule forced me to pass. Filming was to begin on October 15 and I was on tour at that time,” he explains.

While music remains his primary passion and profession, Haider shares he had also been a little apprehensive about playing the character in the film. “My character was that of a Pundit’s son and how he goes through a spiritual phase.”

Having noticed the similarities in the struggles faced by the character and his own journey, Haider refused to do the role on the grounds that he didn’t feel comfortable “cashing in on something that was very personal.” He has also lent his song Koi Aisi Baat to upcoming Indian movie Sanak.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2015.

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