Pakistan sets new record with 'Tajdar-e-Haram', crosses 100 million views

Atif Aslam's rendition of the qawwali became the highlight of Coke Studio's eighth season

Atif Aslam’s Tajdar-e-Haram opened the eighth season of Coke Studio and went on to become the highlight of the show. The eightth season also saw Strings helm the project for the second time.

In a first, the qawwali has crossed over 100 million views, breaking all previous records of Pakistani compositions.

#TajdarEHaram from #CokeStudio Season 8 becomes the first Pakistani video to cross 100 million views on @YouTube — https://t.co/6Y299MSzEE

— Coke Studio Pakistan (@cokestudio) November 2, 2017

Speaking earlier to The Express Tribune, Atif revealed, “Tajdar-e-Haram was actually produced by songwriter Shiraz Uppal.” The Doorie singer had initially planned to keep the track for himself and had Shiraz arrange the music.



“When Coke Studio approached me, I thought why not perform it on the show,” he added. Atif further shared that he brought Shiraz on-board to give the producer a feel of Coke Studio.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The composition, which helped qawwali giants Maqbool Ahmed Sabri and Ghulam Fareed Sabri cement their identity, received mixed reactions from all sides.



While a comparison with the original and an evaluation based on the aesthetics of qawwali are both unfair and unyielding, the attempt certainly wouldn’t have made the mighty Sabris turn in their graves.


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