Watch: Meesha Shafi is rapping like a boss in 'Coke Studio 2020' season opener

'Na Tuttya Ve', an all-women anthem, features celebrated singers such as Fariha Pervaiz, Sanam Marvi as well

The latest season of Coke Studio has opened with a bang! The first episode of the much-awaited music show was released on Friday, with three tracks unveiled by producer Rohail Hyatt.

The three songs included Na Tuttya Ve, Jaag Rahi and Dil Khirki. The season was opened with an all-women anthem, Na Tuttya Ve, featuring six female artists, such as Fariha Pervaiz, Sanam Marvi, Meesha Shafi, Zara Madani, Wajiha Naqvi and Sehar Gul Khan.

The five-minute track shared a story of resilience and an unbroken heart. "There's no aggression in this song," Shafi had said in the promo video of the aforementioned number. "The song is just from a woman's perspective. That how can a woman be nothing but an honour, to whom Allah has bestowed such dignity."

In the last minute of the newly released track, we see the Aaya Lariye singer rapping (one that she composed with celebrated musician Shuja Haider) about patriarchy and how social norms usually cause women's dreams to take a backseat. "Iss reet riwaaj ne rol ditti har heer sassi sohni (These rites and customs have crushed every heer, sassi and sohni)," Shafi raps.

Talking about her rap, producer Hyatt shared, "Sensitivity is not a weakness, it’s a strength and Na Tutteya Ve is about this perspective. I originally approached Meesha Shafi for this song but we both decided that this message would be better delivered if it came from all the female artists of the season and she graciously gave up her solo song for the common good! Great gesture. One version of the demo sounded very R&B and that's where the idea for the rap part came from. Subsequently, the sound became more traditional but we retained the rap part since it was so powerful."

The rap could easily be touted as the highlight of a brilliantly composed track. Written by Shuja and poet Asim Raza, Na Tuttya Ve is produced by Hyatt and includes the house band.

Talking about the song, the Coke Studio founder added, "The amazingly talented ShujaHaider shared this demo with me when we were planning to work together for Season 13 right before the Covid Pandemic. It was Dil Tutteya Ve at that time. I really liked the track and couldn’t stop humming the melody. When Season 2020 came about, I asked him if I could use the track for the season and he was kind enough to say yes."

He went on to add, "From the onset, it bothered me that the song was set up as the ‘female’ as someone who breaks down easily. In my years of experience, I’ve observed the opposite. I find females to be very strong and resilient despite them having to put up with the rules of a male-dominated world. The apparent weakness’ is a misgiving that comes from the misunderstanding about their emotional sensitivity."

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