Aima Baig and Sahir Ali Bagga's 'Washmallay' is fun but audacious

Fans may think of the rendition as another wedding number but Baig has assured it is anything but

KARACHI:

Aima Baig and Sahir Ali Bagga have released their take on the traditional Balochi folk song, Washmallay. The track, alongside its music video, released on Wednesday.

The melody of Washmallay, irrespective of which rendition you’re listening to, will have you itching to dance or dochaap. Inherently a wedding song, Washmallay is performed as a tukhbandi (formed by putting verses together indiscriminately), but its Baig and Bagga makeover is audacious, to say the least, for it also features lyrics in Urdu and Punjabi, overlapping with the chorus in Balochi.

There is no questioning the song will have you hitting replay because of its catchy beat. Its vibrant music video is also bound to rid you of your mid-week blues. Baig’s distinctive voice and Bagga’s energy are infectious too. Their Balochi pronunciation and lyrical improvisation, albeit, leave much to be desired.

Bagga had touted the song his most “ambitious project to date,” in a press statement earlier. And he was right, considering a song so inherently representative of the Balochi way of life is bound to put a lot of pressure on artists reworking it, especially if they’re not Baloch or haven’t hired a translator to make sense of the lyrics for them. Some could also deem Baig and Bagga’s attempt as cultural appropriation.

Thankfully, though, the artists had clarified earlier that they are only “highlighting the cultural diversity of Pakistan.” In a new press statement, Bagga has said Washmallay is his “tribute to the Balochi language – compliments of a Punjabi.”

“No one can deny that I’ve always been about highlighting all the incredible cultures that reside within our great country. I’ve been delivering Punjabi hits for a long time. This time, the focus is on the Balochi language and culture with all the musical sweetness of Punjabi,” he explained.

Baig, on the other hand, shared, “Fans may think of Washmallay as just another wedding number. Believe me, it’s not. Washmallay is about all cultural diversity. It’s a celebration of the various, arts, crafts and cultures. And I can’t wait for our fans to share their reactions to the song.”

Director Adnan Qazi relayed what a great honour it has been for him to direct the song’s music video. “The different colours you are seeing in the video, they represent togetherness. The video carries a great message. I’m glad that I got to direct Washmallay,” said Adnan.

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