Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has compared the music produced by Coke Studio in India and Pakistan, saying he believes the Pakistani version has an edge. According to Atif, the ‘raw and original’ quality of Pakistani music gives it a distinct charm, while Indian music is more influenced by commercial considerations.
In an interview with Dubai-based radio station Mirchi UAE, the singer discussed how Coke Studio operates in the two countries and explained why he feels Pakistani music retains a stronger sense of originality.
Atif Aslam was born on 12 March, 1983, in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
‘Commercialisation dominates Indian music’
Talking about the two versions of Coke Studio, Atif said the music and compositions produced in both countries are excellent. However, he feels Pakistani music has a certain rawness that is less prominent in Indian music.
According to Atif, Coke Studio India is more focused on commercialisation and often adapts its music to suit the market. In contrast, he said Coke Studio Pakistan gives greater importance to original compositions and allows musicians more freedom to express themselves.
He added that this creative freedom allows Pakistani musicians to establish their own identity. In his view, the platform creates a ‘do-or-die’ situation for artists, pushing them to experiment, showcase their individuality and make a mark through their music.
Coke Studio Pakistan started in 2008 Coke Studio Pakistan was launched in the year 2008. Its founder and producer was Rohail Hyatt. This show gave fusion music a new status by blending traditional Sufi, Qawwali, Ghazal, and folk music with modern Western instruments.
Coke Studio Pakistan’s most popular song is Pasoori.
YouTube Subscribers: Coke Studio Pakistan’s official YouTube channel has over 17.7 million subscribers.
Most Popular Songs: ‘Pasoori’ (Ali Sethi and Shae Gill) from Coke Studio Pakistan Season 14 became the biggest global hit with over 990 million views. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Momina’s ‘Afreen Afreen’ (670 million+ views) and Atif Aslam’s ‘Tajdar-e-Haram’ (650 million+ views) are among the all-time blockbuster songs of this platform.
Coke Studio Bharat: Started in 2011 Coke Studio in India began in the year 2011 under the name ‘MTV Coke Studio India’. In the initial seasons, musicians like A.R. Rahman, Amit Trivedi, and Clinton Cerejo created many excellent original tracks, but in later years, the platform became more influenced by the Indian film industry and Bollywood composers.
Coke Studio Bharat’s Gujarati song ‘Khalasi’ has achieved over 180 million views on YouTube.
Coke Studio Bharat: Rebranded in 2023
Coke Studio India was relaunched as Coke Studio Bharat in 2023. The YouTube channel currently has around 7.2 million subscribers.
Popular songs
One of the biggest recent hits from Coke Studio Bharat is Anuv Jain’s ‘Arz Kiya Hai’, which has crossed 230 million views on YouTube.
Diljit Dosanjh and Gurdas Maan’s ‘Ki Banu Duniya Da’ has also crossed 230 million views. Meanwhile, the Gujarati track ‘Khalasi’ has garnered more than 180 million views.
Other widely appreciated tracks include ‘Chaudhary’ by Mame Khan and Amit Trivedi, and ‘Madari’ by Vishal Dadlani and Sonu Kakkar.
‘People listen to my songs through VPNs’
Earlier, Atif Aslam had spoken about the ban on Pakistani artists in India. He said Indian fans still listen to his music through VPNs and that he misses them.
Speaking on radio presenter Kris Fade’s YouTube channel, Atif said it had been around 10 years since he was banned in India following the government’s decision to prohibit Pakistani artists from working in the country.
He added that he had not released any songs in India during this period. According to Atif, some fans continue to access his music through VPNs and even make CDs to share with others.
Atif told Indian fans: ‘Don’t be sad’
Addressing his Indian fans, Atif said he wanted them to know that he misses them, although he does not miss working in India.
He said, “I miss you guys,” while adding that his experience as a playback singer had taught him a lot.
Atif also said that the ban may have indirectly helped him create his own music. He added that if he had continued working in India, he might not have had the opportunity to do so, and thanked his fans for their continued support.
Why was the ban imposed on Pakistani artists?
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the Uri terror attack in September 2016. During this period, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) instructed its producer members not to hire Pakistani artists and technicians until India-Pakistan relations normalised.
However, even after 2016, songs by Atif Aslam appeared in several Bollywood films. In 2017, ‘Dil Diyan Gallan’ from the film ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, ‘Darasal’ from ‘Raabta’, ‘Main Agar’ from ‘Tubelight’, and ‘Jaane De’ from ‘Qarib Qarib Singlle’ were released.
Meanwhile, in 2018, ‘O Saathi’ from ‘Baaghi 2’, ‘Paaniyon Sa’ from ‘Satyameva Jayate’, ‘Tera Hua’ from ‘Loveyatri’, and ‘Dil Meri Na Sune’ from ‘Genius’ were released. Since March 2019, no songs by him have been released in Bollywood films.
Notably, a few days after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also announced a complete ban on Pakistani actors and artists in the Indian film industry. 40 CRPF soldiers lost their lives in this attack.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Following this, the Indian government banned Pakistani films, web series, songs, and podcasts.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under the IT Rules 2021, ordered the removal of Pakistani content from platforms like OTT and YouTube.
Additionally, the social media accounts of several Pakistani artists were also temporarily blocked in India. These included artists like Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir.
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