Ali Sethi's song "Pasoori" whose title roughly translates to "difficult mess" has taken the world by storm, blending traditional poetry with contemporary beats to elevate the Pakistani singer's stardom.
The Punjabi track, which explores the complexities of forbidden love, became the most-searched song on Google in 2022 and has amassed over 500 million views on YouTube.
With a danceable rhythm and a metaphor for the India-Pakistan conflict, the song was originally created for Coke Studio after an Indian broadcaster pulled out of a partnership due to Sethi's Pakistani nationality.
Sethi's experience with the limitations of his identity sparked the song's creation, which has since become a cultural sensation worldwide.
After being told by an Indian broadcaster that they couldn't work with him because of the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, Ali Sethi's creative instincts were triggered.
"The theme of prohibition is such an eternal theme in south Asian love songs - all true love is prohibited," he reflected after a thrilling performance at the Coachella music festival in the US, the crowning achievement in a remarkable year.
Wearing a hat with colourful embroidery and a black button-up, Sethi drew inspiration from Punjabi folk songs to create "Pasoori", a track that throws a flower bomb at nationalism and hetero-patriarchy with puns and innuendos.
He performs the song with Shae Gill, a Christian-born singer from Lahore.
Despite expecting it to be an "indie, niche thing", Sethi is astounded by the global success of the track, which blends traditional South Asian sounds with contemporary beats from Turkey, flamenco and Latino reggaeton.
Sethi, the son of journalist Najam Sethi and politician Jugnu Mohsin, is a published author who began his Hindustani classical musical training after graduating from university.
He studied Qawwali and ghazal, and now lives in New York, experimenting outside the confines of his education and collaborating with musicians of various genres.
Embracing multiculturalism was a process for Sethi, who believes that such identities were celebrated in the Sufi shrines of Lahore 800 years ago, but not encouraged in his upbringing.
Sethi rocked the Coachella stage on Sunday (16) with Raja Kumari, by his side for their Pasoori duet, celebrating all types of forbidden love. Kumari is an American rapper and singer born in California to Indian parents.
"What we can't do over there we can do over here," he said as he grasped Kumari's hand onstage following their electrifying Pasoori duet. "There's all kinds of forbidden love represented here today."
"If you forbid it we will do it!" he said to resounding applause.
Sethi is set to perform at the festival again next weekend, but despite his huge fan base in India, he can only tour in the US and Canada.
However, Sethi notes that the Hindustani classical music genre has been thriving in America for decades, thanks in part to Ali Akbar Khan's influence.
For him, being a little eccentric, unexpected, and too traditional in the land of wild ideas is just another wild idea he loves.
(With inputs from AFP)
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.