Coke Studio Season 9| BTS| Anokha Laadla| Basit Ali & Damia Farooq

Coke Studio Season 9| Episode 6
BTS, Anokha Laadla, Basit Ali & Damia Farooq

Originally Composed by Ashiq Ali
Additional Compostition by Faakhir
Lyrics by Raees Farough
Produced by Strings

[yolot]

anokha ladla is honestly one of the best songs, it deserves more appreciation and highlight. lets not let it remain underrated

[prabhukedarshan]

Anokha Ladla is a bold experimentation by Faakhir Mehmood as he brings in different moods in the same composition playing with raags recreating an old classic! While the classical purists might raise their eyebrows with this unconventional composition, I definitely enjoyed the fusion of two raags done so beautifully. To ensure continuity in the melody Faakhir, quite intelligently, chose scales having similar chords. So the song starts on a C major scale (Bilawal Thaat) with Damia Farooq's vocals and it beautifully changes raag to Darbari (which is on a minor scale) at 01:00 (when Damia sings Tan sulge bas ek aagan main). For the Darbari part, Faakhir chose A minor scale which has mostly the same chords as C major scale but starts with a different key (A instead of C) and this changes the mood of the song completely (from romantic to devotional)!! Raag Darbari (and Darbari Kanada in particular) is typically used in many of Indian classical based bhajans.

The song starts with a keyboard arpeggio joined by the bass and accordion bringing out the romantic mood. Damia's vocals along with strings extend that mood only to suddenly change that to a devotional song as the raag transforms. The arrangement then shifts to electronic-rock genre as Basit Ali begins with the antara of the composition with just the electric guitar and bass playing. The mukhda follows accompanied with many techno elements on the synth. Strings section too makes its appearance at 02:33. There is also a beautiful Sitar interlude after the mukhda. Overall Basit's part is full of energy owing to the high tempo percussion and the overall rock arrangement.

The musical chair of raag continues as Damia comes back on the major scale after a pause from Basit's part. This time tabla makes its appearance along with Sitar and accordion creating a beautiful musical base for Damia to render her antara. And before one can dissolve in the soulful melody, in comes Basit again after a pause and the arrangement shifts back to Darbari for one last time as the composition climaxes abruptly on a high! Basit is too good with vocals. Hearing him for the first time, I found him singing with great command and control. He has a great throw and also brought in the subtle nuances of the raag (like extending the notes at some places) very beautifully. His performance actually reminded me of 'Kuch Ajab Khail' by Shafqat Amanat Ali in one of the earlier seasons! (perhaps that too is on the same raag!)

Overall really enjoyed this fusion of raags on a contemporary arrangement. Definitely requires hearing more than once! :)

[saddamhussain]

Good to see 90s era singers & bands come together to create Coke Studio like thing.this year Coke Studio I rank it no 1.

[adamshiblu]

This is Amazing 👍👍👍The way Damia Farooq has sung those line, just loved 💗 it.

[sohailbaig]

Hats off to you Faakhir Bhai!!
You made something really really Unique!! Best Song of this Season!! :) <3

[ishaazvlogs]

so beautiful and energies song Pakistani music and singer really imazing talent

[ehmaadrazi]

this kerdiya that kerdiya "in short destroy ker diya coke studio "
to Fakhar please do something else.

[zou-tech]

i'm the 4th liker and 86th viewer and 3rd commentor :D

[tahasheikh]

This BTS just not only means k sirf faakhir ko hi dikhao.. basit ali ko bh bat krte hue dikhate aur damia ki sirf ek jhalak!!

[shahidshahzad]

rohail removed. .. and now mish mash left