Coke Studio 12 recently concluded to mixed reviews. It did shine, however, with the likes of Banur’s Band collaborating with Atif Aslam on a track called ‘Mubarik Mubarik’; Barkat Jamal Fakir Troupe bringing ‘Maahi Diyaan Jhokaan’ as well as performances by Ali Sethi, Hadiqa Kiani, Fariha Parvez and Atif Aslam (solo) among a few others.
While Rohail Hyatt, who returned to produce the show (season 12) after a six year hiatus - during which music group Strings produced multiple seasons and introduced the multiple-producer format as well and Zohaib Kazi-Ali Hamza produced the 2018 season - did not confirm specifics at this time, he did confirm that he would be involved with season 13 in a definitive role. What that role would be will become clear as the days go on.
Under Rohail Hyatt’s days as producer, Coke Studio became something of a phenomenon, both in Pakistan and outside that was both cool enough for the youth and appealed to an older generation as well. But with the birth and rise of social media – it has come to a point where any mistake will put a target on the back of the artist, and a great example is last year’s ‘Ko Ko Korina’ that brought out disproportionate hate and it was directed mostly towards the female artist: Momina Mustehsan.
Fortunately, no such thing has happened this year (so far). And misogynist Pakistan will just have to wait for another time.
Given how times have changed, and Coke Studio 12 marked the return of Rohail Hyatt, it will be far more interesting to see what he does next with Coke Studio – in any definitive role.
