In a recent podcast with social media influencer Raj Shamani, popular Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan, known for hit songs such as ‘Desi Girl,’ ‘Aaja Nachle,’ ‘Disco Song,’ and many more, spoke about the popularity of Pakistani music in India and abroad, as well as the similarities between the people of India and Pakistan.

When asked about the rise of Pakistani music boom in India and other territories, she said, “It was a wave, just like any other. Especially in India, Pakistani music is one area where everyone remains neutral.” It is beyond sentiment, she explained.

“Music is something everyone wants to accept. No one wants to criticize it. There are a lot of people who appreciate it. I work with many Pakistani artists. When we meet, it feels like we’re the same—same artists, same people. We talk the same way, eat the same food. We’re all the same. This isn’t just a perception. When I go to the United States or United Kingdom, I meet so many Pakistani friends, and it’s the same feeling. The people there are special.

The Pakistani film industry isn’t that big yet, but music is a big deal in Pakistan. There are many artists who are loved, respected, and appreciated in Pakistan, and they receive the same love and respect here in India. The same is true for artists here, right? When the primary reason for creating music is the love of it, the purity is evident. And that’s when we realize we’re the same.”

She further elaborated, “Take Coke Studio, for instance. Some songs make you think, ‘Wow, how did they do this?’ In fact, some of the videos are incredible. There is a song, called ‘Turri Jandi’ by Shazia Manzoor [and Hasan Raheem]. Shazia Manzoor Ji, who has sung many songs including ‘Chandni Raatein,’ is a fantastic artist. The video is mind-blowing. You’ll think, ‘How did they come up with this? It’s so creative.’ You need a truly unique mind to create something like that. The storyline is so captivating, beautiful, and classy. A video like that requires perfect timing. It’s different in a good way. I want to visualize music while listening to it, and that video was a revelation. I was taken aback and told my husband, ‘You have to see this video. It’s something extraordinary.’ It’s a simple song, a good song—but when you watch the video, you see the hard work, the research, the thought that went into making it. Each beat, each shot, it’s beautiful. You should see it.”

When asked about the many videos of Coke Studio and how we as an audience become a part of it, and get lost in the music, she said, “The original songs, mostly—they’re like that. The music is inspiring. You’ve created different things, mixed genres, and made something more. Inspiration can come from anywhere, not just from listening to music. You can be sitting quietly, and a tune might come to you. This happened to me. I don’t compose, but I ended up making a song during the monsoon season. That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, I have a composer in me.’ So anything can happen.”

Sunidhi Chauhan is also a fan of Zeb Bangash, which she openly admitted recently. This cross-border exchange of goodwill is how culture will move forward.

Irrespective of political issues, it is good to see that artists such as Sunidhi Chauhan don’t feel insecure about the wave of appreciation for Pakistani music and are willing to appreciate it for what it is.

It means even more given how Pakistani fans are almost always appreciative of Hindi cinema and actors from across the border. If they can make better films, we can make stronger music and therein lies the specialty of both cultures, and each should be embraced rather than torn down in the name of patriotism.

– Coke Studio 15 photography by Nadir Firoz Khan