A song born in Pakistan is taking India by storm. “Blockbuster,” a catchy tune from Coke Studio Pakistan’s latest season, has transcended borders and become a viral hit among Indian audiences. The vibrant one-take music video further amplified the song’s appeal, amassing over 19 million views on YouTube.
“Blockbuster,” a viral hit from Pakistan, is now winning hearts in India. Released in May as part of Coke Studio Pakistan’s season 15, this catchy tune has captivated millions.
Created by Pakistani artists Zulfikar Jabbar Khan (Xulfi), Umair Butt, rapper Faris Shafi, and Shamroz Butt, “Blockbuster” features lively folk music. The song is performed by Faris, Umair, and the all-female Gharwi Group, which includes Abida, Rooha Rawal, Sajida Bibi, and Saba Hassan.
The vibrant music video, shot in one take, has over 19 million views on YouTube. It also featured a great dance number choreographed by the famous Norwegian hip-hop/urban dance group, Quick Style, founded by Norwegian-Pakistani twin brothers, Suleman and Bilal Malik, and their Norwegian-Thai childhood friend, Nasir Sirikhan.
Indian fans were thrilled when “Blockbuster” trended on Spotify. Many shared their excitement on social media, with one user commenting, “Divided by history… together by Coke Studio.”
Another joked: “Scroll krte krte border pai aa gya.” (It seems I have reached the border while scrolling).
The video features a vibrant scene from the streets of a typical village setting from the streets of Pakistan and is directed by Zeeshan Parwez. This song involved an extensive set constructed in a village with over 400 extras and more than 200 crew members.
The song’s appeal even reached international platforms, being featured in a TikTok video celebrating French footballer Kylian Mbappe. “Blockbuster” is not just a hit in Pakistan and India but is also gaining global popularity.
Previous hit: ‘Pasoori’
This is, however, not the first time that a song from Pakistani Coke Studio has made waves in India. Previously, singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill gave us ‘Pasoori’ in February 2022. Data released by Spotify in December 2022 showed that ‘Pasoori’ was the most-streamed Pakistani song globally and the most-streamed song in Pakistan in 2022. In December 2022, ‘Pasoori’ became the first Pakistani song to enter YouTube’s Global Top Music Videos chart.