Pasoori becomes first Pakistani music video to hit billion views

Coke Studio’s internationally acclaimed hit Pasoori has achieved another major milestone, becoming the first music video made in Pakistan to cross one billion views on YouTube. The achievement further cements the song’s place as one of the biggest successes in Coke Studio’s history.

The official Coke Studio platform celebrated the milestone on social media, thanking fans for streaming the song, singing along to it and making it part of their own musical experiences. The platform also shared a special reel featuring singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, alongside producers Zulfiqar “Xulfi” Khan and Abdullah Siddiqui, acknowledging the fans whose support helped the track reach the remarkable figure.

Released on February 7, 2022, Pasoori reached the billion-view milestone in less than four years and seven months. Since its debut, the song has continued to attract listeners across Pakistan and around the world, becoming one of the most recognisable Pakistani musical releases of recent years.

The track quickly emerged as a cultural phenomenon after being released as part of Coke Studio Season 14. Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s distinctive vocals, combined with the song’s memorable melody and contemporary production, gave Pasoori a unique appeal. Its fusion of traditional Pakistani musical influences with modern sounds allowed it to connect with audiences across different countries and generations.

The song’s success has extended well beyond YouTube. Pasoori became Spotify’s most-streamed Pakistani song in 2022, highlighting the growing international audience for Pakistani music. It has also remained the most-streamed track by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill on the platform, with the song collecting nearly 405 million streams.

As its popularity continued to grow, Pasoori crossed international borders and inspired numerous covers and performances. Fans and musicians from Pakistan, India and other parts of the world put their own spin on the song, while its catchy tune made it a popular choice for social media content.

The track also gained international exposure after being featured on the soundtrack of Marvel’s Ms. Marvel. The Disney series, which follows a Pakistani-American lead character, incorporated several elements of South Asian culture and introduced Pasoori to an even wider global audience.

The song later caught the attention of Bollywood as well. Indian playback singer Arijit Singh recorded his own rendition of Pasoori, generating considerable discussion among fans. While many listeners welcomed the version, others criticised it and accused the Indian film industry of attempting to claim a song that originated in Pakistan.

Despite the controversy surrounding subsequent versions, the original Pasoori has continued to maintain its popularity. Crossing one billion YouTube views marks a significant achievement for Pakistan’s music industry and demonstrates the international reach that locally produced music can achieve.

For Coke Studio, the milestone adds another major achievement to its long history of showcasing Pakistani music to audiences worldwide. For Ali Sethi, Shae Gill, Xulfi and Abdullah Siddiqui, it represents the lasting impact of a collaboration that managed to resonate with millions of listeners.

With more than one billion YouTube views, Pasoori has now secured its position as a landmark Pakistani song and one of Coke Studio’s most successful releases.