The much-awaited music video of Atif Aslam’s “Ajnabi” finally got released on the 25th of September on HUM Television. The video had everyone’s curiosity aroused because prior to its release, its teasers were dropped featuring everyone’s favourite TV and film artist, Mahira Khan.
A short music video not forcefully dragging itself, “Ajnabi” shows Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan encountering and falling for each other at a dance party, only to part their ways, as Khan’s character seems to be of an introvert woman who happens to visit the party just by chance, thereby preferring solitude on the club’s terrace over dance like everyone else. The video, as its name suggests, reflects on the transience of impromptu meetings and the deep impact they leave on people’s hearts as a result of their hesitance towards befriending strangers.
As for the music of the song, Atif Aslam seems to have created a deliberate contrast, that of soft vocals being sung at a fast pace, somewhat complementing the theme of the video which tells how the most vulnerable of human emotions quickly take over their personalities. Not only this, but the music arrangement and vocals also remind us of Atif’s hits from his early career, most of which followed the same pattern; that of meaningful lyrics sung in accordance with modern singing techniques, such as “Ehsaas”, “Maahi Ve”, “Woh Lamhe”, “Jal-Pari” and “Meri Kahani”.
It can also be said that after a long span of singing semi-classical songs for India as per the demand of the country’s music composers, Atif Aslam might have decided to take a shift and revert to his characteristic style of singing, one with which he entered the industry and won millions of hearts.
“Ajnabi” is a pure treat, especially for Pakistani listeners who are taken back to the times of Pakistani music industry’s growing popularity, a lot of contribution to which was made by the likes of Atif Aslam.
This happens to be the third video featuring Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan together, the first two being “Kaho” and “Hona Tha Pyar”, both being songs of the highly popular Pakistani film, “Bol”.
