Tajdar-e-Haram becomes most viewed Atif video on YouTube
The number of views of Coke Studio’s Tajdar-e-Haram by Atif Aslam has reached 239 million and counting. The video has also received 1.6 million likes so far. The original qawwali by Sabri Brothers has 12 million views whereas Amjad Sabri’s live performance version in US has 6.5 million.
YouTube is not just used as a channel to view videos; it is also being used for listening music. Most of us, if we want to listen to a song, instinctively search for YouTube. Same goes for Tajdar-e-Haram, most of us play it on YouTube every time we want to listen to it.
After three years, since the qawwali was released by Coke Studio, it is still most viewed and listened track today. Ramadan is also a good time to listen to this soul stirring melody. One can relate more deeply with the lyrics during the month of fasting. If you have to pick the best qawwali of all time that would be Tajdar-e-Haram. It is pure magic what Sabri brothers created many decades ago. Their unique style of singing and the chemistry between the brothers is worth enjoying.
Sabri brothers have sung this qawwali with such perfection that it is very difficult to attempt a cover. There had been many attempts before but none could beat the oblivion. It was a very daring move by Coke Studio to recreate the epic qawwali in the voice of Atif Aslam.
Atif surprised everyone with his beautiful rendition of Tajdar-e-Haram. The best thing he did was not to imitate the original. The well-balanced orchestra arranged the mellowest and the most soothing music ever produced by the studio.
Maqbool Ahmed Sabri and his brother Ghulam Farid Sabri were the most successful qawals in the subcontinent. They were the first ones who introduced qawwali to the west. Their performance at Carnegie Hall, New York in 1975 is among their most memorable ones at the international level.
Though Atif Aslam’s Tajdar-e-Haram is not as long as the original, which is 23 minutes in duration, yet it keeps you mesmerized for the whole 10 minutes.
