American publication The New Yorker published an article about Coke Studio Season 14’s hit song Pasoori, and Pakistani social media had mixed reactions about it.
The article, written by journalist Priyanka Mattoo, is titled ‘The pop song that’s uniting India and Pakistan‘, and social media users say that’s where the problem lies.
In the piece, Priyanka talks about how owing to the popularity of the song globally, but especially in India, it serves as a bridge between the two countries, uniting them through culture and music that shares the same historic roots across the border.
Ali Sethi’s pop song sits firmly at No. 1 on the Indian music charts. “People are streaming ‘Pasoori’ in villages, in cities, in regions where people don’t even speak the language but furiously feel the vibe,” @naanking writes. https://t.co/1cfuX24It7
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) May 9, 2022
However, critics and cultural commentators on the internet think the article glosses over the massive imbalance that exists in the kind of cultural industries that India and Pakistan have, which makes the claim that Pasoori has ‘unified the two nations’ seem oversimplified.
There is no way for us to write for each other, get appropriately compensated, and also be able to grow in our careers within the region as culture writers. There are exceptions to this – but to get to that position of access requires immense privilege, networks, capital
— Aiman Rizvi (@aimanfrizvi) May 10, 2022
Some people have been arguing that it also inaccurately makes Pasoori out to be a champion of Pakistan-India unity, without taking into considerations that this is not the first Pakistani song to become massively popular across the border.
The funniest thing about that New Yorker piece on Pasoori was the suggestion that a song uniting India and Pakistan is a rare occurrence 🥴 Like sis, my intro to music was chaiyyah chaiyyah
— Shehr-een (@shehreenhere) May 10, 2022
Not just that, but the notion of the kind of ‘unity’ the song has created between India and Pakistan feels a bit tone-deaf, especially in a time where communal violence is rife on both sides, and in an age where citizens of neither city go visit the neighboring country without a considerable amount of hurdle jumping.
“Afterward, at dinner, I asked, now that he’s united the people of South Asia with his song, what was next?” Priyanka asks flippantly in the piece.
The piece has diaspora dumbness written all over it but it peaks here, "Afterward, at dinner, I asked, now that he’s united the people of South Asia with his song, what was next? "
Haan we're all united. I've got the visa and I can visit Pakistan whenever— Avina Kohli (@AvinaKohli) May 10, 2022
Saying that the author’s oblivion to the sensitive geopolitical ecosystem that the two countries exist in, people are claiming the piece ‘reeks of diaspora dumbness’ where South Asian immigrants who reside in the West are so far removed from the ground realities and cultural disparities of their home countries.
Other criticisms of the song include its erasure of the Pakistani identity of the song, owing to the numerous instances of linking elements of the song and its video to either an Indian identity or an ambiguous South Asian one. Priyanka likens the musical notes to the Indian raga and the visual tones of the video to old-Bollywood technicolor films.
Maybe……Indian fans can appreciate #Pasoori as a Pakistani song written, sung, composed, produced by Pakistanis…..and just NOT try to claim a piece of the pie. Just show appreciation. We love Bollywood too. What the fudge is this article?! #cokestudio14https://t.co/2BHpvRS6Tb
— SophiaQ (@SophiaAQ) May 10, 2022
Also, India felt superfluous to the piece. Either the piece needed to unpacks the popularity of music by Pakistani artists in India (there are many before Pasoori that can make the claim of 'uniting India and Pakistan') which exists in a transnational cultural sphere or…
— كاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكاكا (@kookykarthik) May 10, 2022
Critics also pointed out the lack of spotlight Shae Gill, the co-singer of the hit song gets in the article, who is only mentioned three times in the entire piece.
However, there was no dearth of social media users who praised the New Yorker essay.
#Pasoori by Ali Sethi is the background score to my life these days. So proud of my former student and all he has achieved since he first came to my class as freshman. https://t.co/tJKEzFeayL via @NewYorker
— Sharmila Sen (@_sen_sharmila) May 9, 2022
‘Set fire to your compulsions!’ Beautiful essay by @naanking on @alisethimusic’s Pasoori.. in @NewYorker https://t.co/bZ1wEefBWE
— Basharat Peer (@BasharatPeer) May 9, 2022
There are many reasons to find the New Yorker article on Pasoori lacking, or even wanting in its coverage – although suffice to say, the audience for the New Yorker is global and not only South Asian – but I think saying the author is Indian, so she shouldn't write on it
— Iman Sultan (@karachiiite) May 10, 2022
