News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh/ 5th June 2024
In an unexpected twist, Pakistani-American singer Ali Sethi found himself at the center of a social media buzz when an image from an Indian news channel’s coverage of the Lok Sabha election results 2024 appeared to show a person who closely resembles him. Sethi took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the image, adding a humorous touch to the election fever.
“Apparently I lost some votes in India,” Sethi wrote on Instagram, sharing the photo that sparked a wave of amusing comments and reactions. The image was first shared by an Indian viewer, who posted it on Instagram Stories, wondering if the person shown was the ‘Pasoori’ singer.
This light-hearted moment was further amplified by comments from Indian users, one of whom remarked, “If not from Mussoorie, you’d have surely won from Pasoori,” referencing Sethi’s hit song from Coke Studio Pakistan. The photo, initially shared by Bengaluru resident Shubham Nalat, quickly went viral, drawing in comments from fans and admirers of Sethi’s music.
Ali Aziz Sethi, born on July 2, 1984, is a renowned Pakistani-American singer, songwriter, composer, and author. Born to journalists and politicians Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin, Sethi initially rose to prominence with his debut novel, The Wish Maker (2009). Although he received some musical training as a child, Sethi formally began training in Hindustani classical music after graduating from college, under the tutelage of Ustad Naseeruddin Saami and ghazal singer Farida Khanum.
Sethi’s musical career took off in 2012 with his film debut as a singer in Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist. He followed this with numerous independent covers of popular ghazals and traditional Punjabi folk songs. His 2015 debut on Coke Studio Pakistan with the Punjabi folk song “UmraanLangiyaan” earned him significant praise, establishing him as a prominent figure in traditional folk and classical music.
Sethi’s most recent single for Coke Studio, “Pasoori” (2022), became a viral sensation, marking a significant milestone in his career. The song became the first Pakistani song to feature on Spotify’s “Viral 50 – Global” chart and eventually climbed to the top of the chart in May 2022. With over 700 million views on YouTube as of May 2024, “Pasoori” is the most-watched Coke Studio music video of all time and the first Coke Studio song to reach this milestone.
Following the viral post, many users from India commented on Sethi’s Instagram, expressing their admiration for the singer and composer. Fans praised his musical talents and shared their enjoyment of his work, further solidifying his popularity across borders.
Ali Sethi’s humorous engagement with the election coverage highlights the unique ways in which music and social media can intersect, bringing light-hearted moments to serious events. Sethi’s ability to connect with fans through both his music and his playful social media presence continues to endear him to audiences worldwide. His celebrated career and viral moments like these showcase the unifying power of art and humor, transcending geographical and political boundaries.
