Asim Azhar returns to Coke Studio with 'Maheya'

Ten years after he sang the much-loved “Tera Woh Pyar” on Coke Studio, Asim Azhar is back on the platform with “Maheya”, a new song that fans have already put on repeat.

The song is part of Coke Studio Nu.WAV, the platform’s newer space for artists and producers to experiment with their own sound, The Express Tribune reported.

Who made it

• Vocals: Asim Azhar and Aaryan
• Production: Rovalio
• Lyrics: Asim Azhar, Aaryan and Kumail Abbas
• Music: Asim Azhar, Azhar Hussain and Rovalio

“Thank you for always being here”

Sharing the release on Instagram, Azhar quoted a line from the song, “maheya tere pyar vich, jindri mai haareya”, and looked back on his journey.

“Exactly 10 years ago, it was ‘tera woh pyar’ today, its ‘maheya’ thank you for always being here. I hope you all love it as much as we loved making it,” he wrote.

A love song with an old soul

“Maheya” is a song of longing and heartbreak, built around a refrain about being completely consumed by love. Azhar’s familiar voice is paired with Aaryan’s, while Rovalio’s production gives it a modern polish.

The video takes an old-school route. Shot in black and white, it creates a fictional 1950s film world in which Azhar plays a playback singer, with chic, retro styling to match.

Fans were quick to respond. “Bro wakes up, drops a banger, makes a transition video to it, and goes back to sleep,” one wrote.

The story in the video

The video opens with a child having his face painted in mime colours while his father tells him to sit still, Dawn Images reported. It then cuts to Azhar levitating cross-legged in a meditative pose, before switching to black and white, where he sits in a make-up chair, a nod to the boy at the start.

Azhar plays a playback singer for a film being shot in 1955, in which a man tries to keep alive a caged figure with a mechanical heart. After a series of events, he ends up back in the chair where he began, with the boy’s father standing behind him.

Nu.WAV’s third release

“Maheya” is the third Nu.WAV release, after “Dil” by Afusic, Zoha Waseem and Ali Soomro, and “Rangeen” by Hasan Raheem and Izzchugtai. The first edition’s line-up also includes Maanu, Sabaat Batin, Shae Gill and Young Stunners. Nu.WAV is designed as a space for young and up-and-coming artists to experiment.

Where it all began

Azhar first appeared on Coke Studio in 2015 with “Hina Ki Khushbu”, before returning with “Tera Woh Pyar”, his now-iconic duet with Momina Mustehsan.

A big year

“Maheya” arrives at a busy point in Azhar’s career. Earlier this year, his collaboration “Aarzu” reached No 2 on the Official Asian Music Chart and No 8 on Billboard’s global chart. Last month, his fans marked his 13th year in the music industry by giving back to children at an SOS Village, a gesture he warmly acknowledged.

Coke Studio’s place in Pakistan

Coke Studio has been one of Pakistan’s most successful cultural exports, bringing the country’s music to audiences around the world and launching or reviving the careers of many artists. Azhar’s return links the platform’s past with its newer, more experimental direction.

Why it matters

Asim Azhar is one of the leading voices of a generation of Pakistani pop stars who have taken the country’s music to a global audience. Returning to the stage where his rise began, with a song that blends nostalgia and a modern sound, shows how far he and Pakistani pop have come in a decade.

This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune and Dawn Images.