Written by: Saman Khalid
Posted on: December 21, 2023 | 
| 中文
Chahat Fatah Ali Khan with Vasay Chaudhry on his show 'Gup Shup'
"Lota Lota, Lota Lota bum bum bum". This isn't a random string of words. These are in fact, the lyrics of an actual song created by a self-proclaimed singer, "Chahat Fateh Ali Khan". Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past year or so has come across this unabashedly weird creator online. With hair that extends to his knees and oversized outfits, Chahat has come up with a distinctive persona of his own. His music essentially features unharmonized melodies and nonsensical lyrics that keep repeating on a loop. Despite such dubious credentials, he has been receiving significant traction through talk shows and famous YouTubers. What exactly is the reason behind his newfound fame, and to what extent is it justified?
Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, originally named Kashif Rana, was born in Lahore in 1966. He caught steam during the Covid lockdown in 2020, by uploading music videos on YouTube and Instagram. Some of his "popular" songs include Pyara PSL, Lota Lota, Gol Kattara and Tu Chor Chor Chor. He also makes parody-like versions of renowned songs by reducing their rhythm to a monotonous beat and adding lyrics of his own. Saying that he basically ruins every song he decides to touch, wouldn't be an overstatement.
Chahat Fatah Ali in his song 'Tu Chor Chor Chor'
Initially, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan's music served as meme fodder. Instagram editors and YouTube commentors would have a field day with trolling every time he came out with a new song. It was collectively agreed upon that this certain category of comic music wasn't meant to be taken seriously. Some of the criticism of Chahat's work would even cross into hateful territory. However, the singer continued to create videos consistently regardless of the online mockery. While he has been around for a while, this year brought him unprecedented recognition. Over the past few months, he has been on multiple talk shows including Gup Shup with Vasay Chaudry, Honest Hour podcast with Shahveer Jafry, Yasir Shami's Show, Jani Ki Chah, Public Demand with Mohsin Abbass Haider and many others. On top of that, he was invited to the IPPA Awards 2023, and was even given a special opportunity to perform on stage. The primary reason for this surge in popularity could be his novel style and his blatant lack of self-awareness.
Chahat Fatah Ali at IPPA Awards with Ahmed Ali Butt
It is a general rule of thumb that only the best veterans of a certain field are considered worthy of interviews. However, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan seems to be an outlier. While art is subjective, it is clear that Ali's music is not on par with the standards of quality music at all. Little to no effort is put into his songs, assuming they can be called songs in the first place. It appears that Talk Show hosts have caught on to the public's penchant for absurdity. It is an undeniable reality that Chahat's music is a masterclass on entertainment. The juxtaposition between his humorous songs and his serious demeanor, presents an incredibly interesting dynamic that throws the audience into peals of laughter. Most of the shows are focused on creating this interplay in order to drive the highest engagement rates. While some hosts make sure to maintain an air of reverence, others turn the show into a full-on humiliation fest. In my own humble opinion, inviting someone like Chahat Fateh Ali Khan for his musical contributions is not only bizarre but also a flippant disrespect to actual artists. In the same vein, having him over on the show simply to embarrass him, also appears in bad taste. Considering all the facts, it still seems as though Chahat is asking for it. He always puts on a confident face, and takes every insult with a grain of salt. The entire facade makes one wonder whether he is really just an attention seeker who loves staying in the spotlight.
Chahat Fatah Ali performing live at a show in London
Chahat's entire internet portfolio is so ludicrous that the idea of him faking it doesn't sound far-fetched at all. He has also referred to himself as an 'entertainer", quite a few times. Each new video he releases is somehow more preposterous than the last one. His visuals and dance performances are also unconventional, although not in a good way. The online trolling and negative feedback alone should be enough to make any sane person get in touch with reality. However, Chahat is not the least bit phased by it. He evidently enjoys the attention and limelight that accompanies his outlandish shenanigans. His recent venture on to the IPPA Awards stage is the perfect proof of the theory that he is intentionally playing a comic character. He presented his song "Tun Tana Tun" in front of a star-studded audience, and even had the audacity to pass flirtatious remarks about the actress who had joined him on stage. Moreover, he never claps back at anyone who attempts to mock his music. It is, therefore, clear that he has deliberately created this identity in order to hog views.
Chahat Fatah with the portrait of Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan at the back
Art is a free medium and everyone should have the liberty to explore it. However, credibility and authenticity are imperative to its sustainability. If Chahat Fateh Ali Khan really is playing a character, it would do him good to come clean about it. He is no doubt an extraordinary entertainer. If he were to openly proclaim that his brand is intended for comedy, people would take better to his work. Television show hosts should also pose this question to him and then treat him accordingly. There is no shame in recognizing comedic talent, but it is important to be honest about it. A good many foreign artists have also conceived internet personalities that are different from their real ones, like Colleen Ballingher, who plays a character called Miranda Sings. Chahat should also own his inner calling and separate his real life from the character. By doing so, he would actually open up a brand-new avenue for the entertainment industry of Pakistan.
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