The Story Behind Jhol
Jhol brought Maanu and Annural Khalid together for Coke Studio Pakistan Season 15, turning a song Maanu had written well before the show into a sweeping duet. After Maanu pitched it to season curator Xulfi, the producer suggested a complementary female voice, and Annural was the first choice for her Punjabi singing. Xulfi composed with Maanu and led a production team including Abdullah Siddiqui, Talal Qureshi, and Abdullah Kasumbi. Their arrangement sets an electronic pop pulse against the distinctive color of Haider Ali Tafu's Persian sitar while the two voices circle a tale of love, separation, and powerlessness. Released in June 2024, Jhol became Pakistan's most-streamed local song on Spotify that year and helped establish both singers as major new voices.
Meaning & Translation
In the song, the Punjabi word jhol evokes a sway, spell, or irresistible pull, which the refrain applies to a beloved whose charm makes everyone move to their rhythm. The attraction feels both ecstatic and painful. The two voices speak from inside a love damaged by distance, rumours, jealousy, and missed chances, yet neither can let go. Questions about where to go and whether to come closer turn longing into a conversation rather than a solitary lament. Jhol therefore carries a double feeling: being caught in another person's orbit can feel like joyful surrender, but it can also leave the lover powerless when trust breaks down.
Details
Artists & Credits
- Maanu singer
- Annural Khalid singer
- Maanu composer
- Xulfi composer
- Maanu lyricist
- Annural Khalid lyricist
- Xulfi lyricist
- Wajeeha Badar lyricist
- Haider Ali Tafu musician
- Xulfi producer
- Abdullah Siddiqui producer
- Talal Qureshi producer
- Abdullah Kasumbi producer