Traditional Pakistani folk tune goes viral online and draws comparisons to 90s Bollywood hit

A traditional Saraiki folk song titled 'Chalre Chalre Waal' has drawn massive attention on Instagram after an acoustic cover by singer Shanzy Sibal crossed fifty million views and earned more than six and a half million likes. Also known by the title 'Tediyan Reesan Kon Kare', the track is linked to the Punjab area of Pakistan and has previously been sung by artists like Muhammad Hussain Bandialvi and the late Shafaullah Khan Rokhri.

Melodic Links

Listeners in India quickly noticed that the tune sounds very similar to the 1994 Bollywood song 'Na Kajre Ki Dhar' from the movie 'Mohra', directed by Rajiv Rai. Indian Punjabi singer Sunanda Sharma also released her own cover of the track, helping introduce the classic folk number to a wider group of fans. Even though the two tracks share clear melodic similarities, no official credits or formal song interpolation links the traditional Pakistani piece to the Bollywood track.

Origins of Mohra Hit

'Na Kajre Ki Dhar' actually has roots that stretch back well before its 1994 release. The tune was originally put together by composers Kalyanji-Anandji with words by Indeevar, and was first recorded by singer Mukesh during the 1970s before that particular film project was dropped. Decades later, Kalyanji's son Viju Shah used the tune for the movie 'Mohra' while looking for a soft romantic track for actors Suniel Shetty and Poonam Jhawer.

Final Recording

Because Mukesh passed away in 1976, Viju Shah had the tune recorded again for the nineties film by vocalists Pankaj Udhas and Sadhana Sargam with new lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Viju Shah kept the main tune while updating the arrangement with modern 1990s instruments like synthesizers and acoustic guitars to create a hit.

Context

Folk music often travels across borders and generations through oral tradition, with different artists adapting classic melodies into their own local styles over time. Melody borrowings and similarities frequently surface in South Asian popular music, where older folk tunes and unreleased compositions have often inspired modern film tracks.