Atif Aslam opens up about ‘Aadat’ criticism by Noori

Fans praised Atif for continuing despite early criticism from senior musicians.

Singer Atif Aslam has recounted an early experience from his music career, stating that members of the band Noori had once criticised his first track, Aadat, during an informal review session.

In a resurfaced video interview shared by a fan-run Instagram account named Anam S (@byyouraadee), Atif Aslam described the circumstances under which he first played Aadat for Noori.

At the time, he said, the band was considered a major act in Pakistan’s music scene, and he had asked a mutual friend to arrange a meeting for feedback.

“They were all sitting in a room,” Atif Aslam said in the video. “I played the song. When it ended, most of them started commenting that it was a really bad, nonsense song. Some called it cheap. They said there was no need for this song in the market.”

According to Atif Aslam, only one individual in the room responded favourably. He did not name the person.

Despite the response, Atif Aslam continued to promote the song independently. Within a short span, Aadat was released and began to gain traction among listeners, eventually becoming widely circulated through local platforms and media.

The song “Aadat” was first released in December 2003 by Atif Aslam and Goher Mumtaz as the underground rock duo Jal. This initial release was made public via the internet and Pakistani music channels, quickly gaining viral popularity.

At the time, Atif was Jal’s lead vocalist, and he recorded “Aadat” at age 17 using his own pocket money​. The track became a youth anthem almost overnight – as soon as it hit the airwaves in late 2003, it blew up on radio and TV across Pakistan,

In the same interview, Atif Aslam noted that less than two years after the initial criticism, the members of Noori were part of the lineup at one of his concerts, performing before his own set.

Photo: ScreenGrab

In response to Atif Aslam’s account of early rejection, fans showed strong support online. As seen in the comments under the resurfaced clip, many praised his perseverance and acknowledged the challenges he had faced.

Atif Aslam has not issued any additional comments about the video or the post. The band Noori has also not responded publicly.

Aadat, released in the early 2000s, remains one of the most circulated tracks from Pakistan’s pop-rock scene and played a key role in launching Atif Aslam’s music career.