Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Center for Contemporary South Asia

Ali Sethi — Raga Saga: Theory and Practice in North Indian Music

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM EST

Joukowsky Forum, 111 Thayer St.

Ali Aziz Sethi is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, composer, and author. Sethi rose to prominence with his debut novel, The Wish Maker (2009). In 2012, Sethi began focusing on his musical career and made his film debut as a singer in Mira Nair's 2012 film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, with the song Dil Jalane Ki Baat Karte Ho. In recent years, Sethi has released numerous cover singles and has appeared on several seasons of Coke Studio Pakistan. Sethi began releasing original music in 2019 and has collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Noah Georgeson. His most recent single for Coke Studio –  Pasoori  (2022) – became the first Pakistani song to feature on Spotify's "Viral 50 - Global" chart,  eventually climbing to the top of the chart in May 2022.   Sethi is known for combining his live musical performances with historical narrative and critical commentary. 

South Asia Seminar