Mela Loot Liya

"Mela Loot Liya"
Single by Ali Zafar
Released29 February 2020 (2020-02-29)
RecordedFebruary 2020
StudioLightingale
GenrePop music
Length3:42
LabelLightingale
SongwriterAli Zafar
ProducerAli Zafar
Music Video
Directed byAli Zafar
Sonu Dangerous (asst. choreographer)
CinematographyDanyal Zafar
Omer Khalid Butt
Asif Masood
Yratta media
Edited byAsif Masood
Release date
  • 1 March 2020 (2020-03-01)
Running time
5:10

"Mela Loot Liya" (Urdu: "میلہ لوٹ لیا", lit. 'Stole the show') is a 2020 Urdu song, written, performed and produced by Pakistani singer Ali Zafar under his Lightingale Records. It features a compilation of fan videos, and was created and released in response to the criticism of the official anthem of the fifth season of the Pakistan Super League.

Background

Earlier in 2020, "Tayyar Hain", the official anthem of the fifth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), was released and received strong criticism from fans. Soon after, Ali Zafar's name began trending on Twitter in Pakistan as fans remembered him for his anthems in the first three editions of the PSL, particularly "Ab Khel Jamay Ga" from the second edition which remains popular with fans.[1][2] However, reports suggested that there had been resistance in hiring Zafar or to play his songs during the matches, due to proceedings of the legal battle Ali Zafar vs. Meesha Shafi.[3][4] Responding to fans, Zafar tweeted to support the brand and artists of the country.[5]

After the PSL opening ceremony, Ali Azmat claimed in an interview with Waseem Badami on ARY News that bloggers were hired for a campaign against their anthem by a rival singer, however denied pointing towards Zafar.[6] Badami conducted an online poll on Twitter, where fans showed high interest in Zafar's anthem.[7] Therefore, Zafar announced on 23 February that he is preparing a new anthem, along with a new hashtag #BhaeeHazirHai.[8][9] He asked the fans to record and share the dance steps for his music video. Azmat, Asim Azhar, and Haroon, singers of "Tayyar Hain", showed their support towards Zafar.[10][11][12]

Release

Filming of the music video at a college

The poster with the title "Mela Loot Liya" was revealed on 29 February.[13] The anthem was released on 1 March on YouTube by Lightingale Records, and Zafar premiered the song at Waseem Badami's program as well. The News quoted Zafar that the process of making took hardly a week with a budget of less than Rs. 200,000, and he had not taken support from any sponsor. Filming took place at the National College of Arts (NCA), Superior University Lahore, and a learning hub by Ali Zafar Foundation in the Walled City of Lahore. A compilation of multiple fan videos from around the world was also used.[14][15][16]

A petition was filed at a civil court in Lahore, which requested to direct the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to restrain Zafar's new anthem or it would "damage the rating and popularity of PSL", however, it was later withdrawn.[17][18] A protest was also held at the NCA against Zafar by the supporters of Meesha Shafi.[19]

Reception

The video was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Ali Zafar and he credited the anthem to the fans. Reportedly, the anthem's digital reception soon beat "Tayyar Hain".[19][20][21]

Madiha Shakeel of Business Recorder called it a "fun filled, energetic song" which fulfilled its hype.[14] Usman Ghafoor of Gulf News reviewed as "a new Ali Zafar" with "high-energy, hyper-enthusiastic and a bit cocky" style, dancing and surrounded with the students and street children in the "form of flash mob", and with the catchy song title and an impromptu feel to the video.[21] The News reviewed it by saying that "lyrics are a little displaced" but "the beat is catchy".[19] Maliha Rehman of Dawn called it "a very clever online campaign" and Zafar's "ingenious" marketing "opportunity to strike back".[22]

On Twitter, journalists like Arfa Feroz noted that it "has that boom to making stadium go gaga and crazy",[23] while Ihtisham Ul Haq and Saleem Khaliq noted that Zafar definitely had stole the show.[24][25] Javeria Siddique called Zafar "the star of the century",[26] while Mirza Iqbal Baig commented that Zafar "rocked".[27] Omair Alavi called it his second favourite for PSL behind "Ab Khel Jamay Ga", despite being an unofficial anthem.[28] While Naimat Khan questioned the absence of cricket and PSL from the anthem,[29] The News noted that Zafar "strategically" made "no reference" to these.[19]

Later, at the 2021 Hum Style Awards, Zafar performed on the song with Alizeh Shah.[30]

See also

External media
Audio
audio icon Full audio on YouTube
Video
video icon Music video on YouTube
video icon Stage performance on YouTube

References

  1. ↑ Krishna Priya Pallavi (29 January 2020). "Nervous Ali Zafar asks fans why he is trending on Twitter. Turns out, it's for a cute reason". India Today. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. ↑ Zainab Sabir Mir (14 February 2023). "Which PSL anthem do fans like best?". Geo News. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Madiha Shakeel (24 February 2020). "'Jeet gaye ap' Ahmed Godil is no more part of PSL". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Zulqernain Tahir (18 January 2024). "Ali Zafar separated from PSL anthem 'due to Meesha factor'". Dawn. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Here's what Ali Zafar has to say about PSL anthem 'Tayyar Hain'". The News. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ali Azmat is angry about a lot of things and Ali Zafar might be one of them". Dawn Images. 22 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "پی ایس ایل کا نیا گانا، علی ظفر نے پیشگی معافی مانگ لی" (in Urdu). Geo News. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Madiha Shakeel (22 February 2020). "Check out ! Ali Zafar sarcastic jibes at Ali Azmat". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Madiha Shakeel (24 February 2020). "Is Ali Zafar preparing for new PSL anthem?". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Madiha Shakeel (25 February 2020). "Asim Azhar responds to a fan about PSL's new anthem". Business Recorder. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Ali Azmat supports Ali Zafar for his upcoming PSL song". Geo News. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Shazia Bashir (7 March 2020). "ہارون کی علی ظفر کو میلہ لوٹ لیا پر مبارکباد" (in Urdu). City 42. Archived from the original on 29 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Mukhtar Ahmed (29 February 2020). "Ali Zafar shares poster of his PSL 2020 song 'Mela Loot Liya'". Geo News. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  14. 1 2 Madiha Shakeel (2 March 2020). "Ali Zafar's 'Mela Loot Liya' comes out with a bang". Business Recorder. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "شرافت کی زندگی بہت گزار لی، اب لوگ نیا روپ دیکھیں گے، علی ظفر" (in Urdu). ARY News. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  16. ↑ Maheen Sabeeh (22 March 2020). "Ali Zafar, unplugged". The News. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  17. ↑ Rana Bilal (28 February 2020). "Petitioner asks Lahore court to restrain Ali Zafar from releasing new song until PSL ends". Dawn. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ali Zafar's new PSL anthem ropes in over 4 million views in two days". The Express Tribune. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Ali Zafar releases 'Mela Loot Liya' and people are here for it". The News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  20. ↑ Saleem Khaliq (7 March 2020). "Ali Zafar opens up on changing PSL anthem every year". Cricket Pakistan. Archived from the original on 6 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  21. 1 2 Usman Ghafoor (2 March 2020). "Pakistan's Ali Zafar responds to Ali Azmat taunt with new PSL track". Gulf News. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  22. ↑ Maliha Rehman (1 March 2020). "Spotlight: The Path Less Trodden". Dawn. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  23. ↑ @ArfaSays_ (2 March 2020). ""Mela Loot Liya by Ali Zafar" is a super dooper hit" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  24. ↑ @iihtishamm (1 March 2020). "Ali Zafar nay Mela Loot liya" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  25. ↑ @saleemkhaliq (1 March 2020). "@AliZafarsays Waqai #MelaLootLiya well done" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ @javerias (2 March 2020). "The Star Of The Century" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  27. ↑ @mirzaiqbal80 (2 March 2020). "You rocked Ali, keep it up" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ @omair78 (14 February 2024). "an unofficial anthem, but MELA LOOT LIA was outstanding. It is still my second favorite PSL anthem" (Tweet). Retrieved 22 April 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  29. ↑ @NKMalazai (1 March 2020). "Ok but where is cricket and PSL?" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 June 2026 – via Twitter.
  30. ↑ حسن کاظمی (5 July 2021). "شرکا کو پسند کا لباس پہننے کی آزادی ہے: ہم نیٹ ورک". Independent Urdu (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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