‘Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This / Who Am I to Disagree’

rom the first audition to the Theatre Round finale, Pakistan Idol has reminded audiences that Pakistan’s musical heart still beats as strongly as ever, giving them hope in a cynical time. Episode 12, which revealed the Top 16, tied together weeks of discovery, heartbreak and revelations in a single night that captured the true spirit of performance.

The journey to that night was deliberate, each episode adding a layer as the competition moved from early auditions into the intensity of the Theatre Round. Episodes 7 to 11 deepened the narrative, turning anonymous dreamers into familiar faces. Small-town singers arrived with trembling hands, while classically trained vocalists treated the Idol stage as their first professional platform. Each performance added a new shade to Pakistan’s musical identity.

There was Ravish, whose romantic ballads unfolded like intimate confessions. Sohail rediscovered his devotional
spirit through ‘Tajdar-e-Haram’. Hamna’s rendition of ‘Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo’ left the judges visibly moved. Some, like Mohammad Minam and Ahsan, wrestled openly with nerves, showing raw vulnerability that reminded viewers that artistry is born from both courage and discipline.

By the opening of Episode 12, thirty-seven contestants waited to hear which sixteen voices would carry forward.
The night was more than an elimination; it was catharsis.

Pakistan Idol once again became a mirror, reflecting not only talent but the country’s ongoing dialogue with its own sound, where tradition, techno-logy and ambition converge. Host Shafaq Ali opened the episode with a quiet reminder that Pakistan Idol is a platform, not a finish line.

The Bugti Brothers brought the house alive with a Balochi folk number that was both vibrant and steeped in cultural pride. The judges nodded in sync with the pulse of their performance.

Arsalan Bukhari, whose pop-fusion take on Abida Parveen’s ‘Jabse Tu Ne Mujhe Deewana’ divided opinion. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan admired the effort but urged more vocal power, Bilal Maqsood saw........

© The News on Sunday