The soulful track “Jhol” by Maanu and Annural Khalid has won Song of the Year at the 24th Lux Style Awards held in Karachi on December 11, 2025. The victory marks a significant achievement for the Coke Studio Season 15 hit that captured hearts across Pakistan and beyond.
Released in June 2024 as part of Coke Studio Pakistan Season 15, “Jhol” quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The song was created by Rehman Asfar, known professionally as Maanu, who originally composed it as a monologue. On the recommendation of Coke Studio curator and producer Xulfi, he transformed it into a duet and brought in Annural Khalid to add a complementary female voice. Her soulful Punjabi vocals proved to be the perfect match for the romantic ballad about love and loss.
The song’s success has been remarkable by any measure. According to Spotify’s 2024 year-end report, “Jhol” became the most-streamed local track in Pakistan for the entire year, beating thousands of other songs. The achievement is particularly impressive considering both artists were relatively unknown before their Coke Studio collaboration.
Annural Khalid, an Islamabad-based singer, had been creating cover songs and building her following online when the opportunity came. For her, appearing on Coke Studio was a dream her mother had been praying for, though she never believed it would actually happen.
The music video, directed by Jamal Rahman, presents “Jhol” as a silver screen musical set in a parallel Pakistan where vintage train stations meet metropolitan club culture. Shot through a nostalgic lens with smoky undertones, the video features both artists not just as singers but as actors portraying a tragically bent love story reminiscent of classic subcontinental tales like Heer Ranjha.
The production team behind “Jhol” included some of Pakistan’s finest musical talent. Xulfi served as curator and producer, with co-production from Abdullah Siddiqui, Abdullah Kasumbi, and Talal Qureshi. Their combined expertise created a sound that balanced traditional Punjabi influences with modern R&B and soul elements, making the song accessible to both younger listeners and those who appreciate classical subcontinental music.
The song’s impact extended far beyond streaming numbers. It sparked countless memes, dance videos, and social media trends. Both Maanu and Annural Khalid acknowledge that “Jhol” and their Coke Studio appearance marked a turning point in how people perceived them as artists. As Maanu noted in an interview, people started respecting them more and seeing them as capable of creating quality music, rather than just online content creators.
For them, the journey from relative obscurity to Lux Style Awards winners in less than two years demonstrates that talent, when given the right platform and support, can achieve remarkable success in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving music industry.
