Annual Khalid and Burrah Discuss Their Cross-Border Collaboration ‘Mumtaaz’

Annual Khalid and Burrah Discuss Their Cross-Border Collaboration ‘Mumtaaz’

Indian singer Burrah and Pakistani pop sensation Annural Khalid have teamed up for a new love ballad titled Mumtaaz. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone India, the two artists shared insights into the creation of the track and their experiences collaborating across borders.

Khalid, known for her soulful ballads, expressed her fondness for “sad love songs,” particularly those exploring “unfinished, unreciprocated love.” She added with a chuckle, “We both turned out to be sadbois from within.”

Burrah, a fan of Khalid’s music, reflected on his admiration for her work, particularly her hit Coke Studio performance of Jhol with Lahore-based rapper and singer Maanu. “It helps when you’re working with someone you’re a fan of,” Burrah explained. “Then, you enter with your ego diminished, and there’s a mutual respect for each other’s ideas—an unconditionality there.”

According to Rolling Stone India, Mumtaaz was created at composer-producer Sunny MR’s studio in Mumbai during a songwriting camp organized by Warner Music India for Burrah’s upcoming album. Burrah enlisted his frequent collaborator, Youngveer, to assist with the track.

Burrah described how the song quickly came together: “Everyone came into the room and saw how this desolate-looking space had come to life with our song in just 15 minutes. By the end, there were five or six people dancing to the track, so we knew we had something special.”

Khalid, upon receiving the demo version of the song, connected with its themes of unrequited love. “Everybody’s energies made this track so special,” she said. “The idea of unreciprocated love helped break the ice between us. It was all very natural. Neither of us have egos like that, and that helped the process.”

For Burrah, having Khalid on board encouraged him to explore deeper angles in the song, including the themes of Partition. He noted that the first draft of the song was more about personal heartbreak, but when Khalid joined, the narrative shifted. “I had a wake-up moment,” Burrah said. “I thought, ‘Let’s make the story about heartbreak in Punjab.’”

He visualized a poignant tale of lovers torn apart by the Partition, a painful chapter in South Asian history. “It’s dedicated to probably one of the worst things that has happened to our nations—our lands getting divided because of ego and forces beyond our comprehension.”

Looking ahead, Khalid shared her excitement about future collaborations with Indian artists and the release of her solo album, which has been in the works for over a year. “There’s no point in overthinking it,” she said. “The more you overthink, the more it stays with you.”

Burrah, on the other hand, teased his upcoming projects, including a “very big LP” set for release next year. In 2025, he will also drop an EP in April, which he described as “a deeper, slightly more vulnerable experience with me as an artist.”