SRINAGAR: In anticipation of its release, Songs of Paradise, a film on Kashmir’s nightingale, Raj Begum (1927-2016) is drawing appreciation from Bollywood. Currently in post-production, the film that was shot entirely in Kashmir will be premiered later this year.
“Every actor needs to see your performance in this one,” Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan responded to a social media post by Saba Azad, who plays the young Kashmir singer in the film. “Heart-wrenching. One of the best I have ever seen..EVER!”
The film is being produced by Excel Entertainment; the renowned Indian studio founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and is directed by the talented Danish Renzu, one of Kashmir’s best directors. The film immerses audiences in the mesmerizing world of Kashmir. It is jointly produced by Sidhwani, Akhtar, Shafat Qazi, Renzu and Kassim Jagmagia. Shafat is a Srinagar born entreprnuer.
The film unfolds the poignant tale of the first female singer at Radio Kashmir Srinagar, set against the backdrop of a paradise marred by strife. Inspired by the music and resilience of the legendary Raj Begum, the narrative delves into a time when women faced constrained rights. It weaves a narrative tapestry that celebrates those who dared to open doors for female artists, challenging societal barriers in the process.
Saba Azad, known for her role in Rocket Boys, takes centre stage in this musical drama, portraying the lead character with grace and depth. The ensemble cast includes Soni Razdan (the elder Raj Bergum), Zain Khan Durrani, Taaruk Raina, Sheebha Chaddha, Shishir Sharma, and Lillette Dubey. Together, they bring to life the struggles and triumphs of a bygone era, showcasing the resilience of individuals who defied societal norms. Its screenplay has been done by Danish Renzu, and Sunayana Kachroo and dialogues by Niranjan Iyengar.
Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar express their pride in bringing Songs of Paradise to audiences, emphasising their commitment to storytelling that transcends boundaries. As the film nears completion in post-production, the duo aims to deliver a narrative that resonates, inspires, and celebrates the human spirit.
Director Renzu, a Kashmir-born, UCLA-educated filmmaker, adds a personal touch to the project. Having previously directed Half Widow and The Illegal, Renzu brings his unique perspective to showcase Kashmir’s forgotten poetry and music. His Half Widows won two awards at the New Jersey International Festival. His sophomore effort The Illegal featured Life of Pi star Suraj Sharma as a film school student from India who is forced to drop out to support his family while staying in the US as an undocumented worker. It won the jury prize at the Mumbai Film Festival.
With Excel Entertainment on board as producers, Renzu expresses his honour at having luminaries like Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani taking the film to a global audience. He shares his dream of showcasing Kashmir’s rich music on the big screen, using Begum’s story as a vessel to portray the struggles and triumphs of a woman dedicated to bringing change through her art.
As the film embraces its final stages of post-production, Saba Azad’s boyfriend and celebrated actor Hrithik Roshan showers praise on her performance. In an Instagram comment, he describes her portrayal as “heart-wrenching” and one of the best he has ever seen.
The film also serves as a tribute to the veteran singers of Kashmir, particularly Raj Begum, whose powerful voice echoed through the decades. Renzu Films, led by Danish Renzu, aims to revive the spiritual and Sufi music of Kashmir on an international scale, creating a platform for old songs that deserve recognition.
Songs of Paradise is not just a cinematic endeavour but a heartfelt journey through Kashmir’s cultural tapestry, where the melodies of the past resonate with the present. As the film’s release approaches, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the transformative impact of art on society.
“I think it’s really important to tell human stories from conflict regions, to speak of triumphs and joys, to celebrate culture and art. It’s easy to paint a place in strife with broad strokes, view it as a homogenised, faceless mass, it’s dehumanizing, somewhere within that the individual disappears and with it reliability and empathy,” actor-musician Azad was quoted saying in Variety magazine. “Raj Begum is one of the unsung heroes of the region and I hope the film helps her story travel.” Raj Begum was bestowed with a Padma Shri in 2002.
Saba was a natural choice for playing Raj Begum. Born as Saba Singh Grewal to a Punjabi father and a Kashmiri mother, she is the niece of theatre great Safdar Hashmi.
