Songs of Paradise is a 2025 Hindi-language musical drama directed by Danish Renzu. The film focuses on the life and legacy of a Kashmiri female singer who dared to raise her voice in the 1950s and 60s. At its core, the film is a tribute to resilience, to music, and to a time and place often under-represented in Indian cinema.
Story & Setting
The narrative follows the journey of Zeba Akhtar (portrayed by Saba Azad in her younger self, and Soni Razdan in her later years) in Kashmir — from her early days, her struggles in a conservative environment, to rising as a singer at Radio Kashmir. The film is set in the scenic but socially restrictive backdrop of Kashmir in the 50s and 60s.
Moments in the film reflect both the beauty of place and the silences of society: hushed homes, modest ambitions, and the weight of family expectations. For example, Azad’s Zeba is shown hesitating to sit too close to her male composer, a quiet gesture that communicates volumes about her world.
Performances & Technical Aspects
Saba Azad brings a tender strength to the role of Zeba. Many critics have noted her authenticity — her body language, the dialect, the emotional restraint ring true for the era. Soni Razdan, as the older Zeba (or Noor Begum, as the film frames it), offers a quiet gravitas that complements the younger self’s journey.
Visually, the film uses Kashmir’s landscapes and period details to anchor its mood — the houses, the windows, the wooden interiors, all help transport the viewer.
The music is central — not just as background, but as character. The rawness of folk, the restraint in instrumentation, the way songs linger — many reviewers say these are the film’s high points.
What Works
- Authentic atmosphere: The period setting, accent work, and musical environment feel lived-in. Many note that the dialect and feel of 1950s Kashmir are convincingly rendered.
- Music as soul: The film succeeds in celebrating Kashmiri music and the idea of a voice breaking free. The songs aren’t just decorative but integral to the protagonist’s arc.
- Heart over spectacle: The film eschews loud conflict and big-budget set pieces for quiet perseverance and emotional honesty. One critic writes it is “an understated affair, finding its own voice in the gorgeous songs that linger.”
Areas of Concern
- Pace and depth: Some reviews point out the film moves too gently, sometimes skimming over deeper conflicts. The social and political turbulence of Kashmir in that era is largely left in the background rather than engaged with.
- Narrative convenience: A few critics argue that obstacles are resolved too neatly, and the dramatic stakes feel muted compared to the subject’s real life.
- Limited memorability in melody: While the songs are beautiful, some feel they don’t quite linger in the mind as strongly as older folk songs from the region might have.
Final Verdict
Songs of Paradise may not aim to reinvent the biopic, but it offers a respectful, lyrical tribute to a woman whose voice deserved recognition. If you’re looking for a film that balances music, culture and gentle drama — and you’re willing to embrace a slower rhythm — this one delivers. It reminds you that revolutions aren’t always loud; sometimes, they are sung.
Watch it for the performances, the mood, the music — and let the quiet strength of Zeba’s journey stay with you.
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