Production
Saba Azad was cast to play the part of a Kashmiri up-and-coming vocalist in the film, who draws inspiration from a Kashmiri vocalist Raj Begum. The filmmaker disclosed that he enlisted Saba Azad for the main role as the actress is also a musician and originates from Kashmir. [3]
The shooting of the movie took place in various regions of Kashmir and completed on 22 October 2022. [1] [12]
Saba shared a glimpse of her on-screen look in the film on her Instagram, where she can be seen standing in front of a microphone, dressed in traditional attire with a backdrop of musicians playing musical instruments like Sarangi and Santoor. [13]
Reception
Abhishek Srivastava of The Times of India gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated that "‘Songs of Paradise’ is a poetic film that moves you with its sheer simplicity. Set against the backdrop of Kashmir in the 50s and 60s, it tells its story with honesty and grace." [15] Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave 3 stars out of 5 and said that "Overall, Songs of Paradise may not rewrite the rules of biographical cinema, but it hums a tune sweet enough to linger." [16] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India observed that "Danish Renzu films on Padma Shri Raj Begum, Kashmir’s first female playback singer, presents music without quite exploring it." [17]
Deepa Gahlot of Rediff.com awarded 3 stars out of 5 and observed that "Songs Of Paradise is the story of a female achiever that needed to be told, just as her songs of love and longing deserve to be rediscovered and shared with music aficionados." [18] Shubhra Gupta rated it 2/5 stars and said that "Saba Azad’s Noor Begum comes across as a young woman of the 50s, not an actor trying to do period, the costuming and the body-language feeling as if it could well have belonged to that era." [19] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in writes her review that "Except for a flare-up or two, the 106-minute movie is an understated affair, finding its own voice in the gorgeous songs that linger all the way to the closing credits. Renzu replaces outrage, an emotion inevitably associated with works on Kashmir, with restrained remembrance for a rare moment of triumph." [20]
Aishwarya Vasudevan of OTT Play rated it 3/5 stars and said that "Songs of Paradise celebrates Noor Begum’s rise from silence to Kashmiri music icon, with strong performances and scenic charm, though the narrative softens her struggles, leaving a muted impact." [21] Shreyanka Mazumdar of News 18 gave it 3 stars out of 5 and commented that "Songs of Paradise honours Raj Begum through Zeeba Akhtar’s journey in Kashmir, with Saba Azad and Soni Razdan bringing their A game." [22] Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost aslo gave 3 stars out of 5 and stated that "Songs of Paradise feels like the right attempt to deflate all the noise and let music do the talking. How far the story of Raj Begum will travel is a question for tomorrow, at least someone attempted to tell it today." [23]
Kusumika Das of Times Now rated it 3/5 stars and said that "Songs of Paradise is not a loud film. It doesn’t try to shock or over-dramatise. It moves at its own gentle pace, asking you to pause and listen. While it leaves you wishing for more detail in certain parts, the sincerity of the performances and the music make it a film worth watching." [24] Troy Ribeiro of Free Press Journal gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "This film is not a glossy spectacle, nor does it pretend to be. It is a tender portrait of a woman who dared to sing when silence was safer. Its strength lies in the performances and the haunting music that carries Noor Begum’s journey. Its weaknesses, occasional narrative flatness and missed cinematic opportunities, are noticeable but forgivable." [25] Prachi Arya of India Today gave it 3 stars out 5 and said that "'Songs of Paradise', beautifully blends Kashmir's breathtaking landscapes with its rich musical heritage, tracing the inspiring journey of Noor Begum, a woman who defied patriarchy through her voice. Anchored by powerful performances and soulful music, the film is a poignant ode to resilience and art." [26]
Songs of Paradise received attention for its portrayal of Kashmiri history and culture. Gafira Qadir of Middle East Eye described the film as "Bollywood's latest attempt to depoliticise the Kashmir Valley" through "banal art," highlighting how the film simplifies the complex historical and political context of the region. [27]
A review in The Wire pointed out that while Songs of Paradise evokes musical nostalgia and period detail, it falls short in several respects. The critic noted its “glaring omissions,” especially in not engaging with the socio-political complexities of Kashmir’s history, and described the dialogue as wavered between caricatured Urdu and lack of authentic Kashmiri speech. [28]
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