The recent film Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has placed the sonic world of legendary Pakistani qawwal Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan back into popular Indian cinema consciousness. The film notably revives two of Khan's compositions: 'Jaan Se Guzarte Hain' and 'Man Atkeya Beparwah De Naal'. This resurgence follows a pattern of Bollywood engagement with Khan's indelible work, a relationship previously highlighted by the adaptation of 'Saanson Ki Mala' in a Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit starrer.
The film’s soundtrack functions as a critical element of its narrative construction, with director Dhar employing musical pieces—whether significantly altered or subtly referenced—as a deliberate narrative device. This approach is not new to Dhurandhar, which also repurposes other retro and culturally significant tracks.
The selection of Khan's music taps into a profound emotional and spiritual resonance that continues to captivate audiences. This renewed attention to Khan's oeuvre occurs within a complex cultural and political climate. Dhurandhar's narrative, reportedly a spy thriller involving an Indian intelligence officer infiltrating Lyari, a Karachi neighborhood known for its cultural vibrancy, arrived in cinemas following heightened India-Pakistan tensions earlier in 2026.
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The film’s engagement with Khan's qawwali, particularly its Pakistani origins, presents a thematic dissonance. While the film explores themes of love, betrayal, and pride within a geopolitical context, it reportedly sidesteps acknowledging the shared cultural heritage intrinsically woven into the repurposed music. This oversight is framed as ironic, given the qawwali's capacity to evoke cultural memory, a function the film’s plot apparently does not fully embrace or articulate.
Previously, Dhurandhar also incorporated a re-imagined version of Hasan Jahangir's 1980s Pakistani pop hit 'Hawa Hawa', used to introduce Sanjay Dutt's character. Another track, 'Na De Dil Pardesi Nu', was reworked into a high-energy collaboration featuring rapper Hanumankind, marking his debut in Bollywood, alongside Ranveer Singh. This demonstrates a broader strategy within the film to draw upon a catalog of resonant, often Pakistani, musical pieces to amplify key cinematic moments.
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The film’s sonic tapestry includes a rendition titled 'Ishq Jalakar - Karvaan', featuring Shashwat Sachdev, Shahzad Ali, Subhadeep Das Chowdhury, and Armaan Khan, which aims to balance the original essence with a modern sensibility. Notably, a viral qawwali from the film has also been linked to Hrithik Roshan, and purportedly received positive notice from Shah Rukh Khan.
The context of these musical choices is further complicated by the film’s release timing. Reports from late 2025 and early 2026 indicate Dhurandhar's presence across various media platforms, with some initial paid previews yielding significant box office returns before its official release in March 2026. The film's casting includes Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Madhavan, and Sara Arjun, among others.
