Songs of Paradise

Danish Renzu's Songs of Paradise is a hymn to the transformative power of songs and the steady courage behind it. It traces the life of Zeba Akhtar, portrayed in youth by Saba Azad and in later years by Soni Razdan.

From its opening scenes, Zeba's voice feels both fragile and insistent, an echo in a world determined to filter out female expression.

Zeba's character arc lingers on breath held before a performance, on an eye shift that betrays pride, on a voice bending the geo-cultural map of its time. The film's narrative moves like an aria, weighing heritage and longing more heavily than dramatic Pyrotechnics.

Saba Azad inhabits young Zeba with quiet intensity, every gesture calibrated less to attract attention, more to reclaim it. Soni Razdan, as the older Noor Begum, holds the screen with spectral calm, as if her voice still hums in her bones. Between them lies the film's emotional chord: time has worn her strength thin, but not gone.

Abhay Sopori's re-creation of Kashmiri compositions and Masrat-un-Nisa's vocals function as Zeba's inner language, unsent, yet unignored.

Renzu's Kashmir is not the conflict-scarred image the world knows, but a land carrying memory, music drifting by willow trees, rivers that remember her, and small injustices that won't let her stay silent.

The film occasionally smooths edges: obstacles slip too easily, conflicts resolve with too much decorum. Yet those soft arcs reflect Zeba's day-to-day perseverance rather than cinematic dramatization, her revolution is small, gentle, yet relentless.

Songs of Paradise is a rising note carried on a breath. It reminds us that sometimes, revolutions are not always loud, but can be gentle and can be remembered in silence.

In movie there are some misleading information like a song "krsa myon nyaay anday" is originally written by mahmood gami sahab but in movie they show this song is written by azad maqbool (husband of noor) which is completely wrong .

And many more mistakes Apart from these mistakes, movie is good and Dramatic.

This is undoubtedly one of the best movies of 2025. From start to finish, it keeps you hooked with its brilliant direction, soulful songs, meaningful lyrics, and powerful dialogues. The performances are flawless, and every detail is executed to perfection. A true cinematic paradise that lingers long after the credits roll!

The film takes us into the gentle world of Kashmiri folk music and songs, keeping its focus on the main characters' fight to exist in an exclusive male domain against the backdrop of the often bloody conflict in the region. The MC's courage, poise and delicate emotions are brought forward brilliantly by the director. Saba's portrayal is perfect. The movie takes us into a world not often seen without colored glasses. Though as some places the narrative seems to be bogged down, slowing the fluid movement of the story.

Just stumbled upon this without any expectations. But couldn't stop watching.. it's so innocent and yet so strong.. difficulties faced by women back then (perhaps somewhere even today) that we are unaware of. How a girl with a beautiful voice just wanted to sing and how she was penalised for it, how she struggled and overcame difficulties. It is definitely not a big budget movie, but as you start watching it, you just enjoy it, and as I said, it's like a warm cup of tea, the story of Kashmir being unfolded.