Aziz Nazan's qawwali to be reprised in 'Indu Sarkar'

Madhur Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming political drama, Indu Sarkar, will include a recreated version of Aziz Nazan's popular qawwali, Chadhta Sooraj Dheere Dheere Dhal Jaayega. It will be rendered by the late qawwal's son, Mujtaba. The music has been by composed by Anu Malik and will be recorded at a suburban studio today.

Indu Sarkar, which stars Kirti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh, is set in the Emergency era. Madhur feels lyrics of the Sufi number, which reveals the truths of life, go well with the subject of the film.

A still from Indu Sarkar

He says, "There is a philosophical touch to the song since its lyrics have an instant connect. Moreover, since the film is set in the 70s - the time Aziz Nazan reigned - we thought it was apt. Mujtaba is taking his father's legacy forward, and we thought it was best to record it with him. Besides, there are not too many qawwali tracks in Bollywood nowadays."

Nazan also did playback for Bollywood films in the 1970s, but is best remembered for Chadhta Sooraj. "It is always on the request list at qawwali performances and is still played at high-end recitals as well as by autorickshaw drivers," he adds.