Film 'Songs of Paradise' Delightfully Portrays Kashmir’s Nightingale Raj Begum

By Sanjay Kaul 

BOSTON, Sept 13: Kashmir, often celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, has an equally rich but sometimes overlooked legacy of music and art. At the heart of this tradition stands Raj Begum, fondly remembered as the "Nightingale" or "Melody Queen" of Kashmir.

The 2025 film "Songs of Paradise", released on an OTT platform, follows the journey of the Kashmiri woman who dreams of becoming a singer, inspired by the song of Raj Begum.

Raj Begum's voice, steeped in the valley’s Sufi ethos, became the soundtrack of generations, giving dignity and timeless resonance to Kashmiri music. Yet behind the acclaim lay a story of perseverance—of a woman who carved out a space for herself in a conservative society that was rarely kind to women artists.

It is this layered story that filmmaker Danish Renzu brings to the screen in his latest film, Songs of Paradise. Renzu, son of Farooq Renzu, a scholar of Sufism, has earlier impressed audiences with Half Widow, which dealt with the human cost of conflict in Kashmir.

Here, he shifts focus from strife to song, weaving a moving cinematic tribute that highlights music, memory, and the silent battles of women in the arts.

The screenplay, co-written by Sunayana Kachroo, a poet and storyteller known for her sensitive writing, adds lyrical depth to the film.

Together, Renzu and Kachroo balance fact with creative interpretation, portraying Raj Begum not only as a velvet-voiced icon but also as a woman negotiating a deeply patriarchal world.

Some contemporaries from Radio Kashmir may feel her struggles have been slightly dramatized, yet this artistic liberty amplifies a larger truth—women of that era had to fight harder to claim their rightful place on stage.

Technically, the film is a delight. Its rich colors, evocative settings, and attention to detail recreate Kashmir’s cultural milieu with striking authenticity. One subplot touches upon Raj Begum’s husband as a poet and educated man—while not strictly historical, it resonates with how many women artists of the time gained strength from supportive partners.

The highlight, however, is the music. Abhay Rustum Sopori, son of the Santoor legend Bhajan Sopori, has composed a score that is both soul-stirring and timeless. His work anchors the film, linking Kashmir’s golden era of music to the cinematic present.

Songs of Paradise is more than a film—it is a cultural document. It reminds us of Raj Begum’s unmatched contribution to Kashmiri music and reintroduces her to younger generations. Visually beautiful and musically profound, it deserves to be watched not just for entertainment, but for what it represents: the enduring voice of Kashmir’s nightingale.

Now streaming on Amazon Prime, this is a film that speaks to both the heart and history.

@ Sanjay Kaul is a Professor of Technology at Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA , USA.