According to Platform, the movie is a timeless story with roots in Kashmir’s rich musical heritage.
21 August 2025, New Delhi
Based on the life and career of the well-known Kashmiri singer Raj Begum, the musical drama Songs of Paradise will make its Prime Video premiere on August 29. The movie is distributed by Excel Entertainment and co-produced by Renzu Films Production and Apple Tree Pictures Production. Danish Renzu, a Los Angeles-based director, is directing. The OTT platform made the announcement on Thursday.
at the movie, Saba Azad and Soni Razdan play Raj Begum’s role, Noor Begum, who is shown at two distinct stages of her life. Lillete Dubey, Taaruk Raina, Sheeba Chaddha, and Zain Khan Durrani play important parts as well. Renzu, Niranjan Iyengar, and Sunayana Kachroo co-wrote the drama, which is set against the picturesque backdrop of Kashmir and tells an inspirational story that combines music, defiance, and the spirit of a lady who rose to prominence as Kashmir’s first playback singer.
Raj Begum, also called the “Nightingale of Kashmir,” began her career as a wedding singer before becoming one of the most well-known female vocalists in the region. At her father’s request, she joined Radio Kashmir in 1954, and her powerful, uninhibited voice maintained her in the public eye until her retirement in 1986. Her song became a symbol of Kashmiri women’s cultural expression and freedom. Her remarkable career was recognized with the Padma Shri in 2002, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2013, and the Jammu and Kashmir State Award in 2009. In 2016, she passed away at the age of 89.
Director Danish Renzu, who has directed films like Half Widow and The Illegal, praised Songs of Paradise as a poignant tribute to Raj Begum’s legacy. The film honored her courage and perseverance in a society where women faced emotional and cultural limitations. In addition to paying tribute to the area’s musical heritage, the movie offers an amazing journey of independence and resiliency, said Manish Menghani of Prime Video. “Timeless tale” from Kashmir is how Excel Entertainment’s Ritesh Sidhwani describes the film.
