The upcoming Bollywood film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, is generating buzz not only for its fresh pairing of debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda but also for introducing two new musical talents from Kashmir: Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. The title track of the film, unveiled recently, marks Abdullah and Nizami's entry into the Hindi film industry.
Mohit Suri, known for his musical hits in films like Zeher, Kalyug, Woh Lamhe, Awarapan, and Aashiqui 2, has always had a penchant for discovering and nurturing new musical talent. He describes himself as a collector of melodies and songs, much like others collect books. The Saiyaara album, he says, has been a labor of love, carefully curated over five years, with the goal of creating a fresh and emotionally rich musical experience.
Suri expressed his desire to create a supremely fresh album with beautiful, soulful melodies for Saiyaara, especially given that it's a debut film for the lead actors. He revealed that every song on the album is close to his heart, and he is initiating the marketing campaign with the title track because of the love, longing, and heart it embodies.
Faheem Abdullah, a singer-songwriter from Srinagar since 2020 with the single "Jhelum", and Arslan Nizami, who has been influenced by his grandfather's teachings and father's songs, are the two Kashmiri musicians making their Bollywood debut with Saiyaara. Suri credited Tanishk Bagchi for introducing him to Faheem and Arslan and acknowledged Irshad Kamil's masterful work in penning the song's poignant lyrics. Abdullah and Nizami previously released songs like "Trum Trum" and "Fanna Fillah" on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
Ahaan Panday, nephew of Chunky Panday and cousin of Ananya Panday, and Aneet Padda, known for her performance in the series Big Girls Don't Cry and the film Salaam Venky, star in Saiyaara.
The title track, composed by Tanishk Bagchi along with Arslan and Faheem, offers a glimpse into the emotional depth of Saiyaara, seamlessly blending YRF's musical legacy with Mohit Suri's soulful sensibilities. The music video showcases moments from the film, teasing the on-screen connection between Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. In the song, Ahaan and Aneet's characters share romantic moments in a city and on an island, gazing at the stars and kissing underwater. Ahaan's character is also seen breaking down and destroying a grand black piano.
Saiyaara, produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, is slated to release in theaters worldwide on July 18, 2025.
