Ever since it was announced that A R Rahman would be doing the music for Highway, I’ve been waiting to listen to the film’s soundtrack! Rockstar is still one of my favourite albums of all time, and with Highway, that same winning combination – Rahman (composer), Irshad Kamil (lyricist) and Imtiaz Ali (director) – comes back for another round. The first song from the film, Patakha Guddi, has just been released, so give it a listen and let us know what you think. It’s the same song you can hear bits of in the trailer, and we’ve liked it since then, so it’s nice to finally hear a longer version.
Imtiaz Ali says:
Patakha Guddi is about freedom. It is also about purity and wildness. Who better than the wild children of Punjabi music – Sultana and Jyoti Nooran – to sing the track? After Rockstar, it was great to collaborate with Rahman Sir again and we have tried to keep the Highway album melodious, simple and heartfelt.
The music definitely has that distinguishable Rahman touch to it, but the stunning voices of the Nooran sisters (Jyoti and Sultana) really make this song. I feel like this is one of those tracks that you have to listen to a few times before you really fall in love with it, but there’s something very calming about it – the Sufi feeling, perhaps, similar to Rockstar‘s Kun Faya Kun.
Irshad Kamil says:
Patakha Guddi gives the fragrance of Punjab with its piousness and free spirit. The lyrics take the flight according to the growth of Veera’s (Alia) character in the film. The song has raw energy in its composition, singing and even in the choice of words.
You can see that piousness in the lyrics Irshad has penned:
“Malik ne chinta di jo dur karega wohi,
Naam Ali ka leke tu toh naach le galli galli.”
(“What troubles God gave, he will get rid of those too,
Just take God’s name and dance.”)
Song aside, the video is great too. The visuals are stunning, and I’m pretty sure this is going to be Alia’s film. She looked really good in the trailer and even more so in this video. There’s a certain vulnerability around her, especially since her look is completely de-glam. Really looking forward to her in this one. (Psst – observation: In the first still, her character is wearing an engagement ring. Does that mean, when abducted in the film, she’s engaged to someone else?)
What do you think of Patakha Guddi? Remember to also read our in-depth interview with Imtiaz Ali, where he tells all about Highway!