Abhishek Chaubey has a knack for showing his villains in colourful shades. His 2019 outing Sonchiriya falls in the same category. The dacoit drama stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey and Ashutosh Rana. Set in the 1970s Chambal valley, the film narrates the story of a gang of dreaded brigands which gets split after the death of their leader. Besides acting finesse and dark humour, the film is loaded with fine tunes that stay with a listener even after the movie’s runtime.

After all, composer and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj enjoys a reputation for creating melodies and movies that tug straight at the heartstrings and reside there, forever. In Sonchiriya, the Daaku anthem song remains our classic favourite. The rap track has been created by Ketan Sodha and Abhishek Nailwal.

Vishal, whose famous works include Maachis, Hu Tu Tu, Omkara, Haider, and others, has used his regulars Sukhwinder Singh, Arijit Singh and wife Rekha Bhardwaj in Sonchiriya. Arijit touches your soul with Ruan Ruan. An acoustic guitar, whistles and a perfect rhythm set the tone just right.

Crooned by Rekha Bhardwaj, Sonchiraiya is a delicate, feathery number. It’s not a lullaby but sung like one in a scene, by Bhumi, in the film. The guitar tunes undoubtedly make it one of the finest songs in the jukebox.

Next up is Naina na maar, a duet song helmed by Arijit Singh and Rekha Bhardwaj. Several instruments including a banjo, harmonium, and dholak are used to create this brilliant piece. Albeit, the tune may be flat and monotonous, but it ain’t a happy number anyway!

Saanp Khavega is a beautiful composition describing the law of nature – survival of the fittest. “Saanp khavega chuhe ko, saanp ko khavenge giddh…. keh gaye sadhu siddh,” goes a verse from the song’s lyrics.

So which of these songs do you like the most and why? Share your views in the comments box below.

Are you a Sushant Singh Rajput fan? Don’t forget to watch his 2018 hit Kedarnath, now streaming on ZEE5.