Anurag Kashyap on set for ‘Nishaanchi.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios India
Stories from the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, stretched to witty and playful extremes, are at the heart of the Nishaanchi soundtrack, out now on streaming platforms. The Anurag Kashyap-directed crime drama—which will release on Sept. 19, 2025, in theaters—features fusion experiments, Bhojpuri, Hindi, and English lyrics along with the composing prowess of Dhruv Ghanekar, Anurag Saikia, Manan Bhardwaj, Aaishvary Thackeray, and more.
So far, we’ve heard songs like the electronic-laced “Jhule Jhule Paalna” by Bhardwaj featuring artists Prajakta Shukre and Himani Kapoor, while “Dear Country” by Dhruv Ghanekar brings together vocalist Vijay Lal Yadav and lyricist Pyare Lal Yadav for a colorful, playful harmonium-driven fusion track. Bhardwaj helms the third track from Nishaanchi, the cinematic ballad-like “Neend Bhi Teri.”
There’s musical star power driving the songs from Nishaanchi as well, with Arijit Singh on “Birwa,” composed by Anurag Saikia with lyrics by Dr. Sagar. Saikia enlists Madhubanti Bagchi as well (after their hit song “Ishq Hai”) for “Filam Dekho,” with lyrics by Shashwat Dwivedi.
Kashyap calls this song the film’s title track and says it was “born almost by accident.” He tells Rolling Stone India, “I have never believed in creating songs just for the sake of it, but about shaping an authentic tone for the story. That’s what makes the music of Nishaanchi truly special—a promising song for every mood.” Saikia adds, “‘Filam Dekho’ was born out of pure experimentation, an uninhibited jam with Shashwat Dwivedi and Madhubanti Bagchi. It felt so true to the film that it naturally became the title track, an invitation for the audience to step into the magic of cinema.”
Kashyap admits that, for him, the music is never rushed—it comes from the story and then from the composer. “With Nishaanchi, the journey began even before the film officially took off, with Dhruv Ghanekar setting the tone with ‘Dear Country.’ Later, Manan Bhardwaj and Anurag Saikia joined in, and together they built a soundscape that felt rooted in Uttar Pradesh yet emotionally raw and unpredictable.”
Among the most “exciting moments” in the music for the director was when the song “Pigeon Kabootar” came together with composer-lyricist Aaishvary Thackeray and singer Bhupesh Singh. Kashyap says, “While the kind of music he [Thackeray] usually creates is rock-oriented and international in tone, this film demanded something entirely different—rooted, organic, and desi. He adapted beautifully to this style, and that’s what made his contribution unique and this song special.”
The musicians behind Nishaanchi also count the soundtrack as a special project. Bhardwaj calls it a “turning point in my journey.” He adds, “Anurag [Kashyap] sir’s very first advice to me was simple yet powerful—make music for yourself, not for anyone else. From writing and singing in Bhojpuri for the first time to allowing the songs to flow naturally from the story, every step was a new discovery.”
Saikia says it’s been a “truly special journey” and hails the freedom he was given by the director. He adds about “Birwa” with Arijit Singh, “It’s the complete opposite [of ‘Filam Dekho’], grounded, soulful and incredibly close to my heart. Dr. Sagar wrote something so powerful and having Arijit Singh bring it to life made it even more special.”
Ghanekar, who composed music for the songs “Upar Wale Ne,” “Raja Hindustani” and “Saram Lagela” says his first goal with the music was to “create music that instantly transports you to the streets of U.P.” He adds, “Raw, restless, and real. For a track like ‘Dear Country,’ I wanted it to smell of the place the moment you hear it—that rustic-urban clash where a dholak meets a village rally and where broken-English lyrics spill out straight from the heart, grammar be damned.”
He calls the 15 tracks on the Nishaanchi soundtrack “unpredictable” and “unlike anything you’ve heard in Indian cinema.” Ghanekar adds, “Anurag Kashyap gave me complete freedom to chase that madness, and that’s what makes this film special.”
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