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Khufiya (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Vishal Bhardwaj
Released	7 September 2023 (2023-09-07)
Studio	Satya Studio, Mumbai Studio208, Mumbai The Pierce Room, London Abbey Road, London
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	35:36
Language	Hindi
Label	VB Music
Producer	Nyzel D'Lima Debarpito Saha
Vishal Bhardwaj chronology
Charlie Chopra & the Mystery of Solang Valley (2023) Khufiya (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2023)

Khufiya (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2023 film of the same name directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, who also composed the film's music and score. The album featured nine tracks with lyrics written by Gulzar, Bhardwaj and adaptations from yesteryear Sufi musicians. The album was released through VB Music on 7 September 2023 at a music launch event held in Mumbai, to positive response from music critics.

Development

Vishal Bhardwaj composed the film's music, as he did for all of his directorial ventures and associated with his norm lyricist Gulzar to write most of the tracks, except for "Mat Aana" written by Bhardwaj himself. As the subject being intense and mature, Bhardwaj wanted to bring in the music in an authentic way. The spiritual guru Yāra Baba (played by Rahul Ram) performs Sufi songs by Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan ("Bujhee Bujhee") and Kabir ("Mann Na Rangaave") with an electronic band, which was much different from the stereotypical portrayals of godmen in Hindi cinema.

The ghazal song "Mat Aana" performed by Rekha Bhardwaj and Niladri Kumar is signified for Tabu's character that connects with Gabbi's character, as the former was reminiscent of her past love. The song "Dil Dushman" has two versions, sung by Arijit Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan, respectively. Describing the song as the film's backbone, he recorded two versions, alternating the change in both energetic and emotionally. Arijit was chosen for a "powerful" voice, while Sunidhi was brought for the female version, as he wanted it to be "haunting and melodious". He referenced the James Bond theme from No Time to Die (2021) while composing.

Bhardwaj composed a whistle theme that was used for the promos, which was composed during a three-day trip from Chandigarh to Mussoorie. He added, "I told my music producer, who was travelling with me, that we have to record it as soon as we reach there because it has to go in three days. So I conceptualised the theme on the way and completed it by the time we reached Mussoorie." The theme was created very quickly as he wanted to launch the film soon, so that it could be used for the promotional teaser that released during the Netflix Tudum fan event.

The soundscape for Khufiya consisted of yesteryear compositions which Bhardwaj sorted as "some of my most favourite ones from a period which had very good tunes. This came out of the character who dances when she's alone at home." As he was insisted to convey the emotions through music, he found it a bit difficult but worked in favor of the film.

Release

Khufiya's music was launched at an event named Raaz Aur Saaz: A Khufiya Musical Night on 7 September 2023. The event saw live performances of the film's music by Rekha Bhardwaj, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sunidhi Chauhan and Rahul Ram, who also performed other compositions from Bhardwaj's films. It was attended by Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi, amongst 200 other fans and media personnel. The same day, VB Music distributed the soundtrack to digital platforms.

Reception

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu wrote "The use of the whistling effect, sarangi, and the everyday sounds in the background score adds a lyrical heft to the thriller." Sneha Bengani of CNBC TV18 wrote "The only source of redemption in this soulless slog is Bhardwaj’s music. Some of the songs, especially Mat Aana and Na Hosh Chale, are going to find their way to your playlist. They brim with the potential to become the kind of timeless songs that grow bigger than the films they were made for and eventually find a distinct identity and following of their own." Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in stated "Bhardwaj's own original score is used as scraps in a narrative that has far too much ground to cover and not enough time to linger on the melodies or their lyrics."

Rahul Desai of Film Companion described the song "Mat Aana" as "hypnotic" and "sounds like a classic". Dhaval Roy of The Times of India wrote "With poet and lyricist Gulzar, Bharadwaj creates magic again, whether with the melancholic Mat Aana rendered by Rekha Bharadwaj or the energetic and folksy Mann na rangaav by Rahul Ram." Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama wrote "Vishal Bhardwaj's music doesn't have a shelf life but is well woven into the narrative." Lalitha Suhasini of Film Companion wrote "Whether the music of Khufiya endures remains to be seen, but at no point does it lose its distinctly Bhardwaj groove."

Track listing

Personnel

Khufiya Live

A live album was released on 21 September 2023. The album featured four tracks, all of them were live performances of the tracks at the musical night event. The songs were performed by Rekha Bhardwaj, Vishal Bhardwaj and Sunidhi Chauhan. The album was recorded live by Tanay Gajjar, who also mixed and mastered it at his Wow & Flutter Studio, Mumbai.

References

1. ^ Sharma, Devansh (28 September 2023). "Vishal Bhardwaj on turning to thrillers with Charlie Chopra, Khufiya: 'Wanted to direct one long before I wrote Talvar'". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
2. ^ "Shakespeare, first shots and a cinematic universe of spies: Vishal Bhardwaj on 'Khufiya'". The Times of India. 5 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
3. ^ IANS (4 October 2023). "Vishal Bhardwaj Reveals He First Heard Arijit Singh's Voice In 'Phir Le Aaya Dil' Scratch". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
4. IANS (4 October 2023). "Vishal Bhardwaj reveals he first heard Arijit's voice in 'Phir Le Aaya Dil' scratch". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
5. Jhunjhunwala, Udita (30 September 2023). "'An espionage thriller is the most juicy genre': Vishal Bhardwaj on 'Khufiya'". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
6. "Netflix Presents Raaz Aur Saaz: A Khufiya Musical Night". Netflix. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
7. "Vishal Bhardwaj, Ali Fazal unveil 'Khufiya's' music album ahead of premiere". India Today. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
8. "Rekha Bharadwaj, Sunidhi Chauhan, Rahul Ram and Vishal Bhardwaj launch Khufiya music album with live performances". Bollywood Hungama. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
9. "'Khufiya' Soundtrack Album Released". Film Music Reporter. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
10. Kumar, Anuj (5 October 2023). "'Khufiya' movie review: Vishal Bhardwaj conjures up a soulful human drama in the guise of a spy thriller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
11. Bengani, Sneha (5 October 2023). "Khufiya Movie Review: The dullest Vishal Bhardwaj film yet". CNBC TV18. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
12. Ramnath, Nandini (5 October 2023). "'Khufiya' review: Mole hunt thriller runs out of steam". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
13. Desai, Rahul (5 October 2023). "Khufiya Review: Spy Drama with Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi Swings Between Watchable and Wayward". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
14. Roy, Dhaval (5 October 2023). "Khufiya Review: This espionage thriller is as heart-rending as intriguing". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
15. Tuteja, Joginder (7 September 2023). "Khufiya Music Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
16. Suhasini, Lalitha (5 October 2023). "Take Note: A 'Pari Hoon Main' Remake, Khufiya's 'Tanhai' and More". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
17. ^ Bhardwaj, Vishal (21 September 2023). "Khufiya Live (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.

• 2023 soundtrack albums
• 2023 live albums
• Hindi film soundtracks
• Thriller film soundtracks