Param Sundari's Pardesiya Is Therapeutic: How Bollywood Uses Raag Darbari's Elegant Minimalism To Elevate Romance

Param Sundari's song Pardesiya, featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor has become a romance anthem. Composed by Sachin-Jigar and sung by Sonu Nigam and Krishnakali, its Raag Darbari grants it an 'AR Rahman' feel. Pardesiya from Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor starrer Param Sundari is blissful, like fresh dew settling on a mountain. There's a certain calmness about the romantic track that seems to be therapeutic. Its "tak-dhum-tak-dhum" is sure to linger in our senses for a long time. However, despite the brilliance of its composition and singing, there's a certain déjà vu about the song, which most of us felt upon its release. It turned out to be very "AR Rahman-ish!" But why does Pardesiya feel like a leaf from a Rahman song from the 90s? Singer Sonu Nigam has crooned Pardesiya to the tunes of Sachin-Jigar. Even Sonu agreed with Zoom during an exclusive interaction that the song reminds of Rahman. He asserted that given that 90s music was melody-dominated, Pardesiya has been created on similar lines. "Maybe they've deliberately kept a little South Indian musical touch into it, and who better than AR Rahman for inspiration?" he opined. But is Param Sundari's North-South love story the sole reason behind Pardesiya sounding so familiar to Yeh Haseen Vadiyan (Roja - 1992) and Kehna Hi Kya (Bombay - 1995), to name a few?? The reason is beyond that. Pardesiya is set to Raag Darbari which makes it familiar. That's because the other tracks in reference belong to the same genre of music too. Its elegant minimalism gives it a grounded feel. Infact more examples are Pag Ghungroo (Namak Halaal), Iss Pyaar Ko Main (Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai), Main Yahaan Hoon (Veer-Zara), Mora Piya (Rajneeti), Sajan Bin (Bandish Bandits) The particular genre of music gives the composition a nostalgic vibe, something that was used profoundly in the 90s and early 2000s. Raag Darbari is believed to have been brought into Hindustani music by Tansen from the Mughal court of Emperor Akbar during the 16th-century. It refers to Darbari Kanada, a significant Hindustani classical music raga. What sets it apart is its slow, majestic, and meditative qualities. It holds a slow and grave tempo where compositions focus on the lower and middle octaves. ALSO READ: Param Sundari: For Sonu Nigam Pardesiya Is 'Good Fortune'; Singer Says 'Don't Get Offered Average Songs Anyways' | EXCLUSIVE Amid Pardesiya's cinematic visuals that take the lens to South India, the song's slow motion choreography where every emotion and expression by the two actors gets enhanced in the beautiful backdrop adds to the song's quality. Param Sundari has brought back Raag Darbari into Bollywood music after a long time. Since we are living in an age of techno-beats and auto-tunes, Pardesiya is pure, virgin and something audience had been yearning for a long time.