50-year-old Sanson Ki Mala in Mirzapur: The Movie is masterstroke nobody saw coming

Nearly five decades after Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan first performed Sanson Ki Mala Pe in India, the legendary qawwali has found a whole new audience. Thanks to Mirzapur: The Movie. The classic has been reimagined for the film, blending Nusrat's iconic vocals with a contemporary musical arrangement. But it's not just the nostalgia that has fans talking. It's where the song shows up in the film, and what happens while it plays.Sanson Ki Mala Pe, one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's most recognised compositions, and is almost 50 years old, features on the official soundtrack of Mirzapur: The Movie. The new version has been performed by Madhur Sharma and Vaibhav Pani, while Nusrat's original vocals remain at the heart of the track. The song was released as part of the film's nine-track album on August 31.And then comes the moment that has stayed with audiences.If you haven't watched Mirzapur: The Movie, this is your cue to look away. We are entering mid-credit territory. The song plays during a mid-credit scene that wraps up the subplot around Beena Tripathi's romantic past. Her old flame, who has remained part of her complicated history, meets his poetic end - quite literally at her hands. As the scene unfolds, Beena delivers the line, "Love hi toh hai, lifetime thodi hi rehta hai" (It's just love, it doesn't last a lifetime), while Nusrat's haunting vocals about eternal love play in the background.And that contrast is exactly what seems to have worked. The scene turns a familiar Mirzapur moment into something unexpectedly poetic, with the sweetness of Sanson Ki Mala Pe playing against the violence and chaos the franchise is known for. Fans have been calling out the song’s placement as one of the film’s standout moments, with several praising how perfectly the qawwali fits the scene.One fan wrote, "Saanson Ki Mala scene just levelled up the entire film. Amazing song selection."It's a rather Mirzapur-ish way to use a song about eternal love: make it play while an old love story comes to a very permanent end.Another wrote, “What a bonkers climax that was, man. The entire pre-climax to the climax to the Saansoon Ki Mala sequence was just so fun, with some of the coolest pay-offs! Cash grab, but a very, very well-done one!”The qawwali has a fascinating history. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan first performed Sanson Ki Mala during his first visit to India in 1979, when he was invited by actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor to perform at the wedding of his son Rishi Kapoor. The song later appeared on Nusrat’s commercial releases, beginning with the 1982 album Supreme Collection, Vol. 12.The composition has continued to live on across generations and musical styles. It was previously recreated for Hindi films including Jeet and Koyla, while the original version was also used in Michael Winterbottom’s 2011 film Trishna. In 2020, Nusrat’s nephew and fellow qawwali singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan released his own rendition of the song.The song’s enduring appeal lies in its devotional and spiritual imagery. Its lyrics revolve around the idea of remembering one’s beloved with every breath, blurring the boundaries between romantic love and devotion. That quality has helped Sanson Ki Mala Pe remain relevant well beyond the era in which Nusrat first popularised it.With Mirzapur: The Movie, the classic has once again been introduced to a new generation of listeners. The inclusion of Nusrat’s unmistakable voice also gives the film’s soundtrack a strong connection to South Asian musical heritage while fitting into the gritty world of the Mirzapur franchise. Mirzapur: The Movie, directed by Gurmmeet Singh, brings back the franchise’s central characters, including Kaleen Bhaiya, Guddu Pandit and Munna Tripathi, played by Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Divyenndu. The film released in theatres on September 4. The anticipated film has been well received at the box office and has collected a worldwide total of Rs 132.35 crore in just three days.- EndsPublished By: Sanjay Ponnappa CSPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 14:32 ISTMUST WATCH: