A.R. Rahman Releases Track Featuring Grandson of Late Mentor for Silent Film 'Gandhi Talks'

Composer A.R. Rahman has released "Zara Zara," a new track from his silent film score for "Gandhi Talks," featuring the vocals of Faiz Mustafa. This musical collaboration represents an intergenerational link, as Mustafa is the grandson of the late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the revered mentor who guided both Rahman and Mustafa during their early careers. The 25-year-old Mustafa views the collaboration as the fulfillment of a legacy, noting that his grandfather once instructed Rahman, and he now benefits from Rahman's guidance.

The song is a key element of the "Gandhi Talks" soundtrack, a score that uses Rahman's compositions to structure the film's narrative in the absence of spoken dialogue. Rahman and Mustafa's professional relationship spans over a decade, including joint appearances on MTV Coke Studio and international concerts. During the recording session for "Zara Zara," Rahman affirmed Mustafa's vocal abilities, underscoring the depth of their long-standing professional connection. The track also features singer Hinanaaz Bali.

"Gandhi Talks," directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar and produced by entities including Zee Studios, Kyoorius, Pincmoon Meta Studios, and Moviemill, premiered at the International Film Festival of India in 2023 before its theatrical release on January 30, 2026. Rahman described scoring a dialogue-free film as both a "celebration of music" due to the extensive musical space available and "terrifying" because every musical decision faces intense scrutiny. The complete soundtrack EP for the film includes five songs, featuring established vocalists such as Shreya Ghoshal on "Inqalabi Ziddi" and Arijit Singh on "Sunhari Kirne" across its various language editions.

This soundtrack unveiling follows Rahman's recent tribute to his late guru in January 2026 at "Haazri 2026," the annual concert honoring Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, a torchbearer of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. Rahman curated a special musical set for the occasion, which also saw Hema Malini honored with the Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Award. The late Ustad's sons, including Murtuza, Qadir, Rabbani, and Hasan Mustafa Khan, also performed at the event. Rahman has previously expressed his deep connection to Khan, noting the Ustad's encouragement as Rahman transitioned from his Carnatic background to study Hindustani music. The composer confirmed that Khan's family, including his sons and grandson Faiz, have collaborated with him on projects dating back to the song "Piya Haji Ali," establishing a continuous artistic bond across generations.