The trailer of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, has created a wave of excitement online. The buzz is not only because of its impressive ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh, along with Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, but also due to the unexpected musical homage revealed in its final moments. As the four-minute trailer builds toward its climax, a familiar Qawwali begins to rise, instantly grabbing the attention of cinephiles and music lovers. The team has chosen to revisit Na To Karavan Ki Talash Hai, one of the most celebrated Qawwalis in the history of Hindi cinema, originally featured in the 1960 classic Barsaat Ki Raat.
The moment the Qawwali appears in the trailer, social media erupted with reactions celebrating its return. Among those expressing their delight was filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who praised both the trailer and its nostalgic musical touch. He appreciated that such a timeless classic had been brought back into mainstream conversation.
And what a classic it is. First heard in Barsaat Ki Raat, the Qawwali is part of a legendary 12-minute sequence that remains one of the finest showcases of the genre. The piece was composed by Roshan, grandfather of Hrithik Roshan, with lyrics by the renowned Sahir Ludhianvi. Its powerful vocal ensemble—Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra, S. D. Batish, and Mohammed Rafi—gave it an emotional and musical depth that has rarely been matched. Barsaat Ki Raat was a major box office success upon release, becoming the second biggest hit of its time after K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam.
By incorporating this Qawwali into Dhurandhar, Aditya Dhar appears to be shaping the tone of his new film, adding an eerie, nostalgic layer that subtly connects the narrative to its cultural past. The film is rumoured to be set against the backdrop of Operation Lyari, known as one of the longest-running covert missions targeting gang networks in Pakistan. Through this setting, the film aims to explore the moral complexities of a real-world crackdown.
Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Lokesh Dhar, and Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is set to release worldwide on 5 December 2025.
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