Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' album honours Punjab's 1947 musical roots
Synopsis
Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' isn't just a period film — its album is a deliberate excavation of Punjab's 1947 soundscape, blending folk roots with Western colonial-era influences. With A. R. Rahman going deeper than usual and five debut singers getting their first platform, this album is as much a cultural statement as a film soundtrack.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has unveiled the complete music album of 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' , calling it a celebration of Punjab's folk and Western musical traditions circa 1947 .
Rahman and lyricist Irshad Kamil collaborated on the score, with Rahman describing music as 'the language of the unspoken' for this story.
The album introduces five new singers: Deepali Sahay , Heer , Antara Nandy , Adithya , and Vipin Aneja .
Key tracks include 'Dheere Dheere' , 'Heer; Tere Paas Main' (in male and female versions), and 'Dariya' .
The film stars Diljit Dosanjh , Naseeruddin Shah , Sharvari , and Vedang Raina , and is set for theatrical release on 12 June 2026 .
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has described the music album of his upcoming film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' as a heartfelt tribute to Punjab's layered musical heritage, particularly the distinctive blend of folk and Western influences that defined the region around 1947. The complete album has now been unveiled, introducing several new voices alongside the film's celebrated composer A. R. Rahman.
What Imtiaz Ali Said About the Album
'Music was always going to be exciting in Main Vaapas Aaunga. First of all, music is the heart of Panjab and Panjab in 1947 had folk as well as Western influences that we were very excited to showcase. That is seen in songs like Ishq Mastana and Maskara. Music is the heart of Panjab, which is the heart of Main Vaapas Aaunga,' Ali said at the album's unveiling.
He also singled out lyricist Irshad Kamil and A. R. Rahman for praise, noting that both had worked 'with greater excitement and gone deeper in the exploration of musical gems' compared to their earlier collaborations. Ali expressed particular pride in the album's role in launching new singers — Deepali Sahay, Heer, Antara Nandy, Adithya, and Vipin Aneja.
A. R. Rahman on the Score
'There are certain stories where music becomes the language of the unspoken. It expresses what cannot be explained and reveals what cannot always be shown. In Main Vaapas Aaunga, the songs and score have been an attempt to listen to the silence within the story and give it a voice. I hope people find a part of themselves in this music,' Rahman said.
This marks one of Rahman's rare period-set projects in recent years, with the 1947 backdrop demanding an unusually wide sonic palette — from Punjabi folk motifs to colonial-era Western arrangements.
Key Tracks and New Voices
The complete album features 'Dheere Dheere', sung by Faheem Abdullah, Shilpa Rao, and Antra Nandy; 'Heer; Tere Paas Main', presented in both female and male versions by Deepali Sahay and Vipin Aneja respectively; and 'Dariya', performed by Armaan Khan and Romy. Previously unveiled tracks 'Ishq Mastana' and 'Maskara' had already drawn attention for their fusion of folk textures with orchestral elements.
Notably, the album serves as a debut platform for multiple emerging artists, a deliberate creative choice that Ali says he is 'very proud' of.
About the Film
'Main Vaapas Aaunga' stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina in pivotal roles. The film is produced by Birla Studios and Applause Entertainment, along with Mohit Choudhary and Shibasish Sarkar of Window Seat Films. It is slated to release in theatres on 12 June 2026.
With its Partition-era setting, star-studded cast, and a Rahman score rooted in regional folk tradition, the film arrives as one of the more ambitious Hindi releases of mid-2026.
Point of View
But 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' raises the stakes by anchoring its soundtrack in a historically specific soundscape — Punjab in 1947, when folk and Western traditions briefly coexisted before Partition tore the region apart. Rahman's framing of the score as 'listening to the silence within the story' suggests an unusually introspective approach for a period film. What's equally notable is the deliberate debut of five new singers — in an industry that routinely recycles established voices, that's a genuine curatorial risk. Whether listeners reward that choice will say something about where Hindi film music's appetite for discovery actually stands.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' about?
'Main Vaapas Aaunga' is an upcoming Hindi film set against the backdrop of Punjab in 1947, directed by Imtiaz Ali. It stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina, and is produced by Birla Studios, Applause Entertainment, and Window Seat Films.
Who has composed the music for 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'?
The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Irshad Kamil. Rahman described the score as an attempt to 'listen to the silence within the story and give it a voice.'
What are the songs in the 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' album?
The unveiled album includes 'Ishq Mastana', 'Maskara', 'Dheere Dheere' (sung by Faheem Abdullah, Shilpa Rao, and Antra Nandy), 'Heer; Tere Paas Main' in female and male versions by Deepali Sahay and Vipin Aneja, and 'Dariya' by Armaan Khan and Romy.
When does 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' release in theatres?
The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 12 June 2026.
Which new singers are debuting with the 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' album?
The album introduces five new singers: Deepali Sahay, Heer, Antara Nandy, Adithya, and Vipin Aneja. Imtiaz Ali said he is 'very proud' that the project could carry the energy of these emerging artists.
