A.R. Rahman And Nirmika Singh Team Up For Romantic Song ‘Zara Zara’ In Gandhi Talks

Oscar and Grammy–winning composer A.R. Rahman has collaborated with acclaimed poet Nirmika Singh on the romantic track ‘Zara Zara’, from the upcoming silent feature film Gandhi Talks, set to release on January 30. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi and Aditi Rao Hydari in lead roles.

Despite Gandhi Talks being a largely wordless film, Zara Zara forms its emotional core. Rahman’s evocative composition,layered with lush strings and delicate piano,creates a tender soundscape, while Singh’s lyrics articulate the unspoken inner worlds of the characters. The song unfolds as a silent conversation between two lovers who find meaning in fleeting, stolen moments, embracing sacrifice with quiet joy, captured in lines such as “qurbaaniyo mein jo mazaa hain.” The track is sung by young vocalists Hinanaaz Bali and Faiz Mustafa.

Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, Gandhi Talks will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Marathi, with corresponding soundtracks in each language. The album also features contributions from leading voices including Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh.

Speaking about the collaboration, Nirmika Singh said, “It has been my honour to collaborate with A.R. Rahman sir once again. When I first heard the melody, it instantly evoked a sense of sweet nostalgia and old-world charm. Through Zara Zara, I’ve tried to fuse Hindustani poetry with contemporary songwriting, using Hindi,my mother tongue and primary language of expression.”

Singh’s work reflects a rare blend of intellectual depth and creative expression, drawing from her independent poetry platform #AurSuno, which explores themes of love, ambition and courage. Her previous collaborations with Rahman include ‘Kuch Aise Badley Duniya’ for the Firdaus Sessions, the Marvel (Hindi) Anthem for Avengers: Endgame, and ‘Oh Raaya’ from Raayan.

Reflecting on the creative process behind Zara Zara, Singh added, “Rahman sir brings out the best in every artist. His vision is always distinctive, and for this song we spent months jamming across studios in Chennai and Mumbai, collaborating with some of the finest musicians and creatives.”

A former Executive Editor of Rolling Stone India and Founder & CEO of creative agency MOX Asia, Singh believes music today has evolved beyond entertainment to become an emotional anchor. At its heart, Zara Zara is a meditation on mindful presence, urging listeners to find beauty in the quiet, unfolding moments of their own lives.

The music video for ‘Zara Zara’ is now available to watch on YouTube.