India, Aug. 29 -- Before we dive into what makes Songs of Paradise tick- if at all it does- a shoutout is due to the near-perfect casting of the protagonist. Saba Azad and Soni Razdan play the younger and older versions of legendary Kashmiri singer Raj Begum, and the resemblance is uncanny. Not only do they share facial features, but both trace their roots to Kashmiri ancestry. When they speak the language, the accent feels believable.

The film takes on a fascinating subject, the life and legacy of Radio Kashmir's first ever female singer, often celebrated as the Melody Queen of Kashmir, who went on to be honoured with the Padma Shri. Directed by Danish Renzu, who has written the story and screenplay along with co-writer Sunayana Kachroo...