Saba Azad, who portrays a young version of Kashmiri musical icon Raj Begum in the film 'Songs of Paradise,' has expressed regret for not knowing about the celebrated singer before taking on the role. 'Songs of Paradise,' directed by Danish Renzu, is inspired by the life of Raj Begum, often called the "Nightingale of Kashmir" or "Melody Queen", and it premiered on Amazon Prime Video on August 29, 2025. The film chronicles the journey of a young Kashmiri woman, Zeeba Akhtar, who dreams of becoming a singer, motivated by Raj Begum's music.

Raj Begum, born in Srinagar in 1927, began her career singing at weddings and joined Radio Kashmir in 1954, becoming a defining voice of the station. Her emotive, high-register voice helped normalize women's public performance in the Valley and popularized Kashmiri poetic traditions for mass audiences. She received the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2013 for her contributions to Indian music. Raj Begum passed away in 2016 at the age of 89.

In 'Songs of Paradise,' Saba Azad plays the younger Noor Begum (inspired by Raj Begum), while Soni Razdan portrays the older version. The film depicts Noor's struggles against a conservative society that disapproved of women performing in public. According to a review in the Indian Express, Saba Azad embodies Noor Begum as a young woman of the 1950s, capturing her strength and vulnerability. NDTV noted that Azad delivers one of her finest performances, portraying Zeeba with humility and grace.

During an interview, Saba Azad shared her feelings about portraying a real person and sharing their music with the world, calling it both a privilege and a duty. She noted the lack of narratives about Kashmir that focus on the human experience, particularly stories of hope, triumph, music, art, and culture. Saba also acknowledged the support of her parents, which allowed her to follow her desires and gave her the bravery to follow in the footsteps of Raj Begum.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Saba expressed her embarrassment at not knowing about Raj Begum, despite being a musician. She noted that many of Raj Begum's recordings were lost and that stories from Kashmir do not always travel as widely. Saba stated that doing the film was an education in the incredible life of Raj Begum.

The film "Songs of Paradise" has been praised for showcasing Kashmir's rich musical heritage and the courage of a woman who defied societal norms through her voice. However, some critics noted that the film sometimes skims over conflicts and could have explored the political and social turmoil in Kashmir with more depth. Despite these criticisms, "Songs of Paradise" is seen as an important film that brings the story of a pioneering Kashmiri singer to a global audience, celebrating her legacy as the voice of a generation and the soul of a region.