A Suitable Boy (soundtrack)

Development

The soundtrack for A Suitable Boy was shaped by several musicians. British composer Alex Heffes, who had previously worked with director Mira Nair on Queen of Katwe, created the original score. He collaborated with sitarist Anoushka Shankar, while Kavita Seth composed and performed the ghazals that voiced the character Saeeda Bai. Nair originally chose Shankar as the sole composer, believing her music captured the story’s atmosphere and offered a strong Indian sound with a global reach.

Although Shankar was intrigued by the role, she was unsure about her availability due to touring, which was later interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Nair’s suggestion, Heffes then joined the project. The two composers worked to reflect the cultural and musical diversity of the setting, carefully selecting instruments and sound palettes that suited the characters. Nair approached Seth after hearing her album Main Kavita Hoon and discussed the style of ghazals needed and the scenes where they would appear.

Seth noted that Nair had a clear vision for the music’s emotional tone and requirements, which made the collaboration smooth. Nair also described the 1950s setting and atmosphere in detail. Because the songs had to be recorded live, Seth composed and pre-recorded tunes for rehearsals. She based them on classical ragas, following the period’s musical structure, and completed the composition, design, and recording in three to four days—far shorter than the usual two weeks. Seth sang most of the ghazals for Tabu’s character, keeping the songs accessible for international audiences.

Reception

Aseem Chhabra of Rediff.com said the characters' lives are beautifully accompanied by ghazals sung by Kavita Seth, the score by Alex Heffes, and sitar pieces by Anoushka Shankar. Tanul Thakur of The Wire wrote that the background score, filled with prominent sitar strains, conveys the feeling of an exotic foreign documentary. Devansh Sharma of Firstpost wrote that Heffes' music and Shankar's sprightly sitar, accompanied by Kavita Seth's unblemished vocals, do not allow the viewer to only appreciate the peripherals.

Stutee Ghosh of The Quint described the music as exquisite, making the proceedings richer. Susannah Butter of London Evening Standard wrote that the music adds to a romanticised vision, heavy on sitars with a jaunty theme tune. Fenil Seta of Bollywood Hungama called it one of the best theme songs of web series in 2020, adding that though it has a strong Indian sound, it also has global sensibility, praising the use of sitar which enhances the charm and appeal and suits the 1950s era.