Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar makes his debut as a music composer and singer

Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has stepped into music composition, lyric writing, and singing for his latest production titled Parivarik ManuRanjan. The slice-of-life film premiered on Sony LIV on November 13 and stars Pankaj Tripathi and Aditi Rao Hydari. Zafar composed three songs for the movie after tight budget constraints prompted him to pitch tunes he had hummed or played on his guitar. Director Varun V Sharma approved the tracks during editing.

Songs and Origins

Zafar shares credit as a composer and lyricist for the track Jingle Bell, which marks a turning point in character Ranjan Dubey's life after Manu enters the story. For the song Sir Sir Sir, Zafar acted as the sole composer and lyricist while also singing alongside Vishal Mishra. The title and lyrics draw from an old inside joke and code word among Zafar, Ranveer Singh, and Arjun Kapoor, reflecting how employees in central Indian government offices repeatedly address their bosses. Background score composer Joel Crasto helped shape the scratch versions for the film.

Context

Ali Abbas Zafar built his directing career on major Bollywood hits like Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai before expanding into production with Khaali Peeli. Filmmakers wearing multiple creative hats often emerge in independent or tightly budgeted projects where creative resourcefulness replaces high studio spending.