The Sufi influence in the Once Upon A Time In Mumbai soundtrack is all thanks to Ajay Devgn

People have Ajay to thank for Sufi-influenced tracks Pi Loon and Tum Jo Aaye in Ekta Kapoor's Once Upon A Time In Mumbai soundtrack.

First introduction
Says a source close to Ajay, "It was director Milan Luthria who introduced AJ to Sufi music during the last film they did together: Kachcha Dhaage. Since then, he has amassed a huge collection of his own. The two discussed the genre of music in between shooting Once Upon A Time."

The source adds, "During one such discussion, Ajay told Milan that he felt the film should have a couple of Sufi songs in Once Upon A Time In Mumbai.

After that, Milan told the music director to incorporate some Sufi music into the soundtrack -- that's how Pi loon and Tum jo aaye were born. Ajay was one of the first to listen to the recording. Now the Once Upon A Time In Mumbai score has become one of Ajay's personal favourites."

Says Devgn, "I love both the songs in the film. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan are my favorite Sufi singers.

I've become a fan since discovering it during Kachche Dhaage). I find Sufi music very soothing. Milan made me hear the songs after Pritam had composed them and I loved them! I couldn't stop hearing them after that..."

Milan says, "The first time I made Ajay hear the two Sufi tracks at his Karjat farmhouse was when we just got the music. He was among the first to hear it and went on playing it over and over.

We feel Sufi music halts the noise of the music of today, permeates our consciousness and titillates our senses. It commands good words and no one can fool around with it. It was a risk we took but now the music is a hit."