The past six weeks have been a delight for fans of Marvel with the latest offering of the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — Ms. Marvel. The MCU's first Muslim superhero was met with huge acclaim and fanfare and became Marvel's highest-rated series on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show, starring Iman Vellani, has received widespread praise for its authentic visual representation of Pakistani-American culture, including a seal of approval from Malala Yousafzai, who was "struck by how familiar Kamala Khan’s life seemed" to her. The show has also been lauded for its extensive and diverse use of music by South Asian artists, from the likes of Krewella to Ahmed Rushdie.
From iconic classics to lesser-known gems, here are 10 standout songs we've selected from the Ms. Marvel soundtrack. Beware, spoilers ahead!
'Deal With It' – Riz Ahmed
'Deal With It' is an assertive hip-hop track by award-winning English-Pakistani actor and rapper Riz Ahmed off his 2020 album The Long Goodbye. The song echoes in the background in the first episode as viewers are first introduced to the show's heroine Kamala Khan.
'Goddess' – Krewella x NERVO feat. Raja Kumari
Right after Kamala adopts her newfound powers, viewers are presented with a flashy montage of Kamala exploring her powers with her best friend Bruno. This feisty anthem by Pakistani sister duo Krewella and Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari is the perfect theme for Kamala as she eases into her superhero role.
'Come Around' – M.I.A. and Timbaland
M.I.A.'s trippy collaboration track with producer Timbaland plays in episode 2 when Kamala meets up with her friend Nakia at the mosque. The rapper remains one of the biggest international acts since her breakthrough with the smash hit 'Paper Planes' in 2008.
'Jalebi Baby' – Tesher
Kamala and Nakia continue their adventures, this time at a pool party where they spot the dashing Kamran. Canadian-Indian rapper Tesher's 'Jalebi Baby' plays as Kamran emerge shirtless from the pool and the two teenagers exchange sneaky glances at each other. Sparks are flying!
'Tere Bina (Khanvict Remix)' - A.R. Rahman, Khanvict, Chinmayi Sripaada, Murtuza Khan, Qadir Khan
Kamala's beloved brother, Aamir, gets married to Tyesha in episode 3, and 'Tere Bina' is the first of many songs to play at their wedding. Originally from the 2007 Hindi film Guru, a remix of this love ballad can be heard as Aamir and Tyesha exchange their vows.
'Hadippa' – Pritam and Mika Singh
Later at the wedding ceremony, Kamala and Bruno stage a flashy dance performance to this upbeat anthem by Indian artists Pritam and Mika Singh, marking a core moment between our protagonist and her lovable will-they-won't-they friend.
'Livin' On A Prayer' – Bon Jovi
Kamala’s parents have repeatedly mentioned how they're Bon Jovi fans, so the appearance of fictional tribute band Brown Jovi at their son’s wedding adds a humorous touch to episode 3. However, the festivities are short-lived as the supernatural group ClanDestines and the threatening Department of Damage Control (DDOC) show up at the wedding in pursuit of Kamala. The celebratory scenes segue into an iconic battle montage of Kamala fighting against the evil powers, set to none other than the Bon Jovi classic 'Livin' on a Prayer'.
'Pasoori' – Ali Sethi x Shae Gill
'Pasoori' makes a fleeting appearance in episode 4 when Kamala travels to Pakistan to meet her extended family. The Punjabi and Urdu song is one of the many hits from the famed Coke Studio Pakistan, a Pakistani television program which features music performances by Pakistani artists. The song explores themes of self-acceptance and separation, mirroring Kamala's journey of grappling with her identity as a Pakistani-American amidst discovering her powers.
'Ko Ko Koreena' – Ahmed Rushdi
'Ko Ko Koreena' first appears in episode 1 briefly when Kamala explores an Asian market in Jersey City, but it is in episode 6 where the song makes its comedic statement as it plays from the speakers and distracts DDOC from finding Kamala and Kamran. Produced during the Golden Age of Pakistani cinema, the 1966 Urdu song first appeared in the film Armaan, and is considered Pakistan's first pop song.
'Indian Summer' – Jai Wolf
In the celebratory montage in the series finale where Kamala saves the day and is recognised for her heroic efforts, Jai Wolf's hit 'Indian Summer' plays in the background. The Bangladeshi-American producer, also known as Sajeeb Saha, is best known for his upbeat melodies and striking electronic production.
Ms. Marvel is available to stream on Disney+ here.
Listen to the Ms. Marvel official Spotify playlist here.
Like what you read? Show our writer some love!
-