Mumbai Saga song 'Danka Baja': Payal Dev track pays tribute to Mumbai's favourite deity

It is a longstanding tradition in Indian cinema that if a director is making a gangster film, an invocation of the Lord Ganesha has to be included. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta follows the generational practice by introducing Payal Dev's thumping ode to the God of obstacles. Sung by Dev Negi, the punchy song sets up the climactic clash between John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi. 

With its typical green tint, the song bears Gupta's signature. Also, it has the usual Ganpati song elements from the slow walk to the temple, the crowds, the traditional dhol tashas that accompany the protagonist's temple visit. Abraham seethes as an angry man whose rage cannot be quelled even by divine intervention as he prays. The song also gives the first peek at Kajal Aggarwal, who plays Abraham's love interest in the film. 

Dev's composition is fresh and foot-tapping. The percussion adds a very massy flavour to the song. Negi's delivery is fair and lifts the mood and tempo of the song. The lyrics by Prashant Ingole are nothing special but suit the song.

True to another tradition, the song sets up the showdown between Abraham's villain, Amartya Rao, and Emraan Hashmi's character, an honest but brutal cop. The final scene of the song is a mano-a-mano gunfight between the two. 

Mumbai Saga is set to be released in theatres on 19 March. 

Check out the song below, and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.