Before 'Damal', Raihan Rafi's football saga based on the legendary Shadhin Bangla football team even released, it was the indomitable soundtrack that attracted the attention of fans.

The title track sung in the sheer might of Cryptic Fate vocalist Shakib Chowdhury and Oyshee, folk 'queen' Momotaz Begum displaying her versatility in the playful Ghur Ghur Poka, Pritom Hasan switching up his style in Ami Durjoy and the period-fitting romantic track Mon Posh Mane Na by Imran Mahmudul and Kona, added to the unsurpassable Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya with her Rabindra Sangeet – all add to the film like a finesse shot lobbed over the head of three defenders like Leo Messi himself.

What surprised me, then, was the lack of mention for the tracks' music director, Arafat Mohsin Nidhi, who compiled a star-studded album, featuring these behemoths, in the media.

"When I met Raihan Rafi, we discussed at length what we wanted to achieve. I made the song Ghur Ghur Poka, and after he listened to that, I was tasked with creating the entire soundtrack of the film", said Nidhi. Even though commonplace in Bollywood, it is rare for a director in our industry to trust one musician with the entire soundtrack. "One of his best attributes is that he believes in people he works with."

In fact, the entire team, including the lead cast Siam Ahmed, Bidya Sinha Mim, Sariful Razz were involved in the process till the end. Nidhi attributes the lyricist, Rasel Mahmud, with much of the success of the soundtrack. The songs were mixed and mastered by Arafat Kirty.

The promotional title track that Shakib Chowdhury voiced is to remain one of the only tracks that were built entirely to create hype. "When we listen to songs like 'Cholo Bangladesh', we are infused with patriotic energy. This is why I wanted Shakib bhai to sing this one as well," says the music director, also adding that the team was inspired by Kazi Nazrul Islam's rebellious poetry as well, for the concept of this title track.

"Not just the title song, but in every song, the singers sang out of their own comfort zone, be it Momotaz apa or Pritom," says Nidhi. "Not only that, the entire musical crew were more than accommodating when it came to the promotions as well."

"When the film's opening credits rolled and 7 singers were named, I feel like this was a milestone in our music industry."

Moreover, 160 people and an entire unit were present to shoot the music video, which is nearly unprecedented in Dhallywood.

Although only time will tell if "Damal" will live up to Raihan Rafi's previous super-hit, "Poran" and Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's "Hawa", two films still running in halls after months of its release, it is evident that the soundtrack fires on all cylinders.