We’ve Been Mispronouncing Akshaye Khanna’s Viral ‘FA9LA’ Song! Here’s the Real Meaning of ‘Fasla’ from Dhurandhar

Akshaye Khanna’s viral dance number FA9LA from the film Dhurandhar has taken social media by storm, inspiring countless reels and memes. But many fans are mispronouncing the song title as “Fa-Nine-La” or “Funla.” The correct pronunciation is ‘Fasla’, and the song carries a deeper meaning rooted in both language and culture.

The track marks Akshaye Khanna’s entry as Rahman Dakait, a Baloch gangster whose every move captivates audiences. His swagger, expressions, and subtle chaos on screen have become the highlight of the film. Despite its absence from the official audio jukebox, FA9LA’s popularity skyrocketed, prompting even superstar Ranveer Singh to share it separately.

Origins and Meaning

According to linguist and author Ajit Vadnekar, FA9LA stems from Bahraini hip-hop and carries the meaning of a mental state detached from the ordinary world. In Bahraini slang, Fasla describes someone overflowing with energy, slightly eccentric, or “losing their mind” in a figurative sense. In the song, the phrase “Ana Fasla” translates to “I am Fasla,” reflecting Rahman Dakait’s unpredictable, rule-defying persona.

Vadnekar also explains the use of “9” in the song title. In online Arabic script, the number 9 represents the letter ṣād (ص), which has a heavier “s” sound that Roman letters like ‘S’ or the Devanagari ‘स’ cannot fully capture. This clever substitution makes FA9LA a phonetic rendering of Fasla (Faṣlah / فصلة).

From Arabic Roots to Bollywood Screens

The term originates from the Arabic root fa-ṣād-lām (فصل), meaning to cut, separate, or divide—concepts historically linked to agriculture (fasl for crops/harvest) and seasonal cycles. Over time, the word evolved to describe separation not just in time or space but also in mental states. Bahraini youth popularized Fasla to describe someone mentally “cut off” from reality, perfectly embodying Rahman Dakait’s chaotic, free-spirited nature in Dhurandhar.

Thus, the song is more than just a dance number. It celebrates Rahman’s inner anarchy, his disregard for societal rules, and the distinct mental space he inhabits. A term once used to denote crops or temporal intervals now captures the wild, eccentric energy of a gangster on screen.

With FA9LA, Dhurandhar fuses global music influences with local storytelling, creating a track that’s as linguistically rich as it is visually striking.