Thursday, September 30, 2010

Jhootha Hi Sahi Music Review

EXPECTATIONS

A couple of years back, A.R. Rahman and Abbas Tyrewala created a very good musical outing in the form of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa. But naturally, you do expect something magical all over again in Jhootha Hi Sahi as well. Of course, this one is not a traditional romcom that would result in those template created songs that time and again do fit into the situation. Jhootha Hi Sahi has a telephone instrument pretty much playing the other lead character as well and hence you do expect lyricist Abbas Tyerewala and composer A.R. Rahman to do something different from what is conventional. Still, a feel good score is what you do want to hear eventually.

MUSIC

Honestly, you don't quite warm up to the opening number 'Cry Cry' instantly. The slow movement of the song coupled with some very simple, though average sounding lyrics, don't make you sit up and notice beyond a point. While Rashid Ali begins crooning this song about being happy in life rather than worrying about things which are not in one's control, Shreya Ghoshal joins in only after half of 'Cry Cry' is through. However, the fact remains that despite giving the song a repeated hearing, it doesn't quite settle down to be the kind of number that qualifies as an opening track in an album.

Slightly taken aback by this time, one plays on 'Maiyya Yashoda' that comes next. This is one of the unlikeliest of Rahman compositions though one doesn't mind that as the simplicity factor pretty works this time around. A festive number about the folk fare of Krishna, his 'Yashoda maiyya' and the 'gopis', 'Maiyya Yashoda' arrives in a 'desi Jamuna Mix' and a 'videsi Thames mix'. The two versions highlight the cultural dissimilarities due to Jamuna and Thames rivers to be on the opposite sides of the continents.

Though the songs do bring on some energy into the album, you still are in lookout for the kind of songs that make an A.R. Rahman soundtrack something special. Thankfully you start getting a glimpse of that with 'Hello Hello' coming in next. This one could well qualify as a theme track since it narrates the tale of the protagonist who - as the receiver of a hotline number - is attached to his phone instrument. Though from the theme perspective, it does remind one of the title theme track of Karthik Calling Karthik, in spirit it is far livelier when compared to the dark undertone that the Farhan Akhtar version carried.

However, the wait to hear something remarkable is finally over with Sonu Nigam coming up with one of the best songs rendered by him - 'Do Nishaaniyan'. Not just the music arrangements are fantastic; the overall flow of 'Do Nishaaniyan' is extremely pleasant as well that makes one play on the number repeatedly. Reminding one of the kind of Mohd. Rafi numbers from the 60s, though presented in a contemporary manner, 'Do Nishaaniyan' not just promises to make an impact in the film's narrative but also stay on with the music lover to be played for many more months to come. No wonder, the song deservedly appears in much slower 'Heartbreak version' as well.

Have you already been impressed with the sound that accompanies the talkie promo of Jhootha Hi Sahi? In that case, there is a reason to celebrate as most of it actually comes from the fun track 'Pam Pa Ra'. A sweet song about a girl being happy with the conversation that she had with a stranger on the hotline, this Shreya Ghoshal rendered track has a heart felt appeal to it and brings on the expected exuberance of the protagonist. Expect some gloss and fluorescence when this song appears on screen.

Vijay Yesudas brings on an international experience with his Hinglish track 'I've Been Waiting' which has a jazzy blue feel to it. Reminding one of 'My Heart Is Beating' [Julie] even though this one is different in theme and spirit, 'I've Been Waiting' works even though it has some heavy duty poetry forming the Hindi lyrics. This one is for a romantic night out and is bound to make your heart beat go even slower if it is in anticipation of your beloved's arrival.

Beginning the album with 'Cry Cry', Rashid Ali ends it with much better 'Call Me Dil'. In fact one really wonders why this song didn't arrive at the very beginning of the album since it has an intrinsic sweetness to it that would have set the context of the film there and then. Telling the tale of the protagonist who is required to hide his identity as someone on the other side of the hotline, it also features the words Jhootha Hi Sahi that lay the foundation of the song.

OVERALL

Jhootha Hi Sahi starts on a jerky note and actually takes some time to settle down. However once it does, it turns out to be a pleasant sounding album that has at least a couple of songs that have a long lasting appeal, if not instant. These A.R. Rahman songs may not turn out to be roaring chartbusters now. Still, it can pretty much be rest assured that if the film works at the box office, the music too would find itself in much demand. Also, for those who can get a hand on the wonderfully packaged 'Collector's Edition', there is also a Karoake CD of all the songs to play around with.

OUR PICK(S)

Do Nishaaniyan, Call Me Dil, Pam Pa Ra

Allah Ke Banday Music Review

EXPECTATIONS

One doesn't play on the music of Allah Ke Banday expecting anything that would be a quintessential feel good affair. After all the film, as the promos and the title suggest, is pretty much a gritty dramatic tale revolving around children and crime. Hence, you expect a theme score that would be haunting to say the least, a la Ram Gopal Varma films like Satya, Company or the Sarkar series. With multiple composers coming together for different songs in the album, you look forward to the kind of songs that would primarily play in the background with lip synch numbers being totally out of question.

MUSIC

The album gets a hard hitting start with Chirantan Bhatt coming up with exactly the kind of sound in 'Maula' that one expected from Allah Ke Banday. Sung in high pitch by Hamza Faruqui and Krishna, this fusion between sufi and rock does bring in the kind of high intensity impact that Allah Ke Banday required. Sarim Momin gets the right lyrics in place as the protagonists' plea before God to make life better for the underprivileged.



Next to arrive is a Kailash Kher, Naresh & Paresh creation titled 'Kya Hawa Kya Baadal'. Written and sung by Kailash Kher, the track has a sad intrinsic feel to it. However, what takes the song down is the fact that it turns out to be pretty sad not just in the way it is sung and the theme that it conveys but also the way it overall sounds. Clearly, this one just doesn't go anywhere and though it does aim at bringing on the theme feel of the film, the overall sound of 'Kya Hawa Kya Baadal' is such that you aren't really excited to check out the much longer version that appears later.

New entrants Tarun & Vinayak come up with a two minute long piece 'Rabba Rabba' which has director/actor Faruk Kabir himself coming behind the mike. This is the same song which is currently playing in the promo and is strictly situational. A rock number which has lyrics by Ravi Khote, this song yet again gets into the territory of lost childhood and innocence. However, even as one starts warming up to a little extent, it reaches an end.

Sunidhi Chauhan goes almost unplugged for 'Mayoos' with just about a couple of instruments playing remotely in the background. As the title itself suggests, this one Sarim Momin written song has a sad feeling to it. This is understandable though as this film couldn't have afforded to carry anything feel good. Despite the fact that this Hamza Faruqui number does turn out to be better than the couple of songs before it, it would be challenging for 'Mayoos' to make its presence felt outside the narrative of the film.

There is an attempt to get some fun in place with Ishq Bector playing the double role of composer and singer with the track 'Kaala Jaadu'. Sarim Momin writes for this situational track that could be set in the juvenile prison. Sounding so much like an 80s track, it is barely passable and though it tries to bring on the fun element on it, the maximum impact it may manage to make it within the context of the film if picturised well.

OVERALL

Allah Ke Banday was never expected to be a commercial score. However, despite this limitation, the overall results are not the kind that would make one gaga about the intrinsic quality that the album would have brought with itself. One now looks forward to what the film has to offer because it sounds far more promising.

OUR PICK(S)

Maula

Knock Out Music Review

EXPECTATIONS

Music in an urban action film guarantees one thing - it would be fast paced and edgy. Even though Knock Out has an unusual cast of Sanjay Dutt, Irrfan Khan and Kangna with not much scope of music due to its plot based setting, one looks forward to what composer Gourov Dg [Gourov Dasgupta] has to offer. Panchhi Jalonvi is the prime lyricist with Vishal Dadlani and Shellee also contributing with a song apiece.

MUSIC

Sanjay Dutt and Kangna turn rock stars for the title song 'Knock Out' that is obviously made for end credits title roll sequence. A high energy track with Vishal Dadlani playing the role of a singer as well as lyricist, 'Knock Out' has Ashe contributing with the English rap. 'Knock Out' may not be the next chartbuster in the offing here since it has more of a concert appeal than being the kind which one associates with a film, it is a still a decent start nevertheless.

The album takes a completely different route with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan coming up with a soft number 'Khushnuma Sa Ye Roshan Ho'. A Panchhi Jalonvi written track which carries a theme of world being a better place to live, 'Khushnuma' moves at a slow pace and even though the beginning is okay, the later portions just turn out to be average. In fact one gets a jingle feel and despite the presence of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the results aren't optimal here. Though the song is about hope, there is a sad feel to it which only makes one look forward to what next is in the offing. Another version of the same song appears as 'Khushnuma Sa Woh Mausam' (with Shellee as the lyricist) and this time around the singer at the helm of affairs is Krishna. The overall mood still stays on to be sombre though.

Fun returns to the scene with Sunidhi Chauhan bringing on the exuberance with 'Jab Jab Dil Mile'. Okay, so the fact is that the song reminds one of many a Pritam song from the past but still it is good enough to lend a foot tapping appeal to the album. Though not extraordinary and a chartbuster that would live on for a year to come, it still is energetic enough to ensure some good visuals complimenting the fast paced mood of the film. Panchhi Jalonvi's lyrics aren't anything great to write home about but then if at all there is some scope for the album to find inroads amongst the audience; 'Jab Jab Dil Mile' is the one that should be played on most. No wonder, there is a 'remix version' included as well.

Then arrives 'Tuhi Mere Hum Navaa' which is a KK solo. A predictable track that enters into the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy zone and musically reminds one of their compositions like 'Mitwa' [Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna] and 'Sajda' [My Name Is Khan], 'Tuhi Mera...' by Panchhi Jalonvi makes for a comfortable hearing. In fact at places where a line leads to a pause, one is also reminded of Pritam's 'Teri Ore' [Singh Is Kinng]. Due to its heard before feel, 'Tuhi Mera..' doesn't carry a promise to make any inroads into the charts.

Last song to come is 'Gangubai Pe Aai Jawani', which is seemingly an afterthought, considering the 'Munni Badnaam' wave and also some reasonable attention that 'Issak Se Meetha' [Aakrosh] is enjoying. Belonging to the same genre as the aforementioned tracks, this Sunidhi Chauhan number carries an altogether different mood when compared to the rest of the album. A standard item song with an earthy feel to it, it follows a template approach and turns out to be an ordinary affair.

OVERALL

Knock Out is a passable score though one would have expected better results. Even after one is through hearing the album a few times, there isn't much recall value that makes one look forward to hearing it all over again. Barely okay.

OUR PICK(S)

Jab Jab Dil Mile, Knock Out

Aakrosh Music Review

EXPECTATIONS

When an album has the name Pritam attached to it, there is always a guarantee that results would be good, especially when the film comprises of reputed names. Though the composer is not always in form, especially when it comes to smaller films, there is always a chartbuster or two that one can expect from him when he associates himself with a biggie. However, for a film like Aakrosh one does play the album with balanced expectations. Reason being that it is not a conventional commercial flick with much scope for 'pyaar mohabbat' affair, something that often gives the composer good enough room to play in. With Irshad Kamil in tow, Pritam comes up with five songs for Aakrosh.

MUSIC

Since its very onset, the promotion of Aakrosh has been centred on 'Isak Se Meetha', an item song picturised on Sameera Reddy. On the same lines as 'Beedi Jalaile Le' [Omkara] and 'Munni Badnaam' [Dabangg], 'Isak Se Meetha ' too has a rural/small town setting to it. This time around the singer is Kalpana Patowary who gets company from Ajay Jhingran behind the mike. However, the song doesn't quite carry the kind of zing that would have made it rule at the top of the charts since its arrival on the stands. It is good but not outstanding enough to join the best of the best when it comes to rustic item songs. However, the makers are understandably gung-ho about the only true blue commercial track in the album and hence have placed it a couple of times more as a 'remix' and a 'dhol mix' version.

Next to come is 'Saude Bazi' and it is good to see Pritam getting into a different zone with simplicity written all over the song. In fact the song is way too simple that makes one listen to it at least 3-4 times before forming a firm opinion. However, as the song settles down, it turns out to be a fairly enjoyable which does ensure that if picturised well it would definitely lead to some smiles for sure. The arrangements are totally Indian while new entrant on the block, Anupam Amod, gets a good opportunity to find a solo love song to his credit. Later in the album one also hears Javed Ali going solo for the same song. Surprisingly, he sounds very different from his earlier attempts and this is the reason why if one had to pick one of the two versions of 'Saude Baazi', it would be the one by Anupam.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is an absolute must in every big film these days and Aakrosh is no exception. He gets on to his name in the form of 'Man Ki Mat' which has the kind of lyrics by Irshad Kamil that require some closer hearing. No wonder, this song (which sounds more like a devotional than a romantic track) takes some time to settle down. Also, it is the kind of song which mainly works as a part of the film's background rather than being sung around. It is nice but not the kind that gives an impression of a chartbuster in the making.

There is some excitement back in store with Shreya Ghoshal coming up with 'Sasural Munia'. A celebration track about a group of friends having fun with the bride-to-be and preparing her for what lies ahead in life, this Shreya Ghoshal number is picturised on Urvashi Sharma and reminds one of Priyadarshan's own 'Dhol Bajne Laga' [Virasat]. Last to come is Sukhwinder Singh's rendered 'Ramkatha' which is centred on that episode in Ramayana where Ram defeated Raavan and saved Sita. Narrated as a tale, one waits to see how this song fits into the film's narrative.

OVERALL

Aakrosh is an average score that doesn't quite carry the kind of exuberance that one expects from Pritam film after film. While the album has tried to balance it all with a couple of item songs (Isak Se Meetha, Sasural Munia), a love song (Saude Baazi), a situational (Man Ki Mat) and a devotional track (Ramkatha), it turns out to be just about decent. Also, since the album has hit the stands just a fortnight before the film releases in theatres, there is only a limited window for the soundtrack to make its presence felt.

OUR PICK(S)

Isak, Sauda



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