Abhishek Bachchan's Raavan - Music Review

Through the windows - through doors - burst like a ruthless force.” These powerful lines by Walt Whitman are just not enough to describe the music of Raavan. The songs have tunes and rhythm by A R Rahman and soulful words by Gulzar. Stitching it all together is the master craftsman Mani Ratnam, the film’s director. So, is the killer troika handing us a musical bazooka again?

Brace up for a musical explosion with the first song of the album, Beera, as congo beats welcome you to the world of the antagonist Beera (Abhishek Bachchan), the mighty and mysterious one who’s described as having ten heads and hundred names. The track, in the honour of Raavan, is the most intriguing composition of the lot, sung by the talented Vijay Prakash, Mustafa Kutoane, while additional vocals that add drama to the track are by Keerthi Sagathia. The song also enthralls you with its fusion of Indian and afro music.

Behne De continues the haunting, captivating mood of ‘Raavan’. But when the song starts, it clearly reminds one of the famous Jaane Tu Meri Kya Hai number from the movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. The situational track is somber and serious, and the feelings expressed as poignant as painful.

Gulzar’s poetic genius again shines through in this song. Thok De Killi, Bhagad Billi, sung by Sukhwinder Singh, does impress you with its loud, quasi rustic and quasi tribal music, but is not a hit in the offing.

There is something inexplicable about the track Ranjha Ranjha belted out efficiently by Rekha Bhradwaj and Javed Ali. As the song settles in your heart, you are drenched in the richness of Rahman’s music. Now that is indescribable.

The thunderous mood gets a balmy touch with the traditional, melodious track Khili Re crooned by the first-timer Reena Bhardawaj. With this track Rahman has tried to mix contemporary music with retro, quite reminiscent of the 80s romantic songs. Indeed, the song gladdens our heart with its melody.

Can you ever forget Kuchi Kuchi Rakma from ‘Bombay’ or Rukmini Kya Hua from ‘Roja’? The gang of Rahman-Ratnam again delivers a song on similar lines. Kata Kata with distinct Rajasthani folk rendered by the sensational trio Ila Arun, Sapna Awasthi and Kunal Ganjawala has a celebratory tune. No doubt the song is picturised on a marriage.

Bewildered, we are now ‘Raavan’-struck. The bazooka has claimed its victim. Simply phenomenal, out of the ordinary, and at times bizarre, the musical score of the film doesn’t fall short of the expectations. Agreed, some songs are less hummable, but it’s not easy to break the spell created by the film’s music. It lingers on for hours and days after.

Rating - 3 / 5

Movie Kites - Music Review

It’s been four years since the father-son duo of Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan wowed us with their sci-fi thriller Krrish. Now, the duo returns again with Kites, though this time Roshan senior is only producing. Anurag Basu of Metro and Gangster fame directs the flick.

Instead of Basu’s regular music director Pritam, ‘Kites’ has the Roshans’ favourite composer Rajesh Roshan.

The movie has two versions and the English one is without any musical score. No complaints, as we are happy to get our own desi version, coz any commercial Hindi movie is incomplete without songs. Let’s check out how good is the music album of ‘Kites’.

Zindagi Do Pal Ki has already started doing rounds on the small screen as the main promotional track. To be frank, it doesn’t entice your auditory senses at one go. But the song, so much a typical Rajesh Roshan melody, won’t take too long to settle in your heart. Singer Kay Kay brings out the best in the melody through his naturally passionate singing. DJ A-Myth’s simple remix of the song is not hard on the ears.

Imagine a long drive, a picturesque surrounding and a never-ending road; listening to Dil Kyun Ye Mera will give you such a feel. Nasir Faraaz’s subtle and poetic lyrics and Kay Kay’s fantastic voice make it a must-hear song. Like the original, the remix version sounds good.

Taking off with a tinge of Hip-hop music, the song Tum Bhi Ho Wahi later sounds like a soft rock number. And since Vishal Dadlani and Suraj Jagan team up behind the microphone, it is bound to be a highly energetic number. But fails to impress us like the other songs of the film.

Kites In The Sky, the title track sung by Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne D’Mello, has an international appeal to it with brooding, wistful feel and light music. Must say, Hrithik, just like his persona, impresses us with his vocals too. The remix version isn’t as edgy as the original but is in sync with the romantic fervor of the album.

As the movie is about two lovers and their fight to keep the flame alive beyond the borders of cultural distinctions, the song Fire truly explores the blazing emotions. Anirudh Bhola and Anushka Manchanda’s fiery rendition is a welcome bump in the romantic flow of the album.

With the release of the music of ‘Kites’, T-series and Big Pictures roadblocked 40 television channels to promote its music at the prime time. The makers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success of the movie, and music plays a major role in it. But as one expects it to be extraordinary or mind-blowing, ‘Kites’ musical score fails to match up with expectations.

However, you can sure enjoy the breezy, dreamy songs.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

3 Idiots Music Review

EXPECTATIONS

The moment name Aamir Khan is seen in the credits, the word 'quality' comes naturally. Such has been the brand value Aamir has made around him that everything else, whether it is the director, composer or the co-star, comes secondary. Of course with names like Rajkumar Hirani, Kareena Kapoor and Vidhu Vinod Chopra involved, one can't discount the overall package affair that 3 Idiots turns out to be.

Still, when it comes to the music of the film, one can't really claim to have huge expectations. Reason being that the composer at the helm of affairs is Shantanu Moitra who hasn't had a single commercially successful album other than Parineeta. Yes, he has been critically acclaimed but due to the kind of music he has created and the genre he has explored, mass acceptance has still eluded him.

Even a Lage Raho Munnabhai showed some good sales once the movie turned out to be hugely successful at the box office. This is the reason why one plays 3 Idiots (that has lyrics by Swanand Kirkire) with reasonable, rather than extraordinary, expectations in place - Aamir Khan notwithstanding.


MUSIC

It's a gradual beginning to 'Aal Izz Well' that gives a clear indication of what the film is all about. Arriving with the theme of 'care-a-damn' attitude, 'Aal Izz Well' is completely different from dozens of campus tracks that have been heard over the years. Swanand Kirkire's lyrics make an instant impression while Shantanu's rhythmic treatment ensures that the song would be played in many a campus festivals and student get togethers from here on.

Catching the pulse of youth, whether from today, yesterday or tomorrow, this Sonu Nigam and Shaan sung track, which also appears in a deserving 'remix version', belongs to chartbuster variety. One wonders though that why did Shanatanu have to croon like Anu Malik for an interspersing piece?

Only song in the album featuring a female voice comes in the form of 'Zoobi Doobi'. The chosen one here is the obvious name without whom not a single A-list album gets completed today - Shreya Ghoshal. A song-n-dance affair that almost spoofs the conventional rain tracks that have been heard and seen in Bollywood over the decades, 'Zoobi Doobi' combines melody with rhythm with Sonu Nigam joining the show. Belonging to the 50s and 60s variety in the way it has been composed, 'Zoobi Doobi' (which too has a 'remix version' for itself) is good though its longevity would depend upon the way it has been choreographed and the extent to which the film succeeds.

From this point on, the album takes a situational turn, as visible in 'Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh' which comes next. Starting on a pensive note, the number is about a couple of friends (Madhavan and Sharman Joshi) who are searching for their lost partner (Aamir Khan). The number has a distinct Bengali music touch to it, whether in terms of the way it has been orchestrated, arranged and even sung. With minimal instruments in the background, this number sung by Shaan and Shantanu Moitra describes the character played by Aamir and how he carried a carefree and lively persona. With a hint of sadness to it, 'Behti Hawa' is primarily for the screen.

Just like it's predecessor, 'Give Me Some Sunshine' too has a slow beginning with Sharman Joshi narrating a line about youth being allowed to live life the way they want. Soon after Suraj Jagan starts singing this track about how kids are deprived of their innocence in the world of education that dictates what they should be doing rather than them making a choice. Meanwhile, Sharman keeps interspersing the song with anecdotes from the childhood (experimenting with chemistry, forced to get 99% marks etc...). Yet another campus track, though softer in mode and tone this time around, the song has its high point every time the line 'Give Me Some Sunshine' comes on the forefront.

The finale is interesting with Sonu Nigam coming up with one of his best renditions in recent times. He changes the pitch of his voice extraordinarily well in 'Jaane Nahin Denge Tujhe' which again appears to be the set in a mood where the friends are rooting for each other and making sure that they don't fail in their pursuit for a better life ahead.

After singing two popular tracks 'Shukran Allah' [Kurbaan] and 'Don't Say Alvida' [Main Aurr Mrs Khanna], this is yet another quality outing for Sonu Nigam who hits just the right notes. Special mention to Swanand for his words that should make a definite impact in the film's narrative.

OVERALL

3 Idiots is a good quality album that has two super strong tracks - 'Aal Izz Well' and 'Jaane Nahin Denge Tujhe'. Both are poles apart though because while former is for mass audiences, latter should find a perfect placement in the film's narrative. 'Zoobi Doobi' is nice while 'Behti Hawa' and 'Give Me Some Sunshine' would be known more after the film's release.

Immense curiosity value around '3 Idiots' would ensure that in the initial days, the album disappears quite quickly from the music stands. After that, it would be the strength of the film and its run at the box office that would do the talking for the album as well.

OUR PICK(S)

'Aal Izz Well', 'Jaane Nahin Denge Tujhe', 'Zoobi Doobi'