Dhoom 2: Music Review 
By Joginder Tuteja, October 22, 2006 - 07:27 IST
2006 has been a year when music from none of the biggies/hyped/spiced up Bollywood biggies has been disappointing. Whether it is 'Fanaa' or 'Rang De Basanti', 'KANK' or 'Krrish', 'Don' or 'Jaan-e-Mann' - music from each of the films has been worth a listen. In addition there have been at least a dozen odd albums from smaller/lesser hyped films that have made their presence felt on the music stands in a big way. Hence when the music of 'Dhoom 2', one of the costliest Yashraj Films, arrives, expectations are huge. Great hype since the inception of the film further hypes up the situation while the tremendous business generated by the first in the series, 'Dhoom', only makes you expect a moon.
With Pritam riding high and competing with Himesh Reshammiya to be the most successful music composer this year, there is no way that 'Dhoom 2' with lyrics by Sameer would go unnoticed. Yes, it doesn't really go unnoticed and that itself is the reason for its downfall since everyone is keen to give it a keen hear and would look at it in a microscopic manner. Sadly, the end result is not at all enthralling and what one gets to hear is a very average score that doesn't even come close to the roaring expectations that one had from 'Dhoom 2'. True, but Yash Raj Films and Pritam haven't really delivered this time around.
There is a visible Pritam touch to the musical arrangements of 'Crazy Kiya Re' that carry a middle-east flavor. Fused with western treatment, this Sunidhi Chauhan number has a fine rhythm but somehow the spice that one expected from an opening track of a film like 'Dhoom 2' is missing. Also, it sounds odd when Sunidhi goes full-throated in the beginning that comes across as a little hoarse. There are English portions aplenty [something with which Pritam is associated in his urban music] with Ravi Khote adding on his rap. In fact if not for a YRF song, the basic tune of 'Crazy Kiya Re' may have come across as a climax/item song in an average flick.
From a track featuring in a fun-n-fast film like 'Dhoom 2', one expected a much racy beginning that would ignite the scene right away. A remix version by Bunty Rajput could have facilitated just that but expect for some additional technical finesse attached to it along with an added rap-n-reggae, there is not much to celebrate here. Nevertheless, solace comes from the fact that the grand production values would help the song turn into a good visible experience at the least.
KK and Alisha Chinai coming together - now one looks forward to this as it comes across as a good package deal. The opening rhythm of 'Touch Me' is reminiscent of the one heard for Pritam's own 'Ada' (Garam Masala)' [remember the sound of flute], but one would consider it more as a style quotient for the composer. If there is a song that one remembers while 'Touch Me' is on, it is 'Salaame' [Dhoom]. Though there is nothing really similar in terms of the tune, it is the overall setting, pacing and a Latino feel that makes one compare it with 'Salaame'. Both KK and Alisha are good but the overall the song doesn't really come across as anything exceptional. Just like 'Crazy Kiya Re', 'Touch Me' also meanders in the average to above average category and now relies on the picturization to make it more visible.
It seems to be a KANK effect by now! Just like KANK had each of the songs coming close to the ones in K3G/KHNH in some way or another, 'Dhoom 2' too follows the same route by taking on similar situations as in the first of the series. 'My Name Is Ali' is another glaring example after 'Touch Me' as it is a straight take off from where 'Dilbara' left. Nevertheless, it is pardonable to an extent because the character and the situation are same and hence one can attribute the inclusion of a similar song. Still, the jazzy feel, overall orchestra, Sonu Nigam's singing style, pauses between the lines and the pacing is so much like 'Dilbara' that one gets a very strong feeling of 'deja vu'. Weakest song of the album so far! And by the way, the much hyped arrival of Bipasha Basu is hardly justified since she just fills in the song with her monosyllables like 'Ok', 'Ya' etc.
'Dil Laga Le' seems to be a song where all the leads in the film come together on one single stage. Presence of Sukhbir, Soham Chakrabarthy, Jolly Mukherjee, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Suzanne makes it quite apparent as they team up well to arrive with one of the better songs of the album. A little conventional in theme and feel, it is still not one of the best coming from YRF but when compared to the songs heard in the album so far, this one brings on some excitement at least. A full on situational item song with a good energy, pace and rhythm to boost, 'Dil Laga Ne' has good work done by all the singers with the signature tune of 'Dhoom' making a special appearance in the midst and spicing up the affair.
Finally it is left to the song that made 'Dhoom' what it is today - 'Dhoom Again', which is a sequel of sorts to 'Dhoom Machaley'. This time around this Asif Ali Baig penned number is in English with Vishal Dadlani [of Vishal-Shekhar duo] crooning for a full fledged track for Pritam. The idea of the song is simple - highlight the magic created by the original 'Dhoom' and add on to the overall fun factor. Even the lyrics pretty much convey the same point by stating the fact that it's going to be 'Dhoom Again' all over again. Vishal does his job pretty much right and adds on to the funk with a rock star approach while Dominique Cerejo is a good support for him. Last but not the least, the arrangements of this track is the best in the entire album and at least ends it on a charged up note.
Let's get into the flashback note now. When the music of 'Dhoom' had released a few years back, it was hardly considered to be a sensation as it turned out to be eventually. Except for the title song 'Dhoom' and its Tata Young version, majority of songs in the rest of the album had come across as average. Ditto holds good for 'Dhoom 2' too with just the title song 'Dhoom Again' and to an extent 'Dil Laga Na' making a mark. Songs from 'Dhoom' became highly popular as the title song(s) caught on and the film became a roaring hit and one won't be surprised if the songs from 'Dhoom 2' too catch on due to the backing of the biggest production house in the country coupled with striking picturisation. Now the question is - Will the music of 'Dhoom 2' sell? Yes, there is no doubt that it will take a thunderous start, though a sustained pace of sales is quite doubtful. It will be indeed better if YRF stick to the action/talkie promos of the film till its release as they have a far more potential than the music to excite the audience.
Rating: **
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