Babumoshai Bandookbaaz Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
One isn't quite sure about what to expect from the music of Babumoshai Bandookbaaz. After all, Nawazuddin Siddiqui's solo starrers are not really known for their music and this time around there are as many as half a dozen songs put together by composer Gaurav Dagaonkar and lyricist Ghalib Asad Bhopali.
MUSIC
The moment 'Barfani' begins, you know that this one is a 'raaga' based track with a semi-classical base to it. A sensual track that has Armaan Malik taking the lead, 'Barfani' moves on at a slow pace and is strictly for those who like their music to have a touch of classical music to it. In fact 25-30 years back a song like this could well have been in Suresh Wadkar's territory. It is easy on ears, yes, but then it has a restricted audience for itself. Later the song also appears in a female version with newcomer Orunima Bhattacharya going solo. She gives a good account of herself too in this song that has a night stage and setting to it.
Soon enough though Orunima Bhattacharya takes a complete about turn and gets into a rustic 'andaaz' for 'Aye Saiyan'. With a 'bhojpuri' setting to it, this one is strictly for the interiors and that too rural India. The music too is the kind that doesn't have much of an appeal beyond the cow belt and there isn't much memorable about the overall tune either. A forgettable track, it dilutes whatever little impact made by 'Barfani'. Moreover, once Vivek Naik comes on the scene, you know that this one is just for the 'bhojpuri' audience and you quickly move on to check the next song in the list.
Well, what one gets to hear is the recreated version of R.D. Burman and Anand Bakshi's 'Haye Re Haye Tera Ghungta' from the film Dhongee. The singer chosen for the job is just right as Neha Kakkar croons 'Ghunghta' with aplomb and ensures that even today's audience would be enticed well enough to check out what the song has to offer. This one fits in well as a situational outing too, hence ensuring that you not just listen to it but also watch the proceedings on screen.
Next to arrive is 'Chulbuli' which is sung by Papon and has a 60s feel to it. Not that it overtly excites you as not just is the pace of the song quite lazy, even the overall treatment is not the kind that makes you play it on a repeat mode. It tries to bring in the nostalgia from the past where songs like these were picturised on the likes of Dev Anand or Biswajeet. However, the overall impact is just not there.
Last to arrive is the most experienced singer of the lot, Mohit Chauhan. He is required to croon 'Khali Khali' which actually has the kind of stage and setting that could well have had the names Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar associated with it. The song moves at a very slow pace and has a dark feel to it with no relief whatsoever. One wonders how the song would be picturised in the film since this one doesn't have an iota of a feel good element to it.
OVERALL
Since there wasn't much expected from the music of Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, you are fine with whatever that is served by the musical team. That said do not expect the soundtrack to play on beyond the play of the film on the screens.
OUR PICK(S)
‘Barfani’, ‘Khali Khali’
