Music: Meet Bros Anjjan, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Chirantan Bhatt & P.A. Deepak
Lyrics: Kumaar, Manoj Yadav & Sahil Kaushal
Music label: T-Series
Expectations:
Akshay Kumar films tend to be very experimental in music and this one is no exception.
Music:
In today's music lexicon, the word 'experimental' is primarily synonymous with A.R. Rahman and his kind of approach, but Akshay Kumar has his own kind of experimentation over the years in which desi and firangi are blended differently. Prone to have novel voices - from Himesh Reshammiya to RDB and Snoop Dogg! - in his albums, he brings in that feel into this new action comedy as well.
The first track is a functional number, 'Boss' rendered by the flavour of the season, Yo Yo Honey Singh (with Prakriti Kakar, Sukriti Kakar & Khushboo Grewal), in eulogy to the titular character of the film. The lyrics by Kumaar go well with current trends and Singh does what he is known for - rap to a pulsating beat. The use of the bugle to heighten the key notes is interesting in this composition by Meet Bros. Anjjan.
As the singer, Vishal Dadlani in superb fettle gives 'Hum na tode', a subtle Marathi folk touch - an achievement considering that the cult original, 'Apdi pode' is a South Indian number composed by Vidyasagar. Vishal brings in nuances that are not present in the original in both the mukhda and the antara and raises the appeal of the viral number, while keeping the original intoxicating quality intact!
The rambunctious orchestration and chorus with some vocal interpolation by Akshay Kumar himself help boost the magnetic charm of the number even in its Hindi version. And Kumaar writes smart lyrics again.
'Pitah se hai naam tera' (Sonu Nigam) is soulfully rendered and one liked the relentless strings in the background, but the Meet Bros. Anjjan composition is bogged down by a mixed sound that alternates between a Sufiana qawwali mode, a rousing devotional colour and a strident inspirational tenor, making it a confused, ever-changing melody. The lyrics have an overdose of the word 'Pitah' and the final result is a song that only sounds pleasant while it lasts. Also for such a genre, the song is too loud.
The smartest lyrics (Sahil Kaushal) - except for one objectionable line that could have been easily changed (G**d mein dum hai to band karwa lo) - are found in 'Party all night' (composed and sung by Yo Yo Honey Singh). The music is intentionally funky with the vocal refrain, the twanging of the instrument and the very international beat all adding up to a heady feel. This one's the hot floor-burner, though we did not relish the abrupt end.
But we do not really care for 'Har kisi ko' (Nikhil D'Souza) despite Chirantan Bhatt's inspired use of the rock guitar. For one, the song is a re-creation with changes (an increasingly epidemic trend) of the 1986 Kalyanji - Anandji masterpiece, 'Har kisiko nahin milta' from Jaanbaz. A soft and soothing melody (apt for its philosophical mukhda) is converted into a shrill, angry litany.
For another, Manoj Yadav's lyrics are not a patch on Indeewar's brilliant verse, and seem to cast aside aesthetics for phonetics (Kismaton se milte hain do dil yahaan). And D'Souza's gasping, very Western rendition is also not in sync with the basic melody. The duet version (Arijit Singh - Neeti Mohan) is equally undistinguished, with the gimmicky high-pitched vocals pulling down the song. Every composition needs a specific octave and this is a classic example of a song pitched in the wrong scale with the singing done more for some vague 'pop' effect rather than the emotional impact intended by the lyrics.
The 'Boss - Entry Theme' (Meet Bros. Anjjan - Sonu Kakkar - Khushboo Grewal) mixes up all kinds of music to make what appears to be another gimmicky, celebratory track that is forgotten as soon as it is over. And 'Boss - Title Remix' is exactly the way we expect a routine remix to be - louder, faster and more raucous.
Overall:
The music is completely heterogeneous and partly unoriginal, so the better songs will be dependent on how the film fares. However, an enduring quotient is lacking in the score.
Our Pick:
Hum na tode, Party all night, Boss