Music: Sharib Sabri-Toshi Sabri, Mika Singh, Remo Fernandes, Sridevi Keshavan-Janaka Atugoda, Juno Reactor, Jaaved Jaaferi-Rahul Bhatt & Itek Bhutani
Lyrics: Turaz-Azeem Shirazi, Raj Hans, Abhijeet Deshpande-Remo Fernandes, Kaizad Gustad, Sridevi Keshavan- Irfan Siddiqui, Kaizad Gustad & Ramya Iyer
Music Label: T-Series
Expectations:
There is nothing significant that we anticipate. The last Kaizad Gustad film was Boom a decade ago and the music was eclectic but not inspiring.
Music:
A killer of a song opens the soundtrack, boosting our hopes sky high. A lovely piano riff is followed by a soulful tryst with two guitars (one electric), and Arijit Singh comes in to sing 'Kabhi Tu Baadal Barse' straight and with transparent soulfulness. The lyrics (Turaz with Aseem Shirazi) move from eulogy of the beloved to acceptance and later angst. The composition (by Sharib Sabri and Toshi Sabri) seems to have wandered in straight from a Mukesh Bhatt-Mahesh Bhatt film in its haunting intensity.
The song impresses even the filmmakers so much that three more versions are included - two nondescript remixes by Maxi and Rishi respectively and a female, more accomplished version by Shreya Ghoshal. This one's more placid in vocals and orchestration. Shreya brings in classical nuances and her artistry shines in the tiny inflections in her renditions of virtually the same lyrics, taking the song to another dimension. However, for obvious reasons, the simpler Arijit version stays with you longer because it is 'hummable' and more 'direct'!
But the rest of the album just does not measure up. A really amusing recitation is 'Eggjactly' by Jaaved Jaaferi, whose words are strangely not credited. Lampooning his famous character in Salaam Namaste and adding elements of pun, fun and even past films, Jaaved makes the track 'time-pass' entertainment. The female voice is not mentioned. Why? Have samplers been used?
Mika is his usual self in 'Full Jhol' - he even composes this predictable item number, and one must say that is catchy while it lasts. Akasa Singh, his co-singer, sounds impressive in the small portions she has.
Sunidhi Chauhan's skill is completely wasted in 'Jackpot Jeeto', a much-ado-about-nothing number that strangely needed three lyricists (Kaizad Gustad, Sridevi Keshavan, Irfan Siddiqui!) and two music makers (Sridevi Keshavan, Janaka Atugoda) to fashion it!
The remaining three tracks, 'Jackpot', 'Now You See Him' and 'Bol Bugger Bol' just do not register.
Overall:
Just one killer composition is like the proverbial swallow that does not make for a musical summer. Even that one standout song will need huge promotional pushes and a huge success of the parent film to make a mark.
Our Pick:
'Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse', 'Eggjactly'