Zindagi 50-50 Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
One doesn't have many expectations from the soundtrack of Zindagi 50-50, a film about which absolutely nothing has been heard or read about. Also, the very title doesn't convey the genre or the subject that the film carries with it. Though the composer duo of Amjad-Nadeem has started making its presence felt, you do wonder what would they, as well as the newcomer music director Vivek Kar, have in the offering here.
MUSIC
The album kick-starts with Vivek Kar composed title song 'Zindagi 50-50' that pretty much makes one go by the initial apprehensions that were being carried. The song, though moving at a good pace, is hardly the kind that holds your attention. Moreover with an 80s appeal to it, courtesy Bappi Lahiri coming behind the mike, this one hardly cuts any ice even as co-singers Gufy and Antara Mitra chip in with their bit.
There is some push that the album does get with Amjad-Nadeem composed 'Tu Samne Jo Aaye'. A Shabbir Ahmed written celebration number that sees a mix of Hindi, Punjabi and Marathi, it enjoys a spirited rendition by Mika. It is good to see the singer not differentiating between his own songs and even though the credentials of the album aren't quite known here, he doesn't cut any corners.
The impact is diluted though by Ashish Pandit written and Vivek Kar composed 'Sadde Naal Aajaa' which tries to be all cool and happening but doesn't succeed in doing so. A prime reason behind that is the choice of singer in the form of Manak-E. It is apparent that Vivek wanted to experiment here and that is pretty much the case in the way this one is sung. However the end result is not enticing enough for this song, which also has backup vocals of Gufy and Neha Batra, to be heard all over again.
The song that does deserve to be heard again is the semi-classical 'Toh Se Naina'. A good piece of melody by Amjad-Nadeem which has Rekha Bharadwaj flexing her vocal chords, it may not be the kind that is sung around but definitely comes with a 'thehrav' which is good enough to take you into a relaxation zone.
Ditto is the case with 'Rabba' which is clearly the best of the lot. In fact this is the kind of number that any of the top superstars would have loved to include in their films. A sad number which is tailor-made for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, it is pretty well written by Shabbir Ahmed who gives this one a heartfelt appeal. Lengthiest of the lot (at five minutes) and that too rightly so, this one makes for a good melodic outing.
Last to arrive is 'Delhi Delhi' which is composed by Vivek Kar, who also co-writes the song with Dev Negi. It is pretty much a game between the duo as Dev is the sole vocalist for this soft rock Hindi-Punjabi number which is also the best that Vivek offers in the album. Even though it doesn't quite break any new frontiers, 'Delhi Delhi' still does well enough to fit into the overall scheme of things.
OVERALL
Considering the fact that one didn't have many expectations from the album, Zindagi 50-50 doesn't turn out to be a bad deal overall. In fact there are a couple of soft songs as well as a celebration number that do catch your attention for a while at the least.
OUR PICK(S)
Rabba, Toh Se Naina, Sadde Naal Aajaa