Aa Dekhen Zara Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
There are good expectations from the music of Aa Dekhen Zara due to multiple reasons: a) Neil Nitin Mukesh's last thriller had boasted of an edgy music. Since ADZ is a thriller as well, one expects a repeat show here, b) Bipasha Basu's presence in the film promises at least a couple of catchy foot tapping dance numbers and c) Since Pritam and Gourav Dasgupta [of Dus Kahaniyaan fame] share credits for the film's soundtrack, it is bound to be a young contemporary outing.
MUSIC
Title song 'Aa Dekhen Zara', which has it's origin in Sanjay Dutt's Rocky and has been recreated for this film, is heard in two versions. While one of these is a dance version, another is a much slower lounger version. Both the versions are created by Gourav Dasgupta and while the former is a definitely catchy and makes you hit that dance floor again, it's the second version that catches your attention most. An innovative affair, it makes you sit up and take notice of the composition due to its soothing arrangements that give the title song a different dimension altogether. In fact Gaurav deserves a pat on his back for thinking out of the box and making 'Aa Dekhen Zara' an entirely new experience.
Pritam enters into the scene with 'Gazab' which has a Western pace with an Indian base to it. Made for the masses, especially the gentry, the song (which also appears in the Club Mix version) seems to be quite ordinary in it's first couple of hearings but slowly starts becoming a lot more interesting after you have played it on for some time. It isn't great music by any means but peppy enough to mandate a good choreography around it.
Other than the title song of Aa Dekhen Zara, the number which impresses most in the album is the romantic track 'Mohabbat Aap Se'. Composed by Pritam, the number has an Indi-pop touch to it but still doesn't loose out on it's capability to impress well in the film's narrative. Though one looks forward to see that how does the song fit in with Bipasha's image, as a stand alone audio, it is one of the better numbers heard this year.
Gourav Dasgupta returns to the scene with 'Power' and 'Rock The Party'. Talking of 'Power', it appears to be a background piece which would find place in the film's narrative at numerous junctures. This number which also appears in a 'Club Mix' version is fast paced with a punch to it, but still not deadly enough to remain with a listener after it is through. Purely situational.
Last to come is 'Rock The Party' which appears to be a club number. It boasts of good Western arrangements to kick start the song that instantly reminds one of songs belonging to the genre that has been made popular by 'It's The Time To Disco'. A decent track that could also double up as the title song due to the words 'Aa Dekhe Zara' that appear in it.
LYRICS
Sheershak Anand takes the credit for writing 'Aa Dekhe Zara' in its newer version. However, most of the song stays on to be in its original format. Irshad Kamil is at his romantic best though for 'Mohabbat Aapse' which certainly would have gone a greater distance had it been made for a bona fide romantic film. However, Irshad just lets himself loose with 'Gazab' where as a listener you would hardly be catching on to the lyrics.
Syed Gulrez and Prashant write 'Power' which talks about the power of money. There isn't much that one takes home from this number, either musically or lyrically. Same holds good for 'Rock The Party' which is written by Avishek, Ravi and Sheershak Anand.
VOCALS
Neil makes a decent debut while rendering the title number 'Aa Dekhen Zara'. He has his vocals in control and gives a good account of himself as a playback singer as well. However, the singer who impresses most in the album is Dibyendu Mukherjee who is quite good in the lounge version of the same song. One would want to hear a lot more of this singer who catches your attention with an altogether unique rendition of this number that has been played on for close to three decades now! Sunaina and Shweta Vijay are the co-singers with Neil and Dibyendu for the two versions respectively.
Dibyendu Mukherjee also sings 'Power' and though he gets into the rock mode here, one would still want to revisit his much softer rendition of 'Aa Dekhen Zara'.
While Sunidhi Chauhan takes the lead in 'Gazab', it is Shaan who keeps the proceedings livelier and more engaging. He seems to be having a lot of fun in singing this (obvious) item number, something which is a departure from his patented mushy romantic songs. However, Sunidhi dominates the scene in 'Rock The Party' where she also has Shweta Vijay for company.
Aakriti, who has always impressed in every number being assigned to her, is quite good once again with 'Mohabbat Aapse'. She delivers goods once again in a quintessential romantic number.
OVERALL
Aa Dekhen Zara ends up giving a listener what he/she expected in the first place. None of the songs in the album are a bad hear at all with a couple of them ('Aa Dekhen Zara' and 'Mohabbat Aap Se') turning out to be the pick of the lot. Moreover, if promoted aggressively, even 'Gazab' has good potential. A decent soundtrack.
OUR PICK(S)
'Aa Dekhen Zara' - lounge version, 'Mohabbat Aap Se'
