Music: Himesh Reshammiya Lyrics: Sameer Anjaan & Shabbir Ahmed Music Label: EROS Expectations:…  

<b>Music:</b> Himesh Reshammiya<BR> <b>Lyrics: </b> Sameer Anjaan & Shabbir Ahmed<BR> <b>Music Label: </b> EROS <BR><BR> <b>Expectations: </b><BR><BR> Prabhu Dheva's first adventure with Himesh Reshammiya - a desi choreographer tuning in with a rooted composer leave us with great expectations. <BR><BR> <b>Music: </b> <BR><BR> Don't go for excellence in lyrics (Sameer Anjaan, Shabbir Ahmed) as that is too much to expect in this film. Swing instead to the music that actually sounds catchier at every new listening experience. <BR><BR> Himesh swings into ultra-catchy mode, satisfying the film's and director's needs. Many passages are familiar, as are the beats, the phrasing of the <i>antaras</i> and the instruments used. But like old wine in a pleasantly familiar new bottle, they do have an appetizing flavour. <BR><BR> The album starts off with the hyped '<b><i>Keeda</i></b>' (Himesh with Neeti Mohan). Himesh sings in apt low-key with Neeti providing the polished female accompaniment. We liked the extra mischievous touch she gives to the word '<i>Aaja</i>' in her line '<i>Aaja Meri Gali</i>'. <BR><BR> A breezy, more creative effort is '<b><i>Punjabi Mast</i></b>' (Himesh, Neeti, Ankit Tiwari, Vineet Singh, Alam Gir Khan & Arya Acharya). Himesh, like Pritam, is adept at the Punjabi-pop kind of dance number and we especially admire the smooth interflow between <i>antara</i> and <i>mukhda</i> without the conventional, transitional cross-line - this is a Himesh specialty. We also noted the sober touch he gives - paradoxically but intentionally - to a song celebrating inebriation! <BR><BR> Both these songs have remix versions that barely differ from the main songs. Also, '<i>Keeda</i>' as a reprise barely registers as anything different from the lead track. <BR><BR> Shalmali Kholgade plays down her natural nasal intonation (mainly because co-singer Himesh does not!) in '<b><i>Chichora Piya</i></b>'. The song lives up to the lyrics ('<i>chichora</i>' or frivolous) in intention, with its folksy street-smart feel, but the refrain is infectious. Shalmali brings in the much-needed softness and gives an impress of subtle raunchiness in the catchy ditty. Once again, its remix avatar is of no significant import. <BR><BR> We also wonder why Himesh himself or another superior singer could not have vocalized '<b><i>Dhoom Dhaam</i></b>' (Ankit Tiwariwith a dulcet Palak Muchhal). Yes, the song's intrinsic soulfulness makes the song a worth listen, but Ankit's harsh intonations do dilute the musical impact. Also, the orchestration could have been richer, as the existing one sounds a shade tacky. <BR><BR> We finally come to the best track on the score, '<b><i>Gangster Baby</i></b>' (Neeti Mohan-Neeraj Shridhar as billed), but we could not hear Neeraj at all, unless it is him intoning '<i>Me Criminally Good</i>' in a voice that sounds exactly like Ajay Devgn's. <BR><BR> A superb and relentless rhythm with twangs of the rock-guitar result in a heady beat, and Neeti Mohan is yet again in prime fettle as in her recent best work (<i>Gunday, Citylights, Kick</i>), and you almost miss the song when it ends, a shade abruptly. Amazing how this singer, who dominates this soundtrack, has evolved in such a short time. <BR><BR> <b>Overall: </b><BR><BR> The 'hit' composer and 'hit' director combo rocks. Though the songs may not endure, they have the potential - if the music is well-marketed - to help the film big-time, like that of Prabhu Dheva's earlier films <i>Wanted, Rowdy Rathore, Ramaiya Vastavaiya</i> and <i>R...Rajkumar</i>. <BR><BR> <b>Our Pick: </b><BR><BR> <i> 'Punjabi Mast', 'Dhoom Dhaam', 'Gangster Baby'</i> 

super songs..  

super songs..