AkaashVani Review {3.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
There are good expectations from the music of Akaash Vani. After all the team of Pyaar Ka Punchnama had come up with a good musical score last year and earlier this year to the father-son 'jodi' of Pathaks had ensured some good tunes for Bittoo Boss. Even though the latter didn't really cover much distance at the music stands, it is expected that the shortfall would be accounted for with Akaash Vani which has director Luv Ranjan continuing his role as a lyricist with Hitesh Sonik being entrusted to composer for the entire album.
MUSIC
Akaash Vani begins on a fantastic note with 'Pad Gaye Ji', a love song which is slow, serene and extremely melodious. K.K. is the man of the moment and he is extremely good all over again as he brings variations in his voice in just the way that only he can, even as Hitesh Sonik sets the stage for him. What impresses most is the way the entire song is structured as it starts on a somber note, only to turn passionate in moments to come. Sunidhi Chauhan arrives soon after and she too sings in an uncharacteristic manner, hence making 'Pad Gaye Ji' a love song that ends 2012 on a very good note.
There is a twist in the tale soon after as one gets to hear a song, 'Crazy Lover' that takes one back into the early 80s mode when the likes of 'Disco Dancer', Mithun Chakraborty, Bappi Lahiri and Vijay Benedict ruled! It is pretty apparent that the entire team was simply letting its hair down as Vishal Dadlani and Sunidhi Chauhan went berserk getting their act together behind the mike. Rest assured, if promoted well, this song with some funny lyrics indeed has in it to go all the way and turn out to be immensely popular amongst youth, especially the campus crowds.
From this point on the album stays into the same zone, as was hinted when 'Pad Gaye Ji' was heard first. Nikhil D'Souza is roped in for the love song 'Bas Main Aur Tu' (also appearing in the 'reprise version') which has the kind of lyrics that one usually expects from the likes of Javed Akhtar or Prasoon Joshi. A poetic number with just a guitar for support, it has a Western pop feel to it and should do well along with the film's narrative. Though not quintessentially Bollywood in terms of catching up with a listener in the very first listening, it is interesting enough for those who like their music to be different.
New entrant Thomson Andrews is roped in for 'Rumani' which is rendered in a Westernized manner. Just like Usha Uthup renders her tracks, Thomson does the same for this love song which is experimental in its appeal in all departments, whether lyrics, composition style or singing. This one is actually a kind of song which one would have expected in an A.R. Rahman album due to the kind of 'different' appeal it brings with it while breaking some set Bollywood rules. In that context, 'Rumani' actually does well though one waits to see how exactly does it play in the overall narrative and then covers a larger distance.
One of the best songs from the album comes in the form of 'Tera Mera Naam' which has Shafqat Amanat Ali leading the charge. A sad number with some beautiful and simple lyrics holding centre-stage, 'Tera Mera Naam' is indeed a highlight of the album as it can well be expected to play a major role in aiding the film's narrative. A kind of song which is just tailor-made for a montage sequence, it lends a complete feel to Akaash Vani.
OVERALL
Akaash Vani is a good album with Hitesh Sonik justifying his presence as a solo composer. Along with lyricist Luv Ranjan, he does well in coming up with a good range of songs that have a largely urban feel to them without being frivolous in any way. In fact the sole dance number of the album, 'Crazy Lover', also has a lot of fun going with it that is as harmless as it gets. All that the album requires now is some aggressive promotion for itself so that it gets its right due.
OUR PICK(S)
Pad Gaye Ji, Crazy Lover, Tera Mera Naam
