Damadamm! Review {3.5/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
Expectations are always good from a soundtrack that bears Himesh Reshammiya stamp, especially when it has him playing the triple role of actor, composer and singer. Aap Kaa Surroor and Karzzzz boasted of hit music, Radio was pleasant to ears while Kajraare could well have been a chartbuster album had it been promoted and released well. Nevertheless with Himesh striking back after a hiatus with a film like Damadamm that promises to be more in line with quintessential light hearted entertainers, there are good hopes of something interesting in the offering. Expectedly, Sameer writes.
MUSIC
Sound of 'Damadam Mast Kalandar' has been popular for ages and hence it is impossible to believe that there would be anyone who wouldn't have heard of it right. The same sound is presented all over in the title song 'Damadamm' here, albeit in a slightly different avatar, with an added pace to it. Also, except for the basic sound of 'Damadamm', rest of the song brings on it's own flavour with a horde of singers (Vineet Singh, Alam Gir Khan, Palak Muchhal, Shabab Sabri, Sabina Shaikh, Rubina Shaikh, Punnu Brar) joining Himesh Reshammiya behind the mike. Written by guest lyricist Shabbir Ahmed and arriving again in a 'remix version', it turns out to be a decent (though not exceptional) beginning as one waits for Himesh to strike with the kind of romantic song that one associates with him.
However next song in Damadamm turns out to be a different experience as well with Purbi Joshi (also the leading lady in the film) starting off rather funnily with 'No Touching No Kissing', hence making a funny jibe on accent of girls from the Far East. This stays on to be a prominent aspect of 'Umrao Jaan' right through it's four minute duration as this Himesh Reshammiya sung number turns out to be a fun-n-entertaining tracks which turns out to be instantly catchy. Though one would have expected 'Umrao Jaan' to get into a classical zone, it in fact has Punjabi elements to it with 'bhangra' beats in the background to lend it a dance floor appeal. It's 'remix version' further ensures that discotheques and clubs would be glad to pick it up.
The wait to hear a trademark Himesh Reshammiya song ends with 'Aaja Ve' which bring to listener the kind of sound that made him a household name after Aashiq Banaya Aapne. 'Aaja Ve' (written by guest lyricist Shabbir Ahmed) is the song in question which could just make Emraan Hashmi grab it with both hands, courtesy it's sound which is just tailor-made for him and his films. However Himesh reserves this fusion song for himself and it is just a matter of time before the song is unleashed and goes on to make an instant impact. The 'remix version' which follows is impressive too and makes for a good lounge outing.
Aditi Singh Sharma, who is making good progress in the Hindi film music circuit, does well again with her English beginning for 'Madhushaala'. As it turns out, what follows next is something entirely different as Himesh takes over to do a take off on KL Saigal. He renders the song in a mode similar to that of the legendary singer/actor and tries making it funny instead of a spoof. The song changes mood in the middle portions though where Himesh comes back to his own self while the fusion effect comes in around that portion where the word 'Madhushaala' is heard. There are two additional 'remixes' added as well.
Damadamm changes track with 'Yun Toh Mera Dil' which has a pop mode to it with Himesh also going much sober and lighter when compared to 'Madhushaala'. There are bare minimum instruments in the background with an attempt to recreate some old world charm. A harmless love song that also sees Sadhana Sargam sing after a hiatus, 'Yun Toh Mera Dil' turns out to be a decent inclusion in the album.
One gets to hear the kind of tune as expected from Himesh in the form of 'Hum Tum'. Yes, lyrics here would see diverse reactions since 'Hum Tum Train Ki Do Patriyon Ki Tarah' isn't what could be appealing to one and all. However if one goes by the mood and setting of the song which is about two people in love not quite sure about uniting in the end, 'Hum Tum' does stand on it's own. Also, the composition here is well placed with Himesh singing it well too to present the kind of soundtrack that followers of his music have been expecting all along.
The album continues to show elevation with Himesh creating 'Tere Bina', a kind of soulful composition that was one of the major reasons that resulted in dozens of straight hits that Himesh had delivered a couple of years back. A love song with a touch of pathos to it, 'Tere Bina' is also sung in a controlled manner by Himesh that further elevates it's prospects.
After a few soft numbers, there is a shift in proceedings with Himesh entering the rock zone with 'I Need My Space'. A song where the protagonist is looking at living life in a way that he wants for himself, 'I Need My Space' is something that makes for an unexpected arrival as one doesn't normally associates Himesh with such genre, especially when he is also the main lead in the film. Nevertheless, it is a shift that one doesn't quite mind while looking forward to how this is placed in the film's narrative.
After 'Hum Tum', another song that would see some debate around it's lyrics is 'Mango'. Pretty much expecting a listener to be shocked with a lady love being compared to a mango, the song's opening establishes that it is a 'philosophical' take on the state of affairs! While Aditi Singh Sharma is heard in the background crooning 'Mango', it is Himesh who leads from the front. A slow paced soft number where the protagonist is missing his love that is seasonal 'just like a mango', the strength of 'Mango' lies in the fact that yet again it boasts of a good tune where Himesh could have opted for any lyrics.
Himesh reserves his final punch though for 'Bhool Jaaun' which is a promotional video song for which he has featured a singer in addition to him. Sachin Gupta, one of the first artists out of 250 that Himesh has signed for his company, is the chosen one this time around and he makes most of the platform provided to him. Having made an impression earlier too with his score for Prince, Sachin Gupta excels as a singer with 'Bhool Jaaun' which belongs to chartbuster variety and has all in it to be a good success if the video (that would feature both Himesh and Sachin) indeed manages to be visually catchy as well.
OVERALL
Damadamm is a loaded album with as many as ten unique tracks with five remixes to boast of as well. Yes there are portions in the album where one does miss the trademark sound of Himesh Reshammiya since there are certain set expectations from him. Also, not all ten songs turn out to be equally enthralling. However if one has to pick out the ones that indeed manage to entertain immensely, there is a lot to offer in Damadamm with at least five tracks managing to impress with 'Umrao Jaan', 'Aaja Ve' and 'Bhool Jaaun' leading from the top.
OUR PICK(S)
'Umrao Jaan', 'Aaja Ve', 'Bhool Jaaun', 'Tere Bina', 'Yun Toh Mera Dil', 'Hum Tum'
