Mohandas Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
Mohandas. The first question that comes to mind when one looks at the title is - 'Is it a film about Gandhi?' Then you realise that it is a film about a man in the current times searching for his identity. 'Ok, so what's the scope of music here' - that's the next question which comes to mind. With relatively unknown names dominating the credits, whether it's the lead actor or the producer or the director or the composer (Vivek Priyadarshan) or the lyricists (V.K. Sonakia, Yash Malviya), you are completely clueless about 'Mohandas'. Add to that zero promotion and buzz and expectations are bound to be sub zero!
MUSIC
At the very onset, one is convinced that the music of Mohandas would be primarily situational and catering to the theme of the film. That is exactly the case as Kailash Kher begins his 'alaap' for 'Apni Khoyi Hui Pahchan' which has lyrics by V.K. Sonakia. A sad number about a man searching for his identity, 'Apni Khoyi...' moves at a slow pace which justifies the genre of the movie and the kind of music that one expects to be associated with the film. Situational, depressing and not really the kind that helps sell an album.
Thankfully there is some relief with Alka Yagnik and Shaan pairing up for 'Nadi Mein Ye Chanda' which is written by Yash Malviya. A poetic love song that goes back to the 70s, the song has a melodious base to it. Though the song doesn't break any new grounds and follows a conventional route, it's the Indian touch in arrangements that makes 'Nadi Mein...' a nice hear.
Soon after comes yet another situational theme track where the opening chorus reminds of many a Subhash Ghai tracks that one has heard in the past. With an all male outing, 'Bol Tu Kaun Hai Be' is a conversational number that sees Kunal Ganjawala getting into an agitated and revolutionary mode. Appearing to be a mime outing, 'Bol Tu...' (that also appears in a 'remix version') is a V.K. Sonakia written track that carries a sense of angst to it with the male protagonist answering queries around his real identity.
Since majority of makers can't really do without an item number, there is one in Mohandas as well with Sunidhi Chauhan (and who else?) coming behind the mike for 'Kaho Na Kaho Aise Batiya'. With a small town/village setting to it, this Yash Malviya written number moves at a fast pace and again carries an out and out Indian flavour to it. Barely passable.
In an absolute unexpected twist, the music CD also incorporates some chartbuster dance numbers that neither fit into the genre of Mohandas nor do they turn out to be a major reason for going for the album. 'Baras Ja' [Fareb], 'Janabe Ali - Remix' [Bardaasht] and 'Shake It - Remix' [Naksha] may have worked as independent pieces when released a few years back but don't really add much value to Mohandas.
OVERALL
Mohandas has a situational thematic score combined with a love song and an item number. Even the makers would be aware that music won't be the selling point of the film by any means.
