Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi? Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
There was a time when films coming from the house of PNC created decent buzz weeks before their arrival. The production house was quite active in film making circuit but then went low over a period of time. This is why they seem to be quite cautious around the release of their next - Raat Gayi Baat Gayi. The music promotion too has begun as recently as now which actually appears to be quite late in the day since the film is just a few days away. Nevertheless, since the film has an urban setting to it with a sex-comedy as its theme and composer/lyricist Ankur Tewari (Aao Wish Karein, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local) at the helm of affairs, there are reasonable expectations of something novel in the offing.
MUSIC
There is an obvious R.D. Burman reference to the way title song 'Raat Gayi Baat Gayi' is composed. Right from the opening sound to the way this fun song is paced, you can very well experience an old world charm in 'Raat Gayi Baat Gayi' where Anushka Manchanda clearly seems to be enjoying herself. The orchestra is kept simple and the duration short which helps the song (later appearing in a 'remix version') in creating good impact at the very start of the album.
Fun continues with 'Love In C Major' which takes you back into the 50s and 60s with jazz being the order of the day. Whether it's the sound of the whistle, beats of the drums, or the coming in of guitar - everything just fits in well for this love track which also doubles up as a dance number when in mood for celebration. A young song where Ankur Tewari joins Sid Coutto behind the mike, 'Love In C Major' also appears in a pepped up 'remix version'.
Due to its urban setting, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi carries on the sound of jazz with Anushka Manchanda continuing her stint behind the mike with 'Bade Shehar Ke Bade Nakhre'. A situational track which is seemingly placed in a party setting and could very well be playing in the background, 'Bade Shehar Ke Bade Nakhre' (which further appears in a quintessential 'jazz version') has an intoxicated feel to it and is a satirical take on people emotions in urban India.
Similar sound continues for 'Mohabbat' which appears to be set as a Live performance. Since one can hear people talking and commenting in the background, it further establishes the fact that 'Mohabbat' has been created as a situational track. A decent song with Ankur as a solo singer, it is funny in the way it ends ('kya bakwaas band hai')!
There is a shift in the mood of Raat Gayi Baat Gayi at this point in time with a love song following next. Anurag Sharma and June Banerjee come together for 'Yaari' which has a feel-good appeal to it and is a good mix of conventional Hindi film music and Indi-pop. Sounding quite innocent with Western arrangements in the background and core Indian melody at the heart of it all, 'Yaari' is the kind of song that never fails to bring on a smile.
A situational English track follows next in the form of 'Don't Flay Love'. Sung by Sid Coutto and Gaurav Kapur, it follows the theme of Raat Gayi Baat Gayi - jazz - and is set on a conversational mode with two men discussing their views on love. However, the album picks up again with 'Kyon' which really deserves to find a much better platform for itself. A nice soothing track which is again an all around Ankur Tewari show, it has a young and truly non-Bollywood feel to it. A pensive slow moving number that has the protagonist reflecting on the moments gone by, 'Kyon' is the kind of companion one would love to have on a long ride.
OVERALL
Raat Gayi Baat Gayi is a good, unconventional and staying-true-to-the-theme album. While this is a definite positive for this effort Ankur Tewari, the fact also remains that in the process of turning out to be the way it is, it is also restricted in its appeal when it comes to wider audience. Limited promotion would also hamper its sales. However, the album has far better chances if the film turns out to be a winner at the box office because wide of mouth would help it gain acceptance amongst its target audience i.e. urban youth.
OUR PICK(S)
Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, Love In C Major, Yaari, Kyon
