Music: Uttam Singh
Lyrics: Dev Kohli, Sameer Anjaan & Vishwas Patil
Music Label: Junglee Music
Expectations:
There are no expectations really from this modest film's soundtrack.
Music:
However, Uttam Singh, a veteran musician whose best work as a composer includes Dil To Pagal
Hai, Gadar-Ek Prem Katha and Pinjar, delivers old-world melodies, reminding us of the
days of great mujras composed by master composers like Roshan, Ravi, Madan Mohan,
Laxmikant-Pyarelal and others who had the opportunity to frequently compose for such situations.
Or to be more apt, the music may not be the kind that sells circa 2013 but is bang-on for the
subject: let us not forget that songs rooted in Indian ethos - our raags, our folk - are
still liked by the bulk of the country's populace, and even by youngsters outside of the metros.
The album starts with the saucily-written and rendered mujra, 'Julmi Re Julmi'
sung by Bela Shende - the vocals are uninhibited, clearly showing the nuanced terrain the song
reaches in terms of concept and execution. The treatment makes the song quite contemporary,
clearly indicating that the filming must be quite au courant even for mujra in -
presumably - a kotha.
Bela is the same singer who excelled in 'Manmohana' in the 2008 Jodhaa Akbar, and
she gets her major break in this album as the sole voice of the heroine. This is where again
this album is a departure from the modern norm of having a soundtrack inundated with multiple
voices for an artiste. However, Bela is either made to sing with a Shreya Ghoshal hangover, or
prefers to do so - some original throw and vocal delivery could have only enhanced her vocals.
Bela then takes on the weighty 'Kaleja Hai Haazir / Khanjar Kahaan Hai', poses the
tangy question of a woman telling her loved one of why he is so perturbed when she is willing to
be destroyed by his knife (khanjar). The classic mujra is richer for its acoustic
texture wherein the tabla, dholak, harmonium and the ghunghroo are heard in their
individual pristine glory.
A prominent and mood-evoking harmonium riff and alaap begins the folk- and
raag-rich mood melody, 'Kaise Milu Main Piya'. There is exceptional
lovelorn singing here, the song swaying to undulating cadences sans traditional percussion
patterns. The lyrics (Dev Kohli) are outstanding, and Bela glows in this song. Javed Ali
displays adequate singing prowess, but for the umpteenth time we wonder when this singer will
stop being a clone of Sonu Nigam!
Shubha Joshi, the classical vocalist, renders 'Yeh Kotha Yeh Ghunghroo', a brief
couplet written by Dev Kohli. Chronologically, this is the sixth song within the album, which
ends with two tracks - the Vishwas Patil (the film's director)-written 'Billi Ke Jabde
Mein', clearly a satire sung at least on-screen by eunuchs. The last track,
'Rajjo's Theme', is instrumental, using the tune of 'Kaise Milu Main Piya'
in the beginning to move on to a mood piece. It is an evocative if slightly long (for an
instrumental) piece suggesting the tragedy of unrequited love for a prostitute.
Sameer Anjaan writes a supple and simple ditty in the slightly retro romantic number 'Meri
Ghunghroo Ki Jhankaar' (Bela with Javed Ali), with some philosophy thrown in as well.
The song is treated in a style that last went out in the mid-'90s and is what today's listeners
will call 'over-orchestrated'. The second interlude seems designed for a situation within the
movie in the way the music changes in tenor. Javed is once again Sonu-esque and Bela is into the
mood of the song. In effect, this ends up sounding like a '70s Lata-Rafi duet that was a pattern
followed till the '90s.
Shaan delivers the perky 'Mere Dil Ki Train', clearly vocalizing the effervescence
of a young man smitten by Rajjo, with the name mentioned in the mukhda. The old-fashioned
sedateness of the song is charming at places, dated at others, and the lyrics are once again by
Sameer Anjaan.
Overall:
Melody and good lyrics reign, even if in an old-fashioned way. This is situational music and not
meant to be fodder for dance floors. The rating here is, however, as per its commercial
viability today.
Our Pick:
'Julmi Re Julmi', 'Kaleja Hai Haazir', 'Kaise Milu Main Piya'