Rhythm Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
One isn't too sure of what to expect from the soundtrack of Rhythm. However, since the film is a musical and named quite appropriately as well, there are decent hopes of an engaging soundtrack in the offering. Adeel Chaudhry from Pakistan is the leading man in the film and he also contributes as a composer and singer. He is also joined by composers Suresh Peters & Salman Ahmed along with lyricists Sameer Anjaan, Salman Ahmad, Naveed Zafar and Jaqueline Kelly.
MUSIC
The moment Sunidhi Chauhan's voice is heard right at the beginning of 'Do You Wanna Dance With Me', you expect a touch of class in the song. A fusion track that brings in Western elements into play with bhangra elements into play, this one is actually a good start to the album. Albeit sounding like a song which could well have proven to be a chartbuster 5-10 years back, this one with Suresh Peters as Sunidhi's co-singer is an energetic outing which makes you tap your feet. Though the song liberally uses English in the lyrics, an out and out 'English version' follows later with Natalie Di Luccio, Suresh Peters & Harshdeep Kaur. This one actually turns out to be an even better version and given the kind of context, stage and setting that the song carries, one would rather pick up Natalie's version in a club outing.
Meanwhile, Sunidhi Chauhan continues to be in good form with 'Yaaro' as the next track to feature her as the lead singer. Pretty much continuing from where 'Do You Wanna Dance With Me' left, this one too is a dance number and has practically a similar set up. By now, one gets a hint that the core soundtrack of Rhythm would carry the same 'sur' right through. Not that one minds that as 'Yaaro', after a decent start, has an even better 'antara' portion which keeps you engaged for the five minutes that the song plays. Later in the song, Salman Ahmad joins the proceedings and takes it to conclusion.
There is a 'thehrav' that comes in the album with Adeel Chaudhary bringing himself on board for 'Ankhon Se Ojhal'. No doubt, this one immediately catches your attention and you wonder how this one didn't make it to the list of a Bhatts-Emraan Hashmi collaboration so far. A quintessential Vishesh Films' song, this one is a welcome addition to Rhythm as one can't help but listen to this beautifully composed number quite closely. With a good dose of pathos to it, 'Ankhon Se Ojhal' boasts of good lyrics too and deserves to be played on loop. No wonder, the 'sad version' makes it to the album too and fits in quite well.
The song that follows though, 'Kaise Boloon', has everything right about it except for the opening portion where it goes on rampage around the call of 'I Am In Love'. Salman Ahmad keeps the Pakistani pop element right through the 200 odd second outing with a quintessential sound to it that never fails. However, if only the temptation to bring on the English lines not just at the beginning but even intermittently, this one could have been a much better outing.
It is time to bring back the rhythm into the proceedings and that is made possible by Natalie Di Luccio who comes back into the fold with 'Yeh Nasha'. The man who leads the show is KK and he sings this one in a manner that Vijay Benedict would have back in the early 80s. The song's overall sound too is on the same lines as a disco outing from the era gone by and though there are some modern-day elements coming into play by means of arrangements, overall the styling is similar. However, the song gets into the Bhatt zone soon enough once the 'antara' portions begin. This is also the point where one hears KK of yore.
When you hear lyrics on the lines of 'Fattey Chuck', you know that it is going to be a 'bhangra' outing in the offering. However, it is also quite apparent that given the overall setting of Rhythm, it would be at least slightly different from the trend. This is what actually happens once Naveed Zafar comes behind the mike. He sings this one with his heart in while the arrangements too take a fusion route, what with Western setting merging seamlessly with traditional 'bhangra' outing. This one could well find its way into the celebrations, especially up North.
OVERALL
Rhythm boasts of good music. However, there has hardly been any promotion around the film as well as the music, which would result in lesser popularity than it actually deserves.
OUR PICK(S)
'Ankhon Se Ojhal', 'Fattey Chuck', 'Do You Wanna Dance With Me' (English)