The Dirty Picture Review {3.0/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
On a regular day one wouldn't have been too sure about what to expect from the music of The Dirty Picture. After all, the film recounts the 80s era, tells the tale of Silk Smitha and has an unconventional pairing of Vidya Balan with men like Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor. Moreover with Vishal-Shekhar coming on board and writer Rajat Aroraa turning lyricist for an entire album for the first time ever, there is further intrigue quotient to the entire soundtrack. However what makes one hopeful of a fun outing in the offering is the single most factor which is also the USP of the album - 'Ooh La La'. With the song pretty much catching attention of audience ever since it's sound was unveiled a few months ago, one looks forward to what does the rest of the album have to offer.
MUSIC
Expectedly it is a fun beginning with 'Ooh La La' giving The Dirty Picture a smashing start with the kind of arrangements that are totally set in the 80s mode. In fact for those who have been brought up in the 80s era would really sense the kind of nuances that have been taken care of by Vishal-Shekhar who go all the way in creating a riotous outing. Also Rajat Aroraa's lyrics deserve special mention here for the kind of word-spinning he does in order to bring in a sensual-n-naughty mood come alive on screen. However none of that would have been possible if not for Bappi Lahiri and Shreya Ghoshal who have clearly smashed it big time with their rendition and are seemingly having so much fun behind the mike that one can well expect them to have continued singing even after Vishal-Shekhar would have called 'okay'. A special mention for the second half of the song where the entire mood of the song shifts from Jeetendra's 'Himmatwala'/'Tohfa' mood to that of Mithun Chakravorty's 'Disco Dancer'/'Kasam Paida Karne Waale Ki' with Bappi Lahiri bringing back the mood bang on. This is the reason why even though there is a 'Dhol Mix' that arrives at the end of the album, one still wants to stick to the original here.
There is a shift in the album though with singer Kamal Khan crooning Ishq Sufiyana, a number that is tailor made for Emraan Hashmi. Reminding of the style that director Milan Luthria had adopted in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai for the songs 'Pee Loon' and 'Tum Jo Aaye', even 'Ishq Sufiyana' gets into a similar mode and ensures that the album would have one more chartbuster to it's name that would go all the way in fetching audience's attention. A Sufi track that has an out and out 'desi' feel to it and is thankfully not adulterated by any Western influences, it also appears in an added version with Sunidhi Chauhan coming behind the mike. However one does wish that if only Rahat Fateh Ali Khan could have been roped to do a solo version of this song, 'Ishq Sufiyana' may have reached further heights.
It is back to retro outing with 'Honeymoon Ki Raat' which again reminds one of the Bappi Lahiri-Mithun Chakravorty combo of the 80s. The lyrics here are out and out cheesy (as was expected from a film of this genre) what with 'Kaamdev Ka Sutra', 'Honeymoon Ki Raat' and 'Whsikey Si Chadti Hoon' forming a part of Sunidhi Chauhan's rendition. A song that seems like a night club outing, it doesn't quite go all the way and falls short of being a naughty outing that it could have been. Now one waits to see how the song is picturised because only that could help it rise from being ordinary to something that is indeed noticeable.
Last to arrive is 'Twinkle Twinkle' which takes the album back into the naughty mood of the South films of the 80s, something that was always on the cards. With lyrics comprising of 'Twinkle Twinkle', 'Jack-n-Jill', 'Humpty-Dumpty' and 'Johny Ka Papa', this one could well be the 'Chammak Challo' moment for Vidya Balan in the overall set up of 'The Dirty Picture'. While Shreya Ghoshal starts the song well with Vishal-Shekhar bringing on the beats that remind of 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' [Sholay], it is the arrival of Rana Mazumder that adds further variation as it takes the song into 'Yamma Yamma' [Shaan] mode. Pretty much the kind of song where Vishal-Shekhar got an opportunity to pay homage (yet again) to R.D. Burman, it's a pity that 'Twinkle Twinkle' ends in three minutes flat.
OVERALL
Music of The Dirty Picture takes the expected route and delivers what it promised once 'Ooo La La' came on air. While this song is a chartbuster all the way, even 'Ishq Sufiyana' has in it to find long legs for itself, courtesy Emraan Hashmi's strong fan base lapping it up. As for the added 'tadka' there is 'Twinkle Twinkle' that should keep the mood naughty-n-entertaining, as is the theme and genre of the film as well.
OUR PICK(S)
Ooh La La, Ishq Sufiyana
