Irrespective of the box office performance of their movies, Dharma Productions have been associated with some high-quality sound tracks. So each upcoming project from the production house raises the bar of expectations a bit. Especially when they have roped in Shankar-Ehsan-Loy to compose tunes for this "stepmom" remake, one expects nothing less from the soundtrack. Lyrics by Irshad Kamil further gives hope for the soundtrack.
After listening to the soundtrack, it seems that with this film, Karan Johar is returning to his signature style of movie-making with alot of family drama embroided with tears all along. So does the album deliver? lets find out. Placing the songs in the descending quality.
Rehm-o-Karam (singer: Vishal Dadlani & Shankar Mahadevan): Starting with mellow rendition by shankar and subdued piano tune, this song rises its tempo to become a wonderful rock song. Lyrics are wonderful. An excellent composition. The best of the lot.
Aankhon mein neendein (singers: Rahat Fateh Ali, Shreya Goshal): A typical S-E-L romantic number. This is their zone and they deliver yet again with a tune that is easy on ears and lyrics that are simple yet likeable. Rahat Fateh's name has lately become almost an essential part of every significent soundtrack. This time though, he keeps the notes low in sync with the tune. Shreya perfectly complements. The combination works and though this is nothing exceptional, yet you are likely to end up liking the song.
Hamesha & Forever (singers: Sonu Nigam, Shreya Goshal): From this point onwards, the album takes a thematic route and while doing so the compositions remain mellow and sublime. This soothing melody with its roots in piano is sung with ease by Sonu and Shreya with the chorus being the highlight. Anyhow, it turns out to be a situational number, which might sound better in the narrative of the movie. On the soundtrack though, it is just a song to feel neutral about. Nothing exceptional over here.
Sun ley Dua yeh Aasman (singer: Shreya Goshal): This is again totally a situational song and might enhance the effect of the proceedings in the movie. As a part of soundtrack, the track is way too slow to find repeat listens. Shreya Goshal does a magnificient job in singing this slow tune well complemented by the piano.
We are Family Theme (instrumental): If you are listening to all the songs of the album in a go, you wouldn't even notice that "Sun Ley Dua" has finished and this theme instrumental has begun. The nicely composed theme relies heavily on piano once again and on the soundrack-level just sounds like a space-filler.
Dil Khol key Let's Rock (singers: Anushka, Akriti & Suraj Jagan): A few seconds into the song and you thank God that Elvis Presley is not alive to hear this hindi version of his cult hit "jailhouse rock". I am surpirsed that the makers chose this song to be the main promotional song for the film. Though the singers jive along the tune quite promisingly, yet the outcome is not exciting at all.
Overall: In nutshell, the album turns out to be too situational to get good critical appreciation at the "soundtrack-level". This perception anyhow, might change if the movie turns out to be well directed. But for now there are only two songs worth spending time on: "Rehm-o-Karam" and "Aankhon mein neendein".