Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Review {3.5/5} & Review Rating
EXPECTATIONS
There are very good expectations from the music of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It is a successful team after all with the likes of Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani coming together with Zoya Akhtar bringing her new age sensibility as well. Add to this Hrithik Roshan & Katrina Kaif and you know that there would be added emphasis on getting commercial ingredients appropriately in the album. With promise of an urban sound that would basically go well with the classy audience, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara packs as many as seven tracks in the 30 minutes that follow.
MUSIC
Just like the anthem sound of Dil Chahta Hai, an attempt is made to set apart Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara from the rest with the kind of rhythm that kick starts 'Dil Dhadakne Do'. Boasting of trademark Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy sound, 'Dil Dhadakne Do' has Joi Barua, Suraj Jagan and Shankar Mahadevan coming together who do well to get a youthful number in place which is a poetic take on living life to the fullest sans any inhibitions and apprehensions. Expect the theme sound of this song to play at multiple junctures in the film's background score as well.
What follows next is an even better track as it gets the sound of youth but without going loud. Now that's an achievement because time and again there have been quite a few tracks that have released in the recent past that have bordered on cacophony in the name of being young and energetic. In that context 'Ik Junoon (Paint It Red) ' is one of those rare tracks where there is so much of 'masti', 'maza' and energy through visuals with the sound being totally subtle. Vishal Dadlani is quite good behind the mike here with added vocals of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Gulraj Singh and Alyssa Mendonsa making the desired impact. And for those who were wondering whether they would ever be able to hit the dance floor with this infectious number, there is a 'remix version' included as well.
It isn't everyday when a song boasts of Mohit Chauhan as a singer but sees some other singer getting an opportunity to come behind the mike first. This is what happens in 'Khaabon Ke Parinday' which has Alyssa Mendonsa continuing from where 'Ik Junoon' left and basically carries forward the spirit of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Yet again the mood of out and out poetic here but one doesn't quite spend much time pondering over the lyrics but instead goes with the flow and feels the cool breeze all around you. An extremely pleasant number which is easy on ears, it can be left in a repeat mode and forgotten.
A fun number follows next in the form of 'Senorita' which has Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol singing for their own self. Do they do a good job? Oh yes, they do and are seemingly so comfortable with their stint in the recording studio that one ends up wondering why they are not heard singing more often. Maria Del Mar Fernandez is roped in to sing the Spanish portions of the song (which also appears in a 'remix version') and while she is (obviously) comfortable with the genre, even the boys out there are seemingly having a lot of fun.
Shankar Mahadevan brings himself on when it comes to a pensive outing 'Der Lagi Lekin'. A song about a protagonist who is willing to get rid of his past and is now looking forward to a better life ahead with clear understanding of being happy and sad, 'Der Lagi Lekin' is situational yet pleasant and easy on ears. However it doesn't have much shelf life beyond the run of the film.
Fun returns on the scene with Dominique Cerejo, Clinton Cerejo and Loy Mendonsa pairing up for 'Sooraj Ki Baahon Mein' which has a mood, style, theme and setting similar to that of 'Ik Junoon'. A good inclusion in the album, it should do well to take forward the film's narrative. Finally it is Farhan Akhtar who gets 100 seconds for himself where he gets into the poetic mood as he goes about narrating, and not singing, 'Toh Zinda Ho Tum'. The track gets into a philosophical mood and one does wonder how it would fit into the story telling of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
OVERALL
One of the best soundtracks of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Javed Akhtar in recent times, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a classy act that delivers just what it promised. Of course this is an out and out city album which means it's penetration in smaller towns or interiors is extremely difficult. However for the target audience that it is catering to, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara works indeed. The demand of the situation now is for the makers to push the songs further and be far more aggressive so that it ends up making a (well deserved) mark.
OUR PICK(S)
Ik Junoon (Paint It Red), Dil Dhadakne Do, Senorita, Khaabon Ke Parinday
