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The first insight I got about the music of Delhi-6 was in an interview with lyricist Prasoon Joshi when talking to him about the music of Ghajini. I had asked him what the chemistry is like between him and Mr. Rahman. All he said was, “We are working together on the music of a movie called Delhi-6. Listen to that and you will know”. I think for any music lover that one line wraps up anticipation and expectations !!

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Last time the team of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Prasoon Joshi and A. R. Rahman got together one of India’s most acclaimed and highest grossing movie was made with the name Rang De Basanti (RDB). The music of that movie made an equal impact and touched/inspired millions.

Blessed are these three and Thank you to them for creating Delhi-6 for I have not heard anything like this in an era. Just when you feel Prasoon cant get better with the pen (after Maa & Guzarish) and Rahman has delivered his best ( with Ghajini, Jaane Tu.. ya Jaane Na, Slumdog Millionaire ) , Mr. Mehra steps in and inspires a creative epic in the form of Delhi-6.

The music touches different aspects of Delhi and its life in romance, faith, beauty, fun and classical tradition. Bollywood has a growing obsession with Delhi and especially Chandni Chowk area of old Delhi ( Oye lucky.. lucky oye, Chandni Chowk to China ). For those who dont know, the “6” in the title refers to the pincode of the Chandni Chowk area in Delhi and so the music revolves around the lifestyle of that area.

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REVIEW

Everyone in India knows about the musical brilliance of A R Rahman. People in UK know about that too through his musicals like Lord of the Rings and Bombay Dreams. Now.. the whole world knows about his capabilities with his current rise to fame as being the first Indian to win the Golden Globe for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman proves with Delhi-6 that he can outdo his own self !!

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Track 1 – Masakali – Truly innovative, harmonic and melodious in all possible ways. Usually songs that come at the start of the year fade out of our memory by the year end when you get to judge the best songs of the year. I am very sure Masakali will not just remain fresh in our minds but will also win that best song title !! The lyrics are truly fun and the work of a genius. You would expect such lyrics from the old guru’s like Javed Akhtar or Gulzar. But young Prasoon Joshi proves that linguistic and poetic abilities have not faded in our generation.

Cant praise Mohit Chauhan’s vocals enough. He makes this song what it is !! Deep and soulful. Rahman does his magic with a superb Bass guitar work with Harmonica, Bongo’s, Ghattam, Accordion and an amazing classical style violin orchestra. The music creates an atmo-fun-sphere around you in which you can visualise the carefree attitude of the characters. You wont find anything missing or expect anything more out of this song – 10/10 .

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Track 2 – Arziyan – I am a big fan of Javed Ali’s singing abilities ( Jashn-e-Bahara, Guzarish, Ek Din teri rahon mein, Nagaada nagaada ). He prove’s it yet again why. This time he has Kailash Kher for company. Rahman goes back on the lines of his typical Islamic Sufi religious songs like Khawaja Mere Khawaja & Piya Haji Ali. This time only better. This 9 minute long song is serene and pious. It will make you believe in the power of simple music and gratitude to God and you won’t come to know where 9 minutes have passed. Tabla, harmonium, and bass are the simple ingredients that make this a perfect combination with Prasoon’s amazing lyrics. Truely soul touching 8.5/10 .

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Track 3 – Dilli-6 – Remember ‘Khalbali Hai Khalbali’ in RDB ? This title track takes you right there. The song is very cool & groovy. A variety of singers including Blaaze, Benny & Tanvi add the extra zing factor to the track. It also has French vocals provided by Viviane and Claire. I don’t remember when was the last time a Bollywood music director decided to add a French touch to they soundtrack. There are certain things only Rahman can do !! Lyrics are plain and ordinary. This song is for it’s youthful cool quotient and not it’s deep lyrical factor. 7.5/10 .

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Track 4 – Rehna Tu – A Rahman OST is never complete without a song in his own voice. Especially if it is a romantic one… This composition could have been used by any International band and delivered a worldwide hit with it. The song is truly Global and unique. It even breaks into an Arabic style chorus in between and Karnatic towards the end. It has Rahman written all over it.. It’s all him.. !!

If you can manage to get your attention off Rahman’s sublime and suttle vocals then listen to the lyrics. I think they are better than those of Guzarish. One can play this song and make anyone fall in love with them.. Romantic at it best – 9/10 .

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Track 5 – Hey Kaala Bandar – I dont get this track and don’t know why it’s there on the OST… Perhaps the only disappointing track on this CD   Lyrics are crooked with crap English rap. Music is stylish but not enough. Plus it has inspired parts from Yuvraaj’s ‘Dil Ka Rishta’ song. Vocals by Karthik, Naresh, Srinivas and Bony are good but don’t stand out. We need to wait and watch how this song is placed in the movie. Might make more sense then.. For now lets ignore it. 5/10 .

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Track 6 – Dil Gira Dafatan – Rahman is known to introduce new singers all the time. But this time he plays a gamble with singer Ash King. He gives him brilliant romantic lyrics but barely any music.. relying all the way on his vocal delivery. Does it work?? It sure does.. It’s Rahman & Prasoon backing Ash after all. His voice has a deep classical and vintage Bollywood texture that I simply love. At the start, the ‘Dil Mera’ chanting itself makes a lasting impression and sets the tone for the rest of the song.

Lyrics are as good as Track 4 Rehna Tu. The orchestration, altough minimal, is the best I have heard in a long time. The violin’s & spanish guitar just take you away on a journey. The composition is simply brilliant. Put this song on repeat – 9/10 .

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Track 7 – Genda Phool – This short track has some of the best classical female voices of the present time. Rekha Bharadwaj, Sujata Majumdar, Shrradha Pandit and V.N Mahathi contribute to this shocking song. Why shocking?? The song opens to Rekha’s folk rustic vocals and then just out of nowhere a brilliant funky beat kicks in leaving you stunned !!! Is there any style or musical trick Rahman can’t execute ?? This time Rajat Dholakia adds to the composition making it a ‘out of the box’ track. Perfect for wedding Mehndi functions. I can’t get enough of this 8.5/10 .

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Track 8 – Bhor Bhaye – A pure classical track has not been heard in any Bollywood OST for years now. Rahman brings the magic back in it’s purest form. I am trained in classical music and I assure you the Thumri Gujri Todi is not easy to deliver.. and nor is what Rahman has managed to deliver here with a perfect transition and mix of the original recording by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and the new breath-taking rendition by Shreya Ghoshal. Kudos to her for making this sound effortless and truly Hindustani classical.

Prasoon Joshi shocks us here with his talent and knowledge of Indian music and poetry. He has written additional lyrics to a decades old classical piece maintaining it’s true flavour. Love the Tabla and Harmonium on this track. I can’t imagine the time Rahman and his team must have spent on cleaning up the original recording for today’s clear digital release. The mix sounds perfect !! This track should be used as a case study in Sound Engineering courses… A masterpiece – 9.5/10 .

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Track 9 – Aarti (Tumre Bhavan Mein) – Sitar, timbals and voice. This combination has been the highlight of religious classical music in India for centuries. Rahman brings back his ‘O Palanhare’ formula from ‘Lagaan’ only this time to traditional lyrics and composition. Rekha Bharadwaj, Sujata Majumdar, Shrradha Pandit & Kishori Ashok Gowariker render this Hindu Aarti in its purest form. You can’t help but feel overwhelmed in these 3 minutes. 8.5/10 .

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Track 10 – Noor – Amitabh Bachchan features to wrap up this album with a monologue poem. It does not have to be music all the time. Some times words say it all. This 50 second piece talks about Love for that one special person who you see everywhere and in everything. 8/10 .

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FINAL WORD

Brilliant – 9/10 .

I recommend tracks 1, 2, 3… Damn.. chuck it.. I RECOMMEND THE FULL ALBUM.. !! Please go buy it.. It’s worth every penny. True to all expectations and a must have in every music lovers collection. The album is a genius musically, lyrically, vocally and even as far as the engineering goes. Big up Rahman, Prasoon Joshi and Omprakash Mehra for brining it all together !!!

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It’s been long time coming that I start writing movie reviews on this dedicated page.. And I was waiting for the last few months because I wanted to start off with writing about this particular film..

“GHAJINI”

Of all the Khan’s that rule the Bollywood industry, the one I truly regard as an actor is Aamir Khan. And when you hear that he has been working on a project for 2 years, then the wait just feels longer than it actually is in anticipation.

Over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to interview the stars of the movie including the gorgeous Asin and ‘so-called hottie’ Jiah Khan. And then I was invited to the UK Premier of the Unedited Ghajini 3 days prior to the release. The build up has been enormous & the film very well marketed. Hence the expectations are sky high as well.. Especially for me !

Feels like the worst hit in the face for me when I say.. “The movie is a BIG disappointment !!”

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PLOT

A brilliant concept to start with … A business tycoon-Sanjay Singhania (Aamir Khan) falls in love with a middle class upcoming advert model – Kalpana played by Asin. She is the happy-go-lucky, always kind & helpful girl next door who makes famous to be the girlfriend of this business tycoon who she has never even met. Sanjay approaches her to sort out this mix up but falls prey to her bubbly charm & decides to keep shut about who he is. She assumes him to be just another guy & they eventually fall in love.

[Question:- How has no one ever seen even a single picture of this top man in India even though if he has just come from the US..??? ]

Anyway, Sanjay never actually manages to tell Kalpana that he is the man she has been pretending to love all this time even after he has asked her to marry him & she has agreed. The day comes when he decides to tell her but our fab villain Ghajini appears & kills Kalpana in front of Sanjay & leaves him with a head injury because of which he can now only remember the last 15 minutes of his life. He writes notes, tattoos & graffiti’s and also takes photo’s to remind him of what had happened. The movie is all about the good ol REVENGE theory that is well deserved.

Jiah Khan comes in as a medical student who wants to do a case study on Sanjay. Gives him up first thinking he is a murderer but then helps him find Ghajini..

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REVIEW

So a good story with a sensitive concept & thus should have been handled well. But has been dealt with not lot of caution. There are some very good scenes in this movie but then there are those horrible scenes as well.

[Question:- How does a guy who can remember only 15 mins last a climax fight scene for about 30 mins? ]

[Question:- Firstly, how does he remember that his memory lasts only 15 mins & he needs to take notes & photos? ]

-Many such questions unanswered & hint a loose script & you sit wondering why !!! Very Bollywoodish.. Then there are those really good parts as well. Like the way he has setup his room is brilliant with sticky notes & tattoos & marker notes for everything from the moment he wakes up till he steps out of the house. Beautifully shown..

-Moreover the film is very violent and definitely not for the weak hearted & kids. Very long fight scenes that are gory & could well be a part of ‘SAW 5′.

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-Excellent acting by all. Aamir gives it his all once again with 8 pack abs & an amazing overall physique. But I still don’t get (apart from the positive of the story) what part of this script did he like & agreed to do this movie!! He deserves much better…

-Highlight of this movie:- ASIN .. An established South Indian actress now definitely hear to stay in Bollywood. She does an amazing job in her role & I definitely nominate her for the best actress of the year award yet again (She won the best actress award at the South Indian Filmfare awards for her role in Ghajini). Her bubbly character reminds you of Kareena in Jab We Met. And did I forget to mention .. She looks stunning !!

-Jiah does a reasonably good job but looks dumb & out of place in many scenes..

-Another highlight of the movie is Pradeep Ravat aka GHAJINI. He brings the traditional Bollywood villain back to life in this era of family saga’s. A brilliant actor who fits his character perfectly.

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-Music has A.R. Rahman. Need I say more… ?? Do notice the background score in the movie. Its very good. So is the sound design.

-Edit & camera work is something I could talk about a lot. It’s got it’s positives & negatives. There are some real good close up shots to give it the dark feel. And then there are pan shots where the focus goes out & the scenes become blurry. Did they not pay attention. If it was intentional.. then guys.. it doesn’t look nice.. please don’t do it again..Lots of scenes are in fast forward to give it speed & intensity. Doesn’t fit in every time. Also some useless visual effects.. Why do they try those..? Graphic “grass” in a South African dessert !!!! What were they thinking.

Director Murugadossa I hear is know for his back-forth story telling style. He overdoes that too. 3 hours of that gives u a headache with abrupt flash backs.

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FINAL WORD

An average 5.5/10.

It will do well with the masses. If crap like Singh Is Kinng can.. Ghajini sure can!!  It’s great for a viewer who doesn’t ask questions or cares less about logic in a movie.

This movie would have been an epic masterpiece if it was directed any better. The story idea is brilliant.. only needs some attention to detail.

Watch it for the acting & the concept. If you like action, then that as well. A one time watch for sure. But don’t go in with high expectation’s like I did. It’s not Hollywood.. Its Bollywood!!