Posts Tagged ‘KAJRAARE’

MILENGE MILENGE – BOLLYWOOD MUSIC REVIEW UK

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

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Producer Boney Kapoor & Director Satish Kaushik have passed through tsunamis and whirlwinds to finally get this movie to the screen after the media super hyped breakup of Shahid Kapoor & Kareena Kapoor. This movie started filming in 2004 and was originally set to release in 2005.. got delayed to release in 2007.. then 2008.. then 2009 & now finally 5 years later we see the trailer and hear the music of a movie that could have been a hit romantic of its time. Will Milenge Milenge, copy of Serendipity, work 5 years after filming in a market that has evolved ten fold..?? We gotta wait and watch.. but I really doubt it as it is not Avataar that took 10 years to make.. !!

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Milenge Milenge Trailer

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5 years back a man named Himesh Reshammiya was at the top of the Bollywood music industry. It’s ironic or just plain good timing that Milenge Milenge comes around at a time when his own venture Kajraare is to hit the screens. This could be the return of the one and only Himesh with 2 big movies together on the shelves with his name.. But on the hind side.. it gives us the opportunity to compare his recent music from Kajraare with what he did 5 years ago for consistency & growth in his talent. Another big name at that time was of lyricist Sameer who had just done hit albums like Aksar & Aashiq Banaya Aapne with Himesh and thus the pair are working together here for Milenge Milenge.

Frankly, I am not really looking forward to hearing this album as it might just sound like the big tunes of Himesh from that period.. It’s like you have heard it all. But anyway, lets find out if they decided to update the OST to 2010..

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REVIEW

Track 1 – Kuch To Baaki Hai – Oh yeah.. hahaha.. It’s like sitting in a time machine and going back to 2005. Love It :) They definitely did not update the OST to 2010 music stye. This is so Himesh in 2005 when he was the icon. The perfect house beat and with a super deep bass line that I don’t remember hearing on a Himesh track. So that is definitely new for him. The lyrics are so-so with typical Himesh dance beat vocal style that he rose to fame for. This song would be a sure hit if it was in 2005. In 2010.. not sure.. Will I play it in a party..? Maybe.. Maybe Not !

7/10 for making me feel 5 years younger ;)

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Track 2 – Milenge Milenge – Good to hear Alka Yagnik’s voice in a grade 1 Bollywood movie after a long time but sounding confident from her hits time of 2005. The composition & style is unique that can work even today on radio. But the fact that it has Alka Yagnik & Jayesh Gandhi who was a hit from 2003-06 in most Himesh albums makes this song sound backdated. I don’t buy the lyrics of this title song & think it could have been better. 6.5/10.

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Track 3 – Tum Chain Ho – This is after a really long time I have heard 2 brilliant singers – Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik together on a 4 minute stretch. This song is soothing, romantic and surely with really good lyrics. The voices do the trick here and thus Himesh has decided to keep the music simple making this my favourite song so far. 7.5/10.

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Track 4 – Ishq Ki Gali – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had just about stepped into Bollywood land around 2004-05 with massive hits on Paap & Kalyug. This sound wouldn’t have been a hit then nor will it be one now. It is patent, standard,  lacks creativity on the composition & arrangement with boring lyrics and even lacks good vocal performances by Rahat & Jayesh. Truly an average song. 5/10.

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Track 5 – Hare Kanch Ki Chuddiyan – So very Bollywood !! But this one sounds older than even 2005.. it’s like a late 90′s song in the voice of Alka Yagnik. I can’t imagine this being filmed on Kareena. It would look so rubbish. Lyrics are a dud and the composition is purely average. Alka’s singing is the only thing that works in this song. 5/10.

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Track 6 – Milenge Milenge – Never seen an album to have 2 songs with the exact same name with different singers that sound decades apart. I will have to praise Himesh for that. Kudos to him. But his singing doesn’t sound anything like him. I am quite shocked to discover it is him with Shreya Ghoshal. This version is rather modern & sounds a lot different with the same title flavour. It is surely better than track 2. 7/10.

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Track 7 – Kuch To Baaki Hai (Remix) – Himesh’s favourite DJ Lloyd & Discreet do a fab job on this track. It’s to be noted that the original is a dance version itself so they did not have to do much except for add a really funky digital bass which works perfectly with this song. So good choice by them. It’s upbeat, fun and a good dance number. 7/10.

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Track 8 – Ishq Ki Gali (Remix) – I really did not like the original and thought Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had been wasted on this track.. Now I think he has been wasted further on a bhangra version of a qawalli type song. DJ Lloyd got a little too extra creative now. But in a way it does sound better than the original & it is bare able. 5.5/10.

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Track 9 – Tum Chain Ho (Unplugged) – As if Sonu & Alka had not created enough magic with this song !! Vineeet Singh is fantastic and this is by far the best song on the album.. Or by far one of best romantic songs I have heard this year. It’s perfect vocally with a really good composition. The acoustic guitar works brilliantly with Vineet’s voice and it has been beautifully played & more importantly recorded brilliantly. A must listen as it gives you the true taste of Bollywood with the amount of talent India has in every aspect of music. 8.5/10.

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Track 10 – Kuch To Baaki Hai (Bright Mix) – The 3rd rendition of this song still sounds fresh and is almost an acoustic version with vocal classical percussion by Vineet Singh. It just sounds very fresh and different and you get to feel the true vocal talent of Himesh. I kinda prefer this version to any of the above and I guess so will you. The deep electrical bass in the background is something really worth noticing. It’s really cool. 8/10.

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FINAL WORD

Above Average – 6.5/10

It really doesn’t sound like they have updated the soundtrack to match the 2010 music scene but it surely is much better than what I really expected this 2005 OST to sound like. It surely would have been a chart hit if it did release in 2005 as Himesh was still at the top and everything he put out just worked. He surely has the music talent and knows how to surprise you with some brilliant work. Tum Chain Ho is the song to watch here that is timeless and will work even today. Kuch to Baki Hai is fun and can work in the clubs in India if carefully plugged in. In the UK market I doubt any of them will work. But nonetheless, if you are a Bollywood music junkie then you will still enjoy these songs. The other songs.. not so much. Vineet Singh rocks. Check him out for sure.. OST available on T-Series.

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KAJRAARE – BOLLYWOOD MUSIC REVIEW UK

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

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There is not going to be much to talk here I guess. Here is the off screen story…

I am guessing Mahesh Bhatt wrote another crap story.. daughter Pooja Bhatt found that attractive but could not find director to direct it.. So she had to do it herself to keep her millionaire dad happy. But then she could not find a actor or music director. So bumped into Mr. Himesh Reshammiya who agreed to compose the music only if he was allowed to act after his string of massive flops and also sing every damn song on the album… Out of choice the poor girl had to agree to that :( But then no label was ready to buy the OST so T-Series said we will buy it only if we can also be the producers & have Kishan & Bhushan Kumar’s name on there to make a little money that this movie will make on the whole.. So what we finally get is a very small group of people involved which includes the Bhatts, Mr. Reshammiya & the Kumar’s. Finally, they add a debutant beauty Mona Laizza for eye candy and we get KAJRAARE !!

Like my short story..? Don’t worry if you don’t.. See if you can like the trailer instead.. He is a lawyer.. she is a prostitute and they are in the desert..??? Kudos Mahesh & Pooja.. You sure can visualise with creativity!

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But this article is not about the Bhatt’s but the long hair dude Himesh & his creativity who delivered some massive hits in his hay days.. but only delivers flops recently like his last movie Radio. Never heard of it..? well that’s because it never even made it on the “radio”.. lol

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REVIEW

Track 1 – Kajra Kajra Kajraare – A nice soothing harmony by Sunidhi Chauhan with an electro bass sets off this song to a good start untill the english “cool” lyrics set in asking you to “Move it” & “Bring it down” to a rather slow 88 BPM song !! Well anyway.. it’s good to hear Himesh’s voice after a long time. He surely is unique in his style but the song or the lyrics by Sameer do not thrill. There is one thing though.. If you listen to it a few times it will grow on you & you will find yourself humming.. Thus I got to give it some credit.. 6.5/10.

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Track 2 – Rabba Luck Barsa – Another harmonic start but this time in Himesh’s voice. This song can boast of some good instrumental work. But what really makes this track special is a voice over by Mr. Mahesh Bhatt himself. The VO & the lyrics are deep, sensible and romantic in every sense. Himesh delivers some better high pitch vocals like some of his previous work.. viz. Karz. 7/10.

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Track 3 – Aafreen – I will give a lot of credit to Himesh for using Santoor & Sarangi in a Bollywood song after a very long time with a decent dholki beat and acoustic guitar. It reminds you of what Bollywood music used to be in the early 90′s. Purely in the Ghazal style, this song can boast of very good lyrics and some phenomenal singing by Himesh. I could never imagine he could do something as classical & authentic like this. I am glad to say.. Himesh has still got it in him & can pull originality out of his socks. This is a must listen for a calm candel-light romantic evening. Also check out the vocals of Harshdeep Kaur in the final verse. It’s wicked.. 8/10.

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Track 4 – Tujhe Dekh Ke Armaan Jaage – Himesh decides to finally work with the desert feel as in the trailer with pure Rajasthani folk start to this song. He then decides to maintain the folk vocal style but to a funkier slow beat which sounds very cliche. This song will remind of you of so many different songs in so many different ways. I suggest fast forward to 2:10 into the song & listen to the rubab instrumental solo and then Shreya’s vocals that save the song for me. 6/10.

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Track 5 – Teriyan Meriyan – Another slow romantic instrumental number consistent with the top 4 which would almost help classify this soundtrack as a Bollywood lounge album. There is something about this song which is different & I quite like it. I don’t know why. It has a unique lyrical pattern with santoor as the primary instrument with good vocals by Himesh & Shreya Ghoshal with a cute Punjabi touch. I guess that’s what it is. I just like it.. Do you to? 7.5/10.

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Track 6 – Woh Lamha Phir Se Jeena Hai – Finally Himesh does disappoint with his composition! The music, lyrics and arrangement of this song just don’t work along with each other for me. It lacks everything that you need to make a decent song.. But then Harshdeep Kaur steps in.. renders some very good vocals.. If Himesh could just step back for atleast one song !! Too much to ask I guess.. 5/10 just because of Harshdeep Kaur’s vocals else it would be a 4/10.

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Track 7 – Sanu Guzara Zamana – A classical romantic number then comes in after a rhythm breaker Track 6.. and it is quite refreshing & soothing in every way. I will recommend this song to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan fans. It has the Pakistani music style which works very well because Himesh renders it beautifully keeping it very simple. Listen to the lyrics carefully to thoroughly enjoy this song. 8/10.

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Track 8 – Kajra Kajra Kajraare (Party Mix) -Never heard their name before.. so let me introduce DJ Lloyd and Discreet. I can’t blame them for the delivery of a shaab mix. I am a DJ myself .. but the purpose of this mix is unclear to me other than an album filler. Please skip as this mix lacks character.. 4.5/10.

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Track 9 – Rabba Luck Barsa (Party Mix) - Now this is a good mix. It’s fun and definitely worth calling a party mix. I can imagine hearing this in clubs as dance floor warmer at the start of a party. It has new music elements that fit in well with the layout of the song. Well done DJ Lloyd & Discreet. Who is discreet by the way..? 6.5/10.

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Track 10 – Woh Lamha Phir Se Jeena Hai (Party Mix) – Although I hate the original, this mix sounds better. For once the purpose of a mix is clear when it does make a song better. But frankly this mix is nothing special. It is purely average for a otherwise crap song. 5/10.

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Track 11 – Sanu Guzara Zamana (Lounge Mix) – Love this mix but not as much as the original as it lacks the creative element. DJ Lloyd has used a very standard lounge mix beat pattern. But the lyrics & vocals on this song can make any music on it sound good. A definite recommend for weddings background music. 7.5/10.

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Final Word

Good – 6.5/10

The overall album is much better than what I expected it to be. Himesh surely still has it in him and is excellent on the microphone in some of the songs. There is some very good use of instrumentals reviving traditional Indian instruments & thus makes it different. Certain compositional styles are retro but beautiful. Himesh has tried to step away from what he made his mark as with the dance beats & House music tunes. He is consistent throughout the album with a single romantic slow style of music. That does become a disadvantage as the album lacks variety. It’s versatile for sure.. but only in the Indian classical domain.

Although vocally good.. there is just too much of Himesh in the album. In the movie it makes sense as Himesh is the actor & all songs won’t be together. But when listening to the OST as a whole.. it becomes a lil too much. ‘Aafreen’, ‘Teriyan Meriyan’ and ‘Sanu Guzara Zamana’ are my pics of the album. A good listen for those romantic at heart. Album available on T-Series.

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