DJ Munks.com

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Brothers Mahesh & Mukesh Bhatt have created a number of hits under their banner Vishesh Films including Raaz, Raaz 2, Jannat, Zeher, Kalyug, Gangster, Murder and many more.. A few common names to a number of recent hits out of Vishesh Films include director Mohit Suri & actor Emraan Hashmi. Another common feature to Mahesh Bhatt movies is the introduction of a new face.. and this time it is a cutie called Neha Sharma playing Emraan’s love interest in Australia. So what is left to see is if all these common factors together once again deliver another hit with Crook: It’s Good to be Bad. The movie revolves around the recent racist attacks on Indian students in Australia and the growing ambition of a man who cares nothing about the world..

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Hit music maker Pritam has worked for Vishesh Films and made some of the biggest hit soundtracks including Jannat, Woh Lamhe and Gangster. Mahesh & Mukesh Bhatt sure know how to make a hit movie and Pritam knows how to deliver the best OST. But it has been a while since they all hooked up together on a project. Will Crook be able to deliver the big hits with the lyrics of Kumaar and the big melodies of Pritam? Answers are as below..

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REVIEW

Track 1 – Challa – Bollywood is moving in 2 directions.. Western and traditional Nothern India. This song is the perfect example of that. Superstar Punjabi singer Babbu Mann who is almost worshiped in Punjab makes his Bollywood appearance with this inspired cover of Gurdas Mann’s traditional folk song Challa with a musical twist by Pritam. The English vocals and lyrics are by Suzanne D’Mello give it that western feel. The lyrics by Kumaar are purely authentic and true to the Punjabi flavour. This is a smart business song by Pritam rather than a brilliant composition. This song truly has appeal to not just the Bollywood lovers but to a huge mass of Punjabi music lovers in the UK & USA where Babbu Mann has a massive following. Thus Pritam captures it all with this tune. Definitely a dance floor tune. 7/10.

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Track 2 – Mere Bina – Nikhil D’souza is the man in demand these days in Bollywood and is sure worth every second of listening and every second of the work of the music director & the lyricists. He knows how to deliver a romantic tune with a very melodic deep voice. His talent & gifted voice is unmissable as he hits some really accurate notes. The harmonies he has done for this song under the genius direction of Pritam is commendable. The music is simply beautiful.. and better are the lyrics by Kumaar. It just reminds you of the beautiful songs of Raaz 2 that Kumaar had penned & were super hit on all airplay. This is the next big song. Love it.. 8.5/10.

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Track 3 – Kya – This song starts off with very synthetic keyboard work with filter effects on Neeraj Sridhar’s voice. Totally not required!! Don’t get what Pritam is trying to deliver in this song. The composition is below average and totally inspired with a fair amount of English lyrics. The Hindi lyrics are decent but not the ones you will find yourself singing after listening to the album a couple of times. I say ignore this song as you will rarely be hearing it anywhere on TV or radio. Quite disappointing after Mere Bina.  6/10.

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Track 4 – Tujhi Mein – This song has an interesting keyboard melody with an alternative rock composition. It is something you would expect from Pritam & his rock band background. The vocal performance by KK is spotless & powerful as always with average lyrics. You really have to listen to the electric guitar solo about 3 minutes into the song. Absolutely brilliant guitar work with a very different texture sound to the strings and very well recorded. This is a good listen but could take some time to grow on you. Do listen to it a few times. 7.5/10.

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Track 5 – Challa (Remix) – Our Scottish Punjabi boys Tigerstyle excel in reviving folk Punjabi songs with their hands exactly on the pulse of the UK Bhangra lovers. Their use of absolutely unique and culturally specific Punjabi instruments and composition is classic and brilliant with a modern beat. Give this song a couple of weeks and it will be at the top of BBC Asian Networks chart.. Guaranteed..!! My definite favourite from this album. 8.5/10.

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Track 6 – Tujhko Jo Paaya – If Mere Bina was brilliant then this is supertastic!! A bit of shuffle on the lyrics by Kumaar and a rename of the song title gives you Tujhko Jo Paaya.. that too in Mohit Chauhan’s voice only to the sound of an acoustic guitar. His vocals are soo warm that you just feel like snuggling in with a loved one. Mohit also does a harmony rendition at the end that you have to listen to without fail. Genius version. 9/10.

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Track 7 – Tujhi Mein (Reprise) – This is a more acoustic and ambient version of Track 4 with almost new lyrics except for the chorus. Sung again by KK and you really don’t see any other singer who can sing this song. But I’d settle with track 4 and don’t really feel the need of this version. It is present in the album totally to cover the story and is purely situational. 7/10.

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Track 8 – Mere Bina (Unplugged) – A third version of this beautiful song out of a total of 8 songs…. and you know what.. you don’t mind it.. As this time it has the deep & powerful voice of KK to it. No complaints to his singing or the unplugged melody composed & arranged by Pritam.. but I prefer Mohit Chauhan’s acoustic version in Tujhko Jo Paaya. It just sounds better in his voice. This version is again in the soft rock setup with a really good keyboard solo this time and fantastic band instrumentation. It is lyrically and composition-ally a brilliant song and thus will sound good with any vocalist & musical setup. 8/10.

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FINAL WORD

Very Good – 7.5/10

Crook gets a ‘very good’ simply because the total of individual scores of each track gets it a high score. It deserves that… but all thanks to a brilliant song called Mere Bina which is a treat to listen to in every setup and in every version. Also contributing to the high score is the presence of a Punjabi hit number in the form of Challa with an international appeal. Other than these 2 songs, the rest of the album is average. There is not enough variety & not enough creativity to boast off. Thus as an overall album I would classify Crook to be an average OST. But it sure deserves all the airplay and all the recognition to Challa & Mere Bina. Good job yet again to the team of Pritam, Kumaar, Mahesh Bhatt, Mohit Suri & the fantastic lineup of singers. OST available on Sony BMG.

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Oooohhh.. This seems like an exciting project. Not just because Deepika Padukone is looking hot & Saif+Deepika are looking great together.. but because Imtiaz Ali is back after the smash hit Jab We Met. He made a superstar actor out of Kareena in that movie.. & now it seems she has recommended her boyfriend to the director man. I don’t really see the problem with that cause Saif can be brilliant if the role fits his profile (as demonstrated in Omkara & KHNK).

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Saif Ali Khan has gone a step ahead this time though & is not just acting but also producing Love Aaj Kal with Dinesh Vijan. He is also picked up the trick from Akshay & dressed Singh in this movie.

The trailers look fun & the star chemistry is looking good with a good light story line typical to an Imtiaz Ali movie.

Another factor prominent in an Imtiaz Ali movie is good music. Jab We Met’s music was ground breaking with songs like “Mauja Hi Mauja”, “Yeh Ishq Hai”, “Nagada Nagada” & the romantic “Tum Se Hi”. The man behind all of that is back on Love Aaj Kal. Pritam is the most sought Music Director in the industry & is back to prove why he is the man most in demand when it comes to making hits.. This time he is back with Irshad Kamil who he worked together with on the songs of Jab We Met & Aa Dekhen Zara.

NO doubt they all make a great team together.. but lets find out if their magic works yet again with the OST of Love Aaj Kal for the UK audience.

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REVIEW

Track 1 – Twist – This is a big one.. !!!!! A hit & a dance floor blazer in Neeraj Sridhar’s super style. It’s a cross of Nagin meets Panjabi MC with the Snake Charmer theme. The vibe of the song sounds similar to “Ab Toh Forever” from Tara Rum Pum but it is still a genuine hit. The lyrics are rubbish but the fun factor is so prominent that you wouldn’t pay attention to that and just do the “Twist”. This is for the clubs.. for weddings.. for birthday parties.. & for every damn party. Its now at the top of my DJ set list of must play songs.It is not as good as Mauja.. but Pritam sure is back to put this composition up there in that category.

We have a winner at the start of the album ladies & gentleman   Hit Hit Hit – 7.5/10.

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Track 2 – Chor Bazaari – This song is a care free.. give a damn to the world type of song. The musical texture is great with a smile beat pattern, trumpets, Spanish acoustic guitar & a touch of the village sound. The arrangement is superb with the drops & come backs with versatile use of instruments. To top all instruments are Neeraj Sridhar & Sunidhi Chauhan’s voices. They sound great together & you can feel confidence oozing out of Irshad Kamil as he beautifully plays around with words to give some good lyrics. I like this song as it has a soft feel with still a dancy grove to it. 7.5/10.

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Track 3 – Aahun Aahun – This is my favourite song in the album so far !! A different side of Pritam’s work that I have never heard before. He demonstrates talent competing outright with AR Rehman on this one. The vague guitar at the start leads into 70′s disco effects with Master Salim’s phenomenal Punjabi lyrics. If you have not heard of him before then look for a song called “Teri Sajni” and you will find out how talented this man is. The beat when it comes in shocked me like the beat in “Genda Phool” did. The fusion of Neeraj & Salim’s voice is genius along with great looping & vocal scatting effects. This is so 21st century with roots set in traditional Indian music. I love the lyrics too with a good mix of English, Punjabi & Hindi. Aahun Aahun is totally catchy & genius. Production at it’s best.. 9.5/10.

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Track 4 – Dooriyan – Pritam tries to create another “Tum Se Hi” style slow romantic number with Mohit Chauhan but does not do too well. This song does not have the simplicity of Tum Se Hi in lyrics & composition although it has great deep meaning lyrics. The music & arrangement are average with a good flute solo in the middle. Mohit’s vocals are great as usual but not the best. This song might work for some for not for the masses. 7/10.

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Track 5 – Ajj Din Chadheya – I somehow knew there will be a song like this in the album. Typical Pritam.. & thus he brings in Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. An almost acoustic romantic song for the background. Very basic instrumentation but very neat & calm.. Love the acoustic guitar work!! Good lyrics about a man talking to God about what he wants for his love & how badly he wants her. The combination of powerful lyrics with soft music & vocals is striking. Great job. 8/10.

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Track 6 – Thoda Thoda Pyar – Am hearing a good typical Mehndi night Ladies Sangeet type of a song after a long time. This one is different too with a good mix of Dholak, Tumbi & Dhol to typical Punjabi shouts from a good all female chorus. Sunidhi then takes the lead to give a true Bollywood song.. something like you would have last heard in the 90′s. No comparison to Pritam’s Punjabi song production skills as he is the best at that.. but what is worth noting is Irshad’s lyrics who creates a great Punjabi intro rhyme and main lyrics that fit the composition really well. A must play at all weddings in UK. A definite hit with the desi ladies. 7.5/10.

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Track 7 – Main Kya Hoon – This is probably the only song I don’t like on this OST. Doesn’t quite fit the bill. It sure add’s variety but does not seem to gel with the variety above. It’s got this trippy trance synth to a slower beat. It is something you would hear in a remix but definitely not in an original. The lyrics & KK’s performance are average too. Hate the vocal effects Pritam has used on KK’s voice. Skip this one please. 5/10.

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Track 8 – Twist (Remix) – DJ Sanj from US is back with Pritam after doing a dudd job in Aa Dekhen Zara. But this time he does a good job. I love this mix. This is the one that I have already started playing at my parties & it works beautifully with the crowd. People love it.. I love it… This is good with a double beat grove & female rap but still sticking with the Nagin style. Neeraj’s vocals sound much better here. 7.5/10.

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Track 9 – Chor Bazaari (Remix) – DJ Sanj goes the Reggae beat side for this remix. Although it sounds fair & doesn’t sound too bad.. but I din’t quite enjoy this one much. I could do without it to be frank. 6/10.

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Track 10 – Aahun Aahun (Remix) – Reggae done.. it’s Bhangra time.. !!   I loved the original and now this remix thrills me too. Instead of taking Pritam’s innovative music, Sanj takes his innovative composition & Salim + Neeraj’s great vocals and blends them to a Dhol beat with Punjabi shouts. This now sounds like a normal song & not an innovative experiment. You can imagine this to be original & the other to be a remix. Both are great though. 8.5/10.

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FINAL WORD

Really Good – 7.5/10.

Bollywood has been waiting for a biggie this year. This is it.. !!

Love Aaj Kal is commercial Bollywood at it’s best this year. It has the big dancefloor number called “Twist”, the romantics “Dooriyaan” & “Ajj Din Chadheya” and the fun song “Chor Bazaari” & “Aahun Aahun”. A overall complete package of good commercial Bollywood music that the masses will like all over the world.

Pritam uses all his favourite singers like Neeraj, Rahat Fateh Ali, Sunidhi & Mohit Chauhan.. & they do not disappoint him. Pritam is back in form with some fantastic work in “Twist” & “Aahun Aahun”. These songs are already getting lot of hype and air play on Radio & TV. With the movie release (July end) & some good filming by Imtiaz for these songs.. they have the potential of being the biggest hits of the year !! Twist is going to be a rage..!

A must buy CD as it is total value for money and pure funnnn for the UK audiences !!

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