Pyaar Impossible, Badmaash Company & Lafangey Parindey.. 3 average movies on the box office this year by Yash Raj Films. They need a big hit to make up before this year ends. Will Band Baaja Baaraat (BBB) be that big hit? Who knows.. we will find out on the 10th of December. What we know is this movie launches two new careers. Director Maneesh Sharma is the new man behind the camera while lead actor Ranveer Singh is the new face in front of the camera. He is the son of actor Sunny Deol if you don’t know that already. Thus the man has some big responsibility on his shoulders considering his fathers & grandfathers fantastic reputation on the big screen. Lets hope he can make it work on screen with Anushka Sharma in a movie about weddings in Delhi.
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Winter time in Delhi is the season of weddings. For a movie on that theme & based in that city, the expectations are really high on the music front as it should be able to deliver the music that will be playing at every party of every wedding in this peak season. The guys who producer Aditya Chopra can close his eyes and trust to deliver big hits is the pair of Salim-Sulaiman. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi & Aaja Nachle are couple of the big names of their handy work. Joining them are Amitabh Bhattacharya writing the lyrics and the projection of debutant director Maneesh Sharma. It will be interesting to hear what Delhi sound can this album bring to the market in peak wedding season. Let us listen..
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REVIEW
Track 1 – Ainvayi Ainvayi – Quite a tune.. Salim Merchant voices this song himself with Sunidhi Chauchan. This is after a very long time that I am loving Sunidhis work in a song. Her vocals are bang on with the perfect texture & tone in a song style that suits her perfectly. Salim kicks butt too.. The music is a really good mix of the Punjabi tumbi start & blends into a modern deep base beat pattern. The music is funky and works in the growing & evolving Delhi music scene. It is not a style of music that you would have heard in Bollywood. The lyrics hook line Ainvayi Ainvayi is soo damn catchy & will stick in your head & your tongue for a long time just after the first listen. The lyrics are proper Delhi talk & work very well. This is still not the traditional Bollywood dance songs & so will take some time to grown in the market.. and even longer in the super traditional UK Asian music market. But for the music innovation I give it 7.5/10.
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Track 2 – Tarkeebein – The brilliant voice of Benny Dayal that Rahman once discovered is still one of the most smooth voices in the industry. Salim teams up with Benny on the vocals and they sound unique & fresh together. A good partnership on some fantastic lyrics by Amitabh. Really love the flow of the lyrics on this song which talks about ideas, confidence and the fight to excel in this world. This could be the anthem of the college kids this year. The music is really cool with a unique beat pattern with some exciting mix of sitar & harmonium on this modern mix. Like this song. 8/10.
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Track 3 – Aadha Ishq – The queen of romantic Bollywood songs – Shreya Ghoshal gives this song some effortless vocals. The mix on her vocals does not seem right at some points but I guess that is just me… Salim-Sulaiman cannot get that wrong. The music is an average traditional romantic composition. Nothing flashy about it.. but the highlight of this song are the lyrics. The title hook Aadha Isha has been very well placed in by Amitabh delivering a beautiful song. This song will easily find it’s way to the radio waves but will not rock the boat a lot here in the UK as it lacks stunning music & vocal work. 7/10.
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Track 4 – Dum Dum – Another Benny Dayal number this time with Himani Kapoor who has not been around for a long time. She does well but does not create a lasting impression. The lyrics are catchy but the music composition is not. Although Salim Sulaiman do a lot with the music with fantastic instrumentation & creative use of bass guitar & percussion, it still lacks mass appeal. It sure is a different & good song but something about it does not stick and create an impression. I think it is the arrangement & composition. That is why probably it has been placed in the middle of the album as it could not make place anywhere else in the OST. 6.5/10.
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Track 5 – Mitra – The creators of the song jump on the mic here as well. Lyricist Amitabh & Salim sing this song quite well. It is an easy going number for some background listening in your car after a tiring day at work. A song about separation & loosing your friend but with a rather bright composition. It is not a dark song that will make you cry & thus I like it more as it is a contract of emotions on the music & lyrics front. Something really cleaver & well done by both these boys. It is very situational & the music has a good use of synths & keyboard work with guitars. Must listen song. 7.5/10.
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Track 6 – Baari Barsi – Finally the wedding Punjabi number we have been waiting for. A salute to Salim Sulaiman & Amitabh for what they have done with this song. The traditional lyrics of Baari Barsi has just been totally transformed into a modern spin off with a bold pop RnB beat with a very cleaver use of shenaai & dhol. It still has the classic fast typical Punjabi clossing of the song which will surely get you up on your feet. The lyrics are very interesting and new. It still incorporates all the family members in the rhymes and gets them up to very modern phrases. Vocals by Harshdeep Kaur & Labh Janjua are brilliant. It is absolutely fun when Labh Janjua says “buggi wuggi” instead of “boogie woogie”.. lol. Check this song out as you hear it in the next wedding you attend. Fabulous work. 8/10.
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Track 7 – Band Baaja Baaraat (Theme) – This is soo the new sound of Bollywood.. and the new sound to be of Indian weddings. A complete modern version of your traditional brass band at a baaraat. It is brilliant & perfect creative musical mix by Salim Sulaiman. Love this short 1:55 duration piece. The instrumentation & arrangement of the various instruments & effects is just genius. It is experimental & learning for music producers around the world. 8.5/10.
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Track 8 – Ainvayi (Dilli Club Mix) – This dude Abhijit Vaghani brings in a new sound to remixing all together in Bollywood. He seems to be re-inventing Bolly remixes. He is producing some really classy remixes that have spirit & essence and have not been done just to fill up the CD. This is quite an upbeat & the name clearly describes what sound is working in the Delhi clubs these days. The vocals have been re done by our UK boy Master Saleem of Kangna fame with Sunidhi. The effects & rhythm of the song is bang on the money. This is to be my next favourite mix song for the London parties. 8/10.
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Track 9 – Dum Dum (Sufi Mix) – Ok now.. this mix does not really work for my. It is by Abhijit & in his support he surely has done something different & unique with the original with new more powerful vocals by Sukhwinder Singh. But the song in itself and the whole idea just does not work. The sufi side of it is not even clear.. It completely misses the trick. I rather don’t like this song at all. 5.5/10.
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FINAL WORD
Very Good – 7.5/10
Except for one composition of Dum Dum, rest of the songs of BBB are pretty cool and right there where you would call it a good album. All credit goes to the innovation, creativity and pure musical talent of Salim Sulaiman and the beautiful lyrics of Amitabh Bhattacharya. The performances by the singers are good as always with a come back by Sunidhi Chauhan. The OST lacks a huge range & variety of music but it delivers on the expectations for a wedding centric movie. For the UK market the album will actually pick up & make the best use of its potential when the next wedding season kicks in the summer. Till then it will be slow & steady rise in popularity for this OST & it’s Punjabi numbers Ainvayi Ainvayi & Baari Barsi. Tarkeebein & the theme song are my personal favs. Buy this album. Music on YRF Music.
There are a very few talented writers in the Bollywood land.. Abbas Tyrewala is one of these extremely talented bunch. Whether it is a screenplay, dialogues, film story or song lyrics.. he leaves a mark behind. With his portfolio with some of biggest names like Main Hoon Na, Maqbool, Salaam Namaste and Munnabhai MBBS you would not doubt his talent with the pen. But his new found passion for writing and directing young love stories fit in a different league of their own and leave a stamp rather than a mark behind. Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Na was his first project and now Jhootha Hi Sahi is his next biggie starring John Abraham and Tyrewala’s wife Pakhi. In reality the story of the movie is her idea and concept while the screenplay, lyrics and direction are husband Abbas’s handy work. Quiet a good family affair and the trailers look exciting.
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On the music front Abbas is trying to reuse the Jaane Tu formula where his lyrics meet the creative music head of the genius Mr. Rahman. the Oscar winner is still riding high on his recent successes of Slumdog Millionaire, Delhi-6 and Raavan but the radio channels are also playing his Robot music which has seen a lot of negative comments for his work. He is truly better than what he has produced there.. and so it remains to see if Jhootha Hi Sahi can help him keep his head above the criticism levels. The expectations from him are always high more so now with the Oscar fiasco… and I am sure Abbas will bring out the best of him. For a movie based in London the music should definitely have something for the London audience from the most versatile music man in the business. Let us play and find out what this duo have in store for us for this off-beat sublime romantic comedy.
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REVIEW
Track 1 – Cry Cry – You must have definitely heard this tune on the TV music channels and some of the Asian radio channels as this song has already found its way up there. Rahman & Abbas had featured newcomer Rashi Ali in Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Na simply making the man’s career. You ofcourse knew he would be opening their next OST album after he delivered a brilliant vocal. His vocals on Cry Cry are just perfect as well. He sings it in a very low key with a soft touch to it which gives the song a very natural touch of a man singing at home rather than a pro in a studio. The lyrics are fun and of the Kabhi Kabhi Aditi style.. Aditi was about trying to make one smile and this song is about making one to stop crying with a good message. The Mumbai touch comes with the kayko slang used throughout. Shreya does her vocals in her true classy style too but not her best work as you don’t see the full potential of her vocal range.
The most outstanding part of a song with which the name Rahman is associated is the music. Cry Cry in its soothing style has a simple tribal drum beat on a single drum giving you the lows, a deep keyboard bass note on the mid’s and a continuous shaker on the highs. The other variations that come in are classical acoustic guitar, saxophone & flute solo that fill up most of the frequency range. You barely hear any traces of other sounds. Keeping it simple but beautiful is the genius of a man named Rahman. A song for the music aficionados. 8.5/10.
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Track 2 – Maiyya Yashoda (Jamuna Mix) – Javed Ali’s vocals have been around for nearly a decade and still a pleasure to hear his voice. He still has the youthfulness & charisma in his voice although there is not much for him to show in this song. Chinmayi on the other hand you find featured mostly only in Rahman songs. The classical and traditional flavour of this song is a good east meets west demonstration. The lyrics have been well composed to recite a little story in a fun composition. Called the Jamuna mix for the very traditional touch to the music using modern instruments by Rahman. The deep bass in the background fills up so beautifully that you don’t even realise it is around unless you look out for it. The flute solo at the start is very cute while the tempo pump up for the latter of the song is exciting. Most prominent part of the song is the outstanding sitar solo that blends in like chocolate in a chocolate cake. Overall the song lacks a mainstream approach but musically it is still a piece of genius with the sitar solo. 7/10.
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Track 3 – Hello Hello – The movie is about a phone call and telephonic friendship. This song is situational and seems to be around to fill a desperate need of the script. The lyrics are purely average and the music has nothing innovative to offer. The composition is very Rahman style and his south Indian modern music influence. The vocal effects on Karthik’s voice make it totally distinguishable as a Rahman job. The use of an orchestra is a waste. Skip this song. 5/10.
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Track 4 – Do Nishaaniyan – Sonu Nigam has sung very few but amazing songs for Rahman. This composition is probably one of them. The lyrics and ambiance of this song along with the texture of Sonu’s voice reaches the next level in lounge music. A perfect song for weddings in the background and in restaurants while having a candle light dinner. Sonu’s control on his vocal pitches on every syllable of a word is worth all the praise. The lyrics by Abbas are rhythmic and touch the soul. Although the music might sound like many others we must have heard before but the overall feel & instrumentation fits brilliantly. A really good track. 7.5/10.
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Track 5 – Pam Pa Ra – 2nd Shreya Ghoshal song on the album and this time it is a solo. The na na na na.. start to the song must be the creative simplistic genius of Rahman. The expectations really drop when the main vocals and music start. The lyrics are purely average if not boring. The music loses its momentum but then comes back with more instrumentation and excitement. There are just many ups & downs in the music throughout the song. The variations & orchestration is good but just too much. The vocals are probably only good and consistent factor of the song. 5/10.
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Track 6 – I’ve Been Waiting – Vijay Yesudas returns to music after a 3 year slump. He has been around for decades and it seems Rahman has pulled him out of the dungeons for a brilliant blues composition. Only Rahman could be experimenting with music genres like this. A pure blues jazz orchestra gives this song the perfect melody and support to Vijay’s excellent vocals. The lyrics are simply brilliant, pure and perfect blend of English and Hindi.
“I’ve been waiting for the moonlight. I’ve been waiting for the moonlit sky all night…
Stranger in the moonlight, I’ve been waiting for a lifetime for you..”7.5/10.
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Track 7 – Maiyya Yashoda (Thames Remix) – The western mix of Track 2 sounds almost the same except for a synthetic drum beat in the background and more effects on the vocals. It has a good amount of Indian instrumentation on it. It still has the fantastic sitaar solo to complement the western drum beat. Can’t give this version much credit as it is almost the same. 6.5/10.
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Track 8 – Do Nishaaniyan (Heartbreak Reprise) – The absolutely perfect vocals of Sonu Nigam in Track 4 just sound better all of a sudden in this version. So soothing, calm, ambient, pure and brilliant. The background flutes and keyboard/piano work by Rahman is simply breathtaking and perfect to every note. A true classic in the making. 8/10.
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Track 9 – Call Me Dil – This is not the normal Bollywood OST trend to have an original as the last song of the album after remixes but it kind of works here as this is the title song. The song is not brilliant in any aspect but just works with the feel of the movie and Rashid Ali’s voice. The lyrics and composition are average. Not much to check out in this song. 6/10.
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FINAL WORD
Average – 6.5/10
What Jhootha Hi Sahi lacks musically is consistency between songs. The vision and feel of the songs is consistent but the brilliance and beauty of every song is inconsistent. Except Cry Cry, Maiyya Yashoda and Do Nishaaniyan other songs are purely average. The OST clearly has the stamp and feel of a Rahman album with a fair bit of his creativity and uniqueness with certain advantage of having a Abbas Tyrewala as the director & lyricist in one body thus making it easier. But as I guess some songs demanded being average to go well with the script of the movie as I can’t imagine an average job from the geniuses of Abbas & Rahman. Overall I would recommend the movie without even watching it.. but not to buy the OST. It’s not there and that is why they have included a disc 2 with Karaoke version of the full album. Just get the top three songs. Album of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – HMV.
Dharma, Sony and UTV Motion pictures come together for Mr. Karan Johar to do a remake of Stepmom!! Why why why..! Lol.. I am only kidding. I do understand that really good English movies don’t quite reach Indian villages and the people who don’t speak English, but then this movie is nearly worthless for the International Bollywood fans. Thus for the UK Bollywood fans all there is left to see in We Are Family are the performances of Kajol, Kareena and Arjun Ramphal with debutant director Siddharth Malhotra’s vision.
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“Ain’t no mountain high.. ain’t no valley low.. ain’t no river wide enough baby..
If you need me call me.. no matter where you are .. no matter how far..no problem baby”
We don’t have Marvin Gaye in We Are Family but we certainly do have the best of Shankar Ehsaan Loy on the music with Irshad Kamil and Anvit Dutt writing the lyrics. What I am curious to find out if the OST of We are Family has any inspirations from the Stepmom OST as that truly is some soundtrack. Let us hit play and find out what this 10 track album has in store.. (last 4 songs are bonus songs so lets check out the first 6 for We are Family)
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Track 1 – Aankhon Mein Neendein – The song opens with what you would imagine coming out of the Aisha soundtrack with serious similarities until Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Shreya Ghoshal’s soulful voices fill your ears. The arrangement of the song is catchy at the start but then goes into sounding like an average Bollywood song. Some good instruments used like the mouth organ solo. The overall music feel of the song is similar to the sounds of Kal Ho Na Ho and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and thus lacks true identity. The lyrics by Irshad Kamil are pretty complicated and not that you will pick up on your first listen except for the chorus.. and thus it will take a couple of listens to start liking this song. 7/10.
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Track 2 – Dil Khol Ke Let’s Rock – Elvis would probably kill himself if he listens to this. Sure it is not bad for Bollywood but this song is suicide in the international markets. Totally inspired by Jailhouse Rock and written by Anvita Dutt is what is playing the most of TV these days.. but I am still to develop a liking for this song. The Dholki twist in the bridge of the song is pretty cool but overall the song fails to impress musically and lyrically. Even the vocal performances by Akriti Kakkar, Anushka Manchanda & Suraj Jagan are purely average. 5/10.
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Track 3 – Reham O Karam – This song comes as a surprise after an average and a nearly average song. Pure Shankar Mahadevan vocals can blow anyone away. They are just perfect and can swing your mood and calm your nerves within a minute of listening. This is what you call God gifted talent!! Vishal Dadlani has been singing a number of really good songs and seems to be promoting himself as a singer now and not just a music director.. he is singing for his competition music directors now! Good for him.. and for us since this song is something else. They lyrics by Irshad are very good but not catchy again. The music is nearly not there and is not required as Shankar fills up all the airwaves but when there is then it is with the rock theme with some exciting orchestration and electric guitars. Must & totally recommended listen. 8/10.
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Track 4 – Hamesha & Forever – Sonu starts off this song with some good piano work and harmonic chorus. The mastering could be off in this song as the music seems to sound louder than his vocals. So technically not the best. Again with the lyrics.. the beauty of words comes across through long phrases rather than rhyming words and thus misses the real click that usually works with the audiences. It’s a decently good song overall but I won’t recommend it. SEL (Shankar Eshaan Loy) seem to be loosing it with what really works with their listeners. 6/10.
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Track 5 – Sun Le Dua Yeh Aasman – Bela Shende is a name that has come up after a long time after Jodhaa Akhbar & Paheli. She does another acoustic song to piano which actually sounds really good as far as the music arrangement and her vocals are concerned. The lyrics for a change do work! The sad feel of the song is very situational and I guess works in the background in the movie when she about to die. 7/10.
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Track 6 – We Are Family Theme – Well now we know why there is excessive use of piano throughout all the songs in this movie since it is part of the theme. This is where SEL excel.. in creating good theme musics for situational movies. They never fail to impress in this category and this could well win them an award in the music department.. Musically this song is that good.. Check it out. 8/10.
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Track 7 – Noor E Khuda – Bonus Track from the movie ‘My Name is Khan‘.
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Track 8 – Aaj Kal Zindagi – Bonus Track from the movie ‘Wake Up Sid‘.
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Track 9 – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehan – Bonus Track from the movie ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna‘.
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Track 10 – Kal Ho Naa Ho – Bonus Track from the movie ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho‘.
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FINAL WORD
Above Average – 6.5/10
Just a little above average for this OST because of the disappointment that it brought along.. With names like SEL, Irshad Kamil & Karan Johar I was expecting this to be something new that would thrill. But every song is almost predictable with SEL deciding to play safe all across the OST with nothing new in the CD players. No big track to hit the dance floors and all they could come up with was a copy of Jailhouse Rock. The lyrics are good but they don’t click. The vocals are good but fail to totally impress except really good vocals in Reham O Karam and Sun Le Dua Yeh Aasman. hus I won’t recommend you buying this OST but surely get the above two songs. Music on Sony Music.
On the occasion of Eid Arbaaz Khan has started his own production company with wife Malaika Arora Khan under the banner Arbaaz Khan Productions and out comes their first movie with brother Salman Khan and debutant director Abhinav Kashyap who has also written the story of DABANGG. Dabangg seems to be a jolly good movie similar in some aspects to Salman’s last years hit Wanted but with a funny side to it where he is a corrupt police officer but savior of the poor and thus goes by the name Robinhood Pandey!
Dabangg has a really big cast including the likes of Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Mahie Gill and producers Arbaaz Khan & Malika Arora themselves amongst others. They also have new girl Sonakshi Sinha on the block in the lead role. We’ll have to wait to see how good she is on the screen.. And to support a multi starer movie like this Salman Khan decides to bring his favourite music duo Sajid-Wajid on the job who have done his recent movies including Veer and Wanted. Supporting them with their hand written lyrics are Jalees Sherwani who does most of Salman’s movies, Faaiz Anwar who has written some amazing music like Jab We Met and Lalit Pandit on a song too. So we have a handful of people contributing to this album. To say the least it is a music multi-starrer!
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REVIEW
Track 1 – Tere Mast Mast Do Nain – Start off with one of my favourite singers in the current crop who takes classical to the next level right in the first 30 seconds.. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sings Faaiz Anwar’s lyrics to a catchy classical composition by Sajid-Walid. The instrumentation and feel of the song is purely simple like many other Rahat songs but that’s what we love anyway.. don’t we? It is still different in many ways with some really good vocal harmonies to check out. Very romantic and works very well for Bollywood music lovers in the UK. It is perfect for an evening radio listen. 7.5/10.
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Track 2 – Munni Badnaam – A typical bad boy at a drunken village girl dancer feast song.. If this is confusing then think Bedi Jalayle or Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo and you will know what I am talking about. Mamta Sharma sings to the lyrics and music by Lalit Pandit. A total carefree fun song with some really crazy lyrics.. not the kind I have ever heard anything similar to before. Very crude but funny.. just a total classic in many aspects.. “Item ye aam hui tere liye.. Mein Jhandu Baam hui darling tere liye..” You will hate it on the first listen thinking what rubbish is this .. But then listen to it a couple of times and sample the video on a music channel to see Malaika Arora looking super sexy and you will start loving this total party number.. ! Can’t wait to play this song in my next party. Definite dance floor burner.. 7.5/10.
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Track 3 – Chori Kiya Re Jiya – Two soulful voices of Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal can come togerther only for a really good romantic song.. and this is the one..! A blend of traditional village hindi with modern singing & lyrics style gives this song a different texture. Sajid-Wajid give it a modern acoustic guitar feel with a simple 2 x 2 beat. Jalees Sherwani keeps the flow of his pen very smooth and so the lyrics are just perfect for such a song. The only thing this song lacks is that extra special touch to make it listenable on a repeat. So I would classify it as an average song. 6.5/10.
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Track 4 – Hud Hud Dabangg – Talk about extra special touch and this song has it.. A clear differentiator the moment you hear the first line and its composition. Never heard anything like this before with some really innovative lyrics by Jalees and a genius composition by Sajid-Wajid with extra-ordinary traditional instrumentation touch. Cant hear a single modern instrument in there even though I am sure they used a few at least. But the best part of this song is Sukhwinder Singh’s vocal rendition. I would give him an award for the best singer this year without a second consideration for this song. Check it out and you will agree. 9/10.
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Track 5 – Humka Peeni Hai – Wajid takes on the mike himself with our UK boy Mater Saleem and Shabaab Sabri for another classic village style fun song this time with a drunken theme on a all men party. And guess what it works.. The use of Harmonium with Dholki and Matki on a digital beat is totally fearless by Sajid-Walid that gives you a really different texture to the melody of the song. The beat is soo cool that your feet and shoulders will move automatically. So let it go and enjoy Jalees Sherwani’s exciting lyrical party. When listening to this song you can’t help but feel the excitement and fun in the song that takes you to the scene of a village party. Brilliant. 8/10.
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Track 6 – Tere Mast Mast Do Nain (Duet) – This is just track 1 on a repeat but this time with Shreya Ghoshal taking over the mike for some of the lyrics. She does an excellent job like she normally does so no complaints. I kind of like the duet more than just Rahat’s solo version as it gives more depth to the feelings in the song. 7.5/10.
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Track 7 – Munni Badnaam (Remix) - Remixed by a female DJ – DJ Megha sounds like a good way to go but even though she does a good job with it you will rather go with Sajid-Wajid’s original desi dance version. The western touch with an electro feel and double synthetic beat looses the whole purpose on a village street song. It’s just a contrast of ideas but Megha still makes a point about her DJ abilities. 6.5/10.
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Track 8 – Tere Mast Mast Do Nain (Remix) - Designer Hippies vs the Bombay Bounce impress me with their ability to look at remixes in a different way but disappoint at certain points in the song. Their arrangement skills and keyboard synths are just a good combination on the right song but they go a little too further with sound effects in an over adventurous spirit to impress. A song is still definitely worth a listen. 6.5/10.
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Track 9 – Humka Peeni Hai (Remix) – Fried Brain Music.com remix this favourite of mine to a good standard. I can imagine the number of difficulties around remixing a song like this but he does a decent job although the song doesn’t fit a UK dance circuit song. It is difficult to place in a traditional or an electro set. 6/10.
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Track 10 – Dabangg Theme – Salman Khan voices this robin hood themed Spanish flavoured music that Dabangg represents. Its different but sounds like you are listening to a movie trailer. That is what probably this track was mixed for. 6.5/10.
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FINAL WORD
Pretty Good – 7/10
Dabangg surely has the bang factor in the typical Indian village style mixed with the Bollywood flavour and the Salman Khan cheesy fun factor. It has style and innovation by Sajid-Wajid in songs like Hud Hud Dabangg, Humka Peeni Hai and Munni Badnaam while romance takes centre stage in Tere Mast Mast Do Nain and Chori Kiya Re Jiya. Kudos to Jalees Sherwani for some exciting lyrical arrangements in a total gaun style. The music of Dabangg definitely has the potential to work in the western market event though it has the total Indian village touch to it. That’s its differentiator. For those who that factor does work too well for .. for them there is always the Salman Khan factor !! Music available on T-Series.
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.. !!
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 percussionby 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.
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) – AlthoughI 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.
Track 5 – Mitra – The creators of the song jump on the mic here as well. Lyricist Amitabh & Salim sing this song quite well. It is an easy going number for some background listening in your car after a tiring day at work. A song about separation & loosing your friend but with a rather bright composition. It is not a dark song that will make you cry & thus I like it more as it is a contract of emotions on the music & lyrics front. Something really cleaver & well done by both these boys. It is very situational & the music has a good use of synths & keyboard work with guitars. Must listen song. 7.5/10.
Track 5 – Pam Pa Ra – 2nd Shreya Ghoshal song on the album and this time it is a solo. The na na na na.. start to the song must be the creative simplistic genius of Rahman. The expectations really drop when the main vocals and music start. The lyrics are purely average if not boring. The music loses its momentum but then comes back with more instrumentation and excitement. There are just many ups & downs in the music throughout the song. The variations & orchestration is good but just too much. The vocals are probably only good and consistent factor of the song. 
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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 !
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. 
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 !!
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