8x10 Tasveer - Music Review

Music Director: Salim-Sulaiman and Bohemia; Lyrics: Irfan Siddique, Sameer and Bohemia Singers: Vishal Dadlani, Mohit Chouhan, Tulsi Kumar, Neeraj Shridhar and Bohemia Rating: *** Riding high on the success of "Fashion" and "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi", the musical duo of brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are ready with the soundtrack of Akshay Kumar-starrer "8x10 Tasveer" and they seem to have brought together quite a different genre. They have also presented a mix of both fast-paced peppy numbers and free-flowing, soft melodies. The first song "Aaja maahi", crooned by Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar, starts with a western feel and English lyrics. Even though the words lack punch, the song is melodious and worth listening. The remix version of this song adds nothing but beats to the original. Up next is "Haafiz khuda", which has all the qualities to win listeners' hearts with its soulful, melodious music and free -flowing vocals by Mohit Chauhan. In this number, Mohit is joined by Tulsi Kumar behind the mike. The rendition is bound to make listeners sit up and take notice. "Haafiz khuda" too has a remixed version, but the original is more appealing. An Akshay Kumar film and a rap number seem to go hand in hand these days. After teaming up with Bohemia in "Chandni Chowk To China", the actor has shared vocals once again with the US-based hip-hop and rap star in "8X10 Tasveer". The song " I got the picture" is a peppy number with the same feel of the rap song in "Chandni Chowk...". The remix of the same track, which is high on beats, is sure to be a hit on the DJ consoles. "Kuchh is tarah", which is once again in Mohit Chauhan's and Tulsi Kumar's voice, is a hummable number that pulls one's heart strings. Soothing to the ears, this romantic track brings out the best in Chauhan. The remix version too doesn't disappoint with appropriate musical arrangements. Easily the best song of the album, "Nazaara hai" sets the adrenalin pumping with its strong musical backing and powerful vocals by Vishal Dadlani of the composer duo Vishal and Shekhar. The number is soaked in the flavour of rock music. The predominance of the electric guitar, especially in the middle of the song, makes it a sure shot hit with music buffs. The remix of "Nazaara hai" is average, nowhere close to the original. On the whole, Salim-Sulaiman have kept up their good work in "8x10 Tasveer" and are definitely emerging as one of the best in the business.

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Raaz - The Mystery Continues - Music Review

Rating: *** Any follower of Bollywood, especially when it comes to good music, would certainly know by heart the entire catalogue that Vishesh Films has created in last two decades. And now when Bhatt brothers are ready to strike again with Raaz - The Mystery Continues (which is not a sequel to Raaz and mainly extends the horror-n-mystery genre forward), their music is in news once again. Would it impress yet again, just like majority of films coming from the house of Bhatts do? Would it have soulful tunes which would make Raaz - TMC yet another addition to the enviable music catalogue of the Bhatts? Would Emraan Hashmi's lucky charm rub over Raaz - TMC too when it comes to popularity of music? Would Raaz - TMC match up to Raaz that had some haunting melodies by Nadeem-Shravan and still registers sales at the music stands? MUSIC Raaz - TMC takes an excellent start with 'Mahi Ve' which can be comfortably placed as the flagship number of the album. Though in essence 'Mahi Ve' is a love song, it has an element of pain and a wait for togetherness attached to it that brings with it some trademark Bhatt element. Also, this melodious track by Sharib-Toshi has a good fusion of Indian and Western instruments that come together to make it a piece which gets on you after the first listening itself. A chartbuster number that also appears in a 'Rock With Me' version, it is waiting to make waves in weeks to come. If you liked 'Bheege Hoth Tere' (Murder), chances are high that you would fall for 'Soniyo' as well. Picturised on Adhyayan Suman and Kangna, this Raju Singh composed has a serene feel to it and celebrates the coming together of two hearts who have perhaps found true love for the first time. With a hint of Western touch to it, 'Soniyo' is a soft romantic number which has it's moments, especially in the 'antara' portions, where time tends to stand still! However, not just time but your feet also start moving the moment the rhythm of Raju Singh composed 'O Jaana' begins. A true follow up to 'Kaho Na Kaho' (Murder), 'O Jaana' is a dance floor number and more than anything else, one looks forward to seeing Kangna in a chilled out form for perhaps the first time ever in a Hindi film. A track with just the right kind of punch required to attract youngsters, especially in the 'Dance With Me Mix' version by DJ Suketu, 'O Jaana' is all set to be a number that would rock the charts other than 'Mahi Ve'. Pranay M. Rijia, a new composer, gets an entry into the world of Bhatts with the responsibility of creating the title song 'Kaisa Ye Raaz Hai'. The track has a haunting-n-silent beginning to it and while the pace is quite slow here, it is just right for a number belonging to this genre. A situational song, it is expected to be placed at numerous junctures in the narrative. 'Bandaa Re' marks an end to this album which has a devotional feel to it. A number which gives the message of God being right in front of you rather than at pilgrimage spots, it brings with it a fusion of Indian classical and 'Sufi' flavor. LYRICS As has been the case in majority of his songs, Sayeed Quadri's lyrics succeed in telling the most complex tale in the simplest of manners. One hear of 'Mahi Ve' and you understand why association between Bhatts and Quadri is for the keeps. However, beats hold center stage in 'O Jaana' due to which one doesn't delve deep into Quadri's lyrics. The tide reverses though for this third track in the album, 'Kaisa Yeh Raaz Hai', where quite a few questions are raised and then left unanswered in a quest to be explored further in the film's narrative. Kumaar, an emerging talent, proves his versatility once again by writing a mushy 'Soniyo' that is a far cry from the fun mood of his very own 'Maa Da Laadla' (Dostana). Surprisingly though, the lyricist of 'Bandaa Re' doesn't find his/her mention on the album's credit details! VOCALS Will Toshi be the next voice for Emraan Hashmi? By the look of things, it may well be the case after hearing him singing excellently for the young actor in 'Mahi Ve'. If Himesh Reshammiya's voice has contributed in a major way to Emraan's popularity, Toshi too has it in him to have an extended association with Emraan. Sonu Niigaam and Shreya Ghoshal are expectedly good in 'Soniyo' though both of them are best when it comes to the 'antara' part which musically too is far more impressive than the 'mukhda'. Krishna sings the 'From The Heart' version which is almost unplugged and has a far more haunting appeal than the version heard first. Listen to this solo track when you wish to just think about the one you love most with no interference whatsoever from the outside world. Later, he is also heard in 'Bandaa Re' where he makes the maximum impression during the 'Sufi' part of the song. KK proves why he is the man of all seasons the moment his voice is heard in 'O Jaana' and 'Kaisa Yeh Raaz Hai'. While he is all spirited in the former, he goes pensive in the latter, hence bringing variation in the diverse moods that the two songs are set in. OVERALL There were four questions raised at the beginning of this reviews for which the respective answers are: a) The music of Raaz - TMC indeed impresses, b) The soundtrack here is yet another good addition to the enviable music catalogue of the Bhatts and c) Emraan would certainly have some more chartbusters to add to his name. As for the last question i.e. whether Raaz - TMC matches up to Nadeem-Shravan's Raaz, then well, let's put it this way that albums like Aashique, Raaz or a Saajan are made only once and there shouldn't even be a conscious effort to replicate or surpass them. In this regard, the music of Raaz - TMC has its own place under the sun and what matters in the end is whether it works for the film or not. Well, the answer for this one is a firm Yes!

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Sorry Bhai! - Music Review

First things first, if Bas Ek Pal was the calling card of Mithoon who shot to limelight with 'Tere Bin' then watch out for Gaurav Dayal. He may well see good things happening for him in months to come if Sorry Bhai is any indication. The songs bear a certain quality to them and bring with them the kind of sound that spells quality. Let's play them on to see how Gaurav has come together with lyricist Amitabh Varma to promise another successful soundtrack. K.K. spells quality and it is 100% guaranteed the moment he opens 'Mere Khuda' in a full throated manner. Soft rock has been the genre where K.K. has never failed in and 'Mere Khuda' is no exception. A brilliant track that has some never-heard-before lyrics by Amitabh, 'Mere Khuda' is a number which could well be the 'Tere Bin' moment of Sorry Bhai. Of course, in the recent past Pritam has come up with a dozen odd numbers belonging to this genre but play on 'Mere Khuda' once and rest assured you would be hooked for hours at stretch. A number like this deserves to be heard in it's remix format and 'Mere Khuda' isn't any exception. Opening with the sound of guitar, it never once goes overboard and comes with just the right sound to be played in pubs and clubs. A chartbuster in the making. A romantic ballad follows next in the form of 'Pal' which has an urban contemporary feel to it and belongs to the pop genre. Sung in a soft and cool mood by Sunidhi Chauhan and newcomer Chayan Adhikari (who is just 21), 'Pal' is the kind of number that you wish was played in the background as you had a candle light rendezvous with your loved one. 'Pal' may not be the kind of number that you may take to the streets but put it on in a repeat mode with the lights switched off and be rest assured that a feeling of romance would be rekindled. Now this is hardly a number that you want to be re-orchestrated but that exactly happens once it also falls pray to the 'remix version'. It is not bad but one wishes that the album just saw the original version being retained! Guest composer Vivek Phillip makes a contribution with the title song 'Sorry Bhai' for which he also writes the English lyrics. Strangely, the first thing that comes to mind on hearing 'Sorry Bhai' is the presence of Sanjay Suri in the film. Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Jhankaar Beats, Bas Ek Pal - Somehow Sanjay's presence in each of these three films can be associated with the sound that the number 'Sorry Bhai' carries. Another similarity is resemblance to the kind of sound that such soft compositions by Vishal-Shekhar carry. A promotional track which goes with the theme of the film and is sung by K.K., Sunidhi Chauhan and Abhishek Nailwal, 'Sorry Bhai' brings with it a feel good factor that should keep the smiles on. After 'Mere Khuda', the number which impresses most is 'Jalte Hain'. In the process it also explains how same song could sound so different when sung by two different singers. When the first version comes with Abhishek Nailwal (who was quite impressive in his rendition of 'Yaara Ve' - Naksha two years back), one isn't much impressed. From his full throated rendition of 'Yaara Ve', Abhishek moves on to touch some softer notes in 'Jalte Hain', though without coming up with the desired results. Later in the album, his voice is also heard in the song's 'remix version'. However, the moment K.K. comes on the scene with his own version of 'Jalte Hain', the song takes on a different meaning altogether. Elevated to a different level by the singer who never fails to impress, 'Jalte Hain' has some poetic lyrics by Amitabh that make it extra special. Watch out for this love song in the film's narrative; it is certainly going to make a lasting impression. Finally arrives the English track 'Some Times' which is rendered by prominent Jazz singer Nanette Natal. A kind of number which brings with it just the kind of sound that plays on in background as you have a quite-n-nice dinner with your beloved in an up-market hotel, 'Some Times' has an extremely classy feel to it and should manage to find an audience for itself in the long run, just like Rock On did once the film hit theaters. After hearing the songs of Sorry Bhai, what can be said for sure is that filmmaker Onir knows a thing or two about music. Case in point being My Brother Nikhil ('Le Chale') followed by Bas Ek Pal ('Tere Bin'). Now he manages to create a hat trick of soulful numbers with each and every track working for Sorry Bhai, and 'Mere Khuda' followed by 'Jalte Hain' standing tall. Go for it!

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Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Music Review

Director: Aditya Chopra
Music: Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant
Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Vinay Pathak.

The scion of the Yashraj Films empire, the selective maverick director Aditya Chopra, teaming up once again with superstar Shah Rukh Khan and that after the trendsetting DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE (still running in Bombay!) and the iconic MOHABBATEIN. Can the stage get any bigger? The obvious answer to that question will be given on December 12, for that is the date when the latest Aditya-SRK project, RAB NE BANA DI JODI will hit the screens, globally. For now, its time to check out the audio album, which this time around has Salim-Sulaiman and Jaideep Sahni, unlike Jatin Lalit and Sameer on the two previous historic times. So let’s press the 'play' button on the remote. And what do we have?

Lovely soothing 'santoor' sounds along with table play and 'payal' or bead sounds commence the most awaited romantic number of the year 'Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai' and it has been rendered by Roop Kumar Rathod. A surprising choice indeed but it has been done purposely because Rathod has a mature yet sensitive voice which suits the character of the simpleton, Surinder Sawhney, played by Shah Rukh Khan. And one must add here that Roop Kumar Rathod is brilliant as his effortless, flawless rendition (ah, his perfect diction is a delight) is highlighted due to some highly emotive singing. The superb love ballad has a nice, simple tune which is very hummable and borders mostly on its smooth flowing melody. It will definitely be loved by patrons of soft romantic songs. The highlights of the track are its beautiful lyrics by master craftsman Jaideep Sahni which take the song to a totally new level. Absolutely brilliant! Some might call the lyrics filmy, 'Tujh mein rab dikhta hai, Yaara main kya karoon, Sajde sar jhukta hai, Yaara main kya karoon', but its the ultimate form of expression for the beloved depicting the profound feeling of pure , unselfish love . And the song is capable of moving the listener as it grows with repeated hearing. It will certainly feature as a Valentine gift for all 'in love' couple, such is the overall effect of the number!

The slower version of 'Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai' is sung by the upcoming nightingale of Hindi cinema, Shreya Ghoshal and needless to add that she is simply magnificent here. What must be kept in mind that the slower version has limited props like background music and beats (they have been kept to the minimal), only Shreya's syrupy sweet (deliberately) quivering vocals stand out, loud and clear, and it is a delight to the ears. The song will most probably be used as a background number in a situational mode (when Anushka realizes her true love for Shah Rukh?).

From one beautiful romantic escapade lets move on to another beautifully haunting love ballad 'Haule Haule'. This is one number that we promise, even Shah Rukh Khan's adversaries will fall in love with. The simple melody is absolutely bewitching and the song takes the listeners in its grips, 'haule haule' (slowly, slowly). Yes, that's the beauty of the composition. Initially, it does strike as another sweet, simple to hum love song but slowly and surely it has the power to capture the heart. Its magic lies is in its simplicity, there is no massive orchestration to support it's cause, nor are there any flamboyant musical arrangements. The composers rely mostly on the simple melody with harmonium (may be even bandonion) and sitar playing a large part in its arrangements. Sukhwinder and SRK have always created magic (from 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' to 'Dard-e-Disco') and this time its no different. Sukhi is just marvelous and intelligently keeps his earthy, highly energetic vocals low key. The reason being that this time he gets to sing an all out romantic number and he proves his versatility by coming up with a perfect ace down the middle! Just like the previous number, the lyricist Jaideep Sahni once again deserves all the accolades (may be even more) for some lovely, effective lyrics. The similes that he uses are simply fantastic and the prose superb. 'Haule haule se hawa chalti hai, haule haule se dawa lagti hai, Haule haule se dua lagti hai na, Haule haule chanda badhta hai, Haule haule ghoonghat udhta hai, Haule haule se nasha chadhta hai na.' The moment the promos of the same were unleashed across major satellite channels on King Khan's birthday, the infectious number captivated the hearts of all die hard romantics and music lovers. Needless to add that the song has chartbuster written all over it what with SRK doing his cute little steps that have become a rage (so early on!) even amongst school going children.

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