Rockstar Music Review- Rahman’s & Mohit’s masterpiece

Rockstar has been one of the most awaited movie of the year. I was most interested to see what kind of music and magic  A R Rahman creates for this one. And I am proud to say he doesn’t disappoint. Imtiaz Ali also raised expectations because of good music in his past two movies and I think his movie delivers it again.

The USP of the album besides A R Rahman’s music is Mohit Chauhan. The way he has been used in each and every song is brilliant and the way he has delivered is also good.  It starts with Mohit Chauhan featuring Phir se ud chala. An inspring song, which sounds very fresh and will just sweep you off your feet. Written by Irshad Kamil, the song is quite good in its lyrics part too but Rahman’s music and Mohit’s voice just croons it brilliantly. A classic Mohit Chauhan song.

Next in is Katiya Karun. Harshdeep Kaur is just perfect for this number. Quite Earthy, quite rocking  with some interesting lyrics.  A fun  song with the tinga linga ling to catch some attention for sure along with the earthy flavor.  Saadda Haq is going to be the next anthem of the country. A Rock song by all means. Now this is a change from Mohit’s crooning voice is Phir Udd Chala to Mohit’s rockstar voice. Rebellious lyrics with some Attitude filled singing  with some brilliant use of guitar and vocals. This is the winner of a track and gonna be a chartbuster for sure. Sadda Haq aithe rakh is a song for many seasons and will make you listen again and again.

Just like the first song  Jo Bhi Main starts off again slowly with Mohit Chauhan and then catches a rock feel that also of a live  concert performance. The guitar is splendidly used in the interludes . And l lines like “Jo bhi main kehna chahoon, barbaad karen alfaaz mere …. Yeah yeah… yeah yeah yeah” are used brilliantly. Another winner of a track.  Kun Faya Kun, is Rahman’s tribute to god and sufi music. Sung by A R Rahman, Javed Ali and Mohit Chauhan, Iwould call this one a sufi rock number. Some call it brilliant, some call it genius, I would say its a masterpiece  from another world.

This album has everthing. From a a rock number to a desi track to a sufi track to now a typical Bollywood number with Sheher Main.Sung by Karthik & Mohit , the song is about the lead star learning to sing. A different arrangement all together where Karthik does the teaching part and Mohit learns. One can see the difference in voices here beautifully. Hawa Hawa is  an experimental number with fusion of  various international music. Mohit keeps the experimentation process in his singing while Rahman keeps it is the arrangement and music and together they deliver a number worth a listen.  Now comes the other Rock track -Aur Ho. A song which starts off on a low pitch begins with Alma Ferovic’s voice turns into a high pitch rock number with Mohit going in the Rockstar mode again. Look for the old Rahman touch to it.  Kavita Subramanium sings  Tum Ko. A light Indian-Western fusion number with some haunting melody. Rahman experiment continues with  Naadan Parindey. Another rock number Rahman style. Full of Guitar, drums, high burst and high pitch vocals Mohit style.

Wait it’s not over yet. We need a Romantic number too. Here comes Mohit Chauhan & Suzanne D’mello’s with Tum Ho . It starts off crooning the theme melody of Rockstar. The song is based on the same lines of Tum Ko but in different style all together.  The Album has three instrumental tracks- Tango for Taj, the Dichotomy of Fame, The Meeting Place. Listen to these three and it will tell you about the Genius of A R Rahman.  Tango for Taj is a three minute instrumental typical Tango track which will make you put your dancing shoes on. Dichtomy of Fame is based on Shehnai and guitars & The Meeting Place, is rendition of a single sentence by Ranbir, based on Rumi’s poem.

The music of Rockstar is like a journey. Every songs takes the journey ahead. Every song is an experiment and I shall say an experiment very well done.  A R Rahman sets a benchmark.Sets a standard for others.  Besides Rahman, this is Mohit Chauhan’s album and he kills in this. Mohit shows what he is capable of. Each song has a variation and Mohit Chauhan adapts to each variation marvelously. Rockstar has everything. From Rock to Indian traditional to romantic to Bollywood to international music with Punjabi, Sufi and Indian flavours. A R Rahman will leave you spell bound with this. The album is not the usual Rahman but still tSufiypical Rahman.  You need to own this album for sure.

Rating- 4.5 out of 5

Delly Belly: Uncensored Trailer & Music Review

By now you must have downloaded Bhaag DK Bose and played it on loop an umpteen number of times. But still since Delly Belly is Aamir Khan’s production we can expect a lot of unexpected. The music in the movie is by Ram Sampath and the songs are penned down by Amitabh Bhattacharya, Munna Dhiman, Ram Sampath, Akshat verma and Chetan Shashital. The songs are already talk of the town because of their wacky lyrics and I am sure after listening to other songs you still will wonder what happened to the beautiful compositions we had in old times. Most of the songs sound like some boy who got ditched by his girlfriend in school or college has written this in anger. I don’t say its bad but still.

Bhaag DK Bose has already attracting the youth. It was film writer Akshat Verma came up with the idea of using the key phrase DK Bose. Lyrics in this are actually quite innovative and different. Still a college feel to the song with heavy guitar used makes you feel like your college band came up with it. Next in line is Nakkadwale Disco Udhaarwale Khisko. This one is a parody of the old ghazal style song with even better lyrics. Keerthi Sagathia does a good job like a old fusion Ghazal singer. Saigal Blues is a tribute to the legendary K L Saigal. Singer/lyricist Chetan Shashital does a good job with the song and gives it a very Saigal Saab feeling. If would have liked to see a bit more experimentation in the music here. Ja Chudail is a song full of anger. Imagine you been dumped by your school or college girlfirend and you are upset and angry. This song has been on those lines only. Suraj Jagan shows his anger in the song but again here experiment with the music could have been  appreciated. I would suggest Ram Sampath to take notice of Die Die Die My Darling from Metallica to take a leaf out of their books for songs like this. Lyrics are as usual goes whacky but not impressive. Bedardi Raja by Sona Mohapatra is a one time listen. Shows too hard has been tried in the album to be different. Tere Siva is another average song in the album. It is Just another song in a different album. Switty tera pyaar  is fresh out of streets of Delhi. The punk version adds more punch to the original one and will call trouble for all the Switty’s around ;)  Last track is I Hate You. Mix of 80′s rock n roll. One time listen.

Overall the album is OK. I feel the team tried too much to be different but they don’t succeed in more than 3 songs. Wacky lyrics is not the only thing which will attract audience. The trailer of the movie looks quite convincing. The movie is about 3 Dilli based bachelors Tashi, Arun and Nitin – 3 flat mates who are regular blokes, living the regular life EXCEPT for one small detail – they are on the hit list of one of the world’s deadliest crime syndicates. The film will be released on July 1, 2011. Here is its Uncensored (yeah I know all have been waiting for that) Trailer-

Music Review

Rating- 3 out of 5

Here are Music Videos of Bhaag Dk Bose & Nakkadwale Disco. ENJOYYY

READY- Salman’s Back- Music Review and Trailers

So Salman is back with Ready. Starring Asin, Paresh Rawal and directed by Aneez Bazme ,this is a remake of a South movie name by same name. Supposedly the movie is romantic comedy. Music is by Pritam and being a Salman movie after Dabangg the movie and music both have its own expectations.  Lets see if it lives up to the expectations musically at least. 

Dhinka Chika is tipped to be the next Munni Badnaam. Sung by Mika Singh and Amrita Kak this song is full Tapori style song. Copied from already a hit Telegu song Ringa Ringa - the original by Devi Sri Prasad this song is well done in the Bollywood version too. Surely will make you get up and move. Next one is Meri ada bhi giving a Punjabi flavor to the Album. Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Tulsi Kumar (WHY ON EARTH HER) the song starts with the popular ‘mera laung gwacha‘ lines. A Dance track wiht lots of Dhols but I feel something is a misfit in the song. Either its Rahat Saab or Tulsi  Kumar or something.

Another track that lifts the mood of the album is - Character Dheela - a song which is already making noises all around. A typical Salman song and surely suits him too. With Lyrics penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya ans dung by Neeraj Shridhar and Amrita Kak, this one is a sure winner out of Pritam’s hat. A cracking, peppy song full of masti. If its a Pritam’s album then iot will have a romantic song in it. So here it is- Humko Pyaar Hua by KK and Tulsi Kumar. english Lyrics in the beinging of the song putts me off though, and the song sounds like previous Pritam’s song. Didn’t find anything new. Can be heard just once that also coz of KK. 

Overall the Album has 4 songs out of which 3 are foot tapping catchy numbers. Out of which I feel 2 will be chart busters. Pritam delivers in parts here. I don’t need to say Salman fans will anyways love it. Lets wait and see now how the film fares.

Rating 2.5 out of 5

Here is the Trailer of the movie and the popular Character Dheela Song for your eyes only -

7 Khoon Maaf- Dark, Melodious and How…

Vishal gave us Lagnda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan), Vishal gave us Bittu (Shahid Kapoor) and now he gives us the Daarlingggg Suzanna (Priyanka Chopra).

You can hate this movie but definitely you can’t ignore this one. If somebody says he or she hasn’t liked 7 khoon maaf then I don’t think any khoon should be maaf there. Vishal Bharadwaj has made a dark thriller with 7 khoon maaf and gave Priyanka Chopra once in a lifetime role. Borrowed from Ruskin Bond’s “Susanna’s Seven Husband”, VB delivers a wicked experience. Movie is brave and different. Though I expected a bit more from him but still whatever was there was good.

7 khoon maaf is a story of a woman who is in a quest for love. In that quest she ends up walking the aisle several times, but ends up killing them. The movie is serious, dark and stirring. Though the story like is predictable (which can be a reason a lot of people didn’t like it) but the screenplay and the performances from the actors will keep you engaged. Starting from the cruel Major Rodriques (played by unconvincing Neil Nitin Mukesh), junkie rock star (John Abraham), maniac Wasiullah (Irrfan Khan), impressive Russian  agent Vronsky (Aleksandr Dyachenko),  lusty police officer Keemat (Anu Kapoor) and bankrupt  (Naseeruddin Shah) all deliever some good performance and end up dying under mysterious circumstances.Not to forget Vivaan Shah having a crush on much older Priyanka Chopra and the cameo by Konkana Sen Sharma. Every character brings something to the movie.

Agreeably 7 khoon maaf is not everyones cup of tea. VB brings the Indian heroine out of the shadows and gives his tribute to the woman power. Priyanka in a lifetime role shows the various shades of darkness with her characterization, her role of ‘goosebump’-giving sinister murderess. The shots where she is ringing the bell in a church at night, or laughing like mad shows the shades of darkness in the movie. Her errant, eccentric behavior is brilliant (never thought that I will be saying this). We see Shashi Malviya (Gunga), Harish Khanna (Ghalib) and singer Usha Uthup (Maggie Aunty) as Priyank’s partners in crime. Suzanna will make you sympathize with her at some time, and some time empathize. The director shows her torment journey from a young lady to an old bitch with a style. Yes I feel there is something lacking here and there but still the movie will haunt if it wants.

Neil Nitin Mukesh didn’t impress me much with his character. Expected a lot more from him. John Abraham is brilliant with his role as the drugged rockstar (looked to be inspired from the looks of Axel Rose from Gun’s & Roses). Irrfan Khan delivers a brilliant performance as the maniac husband who beats up the wife to show his superiority. Veteran’s Anu Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah perform as good as usual. Aleksandr Dyachenko as the Russian agent surprises with his performance and his Hindi. the friend next to me was just drooling over him. Vivaan Shah in his debut movie is convincing and so is Usha Uthup.

Music wise too VB doesn’t disappoint us. The team of Gulzaar And Vishal just kills it every time they team up. Daaaaarling is a hit as we all know. Crooned by Usha Uthup and Rekha Bharadwaj the song will make you sit up and take notice.Though said to be inspired from Russian Military song ,both singers compliment each other brilliantly. Lyrics says- “mehfil me sansani hone do” and it did. Another winner is Tere Liye sung by Suresh Wadekar is just simple melodious . The song has romance in every bit of it. Lyrics by Gulzaar saab again are simply out of this world. Then there is “Bekaraan“. VB shows whatever he does, he does it superbly. “ek zara dekhiye to, aapke paon taley kuchh to atka hai kahin,”- what brilliance here. “O’Mama” is a surprise rock number again written by Gulazaar and sung by guess who. Yeah it’s KK.It’s always a treat to hear him. Here I should say both Gulzaar saab and KK rocked. A sudden switch in the genre with loads of energy and some evilness. Overall music compliments to the movie in a very good way. VB uses singers like KK, Suresh Wadekar and even Master Salim to keep the songs playing up to our ears.

Vishal Bharadwaj wins as a director, as a singer. The movie has a good screenplay, good cionematorgraphy and typical Vb like shaky cameras at places. I feel somewhere editing is inconsistent and story telling could have been much tighter. But still the darkness prevails. Don’t know why but this movie reminded me a lot of Anurag Kashyap’s Paanch. I agree there is no comparison but the darkness in these movies are just underlying fact about the beauty of this kind of cinema.

As I repeat 7 Khoon Maaf won’t be liked by everyone. But I wonder if people can make Tees Maar Khan and Housefull like movies then I believe movie making needs to be changed. Cinema needs to come of age and movies like this pave the way for it. Be it a hit or a flop, this movie is win in my opinion. Might not be the best VB movie but definitely not the worse. Priyanka delivers a superb role to keep the Daaarrrlingg murdering the role. Overall a dark, dingy and unconventional watch.

Rating- 4 out of 5

Patiala House – Music Review & Trailer

Akshay Kumar has another release. Uff how much of AK can we take because I am fed up of him. Anyways Patiala House is his first release of 2011. This Nikhil Advani directed movie has Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music with lyrics by Anvita Dutta.  After listening at once to the album there is nothing different to the music but yes its definitely entertaining. The album has 12 songs including remixes and all has the SEL touch in it.

The album opens with ‘Laung da lashkara’ sung by Hard Kaur, Mahalaxmi Iyer and pop singer Jassi if you remember him. He comes back to playback singing after sometime now. Its good to hear him again. The song is catchy with some rap in it and heavy Punjabi touch and feel to it. The song has a remixed version too done by Harry Anand and is passable.

The best song of the album comes with Shafqat Amanat Ali crooning “Kya Main Jagoon”. A brilliantly sung song with equally good lyrics. For me the music takes a backseat here and one can just sway to the brilliant vocals by Shafqat.  The best song of the album and the most melodious composition. There is an unplugged and a remix versions of the song too. Both are equally good.

Next track is “Rola pe gaya” sung by Master Saleem, Hard Kaur, Mahalaxmi, Earl and Shankar. Despite having singers like that justice has not been done with the song and it fails to make a mark . The song starts well but then doesn’t keep up to what it promises. The remix is equally disappointing as well. Next track is ‘Aadat hai voh’, sung by Vishal Dadlani filled with good guitar strumming and equally good lyrics the song is somewhat better.

“Baby when you talk to me” looks like an ode to the pop culture. Quite a youthful song sung by Alyssa Mendonsa and Suraj Jagan, this one is a foot tapping number with both English and Hindi lyrics and is an OK number. The remix of the same is fine. Track ‘Tumba Tumba’ by Hans Raj Hans is a qawali track. A soulful number looks like more of a situational song. The last song on the album is ‘Aval Allah’crooned by Richa Sharma. The track has good Sufi touch in it and is a good track.

Overall as I said, there is nothing different in the album but surely some of the songs are entertaining.  The movie trailer doesn’t excites me at all and as the rumors suggest its a cricket version of John Abraham’s DAN DANA DAN GOAL movie. Hope Patiala House is not as bad as that was.

Ratings- 2.5 out of 5

Here is the trailer of the movie-