’ Itihaas Gawaah Hai ’ ( to borrow a common refrain from our movies ) that some music director-lyricists pair up to quite inexplicably create magic. NAUSHAD - SHAKEEL BADAYUNI , SHANKER JAIKISHEN - SHAILENDRA, S.D BURMAN - SAHIL LUDHIANVI, PANCHAMDA - MAJROOH SULTANPURI come to mind right away. Having heard the songs of AIYYAA makes one feel the same way about Messrs Amit & Amit ( Trivedi & Bhattacharya ) who earlier shined in DEV D (2009 ) and UDAAN (2010) but were not upto scratch in NO ONE KILLED JESSICA - ( 2011 ) And maverick director Anurag Kashyap has mentored them magnificently both by giving them a free rein and backing them to the hilt.
Rani Mukerji has had a chequered career in Hindi cinema. A KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI ( her breakthrough act ) is unerringly followed by a HELLO BROTHER ( yikes ) and a BADAL ( no comments ) For every SAATHIYA ( her best so far ) there is a CHALO ISHQ LADAAYE( ? ) lurking around the corner. Not just have some of her choices seemed bizarre ( read DIL BOLE HADIPPA ) sometimes she can strike all the wrong notes even in author backed roles ( NO ONE KILLED JESSICA & BLACK to name just two ) No two ways about it, Rani is totally a director’s actress. Going by the law of averages though, Miss Mukerji is due for a big one. And how !
The soundtrack of AIYYAA has six songs in here, each distinct from the other in terms of sound and feel. As is his wont, Amit Trivedi packs in an eclectic blend of instruments here also. The chorus plays out it’s role beautifully adding layers to the main ’ dhun ’. But there is more than meets the ear, at first hearing. Be it the inspired choice of singers ( who bring in their own subtle nuances ) the delightfully over-the-top yet firmly tongue-in-cheek lyrics ( after Varun Grover, it is now Amitabh Bhattacharya who lets his imagination run riot ) or even the inventive usage of the shehnai ( it weaves it’s way into almost every song ) this is one WAKDA ( Marathi for whacked-out, me thinks) album.
DREAMUM WAKEUPUM: The year 2012 has seen many songs composed by Amit Trivedi top the popularity charts. Yet if one had to pick one, it would be this one. The cacophony of trumpets, shehnai and drums, the infectious tapanguchi beats and the boisterous singing of Soumya Raoh make this a tribute to south films unlike any other. With bawdy lyrics unabashedly celebrating male-ogling ( Top to baseam kama sutram, Thighsum thunderum downum underum Sizeum matterum thinkum wonderum ) this is vintage Bhattacharya. Loony ? Yes sir. Corny ? No doubt. This one will make you reach out for the REWIND button again. And again.
SAVA DOLLAR: With a certain chutzpah which is her forte, Sunidhi Chauhan croons this song quite effortlessly. A vivacious voice ( of Rani Mukerji ) exclaims " Aiiyyggaa " and kicks off this song with a flourish. The rhythm of the dholak, the fast tempo and the naughty lyrics all are in keeping with the Marathi milieu of the movie. Just when one thinks that this is a classic Lavani number comes a jolt in the form of a musical interlude in the latter half of the song ( which though brief is quite audacious )
AGA BAI: Aga Bai is all about ’ talab ’ , the passionate longing of a woman for her lover , the desires lurking in her mind and the soft moaning (oohs, aahs and aiyyaas ) alternating with heavy breathing & panting in the background gets you in the mood. Set to a foot tapping tempo, this is another song destined to be a big hit. Rendered with gusto by the lesser known Shalmali Kholgade and Monali Thakur with a fabulous chorus to boot, this song has a generous spattering of Marathi which again is a recurring trend in the album.
MAHEK BHI: One suspects that soft, romantic ditties are something that Shreya Goshal can sing even in her sleep. Personally though, one would like to see her get out of her comfort zone and sing more risque stuff like OOH-LA-LA ( THE DIRTY PICTURE ) The shehnai here reminds one of HUM AAPKE HAIN KAUN ( the baap of all shaadi movies ) and when interspersed with the soothing strains of the saxophone, drums and the piano, it creates a slow rhythm, not unlike a ballroom waltz.
WHAT TO DO: " What to do not to do, stop thinking just to do. Kuch kuch I do myself baki sab kuch u do. Aaja Na Raja Do na do na do do " These audacious lines are just a precursor to the madness that is to follow. Weird words ( Ijjat Paapad ) weird sounds ( including the shrill yelping of a pup ) and even weirder harkats from the singers Sneha Khanwalkar ( as you have never heard her before ) in tandem with Amitabh Bhattacharya make this a most unconventional song. Cheeky, irreverent, naughty and totally in keeping with the zany mood of AIYYAA.
WAKDA: Sung by Amit Trivedi, Wakda could well have been the title of the film. With an exotic cocktail of morching (cannot recall the last time this instrument was used to such effect in a mainstream Hindi film) bridangam and the shehnai, this song is a celebration of the AIYYAA spirit. A celebration of the diverse but colourful multi cultural yet vibrant India. With GANGS OF WASSEYPUR earlier this year and now AIYYAA ( not comparing the two in any way )two youngs minds have shown us the way forward.
Next up : Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.