Don Songs

Music Review

DON-THE CHASE BEGINS AGAIN

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy cast their spell in the music score of DON. And I am still recovering from the thrilling effect it has left on me. The first thing one must point out about this album is its spectacular production values. Impeccable. Matching the best of standard in the world. The shimmering magic of Aaj Ki Raat, Matrix Charisma of Main Hoon Don, the season’s blessing in Mourya Re, funtabulous Don The Theme comprise the brilliant originals. The version of Khaike Paan Banaraswala sung by Udit Narayan (With a Rap section by SRK) lives up to the expectation but you just can’t help missing Asha Bhonsle in ‘Ye Mere Dil’. Don Revisited by Midival Punditz is Special for Shahrukh mouthing a few famous dialogues. The funcinternational mix of Main Hoon Don is esoteric and a bit difficult to comprehend. Overall, Don is a fabulous album. A Must Buy!

Watch out for a signature tune that marks the beginning of title song ’Main Hoon Don’! That’s because much before the song tops the charts, you would soon hear a ring tone based on this signature tune on cell phones around you! The music of this Shaan rendered song is completely different from the classic ’Main Hoon Don’ but that hardly acts as a deterrent after one has heard this new version a few times. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics are different too for this song about a daredevil don who is willing to face the might of any challenge whatsoever and doesn’t shy away from being a self acclaimed danger-man!

SEL are loyal to the original sound of ’Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana’ during the song’s opening but 30 seconds into the track and they add on their own beats to give it a club feel. Sunidhi Chauhan arrives on the scene at just the right time and presses the right buttons to get into the groove. The interludes are interspersed with the music that would work well with the lovers of lounge genre. Overall one can easily say that Sunidhi doesn’t let anyone down while rendering this track that doesn’t deviate much from the 70s original and still works well for today’s audience. Expect the heat to be on when Kareena Kapoor lip syncs to this seduction number while applying her charms on Shah Rukh Khan!

By now it becomes an irresistible wait to listen to ’Khaike Paan Banarswala’ but guess it was a trick played well by the music company that saves it only for a later stage. Before that comes ’Maurya Re’, a Ganpati song sung by Shankar Mahadevan. So far the soundtrack was predominantly western with a touch of lounge but with ’Maurya Re’, there is a shift in proceedings as the action shifts to the streets. Sound of ’dhol’ accompanies Mahadevan throughout to keep the celebration mood alive in this lively number that is easy on ears and keeps the Indian melody intact. Would it be a classic ’Ganpati’ celebration track? No, probably not, but what it succeeds in is bringing Shahrukh Khan in a new light who has traditionally been bound by a certain image.

Super-duper hit!!! And you know which song we are talking about! ’Khaike Paan Banaraswala’ is sure to enthrall audience all over again when heard in the version created by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. And there are manifold reasons to say that, first and foremost being the creative aspect gone behind this version. Composers, Akhtar saab and Udit Narayan have gone all out to ensure that they give something additional to this song rather making it a plain remix/rearrangement. This is something prevalent from the very beginning when Udit sets the base for ’Khaike Paan’ before actually rendering the classic.

So is ’Khaike Paan’ the zenith of the album? Anyone would feel so after hearing it on for the first time itself but then the BEST is yet to arrive. Undoubtedly the most creative, exciting and mesmerizing of the lot, ’Aaj Ki Raat’ is easily the best of the enterprise and hooks you on after hearing it just once. Picturised on both Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, it is about a decisive night that is expected to be full of surprises. If there is a song that perfectly mixes the theme of 70s with the style of 21st century, it is ’Aaj Ki Raat’.

Remember the signature tune of ’Don’ that accompanied when the titles of the original rolled? The same intriguing sound is heard again though with in a complete makeover avtar that ensures that this Farhan Akhtar film is going to be one pucca masala entertainer! Westernized and lounge in style and feel, this instrumental of the ’Theme Music’ makes one helluva ride that should bring you on the edge of the seat right away if played during the opening title roll. Let the lights dim, cell phones switched off, get your popcorn and enjoy the show!

Some unforgettable music and dialogues from the original are given a new treatment by Medival Punditz in the concluding track ’Don Revisited’. Yet another racy track that should keep you hooked on your music system while it is played! While the theme music of ’Arrey Deewano Mujhe Pehchano’ forms the base of this track, some evergreen dialogues like ’Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai’ mouthed by SRK make it a highly enjoyable track. There are some more dialogues in the musical piece but check them out for yourselves when you play it on. Chances are high that this could well be the track that you may want to set on repeat mode before embarking on a long highway ride!

Don Revisited by Midival Punditz is again a theme music with brass rendition of the original number Mujhe Pehchano…Main Hoon Kaun… and the famous dialogue Don Ka Intizaar To Gyarah Mulkon Ki Police Kar Rahi Hai Lekin Don Ko Pakadna Mushkil Hi Nahin Namumkin Hai uttered by Shahrukh Khan with a new dialogue written by Farhan Akhtar, Don Ke Dushman Ki Sabsi Badi Galti Yeh Hai Ki Voh Don Ka Dushman Hai rendered by SRK once again with a sensational impact. A fast paced rhythm beats treat you to a mind-boggling extravaganza with lots of keyboard generated techno effects. Don Revisited is a special number more so for you can listen to SRK’s actual voice whenever you can. Now, that’s an enough incentive to feast on this number again and again.

Strength of ’Don’ lies in its success at surprising a listener. Overall, the album primarily comes across as a lounge/club mix with a dash of Indian melody and should do well across the length and breath of the country. Chances are that it may turn out to be one of the Top 3 selling albums of this year!

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