Artists: Shubha Mudgal, Lata Mangeshkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Sriram, Richa Sharma, Sonu Nigam & K.K.
When we talk about the movie, Lajja, and the songs it has to offer, we basically see it from a negative point of view. I have no idea why many people seem to think that this movie is a bunch of nonsense, when in fact what is shown in the movie is definitely true. Some people just find the truth too bitter eh? Anyways, the album is comprised of a couple of peppy item number songs, a typical wedding song, and a couple of sad, depressing vocals. Sad and depressing songs aren’t always bad. Sadness is an emotion that everyone feels at a certain point in their life, hence I don’t know why people run away from such songs. Quite ridiculous.
The singers in the album are as follows; Lata Mangeshkar, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal, Shubha Mudgal, Anuradha Sriram, Richa Sharma, Sonu Nigam, and K.K The first song in the album,
Aaiye Aajaiye, is sung by Anuradha Sriram, and is picturized on Urmilla Matondkar. This is a typical peppy item song sung in places like a bar, where the actual shooting for this song is in a bar. The music is generally good, and Anuradha doesn’t do too bad of a job with her renditions. She sounds a bit screechy, but the song compiles quite well. Altogether, this song isn’t as trashy as the title suggests that it is.
Then we have the typical marriage song, Saajan Ke Ghar Jaana Hain, rendered by Alka Yagnik, Richa Sharma, and Sonu Nigam. Richa starts off the song with her Punjabi vocals, and Alka takes over the song from her. Alka sounds quite nice in this song, and Richa’s interludes inturn create an equilibrium in the song. Both sound good when they sing together. Sonu Nigam sings a few lines in the song, but I’m not so sure that he’s needed at all. He does an average job with his vocals, since I find that he tends to ’’Over-sing’’, and sounds too hyper at times. This song is picturized on Sonali Bendre, who does a guest performance at Mahima Choudry’s wedding in the movie.
Next, we have Kaliyug Ki Sita Ki Uljhan, having two versions in the album. One version sung by Anuradha Paudwal, and the other by Shubha Mudgal. I seem to think Anuradha’s voice suits the song better, hence her version is far superior in performance when compared to Shubha’s version. I find Shubha sounds quite high pitched, and very annoying in a song which requires steady emotions, and vocals. However, Shubha’s version gains more brownie points in regards to the strength of her vocals, where she sounds quite strong, compared to Anuradha, who sounds a bit flabbergasted. When it comes to the music, Shubha’s version gains more popular votes, as it is much more fast paced and modernized if you are a modern thinker, compared to Anuradha’s version, where the music is quite slow, but still more traditional. I ’m more traditional when songs of such a theme are composed. Needless to say, Anuradha’s version I find is much better, and the song completely encompasses the theme of the movie.
The next sad and depressing song in the album is, ’’Kaun Dagar’’, rendered by legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar. Lataji sounds quite strong and convincing in this song, and I can’t think of another singer who could have proved to be more versatile than her. The theme of the song focuses on the unforeseeable circumstances that often arise in an individual’s life. The song is picturized on Manisha Koirala, who is left with undesirable circumstances in her life, and must run away in order to gain freedom, having no where to go and no where to turn. The song is quite sad if you ever listen to it, but much more depressing if you are ever in a such a situation and you listen to the song. This song is played at two intervals in the movie; once when Manisha is fleeing from Raghu’s henchmen, and the other version is played after Manisha meets Madhuri (Janki), and before Manisha meets Rekha(Raamdulari). The analogies used in the song help the song to compile successfully, and the music is sad, but quite well done for a song such as this one.
Next, we are given a big time boost in regards to our spirits with the song, ’’Badi Mushkil’’, which is rendered by the one and only, and my favorite, Alka Yagnik. Alka does a superb job singing the song, in which case I feel that she should’ve gotten recognition for it. Her voice is filled with a lot of mischievousness, zest, and versatality, which embellishes the entire Lajja album. This song is picturized on Madhuri as well as on Manisha. Alka’s mischievous vocals suit Madhuri’s mischievous nature quite well. The music of the song is mixed, which includes a bit of techno, and general indian music. As a dancer, I find this song quite easy to dance to, and I find it quite fun too!!
The last song in the album, ’’Jiyo Jiyo’’, is rendered by K.K., and I feel that it is the next undesirable song next to Shubha’s version of Kaliyug Ki Sita Ki. I keep wondering what the point of the song is to begin with. There isn’t really a foundation to the song, and it’s not even played in the movie. Whatever this song is supposed to be about, it doesn’t suit the movies theme to well, but K.K. sounds quite well vocally.
Generally speaking, Lajja is an album, whose songs suit the theme quite well, ( if you see the movie first that is). The songs blend in to every scene in the movie, and offer a variety of flavors; excitement, sadness, masti, and happiness. If you aren’t a fan of Lajja, don’t bother listening to the songs. It will cause a lot of disappointment for you.