Shah Rukh Khan’s movies always contain special music. How do we define ‘special’? Can we have good music for such an adaptation directed by Amol Palekar?
With Paheli, MM Kreem went into another direction to find tunes. He is given the biggest assignment till date and the theme of the movie was the main guidance for the melodies. What Nadeem-Shravan did for Priyadarshan in ‘Saat Rang Ke Sapne’, MM Kreem had to work on the same kind of theme. He delivers with creativity, precision and fanfare tunes which our ears haven’t heard for quite some time and especially for this star cast. Having said all this, I still ponder whether he still deserved the project!
Choosing Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal for Dheere Jalna and directing them to sing in a semi-classical voice reveals more of these two singers potential. In a musical sense, both adored the tune and rendered it with passion. The composer made use of both voices to give edge to his composition and he succeeded. The modulations in the voices demanded a flexible music with various changing rhythms and in the pace of arrangements. I find the tune too ordinary but he managed to cover up the lack of melody by strong vocal performances and background music. The mixture of old Indian instruments with new synthetizers is agreeable to listen to. There is also an Instrumental Version with the violin as the main instrument.
The story is shot in an unsophisticated environment- a community or a village where there are traditions and values. Kangna Re captures the simplicity of this surrounding. The emergence of old style music is apparent throughout the song with payals – people happily dancing- and the two female voices; Shreya Goshal and Madhushree, singing and doing the chorus as well. Sonu Nigam is there to represent the male voice. Nothing much of a great track because of its situational importance.
If he was in a village, how would Sukhwinder Singh sing? He does it as if he was himself in this area and does an unusual singing performance. Phir Raat Kati is a fast paced melodious track which reminds me of ‘Prem Jaal’ (Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain). Sunidhi Chauhan accompanies at par with the male voice but Sukhwinder dominates. The melodic ‘Hey Hey Ho’ by both at intervals, is technically pleasing. There is also a second version.
Laaga Re Jal Laaga is the track which gives the album the real South Indian feeling. Classified once again as a group song with MM Kreem, Sonu Nigam and Shruti Sadolikar singing each with enthusiasm their respective lines. It has the same provincial music and his favourite violin instrument is present again. Again a situational track and the antra is long and truly well composed. I am impressed. I never thought that a piece like this can have such nice melody. The chorus is done by the singers themselves.
Women like grouping and during that era, they were more together and shared more joy among themselves. Shreya Ghosal, Madhushree and Bela Shende sing in Minnat Kare - a situational piece. They are discussing about the new find love for one of them and the music is somewhat similar to the other tracks. I am sure that this would have been appreciated on screen only with the facial expressions, the traditional clothing and gestures by these beautiful ladies. On the tune side, it has been pretty much adjusted to fit the storyline.
Distancing from someone you love is hard and Hari Haran shows the pain in his voice when singing for Khaali Hai Tere Bina Dono Ankhiyan. A heavy tune with MM Kreem’s finest orchestration and listen to the flute and the violin, repeated again. Bela Shinde joins to share the agony of love. Honestly, the song becomes too emotional and the music doesn’t make it any more listenable due to the heavy singing and its monotonous pace. The singing is too good and thus it predominates the tune, making it sound more like an acapella.
Is that it?
MM Kreem mainly concentrated on the subject of the movie and kept the Rajasthani music in mind. Gulzar’s lyrics were well put to music. However, the folk music doesn’t alter the mood of the songs; providing the same background music for most songs. The community charm reigning the traditional period is present- with an emphasis on the rural way of singing.
For a Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan cast, the music is weak. I am disappointed because no song can hit the charts but it will have to be appreciated on screen only or by connoisseurs of semi-classical music. You would expect more but it seems that MM Kreem didn’t know how to seize this only opportunity. He doesn’t make it any exciting or captivating for listeners. Another music director would have composed at least a hit song but here, I still can’t find the motive for most situational songs. Some kind of musical punch is surely missing.
GIA’S RATING: 2.9/5
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