Label: T-Series
Music: Mithoon, Ankit Tiwari, Soch (band)
Singers: Shraddha Kapoor, Mohammed Irfan, Adnan Dhool, Ankit Tiwari, Rabbi Ahmed, Mustafa Zahid, Momina Mustehsan, Arijit Singh
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Lyrics: Mithoon, Manoj Muntashir, Rabbi Ahmed, Adnan Dhool
Rating: 4/5
Ek Villain is the new film due to release featuring an ensemble of music composers of the latest sensations, Mithoon and Ankit Tiwari as well as new talents Adnan Dhool and Rabbi Ahmed. Post Mithoon and Ankit’s success with ‘Aashiqui 2’, it is a pleasure to see that melody is back again. The music of ‘Ek Villain’ is an out and out melodic compilation of 6 – tracks including an unplugged version of the 1st song on the album- ‘Galliyan’, sung as a duet between none other than the female lead of the film, Shraddha Kapoor and singer – composer of the song Ankit Tiwari of ‘Sun Raha Hai Na Tu’ fame.
‘Galliyan’ has a nice feel to it with a good balance of Indian and Western instrumentation. The flute and violin solos in the song give a very trendy feel along with the percussion. Ankit has sung the song very well and effortlessly. I love the guitar portion at the beginning and ending of the song. It sounds familiar and yet unique.
‘Banjaara’ composed by Mithoon is my personal favourite. Mohammad Irfan is a reality show discovery and has sung a few songs in Bollywood before. But I feel this is the song that should help him get the much needed mainstream recognition. Irfan’s vocal talent is in full presence through this song. He shifts scales through the song with such effortlessness that it is a pleasure to hear his voice. Very few singers have this ability of sounding seamless in low and high notes. Irfan has proved his talent here.
‘Zaroorat’ has been sung by Pakistan’s very popular Mustafa Zahid. There is something about Pakistani voices and their ability to sound so good in soft rock numbers. Composed by Mithoon of “Tum Hi Ho” fame, “Zaroorat” has a dark sentiment in its lyrics and the singer has been able to display pain and yearning, purely through his singing. Heavy on the solo guitar, the song has a very foot tapping rhythm that makes the song lively in spite of being so heavy in content.
‘Awari’ has been composed by Dhool and Ahmed and has been sung by Dhool and Momina Mustehsan. The hero of the song is Momina’s voice. Her sultry voice is all that can be heard and felt throughout the song. This is the only song in the film that has a piano, which is possibly also why I have a soft corner for it. This song surely proves that it is not necessary for a female singer to always be hitting really high notes making it impossible to sing along. There is a strange instrumentation in the song that has never been heard before in any song. The first time you hear it, you wonder what it is. But it actually is what makes the song more memorable.
‘Humdard’ is not really that exceptional the way “Tum Hi Ho” was even though both were composed by the same composer and sung by the same singer. Arijit Singh no doubt has sung well but the song really has a pulse only in the chorus. Rest of the song is passable. Even the arrangements are too minimalistic as compared to what one is used to hearing in Bollywood. It actually could pass for a non-film song which later got placed into a film. Nothing new there as most musicians tend to make songs hoping to get placed in Bollywood.
‘Galliyan Unplugged’ is a duet between Shraddha Kapoor and Ankit Tiwari. Shraddha showed she could sing, rather carry a tune, in her appearance on Karan Johar’s Koffee with Karan this past season. Maybe that is what gave her the chance to sing as well and not just act in the film. Since she is singing for herself we must give her a pat on the back for keeping the song authentic yet listenable. I sure would like to see her doing the same live and then we can say that she actually has a dual career. Till then, Shraddha, you are good actress and singing for yourself could be allowed.
