MUMBAI: It is the most anticipated collaboration in recent times between two entertainment giants, both with a stellar track record of providing entertainment that the whole family can enjoy. Two names – Yash Raj Films and Disney – that are synonymous with quality and success. When it was announced that these two names are coming together to produce world class animated movies in India, movie loving audiences – and who in India does not love the movies – were agog with excitement. As the music of their first collaborative effort – the animated motion picture Roadside Romeo – was launched, it was evident that the excitement was not misplaced. The music is bright, peppy in character and pulls off the difficult feat of bringing to mind both the enchanting music of Yash Raj Films and Disney musicals even while remaining true to itself yet brimming with freshness.
The first song of the soundtrack – ably composed by Salim-Sulaiman – is Main Hoon Romeo… sung with inimitable vim by Kunal Ganjawalla. It is also the title track with which the movie opens and establishes the character of Romeo with his blas?©, devil may care attitude towards life. Like the character, the song itself glides by with effortless ease, a surefire hit imbued with jazzy beats and an irresistible horns section.
Sunidhi Chauhan, along with KK and Sudesh Bhonsle, give voice to the next track Chhoo Le Na…, picturised on the character of Laila singing at a nightclub. Befitting its setting, Chhoo Le Na… is an immensely danceable number and features compelling voicework by Sudesh Bhonsle that brings to mind the legendary RD Burman in the songs he sung himself.
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Two of the voice stars of the movie, Saif Ali Khan and Jaaved Jaaferi, turn their huge talents to rap in the next track Cool Cool…. It is part of a sequence where Romeo is teaching Charlie Anna to be cool and the voices of Saif and Jaaved weave in and out as the singing voices of Marianne D’Cruz and Naresh Kamath form the base for the supremely catchy track.
The talented husband wife duo of Kunal Ganjawalla and Gayatri Iyer then sing So Right…, a superbly arranged and orchestrated romantic number. Refreshing as the gentle breeze of summer evenings, and rich as old wine, So Right… will strike a chord with anyone who has loved deeply and all those who yearn to do so. Kunal and Gayatri pour their hearts into their vocals, creating a romantic song for the ages.
From the gentle duet of So Right… to the boisterous group voices of Apni Dumm Bhi Oonchi Ho… could have been a tricky transition, but the composers Salim-Sulaiman manage the transition with ease combining smoothly the diverse voices of Kunal Ganjawalla, Earl Edgar, Jugal Hansraj, Salim Merchant & Anushka Manchanda.
The next track is primarily an instrumental number, Rooftop Romance…, featuring the violin and Spanish guitar in a central role along with the lovely lyric-less humming of Marianne D’Cruz wafting over the instruments. The album ends with two creatively conceptualized and executed remixes Main Hoon Romeo (Roadside Remix)… by John Stewart & Salim Merchant, and Choo Le Na (Moonlight Club Mix)… by DJ Suketu.
The soundtrack is only a taste of things to come from the combined creative forces of Yash Raj Films and Disney, and after hearing the songs, movie lovers will no doubt be waiting with breathless anticipation for the Diwali release of Roadside Romeo….
Roadside Romeo is a joint production of Yash Raj Films and Walt Disney Pictures. It is directed by Jugal Hansraj and features the voices of Saif Ali Khan as Romeo, Kareena Kapoor as Laila and Jaaved Jaaferi as Charlie Anna.
