Label – T-Series,
Music – Pritam,
Rating – 2/5
The remix matrix
It’s quite unclear why the album has so many remixes and versions of the same song. For example, leaving aside the original Mar Jaani, the song has two versions – Marjaani Kilogram Balkan Mix and Marjaani (Electro House). And again, apart from the Khudaya Khair original, the same song has a whooping four versions – Khuda Khair Reprise + three ‘hip-hop’ versions camouflaged under the title of You Get Me Rocking and reeling. Though the remixes for these two songs are digestible, the remix versions of the remaining songs are not.
Commercial chart-busters
If one keeps aside the math which the song list forces ones to get into, the album has just ‘two’ good tracks– Mar Jaani and Khudaya Khair. The original Mar Jaani has Sukhwinder Singh on the vocals while lyricsts Gulzar’s weaves the words. The Punjabi lyrics add a lot more energy to the songs soaring tempo. With this, both Sunidhi Chauhan and Singh have yet another commercial chartbuster under their belt. The original Khudaya Khair is simple and pleasing. However, minus the electronic loops and Neeraj’s predictable singing, Soham’s rendition of the song works much better.
…and the fillers
Ae Aa O penned by Neeraj Shridhar opens with grandiose arrangements. With singers like Kay Kay, Rana Mazumder and Suraj, the song fails to deliver what is expected. The next, Love Mera Hit Hit is strictly average track sung by Neeraj Shridhar. Since most songs in bollywood are situational, one has to wait and watch if Shah Rukh’s and Deepika’s moves will help the song get noticed. The mood changes with the rather folksy number Billoo Bhayankar sung by Raghuveer Yadav. The lyrics of the song has fun quotient probably suiting the situational demands. Jaaon Kahan has noted singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan doing what he does best. All through the album, this seems like one track where Pritam attempts to experiment.
The album certainly proves Pritam’s devotion and liking towards fast and electronically doped music, his USP. Billu Barber will appeal to the masses given its out-an-out commercial nature.
