Label: Sony Music
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt
Singers: Vishal Dadlani, Neeti Mohan, Salim Merchant, Shekhar Ravjiani, Sunidhi Chauhan, Nazia Hassan, Shefali Alvarez, Shreya Ghosal, Udit Narayan, Nisha Mascarenhas, Shahid Mallya, Shefali Alvares, Benny Dayal, Marianne D’Cruz
Vishal-Shekhar’s fourth offering of 2012, ‘Student of the Year’, has already succeeded in racking up the expectation of its listeners with heavy promotions and marketing. The composer duo who by this year has offered hit soundtracks in films like Kahaani and Shanghai is all set to take a disco twist in the adolescent romantic flick.
Bringing back the flavour of commercially well-received youth flick Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the composer has doled out seven tracks that gel well with the theme. Unlike their earlier album where the flavor of tracks had been serious and momentous, in this OST, the composers have adopted a light hearted and jocular style. The album highlights hip jovial tracks which may relate to the youngsters especially high schoolers or college goers.
Tingeing the classic flavor of 80’s the album kick-starts with the track ‘Disco-Deewane’, which was crooned by Bollywood’s first Pakistani pop diva Nazia Hassan. During its era, the track generated huge turbulence in the music industry and VS has decided to cash on the same impact. In its revitalized version the composers have tweaked the track by incorporating frenzied Disco as well as Afro-American Hip-Hop beats. The vocals of Benny Dayal and Sunidhi Chauhan further uplifts the track and mingles well with the refined tones of late Hassan’s chorus lines which sets the floor on fire. The technical improvisation and smooth meddling of English lyrics has made the track winner all the way.
Moving away from hip disco track, the album enters into a romantic trance with ‘Ishqwala Love’ giving the obvious KJO style music as seen in Kuch Kuch Hota hai, Mohabbatein and Kal ho Na ho. The melody brings out the romantic dreamy quotient with the smoothly charmed vocals of Salim Merchant which are aptly supported by Shekhar Ravijani’s rendition. The silky smoothen voice of debutant Neeti Mohan is also well received and does justice to the overall track. Although the lyrics of the track needed depth the track as whole does justice to the desired romantic situation and succeeds in bringing out mushy feeling and awe moment for the listeners.
The much needed KJO style bhangra-pop track ‘Vele’ comes up next gracing the list of the album. The bhangra fused hip-hop track is dedicated specially for the campus crowd and works heavily on the DJ stylized music. Attributing to the carefree attitude the composers have played deeply with electronically tuned synth-beats and dub-step beats that wraps up well with the rendition on Vishal and Shekhar. The track is an addictive mix and is bound to make its place in night clubs and pubs.
Further raising the pep factor and teeny-pop flavor in the album, the duo has introduced their next high-pitched bhangra mix ‘Kukkad’. The funny number falls more on the style of Salim-Sulaiman’s amusing composition like that of Band Bajaa Baraat or Bittoo Boss. But the fun and frolicking bhangra number is definitely addictive and sets the right mood to shake a leg with Shahid Mallya rendition. Even though Nisha Mascarenhas and Marianne D’Cruz have well complimented Mallya’s singing their English lyrical are hard to comprehend.
Giving up the classical flavor in the songlist, the album introduces its listeners with the well fused track ‘Radha’. The number commences on a classical note melodiously crooned by Shreya Ghoshal and smoothly boosts up with the elevating tempo of peppy beats. The song is a good mix of Indian and Western music and blends well with the voice of Ghosal and Vishal. The number concludes on a surprise note as its features Udit Narayan’s vocals towards the end.
Once again bringing back the typical peppy college track, stress buster song ‘Ratta Maar’ joins the offering. Even though the lyrics by Anvita Dutt, and Vishal Dadlani speaks about the exam stress and college pressure, the number captures the anxiety of the school without being too wordy, making it a parody in itself. The gritty guitar riffs and acoustic tunes throughout the song emphasize the Hinglish lyrics and make its sound redolent and charming.
Vishal-Shekar decide to sum-up the album with a ‘Mash-up of the year’ which has caught quiet frenzy with the listeners. The blending of all the tracks in one song is quiet remarkable and has resulted in a quiet innovative musical approach. Generally such mash-ups take place at the end of the year and is created by club DJ’s mainly to celebrate New Year’s Bash. But with this track, it seems like the composer has cashed on the concept by involving DJ Kamath to mingle the tacks and make it too the dance floor. The concept is sure to take industry by wild fire and is here to see who delivers the best Mashup of the year.
In an entirety, Vishal-Shekhar has succeeded in offering the well-composed album that enlists several genres yet staying true to its core theme. Even though the album puts forth the déj? vu feel from all KJO movies and lacks on innovation, the situational yet foot-tapping tracks are well kempt and is a complete youthful musical entertainment. The album peps up the positive elements through the soundtracks like ‘The Disco Song’, ‘Ishq Wala Love’ and also add the youthful funk with ‘Kukkad’, ‘Ratta Maar’ and ‘Vele’. The album misses on the lyrical part but stirs-up its way with the Mash-up concept.
