Saturday, October 6, 2007

[Review] Saawariya... the music

Over last two days, I have been listening to songs from Saawariya, the next movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali that is slated for release in November. Bhansali’s films so far have been appreciated for their music. Not surprisingly, expectations were running high for Saawariya.... and the album doesn’t disappoint. Monty Sharma, who assisted Bhansali during Black, has composed the score for Saawariya. He has done a superb job, bringing back the melody which seems to have been lost in the cacophony of sounds that is passed under the name of music these days.

As to the songs themselves...

The number of songs is a bit on higher side (about 12 in all), but many are of a short duration, lasting under 3 minutes. They have been rendered by established singers likes Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Gaanjaawaala as well new two new voices: Shail Hada and Paarthiv Gohil.

The title track sung solo by Shail Hada is a trendy number that creates an upswing mood. At some points, it has traces of Kishore's style.
"Thode badmaash ho tum" reminds one of "Bairi Piya" from Devdas. It has the same playfully romantic lyrics and sung to a similar tune. Another common factor is Shreya Ghoshal who has sung both the songs. Shreya next comes up with Sawar Gayi... another of my favourites and Masha-Allah; the latter a duet with Kunal Ganjawaala.

I am not particularly fond of Shaan, but couldn't help loving "Jabse tere naina".... very nicely sung! Yun Shabnami... definitely my most fav among all the numbers, is a pleasant melody sung in an understated way that makes it particularly sweet. After a couple of lines, the song surprisingly transforms into a qawwali style-chorus, but thankfully doesn’t stay that way for long. However, it ends in an abrupt way... perhaps the picturisation might provide the reason for this.

"Daras bina naahi chain”, from classical genre, has a haunting score depicting pain and anguish...a hallmark of Bhansali's movies.

Among other tracks, there is a playful "Chhabeela" by veteran singer Alka Yagnik. It has good beats of dhol and is rendered very efficiently.
"Pari" by Kunal Ganjaawalaa is the only track that seems to be the odd-one out, in my personal opinion. Kunal’s style doesn’t seem to gel with the effect created by other songs.

All songs lend themselves to the ear; primarily for the reason that the music is low on use of instruments and doesn’t drown out the voice of the singer…you can actually make out the words being sung! I haven't seen the trailers, but my friends who have seen have loved them.

Saawariya, the movie, features two newcomers as lead pair and has generated quite a buzz, in spite of a head-on release with Om Shanti Om. I am looking forward to treating myself with Bhansali's sensitivity and SRK's charisma.