'Aaj ki Raat...hona hain kya...paana hain kya...khona hain kya'
- Retro...with disco beats...conjuring up visions of two girls in classy sensuous clothes, jewels and smooth moves. Dangerous, edgy, sexy, yet classy.
I had to write this when I am still listening to the song, now 3rd time during the day...when Alisha Chinay's sultry voice is cut in by sugary and smooth Mahalaxmi...and my feet goes tapping to the chorus. This post is simply because I had to say something about this song, out loud.
'I am listening to Don's songs,' I tell my husband (who, as I think have mentioned before, has to be counted among the country's top fans of big B, so much so, he hates it if anyone else hogs the limelight in a movie where the credits feature AB Sr.).
'Why?' comes the disgruntled question. 'Why are you popularising the music of a classic being remade badly?'
'It is good, I like it,' my enthusiasm is now down, my voice soothing and barely audible.
'It is people like you who will help the stupid movie to be a hit....why don't you understand?'
Oops! And people wonder why the protesters against 'Fanaa' were so charged!
We buy a lot of casettes, mainly because our car has a casette player, and we like listening to music. Personally, I like the music of a movie when it is either of the following:
1. Funky with lots of beats, and lyrics which make sense, at least in some of the songs. Some pop, some rock.
2. Classical or semi-classical with shayaris or ghazals.
3. Romantic and melodious, sometimes breezy, sometimes plain sweet.
And it is wonderful if an album has all three, which is hardly available nowadays. Also, I hate it when the mood of the music and the lyrics don't match, it feels almost as bad as someone dancing salsa in rhythm with a hip-hop music.
All right, its 'Don-the chase begins again' first:
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An album with 2 remade old songs - 'Yeh Mera Dil' and the classic 'Khaike Paan banaraswala', which have been sung pretty well by Sunidhi Chauhan (whom I personally consider to be extremely talented and versatile with her voice modulations matching Shaan's and confusing you as to who the singer is) and Udit Narayan (who I still think, has one of the richest voices ever among the modern singers), but unfortunately will be compared to the old ones.
An album with 3 new songs -
a) the title song - 'Main Hoon Don', sung by Shaan, whose voice flows with the music, and the music is somewhat reminiscent of the title song from 'Humraaz' (whose opening credits, as per hubby, was 'Are Deewano' in slow motion).
The lyrics are a little childish and too blatant at points like 'Bahut hi khatarnak hoon main'(why declare?) and 'Palkein bichhaye, paas bulaye, kitne haasinayen mujhe' to give a few examples. Javedji, I expected something more subtle.
b)'Aaj Ki Raat' - music, singing, lyrics-matching-the-mood-of-music...almost perfect. Need I say more than what I already have before?
c) Ganapati mourya - Passable, if you dig Shahrukh dancing to a earthy style after a long time.
Now for Jaan-e-mann:
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The only reason I am writing the review is because I spent Rs.58/- on this album on recommendations by
indiafm which said: 'Jaan-E-Mann' adds on to the list of must-buy albums this season'. My understanding of the word 'must-buy' cahnged drastically on hearing the album.
The album starts with Salman reciting a bit of shayari, a-la-a lot of heroes before. Oddly seems like he is actually speaking English or Hindi with a hard-to-place english accent. Ab Salman ka tashan hain...hum kya kare.
We move on to the song:
a) Humko Maloom hain:
Music - old world.
Lyrics - definitely 'contemporary' with lines like 'Dad maane nahin, Mom maane nahin' and 'ye mera future ka sawal hain'.
Sung: Pretty good...and you got to give extra credits for the singers making such lines seem less ridiculous.
When I find Gulzar's name on the lyrics, I seriously think of searching for his email id and asking him if he is taking tutions from Sameer. What's wrong with you Gulzarji? It is not that I am a prude and want only deep urdu words in my songs, I simply loved 'Bunty aur Babli' and the 'beedi' song from 'omkara'...but this is...ewwww.
Of course, as per indiafm: 'Gulzar saab must be happy this his lyrics are presented in a new light for a hardcore commercial film', so am wondering if B&B was not a hard-core commercial movie?
b) Ajnabi Shaher me:
Never knew when the previous one ended and when this started....but it was as effective as a lullaby.
indiafm agrees:'This is the kind of song that one may want to put on in a repeat mode, switch off the lights and go to sleep!'
Ok, I understand that they did not say it
that way, but maybe they were being polite?
c)Jaane ke jaane na: The only saving grace...wacky, rhythmic and right on spot...made me rewind it.
d) Sau Dard: It opens with 'Humko Maloom Hai's opening strains, so I thought it was a continuation of the first song, but it was a
slightly different song...disappears and leaves no residue....err effect. The remix is much better though.
e)Oodh Jaana:I badly wanted to like this song, but either it was becasue of my car stereo, or because it came after I was already fatigued by the album, that it made me just realize that this song might be good on multiple hearing.
f)Kabool Kar le: Blame it on the album, but I just don't remember this song, might hear the album again to see where it went!!!
Well, if your tastes match mine, you are suggested to stay away, or else, download the song, hear them first, then decide whether to buy the album.
Me, have heard the album twice, once before and once after our car was serviced, and the servicing did nothing for the music...will hear it again, after all, have spent 58/- on it.On second thoughts, I won't risk it, might lead to rare domestic violence, or should it be mobile(as in car) violence?
Update:Watched the old Don on Thursday - no, my hubby has not grown old suddenly (some people will understand this joke), am talking about the old movie in which Amitabh was enacting the role of Don. Realized that the theme music of the new Don is actually a more shaken-n-stirred version of the theme music of the old one...to know the music, listen to the tune of the line 'Mujhko pehchaan lo, main hoon Don' - the title song of the new Don.
