Rocky - The Rebel - Music Review

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

The man is certainly not resting!

Close on the heels of Anthony Kaun Hai comes yet another score by Himesh Reshammiya for the film Rocky - The Rebel. Produced by Narendra Bajaj and Shyam Bajaj, who had a successful Aksar just a few months back [again with Reshammiya as the composer], Rocky - The Rebel stars Zayed Khan in the title role along with Minisaha Lamba [Yahaan, Corporate] and Isha Sherwani, who made her debut with Kisna last year. Suresh Krishna, who had made his Bollywood debut with Salman Khan starrer Love and had followed it up with Jagruti and later Kamal Hassan starrer Abhay is the director of this action-n-romance film that has songs written by Sameer.

Now that's a treat that all Reshammiya fans must have been waiting for i.e. to listen majority of songs in his voice! While there are 6 original numbers followed by remixes of each of them, there are as many as 10 tracks in the voice of Reshammiya with only a solitary number and its remix by another male singer. But more about this later!

The album begins on a rocking and a highly positive note with 'Junoon' that goes perfectly with the youthful-n-rebellious nature of Zayed Khan. The music is on the lines of what one has got already used to hearing from Reshammiya stable and the man doesn't disappoint at all. A pulsating number with great beats and rhythm, it has the composer/singer excelling once again, both as a composer and a singer, and hence adding on yet another hit track in his kitty. Amrita Kak, who was introduced by the composer in 'Just Chill' [Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya] last year arrives on the scene after half the song is through and makes her presence felt with her husky vocals, in spite of a short stint behind the mike. Still, while 'Just Chill' would be always known as a joint effort of Sonu Nigam and Amrita Kak, in case of 'Junoon' it is Reshammiya all the way.

The remix track of 'Junoon' that follows begins on an altogether different note and catches you by surprise as you wait for the proceedings to unfold from hereon. While the rhythm of 'Junoon' is pretty much prevalent, it's the change in beats that gives it a club feeling. The song paces up, but just a little, as the renewed beats hold center stage to change the mood of the song. Pretty likeable... once again! And yes, watch out for its remix music video which looks very much on the cards!

Seemingly a stage number 'Laagi Chutte Na' embarks on a fast paced beginning in the very first minute and the effect only enhances as Reshammiya enters the scene as a singer. A rhythmic number that is high on beats and pace, it has Rajasthani folk music [orchestrated in a western style] forming the signature tune with the song throughout. A song about a man totally obsessed in love with his girl, 'Laagi Chutte Na' could be yet another hit number for Reshammiya. The remix version of the song that follows is high on bass and consolidates the song's place in the album all over again.

After a couple of rocking high voltage number comes a soft song, again with a trademark Reshammiya touch, 'My Love For You', which goes as 'My Love For You Is Not A One Night Stand, O Jaana Love You Miss You Har Lamha'! Not that anyone really minds it, but these days it's only Sameer who can come up with such lyrics and that too when he is composing for Reshammiya! A rock ballad, the song is noticeable for Akriti Kakkar who has been making her presence felt in each of the songs she is singing these days. She impressed in the minor part she had to play in 'Dil Vich Lagaya Ve' [Chup Chup Ke] and is now simply fantastic here where her sensual husky vocals make for an interesting hearing. The song may not be a big hit in the making but keeps one interested in the songs that are about to follow. Club feeling is prevalent, in fact much more than the remixes preceding it, as the remix version of 'My Love For You' follows. In fact effective use of saxophone intermittently gives the song a sugar-n-saccharine romantic feel.

'Jodi' of Himesh Reshammiya and Tulsi Kumar, who have given one after another over last few months since their 'Mohabbat Ki' [Aksar] days, join each other again for 'Teri Yaad Bichake Sota Hoon' that starts off as a fusion 'qawalli'. A mix-masala number, it may not be one of the best tunes by Reshammiya so far but credit must go to the musical arrangements that make you notice the song. In fact the arrangements hold complete center stage in this roller-coaster number that has Reshammiya crooning a little differently than his usual style while with Tulsi going pop! Remix version of this track comes as well but it sounds rather unnecessary with all the add-on effects. The original itself had been just about fine but the remix track is just unwarranted!

It's the sound of guitar that marks the beginning of 'Dil Rang Le' that starts appearing to be a hardcore Bollywood number when the drum beats are heard. This in fact is true as newcomer Vinit makes a good beginning to his Bollywood journey with this rollicking number that surprisingly comes quite late in the day. A song that has all the potential to be an entertaining ride if retained as a part of the film's narrative, it has Vinit ably supported by Sunidhi Chauhan who lets her hair down in this foot tapping number. In fact the number is of the kind that would have completely suited Reshammiya's style of singing but credit should go to Vinit who lives up to the opportunity given to him. One of the top songs of the album so far, it makes for good fun for days to follow by which time one can expect another soundtrack from Reshammiya to take over the musical scene. For a song like this, it was apt to have 'bhangra beats' forming an integral part of the song's remix and this is what that happens as the remix version comes towards the album's end. The song should just be promoted soon with a music video to follow and it could well help push the album sales further!

Title song comes at the end of the album as 'Rocky Rock The World' that is in the 80s mould. In fact one can imagine rock dancers like Mithun Chakravorty or Govinda gyrating hard to the this tune that should come as a stage number and/or appear as a part of the film's background score. In fact the 80s effect is consolidated in the remix version that has arrangements in a manner similar to Biddu's in his heydays. After all the romantic tracks, this solo track by Reshammiya seems a little oddly placed but on hearing it closely it very much sounds like a situational number that should be important for the film's theme. Still, it is at maximum the kind of a number that would be heard more in the theatres but not something that would be played in a repeat mode in your home system!

Overall, songs like 'Junoon', 'Dil Rang Le' and 'My Love For You' top the list while 'Laagi Chutte Na' could do well as a stage song. To sum it up, Rocky may not fall in the same league as the producer duo's last Aksar, but as a complete album it makes for a decent hearing.