Action Replayy – Music Review
EXPECTATIONS
There
are
good
expectations
from
the
music
of
Action
Replayy.
After
all
more
often
than
not,
music
of
Vipul
Shah
has
been
popular
with
the
masses.
Though
London
Dreams
couldn't
find
a
wider
audience,
music
of
Namastey
London,
Waqt
as
well
as
Aankhen
had
worked
with
the
audience.
Even
otherwise,
his
production
Singh
Is
Kinng
boasted
of
chartbuster
music.
With
Pritam
at
the
helm
of
affairs
who
pairs
up
with
his
lyricist
partner
Irshad
Kamil
all
over
again,
you
do
expect
a
good
soundtrack.
However,
you
are
not
quite
sure
about
the
genre
it
would
belong
to.
Whether
the
music
would
turn
out
to
be
out
and
out
romantic
or
would
it
have
a
strong
element
of
fun
to
it?
Let's
find
that
out.
MUSIC
What
catches
your
attention
even
before
you
play
on
the
album
is
the
sheer
number
of
songs
that
have
been
included
in
Action
Replayy.
Really,
after
the
likes
of
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
or
a
Love
Aaj
Kal
[incidentally
both
of
them
have
Pritam
as
a
composer],
Action
Replayy
has
to
be
the
heaviest
album
around.
There
are
as
many
as
nine
distinct
songs
with
remixes
of
four
of
them.
For
an
Akshay
Kumar
starrer,
this
has
to
be
the
biggest
musical
album
ever
since
one
can
remember.
First to arrive is 'Zor Ka Jhatka' and call it incidental but the song indeed leaves a 'zor ka jhatka' from the very first note. This one is a thumping hit for sure, as evidenced in the manner it keeps a relentless pace right through its four minute duration. Indian in appeal and carrying a theme (evils of marriage) which is not hard to relate, 'Zor Ka Jhatka' is a fun track that has Daler Mehndi pairing up with Richa Sharma. Both the singers thoroughly enjoy their stint behind the mike and this is visible in the energy that comes along. A sure shot chartbuster which has Master Salim singing for the 'remix version'. However, it is the Daler Mehendi version you want to go back to.
A complete mood shift is enabled with 'O Bekhabar' which has a distinct Yash Chopra feel to it. Swiss Alps and chiffon sareers aren't difficult to be visualised in this romantic track where Shreya Ghoshal gives yet another good account of herself. This one belongs to the kind of Bollywood tracks that have never failed for decades. Pritam along with Irshad Kamil grasp the 'pyaar mohabbat' theme well and present a melodious song to the audience that they won't mind listening on a repeat mode.
If you have seen the promos of Action Replayy, you wouldn't have missed listening to the sound of 'Nakhre'. A fun celebration track that brings on a carnival affect, 'Nakhre' is a true blue retro track that has singer Francois Castellino getting the Elivs Presley mood recreated. While the intentions are noble here and the core tune right as well, it is the singing that makes one a tad dissatisfied. In an attempt to recreate the Elvis magic, the final result isn't as desired that makes one feel that 'Nakhre' (which also appears in a 'remix version') could have been far better.
However, the disappointment doesn't stay on for long as Sunidhi Chauhan and Ritu Pathak come together for the 'holi' number 'Chhan Ke Mohalla'. Really, this one turns out to be as instantly catchy as 'Zor Ka Jhatka' and turns out to be yet another chartbuster knocking on the doors. With a Laxmikant Pyaarelal flavour to it, 'Chhan Ke Mohalla' reminds one of their 70s compositions and is instantly likeable. Also, there is an instant element of seduction to it, something which is expected from a 'holi' number, which further makes one listen to the 'remix version' with added anticipation.
What comes next though is a song straight out of Pritam territory with 'Tera Mera Pyaar' turning out to be a song that would have been gladly picked up by Bhatts or Imtiaz Ali. A soothing love song with Karthik, Mahalakshmi and Antara Mitra doing quite well to get the lovey-dovey mood on, 'Tera Mera Pyaar' (also arriving later in the 'remix version') continues to add on to the different moods of Action Replayy. By this time around, one is sure that the soundtrack is a mix of love songs as well as fun numbers which leads one to check out what next is in store.
This is the reason why one is not surprised when it is a fun dance number that comes in immediately. 'Dhak Dhak Dhak' has Mika going ballistic and after hearing it a couple of times, you too join all the fun. With a core Indian feel to it, 'Dhak Dhak Dhak' - a dance number - never really rests and maintains its tempo right from start till the end.
Next to arrive is 'Luk Chup Jaana' which is yet another track that has the potential to make it into the charts. This one again requires just half a listening to realise that it has a Pritam stamp all over it. In fact one is surprised that this well orchestrated and arranged dance number sung by Tulsi Kumar and KK hadn't arrived in the album a little earlier. It really deserved to and if promoted well, could be one of the highlight tracks in the film.
Even with so much to offer, the platter doesn't get empty with Pritam churning out yet another number - this time a rock track - 'I Am Dog Gone Crazy'. Though the lyrics suggest an out and out whacky number, which is not really the case as singer Suraj Jagan keeps his vocals under control. Rather than turning out to be hardcore rock that leads to a restricted audience for itself, it stays within boundaries to auger well with the quintessential Bollywood followers as well.
Shreya Ghoshal, the only singer in the album to enjoy two solo tracks for herself, returns with 'Baki Main Bhool Gayi'. A love song that has a definite tempo to it and moves ahead with some racy beats, 'Baki Main Bhool Gayi' may not be the chosen one from the crowd. Still, as a part of the package in Action Replayy where there is no full moment, this last song in the album as well manages to make its own contribution.
OVERALL
Action
Replayy
is
a
fun
album
and
better
than
what
had
initially
expected.
In
fact
while
it
is
'Zor
Ka
Jhatka'
followed
by
'Nakhre'
and
'O
Bekhabar'
which
are
being
currently
promoted,
there
are
quite
a
few
other
songs
that
deserve
to
find
attention
for
themselves.
With
exactly
a
month
to
go
for
the
release
of
the
film,
one
would
definitely
want
to
see
more
of
'Chhan
Ke
Mohalla',
'Luk
Chup
Jaana'
and
'Tera
Mera
Pyaar'
at
the
least.
An
entertaining
album
that
doesn't
have
a
single
dull
moment.
OUR
PICK(S)
Zor
Ka
Jhatka,
Chhan
Ke
Mohalla,
O
Bekhabar,
Luk
Chup
Jaana,
Tera
Mera
Pyaar