Anjaana Anjaani- Music Review

EXPECTATIONS
Ok, so the music of much hyped Anjaana Anjaani is finally out and it is time to check out what exactly does it have in store. Frankly, the way makers (Sajid Nadiadwala and Siddharth Anand) have chosen to call Anjaana Anjaani a true blue musical of just 2010, the expectations have soared to a great high. Though the year so far has seen some good musical scores, Anjaana Anjaani has pitched itself quite strongly as a film where music is its key strength. Now this by itself is a double edged sword because nothing less than superb is expected when the claims are so high. More so because the film sees Vishal and Shekhar coming together with Siddharth Anand again after Bachna Ae Haseeno (very good), Ta Ra Rum Pam (decent) and Salaam Namaste (good). Also, music in Sajid Nadiadwala's films (Housefull, Kambakkht Ishq, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Heyy Babyy) has traditionally gone well as per the genre. No wonder, as a listener, you want to see the music progress to a greater height. Whether it indeed manages to do that? Let's check it out.

MUSIC
It's a spirited beginning with first of the title songs in the album, 'Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani'. A club track, it is a peculiar case of a dance number that doesn't turn out to be an instant hit with a listener in the very first go. However, once heard a couple of times in entirety, this Neelesh Misra song grows and how. Boasting of a mix of Hindi and English lyrics, it has a late 70s/early 80s feel to it. Call it a coincidence and the fact that it is picturised on Ranbir Kapoor; you do tend to draw a parallel with the kind of dance numbers that Rishi Kapoor was seen during his heydays. Sung with a lot of spunk by new entrant Nikhil D'Souza and Monali Thakur (who takes a totally different route from 'Zara Zara Touch Me' - Race mood), 'Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani' should find itself rising up the popularity chart.

The song which does require just one listening though to qualify as the top of the charts material is 'Hairat'. A high on energy, youthful, energetic and foot tapping track, 'Hairat' throws further surprise when you check out the singer behind the great job. It is Lucky Ali who is 50+ in age and still gets the kind of mood rolling which could make many a younger singers feel shy. Why doesn't he sing more often? A love song about life being beautiful with a great companion around, 'Hairat' (written by Vishal Dadlani) also stands up for its key word that has seldom been used in the world of Bollywood bound to become a definite chartbuster.

After an extended high energy outing comes a song that has Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at the helm of affairs. As has always been the case in album after album, presence of Rahat means that there would be something slow, subdued, subtle and soulful. This is exactly what one gets with 'Aas Paas Khuda' which does require a couple of listening before one settles down to the sound. Written by Vishal Dadlani with Shekhar Ravjiani adding to the chorus, 'Aas Paas Khuda' is about the protagonist being inspired to be positive and trust in the almighty. The treatment in fact has a Western touch to it though Rahat does his own stuff of staying in his 'sufi' zone. What works more though is the 'unplugged version' because with Rahat around, all you wish to listen to is his voice with nothing else around. In this version, there is Shruti Pathak around though one doesn't mind that.

It's back to fun and verve and the boyish charm in the voice makes one check out the credit details. As it turned out in case of 'Hairat', there is surprise yet again as the man behind the mike turns out to be Shekhar Ravjiani. He has to sing more often. Period. A young number which could well have been a Valentine Day special, 'Tumse Hi Tumse' one has a Vishal-Shekhar stamp to it when it comes to simplicity. Written by Amitabh Bhattacharya and Anvita Dutt with Caralisa Monteiro contributing with the English Lyrics and also as a singer for that portion, 'Tumse Hi Tumse' is a modern day romantic track for a lazy coffee outing.

While all fun and frolic is most welcome, one also looks forward to something truly classy that hooks you to the composition and admires its flow. This is something that one gets to hear in 'Tujhe Bhula Diya' which is not sad by any means despite being set for a sad outing. A lounge outing with Shruti Pathak doing a superb job with her folksy kick-start, 'Tujhe Bhula Diya' is a Mohit Chauhan number all the way as he gets the perfect mood for something that otherwise would have gone unnoticed as a 'dard-e-judaai' track. However, what makes 'Tujhe Bhula Diya' special is the fact that it is straight from the heart and has lyrics (by Kumaar and Vishal Dadlani) that would remain etched in memory, especially the key words in the title. The sufi touch that has been interspersed in this near five minutes song also has Shekhar Ravjiani chipping in and together, the team ensures that there is yet another winner in Anjaana Anjaani. No wonder, the 'remix version' is most welcome as well.

In most albums, there are at an average five songs. However, in Anjaana Anjaani there are seven full length songs with a couple of remixes that truly justifies the musical tag that it has lent to itself. The entertainment continues with sixth song - 'I Feel Good' - and one realises that you are indeed feeling good by the time this song appears. In fact this Vishal Dadlani sung and written number makes one wonder that this song could well have come at the very beginning of the album as well. Normally some of the relatively weaker songs make a late appearance in an album but listening to 'I Feel Good' makes one sure that the team here indeed chose some of the best compositions that they had in hand. With Shilpa Rao giving Vishal some good company here, 'I Feel Good' (which has been set as a Western teenage love song) turns out to be yet another good inclusion in the album.

The thought around 'weak v/s strong' songs further gets ignited with the arrival of the second title track in the album - Anjaana Anjaani. Really, this song written by Kausar Munir (with Irshad Kamil contributing with chorus lyrics) could well have been at the very top out there! One always had a question whether the team here could ever manage yet another 'Khuda Jaane' (Bachna Ae Haseeno)? Well, the answer is here in the form of 'Anjaana Anjaani'. Credit it to the fact that it is Shilpa Rao holding fort (yet again after 'Khuda Jaane') along with Vishal Dadlani and you know for sure that this one is indeed one complete album. This is the kind of track which has to be nurtured and though one may not sing it day in and night out, it can't be put off once it is on. Also, the oriental sound that does come intermittently is a nice touch too. Go for it!

OVERALL
Anjaana Anjaani is a fantastic album and it shows in each and every song that makes an appearance here. This one has a classy touch all through with a mix of club tracks (Hairat, Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani) and soulful songs (Tujhe Bhula Diya, Anjaana Anjaani) that rock the show in a big way. While Vishal-Shekhar can pride themselves on coming up with something that justifies a certain quality that one expects from their soundtrack, the makers (Sajid, Siddharth) can be rest assured that this is their best work till date. With the kind of hype that has preceded the album, it should find instant attention coming its way. Once played, it is bound to grow from strength to strength and find itself right up at the top.

OUR PICK(S)

Hairat, Tujhe Bhula Diya, Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani, Anjaana Anjaani.