Don - The Chase Begins Again - Music Review

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

There is something about these BIG films that makes one await their music with a bated breath. Whether it is Fanaa, Krrish, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna or any of the other multi crore extravaganzas that have arrived on screen in recent months, there is a certain expectation from the music of each of these films. But one thing that is still common about the music of their films is the 'predictability' factor. There is always a set expectation from a Yashraj/Rakesh Roshan/Karan Johar film which means that though the music of the films mentioned above have ranged from good to very good, what has been amiss is the "surprise" element. Nothing wrong with that but then a listener won't really mind with an occasional surprise or two!

This is where the music of Don - The Chase Begins Again scores!

Because though there have been people ready with bouquets and brickbats before the music starts playing, what cannot be denied is that none are aware about what is going to be in store. Will 'Don' have the music in a style similar to the 70s? Will Don forget about the past and turn out to be a score that suits the image of Shahrukh Khan in the contemporary world? Or does it fuse the present with the past while not shying away from taking a peek into the future?

Questions like these have resulted in an unprecedented excitement about the arrival of the soundtrack of Don - The Chase Begins Again and hasn't the wait been simply worth it? Because not just the music excites, at places it makes the adrenaline level go high while at times it takes you to a trip down the memory lane. All this while making maximum use of the technological advances of today. No wonder, this turns out to be one of the top efforts by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Javed Akhtar saab!

Watch out for a signature tune that marks the beginning of title song 'Main Hoon Don'! That's because much before the song tops the charts, you would soon hear a ring tone based on this signature tune on cell phones around you! The music of this Shaan rendered song is completely different from the classic 'Main Hoon Don' but that hardly acts as a deterrent after one has heard this new version a few times. Javed Akhtar's lyrics are different too for this song about a daredevil don who is willing to face the might of any challenge whatsoever and doesn't shy away from being a self acclaimed danger-man!

Shaan excels and does quite well in this song which could have been tailor-made for Abhijeet due to his past record with Khan. Mid-way into 'Main Hoon Don' there is an extended musical piece set in western mode that is truly international and is reminiscent of the background score of a Hollywood flick. The song doesn't take a conventional linear approach and has number of twists in it that keep you guessing throughout the duration about what's next in store. Chorus singers are highly effective in this track as it adds on to the dark mood of the situation. With a kind of choreography and cinematography the song comes with, it should be extremely effective during the narrative.

Zingy and zippy, the remix version of 'Main Hoon Don' is what one would really want to acknowledge as a true blue remix track. There is a good dose of some innovative use of western arrangements that fuse the vintage and contemporary mood of 'Don' quite well and pump up the adrenalin from the very beginning. Expect this sound to be played during the title sequence and also form an important part of the background score. If the original version formulated a base then this remix simply takes off in full gear!

SEL are loyal to the original sound of 'Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana' during the song's opening but 30 seconds into the track and they add on their own beats to give it a club feel. Sunidhi Chauhan arrives on the scene at just the right time and presses the right buttons to get into the groove. The interludes are interspersed with the music that would work well with the lovers of lounge genre. Overall one can easily say that Sunidhi doesn't let anyone down while rendering this track that doesn't deviate much from the 70s original and still works well for today's audience. Expect the heat to be on when Kareena Kapoor lip syncs to this seduction number while applying her charms on Shah Rukh Khan!

By now it becomes an irresistible wait to listen to 'Khaike Paan Banarswala' but guess it was a trick played well by the music company that saves it only for a later stage. Before that comes 'Maurya Re', a Ganpati song sung by Shankar Mahadevan. So far the soundtrack was predominantly western with a touch of lounge but with 'Maurya Re', there is a shift in proceedings as the action shifts to the streets. Sound of 'dhol' accompanies Mahadevan throughout to keep the celebration mood alive in this lively number that is easy on ears and keeps the Indian melody intact. Would it be a classic 'Ganpati' celebration track? No, probably not, but what it succeeds in is bringing Shahrukh Khan in a new light who has traditionally been bound by a certain image.

Super-duper hit!!! And you know which song we are talking about! 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala' is sure to enthrall audience all over again when heard in the version created by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. And there are manifold reasons to say that, first and foremost being the creative aspect gone behind this version. Composers, Akhtar saab and Udit Narayan have gone all out to ensure that they give something additional to this song rather making it a plain remix/rearrangement. This is something prevalent from the very beginning when Udit sets the base for 'Khaike Paan' before actually rendering the classic.

Arriving with an Indian rooted rap, Udit accelerates the song to a right pace before beginning the actual rendition of 'Khaike'. Expect the applause in not just single screen theatres but even multiplexes when the song is played! The pacing is just perfect while the musical arrangements bring a mix of Western and Indian style but the highlight of the song is Shahrukh Khan who holds the mike towards the middle of the song. He does his own 'desi' poetic rapping of some new lines by Javed Akhtar saab that takes the song to an all time high and there is just the right pause before Udit Narayan takes over again to make this fun number a sure shot success.

So is 'Khaike Paan' the zenith of the album? Anyone would feel so after hearing it on for the first time itself but then the BEST is yet to arrive. Undoubtedly the most creative, exciting and mesmerizing of the lot, 'Aaj Ki Raat' is easily the best of the enterprise and hooks you on after hearing it just once. Picturised on both Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, it is about a decisive night that is expected to be full of surprises. If there is a song that perfectly mixes the theme of 70s with the style of 21st century, it is 'Aaj Ki Raat'.

A true lounge track, 'Aaj Ki Raat' has ample usage of those musical instruments that formed the disco/cabaret tracks of the late 70s/early 80s [in fact it is reminiscent of 'Raat Baaki' (Namak Halal) ] and creates a haunting impact. Alisha Chinoy is a perfect choice for a song like this but real surprise comes in the form of Mahalaxmi Iyer who is just flawless in her laidback rendition. For a change Sonu Nigam is the last to arrive but he doesn't mind letting the ladies dominate the scene while adding on his bit as per the demand of the situation. A superb number, it is one of the most innovative tracks composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and should sit at the top of their best songs ever.

Remember the signature tune of 'Don' that accompanied when the titles of the original rolled? The same intriguing sound is heard again though with in a complete makeover avtar that ensures that this Farhan Akhtar film is going to be one pucca masala entertainer! Westernized and lounge in style and feel, this instrumental of the 'Theme Music' makes one helluva ride that should bring you on the edge of the seat right away if played during the opening title roll. Let the lights dim, cell phones switched off, get your popcorn and enjoy the show!

Some unforgettable music and dialogues from the original are given a new treatment by Medival Punditz in the concluding track 'Don Revisited'. Yet another racy track that should keep you hooked on your music system while it is played! While the theme music of 'Arrey Deewano Mujhe Pehchano' forms the base of this track, some evergreen dialogues like 'Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai' mouthed by SRK make it a highly enjoyable track. There are some more dialogues in the musical piece but check them out for yourselves when you play it on. Chances are high that this could well be the track that you may want to set on repeat mode before embarking on a long highway ride!

Shankar Ehsaan Loy do exceedingly well with the soundtrack of 'Don - The Chase Begins Again' and establish their supremacy as the composer trio who can give their own even while rearranging the songs from the past, as seen in 'Khaike Paan' and 'Ye Mera Dil'. While 'Aaj Ki Raat' sits pretty at the top for its innovative appeal, 'Khaike' is a sure shot chartbuster for all generations and 'Main Hoon Don' makes the proceedings exciting, the theme instrumentals too create a great impact and take the proceedings on a fast track.

Strength of Don lies in its success at surprising a listener. Overall, the album primarily comes across as a lounge/club mix with a dash of Indian melody and should do well across the length and breath of the country. Chances are that it may turn out to be one of the Top 3 selling albums of this year!