Krrish

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM

Thursday, May 11, 2006

First quarter of 2006 has been simply phenomenal for Bollywood lovers! Number of music albums ranging from Rang De Basanti, Aksar, Gangster, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Tom Dick and Harry, 36 China Town, Fanaa and many more have turned out to be super successful. Now add Krrish to the list! Rajesh Roshan, who more or less selectively works for his brother's films now, composes for Krrish and results are there to be seen....yet again! Nasir Faraaz writes three songs while Ibraheem Ashq and Vijay Akela chip in with a song apiece.

Shreya Ghoshal, who has fast become a favorite amongst the composers looking for a sweet-n-simple voice, sings as many as three out of five prime tracks in the album. Melodious to the core, the way Sonu Nigam begins singing 'Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani'; it seems tailor-made for Shahrukh Khan himself. This is undoubtedly one of the best rendered songs of Sonu after the brilliance he showed in the title song of Kal Ho Na Ho. There are slight shades of 'Usse Hasna Bhi Hoga, Usse Rona Bhi Hoga' from the title song of Salman-Rani-Preity starrer Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega when the lines 'Wo Bhi Hansne Lahi Thi, Ye Bhi Hasne Laga Tha; Dono Samjhe Nahi They Wo Jo Jone laga Tha' come, but one doesn't really mind that as the song is still extremely enjoyable. Yes, it takes some time for this Ibraheem Ashq song to grow and it's only after you have heard it 5-10 times that you actually start humming it along while it is played. Along with Sonu, Shreya Ghoshal easily takes the same route as Alka Yagnik does in her romantic numbers and comes quite close to her in terms of class, quality and style. A number that should be in Top 3 charts soon!

It's time for melody to continue making its presence felt in Nasir Faraaz written Koi Tumsa Nahin, again a duet by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal. For anyone who has been following Hindi music for last three decades, it won't require him/her to even look at the credits and still attribute the song to Rajesh Roshan. If the movie would have stuck to its original title of Koi..Tumsa Nahin before moving to Krrish, this track would well have been the title song of the film. A trademark simple number with ear friendly musical arrangements set on a strong Indian base, it is a good fusion of 'geet' and 'ghazal' that makes it a second good song in succession. The beats are really catchy [belonging to true Rajesh Roshan style] and one can expect Hrithik to be showing his dancing prowess to a good extent. Proceedings get all jazzed up with the sound of piano, saxophone and other western classical instruments in its Big Band mix that completely changes the mood, feel and style of the track. Set as a jazz number, it is enjoyable in this new version as well!

Udit Narayan comes on the scene [for the first and the only time] in the album with Chori Chori Chupke Chupke that fits well with the 'hill station' setting of the movie, as far as portions shot in India are concerned. A song based on 'pahadi' music that comes to you like a cool breeze, one just falls in love with the music by Rajesh Roshan. Starting with the sound of flute, it successfully takes you to the scenic locations once you close your eyes. Third song in a row that is completely based on 'hindustani' music with zero western influences to it, 'Chori Chori' is as simple as it gets, both in terms of music and lyrics. Udit Narayan is just the perfect choice for the song while Shreya Ghoshal is extremely competent and justifies her continued presence in the big league. Nasir Faraaz comes up with simple lyrics that make the track a beautiful song to sing around, but in the end it is Rajesh Roshan who is The person who should be attributed for making it sound extremely enjoyable and lovely.

There is an extended orchestra [set in western mode] that escalates gradually after it has begun on a near silent note and it's after a while before Rafaqat Ali Khan arrives with 'Main Hoon Wo Aasmaan'. A Nasir Faraaz song that should be picturized on the superhuman character of Krrish, as conveyed by the haunting feel of the tune that slowly converges into the world of mystic! A situational theme song that has Alka Yagnik giving company to Rafaqat, it moves at an extremely slow pace and is somewhat unconventional when it comes to a typical Bollywood score. The only song in the album that sounds dull when compared to the rest of the album that has a peppy touch to it with a feel good effect, the track also appears in 'A Mystic Love Mix'. The intention is right since the film has a mystic feel to it and the song begins with an extended 'aalap' with western musical arrangements in tow hence giving it a fusion feel to it. The dullness of the original song makes way for a perky remix that turns out to be a little better and more enjoyable.

The funk of 'It's Magic [Koi...Mil Gaya]' coming close to the musical arrangement of 'Le Gayi Le Gayi [Dil To Paagal Hai]' - that's the way to describe 'Dil Na Diya'. But unlike numerous other numbers where inspiration comes quite close to copying, 'Dil Na Diya' stays away from the temptation and maintains an identity of its own. A fast dance track that is tailor-made for Hrithik to come up with his varied [and unique] dance steps, it is a simple feel good number that may not boast of extraordinary lyrics by Vijay Akela but should still do well since one can easily expect some great choreography and picturization. The song does have slight musical shades of 'Jeene Ke Bahane Lakhon Hain' from Roshan's own 'Khoon Bhari Maang' but that is more due to composer's touch rather than a copy/lift. Overall the song remains firmly rooted to melody as Kunal Ganjawala comes up with yet another spirited rendition.

Melodious, soulful, simple and belonging to the genre that appeals across the nation, the music from Krrish is another winner in the making! Highly melodious numbers like Chori Chori, Koi Tumsa Nahi and Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani are the pick of the lot, in that order, followed by dance number 'Dil Na Diya'. A musical score that can be conveniently added to your already-piling-up-collection in 2006, the music album of Krrish is another good outing for Bollywood music lovers.