Shadow Music Review
EXPECTATIONS
One
thought
that
it
was
just
the
producers
v/s
distributors
strike
period
when
small
films
were
releasing
at
theaters
in
dozens.
However,
that
seems
far
from
true,
what
with
more
and
more
movies
belonging
to
all
shapes
and
sizes
releasing
in
the
current
season.
One
such
film
is
Shadow
where
the
USP
is
a
blind
man
enacting
the
role
of
a
character
with
a
full
vision.
To
support
this
guy,
there
are
number
of
other
'way
past
their
prime'
actors
who
have
been
roped
in.
Anand
Raj
Anand
is
the
composer
who
also
writes
the
lyrics
of
Shadow
with
Anjaan
Saagri
pitching
in
as
well.
Frankly,
expectations
are
near
to
nil.
MUSIC
Gosh,
the
entire
'sharaab'
and
'shabaab'
celebrations
are
so
passe
in
this
side
of
the
century
but
Anand
Raaj
Anand
continues
to
wear
his
Punjabi
fixation
up
his
sleeves.
This
time
around
he
composes
'Yaariyan'
where
he
plays
the
triple
role
of
composer,
lyricist
as
well
as
singer.
He
is
joined
by
Anushka
Manchanda
who
certainly
must
be
wondering
if
it
was
actually
worth
it
to
be
a
part
of
this
setup.
A
number
like
this
may
have
worked
5
years
back
but
today
it
can
at
maximum
expect
to
be
played
in
smaller
cities
and
towns.
An album made entirely of item/promotional numbers, Shadow next sees Sunidhi Chauhan coming behind the mike for 'Masti' that has lyrics like 'Shaam Ki Rangeeniyan, Jaam Ki Shaukiniyaan' etc. etc. Hold on there is more - 'Zyaada Khopdi Kharch Naa Kar, Dil Mil Jaayega Search Naa Kar; Yeh Hai Deewanon Ki Basti, Ke Jee Le Masti Masti Masti Masti'. And the award goes to the man who goes by the name of Anjaan Saagri! An item number which features none other than Sonali Kulkarni gyrating her body on stage, 'Masti' is yet another front bencher number.
Credit it to Sukhvinder Singh who actually manages to make the title song Shadow work to an extent. Composed in a manner similar to that of James Bond theme track, 'Shadow', which has Aakruti Kakad chipping in, does work to an extent of creating that intrigue quotient. Of course the entire rhythm around 'Shadow Shadow Shadow' is so early 80s and reminds one of Mithun Chakraborty films a la Gun Master G9. Expect the number to be played in the opening or end credit rolls.
Well, for those missing an item number, there is some good news. After 'Yaariyan' and 'Masti', there is third such number in the form of 'Khumariyan'. While the setting is quite similar to that of 'Masti', the music too follows the same lines and throws predictable results, what with Anjaan Saagri re-emerging on the scene as a lyricist.
Surprise surprise - This time around Anand Raaj Anand gets inspired by A.R. Rahman and picks strings from 'Khwaja Mera Khwaja' [Jodhaa Akbar] to make 'Rabba Rabba'. This one though is the only soothing number in the entire album which otherwise went quite loose on the decibel quotient. Also, after the initial 'mukhda', Anand Raj Anand gets back to his style of composition for the 'antara' portion. Roop Kumar Rathod is the right choice as a singer as he lends some credibility to the number.
Just when it seemed that there was something redeeming about Shadow comes one of the most atrocious numbers that one would have heard this year. Titled 'Dil Ke Taar', the number tries to go back into the 50s and while Aakruti Kakad at least attempts to get it right, Anand Raj Anand completely kills the number with his badly modulated voice. This is a song that one cannot survive beyond a couple of minutes.
OVERALL
Poor. Really poor.