Lamhaa - Music Review
EXPECTATIONS
From
a
movie
that
has
terror
as
its
background,
you
don't
quite
expect
a
commercial
score
that
would
cut
across
audience.
With
Kashmir
as
the
setting,
there
is
scope
for
good
music
though
but
then
it
is
mainly
expected
to
be
situational
and
totally
theme
based.
However,
on
closer
look,
it
comes
to
one's
notice
that
the
composer
here
is
Mithoon
who
has
given
some
fantastic
music
for
films
like
Anwar
and
The
Train
in
the
past.
Also,
he
returns
with
his
favourite
lyricist
Sayeed
Quadri
and
that
again
makes
one
look
forward
to
what
does
the
'jodi' have
in
offing
for
the
music
lovers
here.
MUSIC
First
thing
that
strikes
on
reading
the
credit
details
is
the
album's
duration.
Despite
only
six
songs
here,
the
duration
is
41
minutes
which
makes
every
song
lasting
an
average
of
7
minutes.
This
is
certainly
far
more
than
an
average
of
4-5
minutes
that
a
regular
song
lasts.
In
fact
there
are
a
couple
of
songs
that
run
for
more
than
8
minutes
each
which
makes
one
wonder
what
exactly
are
they
all
about.
The question is answered with 'Madno' as the opening number, a number which is as mesmerising as it gets. A smooth flowing number, it has minimal instruments in the background and relies totally on vocals by Kshitij Tarey and Chinmayi. Instantly reminding of the superb tracks that Mithoon had composed for Anwar - 'Maula Mere' and 'Tose Naina Laage - 'Madno' is a pure piece of work that sets the ball rolling for the album. Even though there is a touch of Kashmir folk to the song, there is a definite originality about 'Madno' which makes this Sayeed Quadri number special. Pick this one up; a song like this would have been loved even if it was 10 minutes long.
No wonder, it is repeated as 'Sajnaa' this time with (surprise-surprise) Mika giving company to Chinmayi. This proves yet again that given an opportunity, the singer has the range to do something different than the 'mauj-masti' that he is known for. Of course you do prefer the Kshitij Tarey version but that doesn't mean that Mika version is any pushover. If not for anything else, the song at least helps to keep the sound of the album consistent by arriving twice.
The serene sound continues with 'Salaam Zindagi' which has a bunch of Kashmiri kids kick starting the song with their laughter. Soon after Arun Daga and Mohd. Irfan comes behind the mike and pass on the message of unity in one voice. With additional Kashmiri vocals by Salim, this track about looking forward in life and saluting life is situational and should play in the background. The song goes well with the situation in the movie and the kind of setting Lamhaa has. However, it doesn't quite have life beyond the film's run.
The sound of a chopper followed by a dialogue - 'Welcome to Kashmir, yahan ka mausam aur mahaul kabhi bhi badal sakta hai' - is an apt way to kick start 'Main Kaun Hoon'. It isn't everyday that one gets to hear Palash Sen coming up with a rendition for a Bollywood soundtrack. This is much reason to rejoice as the singer comes behind the mike for 'Main Kaun Hoon' which is written by Amitabh Varma. A soft rock track which goes perfectly well with the theme of the film, 'Main Kaun Hoon' looks at the state that Kashmir is in state today and how it is being used as a target by vested interests. Play this one on and you won't mind putting this on a repeat mode, mainly due to it being easy on ears.
What is really noticeable about the album around this stage is that it doesn't loose focus from the overall theme. This is apparent in the way 'Zameen O Aasmaa' begins because yet again the mood stays on to be soft here. With Kshitij Tarey going solo for this almost unplugged track, this one is a take on sad affairs that Kashmir is engulfed in. In fact the protagonist here is shown to be urging God to drop everything, visit Kashmir, have a look at its state and take adequate remedies. Totally situational.
Last to come is 'Rehmat Zara' which sees a good kick start for itself by means of some exciting beats that sets the mood. With Mohd. Irfan and Mithoon coming together for this high on energy song, 'Rehmat Zara' by all means appears to be a Pakistani rock. A track that makes an instant impact, it again questions the state of Kashmir. However, despite the theme being repeated from song to song, this one is the best amongst what one has heard so far and rest assured would play on for a longer period of time provided a music video around this is made pronto.
OVERALL
From
theme
perspective,
Lamhaa
works
well
and
doesn't
stray
even
once.
However,
in
the
process
of
that
happening,
a
universal
and
penetrated
reach
of
the
album
can't
be
expected
since
not
all
would
be
enticed
to
play
songs
which
have
their
roots
in
the
condition
of
Kashmir.
Still,
there
are
songs
like
'Madno'
and
'Rehmat
Zara'
which
should
still
manage
to
do
quite
well,
courtesy
Mithoon
and
Sayeed
Quadri,
who
do
give
audience
something
to
cheer
about
for
long.
OUR
PICK(S)
'Madno',
'Rehmat
Zara',
'Main
Kaun
Hoon'