Tere Bin Laden - Music Review

EXPECTATIONS
Ok, so Tere Bin Laden appears to be quite a funny film. However, does that equate to the fact that one can expect some fabulous music coming out of the film as well? One isn't quite sure because the film doesn't quite follow the conventional path. One does expect a quirky score though but as has been seen in the past, such music can go either ways. With mixed expectations, one plays on Tere Bin Laden which has Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy scoring for half the album with Abhijit Vaghani, Dhruv Dhalla and Ali Zafar as guest composers. Jaideep Sahni is the prime lyricist.

MUSIC
It actually takes time to adjust to the world of 'Ullu Da Pattha'. Not many would be too fascinated to find lyrics like these gracing the opening number of an album. However, target audience for the film and the music - the youth - can be expected to actually get interested enough to check out what exactly does the song has to offer. As it happens, this track sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Ali Zafar is actually catchy enough to get on your lips after the very first listening. One never knows, if the promotion is right and the film too becomes a success, the song may go all the way as was the case in 'Chak De Phatte' (Khosla Ka Ghosla) or the title song of 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye'. A shorter 'remix version' could find a place in the discotheques, especially up North. Also, if it is really grabbed by the youth, 'Ullu Da Pattha' could be a hot favourite in the coming marriage season as well!

Tempo of Tere Bin Laden continues to be high with 'Shor Sharaba' which is yet another track made for the dance floors. The club feel of this song composed by Abhijit Vaghani and Dhruv Dhalla makes it good enough to be enjoyed in entirety. Jaspreet Singh and Suraj Jagan sing 'Shor Sharaba' differently with an element of rap to it as well. Though this Jaideep Sahni and Dhruv Dhalla written number doesn't quite have the potential to go the kind of distance that is expected from 'Ullu Da Pattha', it fits into the genre of the album.

Starting on a high note, 'I Love Amreeka' is a quintessential Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy composition and gets the feet tapping from the word 'Go'. The composer trio let them loose for this fun song where Shankar Mahadevan himself leads from the front. Akriti Kakkar and Anusha Mani get the Lolita effect through their singing and get the right amount of sensuality with their part in the song. A fun track, it also appears in a 'reprise version' where Ali Zafar replaces Shankar Mahadevan. Though he certainly brings in his own individuality here, one would prefer the version sung by Shankar since it sounds far more spirited.

Later in the album, a shorter 150 second version of the song arrives as 'Welcome To Amreeka'. A solo version by Ali Zafar, it pretty much establishes the fact that 'Amreeka' would hold quite some weight in the film's script!

'Main Koyi Jhooth Bolaya....' - one has heard of this Punjabi folk track umpteenth number of times over the decades gone by. The phrase becomes a pivot for 'Kukduk' which is a core Punjabi track with Master Salim going all out behind the mike. A track which will should find good recognition up North if promoted well, 'Kukduk' is written by Jaspreet Singh and Dhruv Dhalla (who also composes it).

Finally, there is 'Bus Ek Soch' for those who were waiting for a quintessential song from Ali Zafar. The young man doesn't disappoint as he writes, composes and sings this track which is soft on ears. Boasting of melody from the 70s, 'Bus Ek Soch' is about hopes, aspirations and willingness to work extra hard to realise one's dreams. Yes, there is a definite jingle feel to the entire four minute composition but one doesn't mind that as it brings a 'thehrav' in the album which was otherwise high on beats.

OVERALL
Tere Bin Laden wasn't expected to be a conventional album and this is how it eventually turns out to be as well. To give due credit to the makers, they have gone all out to ensure that the album isn't boring and has something good to offer to listeners despite it's offbeat theme and a quickie genre. With good promotion, songs like 'Ullu Da Pattha' and 'I Love Amreeka' which can cover good distance.

OUR PICK(S)
Ullu Da Pattha, I Love Amreeka, Bus Ek Soch