EXPECTATIONS
Ten years back, with a title like We Are Family, one would have expected the kind of soundtrack which is associated with Soooraj Barjatya films or closer home, even Karan Johar's own venture like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. 'Pooja ki thaali', a mother waiting for her son, 100 odd background dancers, antaakshari, dumb charades - all of this and more would have been the order of the day. Not anymore though with films going through a complete makeover in the decade gone by. This is the reason why you expect some modern songs that belong to today's generation in We Are Family. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy pairing up with Irshad Kamil (who has extensively written with Pritam) is another reason to look forward to what the music has to offer.
MUSIC
It's a good start for We Are Family with Rahat Fateh Ali staring from the credit details in the very first song. Now that's a reason good enough to rejoice because the least you expect is a quality outing with purity written over it. This is exactly that one gets with 'Aankhon Mein Neendein' turning out to be a sweet-n-melodious track. Shreya Ghoshal and Shankar Mahadevan give Rahat Fateh Ali Khan good company to ensure that this romantic number passes by seamlessly. Ok, so this may not be the most memorable chartbuster that 2010 would end up with but it doesn't harm one either. And yes, thankfully there is no 'remix' here.
On the contrary a song that doesn't come with any 'remix', is basically an official adaptation of a Western hit and still doesn't work is 'Dil Khol Ke Let's Rock'. Agreed that the song was meant to be a parody but it still turns out to be a complete no-no. Meant to be a fun affair with the lead actors trying to form their own Hindi version of 'Jailhouse Rock', this song only ends up distracting a listener and makes one worry about what's next in store. Written by guest lyricist Anvita Dutt Guptan, this attempt at rock - even with hot blood singers like Anushka Manchanda, Suraj Jagan and Akriti Kakkar - deserves a quick skip.
Thankfully, We Are Family gets some redemption for itself with 'Reham O Karam'. Reminding of 'Noor-E-Khuda' (My Name Is Khan) in the way it is presented, 'Reham O Karam' starts off as a slow track and makes one wonder if it is an unplugged take that is being offered. However, the momentum picks up 70 seconds into the song and it turns out to be an enjoyable soft rock. Of course one does wonder how a track like this will fit into the film's narrative because of the distinctive genres. Still, coming together of Vishal Dadlani and Shankar Mahadevan behind the mike brings in a certain class to the proceedings.
It's a soft beginning for 'Hamesha & Forever', a quintessential family number, which finally makes an appearance in We Are Family. Of course it is presented in a new age avtar and has a definite Western mood to it. It is always a delight to listen to Sonu Nigam and he does well again with his soft vocals once again. He is given company by Shreya Ghoshal in 'Hamesha & Forever' which is not designed as a chartbuster but more in the mood of the kind of background score that runs in Western family flicks. A situational track.
The same theme continues for 'Sun Le Dua Yeh Aasman' which has Bela Shende going solo. An even slower follow up to 'Hamesha & Forever', this one is seemingly designed as a track which would get emotions oozing on screen in a trademark Karan Johar manner. Finally, the album ends with a three minute theme piece 'We Are Family - Theme' which basically follows the mood that has been set in the preceding two tracks.
OVERALL
Music of We Are Family isn't designed to turn into a mega commercial success. While half the album basically comprises of theme tracks, the sole intended chartbuster (Dil Khol Ke Let's Rock) doesn't work. The only number which has the potential to cover some good distance is 'Aankhon Mein Neendein' with 'Reham O Karam' carrying potential to work with a niche audience. The album (basically the situational songs) has its chances of growing further but only once the film is a success.
OUR PICK(S)
'Aankhon Mein Neendein', 'Reham O Karam'
