Yeh Saali Zindagi – Music Review

Expectations:
One looks forward to getting surprised with the soundtrack of Yeh Saali Zindagi. After all the film has been directed by Sudhir Mishra whose films invariably boast of good, though different, music. They may or may not find instant appeal but then they are remembered long after the film has come and gone. Case in point being Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi, Chameli and of course Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi. His last release Khoya Khoya Chand may not be playing till date while Tera Kya Hoga Johny never saw a release. Still one definitely wants to check out what does first time composer Nishat Khan have to offer here along with lyricist Swanand Kirkire.

Music:
As expected, it's the title song 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' which kick starts the proceedings in the album. A rare track that features both Sunidhi Chauhan and Shilpa Rao, it by itself becomes special due to these two singers with a distinct voice coming together behind the mike along with Kunal Ganjawala. A track that starts off as a soft track, it picks up pace within a minute to give it a pacy feel, only to return into being a slow number all over again. With hevay Western influence to it, 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' is a well written, composed and sung track that delivers what one expected from the soundtrack of this Sudhir Mishra film.

Due to it being a superb composition in the offing, Yeh Saali Zindagi deservingly finds two more versions going for it in the album. While one of them is an all-female version with Sunidhi and Shilpa pairing up all over again, there is also a bonus version with Abhishek Ray going solo. While the former follows the same mood and form as the one that was heard earlier at the beginning of the album, the latter is a funky version which takes a different texture altogether. Though the male version (with quite a few English lyrics in it) isn't bad, one would still want to go back to the original for its intrinsic quality appeal to it.

Just when one thought that composer Nishat Khan would keep Yeh Saali Zindagi in an offbeat zone comes a celebration track in the form of 'Sararara'. The kind of song which can be comfortably slotted into a quintessential Bollywood track which is set in a 'ched chaad' mode, especially during the festivities of 'Holi', 'Sararara' is heard twice. While the first is helmed by Sukhwinder Singh, the second version has Javed Ali taking charge and doing quite well too. A decent sounding track which doesn't quite have a long lasting appeal to it and seems to have been included primarily for reasons leading to commercial appeal, 'Sararara' should do well with the film.

The moment Shilpa Rao goes 'tu ru ru ru ru', one knows that here is one song which one was expecting from Yeh Saali Zindagi especially after listening to the title track. 'Dil Dar-Ba-Dar' has a fusion appeal to it with elements of 'sufi' music interspersed with Jazz and Blue, hence leading to an interesting composition in the offing. While Javed Ali plays a supporting role in the song, 'Dil Dar-Ba-Dar' stays on to be entirely a Shilpa Rao track that can be heard multiple times without one getting tired of it.

Shilpa Rao and Javed Ali return with 'Ishq Tere Jalwe' which has the kind of start that reminds one of 'Bheegi Bheegi Si' [Gangster]. Nevertheless, the moment Javed Ali starts his rendition, one knows that 'Ishq Tere Jalwe' is an entirely different composition. Though the song starts off on a rather average note, the moment there is emphasis on the word 'Ishq' followed by Shilpa's arrival behind the mike; you know that this one too is a number worth listening. Yet again, the song follows the same mood as evidenced in Yeh Saali Zindagi and 'Dil Dar-Ba-Dar' to give the soundtrack a theme appeal.

Finally arrives 'Kaise Kahein Alvida' which is a Javed Ali solo. This one takes the album into a different zone as it has an Indian classical base to it and is pretty much the kind of track that lonely lovers listen to in the night. If you are looking for the kind of song which has an elevating appeal, this is not the one. However for those searching for something which is totally non-filmy and can be played on in a repeat mode and forgotten after the lights are switched off, 'Kaise Kahein Alvida' should do well.

Overall
Yeh Saali Zindagi isn't the kind of album which finds instant attention for itself, courtesy it's unconventional set up. Yes, there are songs out there which do impress and actually come with a long lasting appeal. However there is a lot that depends upon the appreciation that the film garners at the box office or later through word of mouth amongst the audience, something that resulted in Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi become a cult film amongst a segment of audience. Nishat Khan and Swanand Kirkire do well but one has to wait for the film to release and the following it gets before his music can be termed commercially successful.

Our Pick(S)
Yeh Saali Zindagi, Dil Dar-Ba-Dar