Composers: Vishal-Shekhar
Label: T-Series
The highly unusual subject of Happy New Year -- a heist film with the backdrop of a dance competition must have come as a challenge for composers Vishal and Shekhar and they have more or less come equal to it. The film has something for every occasion. A desi dahi handi number, a medley for the dances, an instrumental (The heist) to serve as the background score for the robbery, Punjabi dance tracks and a love ballad.
The album starts off with the film's mantra -- India walle -- which sort of explains its philosophy. Sung by Vishal Dadlani, K K, Shankar Mahadevan and Neeti Mohan, this fast pace number offers pop patriotism to the listeners. Unlike Hai preet jahan ki reet sada from Purab Aur Paschim (1970), which extolled the virtue of India and Indians, this one conveys that we can be one up to anybody if we want to and are ready to take on the world. This new-age chutzpah is what the youth are feeling right now and hence the song's emotions are bang on. It has an EDM version too which works better as a dancefloor burner.
Manwa laage speaks about the attraction between the heroine and the hero. It feels like an old school love duet and Shreya Ghoshal's and Arijit Singh's honey sprinkled voices gives it the resonance it deserves. The song stands out amidst the sound and fury generated by other tracks and one wishes there were more such treats in the OST.
Satakli sung forcefully by Sukhwinder Singh caters to the Govinda festival and would be heard at Janamashtmi celebrations in years to come. No surprises here too. Vishal-Shekhar have played it safe and the ample use of Radhe radhe phrase makes it quite catchy.
Lovely sung by Baby doll fame Kanika Kapoor along with Ravindra Upadhyay, Miraya Varma and Fateh is again aimed at the disco crowd. It's the anglicised version of the more traditional Kamlee sung by the same crew of singers. The reprise version falls better on the ears. Both songs are composed by British music producer Dr Zeus, famous for his techno pop, found aplenty in both versions.
World dance medley, which follows, is for those who want a sampler of the whole album. Then comes Nonsense ki night, flushed full of nonsense lyrics. Mika has a way of making the corny come alive and does it with the usual panache.
The boisterous Dance like a chammiya follows and delivers the dollop of fun expected from seasoned singers like Sunidhi Chauhan and Vishal Dadlani. It shows you how good singers can raise the level of a song, adding oodles of experience to the whole shebang and making the listeners hit the repeat button because of it.
Sharabi is the typical Punjabi pop you have come to expect of Manj Music, who gets the tempo right in the company of Nindy Kaur and Vishal-Shekhar.
All-in-all, this OST is a mixed bag of sorts. The composers have stuck closely to director Farah Khan's vision and haven’t experimented much. Knowing Farah, the songs are going to be a visual treat. Can’t wait for SRK and company to wield their magic.
SHOW COMMENTS