Mid-year music analysis
Like it or not but 2008 hasn't been a great year for music coming from Bollywood so far. While there have hardly been any successes on the music stands, even critically one can only count a few albums on the fingertips.
Nevertheless, one factor which has continued to impress is the hold which Pritam is enjoying amongst audience which is raving for some catchy-and-entertaining sound. Just like Himesh Reshammiya dominated the music scene in 2005 and 2006, Pritam has been doing so in 2007 and now 2008. No wonder, he finds as many as 3 of his albums in the Top-10 compilation!
1. Race
This one comprised of back to back chartbusters, each of which made a great impression not just over the audio system but also on the screen. 'Race Sanson Ki', 'Pehli Nazar Mein', 'Touch Me', 'Dekho Nashe Mein' - each of them turned out to be big hits. Such was the power of the album that even when the makers decided to drop 'Mujhpe To Jadoo', the replacement number 'Sexy Lady' turned out to be the biggest hit of the album. Pritam tasted blood with Race and has been at the top ever since then.
2. Jannat
Bhatts-Emraan Hashmi-Pritam got together yet again and fireworks were on full display all over again. Unlike Awarapan which took some time to grow amongst the audience, Jannat didn't have to wait so long and soon reached the top spot. Hugely responsible for enabling the film to turn into a Super Hit, songs like 'Zara Sa' and Kamran Ahmed composed, written and sung 'Lambi Judai' are continuing to play on till date. Super success of Jannat should lead to many more collaborations between the makers, actor and the composer.
3. Tashan
Now this one has been plain unfortunate to not reach the kind of heights that it deserved. Ok, so the music did quite well actually but then if only Yash Raj Films would have made an exception and for a change decided to promote a product of their own, Tashan would have been a different story altogether. Coming after Om Shanti Om, Tashan was indeed a queer score by Vishal-Shekhar but this very factor was the soundtrack's strength. Who else in this whole wide world would have otherwise thought of making a Bhojpuri-English-Hindi number like 'Dil Dance Maare' and also made three mainstream actors dance in the midst of a desert?
4. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Success of the music of Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na is sweet for two reasons. a) It is nice to see Rahman composing more often for Hindi films. b) It is even nicer to see him work on projects that are poles apart from being historic/patriotic/period dramas. A song like 'Kabhi Kabhi Aditi' doesn't come every year while 'Pappu Can't Dance Saala' makes one strongly believe that only Rahman could have created a composition like this. Rahman, please continue to rock the show and give us more of the same breed!
5. Jodhaa Akbar
Now this one grew and how! When the soundtrack arrived on the stands, it was panned by many. With the kind of huge expectations that one had from a film with names like Rahman, Gowarikar, Hrithik and Ash involved, one wanted the sound of Jodhaa Akbar to be huge - really huge! However, with an exception of 'Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah' that did boast of a majestic appeal, the remaining numbers were on a slower side and classy in nature. After an initial hesitation, the songs were given a Thumbs Up by the audience and once the film released, the music only continued to jump up in the charts!
6. Haal-e-Dil
This one would lead the charge for being unsuccessful in penetrating deeper into audience's heart. Anand Raj Anand, Vishal Bhardwaj, Pritam and Raghav Sachar did well in creating some really nice melodious music. However, just when it seemed to be picking up amongst the audience, the film's massive failure negated the escalation that the album was showing at the stands. Music of a film starring newcomers takes its own sweet time to grow but since Haal-e-Dil has gone down with a loud thud, the music too has followed suit!
7. Kismat Konnection
Pritam has scored a hat trick with Kismat Konnection after the super success of Race and Jannat. Also with Shahid Kapoor, Pritam has now delivered a back to back hit after Jab We Met. The title song has been a big hit already and should enable audience to step into theaters. However, through songs like 'Bakhuda Tumhi Ho' and 'Is This Love', Pritam has shown once again that his heart truly lies in creating soulful melodies. One looks forward to this album too becoming a success after the arrival of the film at theaters.
8. U Me Aur Hum
Not many would have given a chance for this Vishal Bhardwaj album to actually do well at the stands. Somehow one didn't expect a film starring Ajay Devgan and Kajol in a romantic lead to carry great music (even though they did enjoy some very good music around a decade back in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha). This is why once U Me Aur Hum hit the stands, music lovers were pleasantly surprised to hear some good melodies like the title song coupled with foot tapping dance numbers in the form of 'Dil Dhakda Hai', 'Jee Le' and 'Saiyaan'!
9. Love Story 2050
The biggest project for Anu Malik in the recent times, with Love Story 2050 he has taken the responsibility of creating a soundtrack for a high profile newcomer launch. Walking a thin line of creating a soundtrack which belongs to the current times as well as hints upon the kind of music which would be heard 40 years down the line, Malik doesn't disappoint. 'Milo Na Milo', 'Sach Kehna' and 'Mausam Achanak' are the pick of the lot.
10. Ugly Aur Pagli
Anu Malik has seriously tried reinventing himself with Ugly Aur Pagli. No wonder he doesn't mind giving his audience the kind of music which has made Pritam and Vishal-Shekhar as household names. Well, we don't mind either since all said and done, Ugly Aur Pagli is Malik's first album in the recent times where he has actually moved ahead with the times and orchestrated his songs in a fashion that would soon find a place in clubs and discotheques. If in doubt, just listen to songs like 'Talli' and 'Karle Gunaah'. And for some sheer melody, there is always a 'Yaad Teri Aaye'.
Other notable mentions:
Khuda Kay Liye boasted of an excellent soundtrack in entirety but couldn't be included in the Top-10 since technically it originates from Pakistan and isn't really a Bollywood soundtrack.
Some of the other songs that seemed impressive in this year were 'Phas Gaya' - Aamir, 'Hawa Sun Hawa' - Ada, 'Mann Tu Telebet' - Superstar, 'Title song' - One Two Three, 'Dhokha' - Woodstock Villa, 'Title song' - Dhoom Dadakka, 'Title song' - De Taali and 'Kyun Hai Mujhe Lagta' - Khushboo.
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