Rajkumar Santoshi who is mostly well known for his hard-hitting dramatic films ‘Ghayal, Khakee and Lajja‘ is releasing his second comedy film, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, 15 years after the rib-tickling Andaz Apna Apna in 1994. Made under the banner of Tips Music Films, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani stars Ranbir Kapoor ‘Saawariya‘ and Katrina Kaif ‘Namastey London‘. Music has been directed by Pritam ‘Jab We Met‘ while lyrics have been penned by Irshad Kamil. The playback singers’ list comprises of K.K ”Khuda Jaane’ – Bachna Ae Haseeno‘, Kailash Kher ”Fatak’ – Kaminey‘, Atif Aslam ”Bakhuda Tumhi Ho’ – Kismat Konnection‘, Javed Ali ”Guzarish’ – Ghajini’‘, Mika Singh ”Mauja’ – Jab We Met’‘, Neeraj Shridhar ”Twist’ – Love Aaj Kal’‘, Alisha Chinoy ”Its Rocking’ – Kya Love Story Hai’‘, Sunidhi Chauhan ”Beedi’ – Omkara’‘, Suzanne D’Mello ”Bachu’ – Ghajini’‘, Soham ”Khudaya Khair’- Billu’‘, Jojo, Naresh, Paresh, Rana Mazumdhar, Ashish Pandit and Hard Kaur ”Move Your Body’ – Johnny Gaddar‘.
‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ graces the silver screens on 6th of November 2009.
The album starts with Main Tera Dhadkan Teri. A typical Pritam track with Hard Kaur introducing the number with some Punjabi/English rap, it briefly reminds you of ‘Pappi’ from Kismat Konnection. It is a fast-paced dance number sung by an overly enthusiastic K.K and Sunidhi Chauhan. K.K’s ability to touch our souls with emotional numbers then pump up our adrenalin with racy numbers like this is what makes him a valuable asset to the Indian music industry. Sunidhi is fantastic as always and supports K.K with just as much enthusiasm. Hard Kaur rubs some funk into a number while Irshad pens reasonably good lyrics. Low points, the sirens that come and go can be slightly annoying. The English portion in later half of the song was not needed and is also annoying. Otherwise, it is a great number. This does not happen often, but the remix of ‘Main Tera Dhadkan Teri’ by DJ Suketu maybe better than the original. It is more up beat and really gets those feet tapping and those head nodding in rhythm. Simply put, it has more of a kick than the original.
Next is Tu Jaane Na, a semi-desi, qawali-esque number by Atif Aslam, whose two previous numbers with Pritam were both chartbusters ”Pehli Nazar’ – Race and ‘Bakhuda’ – Kismat Konnection‘. It is a beautiful number, lyrically and musically ‘the tabla used in the song is fantastic’, but its vocal quality is debatable. Atif’s vocals sound slightly strained at certain parts of the song, especially at the higher notes. Atif enthusiasts may beg to differ but for those who feel differently, ‘Tu Jaane Na’ has a reprise version and an unplugged version. Tu Jaane Na ‘reprise’ has been sung by Soham with Rana Mazumdhar and Ashish Pandit as the chorus. Soham gives the number a softer touch while Atif’s version was more intense. Also, Soham handles the higher notes much better than Atif. The reprise mixes the tabla with the piano, which sounds simply divine. The unplugged version has been rendered by Kailash Kher who is joined by Paresh and Naresh giving the backing vocals. Kher gives the number his classic sufi touch. The acoustic guitars are downright beautiful and go well with Kher’s earthy vocals. Atif’s version of ‘Tu Jaane Na’ also appears as a remix by DJ Suketu which basically speeds up the number and makes is more urban. It has been remixed quite aesthetically and just sounds like a whole new number.
Oh By God, is just fun all over. Sung by Sunidhi and Mika Singh, the song uses the shenai wedding theme as its signature music. Basically, the song revolves around hearing wedding bells, or rather wedding shenai. Sunidhi and Mika make this number worth your while. The music is quite preppy and relatively immature but the idea of shenai amidst a club-like dance number is hilarious. The song goes well with the comic capers that Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani promises its audiences.
Next is Tera Hone Laga Hoon, a romantic number sung by Atif Aslam and Alisha Chinoy. It is a lovely number with nice lyrics by Ashish Pandit. Unlike ‘Tu Jaane Na’. Atif is in full form this time and sounds fantastic. He is well supported by Alisha Chinoy who sounds very sweet. Musically the track is soft, melodious and very easy on the ears. ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ also appears as a remix done by DJ Suketu, which is equally good. Even though Suketu has mixed it with additional music and made the pace slightly faster, he does not go against the sweet and soft nature of the number.
Neeraj Shridhar appears next with Prem Ki Naiyya. Irshad’s lyrics are the crowning glory of this song and when sung by the very talented Neeraj against the backdrop of essentially modern music, it makes a great song. Again, like ‘Oh By God’, it is quite comic in nature with the only sore point being Suzzane D’mello ‘silly-willy’ lyrics in the later portion of the song. It is illogical, annoying and messes up a really good song. ‘Prem Ki Naiyya’ has also been remixed by DJ Suketu, but this time round, it is not good as the previous remixes in the album. ‘Prem Ki Naiyya’ was quite an up-beat track to begin with and it can be argued that it does not even need a remix. The alternative mix that Suketu provides you with is slightly mediocre.
The album strikes back with another romantic track titled Aa Jao Meri Tamana, by Javed Ali and Jojo. It is faster than ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ and is more of an intense love ballad. Javed Ali sounds absolutely incredible. It is as if the man cannot sing a bad song. Lyrics are great and musically, Pritam has done a fantastic job. The song’s remix by DJ Suketu could have been better but sadly succumbs to the illogical need for pumping mindless English lyrics through-out the number.
‘Aa Jao Meri Tamana’ is followed by Follow Me. which is written and performed by Hard Kaur. It is basically an extension of her introduction to ‘Main Tera Dhadkan Teri’. It is your typical Hard Kaur track, nothing more, nothing less.
The album closes with the various alternative and remixed versions of the initial tracks.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, is a fantastic album to go with a comedy. It has its loud, dance floor moments, coupled with sweet, romantic moments and obviously lots of remixes. It is a typical masala album from the House of Pritam. It is one of the best Pritam albums of 2009. Special mention has to be made about Irshad Kamil’s lyrics. He has cleverly re-phrased the typical filmi love song lines and turned them into something innovative that can be listened to without getting bored. Also, DJ Suketu is to be commended for being one of the best remixers in India because it is not every day the remix turns out to be better than the original. ‘Tu Jaane Na’ is undoubtedly the best track in the album and its many versions means you can keep on listening to it in new avatars. ‘Tu Jaane Na’ is followed by ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ and ‘Aa Jao Meri Tamana’ with ‘Dil Tera Dhadkan Teri’ following closing behind. It will be quite an ajab occurrence if one does not give the music of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani a shot.
