After the getting a very cold reception from the audiences and the box office for Chandni Chowk to China, Nikhil Advani and Akshay Kumar are back with Patiala House. The snippets from the various types of press it is getting suggests it’s a family drama set in UK with cricket as a major part of the movie. Sadly, nothing tells us that it is any more or less innovative then other movies about familial issues and sports that we have witnessed in the past.
That being said, Nikhil Advani, who has not struck gold after the success of Kal Ho Na Ho, has given us great musical scores at the hands of Shankar-Eshaan-Loy. Salaam-E-Ishq and Chandni Chowk to China, regardless of being epic cinematic duds, boasted of great music. Here’s hoping Patiala House delivers musically if not visually.
As mentioned, Shankar-Eshaan-Loy are once again in the music directors’ chairs while Anvita Dutt of Bachna Ae Haseeno and I Hate Luv Storys fame has penned the lyrics. It features the vocal talents of Hans Raj Hans, Mahalaxmi Iyer (Sadka Kiya – I Hate Luv Storys), Shafqat Amanat Ali (Mitwa – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna), Master Saleem (Maa Da Ladla – Dostana), Vishal Dadlani (I Hate Luv Stoys – Title Song), Richa Sharma (Sajda – My Name Is Khan), Suraj Jagan (Jailhouse Rock – We Are Family), Shankar Mahadevan (Uff Teri Ada – Karthik Calling Karthik) and Hard Kaur (Move Your Body – Johnny Gaddaar).
Patiala House hits screens 11th of February 2011.
The album commences with Laung Da Lashkara, a relatively upbeat Punjabi number by Hard Kaur, Jassi and Mahalaxmi Iyer. I say relatively because it fails in comparison to recent Punjabi dance numbers like Gal Midhi Midhi Bol from Aisha and Ainvayi Ainvayi from Band Baaja Baaraat. It is a shame because Mahalaxmi and Jassi render the song really well. Hard Kaur on the other hand does what she always does; rap a mash of Hindi/Punjabi/English lyrics, which sound like all the others she has done so far. In short, the album gets off to a very lukewarm start, which dampens your interests about the other songs in the album. The song’s remix is equally uneventful if not worse.
Next is Kyun Main Jaoon, a beautifully composed situational number, rendered equally beautifully by Shafqat Amanat Ali. The piano is used extensively and is the crowning glory of the number. Shafqat’s exquisite vocals don’t hold back the emotions of Anvita’s well-penned lyrics about the leading character’s identity crisis. The album also features an unplugged version of Kyun Main Jaoon, which is equally brilliant as the first. While the remix of the song takes away the earthiness of the number, it remains a well-composed remix that does not drown the essence of the song.
Rola Pe Gaya commences as a typical traditional shaadi-sangeet number, but turns into a pseudo-modern number once Hard Kaur enters the picture with her predictable rap piece. After Laung Da Lashkara, personally, this act of hers is getting really old. There is still a glimmer of hope because the music is not too bad. It gets your feet tapping for a few seconds but once Shankar and Mahalaxmi start singing all hope is lost. Anvita’s lyrics are odd and the melody is very unattractive. Despite featuring the talented Mahalaxmi and Shankar, the song resembles a train wreck. The remix neither hinders nor improves the number.
Vishal Dadlani’s Aadat Hai Voh is next. It is not your usual Vishal number so do not expect a Dhoom Again or Dhan Te Nan. Even though it gets off to an unimpressive start, the song transforms into angst-y rock ballad. Vishal’s low and high vocals do justice to Anvita lyrics and provide her words with the emphasis they need.
Patiala House’s first love song comes in the form of Baby When You Talk To Me rendered by Suraj Jaggan and Alyssa Mendonsa (Uff Teri Ada – Karthik Calling Karthik). The big-band-esque music definitely gets your feet tapping and Suraj’s vocals are very likable, but the result is something akin to Play School or Hi-5 songs. Lyrics aren’t very innovative. Case on point, baby when you talk to me…baby when you walk with me. The alternative remixed version does not make the number any more likable.
Tumba Tumba is a traditional qawali by Hans Raj Hans. Fans of qawalis will definitely love this number but others may give it a miss. It is essentially a situational track that will be most effective on screen.
Aval Allah, another situational track rendered well by Richa Sharma suffers from the same fate as Tumba Tumba. Fans of the genre will like the number but others may move to immediately disregard it.
The album ends with the various remixes discussed above.
In summary, Patiala House does not deliver musically like the previous three Advani and Shankar-Eshaan-Loy collaborations. Kyun Main Jaoon and Aadat Hai Voh are the best songs in the album, mainly due to Shafqat and Vishal’s amazing vocals and Anvita’s emotionally charged lyrics. The fast-paced numbers do not deliver, but if one had to choose, Laung Da Lashkara would be the lesser of the evils. In short, Patiala House struggles to impress.
