Almost a year ago, we saw teasers for the first big animated venture in true Hindi film style, a co-production by Yash Raj Films and Disney. With Kareena and Saif voicing the main characters and Jugal Hansraj making his directorial debut, one had some expectations set for the film. However, despite the early release of the trailers, the music was only launched three weeks before the film is set to release. Yet, Salim-Sulaiman steered the tunes and Jaideep Sahni penned (or perhaps, in this age, typed) the lyrics. Thus expectations certainly ran high for this soundtrack.
Main Hoon Romeo, the title song, was heard echoing through the trailer. Personally, this fresh, youthful teaser excited many, and I heard the entire song with all the eagerness of a young child. While it did not disappoint, it did not amaze either. The upbeat tunes and playful, carefree beats croon with the voice of Kunal Ganjawala and strike the right chord, making you want to hear it once more (and perhaps once more after that). Sahni’s lyrics reveal much about Romeo’s confident playboy character, suitably matched with the primary melody. John Stewart and Salim Merchant’s remix encountered later in the album adds a disco feel but fails to retain the friendliness of the prior version.
The first few light beats, complimented by a seductive saxophone, might incongruously lead you to conclude that you’ve encountered a melodious love song in Choo Le Na. However, less than a minute into the song in the suitably selected voice of Sunidhi Chauhan, the heat turns on with heavier beats and suddenly, it’s a disco number. While you’re still recovering from this realization, that rather deep and grating voice pulls a number, and you find yourself listening to a mess of Latino beats and disco themes, weaved around three different voices and tied together with weak lyrics. Somewhat interesting at first, and with some of Sunidhi’s parts quite pleasing, this track quickly loses its attraction.
Rather simple beats that are sure to have your heat beating begin the track Cool, cool. Like the lyrics, it’s cool – chilled out and not to pretentious, with less singing and more talking. Listen to it Javed Jaffrey fans, you’re sure to find something amusing! Although initially catchy, one can’t help but hope the movie adds to this track. Make sure to take note that Saif does rap with Marianne D’cruz, so it does have that quickly-wearing-off-novelty incorporated. Naresh Kamath also has his turn behind the mike in this number.
Reminiscent of romantic Saif tracks in Salaam-Namaste, So Right definitely hits the right tunes with Kunal Ganjawala and Gayatri Iyer singing it. One can’t help but wish the rather beautiful tune was complimented with better lyrics, as the slightly accented ‘So Right’ proves to be a little distracting and detracts from the sentiment. Flowing, light, with a sprinkle of wide variety of instrument which all emerge discreetly from under the singing, ‘So Right’ is one of the best of this album. Later in the soundtrack, this song appears once again as an instrumental theme piece entitled Rooftop Romance. Due to the lack of distracting lyrics and clearer guitar notes, it’s even more enjoyable than the original in some ways!
Last, but not least, Apni Dumm Bhi Oonchi Ho once again hands over the mike to Kunal Ganjawala. It’s evident that Salim-Sulaiman were trying to capture that youthful, new-age audience who is especially infatuated with YRF movies. While not negative, one gets the impression with this song of just trying too hard. Too many beats, too much English, too much variation and at the same time not enough, and a theme that’s just not very coherently connected by the lyrics. Overall, you’re left more with a I-don’t-get-it feeling, which nobody likes, and thus this song fails to inspire.
For a movie of such high expectations, the music certainly fails to impress. The entry of a new genre into the Hindi film industry brought with it the dredges of poor musical composition and a repetition of the same-old washed and dried formula. Here’s to hoping the movie doesn’t follow in the same suit!
