|
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
Music Reviews |
|
|
|
By Joginder Tuteja, May 31, 2004 - 11:19 IST
There is an interesting theory that surrounds the movies of Rajiv Rai and their music. Every action movies of his has music ranging from Hit to Super Hit, starting from Yudh [title song 'Yudh Kar' ] to Tridev [Oye Oye], Vishwatma [Saat Samundar Paar], Mohra [Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast] and Gupt [practically all songs]. All these were action movies, which didn't carry much scope of great music but still came trumps. So expectations were high when he announced a love story called 'Pyaar Ishq Mohabbat' where he could have included all the ingredients that make for a mushy musical score. But alas, the movie as well as the music bombed. Rajiv Rai went in for a sabbatical and has confessed that he would rather stick to his roots - action, high voltage drama and zippy music - the kind, which his favorite composer Viju Shah excels in. The team is back - and with a bang!! Titled 'Asambhav - The Impossible', the movie is a high action spy thriller that boasts of being one of the kinds never seen before in a Bollywood flick. A Trimurti Films production with Gulshan Rai at the producer's seat, Viju Shah and Sameer handling the music department, 'Asambhav' stars Arjun Rampal in a slick'n'chic Tom Cruise getup a la 'Mission Impossible', Nasseruddin Shah [another regular with the Trimurti camp] and Priyanka Chopra, who provides the glamour quotient. The biggest solo hero of Arjun's career, he definitely must be banking high on this one.
Unlike his previous movies that had about 8 songs each, Rajiv Rai this time restricts 'Asambhav' to only 5 songs and an instrumental. Starting with the title song that begins as 'Raatein Badi Hain', it seems to be a climax song. Composed as a full-fledged western mode track on a set, it has average lyrics, which are somehow salvaged by the typical Viju Shah's high-electronic arrangements. Primarily sung by Hema Sardesai, this high-pitched song about 'Trying to save yourself from this situation is 'asambhav' i.e. impossible', it has interspersions of some husky recitation by Nasseruddin Shah which is least impressive. There are two things that are sorely missing in this song. One - an effective recitation by Nasseruddin Shah, which was a highlight in case of title tracks of 'Tridev' and 'Vishwatma'. Two - lavish sets that have been hallmark of Rai's movies. Examples - 'Oye Oye' [Mohra], 'Mast Mast' [Mohra] or 'Ye Pyaar Kya Hai' [Gupt]. The money may have been spent on the title song of 'Asambhav' too, but sadly it doesn't reflect. Probably the later songs may be more lavish in picturization but this one fails on this count. Nayan Rathod and Rajiv Rai are also credited on the album cover for this song, but they are restricted to the buzzword 'Boom' throughout the song!! Overall the song's highlight is Viju Shah's arrangements that manage to sustain an electrified atmosphere.
'Teri Dekh Dekh Ladkaiyan' is, surprisingly, a routine 'Guy vouching for girl's attention' kinda song where the hero, along with the troupe of his friends, is trying to ‘pataofy’ the girl while the girl is enjoying all this attention. Music too is ordinary while the lyrics are a big letdown. Admitted that the song is lively mainly due to the efficient singing of Udit Narayan and Kavita K. Subramaniyam, but in totality the song doesn't rise above average at all.
Anuradha Sriram is excellent in her semi-Arabic semi-Indian 'Mashuqa Rubi' that has strong western arrangements. A sure shot item song choreographed on a girl who knows how badly men went her, it does well for the moment but restricts itself just to that. Nayan Rathod and Rajiv Rai return to do their 'Boom' act in the track. Overall the song is an average fare that is expected to do wonders on screen if presented in a fashion as Rajiv Rai's songs are known to be.
'Main Sada Hoon' seems to be a theme song that would typically either be placed during the rolling of the titles or at various crucial junctures of the movie. A number that is composed as a self-appreciation of a super-hero with whom nothing can go wrong and he can win the world, it seems straight out of comic book fantasies. KK gives his best in this heavy duty song, Viju Shah's music is sure to sound splendid in the comfort of a state-of-art multiplex, Sameer's lyrics too will attract attention [at least from children, who may love these heroic acts], but still one feels that there could have been more to the songs of 'Asambhav' than such props.
Last song of 'Asambhav' furthers strengthens this belief as 'Koi Aayega' is yet another stage number by Sunidhi Chauhan. A song about a girl who is waiting for her 'prince charming in shining Armour atop a white horse' to come and embrace her soon, it has nothing exceptional lyrically or thematically. A fast paced number again; it doesn't stand much chance to go all the distance to get a Hit crown.
At first look when one sees the label as 'Asambhav Theme', one thinks, "OK! So yet another space filler in the album that is going to be just an instrumental of the title song"! But in fact, one is taken through one hell of a roller coaster ride during the entire duration of this rather long music piece, which is admittedly the BEST musical instrumental to have arrived in the recent times. A spell binding composition, it is techno, high voltage, has variations throughout, and can just walk into a Hollywood action movie without much trouble. Added surprise is a conversation between the two lead protagonists Nasseruddin Shah and Arjun Rampal amidst the instruments playing around them. While Nasseer's dialogue delivery is a known fact, it is Arjun who turns out to be a surprise package with his intense dialogue delivery. In all, this instrumental makes up for any of the negative thoughts about the music of 'Asambhav' that had crept in while listening to the songs.
Music of 'Asambhav' has two aspects to it - Low on substance but high on technical note!! If heard in isolation just as songs, there is not much for a music lover except for those who may appreciate the technical nuances of sound bytes. But the songs have been designed to 'sound' great when heard as a part of the movie in the luxury of a high-tech sound system of a multiplex.
 
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
