Music Review of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
By Abid ©2007 Bollyvista.com
Rating: 7.5/10
Credits
Producer/s: Aditya Chopra and Pradeep Sarkar
Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Music: Shantanu Moitra
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
Vocals: Babul Supriyo, K. K, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Meeta Vashisht, Pranab Biswas, Rekha Bhardwaj, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shubha Mudgal and Swanand Kirkire
Label: Yash Raj Films Music
The highly creative team of Pradeep Sarkar, Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire brought us the enchanting music of ‘Parineeta’, the melodious, soulful and original compositions still remain fresh in our memory. Needless to say, the music was universally acclaimed with the songs topping the charts and were instrumental in a large manner for the commercial success of the film. Now that the able team has tied up with the biggest production house in the industry, the Yash Raj banner, expectations soar sky high. So without wasting much time, let’s check out their latest exciting offer.
The sound of flowing river water, the tinkling bells of the temple, an alaap and then the carefree laughter of the girls and not to mention, even the bleating of a goat (all references to the daily schedule), commence the situational ‘Hum To Aise’. Since the backdrop of the movie is Benaras, a historical and pious town in Uttar Pradesh, the setting of the song is just perfect. The traditional, all Indian ‘raaga’, which is slightly folk inspired is impressive. Swanand Kirkire, who impressed one and all with his writing abilities, shows his perfect hold over the North Indian dialect (partly ‘Bhojpuri’) with some really apt, fitting-the-situation lyrics. The starting stanza “Jeb mein humri doo hee rupaiya, Duniya ko rakhein theinge pe bhaiya”, (though we are penniless, we care a damn about this materialistic world), depicts the characters of the lead artists to perfection, in fact it brings them to life. Sunidhi and Shreya complement each other with some superb singing. They sing with utmost ease, putting in the right emotions and above all the right diction. The ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ tahzeeb, the ambience of the holy city and the communal harmony, all deserve praise. Sample this - “Ek gali mein bam bam bhole, Duji gali mein allah miyan, Ek gali mein goonji azaane, Duji gali mein bansi bajaeea”. Excellent number first up!
With very next number, ‘Zara Gungunalein Chalo’ we are transported saat-samunder paar, as the composition commences with a lovely courtship ballad in French, which later turns into a nice love track. Lovely use of guitars and plates infuse depth in the composition. Babul Supriyo makes a comeback after a long hiatus and he is good as always, with Mahalaxmi giving him able support.
One of the most loved classical numbers ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’, by the versatile genius, Manna Dey, sees the light of day once again. This time it’s the queen of classical numbers, Shubha Mudgal who gets to deliver it. Though there is a disclaimer that it is not from original sound track, but its definitely the same number, as far as the raaga and even the lyrics are concerned. Full marks to Shantanu Moitra for doing justice to a brilliant piece of work. Of course much of the credit goes to Shubha Mudgal, who is absolutely mindblasting with her rendition. Meeta Vashisht too deserves accolades, as she adds that extra punch with some hard hitting monologues in ‘Shudh Hindi’, (pure Hindi) - “Manwa mein mere aandhi hai udthi, (there is a storm in my heart), Aur stabh khadi hoon main (but I stand motionless), Saason mein baandh apni hee saans(holding my breath), Nishabd khadi hoon main( I stand silent), Duniya se jeeti jeeti, Par khud se hari, Bas dhwast khadi hoon main (I have conquered the world, but I am a loser and I stand destroyed). These are feelings of the main female lead protagonist as she comes face to face with the humiliating truth, it’s her inner voice that is echoed so beautifully here. Will definitely be a treat to watch the “rani” of Bollywood, Rani Mukherjee perform on screen and take this superlative classical gem to new heights.
Nice guitar strumming paves way for a light, fun filled love song ‘Ik Teekhi Teekhi Si Ladki’. It is a song that is highly inspired by the charming, super hit number from Kishore da’s (’Chalti Ka Naam Gadi’), ‘Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si’. Nevertheless, a cute little number. The USP of the number are some really sweet and humorous lyrics (Gulzar style). The first number ‘Hum to Aise Hain Bhaiya’ has also been used well and it serves to spice up the number. K. K. and Shreya are superb as usual, though one would have preferred Sonu here, as this number is more up his alley.
Rekha Bhardwaj was last heard in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Omkara’ composition ‘Lakad’, which, like this next number, has the North Indian dialect and flavour written largely all over it. It’s a delight hearing her deliver the classical ‘Ek Thaiyaa Motiya’ in her characteristic slow drawl style. The lovely Indian musical instruments, loke, the tabla, harmonium, sitar, all suggest that this is a mujra, albeit a very classy one. The kinds that the nawabs, lords and the kings relished in their courts through nautch girls. It can be classified as a folk song too, from the North as the lyrics suggest. “Ek thaiyaa motiya heray gaily rama, Kahwa main dhoondhoon, Nathni se moti kahin gir gaya rama, Kahwa main dhoondhoon”. It’s the North Indian version of the Punjabi folk song ‘Laung Gawacha’.
The album comes to a close with ‘Kachchi Kaliyaan’, which is based on a very popular folk song sung during the traditional weddings in the North (specially in Bihar and Eastern U. P.). In fact, the song commences with that particular folk song ‘Hariyale Banne’, which forms the tune of the main song. Inspiration from ‘Holi Aayee Re Kanhai’ from ‘Mother India’, too is very evident. The composition can be called a remixed version, as all the ingredients, like Western music, beats, synthesizers and rap has been added to make it into a catchy dance number, to be sung and danced to at weddings. The talented lot, Sonu, K. K, Sunidhi and Shreya are in their elements and they really pump up the tempo with some lovely singing.
On the whole (inspirations aside), ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ is a harmonious marriage of meaningful lyrics and classy arrangements. It is bound to get a lot of critical acclaim and patronization from people who like their music to be traditional and drenched in Indian culture and melody. If publicized aggressively, it will definitely appeal to the other sections of the audience as well. It deserves to be a part of your 2007 collection.
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hum to aise,zara gungunalein chalo,kachchi kaliyaan,ik teekhi teekhi si ladki-these are catchy numbers.. overall soulful album music is good , movie lets wait & see.