ARR, Mohit and the Musical Treat. Review on Rockstar Songs

After attempting to write a review of the movie in my previous post, I still think I have not been able to give true justice to it. Especially the soundtrack and work of  A R Rehman is so enchanting, that just one paragraph in my previous blog on the music seems an as low as the total popularity  Ra.One received. So here I am opening word again to write something about that part of the movie which made the love story appear as a rock movie, the experience made memorable rather than an endurance test, the Music. This post is just about the songs, in the order which I liked them.

Jo bhi mein: probably you won’t be thinking this would be the first song on the list. This appears as the first song and then it comes many a times as a background song. Just first line makes you think a lot, in addition to the supreme soothing vocals of Mohit, the lyrics of this one are particularly beautiful, its well before he is consumed by the rage, the music is mellow, soothing, the background guitar sounds a lot like  Pearl Jam or deep purple, this song truly conveys a struggling musician, still missing those lyrical pieces. He has found his music, his notes, but somehow the words are sometimes missing.

Hawa Hawa: When our hero is in Prague, he finds a gang of street performers, the violins and percussions helps him find the https://lyrics. The lyrics are basically a story, he is still fit to write the composition and tunes, and he just goes along with the music and creates a story. The Spanish flavor of the music is fascinating. I particularly loved  Mohit Chauhan’s voice modulation, he just goes smoothly singing as a true Spanish street performer. The song is cheerful, does not pack much of emotion but then the emotions are not the purpose of this one, that would be in the next

Aur ho: Just close your eyes, and let Mohit’s supreme command on the notes sway you in the depths of his despair, our hero is in a grave dilemma. ARR returns with the heavy Base, background organs, and most effectively the deep operatic vocals of the lady singer. I have always loved the operatic angelic vocals; they do not need words to send a chill down your spine, such an amazing command on vocals and the emotions of the audience can only be achieved by opera.

Nadan Parinde: for a while let’s try and ignore the stupidity  Imtiaz Ali forces us to see just after the song and try to listen to the song, only till the last note. The opening is with a nice percussion, something ARR always loves to incorporate. I was unable to decide confidently over the guitar solos of Sadda Haq vs percussions of this one. But I guess this one won, because of the sad overtone the song has. This also has an amazing ending, something which reminds you of 3 doors down kinds of bands.

Sadda Haq: Probably the only song, which really justifies the title of the movie. Here is the point where as a person he has failed to fit in the rules of society. I’d dare say to justify his unethical desires; he has to convince the masses. The only way is to yell. Metal is not really acceptable in  Indian cinema crowd, so though there are a couple of heavy riffs, the song has to remain mellow. Guitar work of this song is particularly good, something that reminds you of Poets of the fall or the likes. The song is perfect if you are asking first time in your life what is head banging. This song has everything to make it a commercial success which it has already done. It’s particularly worth noticing that it didn’t have to fall to the likes of songs which are created just for the sake of it, like the next one.

Sheher mein: anyhow you listen to it, the utter ridiculousness of the song never fails to impress. I don’t know if it’s just me, who feels the song is great mockery of the current musicals our movies have. The lyrics have absolutely no meaning, overall it feels a nice satire. If it’s not the intended reaction then I have failed totally to perceive it. There are couple more songs which fit the bill if not perfectly.

Katiyan Karun and Darga  Bhajan: I admit, I didn’t hate these songs as such, but I feel the songs were not made for the movie named Rockstar. This is the song which tells you the movie is in fact a love story; the title Rockstar is totally deceiving. These days it feels, we have a pressing need(from producers or audience?) to include at least one Punjabi song though there is no reason or purpose of the song to exist. Same is the case with the Sufi Bhajan’s. We just have to have one in each movie these days. The song particularly is not at all bad. ARR does not produce bad things, but then I felt it misplaced. It feels kind of insurance policy for the movie’s music release.

Apart from these there is one which is not particularly a song, but an instrumental. I have always loved instrumentals and Shehnai and Guitar are both odd instruments to couple together. Once again ARR shows his musical mastery and artistry. The duet is absolutely fabulous. I just kept it at the end as I was not sure where to place it with the rest. It’s not fair to compare the songs with instrumentals; I have always favored the instrumentals. Vocals are just obstruction to pure perception of the art.

Nothing rest of the musical section I can remember any more. After a long time I have found so many good songs in single movie. It feels really nice to listen to an entire album which is worth listening multiple times. Let’s hope the Indian musical industry keeps coming up with more likes of ARR and less of  Pritam and  Anu Malik.