Too much of SEL Cliche. Review on Salaam-E-Ishq Songs

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy started the year 2006 with “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” soundtrack which had Karan Johar sound all over and moreover except for Mitwa the album suffered a lot with SEL cliché and serious ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ hangover. But same cannot be said about “Don”. I liked it very much; it was a better soundtrack with lot of new sounds and experiments. The recent ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ falls somewhere in between. In some songs at some places SEL susprises us with their usage of new genres of music, sounds, rhythms and tunes but at others they simply lack freshness in the sense that it sounds a lot like their own previous hit numbers.

Dil Kya kare is refreshing and catchy from the word go. Adnan Sami is apt for the song for the reason that he sings the song that is composed to be so light and casual in exactly the way it has to be sung with casual hmms, ohs at right places and one need not mention about his expressions. SEL never gets tired of acoustic guitar and piano; these are two most important ingredients of SEL’s melodies which gave the identity to SEL’s music. Listen to the piano and guitar piece sprinkled all through, which adds more lightness to the song. The form of music they have chosen is quite unique for this type of song (the kind of surprise that I meant before) and this factor makes this song a standout among the others in the soundtrack.

Saiyaan Re is catchy, peppy and foot tapping but its biggest problem is that it tries hard to imitate “Kajra re” in every aspect. They have managed to bring in a voice which sounds like Alisha. We have lot of sitar bits and qawali beats and since it is a SEL’s track we also have techno beats and synth bass which actually give a promising start but pushed to the background later with Tabla taking the lead. I wish SEL comes out of the “Kajra re” syndrome soon.

Mera Dil is another song that falls under the sounds-like category. It sounds a lot like many of SEL’s songs especially when the song often reaches the peak with “Mera Dil” bit, the guitar usage and beats reminds us “Mitwa” song. The vocal tune is actually a good melody but deliberate attempt to make the song peppier with catchy rhythms brings down the sweetness of the tune. You can realize the sweetness of the melody when just before the end, when singers sing the song without any rhythm or orchestration except for a bass line and a mellifluous flute piece in the background.

In spite of the heavy Karan Johar flavour, the title track “Salaam-E-Ishq” rocks with never resting percussions and techno beats. The best part of the song is the theme played with bagpiper. I think this is the tune that is played in the promos. Actually it took a while for me to like this song, as it again had sounds-like feel, but once you stop doing such researches, the song is a highly enjoyable dance number.

Tenu Leke sounds like a marriage song. The usage of trumpet and brass playing the main tune which itself is catchy makes the song catchier, and not to leave the bhangra beats with typical synth bass line. SEL know how to sandwich the mediocre middle portions of the song in between catchy bits, so that as a whole the song arrests the attention of the listeners.

Babuji is a simply mind blowing track with a minimal orchestration and light beats. Especially it comes as a relief after so many songs with heavy beats. The tune is instantly likeable. Sight variations every now and then in the beats and orchestration, the flute usage and above all the voice and singing of a new singer Nihira are excellent. This song is odd man out of this soundtrack but in a good sense.

Ya Rabba has beautiful instrumental pieces put together but the song as a whole leaves no impression except for the “Ya rabba” bit.

So as whole I am partly very much satisfied and partly dissatisfied with SEL’s work in this soundtrack. Mera Dil Chahtha hai yet another “Dil Chahtha hai” from SEL.

3.5