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Music Review: Umrao Jaan

Producer-Director: J P Dutta
Cast: Aishwariya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty and others
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Music: Anu Malik
Album: T-Series
Songs: 10

Introduction:

J P Dutta’s remake of the yesteryear’s classic Umrao Jaan’s music is out. The music of Dutta’s films has always been rated high and soothing to ears. This one of ‘Umrao Jaan’ leaves the whole lot of Dutta’s previous films’ music behind and rides on the top. Anu Malik has been attached to J P Dutta’s films over the years giving pleasing scores to enjoy with. With ‘Umaro Jaan’, he once again has been hired along with the legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar to handle the music department. Both present their utmost skills to make this album a classic like the past’s ‘Umaro Jaan’. In yesteryear’s ‘Umaro Jaan’, Rekha played the leading protagonist whereas in the current flick the world’s gorgeous woman Aishwariya Rai enacts the character. No comparisons….since both look stunning in the role. Let’s have a journey with the soundtrack now.

1) Salaam (Alka Yagnik)

This classic album begins with a super soothingly melodious track ‘Salaam’. Sung by none other than the spongy cuckoo of singing Alka Yagnik, the number instantly glides on the listener. Alka catches the rhythm brilliantly and mesmerize the listeners from tip to toe. She aptly presents the mood of the song in her rendition. The magically scribbled down lyrics by the maestro Javed Akhtar appear to be the real mirror of the era taking you to the epoch that belongs to this saga. The enthralling poetry simply rocks and gets you utterly soaked with the mellifluously sugar-coated pleasures emerged from it. Anu Malik compiles the tunes very creatively leaving no stone unturned. The musician with adroit mind truly understands the situation of mujra and then appositely stockpiles the composition. The promos of the song have been airing on all satellite channels featuring the definition and the princess of beauty Aishwariya Rai in the lead doing mujra in a mehfil. The set is skillfully made and depicts the genuine picture of the mujra mehfil. Aishwariya Rai looks ravishingly gorgeous. The costumes have been designed masterly. Choreography is first rate. A squashy mujra track to enjoy with, it deserves to be repeated over and over again.

Rating: 9.5/10

2) Pehle Pehle (Alka Yagnik)

The beauty continues with the next track on the album, ‘Pehle Pehel’ that soothes the souls with the nicely maintained composition and singing. The sounds of ‘ghunghroo’ entice the ears. Alka Yagnik once again gets behind the mike to allure the listeners. Yagnik displays her histrionics and the rich experience very luminously that one starts thinking if she is not attached to Hindi cinema, what will happen to the world of Bollywood? No harm in saying that she is one of those figures of Bollywood without whom the Hindi filmdom seems incomplete. A romance number with the apt feel of mujra, it has been dashed off very creatively by the creative poet Javed Akhtar. Anu Malik proves that Dutta’s choice of hiring his services is absolutely correct.

Rating: 9/10

3) Behka Diya Humein (Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik)

The opening of this song is based around classical notes and once the track begins to make waves on the player, it spells magic with the listener. A duet, it is sung by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik. The romance filled number, ‘Behka Diya Humein’ presents the superbly spellbinding rendition of the vocalists who are affluent in singing and have solid grip over the art. The mesmerizing lyrics by Javed Saab truly personify the mood of love whilst Anu arranges the tunes which are simply breathtaking in every manner.

Rating: 9/10

4) Jhute Ilzaam (Alka Yagnik)

The way Alka Yagnik croons the opening lines gets you caught in her magic skills. Filled with touching poetry, ‘Jhute Ilzaam’ reveals the leading woman Umrao Jaan’s feeling for her sheer love in an apposite style that attracts a lot. Alka steals the show with her perfect singing. Javeed Akhtar’s pen spells magic and Anu’s rich in tunes mind lifts the song to the heights.

Rating: 8.5/10

5) Main Na Mil Saku Jo Tumse (Alka Yagnik)

Alka Yagnik again moors the belts to win the hearts and yes she does with this song ‘Main Na Mil Saku Jo Tumse’ that has tragic feel attached to it and Anu Malik does great with the apt tunes. Javed Saab impresses too with the lyrics.

Rating: 8.5/10

6) Pooch Rahe Hai (Alka Yagnik)

Alka Yagnik, who is everywhere on the album, trills this mujra song with ease. The poetry and the music both lure. Although the composition looks old nonetheless it a good journey to be along.

Rating: 8/10

7) Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya (Richa Sharma)

A very classy track, ‘Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya’ appears next on the soundtrack. It tells a woman’s prayer to God not to bless her with a girl in her next birth. Rich Sharma this time around gets the mike from Alka Yagnik who has been there on the album from the beginning. Richa, who is considered to be a true fit for this ilk of song, very brilliantly sings the lines. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics ooze like the life of the song whereas Anu Malik does the rest to make it worthwhile.

Rating: 9/10

Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya – Second Version

The second version of this track holds a surprise package for the listeners. Well, Anu Malik’s daughter is there to endow you with her singing. Aptly she croons but since she is very young and a newborn singer on Bollywood block, her voice cracks. Nevertheless the song is appealing.

Rating: 7.5/10

9) Ek Toote Huye Dil Ki

A shorter number, it is sad and slow and sung brilliantly well by Alka Yagnik. It revolves around the forlorn Umaro. The center of attraction of this song is the composition and specially the creative poetry of Javed Saab works magic.

Rating: 8.5/10

10) Foreword (Read Out by Javed Akhtar)

Javed Akhtar reads a 40 seconds foreword in the end of the album. And all and sundry know this creative poet-writer’s marvelous dexterity to inject life in any piece he reads. This foreword unzips Lucknow and introduces the heritage of the city, Umrao Jaan and her poetry. The narration of Javed Saab is a magic that takes you in the past era of Umrao and you find yourself walking on the beautiful locales of that Lucknow. This is the magical beauty of the man who narrates this superbly with breath-arresting style and mesmerizing voice.

Rating: 9.5/10

Overall:

‘Umrao Jaan’ is a classy album in every sense of the word swathed with the sugar-coated enthralling classical based songs to stay and enjoy with. The expectation from the melodies master Anu Malik were high and he very aptly fitted the bill. Undoubtedly ‘Umrao Jaan’ fetches the top place amongst the best soundtracks of the year 2006. A quality album, it will make big sales from the music stands. ‘Umaro Jaan’ does not have the music that stays for a particular period with the listeners rather it has everlasting effects.

Overall Rating: 9/10

REVIEWED BY GOHER IQBAL PUNN (Bollywood Analyst)

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