EBolly

Music Review: Kabul Express (2006)

Director : Kabir Khan
Producer : Aditya Chopra
Cast : Arshad Warsi,John Abraham,Salman Shahid,Hanif Humghum,Linda Arsenio
Music Director : Raghav Sachar
Lyrics: Aditya Dhar
Cassettes and CD’s on : Yash Raj Music
Singers : Raghav Sachar, Sunidhi Chauhan, K.K., Shubha Mudgal

It’s different! After a long time there’s an album which has been so experimental and yet quite classy. For a movie which has settings in a barren land of Afghanistan, the album has the right theme and situational songs. Yash Raj Films’ most different venture Kabul Express also is the banner’s most different and experimental soundtrack in the form of this album. The movie being adapted on the director Kabir Khan’s documentary on Afghanistan doesnt leave much scope for any songs. It is an OST (Original sound track) which was developed for this movie by the young and talented Raghav Sachar. The lyrics have been penned down by newcomer Aditya Dhar who writes a very impressive ‘Banjar’ in the album. Raghav Sachar is the Indi-pop artist who has the amazing talent of playing 24 instruments. He has shown his prowess in the album by providing it a very emaculate soundtrack.

Kabul Fiza (Singer : Raghav Sachar)
Ratings: 3/5
The opening track is a fusion composed by a good blend of Middle-eastern, Indian and western music. It is a digitalised track sung by Raghav himself, who proves to be a good crooner as well. The song has a lot of instruments in it. From techno music to very basic tabla, flute etc. have been used in it. The song begins as a western number then takes the form of a welcome qawalli. The song tries to be a fusion of Indo-western but overall, it remains a western and digitalised song. Quite a good try!

Banjar (Singer: Shubha Mudgal)
Ratings: 3/5
A very beautifully written number by newcomer Aditya Dhar, has a very powerful appeal to it. The song is quite apt for the barren land of Afghanistan, which gets a deeper meaning in context of the movie. It has been crooner by Shubha mudgal who lends her own touch to the song. Again, an amazing musical arrangement done by Raghav and adds on the right flavour to the mood of the song, which enhances its melody even farther. Great work Raghav!

Keh Raha Mera Dil (Singer: Raghav Sachar)
Ratings: 3/5
A very Indian number with a melodious touch to it. The kind which is catchy and gets you humming once you hear it . The song has an opening and an end with the Flute played alongside guitar, which gives it a very soft and slow feel. There is the use of tabla and dholki at the middle stage of the song which makes it foot-tapping as well. All in all a very mild and nice composition.

Kabul Express Theme Instrumental (Singer: Julius Packiam)
Ratings: 3/5
Another theme song that captivates you. The music arrangement is different from any ordinary film or non-film song. It has an international feel to it. Raghav has done a brilliant job to create the right ambience for the mystic voice of Julius Packiam. The lyrics talk about the wars that left Afghanistan in ruins. The number is apt for being a backgrounder for the movie and will mesmerize the audience for sure!

Banjar - Lounge Mix (Singer: Sunidhi Chauhan)
Ratings: 3.5/5
The song is the digitalised version of the original Banjar track in the album. The number is high paced and classy. Sunidhi Chauhan is very impressive and makes an impact with her voice. There is force and vigour in her voice which is captured by an intelligently less instrumental composition by Raghav. The song stands out in the album and is a treat for the years thanks to Sunidhi Chauhan.

Yeh Main Ayaa Kahaan Hoon (Singer: Raghav Sachar)
Ratings: 3/5
A soft and pensive number which sounds as a situational track for the movie. Raghav lives up to his image of an Indi-pop artist with this soothing number sung in the quest for God. The song uses a lot of western instruments along with the usual guitar nad drums’ arrangement. Though, Raghav impresses as a singer in this particular track.

Kabul Fiza Theme- Instrumental (Singer: Raghav Sachar)Ratings: 3/5
The album also has this short instrumental on the Kabul Fiza theme. The number is completely middle-eastern, along with flute and techno sound given to it. All kinds of instruments have been used to give it the feel of an apt background score.

Kabul Fiza - Remix (Singer: Raghav Sachar)
Ratings: 3.5/5
A very fast and peppy number which proves to be a real foot tapper. The song is good to dance to as well. A high tempo sound track with a very western feel to it. The song is high on beats and again has a good musical arrangement. Raghav proves his talent again with this treat-for-your-ears number. Brilliant!

Banjar - Revisited (Singer: K.K.)
Ratings: 4/5
When you get K.K. behind the mike for such a beautifully written song all you get is pure magic. The powereful song gets the zing feel thanks to a very impressive crooning by K.K. The song is digitalised and has an amazingly fast and captivating musical arrangement. A real foot-tapper is by far the best track in the album. The combo of great words, amazing voice and an impressive musical arrangement brings the track to a level much higher than any of the recent Bollywood releases.

All in all, the track is purely experimental and the U.S.P. of the album is the very impressive Raghav Sachar. Both as a composer and singer he’s been emaculate. The album is different than the ussual stuff we hear these days. If you really want some good music to come out of your players, then this is your best bet.

Ratings: 3/5

Popularity: 1% [?]