Heroes

Article Updated 10 October, 2008 07:54:51 PM IST

Heroes

Boasting of some of the top names of the industry, constituting of the younger (Sohail Khan and Bobby Deol), the middle (Salman and Preity) and the senior brigade (Sunny Deol), Heroes is one of the most awaited projects of the year. The director of the magnum opus Samir Karnik started of with the Amitabh, Vivek and Aishwarya starrer, 'Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na...'. While the movie failed commercially its melodious music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy was highly appreciated. This time around Samir has gone in for Sajid-Wajid and Monty. Let us find out if Samir Karnik's ear for good music is still intact or not!

It's a warm welcome to the two most talented and versatile artists of the music industry, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Sonu Nigam (both of whom have become a rarity these days!) through the highly melodious number, 'Mannata'. The song commences with the superb combining of 'ektara', flute and piano notes and immediately transports the listener to the beautiful lush green and yellow mustard fields of Punjab. The essence is all Punjabi but the melodic content extremely high. Sonu with his absolutely mesmerizing soft vocals spins magic and Kavita is simply fab with her part. Never once does she sounds out of touch, such is her hold over the number which in parts does sound a bit familiar to J.P. Dutta's 'Tu Mera Kaun Laage' (Batwara). All those who are still in love with Sonu's 'Pehli Pehli Baar Baliye' (Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta's Sanghursh) will once again fall in love with his 'Mannata'.

Guitar strums commence 'Mannata-Lover's Paradise mix', an all out instrumental that is a treat in itself. DJ Romeo and DJ Raoul need to be commended for a job done well. Base guitaring, drumming and keyboard notes all hinging on superb synth instruments blend into a marvelously crafted version that may be used as a background rhythm in tense emotional parts of the film.

The two handsome Punjabi jats, Punjab da puttar, Sunny Deol and his younger brother, Bobby Deol come together to create another 'dhamaal' on-screen (after Apne) with the typical bhangra pop 'Makhna'. The number may sound familiar as the tune is based on a popular 'bhangra' based Punjabi folk tune In fact, the start is reminiscent of Sajid Wajid's 'Aaja Soniye' (Mujhse Shaadi Karogi) and this rollicking rhythm continues to be the backbone of the track. The boisterous fun number, which is romantically inclined in the beginning, takes the shape of a patriotic song with Sukhwinder going all out as he bells out 'Mera Bharat Mahaan Hai'. The signature tune of 'Rang De Basanti' (which too was Punjabi folk inspired) has also been used intelligently by the composers. Sukhwinder dominates the track with his earthy, robust full of feelings vocals and Soumya Raoh lends oomph with her pop, angelized accent. The number is sure to set the dance floor ablaze and will have the public dancing in the aisles in Punjab and adjoining places.

'Makhana–Killer Mix' is not exactly a remix that one could kill for, as the tune is too fast paced and does no good to the superb original.

All North Indian dialect prevails as the raunchy item number 'Badmash Launde' unfolds and one is simply aghast as the composer, Monty (of Saawariya fame) has shamelessly lifted Geeta Dutt's evergreen, classic, "Piya Aiso Jiya Mein" (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam) and turned it into a rather cheap dance track. And he does not stop at that, as with the 'antara' he tries to unsuccessfully recreate the magic of Vishal Bhardwaj's chartbuster, 'Beedi' (Omkara). Shail Hada ( pop singer), Parthiv Gohil and Rekha Rao are entrusted with the task of delivering the track and they are just about okay. The composition is a good concept gone horribly wrong because of the inspirations.

'Badmash Launde-Blasted Mix' is the usual all pace, heightened rhythm remix that one is used to in these days of remix culture.

After a disappointing dance number, Monty gets another chance to redeem himself and he comes up with the totally Western in spirit, 'Wat's Up My Bro'. The number features thrice in the album and commences with a totally hard rock base guitaring, dominated by synthesizer, plates and lots of other percussion instruments. The superb guitaring in the beginning promises a lot but the number does not keep up the momentum in the 'antara'. Kunal Ganjawala sings like a rock star. The fusion of Indian (sitar) and Western (guitar) is also done well. The result is a heady mix of a pacy, situational number that has a slight philosophical touch to it and will be used as a background score. The lyrics by Rahul B.Seth are in keeping with the demand of the script and the camaraderie between the two main male protagonists is highlighted well.

'Wat's Up My Bro-Cruiser mix' is a superb mix by DJ Romeo and DJ Raoul and in keeping with the title the number truly cruises such is the pace and the effect of the added instruments.

Shail Hada gets to render the slow, in fact, a super slow version of 'Wat's Up My Bro', a sad, situational background number. The use of paino and melancholy chorus provides the message clearly.

After the slow version pop singer Shail Hada is heard again in 'Gurbani', a Sikh devotional number which is heard during the prayer service in gurudwaras. A number to cleanse up the soul and refresh the faith and belief. One just wishes that it was not so short and a bit more fulfilling like the 'Ek Onkar' from 'Jo Bole So Nihaal' or the Sukhwinder 'Gurbani' from Santoshi's 'Halla Bol'.

Coming to the Heroes Theme, it starts with 'Wat's Up My Bro' signature tune on piano, followed by dramatic army marching /drill sounds and the pace slows down and we have the mesmerizing 'Mannata' tune and lone female chorus. And this trend continues. In short, it is a nice amalgamation of the different soundtracks of the album. The pace oscillates between slow and crescendo. A good job by the arranger Sonjay Chaudhury.

On the whole, Heroes is one of the better albums to have come out recently. It has an assortment of tracks that depict different moods in keeping with the situations in the movie. By and large, the songs maintain a uniformly good standard. The best tracks are 'Mannata' and 'Makhana' by Sajid-Wajid. Director Sameer Karnik does his reputation a world of good by showing that he has a discerning taste in music once again after 'Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na'.

Rating: 7/10

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