Music Review Khoobsurat

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…Expectations:

The soundtrack is mainly created by Sneha Khanwalkar, who is more of a curator of music than a composer. But since the film is a co-production of Anil Kapoor and a remake of the classic Hrishikesh Mukherjee film Khubsoorat, we do have expectations.

Music:

The music is irreverent, cobbled up with major folk influences of diverse kinds, though the apt royal flavour of the characters and the setting of the film do not really come through. The comic feel does come up unevenly, but we could have wished for both better ('Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai') and more easily understandable ('Baal Khade') lyrics.

Sneha first takes off with her take on the Rajasthani folk song, 'Anjan Ki Seeti Mein Mharo Man Dole', which has had several versions, including by Anu Malik in the 1991 Maa. However, this time the wordings are not only 'modernized' but we get that now-ubiquitous obsession with the human posterior with the first line, 'Engine Ki Seeti Mein Mhaaro Bum Dole'.

Though Sunidhi Chauhan sings with the necessary gusto and expressive touches and the apt sounds of the locomotive whistle are employed, the song still ends up as very average and is the kind you forget fast, despite the folk base.

The lyrics (Ikram Rajasthani), however, are amusing and quaintly worded ('Kabhi kabhi to lagta hai main hi hoon rail') by and large and make up for the musical clutter.

Sneha's other collaboration with Sunidhi, 'Baal Khade', is a heady and pulsating number, and Sunidhi once again shows her vocal finesse by taking on a very folksy, almost Ila Arun-esque voice. However, while we loved the desi beats, we wish that the lyrics (Sunil Chaudhary) were more comprehensible. Also the orchestration is overpowering, leading to a consistent degree of cacophony – for a soft romantic comedy!

The best track is undoubtedly 'Preet', sung by newcomer Jasleen Kaur Royal. Amitabh Verma, a talented lyricist who shone in some songs in the last decade ('Jal jal ke dhuan ho rahaa man' in the 2005 film Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, for example) twists a traditional and centuries-old Meera poem with expertise, while Jasleen, though a shade raw, sings with twinkle-toed, husky innocence.

The rhythmic feel given to this originally devotional song is beautifully done, and shows that Sneha can do good work when determined and not obsessed with over-production. This is the only placid song in the score.

Next up is the funky 'Maa Ka Phone' with Amitabh Verma traversing amusing lyrical terrain, though this time musical clutter once again dominates the voices (Priya Panchal with Mouli Dave). There is also a heavy amount of repetition of lines that prolongs the song by at least a minute. Nevertheless, the song has its moments in the vocals.

Finally, Badshah's sole contribution as lyricist-composer, 'Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai' (sung by Badshah with Aastha) is a song designed to be as boringly clichéd and as wannabe Honey Singh as possible. There is even a brazen reference to Honey's 'Aunty Police Bula Legi' (Boss) and the tenor and feel of the song suggests that Badshah is doing some kind of Yo Yo between himself and that lucky musician of the times. The lyrics fail to amuse and there is another reference to 'Bum' somewhere.

Overall:

This is a very average score with a couple of tracks that will work for a week or two, like the corny 'Abhi To Party Shuru Hui Hai.'

Our Pick:

'Preet', 'Engine Ki Seeti'

Music: Sneha Khanwalkar & Badshah
Lyrics: Ikram Rajasthani, Badshah, Sunil Chaudhary, Amitabh Verma & Sneha Khanwalkar
Music Label: T-Series

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more