Music Review Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

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

'Truly massive' are the expectations one has from the music of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. There is certain legacy that Rajshri has built over the decades and with Sooraj Barjatya returning to direction, one expects nothing less than a spectacle from him. Moreover, with Salman Khan, the soundtrack needs to be as it huge as it gets. No wonder, the ones entrusted to do the job are Himesh Reshammiya, who has gone ultra-selective today as a composer, along with lyricist Irshad Kamil, who is a regular with Pritam, and hence lends a unique combination. With as many as 10 songs in there, it is a voluminous album for sure.

MUSIC

It is a celebratory start to the album from the word 'go' with Aman Trikha and Vineet Singh singing in tandem to deliver a Ram Leela number titled 'Prem Leela'. A fun number all the way which is designed for all age groups and is bound to turn huge this festive season. It is wonderful to see the manner in which the Ram-Sita-Raavan story is narrated in a musical manner with dance steps intact. Chartbuster all the way.

Palak Muchhal, the girl with a sweet voice who has to her credit some hit numbers already, steps into the Rajshri world with the title song 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'. She does quite well in the space which is otherwise reserved for Shreya Ghoshal and comes up with a rendition that would be played for many months to follow; Himesh Reshammiya gives this one a grand treatment which is befitting for a title song.

It is a 'ghazal' beginning for 'Jalte Diye' by Harshdeep Kaur and for a little while one gets an impression that this would stay in this mode right through. However, a classical interspersion later, Anweshaa takes over and the song turns out to be a romantic outing where one can well expect Sonam Kapoor and Salman Khan to get into a romantic rendezvous. A song which stays plain and simple throughout its near six minute duration, it has Vineet Singh pretty much doing what one would have expected Sonu Nigam to do in this situation. He is also supported by Shabab Sabri and together they deliver yet another melody.

This is immediately followed by a joyous 'Aaj Unse Milna Hai' which is truly in the Rajshri mode, what with Irshad Kamil's lyrics being in a conversational mode, as was the base for quite a few songs in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. It is quite nice to hear Shaan in this wonderful number which is about Salman packing bags of goodies en route the house of his lady love. With melody as the core, expect this one to be picturised quite beautifully too, hence making it a complete Barjatya experience.

Remember 'Sun Sun Kasam Se' [Kala Sona] which was sung oh-so-beautifully by Asha Bhosle and Danny Denzongpa? A similar style, coupled with traces of Yesudas' 'Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyaara' from Rajshri's Chitchor, is witnessed in 'Jab Tum Chaho', a very well sounding love song. It is good to see an unconventional mix of singers in this one with Mohammed Irfan, Darshan Raval and Palak Muchhal coming together and creating a melodic sound, which does step into the Himesh Reshammiya mode during the 'antara' portion.

After 'Prem Leela', Aman Trikha gets to sing another one in the album, 'Halo Re…'. A high on energy number which deals with Radha-Kanha episode, this one goes steps in well as a situational outing where one can well expect a Barjtaya outing with friends, families and kids surrounding the lead couple. With a good rhythm to it, this one should have good picturisation making it all the more entertaining.

The sound of 'ouch' right at the beginning of 'Tod Tadaiyya' instantly reminds one of 'Dhak Dhak Karne Laga' [Beta]. However, the naughty resemblance is for exactly two seconds as the mischief here stays in the 'Universal' zone with not even a trace of 'U/A' mood, leave aside something that is meant for 'Adults Only'. So what one gets to hear is Neeraj Shridhar and Neeti Mohan getting into a playful encounter which could well have their friends and families around them and even cheering along. A fun track which may have a 'Didi Tera Devar Deewana' [Hum Aapke Hain Kaun] setting to it.

Himesh Reshammiya brings himself on board as a singer for an emotional number 'Bachpan Kahan'. A song which is expected to play at that juncture of the film when the brothers get into a tiff with each other, it has Himesh sounding pretty uncharacteristic of his usual self. With a smooth flow to it, this one could well have been for a lullaby setting, what with an old world feel to it. A situational outing.

Towards the end, a slower 90 second version of 'Aaj Unse Milna Hai' appears again as 'Murli Ki Taanon Si' while followed another 'version' which has Aishwarya Majumdar leading charge. The two minute song blends in well with the title song 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' soon after, hence making it a complete experience even as Palak Muchhal and Shaan join in.

OVERALL

The music of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo exceeds the massive expectations one had from it. A brilliant soundtrack by Himesh Reshammiya, it is easily one of his best ever in a musical career that has spanned close to two decades now. Irshad Kamil delivers the kind of lyrics that go truly well with the ethos, ambience and milieu of a Rajshri score. Coupled with the star power of Salman Khan, the soundtrack would truly score quite a few records for 2015, till a bigger album arrives before the end of year.

OUR PICK(S)

'Prem Leela', 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo', 'Aaj Unse Milna Hai', 'Jalte Diye', 'Jab Tum Chaho', 'Tod Tadaiyya'

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more