This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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The director last made a film called Teen Thay Bhai that did not have any recall-worthy track. This time, since the film is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar for Excel Entertainment, we expect a decent or better soundtrack despite the offbeat title. The music is by Ram Sampath, the jingle whiz, whose film soundtracks include Khakee, Family, Delhi Belly and Excel's Talaash too, so our hopes are raised more.
Music
However, the first thing that arrests one's attention is that Fukrey is an unique soundtrack for Excel Entertainment – unique because it is their first album in 12 years (and 11 films) that has lyrics by someone other than Javed Akhtar, father to Excel's co-producer Farhan Akhtar.
The lyrics are shouldered by Munna Dhiman, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba (the film's director) and Vipul Vig, the film's co- writer and are the highlights of the score, meaningful, light in tenor and bitingly satirical when needed. Clearly, this score is about situational numbers.
The songs celebrate the protagonists being fukrey (show-offs or big talkers) to lucky breaks in fortune and also use a paean to God for getting the characters to a better station in life. There is also the adaptation of a Punjabi folk song, 'Ambarsariya', that is the only romantic track on the thematic album. Ram Sampath's tunes are contemporary, apt for the setting of the film (in Delhi) and variegated.
Rock tenors complement Punjabi percussive beats and a wild abandon in the vocals in the title-track, 'Fuk Fuk Fukrey' (Amjad Bagadwa-Ram Sampath), which has the perfect street-side ambience. Vig's lyrics are saucy, like Ladki ghamandi jeb hai thandi / Maang udhaar ho jaa lachaar / Maal bane to phasega tota / Shirt pe thoda deo to maar!
The celebration song 'Beda Paar' begins with some techno gimmickry but settles down into a rhythmic fusion-like feel. Mika Singh gets into the spirit with an infectious rhythm and Tarannum Malik provides the softer, contrasting relief. The attention-getting line (Lamba) here is very identifiable for the have-nots: having achieved money, the guy says Ab to hum khaayenge beta dono time chicken.
The jingle-like rhythm of another celebratory number 'Lag Gayi Lottery' (Ram Sampath-Tarannum Malik) continues this blend of folk and Western with a filmi touch. The best part of the track is the smooth flow even as the song traverses different rhythmic grooves, so at no point do we get a hybrid, uneven feel.
The best track on the album, resembling the good old qawwalis we have been hearing from the '70s and '80s, is the Kailash Kher-Keerthi Sargathia ace 'Karle Jugaad Karle', with its rich melody. A deadly combination of Sufi melodies and satirical lyrics (opposite genres in music actually!), the song arrests immediate attention thanks to its exquisite melody and Kher's inspired singing. The cross-line (where the antara returns to the mukhada) is the highlight of this supple song that inarguably is one of Ram Sampath's finest compositions. The lyrics by Dhiman are razor-sharp in their satire (Ummeedon bhi nahin teeki hai nahin teeki hai yeh duniya teeki hai jugaad pe) and cynicism (Sadak pe gira note uthaa le / Koi to kahaayegi hi tu khaa le / Aankhen na phaad jeb bhar lena / Saare karte hain tub hi kar lena).
'Rabba' (Clinton Cerejo-Keerthi Sargathia-Ram Sampath), another rhythmic folk song, has clever lyrics (Dhiman again), beseeching the Almighty making a hole in the box that has all their dreams locked within it!
'Ambarsariya', the Punjabi folk song adapted here, is extremely melodious, but the orchestration with guitar riffs seems a tad incongruous for the song, even if the intention may be to impart a novel touch. Sona Mohapatra is technically a very good singer, but guess a little more open-throated rendition and livelier expression would have done a world of good to this haunting song.
Overall
Though its reception will depend on the box-office fate of the film, it is a soundtrack that is definitely worthy for the discerning listener. The trick will lie in making the songs appealing to the wider consumers including the youth with the right promotion.
Our Picks
'Karle jugaad karle,' 'Rabba', 'Ambarsariya'
Music: Ram Sampath
Lyrics: Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, Munna Dhiman & Vipul Vig
Label: T-Series
Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more
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