Jhootha Hi Sahi

EXPECTATIONS A couple of years back, A.R. Rahman and Abbas Tyrewala created a very good musical outing in the form of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa. But naturally, you do expect something magical all over again in Jhootha Hi Sahi as well. Of course, this one is not a traditional romcom that would result in those template created songs that time and again do fit into the situation. Jhootha Hi Sahi has a telephone instrument pretty much playing the other lead character as well and hence you do expect lyricist Abbas Tyerewala and composer A.R. Rahman to do something different from what is conventional. Still, a feel good score is what you do want to hear eventually.

MUSIC Honestly, you don’t quite warm up to the opening number ‘Cry Cry’ instantly. The slow movement of the song coupled with some very simple, though average sounding lyrics, don’t make you sit up and notice beyond a point. While Rashid Ali begins crooning this song about being happy in life rather than worrying about things which are not in one’s control, Shreya Ghoshal joins in only after half of ‘Cry Cry’ is through. However, the fact remains that despite giving the song a repeated hearing, it doesn’t quite settle down to be the kind of number that qualifies as an opening track in an album. Slightly taken aback by this time, one plays on ‘Maiyya Yashoda’ that comes next. This is one of the unlikeliest of Rahman compositions though one doesn’t mind that as the simplicity factor pretty works this time around. A festive number about the folk fare of Krishna, his ‘Yashoda maiyya’ and the ‘gopis’, ‘Maiyya Yashoda’ arrives in a ‘desi Jamuna Mix’ and a ‘videsi Thames mix’. The two versions highlight the cultural dissimilarities due to Jamuna and Thames rivers to be on the opposite sides of the continents. Though the songs do bring on some energy into the album, you still are in lookout for the kind of songs that make an A.R. Rahman soundtrack something special. Thankfully you start getting a glimpse of that with ‘Hello Hello’ coming in next. This one could well qualify as a theme track since it narrates the tale of the protagonist who – as the receiver of a hotline number – is attached to his phone instrument. Though from the theme perspective, it does remind one of the title theme track of Karthik Calling Karthik, in spirit it is far livelier when compared to the dark undertone that the Farhan Akhtar version carried. However, the wait to hear something remarkable is finally over with Sonu Nigam coming up with one of the best songs rendered by him – ‘Do Nishaaniyan’. Not just the music arrangements are fantastic; the overall flow of ‘Do Nishaaniyan’ is extremely pleasant as well that makes one play on the number repeatedly. Reminding one of the kind of Mohd. Rafi numbers from the 60s, though presented in a contemporary manner, ‘Do Nishaaniyan’ not just promises to make an impact in the film’s narrative but also stay on with the music lover to be played for many more months to come. No wonder, the song deservedly appears in much slower ‘Heartbreak version’ as well. Have you already been impressed with the sound that accompanies the talkie promo of Jhootha Hi Sahi? In that case, there is a reason to celebrate as most of it actually comes from the fun track ‘Pam Pa Ra’. A sweet song about a girl being happy with the conversation that she had with a stranger on the hotline, this Shreya Ghoshal rendered track has a heart felt appeal to it and brings on the expected exuberance of the protagonist. Expect some gloss and fluorescence when this song appears on screen. Vijay Yesudas brings on an international experience with his Hinglish track ‘I’ve Been Waiting’ which has a jazzy blue feel to it. Reminding one of ‘My Heart Is Beating’ [Julie] even though this one is different in theme and spirit, ‘I’ve Been Waiting’ works even though it has some heavy duty poetry forming the Hindi lyrics. This one is for a romantic night out and is bound to make your heart beat go even slower if it is in anticipation of your beloved’s arrival. Beginning the album with ‘Cry Cry’, Rashid Ali ends it with much better ‘Call Me Dil’. In fact one really wonders why this song didn’t arrive at the very beginning of the album since it has an intrinsic sweetness to it that would have set the context of the film there and then. Telling the tale of the protagonist who is required to hide his identity as someone on the other side of the hotline, it also features the words Jhootha Hi Sahi that lay the foundation of the song.

OVERALL Jhootha Hi Sahi starts on a jerky note and actually takes some time to settle down. However once it does, it turns out to be a pleasant sounding album that has at least a couple of songs that have a long lasting appeal, if not instant. These A.R. Rahman songs may not turn out to be roaring chartbusters now. Still, it can pretty much be rest assured that if the film works at the box office, the music too would find itself in much demand. Also, for those who can get a hand on the wonderfully packaged ‘Collector’s Edition’, there is also a Karoake CD of all the songs to play around with.

OUR PICK(S) Do Nishaaniyan, Call Me Dil, Pam Pa Ra