Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) Music Review
This movie starring Farhan Akthar is in the news for all the right reasons. The theatrical trailer and promos of Zinda, Mera Yaar… etc have generated a great deal of curiosity and buzz about how the music is going to turn out and also due to the fact that the music is done by none other than the talented trio, SEL. So, has the music lived up to its humongous expectations? Let’s find out.
Daler Mahendi start off the proceedings with “Gurbani”. A very mellow composition with Daler Mehandi coming in to recite the lyrics written by lyricist Prasoon Joshi. The background strings reminded me of Lakshya. This 84 second track seems to be composed for a sad sequence.
The hymn of the soundtrack is the already popular “Zinda Hai tho”. It opens with a full on guitar riff, followed by Siddharth coming in to build the tempo, which then erupts into the inspirational rock song that everyone has already come to know so well. Debutant Siddharth Mahadevan (son of Shankar Mahadevan) gives it his all and, along with powerful going with riffs, the song becomes a powerful call for the protagonist establishment. Lyrics by Prasoon Joshi are just perfect. One can’t resist but keep it on LOOP.
Zinda, hain toh, pyala, poora bhar le, Kancha, phoote, choora, kaanch kar le. Zindagi ka ye ghada le. Ek saans mein chadha le, Hichkiyon mein kya hai marna! Poora mar le…
Mera Yaar starts with Soft guitar riffs, mellow note as Javed Bashir (Coke Studio fame) soulful voice carries the track through its beautiful arrangement. Of course, the icing on the cake is Prasoon Joshi’s ever-imaginative lyrics:
Woh Noor Ka Jharna Hai, Main Pyaas Puraani,Maine Aankh Se Gatak Liya, Us Husn Ka Paani,Use Takte Takte Takte, Umar Guzaaru,Koi Aur Khayal Jo Aaye to Jhat Se Utaaru.
After O Rangrez & Zinda Hu Mein this one is the next best song in the entire album.
Maston Ka Jund starts off with a rhythm by mouth, which gradually builds into a rather catchy arrangement. Maston Ka Jundh falls in the same transition of Tapkey Masti from London Dreams. It changes the tone immediately with its peppiness. Divya Kumar seems to be having fun with this song, dives into the song with full force and adds to it the energy and believability that makes the song work so well. It will grow immensely post movie release. PARADE Thamm!!
The title track Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, isn’t what you’d expect to hear as a title song for a film like this. Just when you’d think this track would be fast-paced, raw with a kick, SEL surprises us with Punjabi touch. Crooned wonderfully by Arif Lohar. Prasoon joshi lyrics are inspirational. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra presense is felt in this song, excited to see what happens in the film.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Rock Version) replaces Arif with surprise singer, Debutant Siddharth Mahadevan. Rock version features more evoking arrangements but loses legitimacy in the process.
Slow Motion Angreza, a different folk number. Song starts off with “Vol Mol Wonder” English vocal by Loy Mendonsa with Violins folk-ish Hollywood feel, where no one is sure as what to expect from the track. That’s when Sukhwinder Sigh (Ghulmil Ghulmil Launda) takes things in his hands and delivers expectedly. Loy and Shankar provide needed support in the chorus. This might be the one track in this album that begs for repeat listening.
O Rangrez, sung by Javed Bashir and Shreya Ghoshal. The song bears a strong classical essence with a great arrangement of traditional sounds, especially the Tabla, Sitar and Saarangi. Javed Bashir and Ghoshal’s passionate vocals make the song mesmerizing. Ghoshal’s smoothness compliments Javed’s voice to create a duet that rises well above the rest of the tracks in this album. 06: 25 min song never has a dull moment, a treat to music lovers.
After a while, SEL delivers a genuinely honest album that paints a unique musical impression of an upcoming film. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s influence is evident throughout the album with the Sufi and classically toned songs. Overall, a solid album that should catch on.
My Picks are O Rangrez, Zinda Hu Mein and Mera Yaar.
If you have a sportsman inside you, this movie is definitely the one that will bring it out of you…BMB is definitely a NO NON SENSE movie but still has a capability to reach the so called 100 crore bench mark…!