Music review of KANK-Brilliance All The Way
The marketing whiz kid is back. He also happens to be a fine Filmmaker. Karan Johar's much awaited Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is all set for a grand August release. Its music was recently released amidst fanfare in London as well as at the IIFA Weekend in Dubai. The CD priced only at Rs. 99/- has seven brilliantly produced tracks and is complemented by a surprise video trailer as well. Composer threesome Shankar Ehsaan Loy as expected, have done an excellent job. Each song has been treated with exceptional care. There is a Kal Ho Na Ho hangover in the basic idea of the entire album, but one doesn't mind the end result as long as the final product makes you feel satiated. And asking for more!
Tum Ko Bhi Hai Khabar
Mujh Ko Bhi Hai Pata
Ho Raha Hai Juda
Dono Ka Rasta
Door Ja Ke Bhi Mujhse
Tum Meri Yaadon Mein Rehna
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna...
Wordsmith Javed Akhtar pierces the heart with simple emotions that tug at the strings binding relationships. A melancholic piano begins the proceedings interspersed by the terse flute and a chorus of violin strings. It's a song delineating upon the unpredictable distance in human bonds and the subsequent compromises. Even though the parting is inevitable, one wishes to stay connected in a subliminal undefined way. Unpretentious tabla rhythm loop, a somber flute shadowing constantly and the piano-strings combination carries the song effortlessly. Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik do full justice to the finer nuances of the layered meaning of the lyrics by incorporating a generous dose of pathos. A song you'd love to cry with while driving alone on a wet road remembering someone special when the rain has just stopped. Play it again dude.
Jo hai ankahi/ jo hai ansuni/ Voh baat kya hai bataa...Mitwa... : Love will find a way. Acoustic guitar strums along in a languid laidback manner. The rock guitar appears from nowhere followed by a tabla-dholak combo in a typical Karan-Johan style. Mitwa is one number that will rock the nation with its sheer universality. It makes your feet tap frivolously while the smile dances on your lips for the stupendous energy level in this number is infectious. A beautiful mix of Western and Indian Classical, the jugalbandi between Sarod and the peppy beats is an absolute treat. Shafqat Amanat Ali's vocals are the highlight of this song. He sings with a lot of heart and all you guys are going to hear a lot from him in the future. Shankar Mahadevan's classical alaap and Caralisa's sensuous vocals gives Mitwa a taste of fantastic opposites. It's a number that will appeal to all age groups. And has HIT written all over it.
Mitwa Revisited : the remix version by Sel and Indrajit Sharma dashes on the dance floor in a split second. It's a Club Mix with an up-tempo beat. The musical arrangements are an all out attempt at serenading the young-n-hip crowd that loves to groove to the Exceptional Beat. The flavour of the original is maintained while the female chorus Love will find a way is repeated often to give a catchy hook-line for the youngsters to scream while dancing-as-if-possessed. The catchy fillers and the vocoder effect gives this remixed delight an orgasmic feeling. Mitwa Revisited An absolute sharpshooter!
Where's the Party Tonight : is an amalgamation of It's the Time to Disco and Mahi Ve from Kal Ho Na Ho. This retro mix starts with a keyboard generated electronic sound something in the mould of Scatman followed by the trademark tabla-dholak combo. To be honest, too much of repetition of a good thing starts sounding predictable. Maybe, too much of this tabla-dholak combo should have been avoided. Thankfully, what follows is high powered electronic beats and techno sound. A song for the dance floor and it succeeds in doing that all right. Shaan and Vasundhara Das stand out for their smiling singing style while Loy does the talking like a DJ-in-the-house, Shankar Mahadevan's eclectic singing portions are needless. Nevertheless, Where's The Party Tonight, kicks bass. Play it for me baby...One more time.
Tumhi Dekho Na : starts with its cherubic piano strains, one is reminded of the title track of Kal Ho Na Ho. The Dhaphli-loop confirms it further, but then it veers into another direction. I would say, there's no harm in taking inspiration from one's own incomparable work for Kal Ho Na Ho was a fabulous number. As for Tumhi Dekho Na, well, credit goes to Alka Yagnik who sings in a brilliantly restrained manner while Sonu Nigam is his usual dependable self. An ode to love, this song celebrates the unpredictable nature of the bond between man-woman. Bonds that have no name yet exist. It's not merely friendship. The unexplained gets on the road to togetherness while the minimalistic music arrangements, compliments the need for silences. The piano piece takes the cake for its honesty. Caressing Flute sections, tingling acoustic guitar fillers and the sky of fulsome strings makes this song an enchanting experience.
Hey...What's with you baby/ I have never never felt like this way before... : ... Shaan croons in his Ronan Keating voice and the mood is set for a rock-n-roll-retro-meets-bhangra-beats. A song for the Asian expatriates living in US, UK and elsewhere. Its Shava Shava time guys, conjoined by jazz piano. With a bit of old numbers thrown in for that Sooraj Barjatya antakshari feel, this number will go down well with everybody. The picturisation of this song will make it even more endearing with the masses. Shankar Mahadevan is in his element as he traverses the various moods, pitches and flavours involved in this electrifying number. Shaan and Mahalakshmi Iyer compliment him well.
Farewell Trance : by DJ Shane is a club instrumental of the title track Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna with a few words by Shweta Pandit and Caralisa.Never ever say goodbye Angelic female chorus line dots this well produced trance track which will find better response in the clubs in UK. For in India, we are still hooked on to the voice based stuff. Somehow instrumental clubby tracks are not the usual norm out here while the kids abroad are more open to such experiments.
KANK music is oozing freshness. Moreover, the production quality is top class. It's an album that you'd love to play on and on, gift to friends and loved ones. And also treasure in your music collection of all time greats. 😃
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