I always look forward to checking out Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s work…the trio is versatile, has really explored various genres of music throughout the years and has contributed some very memorable compositions to the Hindi music industry from time to time. Sure, Short Kut and Thodda Pyaar Thodda Magic weren’t OSTs to boast of, but who can forget gems such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Rudhraksh, Phir Milenge, Bunty Aur Babli, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Taare Zameen Par, Rock On!!, Sikander and London Dreams? Anyway, so I got around to listening to Karthik Calling Karthik’s compositions, which I was looking forward to since the end result of the SEL-Farhan Akthar combination is usually magical. Yup, so here are my thoughts…
Hey Ya! (4.17) is a catchy song sung by Clinton Cerejo, Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendosa, that blends rock music with hip-hop beats. It’s a well-made composition. Perfect to sing along to and dance to with friends…nice steady beats…Javed Akhtar’s lyrics are rather average, though…
I see you walking through the door,
Why won’t you look across the floor?
I got to tell you how I feel.
Oh baby you’re the only one for me.
I want to get closer to you.
I need to be closer to you.
I got to tell you how I feel.
Oh baby you’re the only one for me.
Tumhe kaise main bataaon,
Kyaa main paa gayaa hoon,
Tum jo mere saath ho.
Mujh ko duniyaa mil gayi hai,
Zindagi badal gayi hai,
Tum jo mere saath ho…
Jhuki jhuki hai yeh nazar,
Khuli khuli hain yeh baahein.
Haule haule dil yeh gaaye…
Uff Teri Adaa (5.06) has that familiar SEL feel…brings back memories of Mitwaa and It’s The Time To Disco…Nonetheless, it’s still pleasant to listen to…easy on the ears, light listening. I enjoyed the classical style rendition of Shankar Mahadevan (I wish other MDs used his voice more often!) Alyssa Mendonsa also has nice, deep voice. Sadly, Javed Akhtar really does a terrible job with the lyrics…
Lehraaki, balkhaake, tu duniyaa bhoolaake naach
Dhun koi gungunaa le, gaa le, tu gaa ke naach…
Uff teri adaa, I like the way you move.
Uff teraa badan, l like to see you grove.
Uff teri nazar, it says I want to dance with you.
Hosh hai meraa saaraa kho gayaa.
Jaane Ye Kya Hua (4.04 ) is a soft, slow-paced composition, and K.K. is the perfect choice to sing this song. The use of the harmonica also gels well with the laid back mood of the song. I just wish the lyrics actually bothered to convey something memorable…
Jaane yeh kyaa huaa?
Hum dono kaa yun milnaa,
Aise paas aanaa,
Jaane yeh kyaa huaa
Ab har pal anjaanaa hai,
Dekho honaa hai aur kyaa?
Jaane kyun lagtaa hai,
Dheere se, haule se,
Geet koi dil hai gaa rahaa hai…
Hmm…okay…
Kaisi Hai Ye Udaasi (6.07) is a beautiful, tehraav filled composition. Although, I do feel the use of the flute for “udaasi” waale songs is a bit clichéd. Kailash Kher’s voice is always a treat to listen to, but what really blew me away was Sukanya Purayastha’s rendition (at 3.59 into the song) and even the lines she got to sing are amazing—
Tu hi bataa eh dil mere,
Maine toh hameshaa teraa hi kahaa maanaa hai.
Kyun hai mujhe yeh gham gehre?
Mujhe umr bhar kyaa bas yehi sazaa paanaa hai?
Sapne boye maine aur dard maine hai kaate.
Gaaye geet maine aur paaye sannaate.
Aarzoo naakaam hai,
Sooni si har shaam hai…
Deep sigh, lol.
I also liked the lines--
Raahon mei yaadon ki khaamoshi barse,
Ankhon mei jo gham hai aansoon ko tarse.
Yeh bataa yeh kyun huaa?
Bujh gayaa kyun har diyaa?
Karthik Calling Karthik (3.11) brings together singers Shankar Mahadevan, Caralisa Monterio, Malika Singh and Suraj Jagan (Aal Izz Well and one of my favorite Rock On!! songs--Zehrelay’s--singer) has some cool techno sounds…Nothing memorable, though.
Karthik 2.0 (4.06) is another rock flavored theme piece with vocals provided by Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale. Theek-thaak hai…Nothing khaas.
There are remixes of Hey Ya! And Uff Teri Adaa and also a theme remix of Karthik Calling Karthik…I have an apathy towards most remixes (exceptions include the superb remix of Raat Ke Dhaai Bajey from Kaminey and a couple of Himesh Reshammiya songs’ remixes), so I’m going to stay away from commenting on these three remixes.
Overall, Karthik Calling Karthik is a pleasant OST with some melodious, easy-on-the-ears compositions including Hey Ya!, Uff Teri Ada and Kaisi Hai Yeh Udaasi. Nothing exceptional. More of an enjoy-it-while-its-recent OST.
I’m really, really shocked with the average lyrics by Javed Akhtar…there’s no doubt that the man is talented and surly knows how to write beautifully when he wants to…but this time around his lyrics were rather clichéd and stale…If you’re going to offer lyrics in your composition then might as well bother to actually say something memorable…no, that doesn’t mean you have to throw in Urdu words every other line…but for God’s sake kuch toh poetry daalo!
No, sorry, I’m not going to provide a numerical rating for the OST…I don’t think music deserves to be labeled with a number…music is meant to be listened to and experienced. Whether a particular listener enjoys an OST, album or song is subjective. |
