audio scan
Weak music of a grand movie

Jodhaa Akbar (UTV Music)

A film on the Great Mughal is all about grandeur and spectacle. Since Jodhaa Akbar is mounted on that lavish scale, one expects the same qualities from its music also. Unfortunately, that effect is elusive, despite the involvement of A R Rahman.

The bhajan (Man Mohanaa sung by Bela Shende) and Khwaja mere khwaja rendered by Rahman himself are a class apart but the others are rather lightweight. No, music is not at fault. It is the singing that lacks the right impact, especially in the showcased Jashn-e-Bahaara. Javed Ali’s voice is too squeamish to carry conviction. This weakness shows loud and clear because this song also has an instrumental version which is fluent and impressive.

One song that does portray splendour in good measure is the opener, Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah sung in style by Mohammad Aslam, Bony Chakravarathy and chorus. Sonu Nigam gives a good account of himself in the duet Inn lamhon ke daaman mein along with Madhushree.

The most moving composition is the instrumental version of Khwaja mere khwaja. This is the only song penned by Kashif while all others are by Javed Akhtar.

The CD pack also contains a DVD of publicity material from the film.

Race (Tips)

The music of Abbas Mustan is known for being in step with the times. Here, too, Pritam’s creations are targeted at the bubblegum pack.

That is not at all. The makers know for sure that the mix versions of even the fastest tempo songs sell better than the originals. So, they have included all the original ones and their lounge mixes—Latina fiesta mixes and Asian RnB mixes—whatever that means—in two CDs. So one can pick and choose.

As far as the singers go, it is a happy mixture of established ones like Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan and KK on the one hand and relative newcomers like Neeraj, Atif Aslam and Monali on the other.

The trained ones are expected to be polished. It is the greenhorns who impress here. Atif Aslam is particularly noteworthy in Pehli nazar mein.

Apache Indian shares the mike with Taz and Sunidhi in Mujh pe to jadoo. The song rocks.

Zara zara touch me is a good showcase for Monali. This is the only song which happens to have three versions in the album. — ASC