"Namastey London" music review

By Satyajit - Eye TV India Bureau/Smash Hits - India

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Bollywood has always delivered cross culture films in every phase and decade that has reflected the importance of Indian values and tradition. Vipul Shah takes a plunge at this issue with his fresh offering 'Namastey London' featuring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in lead roles.

The album brings back the color and grace of Himesh Reshammiya with the added attraction "Mehfil mix" versions voiced by lyricist Javed Akhtar. Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and UK rock band RDB also render one soundtrack each in their typical musical style. 'Namastey London' promises entertainment with seven original soundtracks followed by eleven remix soundtracks in a 2 CD pack.

Chakna Chakna: Himesh Reshammiya gets into the soul of club crooner as he punches out stylish Punjabi disco soundtrack "Chakna Chakna" in his loud and pompous nasal twang. The number has sensuous musical touch of UK "bhangra" number but the beats are desired to be catchier to lure listeners. Reshammiya mixes his conventional "Sufi" musical ingredients that gel well with pulsating disco music.

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Main Jahan Rahoon: Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan makes second impressive musical move in Bollywood with "Main Jahan Rahoon" after the success of "Jiya Dhadak" ('Kalyug'). It has traditional Sufi musical base where the emotions of loneliness and separation are smoothly voiced in soft and subtle musical rendition. Krishna sings as background singer and in a classical manner to give it a sentimental touch. This may not be as penetrative as "Jiya Dhadak" but certainly displays excruciating moments of a sentimental lover in an impressive way.

The best way to describe the depressed sentiments is through meaningful poetry and the needful is delivered in even more impressive way in "Main Jahan Rahoon (Mehfil Mix)". Javed Akhtar's voice and poetry signifies the moments in sensitively delivered poetic phrases that work as prelude to the soundtrack. It works best for sensible listeners who treasure meaningful musical work and its positive experimentation works brilliantly in the contemporary film album.

Mood turns groovy as disco beats takes over from meaningful poetry in foot-thumping musical make-over in "Main Jahan Rahoon (remix)". The peppy flavors of Sufi pop and funk is displayed with traditional club mix feel that works wonders for the number. The soundtrack works well in all the three versions and this makes Sufi music popular in contemporary film music.

Yehi Hota Hai Pyar: Himesh Reshammiya's contemporary Sufi pop returns as he sings beautifully in soft and subtle mode along with Sunidhi Chauhan in the soundtrack "Yehi Hota Hai Pyar". The softer vocal mode of Reshammiya worked well in a couple of tracks last year in numbers like "Ahista Ahista" and "Tanha Jiya Na Jaye" and it makes another impressive show in "Yehi Hota Hai Pyar". This marks the first duet soundtrack of the album and has the romantic feel but lacks the fire of his previous passionate tracks. It has the momentous gripping to make things work well as a situational number in the film.