Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Son Of Sardaar, Riwayat - Music Review

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
Music: A. R. Rahman

1. Jiya Re -------------------------------------- 8/10
The best song of the album. Like other songs from this album, the opening of the song is very exciting and gets right to the point generating enough interest at the outset. A trademark ARR style song reminiscent of his past works. The guitar has been put to good use, and the song seems to never give up it's energy and tune has enough twists and turns to keep us hooked.

2. Challa ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7/10
A nice song by Bulla Di Jaana fame Rabbi Shergill. His style of singing is both unmistakable and fresh. If you loved him then, you will love him now. The opening of this song is very upbeat and gets you interested in the song right away. The lyrics are a little bit of a downer, but the strumming and beats keep the song going. Not bad.

3. Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Poem) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7/10
For those who appreciate poetry, this one is really good. The supporting instrumentals are well composed in a sense they emphasize the emotions of the poetry pretty well. Well done.

4. Ishq Shava ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6/10
Fun enough of a song with middle-eastern beats. Heavily reminiscent of Chammak Challo's beats from Ra.One at times, which happens to be Vishal-Shekhar's work. The song does maintain a consistent tempo, but the song feels a bit like a drag in the latter half with nothing much new to offer.

5. Saans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6/10
6. Saans (Reprise) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/10
ARR probably had decided he was going to have some fast opening instrumentals to all the tracks in this album. The opening for this one is pretty epic, although what ensues is a bit of a letdown. This is a purely romantic track that meanders at a leisurely pace. No wonder Shreya Ghoshal was chosen to sing this one, and Mohit Chauhan also is in his element in this one. Truly for fans, not for others. If Mohit Chauhan is too much of a distraction, the Reprise versions would give you 2 minutes of unadulterated Shreya Ghoshal.

Final verdict: Overall, gets a 6/10. The album is not one of the best works by ARR: Rockstar remains his best work of late so far. The tunes follow a predictable path: ARR plays it a little too safe. Being himself, the tunes are not downright terrible, but some are extremely melodramatic, which could be the theme of the movie, but without the background, it becomes a bit too mushy. Decent album, but nothing blowing out of the water.

Son Of Sardaar (2012)
Music: Himesh Reshammiya

1. Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Ye Sawaal Aata Hai (Funk) --------------------------- 6/10
2. Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Ye Sawaal (Trance) --------------------------------------- 6/10
Normally, Ajay Devgn (it pains me to spell his name with the missing vowel), falls flat with his punchlines and in-song dialogues, this monologue put to tune is fairly good. The lyrics are funny, but when listening to the first dialogue, it feels, it should have been 'Daughter Of Sardaar' and not the son. Some of the techno elements in the Trance version are pretty slick, but the original remains the better of the two.

3. Bichdann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6/10
A classic HR  une of a yearning/broken heart. The style is fairly similar to Aap Ka Suroor album. In his heydays, HR would have himself sung it, but Rahat  Fateh Ali Khan fits well too. His fans might like it.

Final verdict: In an album of 11 tracks, only 3 get a mention. That goes to show how Himesh's stock has taken a plunge. Probably, he should playback his own songs again. Probably.

Riwayat (2012)
Music: Sushil Lalji

A pretty average album for a not so mainstream movie which just makes matters worse for the album. Thankfully, the music director has shown enough flair so as to not make it suck altogether. Cliche and thus, boring

Brownie point:

• Aansu Kabhi Chhalke Nahin - Fans of late Jagjit Singh might actally like this one, as he sings to his strength. Others can ignore him as they have always done.

Jiya Re - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Challa - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Saans - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Poem) - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Ishq Shava - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Saans (Reprise) - Jab Tak Hai Jaan Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Ye Sawaal Aata Hai (Funk) - Son Of Sardaar Bichdann - Son Of Sardaar Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Ye Sawaal (Trance) - Son Of Sardaar Aansu Kabhi Chhalke Nahin - Riwayat