Dangal Music Review

"Pritam in top form, again"

Music: Pritam

Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya

Ratings: ***1/2

1. Haanikaarak Bapu

The album starts with this cracker of a song about Mahavir Phoghat training his three young daughters for wrestling. It gets an ironical title "Bapu sehat ke liye tu toh haanikaarak hai" and Bhattacharya's quirky pen doesn't stop here -- "Tujhse behtar toh Hindi filmo ke khalnayak hai" is cheeky at its best for this song featuring one of Hindi film's superstars. But the real superstars of the song are the kids Sarwar Khan and Sartaz Khan Barna who lend their playful voice. Rare instance where a song sung by kids isn't just a children's song. And Pritam does wonders by employing them as chorus too.

2.  Dhaakad

Starts with a folk tune on sarangi, enter electronic sound and it grows into a Haryanvi rap but the folksy elements (highlighted by a been) doesn't go missing at any point in this superb fusion. Raftaar is excellent with the rap which is punctuated by invigorating chorus for the title hook.

Aamir Khan goes behind microphone to render his version of the song which is exactly same. An actor singing the song is a marketing fad but Aamir’s attempt isn’t half bad.

3. Gilheriyaan

Lyricist Bhattacharya's obsession with plural Hindi words (the ones that ends with '-yaan') continues here to find him a new hook. The song is breezy -- I particularly like the opening. The rhythm is strongly reminiscent of Sachin-Jigar’s Jaise Mera Tu from Happy Ending. Jonita Gandhi’s mellifluous voice gives you a sour-sweet taste in your mouth.

4. Dangal

Pritam continues to employ chorus for effect here. It creates a tense mood with the strings in the start, but Daler Mehndi’s pitches in with so much power that the energy just doesn’t drop till the end of this 5 min track. It does feel a little long for listening, though. Great arrangement in the background – mainly with strings, electric guitar and bass.

5. Naina

Channa Mereya hangover is strong in the opening, only less effective. Strings are used very well here too but Arijit’s voice sounds too dripped in melancholia for this mellow track. Forgettable one.

[Update: The song really grew after watching the film -- it is very nicely picturized.]

6. Idiot Banna

A shaadi/sangeet song sung by Nooran sisters. There are nice touches – like the strings in the background in the opening – but it doesn’t escape from the trap of sounding like a regular shaadi song. Also, it does get noisy at times.

Pritam, right after Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, continues to be in his top form.