Dil Dhadakne Do Music Review

“Classy but underwhelming”

Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Ratings: ** 1/2

1. Dil Dhadakne Do

The title track has a foot tapping rhythm set on a very high-school rock band-like template with arrangements that make it sound classy. The vocals are a major letdown here: Priyanka is even good in parts; Farhan is strained and tries too hard to be lively.

2. Pehli Baar

Pehli Baar keeps you hooked with its trippy beats in the background (there’s an interesting guitar there too) which makes it a good company for your long rides. The vocals- Siddharth Mahadevan (who sounds eerily like KK in this one) and Sukriti Kakkar- go well the breezy feel of the song.

3. Galla Goodiyan

The main instrumental hook is very pleasing and catchy at the same time. However, the main titular hook (that entire Punjabi bit) jumps in abruptly- it could have been more fluid, given that the rest of the song, for a dance track, is so soft which makes it a healthy fun. Sukhwinder, Shankar Mahadevan and particularly Yashita Sharma (the only female voice in the male affair) are top class. Manish Tipu- who can make any sort of voice (remember him for Gangs of Wasseypur’s Bhoos?)- is for the fun element. Again, Farhan Akhtar- though even for a small part- is a misfit.

4. Girls Like to Swing

As the title suggests, this one swings! Oh yes, it is a part of the jazz season of Bollywood (Bombay Velvet and Old School Girl in Tanu WedsManu Returns). Terrific drumming, fine chorus and Sunidhi’s “Girl like to swing” bit is very infectious.

5. Phir Bhi Yeh Zindagi

A tune so uninspiring and lazy that not even 5 singers can bring any life to it. Divya is too melancholic for this; Vishal Dadlani suits well with the kind of arrangement this song has but could be a good solo choice; Farhan is tiring as ever; Alyssa and Sapna Pathak are good but couldn’t gel up with the lot. No one individually or together brings anything distinctive on plate for listening. 

Dil Dhadakne Do has same rich and classy feel like the trio’s last with Zoya Akhtar had (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara). But that doesn’t assure all good or even one great song. And moreover, this one feels a bit underexplored despite of having a good scope.