Shaandaar Music Review

Shaandaar Music Review
Music: Amit Trivedi
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya / Anvita Dutt

Ratings: **1/2

I was intrigued by the Gulabbo track since the time it was released, for: 1) the set design of the song video looks very whimsical; 2) the way brass instruments have been incorporated in a dance number (damn neat!); 3) Does the lyrics (by Anvita Dutt) -- which goes like, "Gulabbo zara ittar gira do" -- has any intended sexual innuendo in it or not? 
The opening beats is very similar to, err, Shamitabh's Stereophonic Sannata by Illayaraja (which was in turn from his own composition from  a 1980 Telugu film, Johnny). Anusha Mani tops the vocal front (led by Vishal Dadlani) with her entry and that "tauba tauba" part is something what Rahman would have done in a song like this.

Shaam Shaandaar starts the way you would want an ideal dance song to-- authentic dhol that catches up to a pace. But that's about it, enter techno and there's nothing much that could hold your attention. Again, neat use of brass elements by Trivedi who has sung the song himself.

The dreamy Nazdeekiyaan  is one of those songs that stays in the public conscious for a while and then forgotten forever, as there's nothing much to make it a keep though it sounds beautiful. Remember Sooiyaan from Guddu Rangeela? Trivedi seems to have found a template for his romantic songs. Not much has been invested here too. Easy come, easy go composition for him. Neeti Mohan, as usual, is magical whereas Nikhil George sounds a misfit.

Tapas Roy's tumbi gives Senti Wali Mental a folksy start that soon escalates into a qawalli format. Dholak is well placed too. Arijit sounds fresh, Neeti, again, is pure delight. But since it is a 9 minute long childish banter about boys versus girls (meh!), everything has to rest on the lyrics which is downright pedestrian (by Amitabh Bhattacharya), and you can't even take your mind away from it to let yourself engage in the music. AB, learn from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylGrwQuk0xo

Alright, I am sorta bored of Divya Kumar. Our composers have overused him for anything that needs little bit of (fake) folk. That's what they have done to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Kailash Kher in the past for anything that is remotely sufi. Raita Phail Gaya that has all dance beats to it doesn't get my interest. Also, pedestrian lyrics by Bhattacharya continues. I smirked and facepalm-ed at "Gulzar ke lyrics me jab Yo Yo Honey Singh ghus gaya toh raita phail gaya" part, and remembered how Vishal Bhardwaj's Horn Ok Please number from Dedh Ishqiya is still better than this song.

Trivedi's last collaboration with Vikas Bahl was Queen which managed to gave us a kickass London Thumakada. Gulabbo isn't as great, but sole winner of this album!