Not denying that
success is a fruit of passion, perspiration and talent but magic is created
only under the roof of partnership. Then there is collusion of partnerships and
the fruit of this is something grand, something timeless.
Picture coming together of three such genius partnerships i.e. Anurag Kashyap & Dark-Noir-ish-Musicals, Anurag Kashyap & Amit Trivedi, Amit Trivedi & Amitabh Bhattacharya. Now imagine the outcome.
We know Anurag Kashyap is very particular about his film’s music. He is the man who not only made Sneha Khanwalkar unearth the local flavors of Bihar-Jharkhand (for Gangs of Wasseypur) but also pushed her to import the Chutney Rap (which is the music of Bihari diaspora settled there centuries ago) from Caribbean’s. Bombay Velvet is a crime drama revolving around a night club of the same name. It is set in 60s when the 'jazz' scene in Bombay was supposedly very active and had an influence on bollywood music then. Kashyap's knack of complementing the narrative with relevant music has resulted in a 15-track grand musical! Jazz, the devil’s music, delightfully fits in to Kashyap’s dark themed creation.
Amit Trivedi has outdone himself by creating such an edifice which dwarfs everything he has composed till date. Considered to be experimental with various genres and techno sounds, Amit this time has delivered one tight album with Jazz strictly written over it. Doing an entire Jazz album speaks for its bravado. I could recollect only a few works in this genre in Indian music scene, remarkable among those is ‘Kaisi Paheli Zindgani’ by Shantanu Moitra and few others by A R Rahman. Magnitude and depth of this album can be assessed by the fact that he was working on this project for last 5 years. Right after completion of DevD, Kashyap handed over this project to him. Unlike offline music recording prevalent these days, where synthesizer doubles for variety of instruments, this album was recorded in Prague with 100s of best European jazz musicians to give it a genuine feel. Cello, Trombone, Clarinet, Accordion, Brass, Drums, Saxophone and everything of Jazz is employed to compose the melodies which are mostly about love, life and its tragedies.
Amitabh’s lyrics are to the point, baring and bold at times. His poetry conveys the emotion and intent unambiguously. In the singing department, Neeti Mohan has simply hijacked the album with her impactful 6 songs. Listen to the album and you will know about her power packed performance. Shefali Alvares, like a jazz pro, takes the challenge effortlessly in the 3 songs she has done.
Album kicks off with 'Aam Hindustani' which is about a common man’s struggle. The song mockingly narrates how administration toys with a commoner’s dreams and how latter wastes his entire life pursuing the mirage of love and happiness. It’s a catchy number with very frank lyrics. I feel, had this song been about something else, like romance, it would have been more impactful that way. A hit anyways! Shefali proves why she is the most favored jazz artist in the country.
Next is 'Mohhabat Buri Bimari' which comes in three versions. My favorite is the one sung by Neeti for its simplicity as this one seems to be the base composition on which the other versions are based. The other two versions are sung by Shefali and Shalmali Kholgade. It’s a beautiful poetry about love and its idiosyncrasies. Check out some excerpted lines below:
Haan chhoone se hoti nahi yeh
Nazron ke raste se aaye
Jagda hai iska kal se
Masum dil pe kabzaa jamaaye
Soorat se bholi niyat shikari
It will take you on a ride and on the way will show you all compromises and hardships you have gone through for love. Song sarcastically tells how love makes one act against all the logic and rational. One can immediately connect with the words and appreciate the writer for stating the imperceptible so clearly.
'Ka Kha Ga' has to be one of the best tracks of the album. Great musical arrangement and high octane singing makes it stand out. Yet again, this song is about love but with a slightly different hue. If 'Mohhabat Buri Bimari' held a bit of contempt for love, 'Ka Kha Ga' is probably thoughts of someone who is madly in love. Lyrics are all about love and its contradictions, about how love traps, and in spite of regretting the trap no one tries to escape it. After listening to it once you will go on repeat mode and fall in love with Neeti.
'Dhadaam Dhadaam' is my favorite in the album and I am sure that it will fetch Neeti handful of awards. This song hardly requires support of any instrumentation and she simply owns it. She has definitely raised the bar for female playback singing in the country. It’s such a powerful performance that its said that she was bedridden for days after recording. She has pushed the limits of her voice box and lungs for taming the Everest high frequencies that this song demands. I pity Anushka for having to take such a daunting task of lip-syncing this song in front of camera. This one’s going to be remembered forever among true music lovers! Incredible!
'Naak Pe Gussa' is a soft number where the lady flirtatiously tries to calm the anger of her lover. Mood of the song is pretty interesting as although she is appeasing her lover she isn’t submissive. Sarcastic and funny lines tickle you and make you love the song.
'Sylvia is a fast paced number which is about a character of the famous Nanavati case of Bombay. Sylvia, wife of Navy Officer Nanavati, cheated on her husband who murders her paramour. The song consistently questions Sylvia why did she committed adultery? Why did she give in to the temptation. Basically, it alludes to the unsatisfiable human greed which is in constant lookout of that elusive happiness.
'Darbaan' is the only number where a male singer gets an entry in the album. Although there is 'Behroopiya' sung by Mohit Chauhan but it’s too contemporary to be part of this album. Definitely out of place. Coming back to Darbaan, Papon’s services are taken for this slow philosophical recital. It’s about how difficult it is for a common man to gain an entry among the elites. Of how a ‘darbaan’ is standing between US and THEM, guarding the gate. Of how closely the elite guard their clique and how a commoner rightfully belongs only to roads.
'Shut Up' is an interesting conversation between a criminal’s conscience and heart. Conscience starts its part of the argument describing how the vices are taking over and the dangers involved. To that the heart just says ‘Shut Up’. The heart is so high on the rush of money and power that it’s not ready to listen to any warnings or advises. It just says ‘Shut Up’ to any repartee conscience comes up with. Look at these lines:
Aisi kya, aisi kya, asi kya bhook hai
Dolat, Dolat, Dolat chahiye
Sahi ko, sahi ko, sahi ko chod ke
Dolat, Dolat, Dolat chahiye
Shoot boot main chahra jagmaga diya
Kale ho gaye ku karm
Teri aaj kal kartute khrab hai
Dagmaga rahe hai kadam
Shefali has rendered just the perfect mood demanded by the lyrics and then the flow of song takes over.
'Bombay Velvet' , 'Tommy Gun' and 'Conspiracy' have been used as background score in the movie. Bombay Velvet theme is a really intelligent piece of work. You will love its guitar lead and brass back up which gives it a Hollywood feel.
Overall, gem of an album which will force you to start loving jazz and blues. The music sounds more relevant and interesting when you watch the movie. Music is seamlessly fused with the storyline, at times even taking it forward.
But it’s not an all-attack kind of music which you will like instantly. It will take some patient hearing to let it grow on you. Only after a few sessions you will appreciate the intricacies and layers in Trivedi’s music. Initially all the songs may appear similar but once you have crossed that hurdle you will fall for it. Really path breaking! Hopefully this will spark a trend of true musicals in the country which is currently marred by formula-based and item-song laden albums.
Picture coming together of three such genius partnerships i.e. Anurag Kashyap & Dark-Noir-ish-Musicals, Anurag Kashyap & Amit Trivedi, Amit Trivedi & Amitabh Bhattacharya. Now imagine the outcome.
We know Anurag Kashyap is very particular about his film’s music. He is the man who not only made Sneha Khanwalkar unearth the local flavors of Bihar-Jharkhand (for Gangs of Wasseypur) but also pushed her to import the Chutney Rap (which is the music of Bihari diaspora settled there centuries ago) from Caribbean’s. Bombay Velvet is a crime drama revolving around a night club of the same name. It is set in 60s when the 'jazz' scene in Bombay was supposedly very active and had an influence on bollywood music then. Kashyap's knack of complementing the narrative with relevant music has resulted in a 15-track grand musical! Jazz, the devil’s music, delightfully fits in to Kashyap’s dark themed creation.
Amit Trivedi has outdone himself by creating such an edifice which dwarfs everything he has composed till date. Considered to be experimental with various genres and techno sounds, Amit this time has delivered one tight album with Jazz strictly written over it. Doing an entire Jazz album speaks for its bravado. I could recollect only a few works in this genre in Indian music scene, remarkable among those is ‘Kaisi Paheli Zindgani’ by Shantanu Moitra and few others by A R Rahman. Magnitude and depth of this album can be assessed by the fact that he was working on this project for last 5 years. Right after completion of DevD, Kashyap handed over this project to him. Unlike offline music recording prevalent these days, where synthesizer doubles for variety of instruments, this album was recorded in Prague with 100s of best European jazz musicians to give it a genuine feel. Cello, Trombone, Clarinet, Accordion, Brass, Drums, Saxophone and everything of Jazz is employed to compose the melodies which are mostly about love, life and its tragedies.
Amitabh’s lyrics are to the point, baring and bold at times. His poetry conveys the emotion and intent unambiguously. In the singing department, Neeti Mohan has simply hijacked the album with her impactful 6 songs. Listen to the album and you will know about her power packed performance. Shefali Alvares, like a jazz pro, takes the challenge effortlessly in the 3 songs she has done.
Album kicks off with 'Aam Hindustani' which is about a common man’s struggle. The song mockingly narrates how administration toys with a commoner’s dreams and how latter wastes his entire life pursuing the mirage of love and happiness. It’s a catchy number with very frank lyrics. I feel, had this song been about something else, like romance, it would have been more impactful that way. A hit anyways! Shefali proves why she is the most favored jazz artist in the country.
Next is 'Mohhabat Buri Bimari' which comes in three versions. My favorite is the one sung by Neeti for its simplicity as this one seems to be the base composition on which the other versions are based. The other two versions are sung by Shefali and Shalmali Kholgade. It’s a beautiful poetry about love and its idiosyncrasies. Check out some excerpted lines below:
Haan chhoone se hoti nahi yeh
Nazron ke raste se aaye
Jagda hai iska kal se
Masum dil pe kabzaa jamaaye
Soorat se bholi niyat shikari
It will take you on a ride and on the way will show you all compromises and hardships you have gone through for love. Song sarcastically tells how love makes one act against all the logic and rational. One can immediately connect with the words and appreciate the writer for stating the imperceptible so clearly.
'Ka Kha Ga' has to be one of the best tracks of the album. Great musical arrangement and high octane singing makes it stand out. Yet again, this song is about love but with a slightly different hue. If 'Mohhabat Buri Bimari' held a bit of contempt for love, 'Ka Kha Ga' is probably thoughts of someone who is madly in love. Lyrics are all about love and its contradictions, about how love traps, and in spite of regretting the trap no one tries to escape it. After listening to it once you will go on repeat mode and fall in love with Neeti.
'Dhadaam Dhadaam' is my favorite in the album and I am sure that it will fetch Neeti handful of awards. This song hardly requires support of any instrumentation and she simply owns it. She has definitely raised the bar for female playback singing in the country. It’s such a powerful performance that its said that she was bedridden for days after recording. She has pushed the limits of her voice box and lungs for taming the Everest high frequencies that this song demands. I pity Anushka for having to take such a daunting task of lip-syncing this song in front of camera. This one’s going to be remembered forever among true music lovers! Incredible!
'Naak Pe Gussa' is a soft number where the lady flirtatiously tries to calm the anger of her lover. Mood of the song is pretty interesting as although she is appeasing her lover she isn’t submissive. Sarcastic and funny lines tickle you and make you love the song.
'Sylvia is a fast paced number which is about a character of the famous Nanavati case of Bombay. Sylvia, wife of Navy Officer Nanavati, cheated on her husband who murders her paramour. The song consistently questions Sylvia why did she committed adultery? Why did she give in to the temptation. Basically, it alludes to the unsatisfiable human greed which is in constant lookout of that elusive happiness.
'Darbaan' is the only number where a male singer gets an entry in the album. Although there is 'Behroopiya' sung by Mohit Chauhan but it’s too contemporary to be part of this album. Definitely out of place. Coming back to Darbaan, Papon’s services are taken for this slow philosophical recital. It’s about how difficult it is for a common man to gain an entry among the elites. Of how a ‘darbaan’ is standing between US and THEM, guarding the gate. Of how closely the elite guard their clique and how a commoner rightfully belongs only to roads.
'Shut Up' is an interesting conversation between a criminal’s conscience and heart. Conscience starts its part of the argument describing how the vices are taking over and the dangers involved. To that the heart just says ‘Shut Up’. The heart is so high on the rush of money and power that it’s not ready to listen to any warnings or advises. It just says ‘Shut Up’ to any repartee conscience comes up with. Look at these lines:
Aisi kya, aisi kya, asi kya bhook hai
Dolat, Dolat, Dolat chahiye
Sahi ko, sahi ko, sahi ko chod ke
Dolat, Dolat, Dolat chahiye
Shoot boot main chahra jagmaga diya
Kale ho gaye ku karm
Teri aaj kal kartute khrab hai
Dagmaga rahe hai kadam
Shefali has rendered just the perfect mood demanded by the lyrics and then the flow of song takes over.
'Bombay Velvet' , 'Tommy Gun' and 'Conspiracy' have been used as background score in the movie. Bombay Velvet theme is a really intelligent piece of work. You will love its guitar lead and brass back up which gives it a Hollywood feel.
Overall, gem of an album which will force you to start loving jazz and blues. The music sounds more relevant and interesting when you watch the movie. Music is seamlessly fused with the storyline, at times even taking it forward.
But it’s not an all-attack kind of music which you will like instantly. It will take some patient hearing to let it grow on you. Only after a few sessions you will appreciate the intricacies and layers in Trivedi’s music. Initially all the songs may appear similar but once you have crossed that hurdle you will fall for it. Really path breaking! Hopefully this will spark a trend of true musicals in the country which is currently marred by formula-based and item-song laden albums.
3 comments:
Back with a bang, are we?
I remember now the Amit Trivedi night at your place :)
This is superbly written and detailed music review i have ever read. Way to go !!
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