Besharam rocks the charts this month with its bhangra beats and catchy Qawaali tunes.
What’s up party people! Last month my sister Pallavi Sharda made history by becoming the first Australian Indian to star in the lead role in a Bollywood film. Congratulations to the proud parents Nalin and Hema and everyone in the community, it’s a proud moment for all of us. I had the pleasure of joining family and friends for the opening night party and banging my dhol as loud as I could. Apart from watching the film four times (yes I loved it, Pallavi, you rock!) I’ve been listening to the soundtrack a lot and enjoying the videos on YouTube. The music’s fantastic and deserves a review in and of itself. So here goes.
Besharam has 13 tracks produced by Lalit Pandit, Shree D and Ishq Bector. By far my favourite is Tere Mohalle featuring Mamta Sharma of Munni Badnaam Hui fame. It’s a wedding song but good for any occasion with its boys vs girls Qawwali vibe. I love tunes like that! It’s also a feature number for Pallavi in the film with great moves and colour.
The first song in the movie, Besharam, is a clubby track with Ranbir Kapoor sticking his chest and other bits and pieces out. Aa Re Aa Re is a bhangra number with Pallavi and Ranbir strutting their stuff alongside Punjabi dancers. Love Ki Ghanti has a different, vintage feel with love-struck Ranbir dancing in the street with the neighbours. Tu Hai and Dil Kaa Jo Haal Hai are slow numbers with smooth vocals by Shreya Ghoshal.
Chal Hand Uthake Nachche is the last song in the movie, a catchy tune sung by Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan. Good to see Pallavi and Ranbir dancing on the big screen with veterans Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. Finally, there’s an unplugged version of Tu Hai and five remixes of Tere Mohalle, Love Ki Ghanti, Besharam, Aa Re Aa Re and Dil Kaa Jo Haal Hai with an electronica club feel. With all of these I prefer the original though it’s nice to see them included as it adds variety to the music. Overall, it’s a fitting soundtrack for a fun and enjoyable movie, right up there as one of the best of the year alongside Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Lungi Dance is going off with mad party goers shaking their pants and screaming “Thalaiva” on the dance floor. I gotta admit I didn’t see this coming, I guess it was a good idea to put it at the end of Chennai Express after all! Honey’s a man in demand at the moment with Party All Night from the movie Boss his next hit number. RDB and Nindy Kaur are back at the movies with Tamanche Pe Disco (Bullet Raja). Similarly for Neeraj Shridhar and Alisha Chinai on Krrish 3. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram-leela is attracting plenty of attention with songs like Nagada Sang Dhol.
I’m really feeling Raghav Sachar’s Gulabi Aankhen, a soulful expressive version of the retro classic. Be sure to check out the video and song on iTunes. Also have a listen to Ayushmann Khurrana’s O Heeriye. I really like this guy’s guitar melodies. Pani Da Rang (Vicky Donor) was awesome and I’m feeling this one too. Veena Malik’s teamed up with Shree D for her second release Rum Rum and Roach Killa’s looking for mainstream success with Baby Girl. Nirinjan Kaur’s back with more New Age vibes on her album From Within (check out I Am) whilst Apache Indian’s teamed up with Amar and Taz on his new album It Is What It Is. It’s good to see the original Don Raja kicking it with his reggae bhangra style as well as a mainstream tune Celebrate with Canada’s Raghav.
Latest Punjabi releases include Taur Jivey Jatt Di (Jagmeet Singh Jagga), Yaari (Daman Mahal), Punjabi (Rav-E, Surinder Shinda), Jhalla (Preet Singh), Kardi Pyaar (Rock-E, DJ APS) and Balle Balle Boliyan (Jr Dread, Ashok Gill, Surjit Bindrakhia). The pick of the bunch is Benny Dhaliwal’s new album Ghora 2 with smooth cuts like Aish Karo and Playa. Finally, some good house, dance and electronica vibes on Aashiqi (Sona Walia), Hemi’s Boliyan (Surinder Rattan, Surinder Shinda), Janeh Jaana (Deep Jandu, Surinder Rattan, Al-Beeno) and Zulfaan Di Naag (Tigerstyle, Kaur B).
That’s it for this month! For more on the latest in the scene, check out my weekly radio show Mumbai Masala at www.pbsfm.org.au (available on demand online or live in Melbourne on 106.7 PBS FM, Monday evenings 7pm-8pm). You can also listen using TuneIn app or PBS Radio’s iPhone and Android apps. Get in touch with me on Twitter and Facebook. I’d love to hear your feedback on this column and the show via my website www.richimadan.com, info@richimadan.com. Peace out.
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