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The first month of this trimester, April, witnessed a very big release 2 States which made everyone fall in love with the tunes composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. They showed that they are still very much in the Rom-Com zone and still can produce much better tunes. Apart from this big release, there were some decent performances all over the month. Sajid-Wajid got a comeback from Main Tera Hero. Its music got huge praise from audience. If the month had a musical disaster like Kaanchi, it also had experimental beauty like Jal. Apart from the contrast, it also had some small decent soundtracks which had few likable songs like Bhoothnath Returns, Samrat & Co. and Revolver Rani. The month had more multi-composer albums which showed towards where the music industry is moving.
May was a bit weak. There wasn’t any much awaited album this month. Ram Sampath’s Purani Jeans was likable, Himesh Reshammiya’s The Xpose gave a comeback space for him and Sajid-Wajid’s Heropanthi had an ordinary fair. Mikey McCleary’s song Ek Wajah Do in Angry Young Man was one of the most interesting compositions of the month. Hawaa Hawaai, Khwaabb and Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi proved to be very dull and uninteresting. Citylights threw some light on this dull month. It was Jeet Ganguly’s best work till date. This album, full of Arijit Singh, created a secured place among the best albums of this year.
June was much smaller but comparatively competitive. Pritam’s Holiday and the multi composer album Ek Villain were the highlights of this month. Himesh Reshammiya’s Humshakals completely disappointed. Fugly had some decent tracks and Arijit Datta’s debut performance in Filmistaan promised a good future to Bollywood.
Long back in early 2000’s, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were considered as the king of Rom-Com genre. From Dil Chahta Hai, they changed the music scene of Bollywood. They created a sound which was unheard before that. Their music became the sensation and soon they became favorite of youths. Those who spent their college life in 2001-2005, they must be knowing the importance of the trio in their life. Post Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Bunty Aur Bubbly, Salaam-E-Ishq all created huge impact on the listeners and are remembered for their versatility and immortality. After that, they started focusing on different genres and somehow the rom-com left untouched. Also, being the specialist of Dharma music, the trio has collaborated with the production house after five long years, the last being Wake Up Sid and the latest being 2 States.
CLICK HERE to buy Full Soundtrack of 2 States from iTUNES
Electric Guitar is the favorite instrument of the trio. But here they haven’t used in it their typical way. They have molded it into soft rock which goes well with this college rom-com number. It has tunes resembling with what S-E-L had composed for High School Musical 2. They have actually composed it like most of the teenage Disney movie songs are. Aditi has sung it with impeccable enthusiasm but Amitabh has just completely owned the song. I have always liked his singing but in this, he rocked it. Also, he has been given a complete antara to sing which I found lucky for him as the antara is truly fresh and awesome compared to the mukhda which has a familiar sound. Lyrics is also childlike though the characters are actually doing post graduation. Familiar though funny. Teenage mukda, Mature antara.
2. Locha-E-Ulfat – Singer: Benny Dayal
First person to applaud for this would be Amitabh Bhattacharya. What amusingly amazing lyrics he has written! To create a word like locha-e-ulfat describes the creativity of the person. But it’s just a habit of this lyricist and we are quite familiar with it now. Not only the title but phrases like banke musibat pichhe padi hai, ye comedy hai ya tragedy hai or tere mere do nazariye nazdeeq hain lekin, ek baal baraabar beech mein line hai or kyun dil ki dhadkano se maze mein khele ye Ludo samjhao or comparing the khaaq (so-called) friendship with the daftar ki naukri. I cant describe enough. It is such an awesome lyrics, actually the typical Amitabh Bhattacharya lyrics. Not just the lyrics, but that Bagpipe-ish tune by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy gives a foot tapping gesture to the song. Also, the beats which are weird and never heard before, give the listeners a fresh and youthful touch. But everything you forget when you hear Benny Dayal in top form, singing each and every line of the song so dynamically that the song would actually start reminding you of repeating it and playing it on a loop. Praise Benny, welcome S-E-L back in Rom-Com and pat on the back of Amitabh Bhattacharya. #WelcomeSong
3. Mast Magan – Singers: Arijit Singh, Chinmayi
Amitabh here, soon cuts himself from the youth zone and comes to this traditional Indian song with sufi touch in the hook line. S-E-L has kept it simple and safe with traditional arrangements of Tabla . If the Bass sound had more frequency, it would have sounded even better. S-E-L have already created such type of melodies with other singers but it somehow sounds as if it is made just for Arijit’s voice. It is a kind of song that would appeal to both youngsters and oldsters. I thought it would be wonderful to listen a duet of Arijit with Chinmayi but they just spoiled Chinmayi’s vocals. Her actual voice which has always been a pleasure to hear, is nowhere to be found in the song. The work done with Chinmayi’s vocals is disappointing, rest the song is a complete winner for every soul.
We all know how awesome S-E-L’s dance tracks have always been. From Koi Kahe to the latest Hawan Karenge, the compositions have always been enjoyable. Apart from the hook line and the following techno tune, everything is a big let down. The hook line is quite catchy and also written amazingly. But a good tune lacks here in mukhda as well as in antara. The song could have been a lot refreshing and enjoyable but completely fails to impress the listeners. However, I applaud the decision of choosing Akriti Kakkar. Her voice suits Alia so well that it would look awesome on screen. (Alia’s voice is different. Her voice suits just Alia’s face). The weakest song of the soundtrack and yet makes a one-time listen.
5. Chaandaniya – Singers: K Mohan, Yashita Sharma
Although S-E-L are back in Rom-Com, they haven’t yet got themselves out from Bhaag-Milkha-Bhaag zone. The song is out and out romantic but when you just croon the tune without the lyrics or play only the background part, it would sound like an inspirational track. The composition is excellent, no doubt about that. But still it sounds more inspirational than romantic/sad. The typical Bass Guitar is continuously played which supports the song quite well. Mohan Kannan sounds superb and takes the song to another level. Yashita, with her small part, has impressed being sounded soothing. Accordion at instances in the background and Harmonica in the interlude helps the song sound relishing. I would again applaud Amitabh for writing such beautiful lyrics. Tujh binsooraj mein aag nahi re, tujh bin koyal mein raag nahi re. Amazing! Must Listen!
It makes me remember of Nach Baliye (Bunty Aur Bubbly). I don’t know why but it does. The same kind of cute and catchy tune, I guess. It’s a damn energetic wedding song, though it would be interesting to see it in the movie as it’s a very different type of wedding song. The line nagade sang shehnaayi is too catchy to avoid. Dhol arrangements are just brilliant. Both, the father and the son sing with extra energy which inculcated a new tradition in Bollywood. It is rare to listen a father and a son both singing with the same amount of energy. Rasika, who has sung the Tamil part, impressed in her debut by giving a confident performance. You can’t exit the soundtrack without listening to this father-son jodi.
2 States is a rocking comeback of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy in Rom-Com. Offo is a nice college track with a very mature antara. Benny, Amitabh and S-E-L, all are just perfect in Locha-E-Ulfat. Mast Magan is a heard before but lovable traditional Indian melody aptly sung by Arijit. Iski Uski tries a lot to lower down the level of the soundtrack but Chaandaniya beautifully saves the reputation with the support of Hulla Re. Though Pritam and Vishal-Shekhar are considered as experts of Rom-Com genre, but it was Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy who had started this youth trend with Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho. After a long exile from Dharma Productions, the kings have finally returned to their kingdom.
The Final Verdict: POSSIBLE
The Verdict Order: DISAGREE < NOT A PROBLEM < OKAY < POSSIBLE < AGREE
Listeners Ki Sameekshaa (Public Review)
With songs stuffed with college romance-Confusion in love-Punjabi’ness-Fallen in love-Distances-and dance, I think I’ve found my MOST (& only) fav album of the year so far in 2 States! So much of love, so much of freshness, so much of awesomeness! Dil jeet liya album ne!
My fav frm the album is Chaandaniya. K Mohan n the Bass Guitar play the game. Mat Magan is also fab and Locha is terriffic. Rest songs are OK types. There are traces of Vishal-Shekhar’s Punjabi songs in Iski Uski. The Original SEL touch is missing
Loved the album. I don’t want to compare this to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag because genre is completely different. For rom-com this album is almost perfect I would say. Could have been better but still it’s a lovely album.
Awesome albm by SEl. Old SEL is back. Locha and Chandaniya is best. Others are okk type.
Offo, Chaandaniya and Mast Magan are my top 3 favorite songs from the soundtrack.
I liked all songs except the noisy Iski Uski. Favorite is chaandaniya and Locha-E-Ulfat.
