Music Review: Chalo Dilli

Perhaps the movie title Chalo Dilli makes you wonder what kind of music expect - distantly, it might even diminish your interest to imagine more 'Delhi' odes after the likes of Delhi-6 title track, Dilli by Rabbi Shergill some years ago, and D-D-Dilli in the most recent No One Killed Jessica. Sure, the home of our national capital has been inspiration to all kinds of soundtracks. So what new could we look forward to...?

For records, Challo Dilli brings together newest bride on the B-Town block, Lara Dutta, and veteran artist Vinay Pathak. An item song films Akshay Kumar and Yana Gupta in cameo roles. As for the album, we shall witness the works and blends of multiple music composers - Gourov Dasgupta, Anand Raj Anand, Sachin Gupta, Rohit Kulkarni and Roshan Balu.

Now, on with the review...

 

The album kick starts with title track 'Chalo Dilli' which brings back singer Raja Hasan after quite the hiatus. The composition of this track centers mostly around an electric Punjabi theme. The beats are foot tapping sure, and courtesy the same, the tune is bound to grow on you.Yes, another Delhi track with the makings of a hit chartbuster, we say!

 

The next song in line is 'Matargashtiya' which continues with the Punjabi flavor. Sung by Sukwinder Singh, a great choice for the vocals, here's another song that shall get you shaking a leg on the dance floor - complete with beats and pace, and much masti element!

 

This is followed by a remake - yes one more to add to the ever increasing list in the current music trends, going by the title 'Laila'. Not in need of much introduction, we assume, this new version is altered to clubbing music taste, with yet more addition of Punjabi tadka!  Sung by June Banerjee, who does manage to accomplish satisfactorily the formidable task of recreating the old classic, 'Laila'. We give a thumbs up to this new adaptation of the song.

 

There is also exists a club mix version of 'Laila'  which incidentally becomes one of the rare case of being better than its album original. 

 

'Hi 5',  the next song in the album, is also its best bet in our opinion. Starting out with a repeated chorusing of 'Challo Dilli' the song continues to the words sung in the distant background throughout its duration. Sung by Neeraj Shridhar, the lyrics of this track focus on the fun in life putting the worries aside. And yes, it continues the tradition of being Punjabi in its basic composition.

 

This song also has a club mix version of 'Hi 5', which is an up on the pace and a decent listen. Overall, both the original and this club mix are good tracks.

 

'Kaun Si Badi Baat Ho Gayi' is the next song in the album. Not loud and beat-sy enough to keep up with the remainder of the album, this song still retains the Punajbi character. The lyrics have interludes of English bits, and the basic composition has a traditional touch to it.

The last song in the album is 'Moments in Life'.  An English number, it is sung by Natalie Di Luccio. Lyric-wise, the song evocative and gets you pondering about life. The only song in the entire album that is sans the beat excess and extra pace - a refreshing change at that and a great way to end the album.

 

Overall, Chalo Dilli has an above average variety to offer to the audience. Although there are a few numbers not quite up to the mark - there are also others that you shall enjoy more than once!