London Dreams is awaited by quite an anticipatory audience.
Of course, like all big banners the movie has made news for a range of
reasons; including rumors of link ups between lead stars
Salman Khan
and Asin, a controversy on the inclusion of the
Hanuman Chalisa
(a religion chant for the Hindus) in one of its tracks, et al.
The
story
revolves around Ajay Devgan who has a dream to make it big as a
music star in London, Asin, the lady he is
romantically involved with, and Salman the small town talent he hunts
down to add to his band and dreams. From the look of the promos the
whole
rock band deal in some way seems a shadow to Akhtar's earlier project
Rock On.
However,
Salman provides a different angle. He becomes great friends with Ajay,
and later on his competitor in profession and for his lady in a love
triangle. Salman on the whole remains the humble
sacrificing friend. How it ends, remains to be seen once the movie hits
the halls.
Which, since it is not long from now, brings us just in time
to review the movie's music. As one will acknowledge the theme of the
movie in a huge sense revolves around its tracks. The well known trio
of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have tried their hand at much variation from
their usual style of music direction. Lyrics are by Prasoon, the album
contains 8 main tracks, 3 of which have remix versions.
Barso Yaaron: Drums and guitars and Boll

London Dreams, Asin,
Salman Khan" align="right" hspace="5" vspace="5" />ywood rock, its predominantly percussion music, matched in pace by the
lyrics sung - by Vishal Dadhlani and Roop Kumar Rathod- this song stands
evidence to the theme of the movie, a typical concert number. Complete
with interludes of slow beats wherein the play backs dominate, a
perfect tempo dip and rise to keep the audience on its feet the song
has everything you could ask of a stage performance. And of course an end
note on
Hanuman Chalisa, which having gone through its share of
controversy with the sensor board has finally received a green signal
and is now inclusive in the track gives it a perfect finale. Overall,
this one is a winner!
Mann Ko Ati Bhaaye: A lighter tune, with
lyrics remodeled in a regional distortion of Hindi. The song in several
ways becomes reminiscent the prior year Govinda
typical numbers, in lyrics, music and styling!
Tapkey Masti: This symphony has a strong Punjabi flavor to its
credit. Its likely for this track to be played in depiction of the
simpleton enacted by Salman in his rural background. Use of traditional
instruments like the
dholi beats in combination with some
trumpet, violin and keyboard has given a different touch. Although the
track when it first begins, holds attention, its seems just midway to
have stretched too long and inclines one to switch to another. Overall,
an average bargain in testing a new style by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy into a
domain they haven't explored much before.
Khanabadosh: The literal meaning of this song title which happens to be a word of Sufi origin is
'one who carries his house on his shoulder'.
Figuratively, it indicates the character sketches of the male
protagonists who have resorted to no sense of stability in a nomadic pursuit of
the fulfillment of their long term dreams! The song has its share of thought
provoking lyrics with a tune that supports the right amount of
enthusiasm. In most respects the track is one of the best in the album,
also happens to be the title track for
London Dreams.
Khwab Jo: As an inspirational track defining a dream in the
motivational sense, this tune starts with a lone strumming of a guitar,
then one at a time the two male playbacks
Shankar Mahadevan and Rahet
Fateh Ali Khan join it with the vocals. Once the drums come in, along
with the keyboard and stronger strumming, there are overlapped lyrics for impact of last syllables and
the track ends in a huge applause, a stage act hence although
slower than the other its kind,
Barso Yaaron. Overall, a reasonable track, one more in the category where past midway it starts to feel sort of stretched.
Yaari Bina: Its a song dedication to the bonding between thick
friends, undoubtedly referring to Salman and Ajay before the
differences start creeping in owing to Salman's unexpected,
extraordinary stardom. It has a distinct folk music touch to its tune
and intruments incorporated, the lyrics are repetitive but in a promoting
fashion. There are bits of the tune which evoke a sense of deja vu,
but other then that its a friendship track unlike most of its
contemporaries in Gen X films.
Jashan Hai Jeet Ka: This one has interludes of Arabic music
mingled with definite sense of current western styles. A combination
that doesn't sound commonplace. However, the track can
be very specific in being accepted or not. Its the kind of distinction
which goes down with a listener either the good way or bad, with no in
between. Yet another trial of a uniquoe style by the trio in the same
album.
Shola Shola: Perhaps this track will seem of greater consequence
with respect to its placement in the movie once its released. As a part
of the album, one can almost declare it rather redundant. In genre a
romantic melody, there is nothing that stands out about this track.
Zubeen's voice reminds one of his previous hit 'Ya Ali' and
inevitable comparison leads one to conclude in favor of the
predecessor. The tune is a usual, nothing exceptionally evoking in its
entirety. Even the lyrics, having no edge to offer.
Remix versions have been created for three of the above tracks -
Khanabadosh, Mann Ko Ati Bhaave, Tapkey Masti - and common to all
three, the originals on the whole have easily outdone their respective
remixes. The only use they can be put to are as club music, and even in
that sense the album has much more to offer in its faster tracks.
The album, with its experimentation in styles and intermixing
international forms of music, some successfully others not as much,
rates to a 2.5/5.
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