Borrowed, yet pleasing
Jannat (Sony BMG)

Whatever you may say about Mukesh Bhatt’s films as such, they always have above-average music. This quality is even higher in this film directed by Kunal Deshmukh. It is the creation of Pritam, who, after facing the charges of plagiarism, has had to admit that "let me tell you, my songs in Mukesh Bhatt’s forthcoming film, Jannat, which I had claimed were completely original are no longer so. Some parts of the soundtrack now have borrowed sounds". So, there we are. Good parts are not original. But still, the overall impact is fairly enjoyable.

Perhaps that also has something to do with the tradition of Emraan Hashmi films always having good music. The album opens with Zara sa in which Pritam has used his favourite singer KK (Krishna Kumar Menon) and employed a lot of guitar, drums and violin. KK’s vocals are electrifying.

Strangely, the music is slower and softer in a remix by DJ K&G, making it almost a ballad. The best of the lot is the next number, Judaai. It is not Pritam original but by Pakistani composer Kamran Ahmed. This fact should have been acknowledged to avoid any controversy. This is one song that deserves to be heard time and again. This one also has a weirdly-named remix (Kilogram Mix), which is no patch on the original.

It is back to KK with Haan tu hain, not quite the same effect because it borrows snatches from here and there.

One new singer who does a bit of mood singing is Rana Mazumdar in Door na ja. He was earlier heard in ‘Hat-trick’ (I am coming home). Similarly, Rupam Islam, lead singer of the group Fossils, makes his voice drown out heavy electric guitar in Jannat jahan. This song has been penned by Neelesh Mishra while all the rest are by Sayeed Quadri.

Lambi judai, too, is Pakistan inspired and Richa Sharma is at a loss to do some sort of justice to it.

Sukhwinder Singh has had his full share of big hits and big misses over a well-established career. But he is not really the mainstay of the film industry. One or two songs is all that he gets in a film. But the music of this film has been composed by him and he has used his voice to the fullest here. He figures in seven of the 10 songs, which should be some sort of a record.

Since the film has a Punjabi background, this liberal use of his voice does not jar. These songs should be particularly popular in Punjab.

But it is the Sufi rang which is the most enjoyable. His Haq Allah is hypnotic in both versions, one of which he has sung himself and the other has him with Hans Raj Hans.

Yeh Hindustan hai has been sung separately by Jagjit Singh and Udit Narayan. Both have suffused it with their own brand of synergy.

A memorable song is Jogi aaya rendered by Sadhna Sargam and Sukhvinder Singh.

Main chali, the only female solo, has gone to Shreya Ghoshal. The songs have been penned by Ibraheem Ashk.—ASC