Audio Scan
Food for the soul

We had heard Gulzar recite his nazm, Subah subah ik khwab ki dastak par darwaza khola, in an album some time back. It was nostalgic to the core. But we could never imagine that soon enough it would be set to music and presented by a professional singer, because it was just not in that format.

Well, the difficult task has been accomplished by Bhupinder Singh and Mitali Singh. Bhupinder is also the composer (with one credit in the album, Kitni girhein kholi meine, going to Mitali).

The name of the title comes from the delicate Kosa kosa lagta hai; tera bharosa lagta hai; raat ne apni thali mein chand parosa lagta hai. It is a small poem but the presentation makes it appear endless. The album follows an interesting format. It opens with Gulzar reciting Subah subah ik khwab ki dastak par darwaza khola in his baritone voice. Immediately thereafter, Bhupinder ‘sings’ it. The impact of the telling words multiplies.

Similarly, he later recites the first stanza of Kitni girhein kholi meine, which is then sung by Mitali. This is perhaps the longest presentation of the album. The same pattern is followed in Yaad hai Pancham, which has obviously been penned in the memory of R. D.Burman.

This is poetry of romance, mystery, lost love, pain and memories. Gulzar weaves them all in a rich tapestry. For instance, partake of the delicacy of thought in Lambi umrein pahadon ki, kat ti hamse ik raat ye jaadon ki sung as a duet. Since the tune is purely Punjabi, people here will relate to it even more.

As the album cascades to the finish, there comes perhaps one of the most impressive offerings, Kaanch ke peechhe chand bhi tha aur kanch ke oopar kai bhee. Teeno the hum, vo bhee the or mein bhee tha, tanhai bhee. Gulzar has no dearth of fans, but their number is set to increase even further after this album. So will be the case for Bhupinder and Mitali.

This album seems to have a taali fixation. Every other song seems to have the title sound in it. Well, actually, only three of the songs are De Taali. But still the impression lasts.

Vishal Shekhar’s music is youthful and peppy. While Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan are the main singers, chance has also been given to many fresh voices like Anushka Manchanda, Shekhar Ravijani and Raja Hasan. Shreya Ghoshal and KK figure in one song each. When it comes to remixes, DJ Nikhil Chinapa, DJ Nawed and Zoheb rule the roost.

Vishal Dadlani and Abbas Tyrewala’s lyrics are chirpy. This is scriptwriter Tyrewala’s first foray into lyric writing. So you get to hear the stuff of the kind of Tu meri life ki shining hai, wining hai, dining hai, woh kaali badal to, tu silver lining hai. After all, this comedy film is targeted at pre-teens and those only slightly older.

It opens with "Everybody put your hands together (The other De Taali),’’ which has a bit of hip-hop and a bit of quawwali in it. — ASC