Music Review: ‘Barfi!’

When a trailer looks��so good��that makes one watch closely for over��two minutes without a single dialogue or major sound effect, only to the musical notes of a violin and accordion, one can be sure and prepared for a cinematic treat. A trailer of this nature also makes the role of music very prominent and clear to the overall project.

Written and directed by Anurag Basu, the forthcoming ‘Barfi!’ has perhaps the best list of credits to deliver excellent DOP camera work, cinematography, edit, sound design and production giving it the slick look of 1970�۪s Bengal. Basu�۪s Bengali influence is predominant on the look and the music flavours of the film, making it stand out for the modern commercial��feel that��the audiences are used to seeing and also��delivering the difficult task of bringing niche to mainstream. Ranbir Kapoor playing the role of a deaf and dumb character with Priyanka Chopra delivering an autistic character signifies that music along with immaculate acting will play a major in communicating with the audiences rather than dialogues. Who better than fellow Bengali, Pritam, to manage such an important task. Basu and Pritam share an important chemistry that has delivered big hits in ��Gangster�۪ (2006) and ��Life in a.. Metro�۪ (2007). After a��five-year gap, both return to create a benchmark with this very challenging project called ��Barfi!�۪.

The title song Barfi! in the voice of Mohit Chauhan is a waft of freshness. The song is purely fun with simplicity and elegance. The composition has all the classic touches from the 1970s and Bengali music. Accordian, Spanish guitar and violins rule the musical landscape of this beautiful song. Lyrics by Swanand Kirkire are suitable and epic in all forms and comparative to what you would expect from the likes of Gulzar. Pritam is a genius for putting this together.

The sweetness of the soundtrack further continues with Main Kya Karoon in the voice of Nikhil Paul George and lyrics by Ashish Pandit. The combination is so sweet and light that it is lethal. It is designed to make any girl weak in the knees and set the heart beating faster. A classic in many rights and continuing in the 1970s and Bengali music flavour it maintains a feel and rhythm to the soundtrack. Vocals by George are very smooth to blend well with the young love theme. Pritam creates a second winner on the soundtrack with this song.

Continuing with the East Indian music feel, Pritam brings in Assamese fusion singer Papon in a duet with Sunidhi Chauhan to deliver a song called Kyon. If one can detach from the brilliance of Papon�۪s vocals then they should just lose themselves in the lyrical brilliance that Kirkire has created in a blissful setup. The thought and imagination put in this poetry is worth noticing along with its playful compositional rendition. Kyon might not be a commercial hit on the charts but is a clear winner on the musical front.

Pritam gets his assistant Arijit Singh to voice this classical number called Phir Le Aya Dil. Lyrics by Sayeed Quadri are simply genius for a modern Bollywood project. The authenticity of Hindustani classical and ghazal format of singing to be brought to life with so much soul shows the versatility, talent and maturity that Pritam has.

Aashiyan brings back the fun that the character of ‘Barfi!’ projects after the seriousness of Phir Le Aya Dil. George delivers a second song with a very good vocal performance but secondary to Shreya Ghoshal�۪s good lead performance. Lyrics by Kirkire are not stunning but suitable to the nature of the song required making this overall an average song. The musical composition is most noticeable with the accordion as the lead instrument continuing in the films theme.

Another song in the voice of Singh, Saawali Si Raat is a totally different rendition to Phir Le Aya Dil�۪s ghazal style. More like a lullaby, the composition is a romantic softie again with voice as the main instrument. The song has been recorded beautifully and the texture of voice delivered by Singh is spell bounding if you close your eyes and listen. The deep meaningful lyrics add to that feel.

Ala Barfi! (Reprise) is version 2 of the original now in the voice of the man with the pen. Kirkire proves he is a talent house be it with the pen or the mic. A more powerful vocal with different instrumentation makes this song worth checking out if you enjoyed the original. Pritam proves he can re-invent a song without doing a remix.

Phir Le Aya Dil (Reprise) is the female version in the voice of the phenomenal Rekha Bhardwaj. Give her Genda Phool from ��Delhi 6�۪ (2009), Darling from ��7 Khoon Maaf�۪ (2011), Ranjha Ranjha from ��Raavan�۪ (2010) or simply the famous Tere Ishq Mein private album song, she delivers a stunning performance. Most importantly she owns the song. Phir Le Aya Dil (Reprise) is all about Bhardwaj.

FINAL WORD

The soundtrack for ‘Barfi!’ is exactly what was expected; a��70s theme and��Bengali cinema music inheritance with lyrics that speak volumes to give life to dumb and deaf characters. The instruments used and the compositions delivered almost make Pritam a supreme icon on the music scene showing that his talent has no boundaries and is growing with every project that he touches. The album has variety going all the way to ghazals but sticks to the theme of the film. The choice of singers and their vocal performances are groomed to perfection making each song a must listen. Barfi!, Main Kya Karoon and Kyon are the picks that will stand out for European audiences and make their mark on the TV and radio charts.