Music Review: ‘Heropanti’

After tons of speculation around his launch with Subhash Ghai or with Aamir Khan, Tiger Shroff is finally here in a Sajid Nadiadwala production, ��Heropanti�۪. Director Sabbir Khan has been given the responsibility of launching two new actors on the Bollywood playground including Jackie Shroff�۪s son, Tiger, and Delhi based model Kriti Sanon who has done a Telugu movie down south. Director Khan must have not created a brilliant film last time around with ��Kambakkht Ishq�۪ (2009) but he surely created some waves with the music and cast of that film. Considering the unconventional cast option for him this time around with a new lead couple, we at least expect that on the music front he will still create waves. The trailers show a very clich̩d romantic film so we are not expecting out of the box music here by duo Sajid-Wajid with Manj of RDB and Mustafa Zahid doing a song each as well.

Stealing a feather from his dad�۪s hat, Tiger Shroff has been seen on the screens doing the ��Hero�۪ (1983) flute tune in a whistle format. Whistle Baja is fun party song written by Raftaar and sung by the couple Manj and Nindy Kaur of RDB fame. Composed in the Hero flute style with a Punjabi style arrangement brought by the ek tara instrument but overall a very commercial Bollywood style makes this a song that will easily take on radio and TV plays. The lyrics are very average along with very basic vocal performances by the singers but junior Shroff does a decently good job on the dance moves. He sure can dance!

Rabba in the voice of Mohit Chauhan is a beautiful romantic composition by Sajid-Wajid in their typical style that makes even a love-dead heart beat again. Mohit�۪s voice is truly an icing on the top��_ and Kausar Munir�۪s lyrics are the base on which this song stands. The arrangement is simple in the Dufli style with violins all over giving it a grand sound. This romantic ballad is surely worth listening to and is perhaps one of the good romantic songs this year. Kudos to the foursome Sajid-Wajid, Kausar and Mohit.

The other song doing the rounds on TV at the moment and clearly standing out from the rest is Raat Bhar in the voice of none other Arijit Singh along with Shreya Ghoshal. Merging young romantic vibes with a club theme Sajid-Wajid have created a big party tune in this song. What sounds like a remix is actually the original that has been very well composed and delivered by the singers. The lyrics are just apt for the setting where a young couple don�۪t want the night of fun end. Credit to Sajid-Wajid for taking Kausar�۪s deeply romantic lyrics with Arijit and Shreya�۪s intensely romantic voices together and making a new age dance number. This is a sure easy shot hit!

Tabah is an intense song about separation and distance in love in the voice of Mohit Chauhan again who has very well rendered it with pain and intensity of emotions. Matched well with electric guitar solos in a part pop-rock setting gives this song a very alternative setting. The arrangement sounds a little off at times which is what may will hold the success of this song back but a fair job on the lyrics by Kausar could change its fate with some music lovers. Decent song to listen to overall with a stunning guitar solo at the end!

The Pappi Song is quite annoying to say the least. Composed by Manj with Raftaar by his side doing the lyrics and vocals as well, the song is simply cheesy and disturbingly annoying. Vocal deliveries are bad and the composition is simple and very clich̩d. Enough said.. Skip this song.

Mustafa Zahid does a beautiful vocal rendition in Tere Binaa that is worth taking notice of. The emotions are really strong in this song and it seems to be very close to his heart as he has written and done the music as well with Bilal Saad by his side. This is a good acoustic song typical to the Pakistani rock stars style. The lyrics are deep and soulful with a very engaging arrangement. Lyrics are perpetually simple which is a drawback as it lacks overall depth for repeat play.

Tabah (Remix) by DJ Angel is an upbeat trance version of the powerful Mohit Chauhan rendition earlier. The remix is good overall and can find success in the clubs with some promotion of the mix and riding on the success of the original.

FINAL WORD

Sajid-Wajid do a fairly good job on the soundtrack of ��Heropanti�۪. The music is not as good as Khan�۪s ��Kambakkht Ishq�۪ but it has more soul to it with its softer numbers including Rabba, Tabah, Tere Binaa with credit to the beautiful lyrics by Kausar Munir. Raat Bhar and Whistle Bajaa are the party numbers and Raat Bhar is the one that clearly stands out and is a sure shot hit. Manj does a good job combining both the Shroffs in this song to launch the junior but Sajid-Wajid take the cake with Raat Bhar that is a brilliant piece of work. Mohit Chauhan & Arijit Singh are the real stars of the album and do an excellent job on the vocals making ��Heropanti�۪ a good listening experience.