When the promos of Agneepath started doing the rounds on TV sets, the fans were not exactly yenning for a musical extravaganza. They enjoyed watching Hrithik Roshan in different expressions of the sulks and the bald and bad Sanjay Dutt as his bête noire. Result: A tremendous response to the Agneepath remake and lakhs of followers and fans. And when the audiences were served the item song Chikni Chameli piping hot, they drooled for more.
What one anticipated from the film’s music was something incendiary, something suffused with a spark of passion, if not outright explosion of musical zest. But, alas, nothing of the sort comes through when you listen to the songs of Agneepath.
New to Bollywood, music composers Atul Gogavale and Ajay Gogavale have turned the wheel of fortune for themselves with a hit track like Chikni Chameli, but it seems they still have a long way to go. Here are the songs of the film and the reasons why they fall short of our expectations.
Go ballistic! The album opens up with the spicy track Chikni Chameli. Music composers Atul and Ajay Gogavale had to put less effort to the song as this is recreated from their earlier Marathi composition Kombadi Palali from the film Jatra. Though they deny that it’s an out and out Lavani number, the tune of the track is enjoyable enough for many to shake a leg or two. The composers maintain the earthiness of the original while they play around with its ‘hip’ quotient to make Chikni Chameli one of the sizzling tracks of 2012 with the contribution of Katrina Kaif’s lip-twisting tricks and full-on jhatka-matka.
Can we rate the whole album with the popularity of one track? Certainly no! Agneepath is a Karan Johar film and aren’t we aware that his movies cannot be without a hit soundtrack. Since Agneepath dwells on strong emotions and aggressive action, there is scope of tracks which can be heart-wrenching and at the same time dramatic and pompous. Chikni Chameli is pompous.
Fused with romance comes O Saiyyan. Again Ajay-Atul don’t let the earthy element to whoosh. Instead the entire song is soused in it; the effect is magical in the soothing vocals of Roop Kumar Rathod. A fine blend of romance and sufi element, but the magic fades sooner for a listener.
The next number is Gun Guna Gun - a fair to middling track which again draws heavily from the Marathi folk numbers. In Sunidhi Chauhan’s marvelous voice, the song gets its due, while we continue our search for a good track.
Then comes Shah Ka Rutba, a situational track sung by the versatile Sukhwinder Singh and bunch of other singers. This sufi qawwali number with rapid tempo is interesting at some junctures. Like we said, the album requires drama and this song has a bit of it, but not quite up to the mark.
Abhi Mujh Mein Kahi belongs to Hrithik. The conflict within the character and his pathos renders intensity to the track, which is subtle yet prosaic. Sonu Nigam is exceptional as he wields the microphone for this poignant song.
The climactic song of the album which can be easily said the soul of the film is the bhajan Deva Shree Ganesha. The devotional song, crooned by Ajay Gogavale himself, reeks of vengeance and power.
Since the movie demands serious music, the album has no scope for remixes. Ah! but that doesn’t stop Chikni Chameli from playing on the disc consoles. Fair enough! just six tracks for an action entertainer. But if you would ask which song or songs bowled us over? The answer is none.
May be when the songs go live on big screen they will add to the film’s finesse. Nevertheless, the original Agneepath also had lesser-known tracks.
Conclusion - The album misses hummable tracks which tug at the heart. Moreover, it is not for the listeners who seek some spice and shoo-shaa from every other Bollywood flick. Chikni Chameli is your find, but for the other tracks give your serious ears. Else, fast forward!
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