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Cast:
Harman S. Baweja, Priyanka Chopra, Dilip
Joshi, |
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Anjan Shrivastava, Visswa Badola, Rajesh
Vivek |
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Year:
2009 |
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Music:
Sohail Sen |
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Lyrics:
Javed Akhtar |
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Dialogues:
Naushil Mehta |
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Screenplay:
Naushil Mehta, Ashutosh
Gowariker |
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Co-Prodecer:
Deven Khote, Zarina Mehta, Siddharth RK |
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Presenter:
UTV Motion Pictures, Ashutosh Gowariker |
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Producer:
Ronnie Screwvala, Sunita A. Gowariker |
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Director:
Ashutosh Gowariker |
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Everything about
What's Your Raashee? is outside what we as audiences have
grown accustomed to as director Ashutosh Gowariker's
'comfort zone'. But then again, he has always been one
director who has consistently pushed the envelope and so
after films like Lagaan, Swades and the recent Jodhaa Akbar,
maybe helming the reigns of What's Your Raashee?, the first
romantic comedy of his career, was a natural progression. It
may be a new genre, but the expectations from him are
immense, especially from the songs, since the track record
of his earlier films have proven his ear for fine melodies
and creating songs which remain with us years after the film
has released.
Furthermore,
after having worked with the musical maestro A R Rahman on
his previous three films, this time Ashutosh has roped in
newcomer Sohail Sen to compose a record thirteen songs for
the film. One cannot help but wonder if Sohail would be able
to handle the pressure of having to impress Gowariker with
his scores, the pressure of having to create thirteen
different songs along with the pressure of having to match
the level of expectations set by his predecessor, the now
Oscar winning music director, Rahman. However, upon hearing
the songs of What's Your Raashee? one can only wonder where
Sohail had been hidden and how Ashutosh discovered him.
Sohail is truly the musical find of the decade, and hats off
to Gowariker for giving a newcomer a chance to compose for a
film which has music at its heart & soul. Surprisingly, we
are introduced not only to Sohail Sen the music director,
but also Sohail Sen the singer who has sung nine out of the
thirteen tracks and seems to be the perfect playback voice
for Harman Baweja. |
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The album opens with a rare jazz piece titled
'What's Your Raashee?-Pal Pal Dil Jisko Dhoonde, the
Aries-Mesh song. True to jazz, it is dominated by
the saxophone, simple drums, piano and brass
instruments like the trumpet. The song is not only
extremely melodious and well sung by Sohail, it
remains truly faithful to the jazz genre, giving us
a musical treat rarely heard in Hindi films. If you
have ever loved jazz, then this song will be one of
your favourites from the album. |
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02.
Jao Na - Sohail
Sen, Tarannum Malik
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Jao
Na, the Aquarius-Kumbh song, is a melodious romantic
number which this time allows the strumming guitar
to take centre stage along with Sohail's vocals.
It's simple, sweet, beautifully composed and sets a
romantic mood with its almost unplugged sound. In
fact it is a good two minutes into the song before
you hear anything other than the guitar and Sohail's
voice. A romantic gem, this song is one which grows
on you with every listen. Javed Akhtar's lyrics are
simple and real and yet so poetic, a rare
combination. |
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03.
Aja Lehraate - Shann,
Bhavya Pandit |
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Aaja
Lehraate is a dance number for the Gemini-Mithun
girl and is of a mood, genre and sound that we have
never heard in an Ashutosh Gowariker film. But
change is a good thing and this change in style we
truly love! The song is peppy, full of attitude,
with a little bit of hip hop, and some great singing
from Shaan and Bhavya Pandit. The wo-o, wo-o is
catchy and the lyrics are so young and contemporary
that Javed saab should be saluted for remaining so
young at heart with his words and being able to give
such variety in his lyrics as he has demonstrated in
this one album. This number is drastically different
from both the earlier tracks which proves to be just
a small indication of how distinct each of the songs
that follow will be.
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04.
Bikhri Bikhri
- Sohail Sen, Marianne D'Cruz |
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The piano gives a beautiful start to Bikhri Bikhri
the song for the Cancer-Kark girl. This song is
without a doubt the most soulful track in the entire
album as a result of the overall composition and
lyrics like 'gham ka yeh pal guzar jaayega, phir koi
humsafar aayega.' Sohail's voice again brings to
life Javedsaab's words and Marianne D'Cruz's voice
is perfect as the female background support. The
song doesn't try hard to make any statement and
hence in the process strikes all the right emotional
chords with its simplicity. Bikhri Bikhri is a song
about moving on in life and opening your heart once
more-'gham na kar tu jo murjha gaye, phool khil
jaayengay phir naye'. The more you will listen to
the song, the more you will fall in love with it. |
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Mannunga Mannunga -
Ashutosh Gowariker, Pamela Jain |
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Welcome
Ashutosh Gowariker the playback singer in Maanunga Maanunga,
the Libra-Tula song. He starts with a very powerful voice
but takes you by surprise with his sweet 'na na na na nanana
na". It's a song where the deep powerful voice of Ashustosh
is within the song submissive to the much softer and higher
pitched Pamela Jain in terms of the lyrics and that contrast
works completely in favour of the song. 'Maanunga Maanunga
jo tera kehna hai, tere ishaaron pe ab mujhe chalna hai' is
what Gowariker is singing but with talent like that, that's
what everyone will be saying to him. The composition is
extremely electronics based to suit the flavour of the song
and also to once again create a distinct personality for the
girl. This one is a fun song which has a very catchy tune
that you will find yourself humming after the song is over. |
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06.
Sau Janam -
Udit Narayan, Madhushree, Sohail Sen |
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Sau Janam, the Pisces-Meen song, is a dreamy,
saccharine sweet melody with the electric guitar and
drums fused in nicely to give the song, which is
overall reminiscent of the late 80's early 90's
types of romantic numbers, a slightly modern touch.
Udit Narayan and Madhushree suit this genre to the
tee while Sohail again makes his mark as singer. |
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07.
Aa Le Chal -
Aslesha Gowariker, Harman Baweja |
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Another playback debut is made in Aa Le Chal, the
Scorpio-Vrishchik song. No, we are not referring to
Harman who chips in with a couple of dialogues but
rather of Aslesha Gowariker, Ashutosh's sister who
makes such a confident and polished debut with this
song that we cannot help but wonder where he was
hiding her and why she has never sung for any of his
earlier films as she clearly sounds like a trained
singer. The song has a soft hip hop touch and
overall the composition is not just unique but
catchy. Aslesha's |
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voice has a distinct quality to it which makes it a
perfect fit for this number. This is one track which
ends way too soon and leaves you wishing for it to
have been a little longer than its three minute
duration. Lyrics like 'chaahat ki baarish ho, aisi
nawaazish ho, meri jo farmaaish ho, mane duniya'
make you realize that only Javedsaab can use such 'shudh'
language for a contemporary, hip hop ish song, and
actually make it work so well. Again, Sohail has
created a completely different sound for this song,
and hence for the girl that it represents. |
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08.
Pyaari Pyaari
- Alka Yagnik, Sohail Sen |
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Pyaari
Pyaari, the Virgo-Kanya song is another beautiful melody
with poetic lyrics, while Alka Yagnik and Sohail add even
more soul to the number with their rendition. Like Bikhri
BIkhri, this song too begins with a beautiful piano piece
and the composition throughout remains uncomplicated which
is why this song strikes a romantic chord. The lyrics too
are simple and expressive creating a perfect marriage
amongst the composition, singing and words. |
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09.
Su Chhe
- Sohail Sen, Bela Shende |
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A
film about a Gujarati boy, without a Gujarati song
would be incomplete and hence Su Chhe, the Taurus-Vrishabh
song is no surprise in that sense. The composition
this time is full of different songs and
instruments, starting with the accordion and even
mixing in an Arabian feel in the middle. The beats
of the song make it a perfect number for Navratri,
which happens to be just around the corner. The "Ah
Oh" portions will leave you humming the song and
Bela Shende is perfect for the song, along with
Sohail. This is a fun song from the moment it begins
and makes you want to get up and dance. |
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10.
Salone Kya
- Sohail Sen, Tarannum Malik |
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Salone Kya,
the Sagittarius-Dhanu song is a seductive number sung by
Tarannum Mallik and Sohail. It's composition has a slightly
Spanish flamingo dance type of feel to it but the lyrics are
what really give the song its seductive mood; "koi aaye to,
mann ko bhaaye to, hoti hai kya dasha". This song too makes
use of the accordion in a distinct manner and overall the
sound is unique, giving the listener a new sound for another
girl. |
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11.
Dhadkan Dhadkan
- Sohail Sen, Tarannum Malik |
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The next
song, Dhadkan Dhadkan, the Leo-Simha song, is more heavy and
intense than any other composition in the entire album and
Tarannum's style of singing in this song is completely
different from Salone Kya. Dhadkhan Dhadkan seems to be a
performance number and is dominated by the musical
interludes, more than the vocal portions. This song has the
quality to send a chill down your spine, especially the way
the piano is reintroduced after a background vocal crescendo
and the composition registers a strong impact. Sohail joins
in for vocals and by now we only expect his voice to be
absolutely perfect, which it is again. Looking at the
pictures in the audio booklet, we can expect a marvellous
dance performance by Priyanka to this number. |
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12.
Koi Jaane Na
- Rajab Ali Bharti, Bela Shende |
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We have had
a mix of sounds, compositions and finally with Koi Jaane Na
the Capricorn-Makkar song, we are hit with pure, traditional
Indian sounds, instruments and of course the singing of
Rajab Ali Bharti which make this another unique track in the
album. The lyrics and Rajabsaab's singing are the true aces
of this number as words like 'mann ki batiyaan, mann mein
liye hai, ghut ghut key un gori jiye hai, bolna chahe bolna
paaye, bebas neer bahaaye, koi jaane na' touch a chord deep
within. This is not a song for the masses for sure, but yet
this will remain a song we will all remember even post the
film's release. |
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13.
Chehre Jo Dakhe Hain
- Sohail Sen |
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A
What's Your Raashee-Chehre Jo Dekhe Hain is a song
which creates a distinct sound by bringing in pieces
of the melodies for each of the earlier twelve
songs. The lyrics and the fact that the song picks
up musical bits from each of the earlier songs hints
that this is probably a climax type of song. However
Sohail succeeds in making this song one of the more
enjoyable numbers, even though it uses musical
pieces we have already heard earlier in the album as
now we are identifying each tune with each girl and
his own voice is as perfect in this track as it has
been throughout the |
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album. Even
with a very techno, electronics beginning to the song, it
has a more lounge type of feel to it in those portions. This
song essentially sums up the entire premise of the film and
the musical interludes in between the chorus and verse are
the highlight of the song.
What's Your
Raashee? is an example of how a romantic comedy need not
have only frivolous songs which are temporary hits that fade
quickly from the listener's memory post the film's release.
These songs make a mark and each of the songs have a
distinct quality to them, making each memorable. There isn't
a single weak composition or weak song in this entire album
which is an astonishing feat for an album with thirteen
songs! Each song grows on you with subsequent listens and
the team of Ashutosh, Sohail and Javedsaab have created a
truly magical album. Two thumbs up for this brilliant
musical score. |
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