Sarfarosh
Tips
Rs 42
Sarfarosh has been in the news for making a villain out of a ghazal singer. A mainstream paper like The New Indian Express was moved enough to write an editorial criticising this portrayal.
Side A of the tape starts off with the popular-on-the-charts Jo hal dil ka. Sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik, it begins with a rather superfluous chorus of Eena meena deeka, but melts into a rock-based passage replete with the electric guitar, sax and drums… the romance in the lyrics is made more earthy be the thumping rhythm that holds out through the song. The song might have been a soft rock number if it were not for the sheer melody of the rendition. The xylophone in the background gives the song a dream-like quality, and Jo hal dil ka is very listenable to.
Hoshwalon ko khabar kya has ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh's voice evoking the soul-warming feel of love. An intrinsic unity between the theme of the lyric (Nida Fazli) and the mood of the music, made soulful and romantic by the santoor and tabla … listeners couldn't ask for more. Jagjit Singh's voice combines emotion and poetry, without detracting from either.
Is deewane ladke ko shows up a very lively, original score with a prominent acoustic guitar. It is sung by Alka Yagnik and interspersed with poetry rendered in Aamir Khan's warm voice. Youthful, light and foot-tapping, the picking and strumming of the guitar blends very well with the mood and structure of the song. Sameer's words have just the right touch.
Side B starts off with a folksy number called Meri raaton ki needein uda de. Maintains an even Rajasthani kind of tempo with the drums, sarangi and flute. The lyrics by Indeevar are full of hope and the ecstasy of love. The sarangi here brings out the melody in an otherwise essentially rythmic number.
Yeh jawaani hadh kar de sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy is a disco-ish song with a strong bass. The number is more intent on passion that romance and is in the league of songs like Pyaar karne wale from Shaan and Pyaar do pyaar lo by Sapna. The strength of the bass is reinforced by the sax and electric guitar. A good dance track. Kavit'a voice has the siren-like come-hither tome to it.
Zindagi maut na ban jaye, placed at the end of the album, is clearly the title track of the movie. A qawwali-style number with Urdu lyrics (by Israr Ansari), back-up vocals, clapping... Sung by Roop Kumar Rathod and Sonu Nigam, it is more poetic than musical. The mandolin and sax combine smoothly with the Indian tabla. Sung with a zest that is infectious, it is a song with patriotism and personal conflict that gives it depth in these troubled times. A pleasure to listen to.
Jatin-Lalit, who made their debut with Yash Chopra's Darr, and followed it up with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge, have proved again that they are a versatile and talented duo -- original tunes, innovative use of instruments, justice done to the mood and feel of the lyrics. Sarfarosh is an album worth buying.
Maya A
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