Music Review (Hindi): Padmaavat

Music Review (Hindi): Padmaavat
Music Composer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali 

Ghoomar starts with roaring Swaroop Khan's Rajasthani verses and the composer packed the proceedings with an absolutely groovy folk music. Shreya Goshal aces the rendition as always and the chorus portions blend perfectly well with the tone of the song. The celebratory song culminates with the frolicking chorus. Sanjay Leela Bhansali does better in terms of tune in the next song of the album Ek dil Ek Jaan where the composer creates brilliant serene Quwwali. Shivam Pathak aces the song with his earnest rendition and Sarangi in the backgrounds serves as a perfect companion.  Khalibali starts on an ominous note but turns out to be a perfunctory number except for the sprightly rendition by Shivam Pathak and Shail Hada and some deft use of strings. Nainowale Na is more contemporary sounding track relative to the setting of the film. Neethi Mohan owns this song with her splendid vocals backed by graceful sitar notes. Manganiyar's and Langa's folk song Holi sticks to the serene traditional outlook while Richa Sharma easily outsmarts Shail Hada with her earnest rendition. Binte dil's middle eastern arrangements work like charm but the same cannot be said about Arijit's Singh's singing. The singer tries hard to blend with the tone but it kinda misfired.  

Verdict: Padmaavat falls far behind the composer's splendid Bajirao Mastani

My Rating: 7/10

Pick of the Album: Ghoomar, Nainowale Na, Ek Dil Ek Jaan

P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.

Music Review (Hindi): Bajirao Mastani

Music Review (Hindi): Bajirao Mastani
Music Composer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

           Deewani Mastani opens up with rustic folksy vocals of Ganesh Chandanshive and what follows is the quite evocative magical vocals of Shreya Goshal accompanied by Bhansali's wonderful usage of mandolin throughout the song. The chorus portions especially qawwalis 'que towards the end  and percussions blend well with the Shreya's voice. Bhansali moves to Laal ishq territory with Ayat and in this song also Arijit is fabulous showing his classical prowess especially loved the alaap portion in the prelude. Once again song switches from the Arijit vocals to qawwalis mode which is handled by Mujtaba Aziz Naza and Shadab very well. Album turns into the celebratory mood with Malhari and Bhansali set the mood with punchy percussion and roped Vishal Dadlani to croon the song. However song turns out to be perfunctory one without any highs. 

          Bhansali delivers beautiful semi-classical song Mohe Rang De Laal where Shreya Goshal's spot-on rendition combined with Pandit Birju Maharaj's taalam portions makes this one of the best in the soundtrack. Bhansali aptly uses brilliant Sitar and flute sounds along with Tabla effectually for this lovely song. Bhansali brings back Albela Sajan after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and here Bhansali treats the song with lofty orchestration while Shashi Suman, Kunal Pandit and Prithvi Gandharva handles the vocals well but still Shankar Mahadevan's rendition in the original one felt better. Ab Tohe Jane Na Doongi rides mainly on the earnest rendition of Payal Dev and Shreyas Puranik while Bhansali swings in the orchestration between modern and classical one throughout the song. Composer brings the Marathi folk in a highly enjoyable foot tapping Pinga while ever reliable Shreya Goshal and Vaishali Made delivers well with their vocals. The video of the song featuring Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone spruces up the song very well. Bhansali delivers another fine prayer-like song Aaj Ibaadat while set the right mood with lovely sitar and other assorted sounds.Javed Bashir, Shadab Faridi and Altamash delivers well in this highly enjoyable pious track. Fitoori is also an enjoyable track where Ganesh Chandanshive croons the folk part while Vaishali Made handles the conventionally tuned song fabulously. Ganjanna is another typical Ganesh bhajan song with typical orchestration rides mainly on the energetic vocals of Sukhwinder Singh.

Verdict: Sanjay Leela Bhansali delivers his best as a composer for his humongous Bajirao Mastani and the soundtrack has highly enjoyable tracks compared to Gujaarish and Ram Leela.

My rating: 8.5/10

Pick of the Album: Aayat, Aaj Ibaadat,  Mohe Rang Do lal, Pinga

You can listen to the soundtrack in Saavn