Jaan-e-Mann
Since the day ''Jaan-E-Mann'' was launched, the film has
been in news across all media forums. With enterprising
producer Sajid Nadiadwala at the helm, a solid trio of
Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta forming a
formidable starcast, grapevine about the generation leap
in the film, Anupam Kher''s dwarf act to editor turned
director Shirish Kunder''s directorial debut -
everything about the film was always in limelight.
Except for one thing! ANU MALIK, the film''s composer!
Why? That''s something that you realize after you hear
the album. This is because in true sense this is THE
comeback that Anu''s fans would have been expecting from
him who has been having a rather dull period at the
music charts. He was seen on the small screen with
''Indian Idol'' but didn''t have much to show himself
when it came to his work. With ''Jaan-E-Mann'' he just
hits back at his detractors who had proclaimed his time
in the Bollywood musical scene to be over. Because with
''Jaan-E-Mann'' he creates a kind of music that truly
befits the musical genre of the film. With a unique
pairing with Gulzar saab to boost, fireworks were
obviously expected from the film but it''s a different
feeling altogether when one really lends an ear to the
album.
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Aamir Khan did it in ''Fanaa'', Akshaye Khanna followed
it up in ''Aap Ki Khatir'' while Shahrukh Khan has made
waves with ''Don - The Chase Begins Again'', i.e. by
lending their voices for a song. Now Salman Khan does it
too for the opening song of the album ''Humko Maloom Hai''
where he doesn''t sing but narrates a couple of lines
that go as:
"Mohabbaton mein jeene wale khushnaseeb hain, mohabbaton
mein marne waale bhi ajeeb hain; Azeem hai hamari
dastaan jaan-e-mann, faaslon mein rehte hain lekin
kareeb hain"
The melody that follows is unique as Sonu Nigam starts
singing ''Hum Ko Maaloom Hain''. An extremely difficult
number to compose and sing, both Anu Malik and Sonu
Nigam make it all sound so easy inspite of Gulzar saab
coming up with his trademark ''conversational'' lyrics
rather than a conventional prose. One can hear a variety
of instruments in this marvelously orchestrated number
that may sound akin to an A.R. Rehman composition but it
still completely original. In the end, the song takes a
sad turn and even comes close to Ismail Darbar''s ''Tadap
Tadap''. Grand is the way to describe the arrangements
of this song which has Sadhna Sargam finally getting
some due. She may be singing only 2-3 big songs in a
year but while doing so she makes sure that she leaves a
mark. This is what happens in ''Humko Maaloom Hai'' that
takes its own time to come to your lips but once it does
after you have heard it 10-15 times, there is no looking
back!
It''s time to have some fun now with the arrival of ''Jaane
Ke Jaane Na'' where Anu Malik surpasses his own effort
after ''Tumse Milke Dil Ka Hai'' Main Hoon Naa. A
qawalli with a feel good factor from the very first note
coupled with Bollywood musical feel, ''Jaane Ke Jaane Ne''
has Sonu Nigam and Sukhwinder Singh getting into a nice
little duet that has an immense bring-on-the-smiles
appeal to it. With Farah Khan at the helm of
choreography, expect a magical outing once again! Sonu
Nigam is exceptional in the qawalli inspite of
Sukhwinder''s presence while Krishna adds on with his
voiceover. Gulzar saab has a knack of surprising every
now and then and he does that well again by adding on an
English word at some nook or corner. A word about Anu
Malik''s orchestra - it is GRAND once again! A ''club
remix'' of the song comes after original versions of all
the tracks are over and it turns out to be a true DJ mix
with an expected add-on-the-pep effect.
One may go ahead and say that the beginning of ''Ajnabi
Shehar'' is akin to the signature tune of ''Titanic''
but what one needs to remember is that it is mainly the
instrument used i.e. flute which is same and hence one
could at maximum term it as a healthy inspiration. Sonu
Nigam sings his third and yet another diverse song that
could have been lapped by none else than Late Mohammad
Rafi if he was alive today. The best song of the album
which brings back the nostalgia of the 60s, it could
well have been a song composed for a Shammi Kapoor or a
Biswajeet or a Joy Mukherjee!
Anu Malik truly reinvents himself with ''Ajnabi Shehar'',
a soulful melody which is a new experience altogether in
today''s music scenario and has a healing appeal to it.
Loneliness coupled with introspection has been presented
in a unique manner which has sad undertones but still
entertains one in a big way. This is the kind of song
that one may want to put on in a repeat mode, switch off
the lights and go to sleep! Gulzar, Anu Malik and Sonu
Nigam excel as a team and come up with a highly classy
outcome!
The signature tune of ''Humko Maaloom Hai'' marks the
beginning of ''Sau Dard'' which is yet another brilliant
song to arrive after ''Ajnabi Shehar''. And yes, the
song again brings composer Anu Malik in a new light
altogether as he applies a lot of energy in this second
sad song in succession. Sonu Nigam sings fourth superb
song in succession and continues to outperform himself
in each song. Expect the auditorium to witness a pin
drop silence when this poetic number is on.
Anu Malik seems to have worked really hard on the score
of Jaan-E-Mann and that shows in ''Sau Dard'' which is
unlike anything that he has composed in the past. A
beautiful song to hear from all quarters, be it
rendition wise, lyrically or musically. Especially watch
out for Suzanne''s voice being used to create a chorus
effect a la an opera which consolidates on the grandeur
look and feel of the film. Watch out for the ''Grove
Mix'' of ''Sau Dard'' that comes after a while and
unlike most remixes floating on the music stands, this
one actually ''stands'' out for itself and gives the
track a different dimension by actually creating a
groovy feel!
SUPERSTAR - now that''s a term that you would have
observed in the promos of ''Jaan-E-Mann'' that are
currently on air remember the glittery sets with
SUPERSTAR written all over?! For this stage number ''Udh
Jaana....Bro'', Kunal Ganjawala begins the show with
Sunidhi Chauhan and Adnan Sami joining him soon. A
rhythmic song that has it''s opening strings coming
close to the tune of guitar as in ''Aisa Pehli Baar Hua''
Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, it has that concert feel to it
that is so very needed to give it an authentic appeal.
Yes, compared to the songs in the past which were
absolutely new tunes, this one lags a little behind.
Still one may not want to take away the euphoric feel
that the song may end up creating once the choreographed
version is out on the big screen! As expected the ''Club
Mix'' of the song comes as well that doesn''t sound much
different from the original which itself is high on
rhythm, arrangements and a high adrenaline outcome.
When Anu Malik had presided over ''Indian Idol'', he had
promised some of its participants that one day he would
be giving them a break. He fulfills the promise by
roping in Rahul Vaidya, Amit Sana and Prajakta Shukre to
sing for ''Kubool Kar Le'', the beginning of which is a
direct take off from lesser heard ''Sanam Tum Hampe
Marte Ho'' ''Wajood'' that was composed by Malik himself
and featured Madhuri Dixit and Mukul Dev. Well, leaving
this one bit of reuse aside, the song has been given a
fresh treatment throughout. A song about a man trying to
woo a girl and a group of friends motivating her to say
yes, it mainly takes a pep-n-rhythm route with Udit
Narayan taking the lead. A situational track with Monali
Thakur and Suzanne joining the singers as well, it is
just like ''Udh Jaana'' i.e. being good till it lasts
and promising good visuals on screen.
''Jaan-E-Mann'' starts off on a brilliant note and the
first four tracks along with the remix versions of 2 of
them raise the bar so high that one starts expecting a
moon from an entire album. ''Udh Jaana'' and ''Kubool
Kar Le'' are fine too but given a choice one may just
want to play on ''Hum Ko Maaloom Hain'', ''Jaane Ke
Jaane Na, ''Ajnabi Shehar'' and ''Sau Dard'' and relish
the melody. Anu Malik creates a music that should
silence all his detractors while Gulzar saab must be
happy this his lyrics are presented in a new light for a
hardcore commercial film like ''Jaan-E-Mann''.
''Jaan-E-Mann'' adds on to the list of must-buy albums
this season and makes it a double treat for music lovers
in a matter of 10 days who are having a gala time with
''Don'' making a splash too! Sajid Nadiadwala has a
winning score in hand that should take a flying start in
the A centers and gradually start making a mark in the
interiors as well!
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