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This ‘Barber’ makes the cut
Sandhya Iyer
With at least four surefire chartbusters, Pritam ensures that the
Shah Rukh Khan- produced Billu Barber makes a splash musically
For a while now, Pritam has been the industry’s hit machine, coming up with regular blockbuster tracks every now and then. Dhoom, Dhoom2, Race Jab We Met, Jannat and Garam Masala have been some of his big ones. Yet, for all his success, he’s constantly saddled with accusations of plagiarism– a charge Pritam now finds hard to shrug off.
Which is why, it’s hard to tell how much of his latest Irrfan Khan- Shah Rukh Khan starrer and Priyadarshan directed Billu Barber soundtrack is really original but what you hear is entertaining for sure. Incidentally, the film is a remake of the Malayalam film, Katha Parayumbol and Tamil Rajnikanth starrer, Kuselan.
The brief given to the composer seems to be to keep things going fast and groovy and Pritam does that well, not giving the listener much time to think. The in-your-face hit number here is Marjaani and is catchy from the word go. Sung with gusto by Sukhwinder Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan, Gulzar’s lyrics do very well to further add to the appeal of the song. Clear chartbuster.
The other peppy number is Love Mera Hit Hit Soniye, another groovy and foot-tapping filmy number that is sure to go down well with the audiences. The tune isn’t anything to rave about – especially as the song approaches the antara – but the novelty of the lyrics (gibbirish actually) and Pritam’s attempt to infuse the song with enough beats and chorus will keep listeners glued.
The other genuinely warm-hearted song is Khudaya Khair, a lovely number sung in the voices of new finds, Soham Chakrabarthy, Akruti Kakkar and Monali. There’s a nice lilting chorus in the beginning and Soham’s pleasant, earthy voice really makes this one of the best tracks in the film.
The variation to Khudaya Khair is an item song, ‘You Got Me Rocking and Reeling’ which again is a very nice, groovy number.
Jahoon Kahan by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has a certain feeling of déjà vu to it. It’s a very familiar template and mostly just a situational song.
Billu Bhayankar is a folksy, mood-based rustic number that gives you a glympse into the film’s setting. Also, it provides a fun introduction to Billu – the barber with lyrics like ‘Billu se bada koi hajaam naahin re’ With some imaginative picturisation, this frolicksome song should be a real visual treat.
The only number that is downright bad is Ae Aao that is so noisy and loud, it is a sure shot recipe for a massive headache. Steer clear of this.
Otherwise, Pritam delivers big. It’s not an awfully fresh attempt but nevertheless, a pleasant album with enough hit patches to keep it going.
Rating: ***
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jayshah 13 January 2009
01:27:41 am
Only heard Marjaani and its a chartbuster instantly catchy
akshay shah 13 January 2009
01:57:05 am
Excellent as always Sandy…
BTW what are peoples expectations from BILLU BARBER? Evidently, SRK is there so the hype is huge….the promos seem to be focussing on him only. Despite all the SRK hype, im looking forward to this only for Irrfan and Lara..both their getups are top notch and I suspect Irrfan will deliver a brilliant performance (as always)
A.Shah
RAJ 13 January 2009
02:00:41 am
I believe SRK focus in the promos only to increase the marketability of the movie…
akshay shah 13 January 2009
02:04:00 am
Agree Raj..suspect they will do the same for DULHA MIL GAYA too.which is a pity as I wish the promos would focus more on Irrfan as he is the movies leading man…
RAJ 13 January 2009
02:07:32 am
Akshay,
I think they would focus on Irfan once the thetrical promos would be out…But i think the producres need to earn their money too which is why they are focussing on SRK considering Irfans low market acceptibility..
Shah 13 January 2009
02:07:33 am
The SRK focus has increased the hype about the movie. But this could even backfire, if the movie ends up having SRK in a small role.
Really looking forward to this movie.
RAJ 13 January 2009
02:09:14 am
Shah,
Yes it might backfire also if the movie is bad..but with Focussing on SRK what the producers are ensuring is a big initial which would take it to safe zone..Thereafter its all about the movies merit…
akshay shah 13 January 2009
02:23:45 am
Shah: SRK has about 45 mins to an hour here….just a little less then what Akshay had in BHOOL BHULAIYA!
I think BILU BARBER has a good chance to be a heart-warming film which will work.
A.Shah
Aarohi 13 January 2009
02:26:18 am
The one song I like the most in this album is Billoo Bhayankar. Fun lyrics by Gulzar and sung really well.
sandy 13 January 2009
04:04:58 am
Thanks Jay, akshay
print edition
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/200.....e-cut.html
sandy 13 January 2009
07:48:32 am
rks: Is there a problem with NG main page? Some posts seem to be missing.
rohitkarnbatra 13 January 2009
08:36:55 am
Are any posts missng???
sandy 13 January 2009
08:51:22 am
Rohit/Rks: I don’t see this particular post of mine on the main page and I don’t see a couple of others either.
Tango 13 January 2009
08:59:22 am
Rohit- Since you are here and no longer respond on mail, I have only one request, make sure ppl do not post from each others ID, even from the same computer.
And I am not taking any names here, just in case.
Som 13 January 2009
09:02:08 am
Thanks Sandy!
Qalandar 13 January 2009
02:01:33 pm
Nice review sandy, thanks. I have only heard marjaani so far in the TV promos, and it is quite catchy.
akshay shah 14 January 2009
04:42:14 am
i’ll add here, i’m glad SRK has made a home production where he’s not the leading man…but simply a supporting actor..much like Aamir in TZP;-)!
akshay shah 14 January 2009
04:46:47 am
Off topic, my gut instinct says there will be a HUGE hit in the form of the David Dhawan directed DO NOT DISTURB with Govinda in the leading role. Ritiesh, Sushmita and Lara co-star…..
A.Shah
satyam 14 January 2009
06:01:31 am
Good piece here Sandy..
Som 14 January 2009
09:28:19 pm
After hearing few times the soundtrack of Billo Barbar, I have come to the conclusion that it is pretty pedestrian notwithstanding one good song.
sandy 14 January 2009
10:58:01 pm
LOL, Som. I disagree on the soundtrack. There is something very ‘tired’ about the picturisation but as a soundtrack this is a fairly enjoyable album within a set template.
sandy 14 January 2009
10:58:49 pm
Thanks, Q and Satyam!
ăbzee 14 January 2009
11:46:52 pm
I’ve heard only two tracks so far- Marjaani and Love Mera Hit…and I found them both bad. Pritam’s scores are getting increasingly cacophonous. Hummable Noise is not music. And judging a music album for its hummable-quotient is also wrong IMO. It’s the same difference between reviewing a film keeping its BO prospects in mind and reviewing a film as a critical analysis.
sandy 14 January 2009
11:54:19 pm
“And judging a music album for its hummable-quotient is also wrong IMO.”
abzee: I found it enjoyable. Didn’t think of how ‘commercial’ or ‘hummable’ it is.
neelu 14 January 2009
11:58:10 pm
I think what is pleasant to the ears, and what has good lyrics – those are the two features I look for. On those counts I enjoyed Khudaya Khair, Billoo Bhayankar and Marjaanee. Love mere hit hit, is no doubt catchy – I will wait to see how long it stays catchy. As for hummability vs. BO potential, I would equate hummability with enjoying certain kind of entertainment – be is “masala” (in the Ghajini era) or spoof. To each his own. The critical thing is also how well the music complements the film. It is sad that for commercial reasons, both to give the film a boost by the music and to get the music flying off the shelves, the albums are released prior to the film. For me the best model would be to first hear the music in the film itself and see how well it did the job – because it was created as a complement to the movie and never meant to be a stand alone piece. But commerce dictates otherwise.
RAJ 15 January 2009
01:44:46 am
The music of Billo Barber is catchy but noisy….The music might complement the movie but would die down soon after that….I would call this kind of stuff..”‘Chewing gum music”"”
jayshah 15 January 2009
01:59:44 am
You Get Me Rockin & Reeling (Billu Barber)
Sounds like another chartbuster to me! Priyanka is looking so HOTT
sandy 21 January 2009
04:08:25 am
The Love Mera Hit Hit BGM has been lifted from here, don’t you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWg3IMN_rhU
beld 21 January 2009
09:51:03 am
biloo barber and delhi 6 are the perfect contrast between terrible music and terrific music. yes couple of songs are catchy in BB – but very very forgettable album – i will say it is probably the weakest SRK album in the last few years.
on the other hand – delhi 6 is arr’s best since dil se – and that too because dil se had unbeatable nos. Delhi 6 has revived Hindi music for me – in 2008 JA was decent but delhi 6 is the best album in a long long time.
btw delhi 6 promos are quite awesome – this is going to be a great movie i believe