SANGEET SANKAT MEIN!! (DHARAM SANKAT MEIN – Music Review)

Music Album Details
♪ Music by: Sachin Gupta, Jatinder Shah, Meet Bros. Anjjan & Shamir Tandon
♪ Lyrics by: Kumaar
♪ Music Label: Zee Music Company
♪ Music Released On: 30th March 2015
♪ Movie Releases On: 10th April 2015

Dharam Sankat Mein Album Cover

 

To hear the full songs of this album on Hungama CLICK HERE

To buy this album on iTunes CLICK HERE

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Dharam Sankat Mein is an upcoming Bollywood comedy / religious satirical film starring Paresh Rawal in the lead role, and Naseeruddin Shah, Annu Kapoor in supporting roles. It has veen directed by debutant Fuwad Khan, and produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Sajjad Chunawala and Shariq Patel. The film is about a Hindu man played by Paresh Rawal, who discovers that he was only adopted into a Hindu family, but was actually born into a Muslim family. This makes him go search for his father. The plot of the movie really does seem interesting, like all other movies of this genre, and is sure to get a great opening just because of the star value of Paresh Rawal. The music of this film, though I am not expecting much from it, yet seems like it would be something interesting. It is a multi-composer album, with two songs by Sachin Gupta (“Prince”, “Mere Dad Ki Maruti” fame) and one each by Jatinder Shah (“Janib” from “Dilliwaali Zaalim Girlfriend” fame), Meet Bros. Anjjan (do I really need to specify their ticket to fame?) and Shamir Tandon respectively. So, let’s see how far the album helps this religious satire!

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1. Neelanand
Singer ~ Ravi Chowdhury, Music by ~ Sachin Gupta

Sachin Gupta is one of those composers, who pops up once in a year or so, and fails to create much impact with that little work he does. This time, he has come back after composing two songs in ‘Badlapur Boys’, which I didn’t review because it wasn’t that great. Before that, he had composed the entire album of ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’, so you can see the gaps in his popping-up. 😂 Anyways, now he’s back with two songs in this satirical film. This song is a song which seems like an anthem for the Babaji who is portrayed by Naseeruddin Shah in the film, Neelanand Baba. It’s quite a situational track, which goes on praising the Baba. Lyrics are of course, humorous just as they should be in such a song. The tune is pretty catchy as well. The song actually sounds like the bhakts of the Baba (saint) are sitting and chanting these lines for him. The “Neelanand Neelanand Neelanand BABA” chants are weirdly addictive, and you will find yourself crooning them, when you least expect them to pop in your mind. Ravi’s folksy vocals suit the composition and also this situation. He’s actually a Bhojpuri singer, debuting in Bollywood with this song. In the arrangements too, the song doesn’t lag behind, with interesting use of rock guitars in this type of song. Manjeeras adorn most of the composition, and give the religious feel, which is balanced out by these rock guitars, which is an interesting combo. I guess I could hear the dumroo in places too, and it sounded so great! The mukhda might be pretty catchy, but that interest is lost in the antaras, where only the “Neelanand BABA” chants are there to entertain you. A good attempt at making a catchy tribute to a dhongi baba!! Catchy hook helps the song, but just misses the coveted tag! 😜

 

2. Do You Know Baby
Singer ~ Gippy Grewal, Music by ~ Jatinder Shah

After giving us a wonderful, beautiful melody ‘Janib’ in ‘Dilliwaali Zaalim Girlfriend’, I guess Jatinder Shah signed this film, just to show his true colors. I did praise him and all for giving something traditionally, and beautifully Punjab-flavoured, but here he is, giving another song which sounds just like aall these Punjabi composers in Bollywood are trying to do. An utterly ridiculous sounding song, sung by the Punjabi singer/actor Gippy Grewal. Gippy’s voice is pretty irritating, and singing in Punjabi-Hindi-English lyrics mixed just sounds weird in his voice. Arrangements by Jatinder are pretty catchy, though, with the techno sounds and dhols pepping up the song. Lyrics are ridiculous, and nothing more was expected from Kumaar with such a song. The guy says “Hum pangdhe (Bhangre) ke sardaar, do you know baby?” That just sounds so stupid in itself! The hookline, is catchy, like it should be, but unfortunately, the other parts of the song just loosely revolve around this hook, thereby not making the listener that interested till the hookline comes, and then after it’s done, the condition becomes the same as it was before the hook had come. 😂 So it would have been better if they had just made the song with only one tune — that of the hook. Thank God, they kept the song short at only two and a half minutes. Jatinder disappoints, this time, because he shows variety…. An unwanted variety, for that matter!

 

3. Tu Takke
Singers ~ Gippy Grewal, Khushboo Grewal & Meet Bros. Anjjan, Music by ~ Meet Bros. Anjjan

A very familiar-sounding Tumbi sound brings us to the next song, where Meet Bros. Anjjan, probably the most well-known composers composing for his film, enter the soundtrack. And you know why it sounds so familiar? Because it bears a very striking resemblance to the opening Tumbi from Amit Trivedi’s ‘London Thumakda’ (Queen). Now I were them, I would really watch out before such a coincidence happened, because the whole nation knows that song, and then I would be exposed to all kinds of accusations of plagiarism. Even though it was simply a coincidence. So, that really gives a bad impression to the listeners right from the beginning. Anyways, since it quickly changes and gets off that ‘London Thumakda’ sound, the makers are saved. After that, though, what follows isn’t that great either. Gippy gets another song with different composers (pretty rare) in the same album, and I guess Meet Bros. Anjjan had to compose keeping his style in mind i.e, typical Punjabi wedding/rap/irritating songs. This is a major letdown from people like me, who were expecting something innovative. Meet Bros. Anjjan always deliver great when it’s not expected of them, but fail to do so when it is expected. How irritating is that! Meet Bros Anjjan’s rap is nothing worth hearing. Khushboo’s part is a relief, and she does well, actually providing something to hear in the song. The composition, again, is dependent on the hookline to make it work. Everything else, loose and dull and stale and heard-before. (Not that the hookline is something brilliant either, but we can cut them some slack there) Arrangements are good once again, tumbi and dhols leading it. Techno sounds are also used occasionally throughout the song. Kumaar’s lyrics are yet again, nothing fresh, the same Punjabi wedding stuff and irritating blend of Punjabi, Hindi and English. Nothing to appreciate as true or entertaining lyrics. Meet Bros. Anjjan stick to the everyday Punjabi wedding song template, thereby failing to give anything applaudable. Makes for a good dance to play at weddings though! 😝

 

4. Allah Hoo / Allah Hoo Allah
Singers ~ Ravi Chowdhury & Sachin Gupta / Pardeep Sran, Music by ~ Sachin Gupta

After three upbeat songs, out of which none were exceptional, but one did manage to at least interest me, finally I got something I would love to hear. Sachin Gupta re-enters with this Sufi track, with two versions, one sung by Ravi Chowdhury & the other by Pardeep Sran. The composition is a very soothing and calming song, sure to make the listener get emotional. It does remind you a lot of A.R. Rahman’s ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ from ‘Jodhaa Akbar’. It has the same aura of divinity around it, as that song had. Ravi’s rendition suits the theme and pace of the song. Every single nuance has been done with ease and finesse by him. His voice has the required rustic-ness in it, with which he could carry out this rendition with no problem whatsoever. Arrangements are as soothing as soothing can be, with all the dholaks, harmoniums played in such a divine way, that you might even imagine yourself in a Gurudwara of you close your eyes. Sachin has provided beautiful orchestration in the hookline, which in itself has a master tune. Pardeep Sran, another debutant to Bollywood, in his version, manages to pull off the composition with as much ease and as expertly as Ravi. Though they have named his version ‘Allah Hoo Allah’, there is nothing different in this version and the former. His voice reminds you more of the folksiness of Punjab, slightly resembling Kailash Kher’s voice. The hookline in Pradeep’s version sounds way more traditional, because of the pronunciation, and it brings in an element of folk Punjab into the song. Kumaar has written meaningful lyrics, seeming to describe the feelings of a person, who has lost hopes from his life, and really doesn’t understand what his importance on the world is. Finally, true music lovers get what they would love, and Sachin Gupta aces with the composition! Brilliant work to create a Sufi traditional song! #5StarHotelSong!!

 

5. Shiv Tandav
Singer ~ Aman Trikha, Music by ~ Shamir Tandon, Lyrics ~ Traditional

This is an out-and-out religious stotra, not at all spoilt by any techno sounds, and kept playing on the divine background of the tanpura drone. Aman has chanted the “Shiv Tandav” we all might be familiar with, with great and intense energy, at the same time making sure that energy is radiated out to the listeners as well. There is nothing much to describe here, except that you must not skip it just because you have heard it, or you think that you may get bored by it, because of you think so, you are very sadly mistaken. Shamir has designed the whole thing perfectly, and succeeds in his intention to make something impactful. Awesome!!!!! Divine!!!!! #5StarHotelSong!!

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Dharam Sankat Mein is an album, in which songs seem to have been forced, just for promotion of the movie. The smart makers of this film have merely catered to the likes of the public, and so, whatever be the subject of the film, Punjabi music is a must. A wedding song, and a bhangra (failed one, if I may say so) have been added for the sake of the public, it seems. Entertaining, yes. Appreciated, no. Wanted, absolutely not. At the end of the day, it is Sachin Gupta (whom I was expecting the least from) and Shamir Tandon who give the best tracks on the album, partly because their songs are relevant to the movie, and partly because they have repeat value as well. Three good songs, put of which two are exceptional, not a very good thing for the overall album, so, may I say, sangeet sankat mein??

 

Final Rating for This Album: सा < रे < ग < म < प < ध < नी < सां

Note: The letter which is underlined is the final rating.

Rexommended Listening Order: Allah Hoo / Allah Hoo Allah > Shiv Tandav > Neelanand > Tu Takke > Do You Know Baby

 

Which is your favourite song from Dharam Sankat Mein? Please vote for it below! 🙂

 

Next “dish”: Mr. X, Chefs: Ankit Tiwari & Jeet Gannguli