Ever since Emosional Atyachar from Dev D struck a chord with the audience, expectations from an Anurag Kashyap film soundtrack are high.
Album: Gulal
For: Rs 145
by: T-Series
Available at all leading music stores
Rating: 4/5
Ever since Emosional Atyachar from Dev D struck a chord with the audience, expectations from an Anurag Kashyap film soundtrack are high. Gulaal has been in the making for years, though the music is anything but well-timed in the wake of Vishal Bharadwaj's musical outre.
Drawing from Omkara and No Smoking, Gulaal's music could have been easily credited to Vishal Bharadwaj for its style, but where credit is due; we will give it to Piyush Mishra for debuting with such flair. He's the same guy who wrote Dil Dance Maare for Tashan. Here, he's written and composed all the songs.
Beedo begins with a sarangi piece transporting you to the Umrao Jaan era, but before you can settle, the namkeen voiced Rekha Bharadwaj shows up with her "chakmak-chakmak" refrain. It's a delightful folk number containing elements of Baul strains. Time to do the slow groove thumka!
Piyush Mishra takes the mike for Duniya, a tribute to Pyaasa's Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye Toh Kya Hai. While the Rafi song was a prayer soaked in despair, this one is tired of fighting. The way Piyush discards, u00e2u0080u00a6toh kya hai, you know he's washed his hands off on Duniya. Thought provoking song, likely to haunt you if you pay attention to the lyrics.
Aarambh is what the name throws. This song wouldn't have looked out of place in Delhi 6 with a monkey march happening, it will make sense with the visuals. Words like dahaad and prachand dodging heavy drums and bugles to orchestrate the Ides of March, Gulaal is coming soon. We get the point!
Shehar is about the night the skies rained blood, you can expect the song to be bloodied in the murderous tones the singers take. What can get cagey about the songs of Gulaal is that they are overtly dramatic story-telling tools. When Piyush sings, ...haath mein uske agle hi pal dharam maas ka naram lothra hota hai. This is some heavy stuff. Chop, chop at the local mutton shop, this one's going for the kill.
Rahul Ram warns about the nefarious shade of the night in Raat Ke Musafir, stealth like a black panther; make your way out of the abyss of its sinister black hole. Intensive care moody number we say, play with caution, at your own peril.
Shilpa Rao in Aisi Sazaa whisks smooth in her soul stew. It is one of those wretched numbers that makes you feel good about the fact that you switched to this mood pill for stress busting. Not entirely without some consolation.
The pick of the album has to be Ranaji, with its infectious lyrics, luridly mocking 9/11 and imperialist America. It's a riot. Everyone from Uncle Sam and Afghanistan is in this post-modern mujra number, meant to tickle your funny bone.
The album closes with Yaara Maula, a mega-death rock sound rises up like a roar and then segues into an echo less terrain. Just might tempt you to rewind Gulaal one more time.
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