Well Done Abba: Music Review

It’s not always that you get two back to back good movie albums within 24 hours. So good that I didn’t have time to listen to Shafqat Amanat Ali’s new album even though I loved his previous one, Tabeer. So here it comes, after Lahore, album of Well Done Abba, a Shyam Benegal movie.

The first song of the album is Meri banno Hoshiyaar sung by Ila Arun (with Daniel B George), who sings her own words on a tune that is almost Saiyyaan Jhoothon ka Bada Sartaj Nikla of V Shantaram’s Do Aankhen Baarah Hath, in a full folk manner, on an orchestration that reminds me of Rahman’s Genda Phool. But frankly, the song is completely new and has it’s identity completely different from both the songs I named here, something not at all easy. Ila is obviously superb in her singing and the Telugu counting in the background (Okkati, Rendu, Moodu, Naalgu…) is something in it’s own ranks. Must listen song.

The second song of the album, Sandesa Sandesa, has Shreya Ghoshal singing the words sun zara sun zara aaya hai pi ka sandesa in her typical sweet voice. Somehow, these words in her voice remind me of Piyu Bole of Parineeta. Something natural with the same singer, same composer, and similar words. But then, the song takes its own turns and new singer Rupankar also takes an entry. The song is a bit fast even with a sugar sweet Shreya and she sounds somewhat like in Tere Naina of CC2C, though slower than that. Overall, the song is the type that sounds okay for the first few times and builds up slowly.

The third song, Hum to apni Bawdi lenge, is sung by Mohit Chauhan and Swanand Kirkire. Wait. Do not expect a typical Mohit Chauhan song there. Instead, it’s a typical Shyam Benegal song, something like Sitaram Sitaram of Welcome to Sajjanpur, though this one looks a a step behind that. Okay to listen. Should be super-fit and enjoyable in the movie.

Rahiman Ishq Ka Dhaaga, the fourth song of the album, is probably going to be one of the best songs sung by Raja Hasan. It’s a slow song with, as you might have guessed, lyrics that are inspired by Rahim’s famous doha and build upon that. The music here has a sufi touch and though Shantanu is not an expert of this type of music, he works pretty well on the song and result is certainly worth a try.

The last track of Well done Abba is Pani ko taraste, which is again a song with a Sufi touch and Rahim there again. Also, the song is sung by Raja Hasan again. This one is quite different and is more movie oriented than general, until you are a staunch supporter of water conservation. Okay song.

Overall, this movie of Shyam Benegal has it’s album as good as you expect his movies to be. The music here is quite movie oriented and will be enjoyed in the movie but try the songs, good chances that you will like some of them even before you watch the movie. Meri banno Hoshiyaar is certainly one of those for me.

Tags: Ila Arun, Mohit Chauhan, Music Review, Raja Hasan, Rupankar, Shantanu Moitra, Shreya Ghoshal, Shyam Benegal, Swanand Kirkire