Apartment: Music Review (Bappa Lahiri)

Apartment, Rent at Your Own Risk definitely looks like a ‘watch at your own risk’ movie. The music for the film is composed by Bappa Lahiri. Here is a review of the album.

The problem of Bappa Lahiri till date seems to be the lack of newness. He has not been able to give much new with an exception of Jai Veeru. Apartment looks like a continuation of the same as there is not much really fresh though there are a few songs about and above average.

The first song of Apartment, Candy man, is hip-hop-rap with some Punjabi touches and sounds like an average song. My guess is that the female part of the song is pretty much okay, though I didn’t find the rap, n even chorus that interesting.

The next song, Ye hai Mumbai, sung by Sonu Nigam, starts on some good news but as soon as Sonu comes in to sing the song, you know you have heard many like this. The song is kinda flat, even though Sonu seems to be trying to make the song worth listening. The background aalap sounds good but doesn’t do much good to the song. Lyrics don’t seem to be helping the case either. Average affair, again.

Ankhiyan na maar, sung by Shilpa, sounds nice in the start when there is no music behind her voice. After that, the song is a beat-based piece that can remind one of O Ajnabi in some places near the beginning, mostly because of the effects added to Shilpa’s voice, but the song sounds quite okay. In fact I’d say that composition and arrangement look pretty good until Bappa falls for typical Punjabi style with Ankhiyaan na maar. Overall not bad. Worth a try.

O jaane jaan jaan, the next song, looks quite smooth ‘n’ soft; a typical love song by Sunidhi that would suit Shreya Ghoshal’s voice equally well. There is not much new to the song but the song sounds just fine and should be liked after listening to it a few times. As for me, I didn’t like the song the first time but after a few times, it’s getting only better.

Ghar Dil mein is a song that Sonu Nigam would have sang a few years back, a typical homely chhed-chhad song with some easy on ears beats and too-simple-n-easy lyrics. Javed Ali and Shreya Ghoshal sing this one. Likeable stuff for sure if you are willing to compromise on quality.

That brings the end of original songs of the album. The next song of the album is a male version of O jaane jaan jaan sung by Shaan. The song sounds equally good, or maybe half a grade better than a Shreya’s version.

The end of album comes with three remixes, the first being that of Ankhiyaan na maar and sounds like some song of Himesh Reshammiya from the Aashiq Banaya Aapne age until Shilpa starts singing.

The second remix, that of Ye Hai Mumbai isn’t very different in its initial treatment though Himesh effect is less here and a sound somewhat like that of Non-nasal Himesh is there in the background for a few seconds. Whatever be the background, the remix is just a bad remix of a barely average song.

The remix of Candy Man is still okay as it doesn’t sound bad like the previous one. Nothing worth talking about.

Overall, Apartment is a barely average album with not much of fresh music and only a few songs above average. Bappa Lahiri keeps showing his talent here and there but he still has a long way to go if he really wants to make it big in the industry. Picks: Ankhiyaan na maar, ghar dil mein. If u are a sucker for slow numbers, try O jaane jaan jaan and if u are a hip-hop guy, u can give a try to Candy Man too.

Tags: Bappa Lahiri, Javed Ali, Music Review, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan