Bahara (I Hate Luv Storys): Shreya-Sona/Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Sona Mahapatra has an excellent voice, but then it’s such a different from a usual female singer’s voice. Probably that’s the major reason she doesn’t get to sing huge number of songs despite her talent. But then, when she gets something that suits her voice, you certainly get to hear something good. This time there happens something like that as Sona and Shreya Ghoshal come together to sing Bahara in IHLS.

Bahara is a light romantic song with medium pace and a touch of folk in the background. In fact, if I were to tell the composer for the song, I would probably have named Rahman.

The song starts with a beautiful rendition of

Ho tora saajan aayo tore des, Badli badra badla saavan,
Badla jag ne bhes re, Tora saajan aayo tore des

by Sona, somewhat in the background. After which Shreya starts with a sweet

Soyi soyi palkon pe chal ke, meri sapno ki khidki pe aa gaya
Aate jaate phir mere dil ke, in haathon mein woh khat pakda gaya.

The good thing, again, is that the lyrics of the song are quite good and lovable. Check these lines sung by Sona, well sung and well written.

Preet mein tori ore sawariya, Payal jaise chhanki bijuriya
Cham cham naache tanke badariya ho, Baadaliya tu barse ghana..

Probably it’s the goodness of song that made Vishal-Shekhar call upon Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to sing another version of the song. The best part is that this one is not a remix version either, but the folkish touch is quite reduced and Sona’s lines are almost removed as Rahat sings the song alone. In fact the lyrics are quite different from the original version, and while Shreya and Sona have done some wonderful singing for the song, Rahat sounds no less than the two together as he goes on taking his typical ‘harkats’ in between, while singing effortlessly. And yes, Rahat’s chill version happens to be almost a minute and half shorter than the original version.

I know I’d be asked which is the better version, a question I would like to avoid. So here is the answer to that too. I had already fallen for the original version before moving to chill. And for now I am loving both of them almost equally, original still having a slight upper hand, but I guess after some time Rahat may move up. Am I saying Rahat’s version is better? I don’t intend to, but maybe.

Tags: Lyrics, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sona, Song Review, Vishal Shekhar