EXPECTATIONS
There are huge expectations from the music of Dum Maaro Dum. Reason is simple - immense hype. Ever since this Rohan Sippy film went on floors, there have been talks about the edgy soundtrack that Pritam and lyricist Jaideep Sahni are supposed to have created here. Add to that the fact that a cult classic has been presented in a brand new avtar here only makes one further excited to check out what really is in store. Since the film belongs to thriller genre as well, expectations from the music too are on the same lines.
MUSIC
After much wait and huge anticipation, one manages to lay hands on 'Mit Jaaye Gham ('Dum Maaro Dum'). Is this really what I just heard' is what describes the reaction when one hears the song for the first time. 'Shocking' is the word which one utters when one hears it the second time. 'Let me check it out again' is what you say to yourself when playing it the third time over. And 'this one is gonna get noticed for sure' is what you end up exclaiming after the song has indeed been played in the repeat mode. Right from the arrangements to the lyrics to the way it is sung to an overall treatment; 'Dum Maaro Dum' (with original lyrics and music by Anand Bakshi and R D Burman) is indeed different. This is one song in fact which should have come with an 'adults only certificate' and though a section of moral police may go about calling it as cheap/vulgar/crude, the fact is that ultimately it is the choice of a listener to grab it or ignore it. One can be rest assured though that this effort by Anushka Manchanda behind the mike and Deepika Padukone on the screen would definitely make heads turn. As for its popularity, rest assured it is going to be the talk of the town for the next couple of months at the least and would burn the dance floors.
Immediately after this chartbuster comes the love song 'Te Amo' (which stands for 'I Love You' in Spanish) which is literally thrust down your throat as it appears as many as four times in the album. The original as well as the 'remix version' is by Ash King and Sunidhi Chauhan while later in the album, Sunidhi as well as Mohit Chauhan also decide to go solo for a version each. Is it a pleasant sounding song? Definitely yes. Is it the best that Pritam has to offer? The answer is no. On the same lines as 'I am in Love' (Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai), 'Te Amo' was expected to stand out as the only true blue love song in the album. However, it turns out to be one of the many such melodious urban compositions that Pritam has composed in the past as well which means ultimately it settles down as a good track, though not memorable.
Newcomer Papon sings 'Jiyein Kaun' which actually starts off in a way that makes one believe as if it as a jamming session amongst college students in progress. Jaideep Sahni's lyrics too are plain, simple and conversational that only makes one wonder that how does a love song like this indeed fit into an edgy thriller Dum Maaro Dum. However, as the song progresses, it starts picking up tempo and eventually half way through, it totally changes track. This is the time when 'Jiyein Kaun' takes a turn for the better and gets into an Atif Aslam zone where passion and intensity rule. Expect the song to make a better impression when seen on screen as it has a situational appeal to it.
'Jaana Hai' which follows next is again a solo track and this time around it is Zubin Garg who renders it. Yet another situational track, it has a decent tune but the impact is not as strong as it could have been, courtesy the way it is sung. One can sense that Zubin Garg is again caught in the 'Ya Ali' (Gangster) mode and he has tried to bring in a similar feel here as well. Hence while one would have expected something which was indeed high voltage here, it doesn't turn out to be the case with 'Jaana Hai', despite it's potential of being a little better, turns out to be barely average. Not that the song is bad, but then well, one expected more here.
Thankfully these expectations are much more than just met with 'Thayn Thayn' turning out to be a rocking track. A rap number rendered by Abhishek Bachchan, it makes a statement on the socio-political state of the country though in a much lighter vein. Also, the tune and the overall arrangements are such that it hooks you on totally within one listening itself. Ayush Phukan and Earl are the supporting vocalists behind the mike but it is Abhishek who leads the show all the way. After his 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu Hai' (Bluffmaster), this effort by him is all set to be chartbuster.
OVERALL
Dum Maaro Dum has two potential hits in the form of its title song and 'Thayn Thayn'. Though one expected at least one more chartbuster here to give an all around popular appeal to the album, one is still reasonably content with what Dum Maaro Dum has to offer. Now it has to be seen that with these two tracks in hands, how far do the makers and the music company go to unleash them in the biggest possible way and make Dum Maaro Dum an album that would make the best use of a relatively open season ahead.
OUR PICK(S)
'Dum Maaro Dum', 'Thayn Thayn', 'Te Amo'
