Pataka on the Highway !

Ok so how am I accomplished to be reviewing music from the upcoming movie Highway or from any movie for that matter. Do I know my Sa  from my Ga from my Pa. But then the movies and its songs are for consumers like me so I guess I can dare to make a comment on what appealed to the ears and what did not, maybe without any grandiose references to ragas to exhibit literary knowledge of music.

I am an unabashed fan of A R Rahman, the man who introduced new sounds to the movies. After RDB if there is anyone close to that eternal creativity it is ARR. As a common man the unique specificity that I notice in ARR ‘s style is his attention to allowing all instruments take a life of their own without getting lost in orchestration and then the new voices springing forth like fresh flowers blooming in a nursery.

The first song that I heard of Highway was Maahi Ve and my spirits dropped. Not because it is a bad song but it looked like an old road travelled on. ARR goes into his “Maa tujhe salaam” pitch. Like ARR songs it grows on you but the sound is certainly not new. There is a rhythmic beat obviously reflecting a linear movement across a road with clear skies. Reminiscent of Yunhi Chala chal. My heart started to sink too prematurely and then I heard “ Phataka Guddi”

Phataka Guddi just blows you away with the first hearing. ARR picks up the wonderful Nooran Sisters outstanding exponents of Sufi music and obviously got noticed by the master at the MTV Coke studio and for their Allah HU rendition. 

The song starts with keyboard modern sounds  suddenly overwhelmed by the boisterous Sufi sounds of the young girls. There is so much energy and enthusiasm that makes you want to rewind and hear them repeatedly. The use of flute is absolutely heavenly. The lyrics are something. Phrases like “ Sajje Khabbe Dhabbe killi ho”  complementing the wonderful claps that rhythmically accompany . The ending Kukuku is a bit jarring though.

Having sensed the potential of this song ARR decides to use it in a male voice – his own though he tries sincerely to avoid his high pitch Ma tujhe salaam style.  

There is a strong Punjabi  stress to the lines though some mouthing of words like sharf khuda ka and jarf khuda ka do not seem to come out effortlessly. But Ali Ali is just beautiful. The song keeps shifting tracks into various velocities of arrangements as if ARR did not want you to remember the Nooran Sisters rendition. He succeeds. The song grows on you after 4 to 5 hearings.  The sudden rock at the end surprises but I guess it is driven by the script that demands it. One still thinks that there was scope for a full-fledged rendition by a couple of male singers of the original Phataka Guddi without altering the rhythm.

Then the album treads into a “been there heard that “ with Kahaan Hoon Main By Jonita Gandhi. It is sadly forgettable.

Wanna Mash up seems to have strayed wrongly into this album because it is actually likeable and seems like an odd song out. It has some great beats and some enthusiastic rock singing by Kash and Krissy from Singapore. Again one marvels at ARR’s ability to dig out talent and springboard them into  popular space.        

Sooha Sooha for some reason reminded me of Ahista Ahista from Swades. Alia Bhatt makes a nice attempt in  a child’s voice. Apparently it should be a lullaby.

I honestly struggled my way through the other songs like Tu Keja and Heera. But some songs take a life of their own when you watch it on the screen aided by skillful direction. And when it’s an Imtiaz and ARR combination it is something to look forward to.

Conclusion “Just for Phataka guddi versions I would give it a full 4 star” Great music ARR and Imtiaz!