ROCKSTAR – Reviewed

I finally got my original music album of this much anticipated work by the maestro, A R Rahman! And, it’s quite natural to hate almost all the songs when you listen to it for the very first time, until you change your opinion totally. That’s how ARR’s music grows on you. I was no different and I disliked this album calling it below average. But hey, in the last 10days I haven’t been listening to anything else other than Rockstar. Here’s what I thought:

Well honestly, Mohit Chauhan is not in my favourite singers list (not even in top 25) though there have been hardly a couple of his songs that I had liked. And when ARR tweeted the track listing, it was Mohit’s name all over the album. If I’m not wrong, this is for the 1^st time, ARR has used one singer for so many songs in an album and also this is probably the lengthiest album he’s ever done with as many as 14 songs and also none of his favourite singers feature (sukhwinder singh, sonu nigam, shreya or chinmayi) So the album is one of its kind from the word go.

The 1^st track (Phir se udd chala) opens with a pleasant hum in the background and Mohit Chauhan’s solo performance that goes quite well as an opening track. This 4 plus minute song runs with a lengthy mukhda penned most refreshingly by Irshad Kamil, who’s also the clear winner of this album. What surprised me was I couldn’t find his name on the CD cover. Nevertheless, a melodious opening song gives way to the next one.

You listen to the chords and a highly energized Mohit Chauhan singing to an enthusiastic crowd that joins him on the next track (Jo bhi main). This song gets a lot of acoustic guitar and drums that add to another inspiring poem by IK. This is one of the songs which I thought should have gone to someone like KK or Kunal Ganjawala and wondered why ARR stuck to Mohit. I only realized the answer later (read through…)

The next track by harshdeep kaur (Katiya karun) is quite peppy and sounds more typical of Imtiaz Ali’s creation than ARR’s. Until half way through this track I didn’t even feel it was composed by ARR. It’s meant to be a lively and girly song dedicated to the film’s female lead that somehow doesn’t leave a mark and remains an average number.

So finally, ARR’s voice emerges out along with his favourite Javed Ali (who’s my recent favourite singer). If you missed ARR in the ‘Arziya’ song of Delhi 6, here he is with a similar track supported by excellent lyrics. ‘Kun Faya Kun’ is one soulful song that doesn’t fail anywhere. Mohit Chauhan too joins for the antra portions and this nearly 8 minute long song makes you feel bad only once – that is when it ends with a fading voice of ARR!

Look out for song number 5 (Sheher mein) that is easily hummable and instantly likeable. It sounds like ARR composed 2 parallel tracks one for Mohit and one for Karthik when they sing same lines in different tunes. Interesting! It also reveals a lot about the film’s plot, thanks to those dialogues in the middle. Once again, hats off to the lyricist IK. A peppy little song!

A Czech folk legend (‘Hawa Hawa’) is what follows next which reminds me remotely of the Spanish portions that ARR used for ‘Jai Ho’. A foot tapping and energetic song, which promises to look better visually.

Next one ‘Aur Ho’ opens with Mohit Chauhan almost whispering into the microphone in one line and at the top of his voice in the other. Clearly, a quality singing! This song also works thanks to some passionate lines written by IK and hat’s off ARR!

There’s an instrumental track that follows next - ‘Tango for Taj’. Though this flows well as a background score, there have been innumerable instrumentals that ARR has given us earlier and this one just falls short.

‘Tum Ko’ is one song I looked forward to ever since I saw Kavita Subramaniam’s name in the list. And does she deliver? Right from the word go! Why did it take so long for KK and ARR to get back after giving great numbers like ‘Tu Hi Re’, ‘Kay Sera Sera’, ‘Ishq Bina’ ‘Pyar ye jaane kaisa hai’ and many more. As the sarangi starts, there’s a feel of ‘Tu Hi Re’ (from Bombay). Some really unusual lines by IK make this one all the more special. So, another soulful song in the album and yet another winner of a track! Kudos!!

Check out for ‘Dichotomy of fame’ which might feature the late legendary actor Shammi Kapoor playing shehnai and probably Ranbir on the guitar. A small jugalbandi that stands out in this long list!

ARR reappears once again with ‘Nadan Parinde’ calling all those who’re away to get back home! That’s the mood of this song. Check out for the drums by Sivamani and combination of guitars in this energetic number. Mohit Chauhan delivers well with his portions and the sync with ARR’s voice adds to the energy of this song.

‘Tum Ho’ is based on the earlier track ‘Tum Ko’ with different lines, yet same soul. This, according to me is Mohit Chauhan’s best. Flawless and soothing voice, excellent lyrics and beautiful composition! Do we need more!? So for those who didn’t like Mohit Chauhan before (including me), it’s time you change your opinion. Coz there’s one more song in the list.

And here comes ‘Saadda Haq’ that’s already become a chartbuster and why not! A highly energized Mohit Chauhan with heavy drums and guitars in the background and a truly rocking performance by Ranbir on screen, this is certainly making lot of noise. I wish Irshad Kamil walks with the best lyricist award for this song.

And then there’s ‘Meeting Place’ a rendition by Ranbir Kapoor based on a poem by Rumi which is applaudable. What I did not understand though was some noise in the background like a mobile phone vibrating. Was that intentional? Anyways!

So that was a long review of a much lengthy album. In conclusion, it’s a very good team effort lead by Imtiaz Ali. ARR is back (after Delhi 6) and gives Mohit Chauhan an album of life time. Irshad Kamil writes few lines that strike hard. So a truly rocking album is born in the name of ‘Rockstar’!


My Rating: 9/10

References: Rockstar book that's packed inside the original CD.