Music review: Ishaqzaade

On first listen, the Ishaqzaade album may not grab you by the ears, but give it a chance to grow on you, and it will. The title track opens with an unconventional trumpet tune and floats on the voice of Javed Ali, joined by Shreya Ghoshal.

On first listen, the Ishaqzaade album may not grab you by the ears, but give it a chance to grow on you, and it will. The title track opens with an unconventional trumpet tune and floats on the voice of Javed Ali, joined by Shreya Ghoshal.

Chokra Jawan

is a desi number that’s reminiscent of

Beedi

.

Pareshaan

makes you sit up and listen intently. It’s clearly the winning song in the album.

Amit Trivedi uses Shalmali Kholgade’s husky tones and Kausar Munir’s fresh lyrics to express young love and coming of age in a fresh manner. The song starts out as a soft, typically romantic number. Then, when one least expects it, it reaches a crescendo, a la a classic love rock ballad, with electric guitars, drums and full-throated vocals. The harmonium fillers between the verses lift the melody and give it a rustic sufi feel.

Singer Shalmali says, “The lines had a lot of Urdu… being a Maharashtrian, it was a bit tough. Director Habib Faisal had to really explain the word and the emotions behind it. It was like acting in the dubbing room! As for Amit, he makes you feel like he is your friend.”

Though the song may not go down as an all-time classic, it definitely brings home yet another gem in contemporary Bollywood sound.