Music review ‘Besharam’: Out of sync

Rating: 1.5

When the album’s first song—the title song of Besharam by Ishq Bector—a mediocre foot- tapper at best—turns out to be the catchiest song,it’s not good news for the rest of the album. Despite its average contours,it at least sounds contemporary unlike the rest,that suffer from a ’90s hangover. Love ki ghanti is enjoyable till you learn that it has borrowed generously from Bella ciao,an Italian song that the composer claims has attained folk status and thus does not require credit. However,acknowledgement or not,Lalit Pandit gives it the correct Bollywood strokes: the yoddeling singer,the la-la-la chorus reminiscent of ’90s Bollywood.

Dil ka jo haal hai would have been a pleasant ’90s blast-from-the-past had it not been for its similarities with one of Pandit’s early hits,Jo haal from Sarfarosh. What’s worse,it soon starts sounding like Tera mera rishta( an allegedly inspired from a Pakistani song,used in Aawarapan). Singers Abhijeet and Shreya Ghosal bring some of the old playback charm back through their smooth renditions. Pandit proves better with the dulcet Tu hai,with old aide Sonu Nigaam along with Ghoshal who sails the song through,with the help of the melody they are provided with.

Listening to the latter part of the album makes Besharam sound like a medley of mediocre Bollywood numbers,mixed and remixed to ear-assaulting effects. Aa re still has a catchy hookline while Chal hand uthake nache,the successor to Pandit’s previous hit Munni badnaam from Dabangg,doesn’t even have half of its oomph. It’s hard to imagine how the film’s biggest star showcase—with Ranbir,Rishi and Neetu Kapoor together—was designed around this song. It’s a below average album,with a couple of redeeming factors,that too with questionable credentials.

Sankhayan Ghosh