3 min readFeb 28, 2014 12:38 AM IST
Be Kind, Rewind
After giving us Jag Changa, one of the best albums of 2013, indi-pop musician Raghu Dixit turns composer with the Ayushmann Khurrana and Sonam Kapoor-starrer Bewakoofiyaan, his second film. In some ways, this one works more than Dixit’s first outing, Mujhse Fraandship Karoge, but as a solo album, it falls short on a number of grounds, rising only occasionally.
Gulchharey opens with a synth line, which sounds as though it is slightly inspired by Koi kahe from Dil Chahta Hai. But that’s just about it. The track never soars like Koi… despite wonderfully high-pitched Benny Dayal and despite colloquial and therefore interesting lyrics by Anvita Dutt.
Just when the disappointment is ready to set in, there comes Khamakhaan, a fine song. It’s here’s that one sees some delightful Raghu Dixit touches. Sung by Neeti Mohan and Ayushmann Khurrana, this one is owned by Mohan from the moment she breathes into it in the beginning without any instruments. She gets every pronunciation (we spot the nuqta almost 20 times she sings the word Khamakhaa), every intonation and cadence right besides working her voice wonderfully. An absolute delight. Khurrana as support is alright but Mohan is the star here. Besides a lovely guitar interlude towards the closing moments, very western style flute pieces in between give the track a jazz and a ’90s feel.
The title song Bewakoofiyaan has been sung by Dixit, whose voice stands out, infused with lots of character and an electric guitar. He makes this one sound funny, fresh and fantastic. It’s also the effortlessness in his voice that takes you into the world where life is fun. Rumaani sa is just an ordinary track aimed at an attempt to be commercially successful. Mohit Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal are not able to do much with the composition. Ghoshal does try a few falsettos, which begin to sound nice in the later part of the song.
Aye jagda by Vishal Dadlani has a wonderful bluegrass sound and arrangements with a banjo make it an alright listening session. But despite Dadlani’s lovely voice, the song fails to stick. O heeriye is another disappointment. However, Rochak Kohli and Khurrana’s former collaborations have been wonderful with mostly cascading guitars. Whenever indipop is introduced into the mainstream, the results can be interesting. But Bewakoofiyaan proves that only in parts and puts Dixit on the Bollywood map, which gives us hope for future.
