Now this one is supposed to
be big. Really BIG! And why not? After all Jodhaa Akbar
has:
a) Ashutosh Gowarikar's labor of love finally getting ready
to be unveiled after going through grueling shooting
schedules,
b) Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan coming together again
after Dhoom 2, albeit in a different avatar,
c) A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar saab collaborating
with Ashutosh for the third straight time after Lagaan
and Swades and
d) A true historical being brought to celluloid after ages.
No wonder, everything about this film
is expected to be flawless and studied to the minutest
details. This is why one looks at the music with great
expectations. However, it all turns out to be anticipation
in vain as Jodhaa Akbar turns out to be the first major
disappointment of 2008.
In the praise of Shahenshah Akbar comes the opening
track 'Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah'. High on
orchestra, the track has ‘grand’ written all over it and
deserves an opulent treatment to it. Crooned by Mohammed
Aslam, Bonnie Chakraborty and Chorus, the track hails Akbar
for creating an empire where there is peace, harmony, and
great life all around. The song doesn't belong to the kind
which could be sung around or played loud at home but would
do well when seen on the big screen, provided the
picturisation is as lavish as Rahman's efforts.
Javed Ali, who has been trying to make his mark over last
3-4 years, gets a big break in the form of 'Jashn-E-Bahaaraa'.
Sounding quite close to Sonu Nigam, Javed does well in his
rendition of this slow track that is in complete contrast to
'Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah' in its treatment. Javed
Akhtar saab's poetry is in full flow for this love
song which comes close to the style of 60’s in it's tune and
flow.
However, one misses the kind of punch as expected from the
first romantic song of the album and the final outcome turns
out to be little lackluster with not much in the song
pulling a listener for a repeat hearing. Towards the album's
end, a 'Flute Instrumental' version of the song is
heard as well, which works better as a core background piece
which could be enjoyed with lights switched off.
Kashif written 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' is a
devotional track, which is strictly for Rahman fans.
Rendered by Rahman himself, it has the kind of arrangements
as heard in 'Kehna Hi Kya' [Bombay]. With
minimal instruments in play, 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' has
its strength lying in it's lyrics but that too has minimal
target audience due to the track's genre and setting.
Overall, a situational piece that seems like an unlikely
candidate to make much headway into current crop of
audience. An 'Oboe Instrumental' piece for the same
track comes at the album's end and yet again has the kind of
treatment, which hardly promises a popular reach out.
'In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein' that comes later
turns out to be most laidback of all and just doesn't ignite
the kind of spark that one had been hunting for in this
soundtrack so far. It's one thing to be slow and another to
be just plain and simple drag (if boring is too harsh a word
here)! By this time, one seriously starts wondering if
Rahman was asked to work on the album really-really hard or
did he actually finish the job in a jiffy? In spite of
presence of Sonu Nigam and Madhushree, the song just doesn't
click at all and in the end what one gets to hear is a
number which fails to impress and ends without making any
impression.
On the lines of 'O Paalan Haari' [Lagaan]
(genre wise) comes 'Mann Mohanaa’, which is
yet, another devotional track after 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja'.
This time around, it is Bela Shinde's turn to sing a number
for Lord Krishna as the character of Jodha played by
Aishwarya Rai turns over to God. Just like the rest of the
album, this one too doesn't go any further than being
ordinary and ends without creating any place in the heart
(or the music collection) of the listener.
Special attraction of the music album of Jodhaa Akbar
is a bonus DVD that includes a 4-minute long theatrical
trailer of the film along with a few posters, story and cast
and crew details of the film
The album kicks off well with a high adrenalin title song
but beyond that there isn't much to look forward to.
Jodhaa Akbar would work with a miniscule segment of
audience and that too only in certain big cities. It is
expected to take a good start at the stands due to high
credentials involved but a sustained stay at the charts may
only be possible only if the film is a success.
Jodhaa Akbar disappoints, and how! Though the music
of Lagaan was good (catching on more after the film's
success), Swades was always a few steps behind.
However, Jodhaa Akbar does not have much to cheer
about and fails to go an extra distance.
 
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