The moment one lays hands on the music
album of U Me Aur Hum, one tends to exclaim 'Thank
God'. And this happens even before one is through listening
to the entire soundtrack. Reason? There is literally a
draught of new music arriving in the market with the last
notable arrivals being, Jodhaa Akbar and Race
that came in January. With future not looking too exciting
either in terms of any major albums hitting the stands, all
eyes are set on U Me Aur Hum, which is expected to
make some music. Pun intended!
There are reasons associated with the project in itself too
which make U Me Aur Hum interesting. Vishal Bhardwaj
is known for his quality score that always has a touch of
classic elements, whether Indian or Western. This time
around, instead of Gulzar who is a regular with Bhardwaj,
relative newcomer Munna Dhiman has been roped in as a
lyricist.
Also, this is the first romantic film for
Ajay Devgan and Kajol after Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha
which had boasted of some memorable tracks. And if the
promotion of the film is any indication, audience is bound
to expect a quality outing, both from the film and music
perspective. Well, the expectations are much more than meant
as U Me Aur Hum turns out to be a perfect Valentines
outing.
Addictive. This is how one can describe the opening number
of 'Sunday' - 'Jee Le' - in one word! Apart
from the fact that Munna Dhiman doesn't let one miss the
poetry of Gulzar saab with his real-to-life lyrics, music of
Vishal Bhardwaj too takes the kind of twists and turns which
are associated with the style that he has been known for
ever since he first made a splash with Maachis.
Though the promos so far have given an indication that 'Jee
Le' is purely an Adnan Sami number, it actually is a
duet with Shreya Ghoshal giving him just the perfect
company.
'Jee Le' is a love ballad which takes on a carnival touch at
places though refraining from going overboard. With a
Spanish flavor associated with it, 'Jee Le' is a
number that catches on you within a couple of hearings and
stays on to make for a melodious piece of music, which works
on every listening. And thankfully, there is no remix
version which could have potentially diluted the impact.
Trademark Vishal Bhardwaj sense of music is quite apparent
with the way Shreya Ghoshal goes about singing the title
song U Me Aur Hum. And no, though the song's title
gives an impression of an out and out English outing on it's
way, that's not the case. Shreya Ghoshal compliments
Vishal's serene musical sense coupled with Munna Dhiman's
simple lyrics quite well. She sings U Me Aur Hum in a
way, which could draw parallels with Asha Bhonsle's 'Katra
Katra' [Ijazat].
There is an inherent class in the proceedings of U Me Aur
Hum, which makes one internalize the song and feel good
about it being played around it. Arrangements for the song
create a calm feel, which by itself gets a romantic mood on.
It's a beautiful track that is as melodious as it gets and
flows in a direction, which is opposite to the
'high-on-beats' tracks that are otherwise the order of the
day. Surprisingly though, there is a male voice heard
singing a couple of lines in English at the beginning and
end but is not credited.
Later towards the end of the album, Vishal Bhardwaj himself
decides to come behind the mike and come up with his own
rendition of U Me Aur Hum. It makes for an even
better experience since a) one gets to hear a fresh voice
hitherto unheard and b) there is just a guitar in the
background, which makes one concentrate entirely on the
melody, flow, and feel of the song. Superb!
Sunidhi Chauhan makes her debut in U Me Aur Hum with
‘Saiyaan’, which makes a shift from the
overtly mushy-n-romantic mood of the album and takes the
listener to a world of pep and fun. Now this is a kind of
song, which should be coming next in the film's promotional
campaign since it marks a deviation from what one has heard
and seen of the film so far. Also, the track promises a fun
outing as it showcases Kajol jest fully teasing her husband
about the kind of 'Saiyaan' he has turned out to be
after marriage.
Again, just in true tradition of Vishal Bhardwaj's style of
composing songs, the track moves in a serpentine fashion
while consciously moving away from anything pedestrian or
basic. Also, credit to Munna Dhiman for writing something as
witty as ‘Saiyaan’, which is bound to make the number
fun to watch on the fun screen.
The sound of guitar heard in the first 10 seconds of 'Phatte'
is the same as one heard in Pritam's 'Halka Halka' [Chocolate].
However, this is the only duration where there is any
similarity between the two songs and soon after the song
turns out to be a husband-wife fun dual as Adnan Sami and
Sunidhi Chauhan get into a Punjabi-Hindi rendition.
Though the number is based on Punjabi folk with 'bhangra'
beats intact, 'Phatte' still manages to stay away
from the stereotype courtesy a different mood and setting.
It would be fun to watch how Kajol carries herself in the
song as one would look expect her real life chemistry with
hubby Ajay to be exposed in entirety here.
After the opening number 'Jee Le', Adnan Sami and
Shreya Ghoshal return with 'Dil Dhakda Hai'.
Yes, this turns out to be their second straight hit in the
album as the song brings in a different flavor with it and
turns out to be a guaranteed popular number in the making.
The song gets the right rhythm in place while not letting go
of an intrinsic melodic mood of the album. A number about a
couple realizing their love for each other though refraining
from getting overtly mushy about the state of affairs and
taking it rather lightly, 'Dil Dhakda Hai' is yet
another engaging number which is bound to not just sound but
even look good.
U Me Aur Hum is as much as Vishal Bhardwaj’s album as
Munna Dhiman's. The lyricist had big boots to fill while
coming in place of Gulzar Saab but he doesn't disappoint
even one bit. On the other hand, singers like Adnan Sami,
Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan deliver their best to
come out of their comfort zone and do something different
for a soundtrack which breaks away from the stereotype and
brings in a fresh sound.
Go for U Me Aur Hum - this one is going to be played
on for many months to come!
 
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