Crook 2010 Music Review

Movie: Crook 2010 Music Review

Pritam. Bhatts. Emraan Hashmi. This combination HAS to deliver. Period. And if it doesn't, it is nothing less than sacrilege. After all there is a long standing reputation, as created by Gangster, Awarapan, Jannat and Tum Mile which has to be maintained. With lyricist Kumaar (who has been around for a decade and has been delivering consistently ever since then) bagging his biggest project till date as the only man contributing with the words, there are very good expectations from the music here.

While one expects a series of romantic tracks in Crook, there is a surprise in store as a dance number 'Challa' kick-starts the proceedings. Based on a traditional folk song, as acknowledged in the credit details as well, it has the signature sound of 'Tana na tana na' which hooks you on to it in the first listening itself. Though the song would have attracted the likes of Sukhwinder Singh to be the obvious choice as a singer, it is Babbu Mann, a top name in Punjabi film and music industry, who keeps the fun going. Suzanne D'mello, the only female singer in the entire album, gets to croon a few interspersing lines in English but it is the 'desi' rhythm fused with Western arrangements that make 'Challa' - also arriving later in a 'remix version' - a track that should find good acceptance, especially up North.

Though 'Challa' wasn't exactly what one expected from a Bhatt-Pritam-Emraan combination, the rest of the album pretty much delivers as expected starting from 'Mere Bina'. A soulful number with a soft rock feel to it, 'Mere Bina' is a solo track (as is the case with all the remaining songs as well) with upcoming singer Nikhil D'Souza making the best of the opportunity. He has recently delivered a hit in 'Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani' [Anjaana Anjaani] and also impressed with his outings in Aisha and Udaan. Now with 'Mere Bina', he has delivered again by bringing on a youth flavour with a strong urban to it.

One can sense the team's confidence in the song by the sheer fact that 'Mere Bina's is repeated a couple of more times in the album. First to come is a Mohit Chauhan rendered version which is titled as 'Tujhko Jo Paaya'. With just a guitar playing in the background and lyrics doing all the talking, one notices the simplicity with which lyricist Kumaar has conveyed the emotions of romance so beautifully. This is on display once again with KK - an obvious choice of a song belonging to this genre - coming up with his own take in the 'unplugged version' of 'Mere Bina'.

Let's acknowledge this, though 'Mere Bina' does take a little time to settle down due to it's unconventional flow and not so quintessential Bollywood appeal, the repeated placement of the song (thrice) right through the album means that it does succeed in turning out to be one of the many highlights of Crook.