MUSIC REVIEW: Anurag Kashyap's Dev.D
We aren't used to watching a Hindi film hero pop mind-altering pills and snorting coke. Neither are we used to listening to a brass band in a contemporary Hindi film song. Anurag Kashyap's Dev.D seems to have many such unusual things, including a soundtrack by a relatively new music director and a huge set of 18 songs.
Amit Trivedi is not a familiar name, but he has earlier given us the interesting soundtrack of Aamir, besides scores of ad jingles. In its range and scope Dev.D could well be Trivedi's biggest musical challenge yet. And he meets the challenge, showing startling ease with a range of musical genres and willingness to push the envelope. That coupled with the staggering number of tracks makes it one of the most challenging albums to be reviewed in recent times.
Emosanal Attyachar, a phrase that seems to have resonated with the young lot, kickstarts the set with a Brass Band Version. Sung by Bandmasters Rangeela and Rasila, the song is meant for a pivotal sequence from the film – a wedding. The voices are delightfully raw, slightly but intentionally off key, loud and over-the top.
While the song's rendition is unpolished and comical, the lyrics are pinching. The lyricist uses coloquial Hinglish phrases – 'Smoking smoking nikle re dhuan'- to mock love, and perhaps the lady - 'Tauba tera jalwa, Tauba tera pyar, tera emosanal attyachar'. The angst is cleverly camouflaged under all the bling and the bang. Fantastic job by lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya here.
Jump to track number 14 for the headbanging interpretation of the same, as Emotional Attyachar (note the spelling). This time EA is far more a serious business, with hardhitting lyrics, sung by Bonnie Chakravarthy, who was known for his Hindi rock project Kashti. Bonnie was earlier the lead singer with a hugely popular Bangla Rock band Krosswindz, and has lent his voice to some Rahman songs as well. What Bonnie brings to the EA is a feel of rock with all the requisite angst and energy. But the Bengali in him slips through in the way he says "Emotional" earlier on in the song, even as he corrects himself as the song progresses. Minor detail, but Bonnie's singing is superb. Emotional Attayachar has some heavy duty drum, keyboard and guitar parts and a competent production making it sound like a live version of a blue-blooded rock number.
Back to track two, Duniya which begins with a dizzy electronic riff. A bar or two later, you are treated to Amit Trivedi's voice, which is not that of a technically perfect singer but raw and powerful and therefore unique.
URBANEYE
This album is just ossum , it has 18 (yeah i mean 18) songs
and all are great .. It has to be a 5/5 .. And one of the
best ever
album in hindi film industry ever....
this album has inspired me to listen hindi music again..
i was so irritated with himesh reshmiya kindo music.
but music like devd / delhi6 .. Are path breaking ..
thanks a lot ak for devd
i mostly download music online but this time
i bought devd album just to contribute to this cause
5/5 for sure ..
this is what perfect means
What's so good about this soundtrack? It sounds like nothing
inspiring to me...
A mind blowing album. Absolute treat for all pink floyd
fans,... Go get it now!!
Strange...
3 stars to dev'd music while 4 stars for luck by chance...
not fair...
This is an actual soundtrack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
not some crap just for the sake of entertainment, as is
the case usually with bollywood movies.
lovely tunes, create wonderful moods.
the rating doesn't apply to this album imo.
Outrageous, experimental, 'i don't give a
s&&&t" to mainstream. Rock on can go take a walk now.
Finally the album for hardcore listeners like me were
anticipating. I bet this would be one of the most
pathbreaking ost of this year!
after all the hugely flattered sullen mediocrity of
'glumdog zillionaire'
anurag kashyap & amit trivedi serious don't give
a s*** & still they are popular! And now this is cult.
We were missing something, like what the french, koreans,
japanese, iranians had...Cult is here!
can't wait for the movie....
jai hind!
Couldn't imagine better music for this modern
"devdas". Extremely psychic, trance music with
whole lot of choices.
Awsome music after a long time someone has rightly combined
indian contemporary music with western rock.Those who don't
like it surely don't have any idea of music.
I agree with the most weirdly. I thought i was amount the
few who loved this music. Looks like there are more. I dont
know if i can say its 5 on 5 but it is certainly 4.5 on 5.
Awesome music. I really hope more in indian music scenario
come up with such innovation. Who ever compared this with
himesh, what should i say now, you certainly dont have a
clue of who to compare.
Someday all hindi film music will grow up to be dev.D's
soundtrack. I haven't recovered from nayan tarse or
duniya or even emosanal atyachar. This is a brave,
astonishing musical trip. There's confidence oozing out
of every note on every song on this record. Amit and anurag,
thank you. I hope the movie knocks me out again.