You can listen to the songs at the end of the review (link via @Prakshid)
More than half the soundtrack of NH10 (5 out of the 9 songs) belongs to composer Bann Chakraborty. And all of them are variants of the same song! I am hoping there is some valid reason behind so many versions – five seems a total overkill! It is a fortunate matter though that the song is of good quality, so it at least warrants a few listens even in its multiple forms. Three tracks come under the title Le Chal Mujhe – Mohit Chauhan, Shilpa Rao and Arijit Singh the respective vocalists. The singers are splendid on their parts, even as the composer does a fine rock-flavoured arrangement building on a waltz-y rhythm. While the first two versions feature some lovely guitar solos, the third reprise version takes a relatively minimal route, riding a lot on the jazzy piano base. The other two tracks go by the title Khoney De – first of which is a duet by Mohit Chauhan and Neeti Mohan. The singing is more intense here (and very well handled), the jazz aspect is also more prominent (a double bass too from the sound of it). It is only the chorus bit that is unsettling in its eeriness. The sax which makes a brief appearance in the previous one, takes the front seat here replacing the vocal section with some superb improvs. Again, except for that annoying choral section, nice track.
Samira Koppikar’s singing in Maati Ka Palang has its rough edges, but she does a far better job as composer – the tune is good and the arrangement even better – lovely use of guitars, and that sitar-tabla combo in the interlude a brilliant cameo. Chhil Gaye Naina has a heard-before feel about it, but Sanjeev Darshan’s arrangement packs enough punch to make it engaging despite that. And it is good to hear Kanika Kapoor sing something that isn’t an item number, and Dipanshu Pandit joins her with a short but well-rendered classical bit. It is upto Ayush Shrestha and Savera Mehta to produce NH10’s only happy track, and they deliver the very likeable Main Jo. The arrangement is kept simple, ruled by guitars for most part, and a sax solo in between is the icing on the cake. Nayantara Bhatkal pulls off the rendition in style, alongside one half of the composer pair, Savera Mehta. Ayush-Savera’s second track Kya Karein too is a pensive one like the rest of the soundtrack, Rachel Varghese’s amazing voice being the star here. The arrangement is kept minimal, letting the singer take centre-stage. A winning move, as it turns out.
NH10. A soundtrack that keeps in line with the kind of movie its rather hard-hitting trailer portended. A multi-composer one, that too.
Music Aloud Rating: 7.5/10
Top Recos: Main Jo, Le Chal Mujhe (male), Kya Karein
