You can listen to the soundtrack here (link via @geekylinner).
But for proving again that Mika Singh can do much more quality singing than he is given credit for, Duma Dum’s D-Day adaptation doesn’t achieve much else. Rekha Bhardwaj’s singing is spotless as usual in the ghazal-flavored Ek Ghadi. Shankar Ehsaan Loy complement the lady with a simple, standard arrangement that works upto a point but then starts getting daunting. The composers add another anthemic piece to their kitty with Dhuaan that sees some spectacular employment of strings. The chorus too sounds fabulous, backing a sprightly rendition by Rahul Ram and Siddharth Mahadevan – the part where Siddharth makes his entry is particularly impressive (the backing vocal arrangements and harmonies were apparently written & conducted by Nandini Srikar. Super job!)
But where D-Day really takes that leap from decent to awesome is in the remaining two songs – Alvida and Murshid Khele Holi. In Alvida the composers offer a lovely tune to Niranjan Iyengar‘s neat lyrics and keep the arrangement sedate, ambient, letting the singers take the front seat. Which they do in style, Shruti Hassan and Nikhil D’Souza in particular producing a stunner, while Sukhwinder Singh carries off his support role equally well. On pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum is Murshid Khele Holi, as loud and energetic as a qawwali gets with particularly beautiful harmonium playing. Doing absolute justice to the rendition are a battalion of singers – Munawar Masoom, Javed Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, Raman Mahadevan, Mani Mahadevan, Rajiv Sundaresan, Gaurav Gupta. Adept as they are with incorporating classical elements in their music, SEL nail this one too, seamlessly interspersing the darbari raga portions in a predominantly brindavana saranga based piece.
Another outstanding soundtrack. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s brilliant form continues in D-Day!
Music Aloud Rating: 8/10
Top Recos: Murshid Khele Holi, Alvida, Dhuaan
