Akira – Music Review (Bollywood Soundtrack)

akira hindi poster

This review first appeared in the Mumbai edition of The Hindu.

Songs and full credits at the end.

The film’s leading lady, Sonakshi Sinha, does a patchy and jarringly processed rendition of ‘ Rajj Rajj Ke’, yet another testimony to why actors turning playback singers is not a good idea. The sombre tune sounds way more appealing in its alternative version sung by Indian Idol Junior 2015 finalist Nahid Afrin. The percussion-heavy arrangement lends itself well to the song’s intense mood. However, DJ Kiran Kamath’s electronic backdrop doesn’t prove effective in the remix version.

The composer duo picks up the tune of ‘ Haravali Pakhare ’ in their Marathi debut in 2013 ( Balak Palak) and adapts it to Manoj Muntashir’s Hindi verse in ‘ Kehkasha Tu Meri ’.

Shekhar Ravjiani, who sang the original highland-ish melody, does the honours here too, and equally well. The song itself is as effective as the Marathi original.

The melancholic ‘ Baadal ’ is all about Vishal-Shekhar’s ambient arrangement (with some fine guitar work from Adil Manuel) and Sunidhi Chauhan’s exceptional singing.

Purza ’ is the soundtrack’s best — a jolly song that rides on Aditya N’s guitar, to which the composers keep adding delightful layers as the song progresses. Arijit Singh matches the song’s light-heartedness to a tee behind the mic.

Music Aloud Rating: 3/5

Top Recos: Purza, Rajj Rajj Ke v2, Kehkasha

Full Credits

1.    BADAL– SUNIDHI CHAUHAN

MUSIC PRODUCER- VISHAL & SHEKHAR

LYRICS- MANOJ MUNTASHIR

2.    KEHKASHA TU MERISHEKHAR RAVJIANI

MUSIC PRODUCER- ABHIJIT NALANI

LYRICS- MANOJ MUNTASHIR

3.    RAJJ RAJJ KE– NAHID AFRIN, VISHAL DADLANI

MUSIC PRODUCER- JOHN STEWART EDURI

LYRICS- KUMAAR

4.    RAJJ RAJJ KE REMIX– NAHID AFRIN, VISHAL DADLANI

MUSIC PRODUCER- DJ KIRAN KAMATH

LYRICS-KUMAAR

5.    PURZA– ARIJIT SINGH

MUSIC PRODUCER- ADITYA N.

LYRICS- MANOJ MUNTASHIR


RECORDED AT
: V&S STUDIOS BY AADI ARORA, DEAN PICARDO

ALBUM MIXED BY: SHADAB RAYEEN @ NEW EDGE.

ASSISTANT ENGINEER: ABHISHEK SORTEY

RAJJ RAJJ KE RECORDED AT J.S. WORKSTATION BY JOHN STEWART EDURI

KEY MUSICIANS:

BADAL- GUITARS- ADIL MANUEL

PURZA- GUITARS- ADITYA N.

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