Songs and musician credits at the end.
If Lagan Laagi Re gives you a heard-before feeling, it is probably because you *might* have heard this song already – the song was part of the songs Amit Trivedi did for the 2011 Michael Winterbottom film Trishna. When the movie’s OST was officially released, the makers strangely omitted Amit’s songs from them – this song did however show up on YouTube thanks to some kind soul, and I have been waiting for an official release since then. Amit also adapted another of the movie’s songs, Khari Khari, for his Coke Studio Season 3 set. Hope we get to see the remaining songs as well, at some point (there’s three more, I believe). Anyway, coming back to this album, Lagan Laagi Re is presented here as it appeared in Trishna – a very pleasant, likeable melody with a lovely infusion of Rajasthani folk (where the movie was set) – Iqbal Warsi’s sarangi phrases a particular highlight. Also adding to the song’s appeal in the contrast between Kavita Seth’s earthiness and Shreya Ghoshal’s sweetness – love that nod to R D Burman’s Tumne Mujhe Dekha in a particular phrase that Shreya sings. I am not sure if it is Shahid Mallya’s portions of the song influencing my thought, but Rusvaaiyaan sits in the Manmarziyaan zone – a lovely mix of Punjabi folk and pop. Mallya and Shilpa Rao are brilliant delivering Kausar Munirs lines, and it is a joy as always to listen to Arshad Khan play the esraj. Madhubala plays out almost like an unplugged track, with a piano dominating the backdrop for most part. Amit Trivedi’s singing is the only aspect bringing down this otherwise feel-good melodic piece. As a result, it is the Reprise version of the song (which is more heavily orchestrated, strangely, it is usually the other way around) that I rate higher. Although the minimalism of the original suited the song really well, the arrangement here is quite mellow too, and behind the mic is the wonderful Neeti Mohan.
My favourite song from the album, Ajnabi, takes me back to that gem of a song from Aisha, Sham. There is a similar guitar-led rhythm (Rhythm Shaw the man – has there ever been a more apt name for a guitarist? :D) and an incredible melody delivered with finesse by Abhay Jodhpurkar and Poorvi Koutish. I found the lyrics by Sidhant Mago here the most relatable – there is a line that goes dil hi dil mein gaaoon Euphoria ke gaane! Can’t think of another song where a contemporary(ish) musician was referenced. Dil Wapas is the weakling of the album, but I liked Jeetendra Thakur’s violin bits throughout the song. Tu Kabhi Kabhi rides on a Lean On-esque groove and would probably have been a good fit in the Songs of Dance series as well – Ozil Dalal’s (Arsenal fan?) lines even talk about dancing khulke. Very enjoyable song that is delivered well by Jonita Gandhi and Amit.
The fourth set (after Songs of Faith, Songs of Dance, Songs of Trance) in what has been a very productive indie run for Amit Trivedi in the last year or so, Songs of Love, to me, features the most consistently good songs among the lot.
Music Aloud Rating: 3.5/5
Top Recos: Ajnabi, Rusvaaiyaan, Lagan Laagi Re
Musician Credits
MADHUBALA
Composed, Produced and Sung by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Ozil Dalal
MUSIC CREW
Sound Engineer, AT Studios – Urmila Sutar
Mixed & Mastered by Shadab Rayeen @ New Edge – Mumbai
Assisted by Abhishek Sortey & Tapas Sahoo
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
RUSVAAIYAAN
Composed by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Kausar Munir
Singers – Shilpa Rao & Shahid Mallya
MUSIC CREW
Produced by Raja Rasaily & Amit Trivedi
Sound Engineer, A T Studios – Urmila Sutar
Assisted by Firoz Shaikh
Mixed & Mastered by Shadab Rayeen, New Edge – Mumbai
Assisted by Abhishek Sortey & Tapas Sahoo
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
Live Musicians:
Esraj – Arshad Khan
LAGAN LAAGI RE
Composed by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Shellee
Singers – Shreya Ghoshal & Kavita Seth
MUSIC CREW
Produced by Sourav Roy & Amit Trivedi
Recording Engineers – Alok Punjabi, Shadab Rayeen, Nitish & Karan Kulkarni
Recording Studios – AT Studios & Premier Digital Studio
Assisted by Firoz Shaikh
Mixed by Shadab Rayeen & Alok Punjabi
Mastered by Shadab Rayeen, New Edge – Mumbai
Assisted by Abhishek Sortey & Tapas Sahoo
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Live Musicians:
Guitars – Sanjoy Das
Sarangi – Iqbal Warsi
TU KABHI KABHI
Composed by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Ozil Dalal
Singers – Amit Trivedi & Jonita Gandhi
MUSIC CREW
Produced by Vineeth Jayan & Amit Trivedi
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Urmila Sutar
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
Live Musicians:
Acoustic & Electric Guitars – John Paul
DIL WAPAS
Composed and Sung by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Ozil Dalal
MUSIC CREW
Produced by Siddhant Mishra & Amit Trivedi
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Urmila Sutar
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
Live Musicians:
Ukelele & Electric Guitars – Siddhant Mishra
Violin – Jeetendra Thakur
AJNABI
Composed by Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Sidhant Mago
Singers – Abhay Jodhpurkar & Poorvi Koutish
MUSIC CREW
Produced by Raja Rasaily & Amit Trivedi
Sound Engineer, AT Studios – Urmila Sutar
Mixed & Mastered by Shadab Rayeen, New Edge – Mumbai
Assisted by Abhishek Sortey & Tapas Sahoo
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
Live Musicians:
Guitars – Rhythm Shaw
MADHUBALA (REPRISE)
Composed and Produced by Amit Trivedi
Singer – Neeti Mohan
Lyrics – Ozil Dalal
MUSIC CREW
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Urmila Sutar @ AT Studios
Producers, AT Azaad – Krutee Trivedi & Amit Trivedi
Manager, AT Studios – Aditya Hanchinal
