Jhund – Music Review (Bollywood Soundtrack)

Songs and complete album credits at the end.

The Gogavale brothers divide the vocal duties between themselves for the soundtrack’s first two songs. The title song deserved a more power-packed voice than Atul Gogavale’s though, for the kind of energy and attitude it exudes. That is but a small foible however, in a thoroughly rousing composition that the composers supplement with their own words – words that signify defiance against a society that looks down upon the protagonists of the movie. And the combination of street band sounds and folk percussions is a perfect fit as a backdrop, as is the fine chorus that is as prominently featured as Atul. There isn’t much of a parallel to be drawn between the soundtracks of Sairat (Ajay Atul’s last work with director Nagraj Manjule) and Jhund, which is understandable considering they appear to be set to two very different themes. What both albums do have in common, however, is the let-your-hair-down song – while Lafda Zala doesn’t touch the manic energy levels that Zingaat does, this one too is sung by Ajay Gogavale and combines club and folk elements like the latter. And the fact that it is a retro synth pop base that the composers introduce the folk elements into (the exhilaration when the percussions kick in around the Lafda Zala hook!) makes it an incredibly groovy affair.

After handing Abhay Jodhpurkar his Bollywood debut in Zero, the composers introduce another singer from the South – one of the current best – Sid Sriram to the industry with Jhund, and he gets not one but two songs here! Laat Maar is the inspirational entry for the sports movie that Jhund is, but it also works as a statement of rebellion of the underdog thanks to Amitabh Bhattacharya’s finely written verse – starting with the title itself that’s a clever choice of phrase working on both levels. Sid Sriram produces a soaring, impassioned rendition that we have heard him accomplish in style multiple times in the past, and he is complemented here brilliantly by the chorus and Saurabh Abhyankar (aka 100 RBH) whose searing rap cuts through the song around midway. The expansive arrangements seem slightly evocative of Imagine DragonsBeliever. Given the movie’s theme, the soundtrack does not have a romantic track, a genre Ajay Atul usually excel at. So, Baadal Se Dosti is the closest we get to a trademark Ajay Atul track – a soulful melodic piece featuring some of those familiar orchestral flourishes. Sid Sriram is in fine form here too, negotiating the highs and lows, the tender and the intense bits all with practised ease. Once again the chorus comes to his support in the second half, and does a splendid job of it.

Jhund. Short, but very effective soundtrack from Ajay Atul (and Amitabh Bhattacharya) for Nagraj Popatrao Manjule. Just like Sairat was.

Music Aloud Rating: 4/5

Top Recos: All of them (just four tracks anyway!)

Album Credits

Song – Aaya ye Jhund hai (Title)
Music: Ajay – Atul
Lyrics- Ajay – Atul
Singer – Atul Gogavale
Additional vocals – Jay , Mallhar Sarja & Ajay Gogavale
Music composed, arranged, produced & conducted – Ajay- Atul
Indian percussions -Satyajit Jamsandekar ,Raju kulkarni , Ashish Aroskar
Chorus – Umesh Joshi, Vijay Dhuri, Swapnil Godbole, Jitendra Tupe, Janardan Dhatrak, Rahul Chitnis, Vivek Naaik
Recorded & mixed by : Vijay Dayal @ YRF studios
Assisted by : Chinmay Mestry
Mastered by Gethin John, Hofad Mastering, Wales UK

Song Name: Lafda Zala
Music: Ajay-Atul
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer: Ajay Gogavale
Recorded & mixed by : Vijay Dayal @ YRF studios
Assisted by : Chinmay Mestry
Mastered by Donal Whelan at Hafod Mastering ( whales )
Music composed, arranged, produced & conducted: Ajay- Atul
Additional programming – Devansh Bhatia
Indian percussions – Satyajit Jamsandekar, Raju kulkarni

Song Name: Laat Maar
Music: Ajay – Atul
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer: Sid Sriram
Rap: Sourabh Abhyankar
Choir: Deepanshi Nagar, Shivika Rajesh, Ann Fernandes, Pallavi Shyam Sundar, Rupali Moghe, Leena Rajan, Priyanka Rawlani, Snigdha Pious, Chaitanya Shinde, Rituraj Tiwari, Chaitanya Kulkarni, Prashant Muzumdar, Pankaj Dixit, Manish Sharma, George Sebastian, Anurag Naik
Music composed, arranged, produced & conducted: Ajay- Atul
Recorded & mixed by : Vijay Dayal @ YRF studios
Assisted by : Chinmay Mestry
Mastered by Donal Whelan at Hafod Mastering ( Wales )

Song – Baadal se dosti
Music : Ajay – Atul
Lyrics : Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer – Sid Sriram
Music composed, arranged, produced & conducted – Ajay- Atul
Flute – Varad Kathapurkar
Choir : Deepanshi Nagar, Shivika Rajesh, Ann Fernandes, Pallavi Shyam Sundar, Rupali Moghe, Leena Rajan, Priyanka Rawlani, Snigdha Pious, Chaitanya Shinde, Rituraj Tiwari, Chaitanya Kulkarni, Prashant Muzumdar, Pankaj Dixit, Manish Sharma, George Sebastian, Anurag Naik
Recorded & mixed by : Vijay Dayal @ YRF studios
Assisted by : Chinmay Mestry
Mastered by Gethin John, Hofad Mastering, Wales UK
Music Label: T-Series

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