Awarapan Music Review: Awarapan: It's Mustafa's all the way

Awarapan, from the House of the Bhatts has an all Pakistani feel to it. The songs have not only been sung by the Pakistanis, they have been composed by them as well. And what is Pritam doing here, you wonder? Well, wonderboy Pritam has refurbished and repackaged the songs. So they just have a slightly different feel to them as he has re arranged some of the compositions. But in the main, most stay true to their originals.

There are about four songs in the album, which also have their remixed and lounge versions as well. We have Mustafa Zahid, the lead vocalist of Roxen, the band, Annie and Rafaqat Ali Khan making inroads with their chartbusting numbers. Pritam shows his talent in rearranging the songs and presenting the songs in a familiar and yet not familiar mode.

Probably the best song in the album is Toh Phir Aao. It appears thrice in the album, the original unplugged version, the lounge version and a remix. The best probably is the unplugged version. The music of the song had originally been composed by the singer Mustafa Zahid himself. His deep and masculine voice complements the lyrics perfectly. He is able to give the necessary 'weight' to the feelings that the song carries.

The lyrics by Sayeed Qadri have a simplicity to them which goes straight to the heart. All three versions of the song carry a different feel. It is to the credit of Pritam and DJ Suketu (remix), that they have managed to convey something different which each version of the song. The urgency that is conveyed in the original version is probably the most 'touching' of all. Definitely, the song of the album.

Mustafa continues the good work with Tera Mera Rishta, his second song in the album, again composed by him & his band (Roxen, the band). It is, as the lyrics suggest, another emotion- drenched song, in the Pakistani rock tradition. It's Mustafa's vocals again, which rein supreme. DJ Suketu gives a contemporary twist with the club version, which is quite racy. Should do well as a party number.

Mahiya is Annie's song from across the border. Suzanne provides the vocals for this song, which is Hinglish in language. It's quite a peppy number and should do well as a dance track. The remixed version by DJ Suketu even has Annie providing the vocals.

The only track which breaks with all that has gone before is Maula, Maula by Rafaquat Ali Khan. It is an old traditional piece composed by Baba Farid, a Sufi poet in the 12th century. It is the equivalent of the Ya Ali number from Gangser, but lacks the punch of the former. It will probably not top the charts like the former, but is still a very fine piece, rendered in classical style by Rafaquat. It is a track which is straight and pure in intent and execution. No frills here. The only quiet note in the album.

Awarapan has a winner in Mustafa Zahid's two songs. The rest of the tracks do not quite match up to it. The album opens beautifully, but after that it is a downhill journey.