Sultan Music Review: Decent Comeback By Vishal-Shekhar

Superstar Salman Khan enacts the role of a professional wrestler for the very first time in Ali Abbas Zafar directed Sultan. The film co-starring Randeep Hooda also sees the fresh pairing of the super star with Anushka Sharma. With the film being touted to be based on a Haryanvi wrestler, one expects composers Vishal-Shekhar to add the mitti ki khusboo touch in their compositions. So let's see what the composers (along with lyricist Irshad Kamil) have to offer for the listeners in this summer's big release.

The album opens with a bang with Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai which has been sung boisterously by Vishal Dadlani along with Shalmali Kholgade and Ishita. Badshah also puts in an appearance with a rap rendition towards the middle of the composition which has a bass-dominated (as the title suggests) arrangement though it does open with a nice folk touch. With its foot tapping beats and a catchy hook and of course, Salman's antics, there is no question about this one being a chartbuster all the way!

Jag Ghoomeya is next and offers a change in pace with love and romance forming the central theme of the number. While the song is familiar territory for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who as expected, aces the number in his distinct vocals, it is Neha Bhasin who turns out to be the surprise packet with the female version. Bhasin who has mostly been heard in fast paced numbers settles into the change in pace of the rhythm quite easily and owns this almost-unplugged female version. Though composers Vishal-Dadlani have incorporated some familiar sounds into this composition, Jag Ghoomeya is definitely still a must-listen!

440 Volts is a huge disappointment! Of course with a title like this, one never expected anything other than a tapori number here but the composers dish out such an average tune that it does not even manage to sustain your interest during its running time. Mika Singh's vocals interestingly carry much less enthusiasm than what we are used to and that actually redeems the song slightly but not enough for it to make an impact.

Guitar makes as much an impression as Sukhwinder Singh in the title song, Sultan. Vishal-Shekhar come up with a pulsating composition and a rock dominated arrangement which is in tune with the anthemic feel and therefore works to that extent. Shadaab Faridi provides enough support to Singh while Kamil's verses suit the mood and setting of the track perfectly.

Sachi Muchi is a fun number and has an innocent happy-go-lucky feel to it. The composers incorporate folksy elements which gives this song a nice and breezy feel and Mohit Chauhanand Harshdeep Kaur add to that mood with their vibrant singing. Vishal-Shekhar keep the tune simple and the result is an enjoyable number which might not exactly be a chartbuster but is surely worth a listen.

Bulleya has Papon delivering a soothing Sufi number. The composers do well with theirqawalli-rock arrangement but the basic tune does not really have a rhythmic structure as such. Therefore, the repeat value of the track goes down a few notches.

Vishal-Shekhar experiment with a fusion of rock elements in Tuk Tuk, which in essence is a Haryanvi folk number. Sung by Nooran Sisters, with also a rap by Vishal Dadlani himself, this one is a good example of divergent genres coming together to create a grand musical cocktail. But on the other hand, the commercial viability of this track is a bit limited and that unfortunately, might prove to be a dampener.

Shekhar Ravijani sung Rise of Sultan completes the soundtrack and is basically a variation of the title track. Some grand orchestration and a deeply baritoned vocalization of Ravijani makes this track stand out but the real impact should most probably be experienced only on the big screen.

To sum up, the soundtrack of Sultan is a decent comeback from the composer duo of Vishal-Shekhar. The composers have worked hard to create a soundtrack filled with elements that one expects in a Salman starrer and it shows. At the same time, they have tried to retain the local Haryanvi flavor which is surely admirable. As regards the commercial performance of the album, it is a no-brainer that this being a Salman film, the soundtrack is sure to be snapped up by his fans.

Our Picks: Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai, Jag Ghoomeya and Sultan