Dedh Ishqiya Music Review: For Connoisseurs Of Classical Indian Music

It is indeed a season of sequels! After Krrish 3 & Dhoom 3 comes Dedh Ishqiya, a sequel to the critically acclaimed Ishqiya (2010) which sees Madhuri Dixit stepping into the shoes of Vidya Balan with Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi for company. The soundtrack of the original Ishqiya managed to win hearts with quite a few chartbusters like Ibn-E-Batuta and Dil to Baccha hai Ji. Therefore it is no wonder that Director Abhishek Chaubey has chosen to go ahead with his tried and tested winning combination of Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar for the music department. Naturally, expectations are quite high with the listeners looking forward to rustic yet heart-warming melodies from this soundtrack. Let us see what is in store for us.

Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya opens the soundtrack and manages to warm the cockles of our heart right away. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan gives a superlative performance of this song which totally falls in his territory but it is Gulzar’s lyrics which literally steal the cake! Describing the finicky nature of the heart, the legend’s lyrics are sheer poetry and is sure to bring a smile on the listener’s face. Vishal Bhardwaj definitely scores with this track and it is surely a beautiful way to open this album.

Zabaan Jale Hai has a Ghazal feeling but the instrumentation in the song makes it sound more contemporary. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan takes centre-stage for the second time in this album and does not disappoint as usual. Gulzar scores yet again with his beautiful lyrics but it is Vishal’s composition which seems to be the Achilles Heel here. It is not that the music is not up to the mark. On the contrary, it is quite melodious but the pace is quite slow for it to have a repeat value. That apart the excellent use of strings is something which deserve a special mention. Overall, a classy song which might not find universal favor but magnificent nevertheless.

Hamari Atariya Pe is slowly gaining in popularity and rightly so. This classical mujra number vocalized by Rekha Bhardwaj is quite pleasing and is a perfect vehicle to showcase Madhuri’s dance moves. Very rarely do we see mujra numbers in recent Hindi films (the most recent one being Kaleja Hai Hazir from Rajjo), therefore it is needless to say that Vishal Bhardwaj with his real and rustic films provides the perfect backdrop for such classical numbers that remind one of the 70s and 80s era.

The Indianness is continued even in the next track of the album, Kya Hoga, a pleasing Qawalli which has vocals by Master Saleem, Shahid Mallya and Jazim Sharma. A classic Qawalli which makes use of all the traditional instruments like Tabla, Harmonium and other similar instruments coupled with the harmonious synchronization of the lead singers which helps only to elevate the beauty of this number, this one is sure to be relished by lovers of traditional music. Again not a popular fare but classy in its own way.

The final track in this album is the semi-classical Jagaave Saari Raina which again seems to be tailor-made for Rekha Bhardwaj’s vocals and Madhuri’s dancing skills. With an interlude from Pandit Birju Maharaj, no prizes for guessing that this is essentially a Kathak number and Panditji’s voice just adds sheer beauty to it.

Overall, the soundtrack of Dedh Ishqiya is on the same lines as was expected with Indianness oozing out of every single song from this album. Kudos to Vishal Bhardwaj and Director Abhishek Chaubey for not falling prey to the trend of having remixes for every other song in the album and staying true to the spirit of the film. Albeit not a commercial, people-friendly soundtrack, Dedh Ishqiya is an album which will surely be loved and patronized by connoisseurs of classical Indian music.

Our Picks: Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya, Hamari Atariya Pe and Jagaave Saari Raina.