Rascals Music Review: Run-Down 'Rascals', These...

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With Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt in toplining roles, Rascals seems to be a hark back to the sort of comedies starring Govinda that David Dhawan specialised in, back in the day. Though Dhawan seems to have updated his formula for the new decade, the promos, starring Devgn and Dutt, along with Kangna Ranaut and Lisa Haydon, seem to belie the change, the film retaining its David Dhawan, 'No.1' feel. Whether audiences buy into the film waits to be seen.

The film's music, which sees Vishal-Shekhar handle composing duties, has come out this week, alongside another one of the duo's albums, the RA.One OST. Given that the latter has the likes of Akon and Shah Rukh Khan backing it, the competition between the two albums might be more a bit lop-sided. Still, given that the two releases share the same composers, comparisons between the two are inevitable. So, how does Rascals stack up?

Irshad Kamil's lyrics get a techno-bhangra touch with tik tuk, the opening dance number on this album. While the arrangement is composed entirely of techno, synth sounds, the number gets an authentic Punjabi touch with Daler Mehendi on vocals. Monali Thakur and Vishal Dadlani also get in on the action, with the latter providing a bit of a hip-hop touch with some rap. Though the track is a fun listen for a bit, it has little that sets it apart from the usual Bollywood sound, making it rather forgettable.

The second track on the album, shake it saiyyan, tries to break out though, melding classic Bollywood hooks with hip-hop. The track works for a bit, especially with Sunidhi Chauhan on vocals, while Haji Springer partners her in rap, but in the absence of a coherent melody, it fails to make a mark, it's beat-heavy arrangement unable to salvage it. However, in a 'hip hop mix' later down the playlist, Abhijit Vaghani does succeed in sprucing it up a great deal, giving it a better groove with the added thump and sped-up vocals.

Vishal Dadlani's flanged vocals open up pardaah nasheen, a fairly interesting d 'n b number that captures a different side of the Bollywood sound. Sunidhi Chauhan has Neeraj Shridhar to keep her company here, with a booming groove and some catchy instrumental interludes, this one is the perhaps the first track on the album that actually manages to stay memorable.

Neeraj Shridhar returns for the final track on the album, the title number, rascals. Fortunately, with a catchy melody and equally catchy, whacky lyrics from Anvita Dutt, the track makes for a good closer to the album. Claps, rap, chorus and a rather active harmonium permeate this rather enjoyable, pumping number. The 'Rajinikanth-style' vocal bits in between (Vishal Dadlani again?), are quirky enough to give the track a character of sorts. Though Abhijit Vaghani tries to bring in his mixing skills to the track in the faster-paced 'dance mix' of the track, it is the original version of the number that works better between the two.

Given that Rascals soundtrack has come out in the same week as Ra.One, another Vishal-Shekhar release that might just be their best yet, this counts as a rather drab album from the musical duo. Though the album is not without potential, pardaah nasheen and the title number being the pluses, Rascals stays in fairly staid territory with little that is truly worth remembering. Simply put, Vishal-Shekhar could have done better.