It's been almost a year since director Raj Kumar Santoshi came up with his last offering, 'Halla Bol'. Now a good year and half down the line, he is ready to release his latest film, 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' starring young sensations Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor who come together for the first time in this movie. Santoshi's latest seems to be quite a departure from the activist and strident tone of 'Halla Bol'. In fact, in 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani', Santoshi seems to have made a youthful love story and its music has been composed by Pritam. The composer combines very well with Irshad Kamil on the seven original songs in the album. There are seven remixes as well which brings the album count to 14 tracks. The duo have combined quite successfully earlier as well with hit albums like 'Love Aaj Kal' and 'Jab We Met' and one expects another winner from them this time round too.
The album begins with KK, Sunidhi Chauhan and Hard Kaur belting out the number 'Main Tera Dhadkan Teri', which occurs in a remix as well. This club number has Hard Kaur leading from the front in her trademark style with rap. KK joins her quickly in the proceedings and goes full throttle. Pritam uses his third singer Sunidhi, very effectively in this number as she gets to come in at just the right places and give the song an extra punch. The chorus in this number is specially catchy. There are two more versions of this track in the album, one a remix and one a solo track with Hard singing along. However, this one has been titled, 'Follow Me' and makes for a good music video material.
The next number on the album is 'Tu Jaane Na' sung by Atif Aslam. His vocals seem tailor made for this sufi love track. The singer manages to master not just the grammar of the song but also manages to get to its essence. The track has been very soulfully sung by him. But his is not the last voice for this track which occurs four times in this album. In its second version, a reprise version, it has singers Soham, Rana Mazumdar and Ashish Pandit coming together for the number, to create an effect which is quite interesting to hear. DJ Suketu pitches in with a remix version, which despite the pace and feel of the original, is given an altogether different twist. But the final word on this number belongs to Kailash Kher, Paresh and Naresh coming together for an unplugged version. This version is about sheer mastery over the musical idiom and Kher is superb as always.
Pritam reveals his genius with the next number as well, where he uses the quintessential shehnai, heard mostly at weddings, and gives it a different twist. He uses it an absolutely different context in the number 'O My God', which is sung by Mika and Sunidhi. The solemn notes of the shehnai now add zest to this youthful track which is characterised by energetic bursts by both singers. It turns out to be quite an entertaining number.
Atif Aslam makes his second appearance in the album with the number 'Tera Hone Laga' along with Alisha Chinoy. This unusual duo actually creates a sort of magic with this melodious number. It is extremely catchy and very likeable. Pritam has kept it simple and sweet and the formula works beautifully in this number. However, its remix is unable to capture this quality and doesn't quite work.
The next number on the album is 'Prem Ki Naiyya; which has been sung by Neeraj Sridhar, a Pritam favourite, with Suzzanne D'Mello. The number fails to work despite its very obvious rustic Indian roots. The musical score of 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' finally ends with a lovely ballad type number, 'Aa Jao Meri Tamanna' which has been sung by Javed Ali and Jojo. Despite a certain familiar quality about it, this number has been sung with a lot of passion by both the singers and that is what lifts this number.
Pritam appears to have done a superb job with this album. In fact, this has been another good year for the singer, who has had hits like 'New York', 'Love Aaj Kal', 'Billu' and 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. This is definitely another feather in his cap. He has again managed to compose music which best befits the genre, this time round it is a romantic comedy.The music is light, melodious and quite catchy. The numbers which specially stay with long after are definitely 'Tera Hone Laga Hoon' and 'Tu Jaane Na.'
