Karan Johar's 'My Name is Khan' is one of 2010's largely awaited films, starring the legendary on-screen couple, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Its recently launched soundtrack has started creating buzz. Listeners can thank the production house and Itunes for making all music tracks available online to listeners worldwide, 3 days before the official store launch, in an unprecedented marketing strategy.
Music directors, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, are back with a pleasant song bouquet, featuring six original compositions. The album also includes four memorable tracks from other Karan Johar films: 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Suraj Hua Maddham', 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' and 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'.
'Sajda' is an enveloping first track sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan and Richa Sharma. The combination of these three voices singing together in response to each other is a particular treat for the ears while dholak and tabla build up as the song progresses.
Following this enthralling opening, 'Noor-e-khuda' comes and goes between soft, almost naked vocals, and a gentle guitar ballad featuring Adnan Sami alongside Shankar, who can make any track shine. No romantically sweet ballad would however be complete without Shreya Ghoshal's voice. She graces the song towards its last half, rising the level of tenderness to the exact dose required.
Shankar Ehsaan Loy had been known to appreciate and rope in the fantastic classical voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from Pakistan in recent years. They have now repeated the feat by bringing Shafqat Amanat Ali's ('Tum Mile' and 'KANK') talent from across the border to the fore once again in 'Tere naina', which may become the album's favourite track for many Indian but also foreign listeners. Despite its undoubtable international appeal, the song somehow appears to instrumentally mirror the album's inital track. Shafqat's voice succeeds in elevating its essence.
Next comes a Sufi melody, 'Allah hi rahem', sung by Rashid Ali. It seems to be a situational track that will certainly shine brighter once listeners can see its picturization in the film. Instruments and rythms also seem to be repeating themselves a bit in this track, possibly marking the fact that this is again an SEL album for a Dharma Productions film, a repeated collaboration that goes long back and has produced some very successful and musically beautiful soundtracks. The album's sound might however seem a bit too familiar to avid listeners already acquainted with Hindi film music.
The following track is the 'My Name is Khan' theme. Shankar Ehsaan Loy have long proved their talent in terms of instrumental and background music (let us remember the felicitous release of the 'Taare Zameen Par' background score). This track is no exception. Knowing Karan Johar's films, the song may soon be responsible for heart tugging and tear jerking reactions in cinemas throughout the world.
'Rang de' is a pop rock number and the last of the album's original compositions. It ends in a high note with joyous and soul lifting lyrics sung by Shankar and Suraj Jagan.
On the whole, 'My Name is Khan' promises to please the ears of film viewers across cultures with a light dose of Sufi style music delivered in a romantic-pop or rock-pop envelope. This genre has become a trademark of Karan Johar's films and will be easily recognized by his followers in Europe and America.
One of the album's strengths is the quality of its vocals and the selected voice combinations. I would personally recommend alternative SEL albums to first time Hindi music listeners, for a richer and more original experience. Soft pop music lovers who know the trio's music should enjoy this soundtrack however and continue to eagerly await the film release. Indulge your ears!
Music Directors: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa
Lyricist: Niranjan Iyengar
Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Rashid Khan, Adnan Sami, Suraj Jagan, Richa Sharma and Shafqat Amanat Ali
