Earlier, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar had come together to create
music for Jab Tak Hai Jaan in 2012. Now that the pair is back with OK Jaanu,
one anticipates something magical from the combo. Since the movie is a remake
of Mani Ratnam's OK Kanmani, there are further high anticipations. For this
Shaad Ali remake, Rahman retains around half the tunes from the Tamil film and
then also creates a few new ones to satisfy to the taste of India level viewers.
1. First song title track OK Jaanu:
The album begins with music composer A.R. Rahman’s title
track OK Jaanu which has Srinidhi Venkatesh as his singing partner. A lively
track, it boasts of some good companionship between Rahman and Srinidhi behind
the mike that ensures that you do tap your feet as the song plays on. In fact
what is further remarkable is the fact that Srinidhi is sound engineer at
Rahman's studio and here she excels as a singer too.
2. Song Arijit Singh’s Enna Sona
The next number is music composer Arijit Singh’s Enna Sona.
The very title instantaneously reminds one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Kinna
Sona Tenu Rabb Ne Banaya. But, the song is altogether different as Arijit
croons to a new tune by Rahman who maintains the ethnicity of Punjabi flavor.
3. Song Jee Lein
The next song is Jee Lein with Rahman composition. The
composer gives this one an avant-garde treatment and it is amazing to see how
he along with Gulzar bring in so many variations to this piece. The manner in
which Savithri R Prithvi, Arjun Chandy and Neeti Mohan come together for this
feel-good track is admirable.
4. Song Kaara Fankaara
The next song is Kaara Fankaara. It has a trippy feel to it
and Rahman makes it as different and unconventional as a movie setting permits.
He had first created this composition for OK Kanmani and with Gulzar, he comes
up with an equally influential Hindi version with Paroma Das Gupta, Shashaa
Tirupati, Hard Kaur, ADK, Kaly and Ashima Mahajan leading the charge.
5. Songs 'Saajan Aayo Re' and 'Sunn Bhavara'
The very next songs are 'raga' based 'Saajan Aayo Re' and
'Sunn Bhavara'. Former has Rahman's protégée Jonita Gandhi leading the show.
While she expectedly gives a good account of herself, one is almost astonished
to see Nakash Aziz, the man behind a couple of massy hits, sharing stage with
her. While both of them justify their inclusion, it is also interesting to see
how youngster Shashaa Tirupati takes it upon her to lead the show for 'Sunn
Bhavara'. She shows her flexibility after 'Kaara Fankaara' and makes her
presence felt.
6. Song Maula Wa Sallim
The next song is Maula Wa Sallim with A.R. Rahman's son A.R.
Ameen. A.R. Ameen had crooned an Arabic devotional track Maula Wa Sallim in OK
Kanmani and it is good to see the track been retained for OK Jaanu now. The
song is the kind that deserves to be played in absolute silence since there is
certain purity around it which has to be experienced.
7. Song Humma
The album ends with the Humma Song. Earlier Sonali Bendre
had gyrated to the tune of Humma Humma (Bombay) even as Arvind Swamy and
Manisha Koirala had their own game on in the background. Well, Aditya Roy Kapur
and Shraddha Kapoor have all the action for the camera in 2017 even as Tanishk
Bagchi, Jubin Nautiyal and Shashaa Tirupati (with her third song in the album)
get into the groove with Badshah chipping in with his rap portions.
In general, OK Jaanu’s music is graceful with good mass appeals.
Rahman and Gulzar come together as a combo for this Karan Johar production and
deliver a winner soundtrack. The songs Enna Sona, Ok Jaanu, The Humma Song and
Maula Wa Sallim are tuneful and lively numbers.
