Himesh Reshammiya, the man with golden cap, breaks his silence after a gap of six months with his first new release of the year. Vikram Bhatt's 'Red' happens to be his first offering with conventional Sufi pop soundtracks sung and composed in Reshammiya's typical nasal twang attire. Reshammiya enjoyed the status of being new musical prodigy of the year but suffered setbacks in a couple of his last compositions like 'Aap Ki Khatir', 'Dil Diya Hai' and 'Rocky'. 'Red' brings expectations of resurrection as he pitches high and low in seven of nine composed soundtracks. Even Vikram Bhatt has series of dismal flops for a couple of years and this year might break jinx as he has few entertaining projects up his sleeve. Aftab Shivdasani plays the lead role once again in his films like 'Ankahee', 'Awara Paagal Deewana' and 'Deewane Huye Pagal'. Sensuous Celina Jaitley and hot Amrita Arora are the female leads opposite Aftab in the film. The film comes with tagline "The Dark Side" and is produced under the banner of Horseshoe Picture Pvt Ltd. Himesh Reshammiya along with lyricist Sameer has composed nine original soundtracks (including remixes) that can be heard on T-Series cassettes and CD's.
AAFREN TERA CHEHRA: Himesh Reshammiya pitches in high octave for his first offering "Aafren Tera Chehra", symbolizing "the dark side of love" in passionately delivered lyrics. It is Reshammiya's peculiar style of Sufi rock that ruled the charts in 2006. Sameer's lyrics are impressive in depicting the inhibited daunting feel of an obsessed lover in finely conceived lyrics. The number stands big chances of enticing audiences with its daunting feel and has worked impressively in the promos and teasers of the film. Reshammiya's music has the contemporary "sarangi" and "tabla" loop music feel added with large dosages of keyboard generated techno music. It fails to prove anything spectacular but still can be counted as an audible offering from the music director-turned-singer.
The collections of contemporary club remixes add one up with "Aaafren Tera Chehra remixes)", an average soundtrack with hip-shaking disco feels. Similar remixes were flooded last year in Reshammiya's composed albums and this comes as a welcome guest for his fans.
AAMIN: Reshammiya's nasal twang is back again and this time he comes with moderately pitched rendition in another sensitively crooned soundtrack "Aamin". Sameer tries to materialize patented Urdu words for love, romance and admiration as he comes with song titled "Aamin" after "Aafren". It sounds like rehashed versions of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's greatest Sufi musical works where the lyricist promises loads of Urdu phraseology. The soundtrack sounds repetitive with a different set of impressive lyrical work but works on similar musical arrangements that paved way for Reshammiya's success. Like "Aafren Tera Chehra", it has the intimidating feel of obsession of a lover narrated with well versed lyrics. It may strike chord with Reshammiya's fans but will hardly prove anything promising for the album.
"Aamin (remix)" comes with relatively slow paced disco beats in a prelude followed with contemporary "club" mix feel. The rollicking pub feel can be felt in techno-generated disco beats that were felt in dozens of Reshammiya's remixed soundtracks.
EK TUM HI: Jayesh Gandhi emotes in high pitch as he holds the mike in delivering the frightening feel of an insecure obsessed lover in fast-paced soundtrack "Ek Tum Hi". This may sound monotonous as this number delivers the same musical package delivered in earlier two original soundtracks. Even Jayesh Gandhi plagiarizes Reshammiya's style of high octave singing with similar tonal textures. Though Jayesh impresses in this loud rendition but lacks novelty. Once again Reshammiya's musical composition has failed to create anything spectacularly innovative.
Even the stylized "Ek Tum Hi (remix)" comes with a traditional hip-shaking disco feel with contemporary DJ techniques. It is impressive for disco freaks but similar remixes have already hit marquees months ago.
DIL NE YEH NA JAANA: Harshdeep's feminine voice comes as a welcome relief in "Dil Ne Yeh Na Jaana" as the album was fully accommodated with loud and high pitched male vocals. The number comes as a disappointment for listeners and the album looks mediocre in lyrics and lethargic music. Himesh Reshammiya sounds better with a moderately voiced rendition but its extra lethargic musical work kills listener's interest. Harshdeep's sentimentally driven voice fails to create tempo for this emotional number that epitomizes pain and suffering at the hands of the beloved. Overall, it has failed to match the desired emotional quotient of a well-delivered sentimental soundtrack.
LONELINESS IS KILLING EVERYONE: The depressed feel of "loneliness" comes with a parody of Reshammiya's earlier composed tunes in the soundtrack - "Loneliness is Killing Everyone". The song is about the painful emotional suffering of "loneliness" by an obsessed lover for his beloved in contemporary Sufi Rock style by Himesh Reshammiya. Upcoming singing talent Akriti Kakkar is relegated to back seat by delivering the title of the track at regular intervals. The conventional "sarangi" string flows in synchronized patterns followed by moderately paced beats to give it an emotionally touching feel. It sounds situational and should work best in the background score for the film.
"Loneliness is killing (remix)" has an added "lounge" music effect to give it a daunting impact. It works better for the film in promos and teasers than serving as a dancing treat for floors.
Himesh Reshammiya plagiarizes his old Sufi rock style in 'Red' with below average results. The soundtracks sound repetitive with similar Sufi musical feel with "Aafreen Tera Chehra" being above average. The rest of the numbers sound situational and mediocre in the present context where hip-hop and salsa have taken over the charts. Reshammiya needs a big image makeover for his new albums to strike gold again after series of mediocre albums like 'Aap Ki Khatir', 'Dil Diya Hai', 'Rocky' and 'Red'. The album will disappoint his fans and definitely will decimate his position in the music world.
