(This article is sponsored by Sounds of India)

Music director Adesh Srivatsava, best known for the tracks Shava Shava and Sona Sona pulls a pleasing surprise punch on listeners with Govind Nihalani’s Dev. Combining both genres, Indian semi-classical and Sufi devotional, he seems to have cut the right balance with the traditional and the modern.

‘RangDeeni’, faintly reminiscent of Thakshak’s ‘Rang De’ is a case in point. Kailash Kher (Allah Ke Bande), Mahua Kamat (of Viva) and Shraddha Pandit sing this catchy foot tapping number.
Adesh and Asha Bhosale sing the sufi inspired ‘Allahu’ which boasts great arrangement.
‘Jab Nahin Aaye The Tum’ is a touchy feely song , with lines like “Honth mere the magar inke har ek baat the tum.” With very few instruments in the background, Adesh manages to hold the attention of the listeners with this number penned by Nida Fazli. Kareena Kapoor warbles along, lending her voice to the song, lending it charm but not much else. The version by Vijeta Pandit (Adesh’s wife) is marginally better.

Sonu Nigam proves himself to be one of the best singers in Bollywood with his rendering of Tujh Sang Baandhi Dor’, a ballad written by Nihalani himself.

‘Mangalam Ganesham’ sung by Abhijit is ok, as devotional songs go. With a rich orchestration as it’s denouement, ‘Dev Speaks’ has Amitabh Bachchan describe a police officer’s quest for truth and justice.

This one is a keeper, for sure!

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