EK VIVAAH AISA BHI

Produced by: Rajshri Productions (P) Ltd.

Directed: Kaushik Ghatak 
Music Director/Lyricist: Ravindra Jain
Starring: Isha Koppikar, Sonu Sood, Alok Nath
Music from: Big Music

Rajshri Productions latest offering scheduled to be released in November 2008 comes close on the heels of the success of their earlier film Vivah.  As always, being a Rajshri production, the emphasis is on clean family entertainer with as many songs as can fit into the film!  All 12 songs of Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi are written and composed by Ravindra Jain.  What can one say about Ravindra Jain– a musical purist and immensely talented musician and poet who delighted us with music from films like Geet Gaata Chal, Chitchor, Ram Tere Ganga Maili, Tapasya, Saudagar to name a few…………needless to say, even today his musical skills and penmanship still shine forth ……

What strikes one about the music of Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi is the absolutely pure and unadulterated Indian flavour that the songs are endowed with.   No newfangled instruments or electronically enhanced sounds, no disco or techno rhythms, no vulgarity or lewd lyrics. While a few of the 12 songs may sound repetitive and pedestrian and overly sentimental and old-fashioned, on the whole the music comes forth appealing and like a breath of fresh air!  The listener is transported to the sixties and seventies when simplicity and melodiousness and outstanding lyrics were the highlights of most of the film music of that era.   Shaan and Shreya Ghoshal are the lead singers for the film and very adeptly capture the assortment of emotions and moods that are always an integral part of the Rajshri banner music!

Mujhmei Zinda Hai Woh – this very engaging song sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Shaan has 2 parts and is infused generously with the delightful tones of the flute and guitars and violins.  Shaan does sound a little nasal in bits but as always he carries off the song largely with his infectious and spirited singing.

Dekhe Akele has the heroine expressing her yearning and Shreya’s vocals are both enchanting and alluring and just seem to be getting better and better with each film.  The rhythm and tune have a timeless charm and with abundant doses of the tabla and dholak and violins this song captivates and sends one reaching for the rewind button!  The song has the seventies written all over and is very reminiscent of the music of Jain’s Chitchor.

Mandir Hai Ghar –the home is compared to a Mandir where spirituality and God are the fragrances of the home-cum-temple. Sung by Suresh Wadkar, this is a very short, soft and soothing number with ample sitar accompaniment.  As in all Rajshri Productions, sentiment and tradition rule as far as lyrics and melody are concerned. 

Dono Nibhayen – sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan and Suresh Wadkar highlights farewell and parting and that true love sometimes demands separation and that duty towards social codes is of utmost importance.  A simple melody with very sentimental lyrics sung with competence by all three singers. 

Banna Banni sung by female and male chorus is a short and harmonious traditional marriage song that starts off with an invocation to Lord Ganesh. The song is easy on the ear and still manages to hold the listener’s attention, even if the tune and beat are common enough.

Kya Soch Ke Aaye The – a song where the hero is stunned by the heroine’s beauty, could have easily been a winner but it uneasily keeps slipping into the realm of average, with a predictable pattern of tune and pace in the refrain and verse – however, Shaan manages to rescue the song expressing his ardor and admiration with effortless ease!

Loji Hum Aa Gaye is yet another marriage song about sagai etc - a run of the mill song – sung by Shaan, Farid Sabri and Satish Dehra and Pamela Jain with lots of chorus –sung with all the necessary emotions that are called for in songs like this by.  Unexciting and nothing out of the ordinary.

Jhir Mir Jhir Mir Megha Barse, which has 2 parts, sings of the rain and the mixed feelings that it invokes.  Over the last few decades, we have heard a number of rain songs and many of them have a similar feel and tempo. This song is enhanced by good back up vocals and peppered with crisp swaras and melodic sitar and strings and buoyant percussion accompaniments.  Shreya and Shaan and chorus invest the song with enjoyment and passion making it a rain-song worthy of more than just one listen!

Sang Sang Rahenge Janam Janam – sung by Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal and Suresh Wadkar seems to be the title song and a different version of Dono Nibhaye with plenty of chorus parts – the quintessential happy yet emotional song that is sung at weddings of the bride leaving one house to go on to capture the heart of the in-laws’ home…

Neend Mein Hai – my pick of the album - a pleasing and soft ghazal that eulogizes the woman the hero loves.  Shaan’s gentle and expressive rendition tugs at your heartstrings–poetry and music go in concert here and as always the lovely violin section that glides in and out of the narration of this verse only adds to the pleasure!  Indeed, a refreshingly different melody that Shaan endows with his silky and dulcet tones.

In my opinion, certainly one of the best albums of this year and an extremely gratifying listening experience!  Ravindra Jain and Rajshri Productions once again prove that pure melody and clean lyrics are still welcome and can reach out to and touch the audience – go for it and acquire the music!

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