OK Jaanu; Sony Music
Music: AR Rahman
Lyrics: Gulzar
Rating: ***1/2
Price: 175
1. OK Jaanu: I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. The title song in the Hindi remake of OK Kanmani is a sore disappointment lyrically. Replacing Jonita Gandhi with Srinidhi Venkatesh was a mistake. Rahman’s ‘Chainu’ is unmistakable. Just go listen to Mental Manadhil instead.
2. The Humma Song: Tanishk Bagchi recreates an ARR classic (from the film Bombay) competently. Jubin sings it evocatively. Shashaa Tirupati has quite an interesting voice. It’s just pointless having Badshah in the mix, is all.
3. Enna Sona: Arijit Singh sings what might well be the only original track in this remake’s OST. It’s a lilting melody, the bridge just takes your breath away, the chorus and refrain not as enticing. But the track has its uplifting moments that could have just as easily gone the other way.
4. Jee Lein: This track is to OKJ what Theera Ulaa was to OKK. Darshana KT and Nikita Gandhi give way to Arjun Chandy, Neeti Mohan and Savithri R Prithvi’s vocals. There’s no marked difference, except for the verse Neeti voices, full-on Rekha Bhardwaj-style. No complaints here. Easily one of the most repeat-worthy tracks off the album.
5. Kaara Fankaara: ADK (Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam) returns from OKK to sing the refrain to the remake of Kaara Attakaara. Darshana KT gets replaced by a few other voices. Shashaa is retained. And while I’m not entirely sure who sang the Tamil rap bits, the rapper here is the always effective Hard Kaur. Her verse is the track’s main highlight and while I’m really fond of the original, this one stands on its own because of her contribution to it.
6. Saajan Aayo Re: This is the makeover Naane Varugiraen gets in the remake. Jonita Gandhi and Nakash Aziz replace Shashaa Tirupati and D Sathyaprakash and the impact is immediately audible. The song becomes more accessible than its decidedly more semi-classical counterpart.
7. Maula Wa Salim: ARR's son AR Ameen returns from the original to sing this devotional traditional track in Arabic.
8. Sunn Bhavara: Is this album’s answer to Malargal Kaettaen. It inhabits a wonderfully light, airy space. Carnatic gives way to Hindustani classical. This one, sung by Shashaa Tirupati (watch out for this singer!) goes into a semi-classical meets ghazal space. Seamless and effortless, this track loses none of its magic in translation and shows ARR’s class and versatility.
VERDICT: Going purely by the underwhelming version of the title song and the Humma remake and the exclusion of Parandhu Sella Va and Aye Sinamika’s Hindi versions, we were tempted to rate this ARR album low, but the rest of the tracks more than redeem it from what would have otherwise been a bad experience for someone who loved the soundtrack of his OK Kanmani OST. Gulzar’s poetry blows hot and cold. Clearly, not his best, by far.
