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Classically Mild (Music Review)

Movie Classically Mild (Music Review) Director Deepak Pandit Music Sonu Niigaam Cast Sonu Niigaam

Sonia Chopra

He’s the best singer in Bollywood that we have, and like all great artists who have exhausted their potential in an area, Sonu Niigaam too announced that he was tired of playback singing. Result – his non-film album called Classically Mild that encapsulates a world of music from Hindustani to jazz to carnatic to world music. He’s reiterated in interviews that while Classically Mild is raaga-based and marries the classical with the saleable, he himself is not a trained classical singer. The album, of course, challenges you to believe otherwise, so perfect are his notes. While there’s enough curiosity about Sonu Niigaam, (hate the spelling; he’s super-successful, does he really need a dose of luck via spelling change?), his album photo, all bronzed and bare, might just encourage you even further to pick the album for sampling. Here’s our review of the album comprising eight songs. Sochta Hoon Main Inspired by Raag Sindh Bhairavi, the first song from the album – Sochta Hoon Main is an interesting one with philosophical undertones. The singer questions everyday realities with simple lyrics such as -- Tan Par Umar Ka Ghera kyon hai? Sadiyon Se Yeh Raaz Chupa Hai. These questions are so identifiable that it makes one think and smile. While the song’s feel is otherwise sedate, the brilliant snare drums give it a bite. The use of distortion guitar and the piano add a modern touch to the classical overtones of the number. Verdict: 3/5 Also read: Sonu Niigaam speaks on Classically Mild and playback singing Bheege Bheege A strong seductive song, Bheege Bheege has a mythological feel to it as it starts. The song has Niigaam in form, with lots of aalaps. It’s a superb romantic number with lots of guitar, a romantic song’s best friend, and some very interesting piano too. Somewhere in the middle, the harmonium makes a brief cameo and makes the song all the more special. A combination of Raag Ahir Bhairav, Puriya Dhanasri and Lalit, Bheege Bheege has a lot of musical hooks with a soulful, haunting taste to it. This writer’s favourite of the album. Verdict: 4.5/5 Soona Soona A song about homecoming, the song has lots of different music pieces with an altogether different feel, amalgamated together beautifully. One might dismiss this song as a relatively ordinary one at first, but it’s at the second or the third hearing that one truly appreciates the feast of music at display with incredible variety within. The song begins with the brilliant use of the church organ and as the song progresses, Jazz and Hindustani get along fabulously. The song has spectacular drumming and the mridang is strong too lending a Carnatic touch. A merry mix of Raag Des, Jaijaivanti and Mishr Patdeep, Soona Soona is a relatively livelier song as compared to the rest of the album. Verdict: 4/5 Suratiya Matwali Inspired by Raag Holy Kaafi, everything is in place here with this song – the singing, music, recording, lyrics and feel. The string arrangement is heavenly. The piano and flute make a wonderful cameo. Verdict: 4.5/5 Chhalki Chhalki This purely romantic song has a fantasy, symphonic feel to it. The singing is super-spectacular. Even for the same sentence repeated twice, Niigaam has added a different harkat. The lyrics are interesting— `Chhalki Chhalki Chandni Mein, Gaati Hai Deewangee. Beete Jo Baahon Mein Tere, Wohi Pal Hai Zindagi’. There are small pieces of world music in and out, punctuated by superb strings and the piano that make the song such a hit. A blend of Raag Mishr Saarang, Mishr Khamaj and Bihag, the song’s lyrics are traditional, forming a superb contrast with modern world music. Verdict: 4/5 Dhanya Dhanya Did Niigaam want to score with the female audience with this song inspired by Raag Maand? Sadly, despite its noble intentions, the song is a decidedly male perspective, and an outdated one. Check out the lyrics – Dhanya Dhanya Naari Jeevan. Auron Ko Hi Tu Arpan. Apne Liye Tu Soche Na. Jaane Jag Tujhe Kyun Pooje Na. Dhanya Dhanya is obviously talking about a woman who exists only in regressive family serials. True women tend to make a lot of sacrifices, but aren’t they more out of compulsion, rather than choice? Please spare women the worshipping farce. Some regular respect as human equals will do just fine, thank you. This Ekta Kapoorification of the song is complete as the song goes into a bhajan-like mode completing the deification of us mortal folks. Et tu Niigaam? On the bright side, the use of shehnai in the beginning and end is interesting. Verdict: 1/5 Lamha Lamha With upbeat lyrics, this song could have been a mood-enhancing one, and is, except for the slightly preachy tone to it. It has lyrics like – Aao yeh pal yun mehekayen and Jeevan ko Jeena Sikhlayen etc. Based on Raag Bilawal, the song encapsulates Hindustani, Carnatic with a touch of symphony and orchestra. The fun part is the brief interlude where the song gets a qawwali feel. The singing is interesting with haunting harmonies, and the music is upbeat with international pieces mixed with the traditional. Verdict: 3.5/5 Aai Dil Mat Ro As the name implies, this one is a sad number, aimed at tugging at the heartstrings. And it succeeds marginally. Based on the Raag Log Kauns, the feel of the song is ghazal-like and the singing is hugely enjoyable. Verdict: 3/5 For some inexplicable reason all the song titles comprise the same word repeated again: Bheege Bheege, Soona Soona, Chhalki Chhalki, Dhanya Dhanya and Lamha Lamha. The noteworthy point in this album, apart from that it marries classical with the modern, is that its songs don’t just talk about romance. Should you pick the album? Yes, we do recommend it strongly, as it offers a fabulous option to the listeners devoid of much choice. The connoisseurs too can rejoice and sink into the varied music and appreciate the production value including the arrangement, recording and mixing of the songs. A slight word of caution for those unfamiliar with classical music. Do give the album a listen a few times before you form an opinion of it. The songs grow on you more and more with each listen.