Humshakals: Music Review

The Men of Humshakals in 3
different roles

Starring: Ritesh Deshmukh, Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Esha Gupta

Music Composer: Himesh Reshammiya 

Similar revolting soundtracks like Humshakals were once heard from our composer Himesh Reshammiya when he went off the deep end in the mid 2000's. He practically sung every song and starred in many flop films. Although recently he somewhat has had success with his film The Expose, Reshammiya seems to be trying too hard again. At least he is not dominating this whole soundtrack. In Bollywood, excluding Salman Khan Ajay Devgan, or Akshay Kumar films, music for comedies are not held to a standard of any regular soundtrack due to the fact that they are usually ridiculous. With an experienced composer with tons of hits and successes like Reshammiya and mid-grade actors like Saif Ali Khan and Ritesh Deskmukh, the bar for Humshakals is very low.

The Humshakals album begins its continuous up tempo soundtrack with Caller Tune by Neeraj Sridhar and Neeti Mohan. This duet is obviously influenced by Reggaeton songs which attributes for its catchy beat. It is heavy with English phases with forced rhymes like tune and moon and random violins. However, Mohan and Sridhar are perfect for this song. The hook "Caller Tune Baby" simultaneously annoys and snags. This is the kind of a song a listener would love to hate. By far the best song on the album. 4/5

Surprise surprise, there is an item number in Humshakals. With the item number queen, Bipasha Basu starring we hear phrases like Billo Rani in Piya Ke Bazaar Mein. It is not the traditional item song, but it is not unordinary. Palak Muchhal's voice is a little timid for this three woman item number, and Reshammiya's weak voice doesn't add much to it either. A little folksy and not very catchy, this item number will not please the masses. 3/5

Piya Ke Bazaar Mein Still

Just Look Into My Eyes gives Humshakals a peppy upbeat feel. Ash King and Neeti Mohan are the perfect choice infuse youth into this album. Perhaps the lyrics a little basic, but if you don't pay attention to exactly what they are saying and listen to the electropop beat, it is not too bad. Although verging on a cheesy teen song, this is levels above the other songs on the album, and does not fit in at all in terms of melody. 4/5

Barbaad Raat combines the female vocalists, Shalmali Kholgade and Sanam Puri in this R&B Hip Hop number. Following the trend of the other songs, this one also uses English in pieces. The clapping and trumpets add an interesting twist, but the "Ooo woaao' pieces don't really do much to really hook you fully to the song. 3.5/5

The ladies are out for a swim

I'm sure everyone was wondering where Himesh Reshammiya's solo song was coming in Humshakals. It is humorously titled Hum Pagal Nahin Hai, and can be taken with dual meaning. Wondering if Reshammiya thinks he's crazy or as shown on silver screen. We see rather interesting rhymes again, such as Obama and DeGama. This song isn't as headache inducing as the ones before it, but is pretty boring and becomes nasal towards the end. 3/5

What would a comedy soundtrack be without Mika Singh? Mika pairs teams up with Palak Muchhal for Khol De Dil Ki Khidi which somehow manages to fuse a Punjabi rhythm with an exasperating country banjo. This song annoys is unforgivable ways that the Caller Tune didn't have. There are so many things going on in this song it is hard to pinpoint what is really happening. This song will, of course, add to the comedy of the movie but it is annoying for the listener to listen for their own enjoyment. 3/5

In the end, Humshakals offers a lively, yet irritating music. This soundtrack somehow manages to exceed expectations, slightly. It is a pretty good effort on Reshammiya's part, although the songs in which his vocals are incorporated in are by far the worst.

My Picks: Caller Tune, Just Look Into My Eyes

Boyss Toh Boyss Hain: Music Review

Music Composers: Anuj Garg, Sayanthi-Shailendra, Willy, Dhiren Raichura, Dhwanit Joshi

Starring: Raj Kumar Yadav, Dhruv Ganesh, Aarya Kumar, Divya Dutta, Gulshan Grover 

Forget the others, I'm interested in the
mannequin without a head

What to say about the music of Boyss Toh Boyss Hain?  First of all the movie has quite a name, so it certainly needs a soundtrack to back it up. We have a variety of composers here, so each track has its own flavor. Boyss Toh Boyss Hain is exciting and experimental.

To kick off Boyss Toh Boyss Hai we have the title track, Boyss Toh Boyss Hain. This Hinglish track is sung by Neeraj Sridhar and Willii. Even though this is a title track, it is actually pretty catchy, especially when the female voice cuts in and says "Hai Ram, Boys Toh Boys Hain". Definitely one of the best on the album. 4/5

The next song we have is Mika Singh's Gol Gol. This song is tinged with Punjabi techno. The "Gol Gol" part  instantly catchy, but it does have English interludes saying "Shake your Booty", similar the booty shake in Chennai Express', One Two Three Four. Click Here For My Chennai Express: Music Review  But besides that booty shake piece, this is a fantastic track with tons of variation 3.5/5

Our most Punjabi style number is Kachha Papad features Labh Janjua and Anuj Garg. There is a interesting mix of rock, R&B, and Punjabi here. The guitar solos are wonderful, but besides these short intervals of instrumentals there is nothing to separate this song from other Punjabi numbers. Decent. 3/5

Out of all these eligible bachelors, I would
choose the creepy silver man in the middle

Mohit Chauhan's voice brings a good balance to the Boyss Toh Boyss Hain album in Sab Kuch Badal Gaya. This song literally begins with all clouds. It is starts of light and airy with a light flute beat, then  builds an inspirational sounding romance song. However, it is interrupted by a voice singing in English, Sayanthi-Shailendra. This spoils the song for only momentarily, until violins and sweet pianos come to the rescue. This is a different kind of song, and not something to be ignored. 3.5/5

Coffee Shop Mein is a song you would expect from a movie called Boyss Toh Boyss Hain. Shashaa Tirupathi's voice is seductive in this entertaining Hinglish number. This is a fast paced number flows rapturously, but there is not necessarily a hook, since the whole song is it a hook itself. 3/5

The composers pull Sunidhi Chauhan and Anup Jalota in for the uplifting song, Dreaming. This song has a light electronic beat, and is sung in Hinglish once again. The lyrics are a little cheesy, but the vocals of both singers are truely magnificent.  Jalota's voice is reminiscent of Bollywood from the seventies and eighties, while Chauhan brings in a modern twist. 4/5

Boyss Toh Boyss Hain returns for a remix. Boyss Toh Boyss Hain Remix picks up the electronic beat and speeds it up a little. There is not a huge difference between the two. 3.5/5

For a smaller film, with mostly unknown composers, Boyss Toh Boyss Hain soundtrack is very good. The composers genuinely tried to create unusual songs while staying true to the Bollywood roots. This soundtrack can work beyond the silver screen and into your car.

My Picks: Boyss Toh Boyss Hain, Dreaming, Sab Kuch Badal Gaya, Gol Gol

Check Out My Other Reviews:
D-Day: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/d-day-music-review.html
Ramaiya Vastavaiya: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/ramaiya-vastavaiya-music-review.html
Issaq:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/bollywood-music-review-issaq_21.html

Which is your favorite Song?
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