Cocktail music review

4 / 5

Movie: Cocktail

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty

Music Composer: Pritam

Director: Homi Adajania

Producer: Saif Ali Khan

Saif is back to doing a light entertainer after ‘Love Aaj Kal’. For ‘Cocktail’, he joins hands with the people who complemented him in ‘Love Aaj Kal’, Imtiaz Ali, Deepika Padukone and composer Pritam. This Illuminati Films’ presentation hits the screens on July 13^th. On to the music review now.

Tumhi Ho Bandhu … THUMBS UP

Kavita Seth & Neeraj Shridhar

A rocking number to kick start the album.  There is a slight touch of pathos in Kavita Seth’s voice which absolutely complements Neeraj Shridhar’s ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’ refrain. The beats are racy and it is sure to rock the dance floors in the country. Pritam is becoming an expert at such pacy numbers. The trailer has already made this song hugely popular. No wonder

Daaru Desi

Shalmali Kholgade & Benny Dayal

This song has a classy guitar presence and moves at a pretty fast pace. Very relaxing number with the 2 singers perfectly complementing each other. The female singer’s voice (of ‘Pareshaan’ from ‘Ishaqzaade’ fame) in particular is sexy. The musical arrangements are also trendy.

Yaariyan … THUMBS UP

Mohan Kanan & Shilpa Rao

This is a beautiful soft rock number with soulful vocals by Mohan Kanan. A totally poignant number that is high on feeling. Mohan shifts pitches very easily. This is one song where the vocals are a bit Hindustani while the arrangement of the song is totally western. A superb attempt at fusion with Shilpa Rao making a nice little contribution as well. The ending is terrific as well.

There is a reprise of the same song which is mellow and mushy with the piano taking over. Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh do the honors. Sunidhi’s versatility comes to the fore yet again. Arijit sounds like A.R.Rahman at parts and his range is wonderful. This one is a winner as well.

Second Hand Jawaani

Miss Pooja, Neha Kakkar & Nakkash Aziz

This one sticks out from the rest of the songs in that it is totally desi and local. An item number with a tune that will appeal to the snakes. Like other item numbers, this will make you groove and shake your head. But the tune is nothing great.

Tera Naam Japdi Phiran … THUMBS UP

Javed Bashir, Nikhil D'Souza & Shefali Alvaris

This is a beautiful fusion between soulful Punjabi and ‘Aqua’ style bubblegum pop. Tastefully done, upmarket and experimental.

There is a version 2 of the same song which has been made for the dance floors. This one sounds better than other remixes going around. Guess the fusion is just too good that even a remix can’t take the sheen away from it.

Luttna (Saif Ul Malook) … THUMBS UP

Masuma Anwar, Anupam Amod & Sahir Ali Bagga

This is yet another delightful number which is highly indigenous. One of Pritam’s best efforts. The sound effects in this song are random, heavy and psychedelic. There is a small ‘sufi’ touch as well to this song. All said, it is the vocals that do the trick. It is pretty uplifting. 

There is a version 2 for this song as well. The instrumentals for this one are much sober and pleasant with a slight rock touch. The vocals are terrific yet again.

Jugni ... THUMBS UP

Arif Lohar and Harshdeep Kaur

This song featured in Coke Studio Pakistan and is basically a Punjabi folk song. Pritam has reused it. It is addictive, foot tapping and will give you a high. Such is the passionate nature of the song. Both the singers are ‘A-Rate’. What a finish to the album

VERDICT: A smashing album from Pritam. After ‘Love Aaj Kal’, the Saif - Pritam combo has come up with another album that will rock the charts for some time to come. Scores high on variety and innovation. 

Rockstar (2011)

The Plot
Janardhan is a shy young college kid who wants to become a big musician. But, he doesn't find the inspiration. Based on his friends' idea that a beautiful girl can give him inspiration and some pain, he decides to fall in love with Heer, a dancer. Heer is about to get married. But, still they bond and Heer slowly falls for him before getting married and flying away to Prague. Janardhan is rechristened as Jordan by Heer

He is thrown out of his home after some money problems. He goes to a famous mosque and improves his music in the divine abode. He slowly starts coming up as a musician and also records a CD for a company called Platinum Records. He is soon sent abroad on a contract with Platinum to perform in Europe.

There he again meets Heer and they again bond big time. This time Jordan and Heer fall in love madly despite Heer already being a married woman. She is inconsistent and also has some health issues. On one instance, Jordan is mistakenly booked for intrusion and assault at Heer's house and he is arrested. He is not helped by his company and he becomes royally pissed off with life due to his failed love in particular

He comes back to India and is a really eccentric 'rockstar' now with his own dressing style and with his own legion of fans after his number "Saadda Haq" becomes a rage among the masses. Jordan doesn't care about protocol and his manager/well wisher has a tough time handling him.

As expected Heer is again back in his life, after she leaves her marriage and comes back to India. She is dying and is in her last stages and Jordan is her only solace and hope for some happy moments before dying. They spend time together before Jordan again gets a foreign contract. He delivers a grand performance,thinking of the love of his life as she is on the cusp of death.

A haunting emotional saga.

Hits

• Ranbir Kapoor delivers a once in a lifetime performance. He literally lives the role. The various stages, the various makeovers, the awesome dressing style as the rockstar, the fire he shows in his performances, his rage, his deep love etc. etc. One of the best ever performances. This young man is the next big thing in Indian cinema for sure. 
• The way the movie starts and how the momentum builds up from the moment Ranbir is introduced to the point he goes on stage for his live performance, is something that is to be seen to be believed. 
• A.R.Rahman lights up the movie with his soul stirring score. All the songs are an aural and visual treat. Saadda Haq stands out due to the sheer adrenaline factor. But, visuals wise, each song is equally inspiring. The background score is terrific as well. The Mozart of Madras has definitely been inspired.
• The initial scenes where Ranbir falls for Nargis as he sees her 'tango' dance have been nicely worked out. The guy's innocent longing eyes as he admires his girl are beautiful.   
• 'Kun Faya Kun' is a separate poem in itself and the way Jordan immerses in the divine surroundings and polishes his music is a real mesmerizer. 
• The cinematography is top notch. Be it the narrow lanes of Delhi, the snow clad Kashmir valleys or the lush green Europe. Pure eye candy. 
• The female who plays the journalist has the best role among the limited ladies in the movie and she really lives it up with her believable portrayal. She is very cute, sexy and really heats it up in the scene when she tries to seduce Jordan in his caravan
• Shammi Kapoor has a beautiful cameo and the legend wins us over with his calm presence. The guy who plays Jordan's manager/well-wisher is another entertaining presence. 
• The movie is visually haunting. The screenplay is also non-linear and beautifully worked out in an intelligent manner. 
• Mohit Chauhan is the voice of Jordan. He has sung all the songs in his sexy voice and he is one of the biggest heroes of  the movie. 
• The unique 'rockstar' suit is another plus. The way Ranbir carries it off is another delight. In the initial stages he wears stiff clothes, then he progresses to short kurtas and jeans before the grand 'rockstar' suit towards the end. 
• The movie has a delightful first half before an emotional roller coaster in the second half.
• The climax is really haunting. The "Parindey" song adds to the mesmerizing factor in the climax. 

Comments

• The title of the movie is quite misleading. It's a pure love story of a musician who uses his experiences at love to make some divine and addictive music.
• Jordan's transition to an overnight rage in India is quite abrupt. It's as if just because he goes to jail and is notorious with the media and the law, his popularity shoots through the roof. He even carries out a 7 city tour. This is also a take on the ways of the Indian media that is always looking for news to sensationalize. 

Misses

• The over hyped Nargis Fakhri. She doesn't know to act. She looks beautiful no doubt. But, she is the one missing link in an otherwise top notch movie. She is a horrible actress
• The movie drags at places due to the scenes between Jordan and Heer as they go around bonding and falling in love. The second half in particular loses steam in the middle.  

VERDICT

Haunting cinema not to be missed and worth experiencing many times. A royal salute to Ranbir Kapoor, A.R.Rahman and Imtiaz Ali.