Like every year, I am back with the Lists of the Best in Hindi Films.
2017 in general has been a game changer year for the Hindi Film Industry, which is a great sign. In terms of Music, I really wish there is one change which should happen ASAP. Stop remaking the iconic songs of yesteryear and treating them as trash. Almost 40 songs have been remade in 2017 alone, which is a sad state. But, a few artists have kept the Music alive and have given some great compositions this year. So here goes the first list of the Best Hindi Film Music Albums of 2017, as usual in the reverse order.
10. BADRINATH KI DULHANIA
Music – Amaal Malik, Tanishk Bagchi, Akhil Sachdeva and Bappi Lahiri
Lyrics – Kumaar, Shabbir Ahmed, Akhil Sachdeva, Badshah and Indeevar
One of the first Albums of 2017 which had some chartbuster songs, specially the Title song and the remix of Tamma Tamma. Every wedding, every club had these 2 songs playing. And if Humpty Sharma had Samjhawan, Badrinath has Humsafar. Sung, written and composed by Akhil Sachdeva, Humsafar happens to be the best song of Badrinath Ki Dulhania.
9. BEGUM JAAN
Music – Anu Malik
Lyrics – Kausar Munir, Rahat Indori
In spite of Begum Jaan being a movie telling the story of the Partition Era, the Music is quite fresh and modern in its approach, thanks to the instruments used by Anu Malik and team. The feel of the locality is captured in the words though, used effectively by Kausar Munir. While Kavita Seth’s version of Prem Mein Tohre is better than that of Asha Bhosle, it is O Re Kaharo sung by Kalpana Patowary, which is the best song of the Album. Oh, and there is a recreated version of Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi from Phir Subah Hogi, with the words suiting the partition theme.
8. OK JAANU
Music – A.R.Rahman
Lyrics – Gulzar, Mehboob, Badshah, Navneet Virk, Kaly, Hard Kaur & ADK
One of the reasons why I enjoyed the soundtrack of OK Jaanu was because I haven’t heard the Original. And then the combination of Shaad Ali, Rahman and Gulzar were back together after a long time. Although no match to their previous works, OK Jaanu was a decent effort put in by the team. Only if the Film was better, it’s Music would have got recognition. Saajan Aayo Re and Sunn Bhavara are the 2 songs which shows why there is no one who is as good as Rahman when it comes to creating classical numbers.
7. RANGOON
Music – Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyrics – Gulzar, Lekha Washington
Another story set before the Partition Era, that is during the World War II, Rangoon, directed and music given by Vishal Bhardwaj covers a wide spectrum of Music. Bhardwaj gives a fitting tribute to the era with Mere Miyan Gaye England, Chori Chori and Ek Dooni Do. And the other end of the spectrum has songs like Alvida and Yeh Ishq Hai which are quintessential Bhardwaj- Gulzar songs. Rangoon would have been higher on this list, if it was not for those 2 English songs which are a total misfit in this album. Bloody Hell is my pick of the lot from Rangoon.
6. PHILLAURI
Music – Shashwat Sachdev and Jasleen Royal
Lyrics – Anvita Dutt, Aditya Sharma, Shellee and Neeraj Rajawat
And the third Film in this list from the pre partition era, parts of Phillauri were set in that era which dealt with a story of a Musician. And hence the best songs of Phillauri belonged to that era. Both Dum Dum and Saahiba are such ear worms. And thanks to Anushka Sharma’s wedding recently, Din Shagna Da has become the Wedding song of the season and Jasleen Royal’s voice is all magic to the ears.
5. JAB HARRY MET SEJAL
Music – Pritam, Diplo
Lyrics – Irshad Kamil
The biggest failure of Jab Harry Met Sejal was the promotional campaign of its Music. The entire album wasn’t released until the movie was released and all the songs were not available for the audience to listen and make an assumption of how the Movie would be. It’s another thing that the Movie was a lost opportunity, but the songs would have at least saved the Movie, which received a severe bashing. Some of the best songs were made available only after the release. Ghar, Parinda, Yaadon Mein and Jee ve Sohneya were not a part of the album until the release.
Well, Jab Harry Met Sejal has variety in terms of Music and it is an interesting mix. Apart from the above mentioned songs that one associates with an Imtiaz Ali Film, there were quite a few peppy songs in Jab Harry Met Sejal. And I still feel, the Music of Jab Harry Met Sejal is underrated. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are magical and take the songs a notch higher. Hawayein is easily one of the best songs of the Year.
4. SECRET SUPERSTAR
Music – Amit Trivedi
Lyrics – Kausar Munir
It is very rare that we get an Album which has songs that are mostly sung by a female. The last album with that mandate was Bombay Velvet. Co-incidentally Secret Superstar (also by Amit Trivedi), gives Meghna Mishra a scope that Neeti Mohan got in Bombay Velvet.
With keeping in mind the demand of the script and the age of the protagonist, Amit Trivedi has found the perfect match in Meghna Mishra. She is the find of the Year in the Music Field in the Hindi Film Industry. 5 of the 8 songs feature Meghna Mishra as the solo singer in Secret Superstar and she complements the acting of Zaira Wasim to the T. Add to her singing, the lyrics of Kausar Munir which are so meaningful. It is tough to like the songs of Secret Superstar, but after having seen the Film and keeping the context in mind, everything blends in so beautifully. Every song has a typical Amit Trivedi feel and yet, the beauty of these songs don’t pale. Main Kaun Hoon and Nachdi Phira were my favorite songs from the Album. Welcome, Meghna Mishra.
3. MERI PYAARI BINDU
Music – Sachin Jigar
Lyrics – Kausar Munir, Priya Saraiya, Rana Mazumder
Another Album, where the shelf life would have been longer, had the Movie worked. Meri Pyaari Bindu, composed by Sachin Jigar, is their best work till date. Each of the 7 songs speak about the different emotions of Love and Kausar Munir (yet again! What a stellar year she has had!) with her words, infuses such affection. Parineeti Chopra makes her singing debut with Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin, and boy, she delivers. Hands down, it is THE Best Song of 2017.
2. JAGGA JASOOS
Music – Pritam
Lyrics – Amitabh Bhattacharya, Neelesh Mishra
The Hindi Film Industry had finally got a full-blown Musical. But thanks to us, the audience, I doubt if anyone will ever take a risk of doing it again. As many as 29 songs were composed for Jagga Jasoos, but only 6 songs have been released officially. Hope, the others which are musical pieces, do get a legal release, because then the efforts of team Jagga Jasoos, specially that of Pritam, will be justified.
But these 6 songs also don’t disappoint one bit. Whacky lyrics, brilliant picturization and outstanding choreography with some crazy singing make every song of Jagga Jasoos memorable. Be it the hook line of Sab Khaana Khaake Daaru Peeke Chale Gaye, or the entire growth of a teenager captured in Galti Se Mistake through the Lyrics, or the meaningful lyrics of a journey in Musafir, Pritam along with Amitabh Bhattacharya, deliver one of their finest works. Feel sorry that such a stellar work was let down by the masses.
1. ANAARKALI OF AARAH
Music – Rohit Sharma
Lyrics – Avinash Das, Prashant Ingole, Ravinder Randhawa, Ramkumar Singh & Dr. Sagar
The most under rated Album of the Year and what an Album, Anaarkali Of Aarah is. Based on the story of an erotic folk artist (dancer and singer), and keeping the theme in mind, Rohit Sharma gives us 10 numbers, giving a glimpse into the Life of a folk artist. Rooted very strongly with the locality where these performances happen (in this case, it is Bihar), and using those instruments and keeping it real (some of the songs sound as if they were recorded live, during a performance); every song of Anaarkali Of Aarah is worth listening to. Be it the double meaning lyrics which the theme demands, or the difficulties these artists have to go through, every essence is wonderfully captured. If not for anything else, just listen to the Revenge song titled Sa Ra Ra Ra, that comes in the Climax and such is the command that only the Audio would leave an impact. Full marks to Swati Sharma, Indu Sonali and Pavni Pandey for being the voice of Anaarkali. And thank you Rohit Sharma for an Album which has so much longevity.
Hoping 2018 has some great Music in store again.
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