WELCOME -Music review
Welcome is the next Akshay Kumar slated for release at the fag end of the year. The actor has had a fantastic year and is being talked of as being no less than Shah Rukh Khan, where popularity is concerned. In fact, the rise of this actor has gone primarily unnoticed with the media running around SRK and the other Khans while Akshay has silently gone in for the kill. However, unlike his previous hit, Heyy Babyy, which had music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the music of Welcome is not such a welcome sound to the ears. The music of this Firoz Nadiadwala film, directed by Anees Bazmee, has been composed by quite a few composers and hence there is no consistency to the album. There is Himesh Reshammiya, Anand Raj Anand and Sajid-Wajid involved in the business of creating music for the film. Somehow the expected effect is not forthcoming and the music album of Welcome is just slightly above mediocre.
However, having said that, the album begins with quite a bang. The title song, Welcome kind of sets the mood for a fun time ahead. This number has been composed by Sajid-Wajid and singers Shaan and Soumya Raoh lend their voices to the number, with composer Wajid chipping in as well. The composers have used trumpets and a lot of orchestration to give the song a grand party feel. The number has an almost visual feel to it and one is sure that 'seeing'the song will just add to this number's popularity.
Anand Raj Anand makes his entry with the next number, Hoth Rasiley, which is sung by Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal and the composer himself. The music in the beginning gives one the impression that we have a Punjabi tadka number on hand. But the number lacks that essential spark. It is, at best, ordinary. Though it has a very good beat, and creates a wonderful atmosphere as well. But it stops short of being a rocking number. However, the singers, all give it their best shot. As it is, this is not so much a singer's song but owes more to the arrangement for its effect.
Himesh Reshammiya makes his appearance in the album with two compositions. The first of these is Insha Allah, sung by Shaan, Krishna, Akruti Kakkar and Reshammiya himself. The number begins in a very deceptive fashion, with slow, romantic notes played by a solo saxophone. But that changes soon enough as Reshammiya comes on singing Insha Allah. The composer-singer outdoes himself in the manner in which he pitches the 'Insha Allah' refrain at suitable intervals in the song, at an amazingly high pitch. If the intention was to raise the pitch of the song, then it falls dismally short of that. The poetry, is of course, not worth writing home about. But where the music of this number is concerned, one feels that Reshammiya has given us better. It has a mediocre beat and may just catch despite being an average song. But there is a chance that the song has been choreographed and shot superbly, which may just give it a major boost.
The next song is titled Koka Laka Vellari, whatever that may mean. Its music has been composed by Reshammiya, who has also lent his voice to it. This number provides a respite from the high voltage numbers that went before it. It is more subdued, emotional and more like music to the ears. This is more like the Reshammiya that we know. It has all the hallmarks of a good Reshammiya number, there is a good fusion of both Indian and Western arrangements and the number has been sung with feeling. The tabla bit at the end of each line provides a very good effect. The number is a sad love song, and Reshammiya pays heed to the mood of the number in his arrangement as well. One of the better numbers of the album along with the title song. But Koka Laka Vellari still remains a mystery.
Ucha Lamba Kad is the third number sung and composed by Anand Raj Anand. He sings this number all by himself, backed by a capable chorus. This is a very typical number, again with a Punjabi flavour to it. It is a throwback to the fusion Punjabi folk tracks and finds it inspiration in that genre. But the number is not catchy enough and is unlikely to create any kind of storm.
In fact if there is any number besides the title song ' Welcome', which is has staying power, then it is the last song of the album, Kiya Kiya.This number is composed and sung by Anand Raj Anand, along with Shweta Pandit. The singer-composer redeems himself with this number. Kiya Kiya is definitely a winner. The number is catchy, -- its beat, its music, all have a certain zest and it turns out to be the best in this album. The picturisation should add to the song's popularity.
One is not sure whether the idea of having so many music composers has added any real value to this album. There is no real winner in the album, no song which has enduring power. The film may well go on to do better business than the film itself.
