A Refreshing Change in Bollywood Music. Review on Black Friday Songs

“Black Friday” is very much a Hindi movie based on the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts. The movie is being directed by Anurag Kashyap. The music is by the famous band Indian Ocean; the lyrics are penned by Piyush Mishra and the vocals are by Asheem Chakravarthy, Rahul Ram and Amit.

I have written a lot before about the lack of OST album releases for Indian films. So far only one or two tracks are released in most of the album as the theme music of the movie along with the songs. But this album marks a beginning of the trend of releasing OST album of the movie. I heard Sanjay Leela Bhansali is also going to release the OST of “Black” before the release of the movie. I wish this trend catches up so that at least from now the composers will do a better job in background score of the movie. But when such OS tracks are released there is a danger that people may not understand the music as they haven’t seen the visual yet. Making a track which is both situational and also that sounds good as a stand alone track without the visual is a big challenge.

Coming back to this album, it is full of surprises and blasts with three songs and 6 background score pieces from the movie.

The album starts promisingly with a rocking track “Rukh Ja re Bandheh”. Director has clearly made a right decision that theme of the movie can reach the target audience only if it is packed in way that they can enjoy first and then think about. This is a highly philosophical track that speaks about humanity. It is an excellent soft rock number. Though I haven’t heard much of rock songs before, I liked this song very much. The song starts slowly with vocals and mild strings and gradually gains momentum. The usual rock stuffs like acoustic guitars, strumming electric guitars, drums etc adds pep to this meaningful track. The song surprisingly takes a shift in the middle to a soul stirring Hindustani alap with strings playing Indian notes in the background and comes back to rock. The rock genre of music itself has necessary energy and power which is very much necessary for this track to put forward the theme of the movie.

Badshah in Jail

This is an unusual sober number with a right mix of Indian and western elements of music. The song starts with strings and metal flute blending out to a melody from within which a mellifluous voice emerges out with right expression and emotions in it. The mix of tabla beats with drum beats, usage of acoustic guitars instead of usual Sitar or Sarangi, metal flute pieces interwoven with strings at right places and rockish guitar playing Indian notes all through the track gives a refreshing new sound to the track. Apart from the fusion part, they have got a nice, simple and catchy melody rich with Indian flavor. Listen to it at leisure and it sure will haunt your soul.

Bharam Bhaap ke

This is again a slow soft pathos number which sounds more philosophical than the previous track and also sounds devotional at some places. Unlike previous track more Indian percussion and strings like Sarangi are used. The chord progressions are extraordinary in the interludes and also at the end. The bass guitar piece looped in the background sets a tugging rhythm with a pathos feel in it. The vocals are soothing and the tune is pleasing to ears which is rich in Hindustani flavor.

Instrumentals

And now we move on to instrumental tracks which are also the back ground music samples from the movie. They have gone to full techno stuff with percussions, drums, saxophone etc.. Considering it as a violent action movie with a sublime theme, the tracks are sure to uplift the visuals. But what I feel is that the situations are not so unique to expect some unique music from the composers, we have seen lot of similar sequences and the movies before and also heard similar BGM’s before but only thing is they haven’t got recorded and released as a separate album like this. Though the tracks don’t have orchestral pieces, it has got excellent percussive arrangements and layering of rhythms in it. We will be able to appreciate these tracks more after watching the movie but somehow I liked all the tracks immediately even before watching the movie as the track name clearly implies the situation for which the track is scored.

“Opening / Pre blast” starts with lazy sax and metal flute pieces and then moves to a brisk ceaseless percussion beats with the tempo increasing gradually. I think this will add to the visuals enhancing the thrill, suspense and tension attached with the sequences before the blast. Music of this track can be enjoyed even without the visuals.

“Bomb Planting” is the track which has got all right elements to enhance the mystery, danger and secrecy that prevails while planting the bomb. I feel this track could have been much better as there is no any new sound in it. It will blend well with the visual but cannot be enjoyed as a stand alone track.

“Memon House” has got a catchy fast twisting notes played with the keyboard looped in the background. I don’t know for what situation this track is for but Music of this track can be enjoyed even without the visuals. The saxophone pieces are excellent and I guess it is to sound the luxurious life of upper class people in Bombay.

“RDX” is the next one which has got jazzy stuff mixed with Hindustani alaps all through the track. I don’t find any link between the sounds of this track with its name. I guess this will be played in the background while they are producing RDX in a chemical factory or something like that. Music of this track can be enjoyed even without the visuals.

“Training” is an excellent track which I guess sounds in the background when a steady cam moves inside a deep forest capturing the training sessions going on for the terrorist groups. And also the Islamic chants and alaps in the start confirm the mood. The thundering percussions inspired from African tribal music are excellent and will aptly suit the mood of the visuals. Music of this track can be enjoyed even without the visuals.

“Chase” is the closing track of the album. Complex percussive arrangements along with vocals rendering fast twisting jathis and its rhythm and tempo perfectly sounds the speed and thrill in the chasing sequence. Music of this track can be enjoyed even without the visuals.

This album is definitely a genuine attempt but may not be liked by everyone. Go for it at your own risk and in my opinion this is welcome change for ears which got bored of similar stuffs in bollywood music.