Authentic Sounds and Scenes. Review on Rock On Songs

The songs of this particular film have to be listened to in the context of the scenes that they appear in - the enjoyment is exponentially multiplied when this context is retained.

Right from the awkward rawness of the first college band-styled performance of Sinbad The Sailor at the Azad Maidan grounds to the brimming over with youthful energy performance of Meri Laundry Ka Ek Bill at the contest, ending with the highly professional performance of Sinbad The Sailor at the last show of Magik. the songs are extremely authentic both in terms of the way they sound and in terms of their contextual relevance to the story as it unfolds.

There are other more evocative songs which kind of get lost in the storytelling and in the cinematic folds of the movie - Phir Dekhiye, for example. But they are not to be missed. One must take time out to listen to them.

The highlight of this collection is obviously the moving ballad: Tum Ho Tho. Again it's not just the song but also its visualization in the over storytelling that makes it stand dramatically apart.

Even though the credits say Music By Shankar Ehsaan & Loy, the raw, edgy, authentic rock sound in the movie is predominantly the handiwork of Ehsaan - including that amazing theme guitar riff that forms such a vital part of the background score.

The reason I am giving the songs of Rock On a five star rating is that under normal circumstances Bollywood does not step outside its comfort zone and stick its neck out to be true to a particular genre of music. In the past, everyone from Shammi Kapoor to Rishi Kapoor have played roles that were meant to depict "rock stars" - but the music was anything but rock. at best, a bastardized Bollywood interpretation of rock. The songs in Rock On don't take any such shortcuts. They remain refreshingly true to the genre.