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By
Joginder Tuteja, January 21, 2008 - 12:07 IST
 Now
this one is supposed to be big. Really BIG! And why
not? After all Jodhaa Akbar has:
a) Ashutosh Gowarikar's labor of love finally getting
ready to be unveiled after going through grueling
shooting schedules,
b) Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan coming together
again after Dhoom 2, albeit in a different avatar,
c) A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar saab collaborating
with Ashutosh for the third straight time after Lagaan
and Swades and
d) A true historical being brought to celluloid after
ages.
No wonder, everything about this film is expected to
be flawless and studied to the minutest details. This
is why one looks at the music with great expectations.
However, it all turns out to be anticipation in vain
as Jodhaa Akbar turns out to be the first major
disappointment of 2008.
In the praise of Shahenshah Akbar comes the opening
track 'Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah'. High on orchestra,
the track has ‘grand’ written all over it and deserves
an opulent treatment to it. Crooned by Mohammed Aslam,
Bonnie Chakraborty and Chorus, the track hails Akbar
for creating an empire where there is peace, harmony,
and great life all around. The song doesn't belong to
the kind which could be sung around or played loud at
home but would do well when seen on the big screen,
provided the picturisation is as lavish as Rahman's
efforts.
 Javed
Ali, who has been trying to make his mark over last
3-4 years, gets a big break in the form of 'Jashn-E-Bahaaraa'.
Sounding quite close to Sonu Nigam, Javed does well in
his rendition of this slow track that is in complete
contrast to 'Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah' in its
treatment. Javed Akhtar saab's poetry is in full flow
for this love song which comes close to the style of
60’s in it's tune and flow.
However, one misses the kind of punch as expected from
the first romantic song of the album and the final
outcome turns out to be little lackluster with not
much in the song pulling a listener for a repeat
hearing. Towards the album's end, a 'Flute
Instrumental' version of the song is heard as well,
which works better as a core background piece which
could be enjoyed with lights switched off.
Kashif written 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' is a devotional
track, which is strictly for Rahman fans. Rendered by
Rahman himself, it has the kind of arrangements as
heard in 'Kehna Hi Kya' [Bombay]. With minimal
instruments in play, 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' has its
strength lying in it's lyrics but that too has minimal
target audience due to the track's genre and setting.
Overall, a situational piece that seems like an
unlikely candidate to make much headway into current
crop of audience. An 'Oboe Instrumental' piece for the
same track comes at the album's end and yet again has
the kind of treatment, which hardly promises a popular
reach out.
 'In
Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein' that comes later turns out to
be most laidback of all and just doesn't ignite the
kind of spark that one had been hunting for in this
soundtrack so far. It's one thing to be slow and
another to be just plain and simple drag (if boring is
too harsh a word here)! By this time, one seriously
starts wondering if Rahman was asked to work on the
album really-really hard or did he actually finish the
job in a jiffy? In spite of presence of Sonu Nigam and
Madhushree, the song just doesn't click at all and in
the end what one gets to hear is a number which fails
to impress and ends without making any impression.
On the lines of 'O Paalan Haari' [Lagaan] (genre wise)
comes 'Mann Mohanaa’, which is yet, another devotional
track after 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja'. This time around, it
is Bela Shinde's turn to sing a number for Lord
Krishna as the character of Jodha played by Aishwarya
Rai turns over to God. Just like the rest of the
album, this one too doesn't go any further than being
ordinary and ends without creating any place in the
heart (or the music collection) of the listener.
 Special
attraction of the music album of Jodhaa Akbar is a
bonus DVD that includes a 4-minute long theatrical
trailer of the film along with a few posters, story
and cast and crew details of the film
The album kicks off well with a high adrenalin title
song but beyond that there isn't much to look forward
to. Jodhaa Akbar would work with a miniscule segment
of audience and that too only in certain big cities.
It is expected to take a good start at the stands due
to high credentials involved but a sustained stay at
the charts may only be possible only if the film is a
success.
Jodhaa Akbar disappoints, and how! Though the music of
Lagaan was good (catching on more after the film's
success), Swades was always a few steps behind.
However, Jodhaa Akbar does not have much to cheer
about and fails to go an extra distance.
Rating:- **
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