All izz well with 3 Idiots

Music: Shantanu Moitra
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
Singers: Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Swanand Kirkire, Shreya Ghoshal, Shantanu Moitra, Suraj Jagan and Sharman Joshi

 

Murgi kya jaane ande ka kya hoga, life milegi ya tawe pe fry hoga…funny? Ok, here is more…bakra kya jaane uski jaan ka kya hoga, seekh ghusegi ya saala keema hoga. I am still smiling. All Izz well is infectious…and sets the tone for a fun-filled album for a music lover. You can ignore it if you feel there is some similarity with the ‘vocal’ beats in Mere mehboob mere sanam (Duplicate, 1998). Or if you think All izz well (specifically the phrase) sounds like your neighbourhood chowkidaar howling Jaagte raho. The fun aspect just takes over…and dominates the listener’s mind hours after he heard the number. It is true, at least for me! Sonu Nigam (oops Sonu Niigaam) brings out the fun element by modulating his voice at different points. At some places, he adds the Kishore Kumar-esque masti to the number.

All izz well (remix) will keep your funny bone tickling. The good part is that, contrary to what you hear in other remixes, you can still hear the beats of the dholak.

Moitra shifts gear to provide you some Parineeta (2005)-like ‘old world charm’ in Zoobi doobi with Sonu and Shreya doing the honours. He keeps the arrangement simple with minimal instrument use a la Piu Bole (Parineeta, 2005). Sonu tries to do a combination of Mohd. Rafi and SP Balasubramaniam in the number. All in all, this one is quite hummable!

Zoobi doobi (remix) is racier and expectedly has more accompanying sounds (read noises).

Behti hawa sa tha woh sounds situational. The lyrics are fresh yet simple. One of the antara goes humko kal ki fikar sataati, woh bas aaj ka jashn manaata, har lamhe ko khul ke jeeta tha woh…quite inspirational to me! However, this number clearly has shades of Moitra’s Raat hamaari to (Parineeta again). Shaan seems to be in his comfort zone while singing this one.

Now, for something different! Give me some sunshine has Suraj Jagan (?) and Sharman Joshi behind the mike…though the latter only provides situational fillers to the song. Suraj Jagan is best known for Johnny Gaddar (Johnny Gaddar, 2007), Zehreeley (Rock On, 2008) and Dil Kare (All The Best, 2009). The number seems to marry a couple of Rock On (2008) numbers with the evergreen oldie Ek din bik jaayega maati ke mol (Dharam Karam, 1975).

In Jaane nahin denge tujhe, Sonu Nigam reminds you that there is a reason he is considered as the no. 1 singer in the hindi film industry today. You will feel like crying with Sonu when he almost does it himself in the number. He combines it with anger, prayer, nostalgia…phew! Way to go, Sonu! One of the antaras takes you to the nostalgic last antara in Sandese aatein hain (Border, 1997).

Final verdict: All izz well with 3 Idiots. The album is not path-breaking but has quite a bit of old-world charm and youthfulness. Most numbers are situational but well composed and sung. However, there are also sounds that remind you of Moitra and Kirkire’s Parineeta (2005).

All is not great or excellent! But All izz well. Don’t worry…go ahead and listen to it.

Songs to look out for: All Izz well, Zoobi Doobi, Give me some sunshine and Jaane nahi denge tujhe

My favourite number: All Izz well

My rating: 7/10