Pritam Chakraborty Dil Bole Hadippa! Review

Mumbai-based composer Pritam is perhaps more famous for plagiarism accusations surrounding his music than anything else, but this time he’s played it safe and composed some original, foot-tapping fare. However, his Dil Bole Hadippa! soundtrack seems destined to appeal only to a certain desi demographic, despite providing a good feel of the film before its release.

While Pritam fast cements his relationship with the Yash Raj company, becoming a prolific composer for them, his music is struggling to compete with contemporaries who have served with the studio before him; having said that, Bhangra Bistar is a song that epitomises the sheer energy of any Yash Raj film. Peppered with familiar folk melodies, it will undoubtedly embed itself into the psyche of any Indian music lover. Vocalists Alisha Chinoy and a dominant Sunidhi Chauhan combine well to deliver a lively, standout sound.

Gym Shim features a vocal turn from Joshilay, but the lyrics are cheesy to say the least, and instrumentally Pritam is found wanting atmospherically. Thankfully Hadippa provides a much-needed change, with Mika Singh (brother of the better-known Daler Mehndi) at the microphone. It’s a lift that rescues the album as it heads towards its climax.

But an opportunity to complete a turnaround of critical judgement is missed by Ishq Hi Hai Rab, voiced by Shreya Ghosal and a true darling of film music, Sonu Nigam. The pace of the song is slow and brooding, but the incessant dhol beats do nothing to soothe the listener into the relaxed mood it so desperately wants to project. Ultimately it falls flat on its face, any redeeming qualities sucked out by a clash of musical styles so obviously antithetical.

Pritam has attempted to craft a soundtrack that is heartfelt, but it deadlocks itself to the point of collapse. Its only saving grace is that the movie may be better received upon its release. Let’s hope so.