Review: Dhoom 3's soundtrack is engaging

Dhoom Machale is the biggest draw of the Dhoom 3 soundtrack, writes Joginder Tuteja.

There are good, though not humungous, expectations from the music of Dhoom 3.

While Dhoom and Dhoom 2 had chartbusting music, a major chunk of the credit for the success of the films goes to the title song created by Pritam. The recall value that the title track has enjoyed is huge.

Even for Dhoom 3, one primarily looks forward to another version of the title song. And as it turns out, the soundtrack pretty much lives up to expectations.

Surprisingly, though, it isn't the title song that kick-starts proceedings, but the song Malang.

There is a 'big screen' stage and setting created at the very onset, what with a grand orchestra paving the way for an Arabic sound.

Siddharth Mahadevan is behind the mike first and croons a Sufi-like tune that comes dangerously close to another Yash Raj number, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

Shilpa Rao joins in the fun in this Sameer Anjaan written number. She is the voice of Katrina Kaif in this love track with a good rhythm.

The mood is carried forward with a Punjabi folk touch as Sunidhi Chauhan enters the album with Kamli.

The mandatory Yash Raj sound of Mahiya Mahiya is heard in the background and one wonders if Kamli is going to be just a routine number.

Credit goes to Pritam for ensuring that this Amitabh Bhattacharya written number has some good beats and a Western arrangement that makes it a foot tapping number.

Kausar Munir, who is turning out to be a regular lyricist with the Chopras, sings Tu Hi Junoon, a love song that turns out to be the best heard so far.

It also brings to the fore Mohit Chauhan. The singer reinvents himself with this number that revels in a high tempo and is reminiscent of the musical style of the 1970s.

In fact, it won't be wrong to say that given a similar stage, setting and musical instruments, R D Burman would have created something on the same lines for Dhoom 3.

The wait for the title song finally ends with Dhoom Machale, which, for some strange reason, starts with a 'band baaja' parody of the iconic number.

Thankfully, the song immediately comes on track, with Aditi Singh Sharma -- who is turning out to be quite a regular in the Bollywood circuit --

getting an opportunity to sing one of the biggest numbers of the year.

As expected from her, there is a heavy Western influence in her rendition, which complements the sound that Pritam creates for yet another version of the song. This one proves to be a winner as well.

Later in the album, there is also an Arabic version of Dhoom Machale Dhoom in which singer Naya makes her debut in Bollywood. She brings an edge to the composition with her rendition. One waits to see whether like Tata Young in Dhoom, she will have a music video of her own included in the credits of Dhoom 3.

What does peg the album back a little is Bande Hain Hum Uske, which is expected to be picturised on the child version of the character that Aamir Khan plays in the film.

Centred on a magical world that forms the backdrop of Dhoom 3, this Julius Packiam composed track is strictly situational.

The lyrics by Kausar Munir and Vijay Krishna Acharya don't quite strike a chord and eventually this Shivam Mahadevan and Anish Sharma sung number falls more into the Taare Zameen Par mode than the Dhoom 3 space.

It would make a good piece in the background score but as a standalone number, it is strictly average.

What is not average is a series of Dhoom instrumentals that flow from this point on. First to arrive is Dhoom Tap, a minute long tap piece that takes a turn towards the quintessential Dhoom in the 60th second exactly.

From this point on there is no looking back and the piece creates curiosity to check out how it plays on screen.

Ditto for Dhoom 3 Overture that has a rather solemn start with Bande Hai... As a purely instrumental piece it sounds striking. By the time the pace picks up to welcome Dhoom Machale, one is quite excited.

The trademark sound of Dhoom is the biggest draw of the Dhoom 3 soundtrack as well.

Pritam and Julius Packiam work in tandem to keep the listener engaged and revelling in the sound all over again.

Meanwhile, there are songs like Tu Hi Junoon, Malang and Kamli that round off Dhoom 3 beautifully.

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