Haider's soundtrack will not have mass appeal, says Joginder Tuteja.
There was a time when Vishal Bhardwaj made some really interesting music. And then it started getting too predictable. Barring Omkara or Kaminey, the edge was missing.
With Haider, starring Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, one hopes for a turnaround.
The album starts on a high note, as Vishal Dadlani takes over the mike. He is in superb form for Aao Na. One can pretty much see that Bhardwaj has taken Shahid's youth appeal into consideration.
Gulzar's lyrics are heavy-duty but full marks to Bhardwaj for making Aao Na such a powerful track.
Later in the album comes another version of the song, So Jao. A much slower version, this one has Bashir Lone, Bashir Bhawani, Muzamil Bhawani, Mayukh Sarkar, Aalaap Majgavkar and Sourabh Joshi coming together.
So Jao has minimal instruments in the background.
With Sukhwinder Singh in a solo outing, Bismil has Kashmir written all over it. This one will not be a chartbuster but it seems to fit in the film's context and story.
If this six-minute outing wasn't enough, Ek Aur Bismil follows, and lasts a good four minutes!
Khul Kabhi is yet another six-minute long number. Arijit Singh does well in the Vishal Bhardwaj-Suresh Wadkar setting.
A smooth-on-the-ears number Khul Abhi is different from what Arijit Singh has been doing the last couple of years. This one won't have the audience singing along but still, fits in well.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz's Gulon Mein Rang Bhare is a traditional number. Bhardwaj gives his own touch to this Mehdi Hassan composition with Arijit Singh as the singer.
Jhelum, sung by Bhardwaj himself, has a sad appeal.
Do Jahaan is a peppy number. It is wonderful to hear Suresh Wadkar's voice; he sounds just the same as he did 30 years ago. His silky vocals make Do Jahaan a lovely piece. It is the one song in the album that can be played on loop. Based on Kashmiri folk music, this song also features Shraddha Kapoor's voice but it is Wadkar who mesmerises.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz's Aaj Ke Naam concludes on a sad note.
Rekha Bhardwaj proves her command over the medium in the classical mould. But besides contributing to the film's narrative, Aaj Ke Naam doesn't have a shelf life.
Overall, Haider's soundtrack will not have mass appeal.
Rediff Rating: 
