Music of 1920

The rebellious love story of an Indian boy and English girl, set in “British Raj” Rajasthan, in 1920? Sounds more like a Merchant-Ivory film, doesn’t it? Guess again, it’s the premise of Vikram Bhatt’s “1920”. Shocked? Well, rest assured he’s still being himself, as the film is a supernatural thriller, involving a cursed house, having something to do with the leading lady. Did someone say, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”?

And Adnan Sami’s music is just about as eclectic as that indiscriminate plotline. Quite a few names amongst the singer list will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. And in an effort to blend with the time period of the film, the compositions are given a classical/old-Bollywood feel, embellished delicately with modern musical elements.

“Vaada Tumse Hai”, the signature love song on the album, has renditions by legends, Pandit Jasraj and Parveen Sultana. The composition and the chord transitions are characteristic of Adnan’s pieces, but their vocals do not blend with the arrangement at all, leaving the listener very confused. The objective of what Vikram and Adnan were trying to achieve with this effort, is very unclear. Successful fusion works require more than bringing both styles together and “hoping” that they will interconnect, mellifluously.

The theatrical “Tujhe Main Pyaar Karu” is quite the opposite. Kailash Kher’s vocals, especially during the verse, are what keep your attention, from a relatively un-engaging composition.

The expectations from “Aise Jalta Hai Jiya” are immense, as it teams up Asha Bhosle and Adnan Sami, again. The haunting melody is reminiscent of several golden oldies from the yesteryears (like “Mere Naina Saawan Bhaadon”), and while not dramatically, the song definitely works, when compared to its colleagues on the album.

“Bichua” is the customary “item song” on the album, rendered by Shubha Mudgal. Quite like many of Adnan’s faster-paced songs, this one has significant energy issues. And once again, no rapport between the vocal style and the song itself. Trust there will be enough on screen antics to keep the viewer’s attention, through this letdown of a track.

The sole, comprehensively appreciable track on the album is the instrumental “1920” theme, which is Adnan at his best – a gentle piano ballad, flavoured with acoustic guitars and strings.

Balance sheet: It’s funny that an instrumental track is one the most substantial ones of the album, when it features some of India’s legendary vocalists. Somehow, one feels that in their efforts to gather a gargantuan bevy of heavyweight singers, the makers of this album compromised on working to creating the essential blend, which goes into the successful fusion of styles. It’s devastating, considering what magical work could have resulted from the coming-together of these artistes.