I wasnt able to copy paste the entire article..you can click on the link and 
read it..they have mentioned other rahman songs too like Kaise Mujhe, Behka , 
Jashn E Bhaara...

--- On Mon, 1/5/09, $ Pavan Kumar $ <[email protected]> wrote:

From: $ Pavan Kumar $ <[email protected]>
Subject: [arr] The Bollywood music scene '08
To: [email protected]
Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 12:26 AM











http://www.radioand music.com/ content/year- ender/rewind- 08/the-bollywood 
-music-scene- 08 
  
Bollywood saw over 100 big budget releases this year, there were songs which 
got us instantly hooked and there were those overhyped musicals or music scores 
which fell flat. Out of the huge number of releases, few had songs that were 
timeless. We wonder, did Bollywood give us music that we can recall and relive 
again and again? 
Unfortunately, from the long list of films released under Bollywood, and the 
long list of 'tracks' that came with those films, there wasn't much the songs 
delivered sparing a few 20 tracks. The songs lacked creative quality and most 
importantly – timelessness. The 2008 trend was peppy, fast paced music – it 
didn't matter if the lyrics made sense or the tunes repetitive. Without doubt 
we can call 2008 Bollywood's 'peppy-beat- era's' inception year. 
However, there were few composers who we could count on to fulfil our musical 
cravings and A R Rahman tops the list – the undisputed King. Though Rahman 
received the Golden Globe, many felt it was too late – probably the westerners 
had not heard the 'Mozart of India' before.  SEL gave us on Rock On, and duo 
Vishal Shekhar surprised with their year end release Dostana. Kailash–Naresh – 
Paresh seemed to be the most promising composers and Amit Trivedi's calming 'Ek 
Lau' came out as one of the best scores of the year. 
So who offered what for the listeners to cherish? Let's have a look. 
Rahman, the undisputed King of 2008 
As far as composers go, Rahman tops the list with albums likes Jodhaa Akbar, 
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Yuvvraaj, Ghajini and Slumdog Millionaire.  Rahman 
experimented with genres and subjects of varied kinds. Be it the period film 
Jodhaa Akbar, the youth centric Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na or the larger than life 
Yuvvraaj. Though Yuvvraaj didn't garner much at the box office, the man behind 
the music had nothing to worry about – he won the Golden globe for Slumdog 
Millionaire. Towards the year-end, Rahman came with Ghajini. The music for this 
film was far more 'experimental' compared to his earlier releases.  It's 
interesting to note that the songs that caught on like wild fire 
(Jashn-E-Bahaara, Aditi, Pappu Cant Dance) were sung by new comers – there are 
many new voices that Rahman introduced this year – Benny Dayal, Karthik, Vijay 
Prakash and Rashid Ali
 
SEL banks on Rock On 
Shankar – Ehsaan- Loy's 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic' may not have clicked in the 
earlier half of the year, but with Rock On, the trio cleared the mental block 
that Bollywood deemed about 'Rock Music'. Farhan went a step ahead and got into 
the skin of the character. Rock On also introduced Farhan Akhtar the director 
as debutant singer and actor. Javed Akhtar could be seen experimenting with 
words and moving away from the conventional. Believe it or not, the music for 
this film was done in a record five days at the SEL's studio. Initially, the 
music took time to grow and get accepted. However, it soon caught on – and 
there was no stopping. SEL, at an individual level, are proficient musicians in 
their own right. With Shankar's expertise in classical and carnatic music, 
Ehsaan's rock music background and Loy's skills on the Keys as well as 
programming, their music has developed a unique all rounded sound. Their 
exposure to varied genres allows them to
 shift genres at a drop of a hat. It was also heard that many music critics 
re-reviewed Rock On's music after watching the film. This certainly makes for 
India's best rock album. 
Now the pulse is on their future projects: My Name is Khan, Chandni Chowk to 
China, Delhi Belly and Luck by Chance. 
Dostana-the must have album 
Duo Vishal - Shekhar started the year with Bhoothnath and then Tashan. The 
latter  failed at the box office, but the music did moderately well. Their next 
was Ranbir-Deepika starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno, but unfortunately, that too had 
just one track (Khuda Jaane) worth repeating. However, with Dostana the duo hit 
the bulls-eye. One can call Vishal- Shekhar Bollywood's most efficient 
'Hinglish' composers. Dostana had all the ingredients of Bollywood and offered 
much more than just fancy beats – which was the ongoing trend then. Through fun 
track 'Maa da Laadla' the duo introduced one of Punjab's well known talents 
Saleem to bollwood. Besides this, songs like Desi Girl, radio friendly Khabar 
Nahi and Vishal's poetic genius 'Kuch Kum' offered variety. Party track 'Shut 
up & Bounce' and 'the-easy-to- hum' Jaane Kyun gripped listeners. The album had 
all the songs which were in one word 'workable', thus making it a must have 
album of the year. 
Promising composers: Kailash-Naresh- Paresh, Amit Trivedi and Sneha Khanvilkar 
Kailash-Naresh- Paresh seemed to be one of the most promising composers of the 
year. After Pranali, the trio's second film was Dasvidaniya Kailash Kher had 
earlier tasted success in the non-film category thorugh his solo albums like Ya 
Rabba, Jhoomo Re and Kailasa. The music of Dasvidaniya had the 'timeless' 
element, especially in songs like Alvida and Mumma. Kher, as we know is also a 
gifted writer; his lyrics are known for their unconventional nature – making 
them easily standout.  Kher's earthy voice has shown its magic in the Kailasa 
albums and now with his foray into bollywood, the listeners can hope to hear 
more of his compositions in coming years – for both film and non-film. 
Amit Trivedi surprised us with 'Ek Lau' last year. His forthcoming 'Dev D' is 
already generating curiosity. Marathi mulgi Sneha Khanwalkar has surely got 
many admirers after her Punjabi oeuvres in 'Oye lucky lucky oye'.  Her debut 
film 'Run' failed, but post OLLO, the twenty something director has shown great 
potential – We'll be rooting for you! 
There were several gems on the Bollywood music horizon in 2008, but we picked 
out a few that stood out and begged praise, a notch higher than the others. We 
are sure you will agree with our reasoning... 
Song : Tu Bole Main Boloon 
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na 
Singer : A R Rahman 
Music Director : A R Rahman 
Lyrics : Abbas Tyrewala 
One can't deny that it's challenging to compose a pure jazz 'Hindi' song like 
Tu Bole Main Boloon. The arrangements in the song are akin to any jazz band's – 
trumpets, saxophone and the jazz drumming grooves. This  can be considered as 
the best Bollwood jazz song of the year. The lyrics by Abbas Tyrewala are 
simple and appealing, the paradoxical ideas – at its best. 
Song: Ek lau.. 
Film: Aamir 
Singer: Amitabh, Shilpa Rao 
Music Director: Amit Trivedi 
Lyrics: Amitabh 
Ek Lau is perhaps the best written song of the year. The organic flow of the 
song and Shilpa Rao's husky vocals takes the track to a new level. As far as 
the arrangement goes, it's simple and has an alternative rock sound. If you 
haven't heard this, you've missed one of the best tracks of the year! 
Song: Pappu Can't Dance 
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na 
Singer: Anupama Deshpande, Benny Dayal, Blaze, Darshana, 
Mohd Aslam, Satish Subramanium, Tanvi 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Abbas Tyrewala 
This crazy fun song can easily 'up' anybody's mood. We may all have danced to 
this party track a thousand times, but fun tracks like these aren't easy to 
make. Kudos to Abbas Tyrewala for the super unconventional lyrics – he's got 
his finger on the pulse of the youth there. Not all composers can use a traffic 
cop whistle the way Rahman did. 
Song: Pichle Saat Dinon Mein 
Film: Rock On 
Singer: Farhan Akhtar 
Music Director: Shankar Ehsaan Loy 
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar 
Javed Akhtar's unconventional lyrics of Pichle Saat Dinon Mein and Ehsaan's 
distorted guitar riffs go well with the song. Farhan Akhtar ain't a trained 
singer, but he did go behind the mic and gave skin to his onscreen rock star 
image. 
He may not be a rock star, but his voice did show the 'Magik'! 
Song: Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi 
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na 
Singer: Rashid Ali 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Abbas Tyrewala 
Rahman's guitarist Rashid Ali took the mic for this track and received acclaim 
as well. The reggae inclined 'Aditi' was most played song on the radio this 
year. Needless to say, Abbas Tyrewala was at his best lyrically. The track was 
such a rage, many felt jaded because of the constant repetitions. 'Your 
Beautiful' by James Blunt faced a similar dilemma after it was released in 
2003. 
Song: Vaada Tumse Hain Vaada 
Film: 1920 
Singer: Pandit Jasraj 
Music Director: Adnam Sami 
Lyrics: Sameer 
Bollywood composers experimented with all genres, but none tried our very own 
classical music in its purest form. Through Vaada Tumse Hain Vaada, Adnan Sami 
got Pandit Jasraj to sing for Bollywood (for the first time). The classical 
improvisations in this song are unsurpassed. The other version by Parveen 
Sultana is equally good. If you're a classical music lover, you wouldn't have 
missed this! 
Song: Tu Meri Dost Hain 
Film: Yuvvraaj 
Singer: Benny Dayal 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Gulzar 
"The Tu mera dost hai" track from Yuvvraaj is dear to me because all our songs 
have always referred to the beloved as 'mehbooba', 'maashuqa' and so on. Never 
a 'dost'" – the approach is something which makes the song different. 
Otherwise, we know how relationships are perceived in bollwood music," said 
veteran composer Gulzar. 
It's a good sign that lyric writing in Bollywood is changing slowly. Both Benny 
Dayal and Shreya Goshal sound brilliant on vocals. 
Song: Kaise Mujhe 
Film: Ghajini 
Singer: Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghoshal 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Prasoon JoshiNot many songs express the forlorn feel the way 'Kaise 
Mujhe' does. The song is not something which instantly hits – it gets you 
hooked slowly. 
Song:Jashn-E- Bahaara 
Movie Name: Jodhaa Akbar 
Singer: Javed Ali 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar 
A heart-warming romantic track, Jashn-e-bahaara makes you hit the repeat button 
several times. The soothing slow paced melodious restraints of strings and 
tabla flow freely. Javed Ali is vocalist par excellence. 
The lyrics of the song may not be easy to understand, but that will not stop 
you from humming this brilliant piece of work.  
Song: Mar Jawaan 
Film: Fashion 
Singer : Shruti Pathak 
Music Director : Salim-Sulaiman 
Lyrics : Irfan Siddique 
'Mar Jaava' is a gloomy lounge track. Shruti Pathak's husky and low-key voice 
spins magic in this Salim-Sulaiman composition. It doesn't take long to get 
hooked. 'Mar Jaava' is apt for a quiet evening with yourself. 
Song:Behka 
Movie Name: Ghajini 
Singer: Karthik 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Prasoon JoshiThis was one of the most difficult songs for lyricist 
Prasoon Joshi to pen, he had mentioned in an earlier interview to 
Radioandmusic. com. We know Rahman does not follow a set song structure when it 
comes to composing, and Behka is surely 'unstructured' .  Hear this for its 
downright craziness and bewilderment. 
Song: Ishq Ada 
Film: Ada 
Singer: Rashid Ali 
Music Director: A R Rahman 
Lyrics: Raqeeb Alam 
It is believed that the music of the film actually took six years to release 
(the work on the film started in 2002). As a result, the music has an old 
school feel. Here's your chance to cherish the old Rahmanisque feel through 
Ada. 
Song : Mumma 
Film: Dasvidaniya 
Singer: Kailash Kher 
Music Director: Kailash Kher 
Apart from singing, Kailash Kher is at his poetic best in 'Mumma'. It's a 
simple song with minimalistic arrangements – Kher does a lot with very little… 
Song: Jugni 
Movie Name: Oye Lucky Lucky Oye 
Singer: Des Raj Lachkani 
Music Director: Sneha Khanwalkar 
Lyrics: Dibakar Banerjee 
The 70 year old vocalist Des Raj Lakhani is traditionally amusing in the age 
old Punjabi folklore 'Jugni'. This track is emancipated with ethnical verses 
penned with strong and engrossing verbose punches. The song has a UK bhangra 
touch to it with thriving western arrangements. Through this, Sneha Khanwalkar 
takes the 'Punjabi' music genre to a new level. 
Song: Maa Da Laadla 
Film: Dostana 
Singer: Saleem 
Lyrics: Kumaar 
Music Director: Vishal-Shekhar 
'Maa Da Laadla' is sung by Saleem, the song is fun and of the kind which forces 
you to break into an impromptu jig. Saleem is one of the renowned talents of 
Punjab. 'Maa Da Laadla' may not be a 'chart-topper' , but wait and watch – 
there's a lot this man can deliver. 
Song: Jaane Kyun 
Film: Dostana 
Singer: Vishal Dadlani 
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan 
Music Director: Vishal-Shekhar 
'Jaane Kyun' had all the elements to be a sure-shot chartbuster. The song has 
the most 'catchiest' tune. With jazz improvisations, Hinglish lyrics, hip-hop 
claps and a super organic melody, the Vishal-Shekhar duo nails it. Though it's 
archetypal  Bollywood, it's – sensible! 





 
 














      

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