Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Begum Para, Achla Sachdev, Zohra Sehgal
Music: Monty Sharma, Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Singers: Shail Hada, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Shreya Ghosal, Parthiv Gohil, Richa Sharma, Alka Yagnik

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films are celebrated for his lush visuals, loud melodrama and grand music. Highly known for his exquisite taste, Bhansali’s all other previous films have exhibited his great flair and passion for fine music. And following the trend is the music of his next release ‘Saawariya’ that comes across as another feather in the director’s hat.

Bhansali surprisingly departs from his customary hook up with Ismail Darbar here and instead hooks in Monty Sharma to arrange the scores. However the absence of the Ismail hardly affects the musical excellence here as Monty Sharma too is another rare talent whose musical dexterity has been confirmed with films like ‘Devdas’ and ‘Black’. Monty Sharma lives up to the high expectations with ‘Saawariya’.

The album begins with the title track ‘Saawariya’ that has already started to win accolades in the very first earshot. This unsullied track brims with juvenile appeal and is quick to catch up with the listeners. A delightful track, it is handsomely composed and arranged by Monty Sharma who keeps it simple instead of cramming with extra doses of music. Even the simple and sweet lyric by Sameer is enticing. Brilliant rendition by debutante singer Shail Hada is simply mesmerizing whose clean and silky vocals wheel over the acoustic sounds effortlessly. A great opening by the musician indeed!

‘Saawariya Reprise’ comes in the very end of the soundtrack and is an unplugged version of the title track. The endowed musician has tastefully redone it here again. Shail Hada is again simply impeccable and irresistible in this song. The musical arrangement is kept very much the same - very acoustic and very vigorous. But Monty intersperses mass ovation in the middle that is mainly perceived to be a situational track. Another delight from the musician’s harp!

After treating the music aficionados with a brilliant piece of music in the form of the title track, Monty’s ‘Jab Se Tere Naina’ simply fails to make it big. Monty heralds this love piece on somewhat promising note with the usage of a low-octave play of the sitar. King of romantic melodies, Shaan launches this track in his usual delectable style. However it falls a victim to clumsy musical arrangements that set the melody haywire. It’s a very clumsily arranged track for sure, as this set of arrangements is heard intermittently all throughout. Even Sameer’s lyrics fail to come to its rescue. A disappointment for the listeners!

‘Masha-Allah’ comes across as the first duet in the album. It is a potpourri by the musician who stuff in all his musical virtues and vices in the track. A classic feel haunts rendered by Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghoshal. Kunal Ganjawala’s brittle rendition of a petite, yet striking, melody is romantically delightful. The mysteriously striking ‘Allah’ refrain by Shreya Ghoshal is simply breath taking. However the dull arrangements and dreary lyrics are uninteresting and add to the banality of the track. Monty again fails to strike with this not so happening number.

‘Thode Badmash’ surprises us as it is composed by none other than director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This piece truly revives back the musical memories from his ‘Devdas’ and is rendered by Bhansali’s favorite Shreya Ghoshal.  The eastern orchestration and suggestive raga overlay a musical flight through which Shreya progresses with style and ease. Sanjay looks into all the niceties of music to dish out this extravagant track. But apart from all the workings, Bhansali and Shreya team up to tune in a simply awesome track laden with Indian influences. Lyrics by Nusrat Badr are exceptionally undemanding but at the same time very strong and appealing. A sumptuous offering!

‘Yoon Shabnami’ is a deep taste of creative music. Monty’s music appears to tread the similar kind arrangements but breathes in newness with the introduction of qawwali in the stanza. Rendered by new voice Parthiv Gohil, this track is written by Sandeep Nath. The lyrics concentrating on the metaphoric beauty of the moon touches tender nerves of our heart. A wonderful track!

Monty bounces back with the theme piece ‘Daras Bina Nahin Chain’ which is a brilliant sip of grand music. Rendered in the power packed voice of Richa Sharma this track is also supported by the golden voices of Parthiv Gohil and Shail Hada. Monty chisels a piece of opulence with an entire range of eastern instrumental elements, his signature female chorus and exclusive rendition by his singers. This simple yet elegant track is a musical gift for all!

‘Sawar Gayi’ is another Shreya Ghoshal solo track that simply captivates you under its magnanimous charm. Shreya’s ethereal rendition coupled with deep rumble sounds creates a perfect ambiencex. Monty’s stable pass over the steady arrangements intruded with a refined melody is what fetches substance and quality to the song. A rich track indeed!

‘Jaan-E-Jaan’ once again gets Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghoshal together. Monty looks promising in the first few minutes of the track but as the song trails towards its end, the result is disappointing. Initially Monty’s sharp orchestration and an increase of oboe and strings hint of another great doing of music but he fails to imbue the effect in the track. The very strident singing and arrangements, matted with a non-engaging melody, make for an undeserving track. Even the lyrics aren’t anything exceptional. An unworthy track!

‘Pari’ once again gets Kunal Ganjawala behind the mike and is remarkably one of the superior numbers. It treads on the line of a love ballad and is pretty successful in etching out the soft feel. Although a difficult song, it is rendered by Ganjawala with great ease and poise. Monty Sharama keeps the orchestration low while allowing the lyrics and excellent rendition do all the talking. A mesmerizing track!

‘Chhabeela’ is a respite from all the average tracks that we have been hearing till now. Crooned by melody queen Alka Yagnik who returns back behind the mike after a brief break, this track has everything to cater to ears. Monty warrants a huge applause for composing a lively song that adds to the diversity of Saawariya’s soundtrack. A worthy listening indeed!

The title track ‘Saawariya’ is the big winner of all the tracks, which is sure to linger on to your mind and lips for long. Other than that ‘Saawariya Reprise’ and ‘Sawar Gayi’ are some nice piece of melodies. Most of the tracks are situational and thus lacks the verve to impress when heard singularly. Monty Sharma does modestly well here. On the whole, nice effort by the musician.