Music Review: Hichki (Hindi)

Composer(s): Jasleen Royal
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn

The best thing about Jasleen Kaur Royal's music in Hichki is its length. For an album comprising of seven tracks, it's just about 21 minutes. It's also consistently breezy and light. Overall, the effect is a soundtrack that doesn't outstay its welcome, but doesn't beg for a second listen either. Harshdeep Kaur brings her Sufi-inspired delivery to the folky opener Oye Hichki and its interestingly reworked electronic variant Soul of Hichki. Teri Dastaan, along with its ambient instrumental version Naina's Theme, sounds a lot similar to Jasleen's previous compositions and the song perhaps needed someone like Shilpa Rao (who instead gets to sing the bland Phir Kya Hai Gham) to lend it the requisite emotional weight, but it nonetheless works quite well. Khol De Par, sung by Arijit Singh, is that Amit Trivedi brand of gently propulsive soft rock, soothing and easy on the ears, while Benny Dayal and a rapper quartet from Dharavi go behind the mic for Madamji Go Easy, a Nucleya-like infectious southern folk fusion. Hichki ultimate may not stand out for its music, but it does mark an important step for Jasleen Royal, who is fast gaining currency as one of the most sought after female composers in Bollywood.

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