MUSIC | PREVIEW | MUSIC REVIEW

There is something about these BIG films that makes one await their music with a bated breath. Whether it is 'Fanaa', 'Krrish', 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' or any of the other multi crore extravaganzas that have arrived on screen in recent months, there is a certain expectation from the music of each of these films. But one thing that is still common about the music of their films is the 'predictability' factor. There is always a set expectation from a Yashraj/Rakesh Roshan/Karan Johar film which means that though the music of the films mentioned above have ranged from good to very good, what has been amiss is the "surprise" element. Nothing wrong with that but then a listener won't really mind with an occasional surprise or two!

Track 2 SEL are loyal to the original sound of 'Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana' during the song's opening but 30 seconds into the track and they add on their own beats to give it a club feel. Sunidhi Chauhan arrives on the scene at just the right time and presses the right buttons to get into the groove. The interludes are interspersed with the music that would work well with the lovers of lounge genre. Overall one can easily say that Sunidhi doesn't let anyone down while rendering this track that doesn't deviate much from the 70s original and still works well for today's audience. Expect the heat to be on when Kareena Kapoor lip syncs to this seduction number while applying her charms on Shah Rukh Khan.

Track 3 By now it becomes an irresistible wait to listen to 'Khaike Paan Banarswala' but guess it was a trick played well by the music company that saves it only for a later stage. Before that comes 'Maurya Re', a Ganpati song sung by Shankar Mahadevan. So far the soundtrack was predominantly western with a touch of lounge but with 'Maurya Re', there is a shift in proceedings as the action shifts to the streets. Sound of 'dhol' accompanies Mahadevan throughout to keep the celebration mood alive in this lively number that is easy on ears and keeps the Indian melody intact. Would it be a classic 'Ganpati' celebration track? No, probably not, but what it succeeds in is bringing Shahrukh Khan in a new light who has traditionally been bound by a certain image.

Track 5 'Aaj Ki Raat' is easily the best of the enterprise and hooks you on after hearing it just once. Picturised on both Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, it is about a decisive night that is expected to be full of surprises. If there is a song that perfectly mixes the theme of 70s with the style of 21st century, it is 'Aaj Ki Raat'.

Track 6 Remember the signature tune of 'Don' that accompanied when the titles of the original rolled? The same intriguing sound is heard again though with in a complete makeover avtar that ensures that this Farhan Akhtar film is going to be one pucca masala entertainer! Westernized and lounge in style and feel, this instrumental of the 'Theme Music' makes one helluva ride that should bring you on the edge of the seat right away if played during the opening title roll. Let the lights dim, cell phones switched off, get your popcorn and enjoy the show!

Track 7 Some unforgettable music and dialogues from the original are given a new treatment by Medival Punditz in the concluding track 'Don Revisited'. Yet another racy track that should keep you hooked on your music system while it is played! While the theme music of 'Arrey Deewano Mujhe Pehchano' forms the base of this track, some evergreen dialogues like 'Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai' mouthed by SRK make it a highly enjoyable track. There are some more dialogues in the musical piece but check them out for yourselves when you play it on. Chances are high that this could well be the track that you may want to set on repeat mode before embarking on a long highway ride!

Shankar Ehsaan Loy do exceedingly well with the soundtrack of 'Don – The Chase Begins Again' and establish their supremacy as the composer trio who can give their own even while rearranging the songs from the past, as seen in 'Khaike Paan' and 'Ye Mera Dil'. While 'Aaj Ki Raat' sits pretty at the top for its innovative appeal, 'Khaike' is a sure shot chartbuster for all generations and 'Main Hoon Don' makes the proceedings exciting, the theme instrumentals too create a great impact and take the proceedings on a fast track.

Strength of 'Don' lies in its success at surprising a listener. Overall, the album primarily comes across as a lounge/club mix with a dash of Indian melody and should do well across the length and breath of the country. Chances are that it may turn out to be one of the Top 3 selling albums of this year.