MUSIC | PREVIEW | MOVIE REVIEW

First release of a year is special. This is why one is extra curious to hear what the music of Just Married has in the offing. The music is also extra special since it has composer Pritam at the helm, who was one of the most versatile and successful musician in the year gone by. Also, Pritam and PNC [film's producers] have a good musical track record behind them in the form of Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Ankahee and Pyaar Ke Side Effect. With expectations of a peppy-n-romantic musical outing from the music of this Meghna Gulzar film that has lyrics by Gulzar saab with Fardeen Khan & Esha Deol in the lead, one plays on the CD. And doesn't one feel glad that Just Married has been released as the opening album of 2007?

Track 1,7,9 - Ram Milaye Jodi of its first few seconds into the opening number and one can't help but revisit the credit details for the song. Reason? The song is completely modeled on the Shankar Ehsaan Loy style of music with their trademark Indian melody that has been their forte. Even the arrangements are very much on the similar lines that only bring the song further closer to SEL kind of music. Having said that, Pritam does a very good job in coming up with a catchy track which is a shaadi-byaah number with a difference. With the marriage season on and Ram Milaye Jodi being unadulterated harmless fun, it is the sing-with-a-smile approach by the three singers - Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan - that mark an enjoyable beginning to the album.

Most happening trend of 2006 continues into 2007 as well as the remix version of Ram Milaye Jod' is heard later in the album. Thankfully, it doesn't kill the impact created by the original and only adds on to the fun. Lastly comes a shorter sad version of the song which is a Sukhwinder Singh solo. This one is a part of film's background score for a particular situation.

Track 2: Gudgudee Sunidhi Chauhan was good in Ram Milaye Jodi but she is excellent in 'Gudgudee'. Pritam shows a different facet of his composing style as he arrives with this beautiful melodious track that is slow, simple, enchanting and heart warming. If you have loved Sunidhi's love songs Le Chale My Brother Nikhil and Dheemey Dheemey Bas Ek Pal in the last 2 years, you would lap up to Gudgudee with glee too. Looking forward to many more melodies like these in the months to come!

Track 3,5,8: Baat Pakki Just Married was earlier titled 'Baat Pakki'. Hence one could term 'Baat Pakki' as an ex-title song which makes an appearance next. Almost like a jingle/nursery rhyme, it is yet another entertaining number after 'Ram Milaye Jodi' that has a cute appeal to it. Shaan and Neeraj Sridhar sing this love song in a spirited manner while Gulzar saab lyrics are poetic yet very much accessible to a common man. And yes, Pritam does deserve a mention for managing to build a simple tune around such poetry! A party song amongst a group of youngsters, 'Baat Pakki' is a feel-good song that should keep the audience engaged and also help in taking the story forward. Later in the album arrives a Remix version of the song which only peps up the situation further. Presence of Sunidhi Chauhan and Mahalakshmi Iyer only helps in making the song stay on with you even after the album is through. What takes the cake is the third and Final version of 'Baat Pakki' which comes towards the very end of the album. The best seems to have been reserved for the end as this is the most easy-on-ears versions of the three as Pritam keeps minimum instruments in the background and rather encourages his singers to be on the fore

Track 4: Doha After feeling good about things in life, Gulzar saab and Pritam get Daler Mehndi on board to render a pensive 'Doha'. A situational sad love track which should appear at a crucial juncture in the film, it is moderately paced. Reminding of Sukhwinder Singh's 'Layi Vi Na Gayi' from 'Chalte Chalte', 'Doha' works well in adding on to the variety of songs heard so far in the album.

Track 6: Jagte Raho Just Married gets a fitting farewell when Sonu Nigam arrives for the first time with this number. An excellent composition with sensual lyrics by Gulzar that bring to fore the excitement, curiosity and apprehensions of the first night,'Jaagte Raho is the best of the lot! One has to punch himself hard to actually believe that it is Pritam at the helm of composition since the young composer does exceedingly well in redefining his own style of music and bringing up something as different and remarkable as Jaagte Raho. A very good effort by the entire team behind the song.

While Pritam and Gulzar saab have done quite well in coming up with a sweet album like Just Married, one also needs to pat on the back of Meghna Gulzar for the choices she has made for the song situations and a go-ahead that she has eventually given to the selected songs in the albums. While Vishal Shekhar gave a good beginning to 2006 with Taxi No. 9211, in case of 2007 it is Pritam who has got the opportunity to kick start the New Year with a melodious soundtrack!