7 Khoon Maaf – Music Review

Starring Priyanka Chopra as the woman who marries and kills seven men, 7 Khoon Maaf (Seven Murders Forgiven) is an upcoming thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, who has also scored the music himself.

 

"Daaaaaaaarrrrrrrling!" is the first thing that I hear in my head when someone mentions 7 Khoon Maaf – so iconic has this track become in relation to the film.  Darling is a dynamic, catchy track, and the vocals by Usha Uthup and Rekha Bhardwaj are fuelled with energy from start to finish. The other version – Doosri Darling – is even more energetic than the first, and the constant tempo changes keep you engaged from start to finish. The Russian part at the beginning pays tribute to Kalinka, the original Russian song that inspired this one.

 

Vishal Bhardwaj takes mic for Bekraan. You can practically feel his breath against you- so light are his vocals in this song. The arrangement is beautiful, Gulzar’s lyrics infitely more so. Just when you settle into the lilting, lullaby-like flow, the violin interlude comes in to mix things up (in a good way), as it’s classical base adds a sense of near-divinity to this serene track.

 

The soothing feeling left by Vishal’s final sigh of "Lilaah" at the end of the previous track is completely shattered when the electric guitars play the opening chords of O Mama. A stark contrast to Bekraan, this track is full of energy – KK and Clinton Cerejo‘s vocals are full of passion, and Gulzar’s lyrics are again, wonderful! The album also includes an acoustic version of this track, which is delightful. KK’s voice is back to its familiar soulful sound here, but I love both versions – interesting how the same song can be rendered as a ballad, and as a powerful rock anthem.

 

Awaara is an Arabic-ish tune, with heavy Indian classical influences too (primarily that of Raaga Ahir Bhairavi). Master Salim‘s vocals are wonderfully evocative and note-perfect – the swara section towards the end is beautifully-rendered, and I was little saddened that it was such a short section!

 

Tere Liye is a mellow ballad that – with Suresh Wadkar‘s mellifluous vocals – encaptures a real sense of tranquility. Just the sort of track to kick back to when you want to unwind after a long day! The classical-based interludes are truly sublime, and add a novel twist to the overall feel of the song, which is of one that belongs on a ballroom floor. A really enchanting track!

 

Once again, the chilled out mood is broken with Dil Dil Hai – another rock-y number. Suraj Jagan‘s vocals are powerful and really suit the song…but for me, O Mama is the better of the two rock pieces in this soundtrack.

 

Right from the start, Yeshu has a spooky feel to it. It is essentially a prayer, and Rekha Bharadwaj‘s vocals really evoke the sense of solitude and yearning that Gulzar’s lyrics depict. The chorus is powerful and impressive, but I feel it detracats a little from the eerie feeling of the song – it’s far more effective as just a solo by Rekha. A haunting track nonetheless.

 

Vishal Bhardwaj’s versatility and Gulzar’s brilliant lyrics effortlessly gel to create an album that can calm you, move you, cheer you up and make you dance all at once.

 

4/5. Pick of the album: Bekraan, O Mama (both versions) and of course, Daaarrrrrrrrrrrliiiiiiiing!

Words: Kavya Rajagopalan © Thamarai.com 2011