It’s a known fact that nothing sells more than cricket and Bollywood in India. By that logic, the music of MS Dhoni’s eagerly awaited biopic MS Dhoni: The Untold Story has to meet sky high expectations, while doing some storytelling of its own. But unfortunately, Armaan Mallik’s compositions are not as dynamic or disruptive asthe film’s protagonist. Though it has a few long lasting melodies, nothing that really stands out as a true MS Dhoni number.
Besabriyaan
Besabriyaan is a soulful number that urges Sushant Singh Rajput’s character to break free for his dreams. Armaan Mallik’s music and vocals add a dreamy touch to Manoj Muntashir’s lyrics. It is evident that the first time solo composer has given this song his best and we love the stringy guitar riffs, as well as the crescendo.
Kaun Tujhe
I’m not a big fan of high pitched female voices but Palak Muchhal’s vocals have an earthy freshness that defines the sentiments of Dhoni’s lady love. Mallik chose to keep the track simple in terms of its instrumentation and layering.
Jab Tak & Jab Tak (Redux)
Jab Tak and Jab Tak (Redux), both sung by Armaan are the male versions of Kaun Tujhe. The tracks aren’t too long, but they establish Mahi’s love for his love interest, set in Mallik’s voice. The tune is unconventional but somehow the singer-composer stands a high risk of sounding the same in all his songs.
Parwah Nahin
Parwah Nahin has a strong beat and Siddharth Basrur brings out the rebel within Dhoni, along with the grit and angst of his struggling days. Its rock touch makes it stand out in the album, which so far sounds more like a ballad than a biopic. It’s probably the track you’ll see Sushant Singh Rajput training hard in and gearing up to transform into the reel MS Dhoni.
Phir Kabhi
Arijit Singh weaves his magic again with this love song at the risk of sounding the same as every other song he has sung. A hummable tune and good lyrics, but some versatility could have done wonders. The song’s catchy hook line might make it sit pretty on your playlist for a few days, but it lacks that evergreen quality.
Padhoge Likhoge
Finally, a fun song in the album! Sung by Ananya Nanda and Adithyan A Prithviraj this frothy number is a fast one that children and grown ups will enjoy alike. The situational number adds some variety to the album, but fails to stand out on its own.
Har Gully Mein Dhoni Hai
Rochak Kohli’s voice brings a touch of grunge to the MS Dhoni: The Untold Story album. Not only does it make you root for Dhoni, but it also makes you imagine that you’re watching a crucial cricket match in a massive stadium. This is a real gem. Real and enigmatic. I wonder if the credits roll to this number in the beginning or the end. It’ll be interesting to watch this number on screen.
In my opinion, Besabriyaan, Parwah Nahin and Har Gully Mein Dhoni Hai are the winners of the album.
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