Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya is the second film from the Shashank Khaitan franchise that’s been produced by Dharma Productions. The first movie in this franchise, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, had multiple composers come together to produce an average soundtrack.
Going multi-composer
However, the makers have gone multi-composer this time as well, possibly egged on by the commercial success Dharma has had with Kapoor & Sons and Baar Baar Dekho last year.
The most remarkable aspect of the number ‘ Aashiq Surrender Hua’ is that composer Amaal Mallik seems to have finally gotten over the ‘ Sooraj Dooba Hai ’ jinx when it comes to dance songs. But it’s not like this number sounds fresh either. The folk percussion dominated arrangement is very much of the tried and tested variety, but it is engaging. Mallik himself delivers the male vocals in sprightly fashion, alongside an equally lively Shreya Ghoshal.
Mellow and melodic
The familiarity in sound is more prominent in Mallik’s second song, the mellow, melodic, ‘ Roke Na Ruke Naina ’. There is some nice work on the arrangement front though, especially in that first interlude with the flute and guzheng (a Chinese plucked string instrument). It’s a mild respite from the overwhelming sense of déjà vu that Arijit Singh’s rendition of the song brings.
Awkward vocals
Akhil Sachdeva, frontman of Delhi-based sufi rock band Nasha, makes a composing debut with the song, ‘ Humsafar ’. Once again nothing new to offer here by way of melody or arrangement, and it could have made for an okay listen but not for the composer’s own awkward vocals.
Stuck with remixes
After that promising debut with Vayu Srivastava in Tanu Weds Manu Returns in 2015 (‘ Banno’ ), this year Tanishk Bagchi seems to be at the risk of being stuck with remixes. While it was ‘ Humma Humma ’ in OK Jaanu , the young composer gets to adapt two songs here, both of which were in turn adapted from other sources, interestingly. To be fair, in the title track, ‘ Badri Ki Dulhaniya ’, there is a sizeable contribution from Bagchi though the main hook borrows from Shankar Jaikishan’s ‘ Chalat Musafir ’ from Teesri Kasam (which itself was a folk tune adaptation). And it is an entertaining remake too, well delivered by Dev Negi, Neha Kakkar, Monali Thakur and Ikka. Bagchi’s second offering is ‘ Tamma Tamma Again ’, a revamp of Bappi Lahiri’s hit 1990 song, which was inspired by Guinean artiste Mory Kante’s ‘ Tama Tama ’. (I personally prefer Laxmikant Pyarelal’s ‘ Jumma Chumma ’ sourced off the same piece). There are some nice touches on the remix here, like the retention of the original vocals by Lahiri and Anuradha Paudwal, and the sampling of Ameen Sayani’s voice. What does not help the song’s case is Badshah’s rapping.
Disappointing music
The Dulhania franchise continues to disappoint with its music. In fact, this soundtrack rates even lower than the first one! Sadly, this is also the weakest movie soundtrack from Dharma in a long time.
