Bride and Prejudice Music Review

Singers: Sonu Nigam, Gayatri Iyer, Udit Narayan, Sowmya Rao, Nisha Mascarenhas and Alka Yagnik.
Music: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar, Paul Mayeda Berges, Dev Kohli and Ranjit Barot
Rating: 2.5/5

‘Bride and Prejudice’ directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker Gurinder Chadha is a Hollywood musical with an international mix of American, Bollywood and British actors and actresses. The movie with which is based on Jane Austen’s popular novel Pride and Prejudice gets a Bollywood treatment. Aishwarya Rai and Anupam Kher have come together to present a flamboyant spectacle of emotion, color, song and dance in the movie intended to bring traditional Bollywood into Western homes and Western hearts.

Anu Malik’s rhythms along with Javed Akhtar pen have brought to life a score that would merge the eastern and western musical preferences. The music and dances are Bollywood based but arranged and produced to suit what a westerner will be delighted to see and enjoy. It’s essentially India’s first crossover flick with music and dance being given so much emphasis.

Songs review:

1. Balle Balle (5:36) is a pulsating Punjabi wedding song sung by Sonu Nigam and Gayatri Iyer with aplomb. So be prepared for Indian Jhat’s with dhool’s out to make you swing. The scene is wedding and dancing is must. You can’t stop yourself from giving in to the temptation of breaking into a dance after listening to the song.

2. Dola Dola (4:53) is a Gujrati garba track sung by Gayatri Iyer. Written by Anu Malikl, this is again a dance number to make you groove. Gayatri Iyer shows her versatility and handles the solo number with ease.

3. Tumse Kahen Ya, Hum Na Kahen (6:07) is sung by prince of romantic numbers Udit Narayan and ably supported by Alka Yagnik. The song is a slow and mushy number with a western touch. The song appears three times in the album, i.e. a sad version sung by Alka Yagnik and again as an instrumental number. The song has a soothing feel but it’s just a passandeacute;. It’s, about time to change the track on the C.D.

4. Lo Shaadi Aayi (6:04) is sung Kunal Ganjawala, Anu Malik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Gayatri Iyer and Alka Yagnik, again a shaadi number makes its appearance. Not exactly a dance number, this song captures all the moods of an Indian shaadi - there is teasing, laughter and then there is pain of separation and a lot more. Well, nothing special about this shaadi.

5. No Life without Wife (5:14) is the jazzy, fun number from otherwise non-happening album. Four sisters in the movie get together one night to discuss their would-be husbands. The song has various moods and each sister likes something different in her husband. The song is wonderfully rendered by Gayatri Iyer, Sowmya Rao and Nisha Mascarenhas.

6. Payal Bajake (Goa Groove) (3:21) is a groovy disco number. The song has the right beats, Hip-Hop beats with a little potion of seduction to make it work on Dance Floor. Gayatri Iyer is out to prove her point. She is indeed a versatile singer and has sung this song wonderfully. This song would work very well with teenagers.

‘Bride and Prejudice’ is no where near Gurinder Chadha’s earlier flick - ‘Bend it Like Beckham’. While trying to target both the western and the niche Indian audience Gurinder has created a Bhel Puri which is neither spicy nor classic. Gayatri Iyer sings some nice numbers and tries her level best. But, with a mediocre sound track with a few good tracks here and there, here is an album which would hold good for listening once or twice. Passable is the bottom line.

More on this Movie:
Bride and Prejudice Release Date
Bride and Prejudice Trailer
Bride and Prejudice Preview
Photos from Audio Launch of Bride and Prejudice
Bride and Prejudice