Biography

'Aitraaz' music has nothing new to offer

Publish Date : 11/2/2004 2:09:00 PM   Source : India-Cinema-Audio Review

The most distinguished aspect of a Subhash Ghai production is the music score. From "Karz" and "Hero" to "Taal", "Pardes" and the under-rated "Yaadein", the songs in a Ghai film define the way Hindi film music moves forward.

Abbas-Mustan's "Aitraaz", though only produced by Ghai, signals a soaring, sometimes scorching, sound quality.

It dips and rises through some skilful recording technique and strong, power-packed voices like Kunal Ganjawala  - the guy who sang "Bheege hont" in "Murder" - and the ever-riveting Sunidhi Chuhan. Their song, "I want to make love to you", exudes the scent of erotica without getting out of hand.

But pray, why is Himesh Reshammiya copying bits and pieces of Nadeem-Shravan's "Dil ne yeh kaha hai dil se" ("Dhadkan") in "Aankhen band kar ke"?

Himesh Reshamiyya's music has fallen into a set pattern. The ballads have the two main voices crooning seductively while a skilled voice, which should be at the foreground not the background, eggs on the lovers' laments. The formula sounds frozen in this disappointing album.

Udit Narayan-Alka Yagnik's two ballads "Woh tassavvur" and "Nazar aa raha hai" have nothing new to offer.

The more smouldering tracks like "Aitraaz: I want to make love to you", which comes in three separate versions, try to pump up the passion with lyrics like "Touch me baby, kiss me baby..." But isn't that a little excessive?

Adnan Sami-Sunidhi's "Geela geela" is more breathy than erotic. KK and

Alisha Chinai whip up a more foamy feeling in "Yeh dil tumpe aa gaya". But that's because of the kind of singers they are. Extremely peppy and pulsating. The album gives a fulsome look because many tracks are repeated in remix versions.

But after the last blizzard of beats dies down you feel you've been there, heard it all. Not a great soundtrack, nowhere near Reshammiya's "Tere Naam" last year. But it's as good as what he did for directors Abbas-Mustan's "Humraaz" in 2002.

Himesh Reshammiya made the whole world dance to his songs, 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne (Aashiq Banaya Aapne)', 'Jhalak Dikhlaja (Aksar)' and 'Tera Saroor (album: Tera Saroor)'. He is like a fire these days amongst the cinegoers and listeners, not only in the country but across the globe.

His singing talent has been approved like his compositions. All love to listen him now. Filmmakers and music companies are running after him since he is considered to be the success of every project, he gets attached with.

Now this singer is back with yet another foot-tapping sensational track "Jhoom Jhoom" for Oracle Entertainment's 'Tom Dick and Harry' - Deepak Tijori directs the movie. Himesh has sung the track and will also be starring in the video along with, Dino Morea, Anuuj Sawhney, Jimmy Shergill, Celina Jaitley and Kim Sharma. Recently the video has been shot with Himesh where he wore his lucky attire with cap, which he has worn in his earlier videos.

Himesh has given the music for this track and also scored the composition for the whole film. This romantic comedy features Dino Morea, Anuj Saawhney, Jimmy Shergill, Celina Jaitley, Kim Sharma, Shakti Kapoor, Avtar Gill, Kunika, Rakesh Bedi and Gulshan Grover and will hit the theaters in April, 2006. Now with Himesh on singing and music, Deepak Tijori has won the half battle already. Makers and the music company are vividly seeing huge sales from the music stands and for the film at the box office.

Music interview: Himesh Reshamiya

“I believe in using pure Raags”

Today he is among the most popular of composers in Hindi films though still relatively new. He has proved that he has a certain flair for composing which is above the average.

His big break came with a big bang   in the David Dhawan film ‘Dulhan hum le jayenge’ produced by Baba Films; and Himesh Reshamiya feels that the years he’s wasted for the right break have been more than justified.

He comes from a music background has learnt music from his father Vipin Reshamiya and imbibed both the traditional classical culture along with the happening rhythms of today. But though Himesh felt in his bones that he was made for a musical career he waited for the right opportunity rather than do just anything.  It was Salman Khan who offered him a break in his film ‘Pyar kiya to darna kya’ and again in ‘Hello brother’.

In both he did two songs each which became very popular- viz ‘Odhli chunariya’ and ‘Hatke’ were on everyone’s lips and hearing them producer Gordhan Tanwani offered him his first solo assignment in ‘Dulhan hum Le Jayenge’. And all the 8 songs of the film are so catchy and so melodious that Himesh feels it's a foregone conclusion that his career in music has started off.

He’s already signed half a dozen more films two with Times music one with Mahesh Manjrekar among others. He says with great earnestness, “I think I’m one of the best composers today. Because I’ve a great feel for melody as well as today’s sound which not too many people have. My father worked with Laxmikant-Pyarelal and I’ve imbibed their magnificent understanding of orchestration I’Ve loved the work of Madan Mohan and Shankar Jaikishan and today that of AR Rahman but I’ve got my own sound. Plus I think music composition is God’s gift-I’ve got a bank of 300 tunes already I compose so much. I work each day.”

Himesh is also producer of TV serials like Andaz, aashique, Amar Prem etc and he keeps both the diverse occupations going with great felicity. Now listeners can look forward to some youthful music   Today Reshamiya seems to be the most popular composers among the new ones-he has   some half dozen films on release two of which Dil Maange More and Vaada are creating a ripple at the music stations. Aitraaz, which has already released also showcases his works very positively.

How is Aitraaz a milestone for you?

It was ambitious for me working with Subhash Ghai. It was a haunting story where music had to be very good. We had to work on the situations-every song has it’s own situation as well as audio value ‘aankhen band karke’ has done very well. But the other numbers are also doing well.

Your kind of music?

Any music, which is soulful and the orchestration is very up market and trendy. That whole blend is my kind of music. I believe in using pure Raags. I have learnt from my father at the age of 13.

Dil maange more seems different?

Dil maange more is doing extremely well-we have all the ingredients for foot tapping music- Shahid kapur 3 girls-the whole track is absolutely foot tapping-at the same time it is not simplified-there is a very retro rock and roll kind of song, you have two romantic numbers- ‘aisa dewwana hua’ is one. There is a different kind of title track. The entire groove is very different.

The youth will identify with it-in fact it is selling well its number 5 on the charts currently.

I have been working with Sameer quite a bit after the stupendous success of Tere naam, In the last few years despite the crisis the industry is facing Tere naam is still selling long after it’s release and there are still paid promos being shown, It has broken all records in the last two years.

Next in the pipeline?

I’ve done Vaada with Satish Kaushik- and it’s really selling. The song ‘woh ladki nahin zindagi meri’

I’ve some 15 films- Milenge milenge for Boney Kapoor- this film has 8 lovely numbers, which are my personal favorites. I am doing a film with Priyadarshan. Another with David Dhawan another with Harry Baweja titled ‘Main aisa hi hoon’

Music industry has become very competitive but if you do well you are doing well. Tere naam has proved that despite the piracy etc music can sell. So we have to work harder. I am trying to do that.

Earlier if you sold 30 lakhs it was a hit-today if you sell 5 lakh albums, its super hit. So the music industry is going through a crisis.  Aitraaz we have crossed 7 lakhs and Tere naam 70 lakhs.

Santosh Andhale

Tough as it is to explain, Himesh Reshammiya and his nasal twang have registered a few more fans. A majority of the former bar girls say, whenever they return to the bar dance floor, they would prefer to sway to Reshammiya’s songs. And the song has to be: ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’.

“We have been practising dancing on his songs in the privacy of our rooms,” said a bar girl, adding with a smile, “Now that the ban has been lifted, we can take it to the dance floor. I’m sure just about every bar in the city will soon be rocking with Reshammiya’s numbers.”

For four months, Fareeda, a bar girl from Ghatkopar’s Ramabai Colony, said they had only been waiting. With a childish excitement, she added, “We are all planning to start our rehearsals again. We will be back in demand. We will be dancing again.”

Once the dances were banned, waiters at a bar complained, orchestras were reduced to playing melancholic songs demanded by patrons. “Who wants to listen to mohammad  Rafi and Mukesh nowadays? You can’t dance to them,” said a bar girl from Grant Road.

Everyone seems to concur. A Ramesh, a disk jockey who works in Ocean Bar in Mumbai Central, grumbled customers were forcing him to play old songs. He said, once the dancing resumes, “new songs would be back as well. I’ll enjoy it more.”

“Reshammiya’s songs are fun and cheerful. Now that the gloom has lifted, we will be back singing livelier songs,” said the girl from Grant Road. Now that would, indeed, be music to Reshammiya’s ears.

Himesh Reshammiya

Watch and listen to the exclusive interview with Bollywood rock star Himesh Reshammiya.

• Watch the Interview

When I switch on the TV..I see a guy singing with tears in his eyes, heavy beard and wearing cap….when I change the channel..I see the same guy singing around the girls…when I switch to another channel, I see the same guy dancing with Emraan Hashmi, Dino Morea and Udita Goswami…

Car tapes are silent without his songs, parties are not complete without his dance tracks…

Talking about the Sings, Music Director Himesh Reshammiya.in his early days he used to  look like some sad person with no tears on his face but now he looks more of serious but always with tears in his eyes..(I have no idea why he is shown in tears in most of his songs) but whatever it is, his songs are on lips of every youngster…

I am not saying this because his songs are being played all the time on TV..but I have noticed it all the time…couple of youngsters stay in my society..I always see them playing his songs (The new album)….I had gone to a party few days back…and the songs from the movie Aksar made everyone dance like anything…(Music was by him)….ofcourse there were other songs too but compared to other music director more of his songs are being played everywhere…

I have never noticed any music director giving hits one after another...Hats off to him….I take my words back after watching his recent new songs, the songs are very similar to his old songs, just minor changes in the tunes…if he is going to continue like this..then…I don’t see any chance of being on top…. 

• Author : Deep

History repeats. Mithun-Bappi and Salmaan-Himesh

There is an article in todays Maharashtra Times, Mumbai about Himesh.As they have mentioned, Himesh is following BAppi Lahiri’s path. Mithun- Bappi jodi was a big hit in Mithun’s career. Bappida started by lifting the music from some English pop songs. Then he entered the disco style e.g. Disco dancer, Dance dance, Rck dancer, Kasam Paida Karne Waale Ki etc. All gr8 Mithun hits. Also he was famous for his cloths and accessories, industry people call him ‘SONE KI KHAN’.

Similar to Bappida, Himesh started off with Sallu’s Auzar. the song was ‘Aarre baba aarre baba karke diwana..’ and the music was from ‘Macarena’. Then he gave some soft music in Salmaan’s next ‘Pya kiya to darna kya’ e.g. ‘Odhali chunariya’. then again his biggest hit was ‘Tere naam’. guys remove the song from the flick and then imagine it. That’s how much the music helped the film. When critics said that Himesh can only do Indian music, he came with ‘Nikamma’ and ‘Just chill’ tracks. All SALMAAN KHAN hits. Then he came with that beard in ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ . Again a movie which had only music as USP ( if u ignore the lead actress). Like Bappida he also has trademark cloths and accessories.

We have all heard him.

Himesh Reshammiya is everywhere: playing inside every auto-rickshaw, dominating a dance floor, and constantly on all movie channels. There are videos, usually featuring Emraan Hashmi, set to an increasingly generic blend of Reshammiya's uniquely nasal voice and thumpingly aggressive beats.

The first time around, his song kinda grew on us. It was, for lack of another vague word, 'different.'

But the hits continue, relentlessly. The absurd crooning now features in virtually every Bollywood release. Are we bored yet?

Give us your verdict: Have you had enough of Himesh Reshammiya?