"Punjabi rap overload sans Honey Singh/Badshah"

Anup Pandey

Music: AmitTrivedi
Lyrics: Shellee, Varun Grover, Late Shri Shiv Kumar Batalvi

1. ChittaVe

ChittaVe has strong hangover of AmitTrivedi's past works (I can particularly pinpoint Queen, Luv Shuv... and Shaandaarin this). But it seamlessly fits into this album's soundscape. BabuHaabi's grungy rap (who sounds like SurajJagan) and other trippy sounds grew to my liking after multiple listening.

 

2. Da DaDasse

This one takes the rap and EDM sound of the album forward. Given the Punjabi terrain of the film and the soundtrack, KanikaKapoor comes in as a right fit here. 

3. IkkKudi

Shiv Kumar Batalvi'snazmis re-imagined into an acoustic led contemporary composition, keeping the soul intact -- thanks to ShahidMallya's heartfelt rendition. Though Rabbi Shergill has set a high standard for this one, Trivedi adapts it into a more hummable tune. 

 

4. Ud-daa Punjab

This one's an out-and-out winner, musically as well as lyrically. The energy is infectious. Trivedi and Dadlanikeeps bouncing the ball to each other. While former grooves on a tuneful, latter raps and how! 

 

5. Hass Nach Le

ShahidMallya gets another one in this album -- a sufi -- and he is equally brilliant here too. At times it feels too neat for its own good... loss of some rustic charm;  but it is infused with enough soul.

 

6. Vadiya

Vadiya tries to resonate with the psyche of a drug consumed, lyrically too. Trivedi sets his vocals on a lounge-ish tune, then takes the electronica to ear-bleeding levels. Wish Trivedi had done some more experimentation here and not restricted to the average length of four minutes. 

7. IkkKudi - Reprised Version

The guitar sounds more bluesy here but it eventually grows into a full rock. Daljit sucks the soul out of it. The track exists purely as a marketing vehicle just because they have roped in an actor who's also a singer.

Trivedi has been dangerously treading the line between 'having one's stamp over the album' and 'repeating oneself' for quite some time now. His last Hindi film album this year -- Fitoor -- had one electronic track (Ranga Re) which I never warmed up to. Udta Punjab is largely electronic, yet it sounds different and unique to the album. So you know which side of the line Trivedi has fallen this time.

Ratings: 3.5/5