Songs and credits at the end.
This review first appeared in the Mumbai edition of The Hindu.
Owing to the movie’s setting, Happy Bhag Jayegi had a predominantly Punjabi flavoured soundtrack, with the occasional melodic piece digressing from the theme. In Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, the makers seem to have dialled up the Punjabi quotient, insomuch that even the old Bollywood song recreation (well of course it has one, it is 2018 Bollywood!) – O P Nayyar – Qamar Jalalabadi – Geeta Dutt’s 1958 classic Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu, is a Punjabicised one. While a musical representation of the Chinese-meets-Punjabi theme is a smart idea, the adaptation itself is forgettable. Handling the vocals here are the movie’s lead cast members Sonakshi Sinha and Jassie Gill. Swag Saha Nahi Jaaye too traces its origin to a Punjabi folk song (Sarke Sarke Jandiye) though the Swag Saha Nahi Jaaye line is quite likely a nod to Roop Saha Nahi Jaaye from O P Nayyar-Sahir Ludhianvi’s Naya Daur song Reshmi Salwar, based on the same tune (thanks to Rujul and Nitesh for these trivia). Entertaining song, despite the familiarity, largely courtesy the singing by Shadab Faridi and Neha Bhasin.
The title song is where the composer makes a link to the first movie, reusing an instrumental motif from Happy Oye. The song isn’t half as engaging as the latter though, despite Daler Mehndi and Harshdeep Kaur doing vocal honours (am I the only one who felt fleeting references to Dada Burman’s Hothon Pe Aisi Baat in the percussion during the interludes?!). It is in the two completely new tracks that Sohail Sen produces his best work for the soundtrack. While Kudiye Ni Tere once again has Punjabi-infused lines, the tune and arrangement take a different route to produce refreshing results. The only drawback is Udit Narayan leading the vocals – while I do truly miss his voice these days, he sounds almost weary at times here. Shivangi Bhayana does well though, chipping in occasionally. Koi Gal Nai is where everything comes together just fine – the composer’s groovy electronic packaging of a folksy tune (sort of takes me back to Amit T’s spectacular Motorwaada, this one) works splendidly. While Shahid Mallya and Piyush Mishra (also acting in the film) deliver the melody, with a fine chorus to boot, lyricist Mudassar Aziz does an interesting cameo as rapper in the second half.
As evidenced by the last two songs, composer Sohail Sen clearly does still have good music to offer, but his work in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi would in its entirety rate lower than its predecessor.
Music Aloud Rating: 2.5/5
Top Recos: Koi Gal Nai, Swag Saha Nahi Jaaye, Kudiye Ni Tere
Musician credits
1) Swag Saha Nahi Jaye
Singers: Sohail Sen, Shadab Faridi & Neha Bhasin
Backing Vocals: Shivangi Bhayana
Music: Sohail Sen
Lyrics: Mudassar Aziz
Programming By: Sohail Sen, DJ Phukan & Aditya Dev
Tablas: Sanjeev Sen
Dholaks: Raju Sardar, Yusuf, Hafiz Khan
Dhols: Anil Solanki & Deepak Solanki
Percussion: Pratap
Recorded At: Empire studio by Mani
Mixed & Mastered By: Eric Pillai @ future song of Bombay
Assistant Mix & Master: Michael Edwin Pillai
Music Coordinator: Ramanand Shetty
2) Kudiye Ni Tere
Singers: Udit Narayan & Shivangi Bhayana
Music: Sohail Sen
Lyrics: Mudassar Aziz
Programming By: Sohail Sen & Nishad Bhatt
Live Rhythm Arrangement: Sameer Sen
Tablas: Sanjeev Sen
Dholaks: Raju Sardar, Yusuf, Hafiz Khan
Percussion: Pratap
Mandolin: Chandrakant Lakshpati
Guitars: Abhilash Phukan
Recorded At: Empire Studio by Mani
Mixed & Mastered By: Eric Pillai @ future song of Bombay
Assitant Mix & Master: Michael Edwin Pillai
Music Coodinator: Ramanand Shety
3) Koi Gal Nai
Singers: Singers: Shahid Mallaya & Piyush Mishra
Rap: Mudassar Aziz
Music: Sohail Sen
Lyrics: Mudassar Aziz
Programming By: Sohail Sen, Aditya Dev, Nishad Bhatt
Guitars: Abhilash Phukan
Recorded At: Empire Studio by Mani
Mixed & Mastered By: Eric Pillai @ future song of Bombay
Assistant Mix & Master: Michael Edwin Pillai
Music Coordinator: Ramanand Shetty
4) Happy Bhag Jayegi (Title Song)
Singers: Daler Mehndi & Harshdeep Kaur
Backing vocals: Suvarna Tiwari
Music: Sohail Sen
Lyrics: Mudassar Aziz
Programming By: Sohail Sen
Live Rhythm Arrangement: Sameer Sen
Tablas: Sanjeev Sen
Mouth Percussion: Sohail Sen
Dhol: Iqbal and Iqbal
Guitars: Abhilash Phukan
Percussion: Pratap
Recorded At: Empire studio by Mani
Mixed & Mastered By: Eric Pillai & fuure song of Bombay
Assistant Mix & Master: Micheal Edwin Pillai
Music Coordinator: Ramanand Shetty
5) Chin Chin Chu
Music: Sohail Sen
Lyrics: Mudassar Aziz
Singers: Jassie Gill and Sonakshi Sinha
Rap: Mudassar Aziz
Programming By: Sohail Sen and Nishad Bhatt
Tablas: Sanjeev Sen
Dhols: Iqbal and Iqbal
Recorded At: YRF studio by Shantanu Hudlikar
Mandolin: Chandrakant Lakshpati
Guitars: Abhilasha Phukan
Percussion: Pratap Mixed and Mastered By Eric Pillai @ Future Song of Bombay
Assistant Mix and Master By: Michael Edwin Pillai
Music Co-ordinator: Ramanand Shetty
Original Song Credits:
Singer: Geeta Dutt
Music Director: O.P Nayyar
Lyricist: Qamar Jalalabadi
Movie: Howrah Bridge
