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 The young man behind the successful music of Kabul Express returns with a new sound and a whole new attitude in ONE TWO THREE. Raghav Sachar, who debuted as a film composer in 2006's Kabul Express and who recently guest composed the song 'Manzar' (Sunday) and released his latest album entitled Play It Loud, is back in fine form to deliver a set of tunes that will have your lips moving and body grooving.
Raghav, who is known for his immense talent as a musician, proves with ONE TWO THREE that he is going to introduce the nation to a new style of sound and a new age in groove melody. His will to break musical traditions and establish a more artistic commercial appeal with his work is solidified with this release. Raghav Sachar, put plain and simple, is the future of Indian Film Music - and it's a very bright one indeed! Raghav kicks off the album on a rocking note with One Two Three (Hip Hop). Just as the title suggests, the song belongs uniquely to the Indee hip-hop genre. Yet, as generic as the genre is, Sachar lines the beat with some heavy percussion, which gives the music its own personal touch. The rough n' tough arrangements, which remain a comforting constant throughout the song, are once again highlighted by Sachar's husky, yet catchy, melody - rendered by Kunal Ganjawala and Raghav himself. Raghav is the clear high-point in the rendition, since he plays a stunning double role as male and female vocalist. His stanza is slightly reminiscent of the melody in his previous song, Manzar, but the similarities end there. Moving on to the instrumental injections - the piece has been ignited beautifully with some great chemistry between the orchestral strings and the classical flute. The musical interim features a brief cameo of acoustic riffs, which are a welcome addition to the high-flying sounds and husky arrangements. Aditya Dhar's lyrics take a back seat to Raghav's musical and vocal performance, but they fill the mood nicely. Verdict: I think we'll be listening to this track more than ONE TWO THREE times. Excellent job once again Raghav! One Two Three (Ballad) is a 2:14 limited reprise of the title track, which slows the tempo down to a mildly paced ballad, while taking the title melody and elongating it. Rendered by the silky smooth vocals of Raghav, this track not only highlights a soothing acoustic rhythm that opposes the heavy arrangements heard before, but also showcases Aditya's Dhar's unconventional lyrics on how the most important things in life come free of charge. One Two Three (Amalgamation) is a fantastic medley of Indian genres including Indee hip-hop rendered by Kunal Ganjawala, Hip-Hop Bhangra rendered by Kaptaan Laadi, Semi-Classical/Ghazal rendered by Kshitij Tarey, Modern Punjabi Folk rendered by Kailash Kher, Indee-Northern Fusion rendered by Aditya Dhar, and once again heavy hip-hop by Raghav Sachar. It's easy to say that such an ambitious song has rarely been attempted by composers since it would be difficult to maintain a sense of blended continuity. However, Sachar incorporates all genres quite effectively, as they take you on a musical tour across the nation while fusing seamlessly together into one flavorful song! Refreshing! One Two Three (Club Mix) appears in an unprecedented fourth version! Credit to Sachar for giving us some fine reprisals before jumping straight into the required 'remix version,' which is what we finally have on our hands. Of course, since this is a Sachar composition - we should expect anything but the norm. Thankfully we're spared the regular classless and tasteless remix that seem to be peppered across every album these days. The remix tactfully harnesses the original groove and edge that was apparent in One Two Three (Hip Hop), yet we are introduced to a rhythmic deviant and some great instrumental interjections in the form of techno synths (leads and firewires) and an underlying acoustic guitar that provides a sense of naturalism, which is otherwise lacking in remixes. Verdict: A fantastic conclusion to a revitalizing composition.
Moving on to my personal favorite, Gup Chup deserves a standing ovation for its soul, class, and musical ingenuity. It seems as if Mahalaxmi Iyer is the forgotten treasure of the playback world. Raghav was wise enough to not overlook her unequalled vocal texture and cast her as the female lead in this romantic spectacle of sound. The soulful arrangements are lit with a beautiful introduction, while gracefully fusing into the full harmony, which is graciously laced with some table and dhols. Apart from hearing the acoustic guitar (which seems to be a re-appearing favorite of Raghav), we are also blessed by a couple of rarely heard instruments originating from both sides of the world - the Santoor and an instrumental cross between the Oboe and a breathy Tenor Sax. And as if the potpourri of sounds weren't enough, Raghav writes a gorgeous melody in the foreground for him and Mahalaxmi to render. Both the main melody and stanza maintain a sense of innocence and playfulness found in such a budding romance, penned perfectly by Aditya Dhar. Verdict: The best song of ONE TWO THREE is one that displays a penchant for melodic beauty and a sophisticated level of musical integrity. I Wanna Guy, rendered exquisitely well by Sunidhi Chauhan, displays Raghav's versatility as a composer. The number has a distinctive Latin flavor complete with Folk Guitar, Latin Shakers, Piano, and Alto Sax. The melody is idiosyncratically crafted to fit the genre as well. The song may take a few exposures to grow on you; but once it does, you'll come to realize the extra effort Sachar has put into consciously creating a different sounding song. The English lyrics seemed awkward at first, but those too will begin to grow on you. Verdict: Something tastefully different and fun from Raghav! Gup Chup (Remix) nicely re-wraps the original in an adrenaline pumping number this time rendered by Raghav and Shilpa Rao. Shilpa has proven over the past one year to be a ridiculously talented vocalist, and the streak continues once again here. Cherish this remix! ONE TWO THREE's edgy soundtrack says good-bye with a dialogue based theme number entitled Lakshmi Narayan. Undeserving of much review, the track is filled with character dialogues upon a steady beat and an electric/crunch guitar. Ladies and Gentleman, this 26 year old musician is here to stay! MDs like Vishal-Shekhar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and Pritam who have ruled the youth's music scene this decade now have a new contender in town. His musical vision and ear for creativity are what drive him to tread new territories in ONE TWO THREE. I'm here to tell you that this soundtrack has already won the hearts of critics, and is on its way to ruling the charts as well. Congratulations to Raghav Sachar for coming up with a different sound and a new identity in his sophomore attempt. We can only dream that our futures are as bright as yours. Keep 'em coming!
Aakash Gandhi is Managing Editor and Senior Writer of Planetbollywood.com. He also freelances with the Asian Variety Show at avstv.com.
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Those rocking beats mush on in the form of Rock Maahi. Up next is a fantastic club number that is heavy on the arrangements once again. The song is built upon the hip-hop base but maintains its individuality with various harmonic infusions. The number flourishes due to some sharp vocals by Raghav and Sunidhi Chauhan. I should point out that the extra low-octave layering applied to Chauhan's vocals bring an extra punch to her performance. That being said, the piece soars in terms of its melody. Sachar keeps the melodic structures simple, yet addictive, so there's no doubt that it will catch on at the clubs and discs. Dhar's lyrics, just like the melody, are uncomplicated and effective. Verdict: Easy club number to jive and groove to. Let's Rock Maahi!