Vishal-Shekhar never make boring music. They might make a mediocre tune or something that’s not immediately catchy. But within the ambit of Hindi film music, where freshness is hard to come by, they regularly try different genres and use unusual arrangements to squeeze something new out of the classic Hindi film song situation.
Two out of three songs in Vishal-Shekhar’s Khaali Peeli soundtrack demonstrate the composers’ zeal to innovate. Both Tehas Nehas and Shana Dil belong to the same groove: a criss-cross of blues, R&B, and loungy synths. In both songs, the lyrics and singing balance the gruffness of the vagrant with the confidence of a Don Juan.
This is best experienced in Shana Dil, where Divya Kumar, known for his rustic folksy style, sings like the very funky Benny Dayal. Does it work? Depends on the listener, but at least the composers tried something…