Cocktail Music Review

After Love Aaj Kal and Agent Vinod music director Pritam Chakraborty marks his third venture as a composer in Saif Ali Khan's home production Cocktail. This album is heady and has a folksy Punjabi flavor with some experiments.

1.Tumhi Ho Bandhu

The album begins with the song Tum Hi Ho Bandhu sung by Neeraj Shreedhar and Kavita Seth.. it is fast becoming an anthem for youngsters. It's a peppy club number with fast beats. Both Neeraj and Kavita have sung the song with a lot of zest. This funky track is brilliant combination of trance and electronic rhythmical beat patterns and delivers some quality display of electronic keyboards, thumping percussive moves and distorted electronic guitar riffs.

Irshad Kamil's lyrics take a bow to the Prayer and Pritam has made fine use of the old classic (''Tumhi Ho Bandhu Sakha Tumhi'' from Main Chup Rahungi- 1962). This one is going to be a hit amongst young club going crowd. A typical peppy Pritam number this one.

2. Daaru Desi

Daaru Desi is the next song in the album and as the title suggests is a fun number. It takes time to get used to this number. The strumming of the guitar in the beginning catches your attention. The song grows on you after repetitive listening. The lyrics catch your attention only after repeated hearings. Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade's vocals further accentuate the playful mood of the song.

This Pritam composed track has synchronized Spanish acoustic guitar riffs. Even the lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya are very different.

3. Second Hand Jawaani

The album moves forward with the song Second Hand Jawani. A garish song rendered by Neha Kakkar, Nakash Aziz and Miss Pooja it is gaudy and has the typical qawwali flavor to it. . Amitabh Bhattacharya's lyrics are fun to listen to. Pritam has blended a local Punjabi folk number with a lot of western and drum beats. After certain time you get tired of listening to this loud and garish number.

4. Tera Naam Japdi Phiran

Tera Naam Japdi Phiran is a Punjabi-Hinglish number sung by Javed Bashir along with Shefali Alvaris and Nikhil D'souza. It's another peppy club track with a lot of DJ claps. Javed Bashir's husky voice takes it to another level. Pritam has used a lot of Arabian and African beats with bhangra beats. The singers give the song a very earthy feel.

There is also a 'reprise version' of the same song with the same team. They are very similar and hopefully the script would unravel the need for the two versions with deliriously loud peppy friendly feel and another one is a sad romantic one.

5. Jugni

The song begins with the soft piano notes and later the song goes on a high pitch. Arif Lohar and Harshdeep Kaur sing this traditional Punjabi track with western beats. The music and the lyrics are soulful and heart rendering and Arif and Harshdeep bring out the pain and emotions to a high with this song. It's a very rustic and earthy number.

6. Luttna

Lutna follows the same mood as the previous song in a similar style. Sung by Masuma Anwar, Sahir Ali Bagga and Anupam Amod this sufi-qawallish number t makes an apt song lending to the romantic theme of the film. Pritam has tried to experiment with the choice of instruments and different sounds. Again a song with a Punjabi flavor. Very similar to 'Chakna Chakna' song from Namastey London. The lyrics are meaningful and will have a repeat value. Guitar and the drums in the background gives the song a life. The song also has a reprise version which is sung by the same team.

7. Main Sharaabi

Main Sharaabi beings in a very qawwalish style but takes over the form of a fun number. This song hooks you on in the very first listening. One can sense that Saif Ali Khan and Pritam had sheer chartbusters in mind as they. This one is going to be a hit as a club number. With Imran Aziz Mian and Yo Yo Honey Singh coming together, this is one song that should be a part of the film's promotional plans soon. A definite Chartbuster this number is sure to go places.

8. Yaariyan

After a lot of peppy numbers Yaariyan comes as a soft romantic number. This one is a surprise package

of the entire album. Mohan Kannan grooves in this husky number bringing out the heart break in a soulful cry. The song begins with a soothing number begins with electronic distorted guitar riffs blended with the drums and chorals. Pritam's experimentation will not go unnoticed with this album. All in all a very impressive number.

Yaariyan reprise number is also another soft-serene number. The traqnquil number along with the piano and acoustic guitar riffs in the background gives it a very serene feel. Sunidhi Chauhan is simply superb and Arijit Singh's classical 'alaaps' in varying pitches adds to the pathos.

Overall, an impressive album by Pritam. The title track Cocktail, Tum Hi Ho Bandhu and Daaru Desi are definitely going to be chartbusters and will be popular club numbers. Irshad Kamil's lyrics are very impressive.