One is not sure what to expect from the music of an espionage thriller but since two of Robby Grewal’s films (‘MP3 – Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar’ (2007) and ‘Aloo Chaat’ (2009) ) had a few decent songs and the fact that ‘Romeo Akbar Walter’ (2019) has some credible names like Sohail Sen and Ankit Tiwari attached to it, one has decent expectations from the music of the film. One does not expect a film of this nature to have minimal scope for music but to one’s surprise there are as many as five original songs.
The album opens with “Bulleya”, which is also the best track out of the five. Rabbi Sheirgill, whose voice is heard very scarcely in both Bollywood and the pop circuit despite giving several memorable numbers in both domains, sings this song with gusto. Interestingly, Rabbi also makes an appearance in this song as a singer. Sohail Sen puts together a vastly engaging tune that you would find yourself humming long after you finish listening to the song. The lyrics by Ashok Punjabi are very impressive too.
Sonu Nigam seems to be the obvious choice to sing patriotic numbers. Though the singer, arguably one of the best in the country, has proved his versatility time and again, he seemed to be brought on board to render only a certain kind of songs these days. While Shabbir Ahmed is a well-known lyricist, this is probably the first time he is composing music for a film. While the composition and the lyrics are nice, Sonu’s singing and the orchestral arrangements are the most prominent factors in “Vande Mataram”.
Composer duo Raaj-Aashoo has been in the industry for a while but have not really managed to make a mark for themselves. “Jee Len De” is definitely a song that they ought to be proud of. This Mohit Chauhan sung number has a good mix of romance and sensuality and has a distinctive calm vibe to it. The song has been arranged very well, with a particular acoustic guitar piece (1:23) making a lasting impression. Hear this song while unwinding after a hard day at work.
The opening lines of “Allah Hoo Allah” make it sound like a contemporary Pakistan pop inspired song but soon, you discover that it is really a qawalli. Though multiple singers have been credited for the song, it is Sameer Khan who leads the show here. His rendition is one of the several factors that make this song highly listenable. While the arrangements are largely traditional, there is a hint of electric guitar and pads played in the background. Shabbir Ahmed, the lyricist, outshines the composer here. The lyrics are truly extraordinary.
The title “Maa” itself explains what one should expect from the song. Ankit Tiwari puts together a simple yet immersive tune which manages to tug at your heartstrings. Prince Dubey’s words, too, are simple and heartfelt. This song is a testimony to the fact that when guided by the right director, Ankit Tiwari can push his boundaries and come up with a fresh tune and not recreate something that sounds like a rehashed version of his earlier hits.
The music of ‘Romeo Akbar Walter’ delivers more than one had expected from it. Each and every track leaves a good impression with a few like “Bulleya” shining more prominently. This is a good album which should have been promoted more aggressively.
Rating: 3.5/5
