By Hindustan Times
Pritam was hit with several allegations of plagiarism lately. With Barfi!, the music director hits back at critics with a vengeance throughout the soundtrack that has eight numbers. It's vintage Pritam at his best.
The album kicks off with the title track Barfi! with the sound of whistles greeting the listener. The song has an overly English charm and has Mohit Chauhan behind the mike. He provides a gentle and soulful begin to the number, bringing a grin on. Its peppy yet simple beats are a complete delight, while the lyrics bring out the naughtiness of Ranbir's character within the movie.
There is another version of the song Ala Barfi!. Crooned by Swanand Kirkire, it is a bit different from the unique and has more take care of the vocals. It's paying homage to Kishore Kumar's quirky melodies of yesteryears.
Next up is Main kya karoon, a romantic track penned by Ashish Pandit and crooned by the melodious Nikhil Paul George. The song recalls the passion of young romance and the tune may be very new age with an overly soft feel. However, it's the singer who steals the show here and makes you fall in love with the song.
Assam's poster boy in Bollywood, Papon, takes you back in time with the old fashioned Kyon, penned by Neelesh Mishra. The sound again could be very mellow. It's unusual in its feel and is Papon's show all of the way. His raw voice is impeccable, but he also gets good support from Sunidhi Chauhan within the vocals, making the track a very good composition.
It is followed by Aashiyan, which has an excessively Spanish feel to it with superb use of flute and other instruments. It is a very sweet song with a mesmerising composition by Pritam. The voices of Shreya Ghoshal and Nikhil Paul George blend oh-so-well to create the very best mood.
Next at the playlist is Sawaali Raat. It has a whispery tone and is something you surely haven't heard in a very very long time. With its romantic undertones, the song is exclusive and it's hard to mention whether it is a lullaby or something else. Arijit Singh of Raabta fame simply bowls you over together with his harmonious voice making you set this track on loop.
Rounding up the album is Phir le aya dil. Singer Rekha Bhardwaj lends her distinct voice to the number, which makes its option to your heart. The composition is nice with the interplay of piano and guitar, laced with Indian sounds. Pritam deserves all of the kudos for composing this sort of wonderful song.
It also has a reprise version by Arijit Singh. It's as pleasant because the original but has a more ghazal feel to it. There are different moods here - from time to time an Indian feel with the tabla and in some intervals, a jazz feel with the piano. However, it's the singer who sets the mood right by making a captivating experience for the listener together with his profound voice.
Overall, the soundtrack is a joyride sans flaws. Pritam has given many hits, but like his tunes in Life... in a Metro, this one could be remembered for breaking the monotony in his sound. There aren't any foot-tapping numbers or remixes here, however the simplicity that makes this album a winner.
