Music Review: Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

By Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Hungama News Network

2 years back when Khosla Ka Ghosla had released, not many had a clue of what exactly the film was all about. To everyone's pleasant surprise, the film went on to become a success and a new director was introduced - Dibakar Banerjee. Spinning a tale revolving around middle class people, he now comes up with Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (OLLO) which is backed by UTV, the company which had also taken over Khosla Ka Ghosla.

Title song 'Oye Lucky' is a kind of number which will sooner or later find itself soaring high on the popularity charts. A hardcore Punjabi number which is attached to the roots and has a rustic feel to it, it is sung by Mika Singh who seems to be clearly enjoying himself completely while rendering this one. Written by Dibakar Banerjee, Manu Rishi and Kanu Behl, this one is a racy number that can be played in marriage processions and discotheques alike (courtesy the 'remix version') and is easily the flagship number of OLLO. If 'Chak De Phatte' was a hugely popular number in Khosla Ka Ghosla, then chances are high that with good promotion and long run of the film, 'Oye Lucky' too wouldn't be far behind.

Since OLLO is an unconventional film, the music too is expected to be on the same lines. While there are multiple lyricists associated with the project, there is a sole composer attached to OLLO - Sneha Khanwalkar - who had composed a few songs in Ram Gopal Varma's last year release GO.

If Singh Is Kinng was said to be predominantly a Punjabi album then listen to Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! - this one too follows an out and out Punjabi flavor. One look at 'Jugni' and you pretty much know what to expect from the rest of the album. Sung by Des Raj Lachkani & Party, 'Jugni' is rooted in Punjabi but is coated with Western arrangements to cater to a wider audience. A sort of number which is expected to play in the background to spice up the narrative, 'Jugni', written by Rishi and Kanu Behl, would be easily identifiable by those who understand Punjabi while for the rest, it would act as a racy dance outing by means of the 'remix version'.

From Punjab, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! moves to Rajasthan with the desert folk flavor being the feel of 'Tu Raja Ki Raj Dulari'. It is difficult to comprehend the meaning of this number which is sung by Rajbir who seems to be a teenage boy. Yet another background piece, as is the case for the entire soundtrack, 'Tu Raja Ki Raj Dulari' would be understandable mainly when seen in the film's context. Written by Mange Ram, the song been given a slightly Western touch through means of arrangements by Sneha Khanwalkar.

You can find your feet tapping the moment 'Superchor' begins. Though the title has been titled 'Superchor', the number has this aspect only in the background with the protagonist mainly talking about the love of his life. Yet another hardcore Punjabi number which is written by Dibakar Banerjee & Amitosh Nagpal, and also has a Punjabi rap thrown in for good measure, 'Superchor', sung by Dilbahar, is as good as the title song 'Oye Lucky' and is pretty much identifiable. This one should be a riot if picturised well because yet again, one can expect a middle class setting (note the words - 'Odi Kothi Sector Chaar') to keep things 'real' on screen.

Dibakar Banerjee and Amitosh Nagpal come together once again for 'Hooriyaan', a celebration number which is sung by Brijesh Shandilya and Himani Kapoor. Expect a marriage procession when this number is played, since it has the kind of flavor which is associated with typical North Indian celebrations. Some vibrant choreography would only help the song to grow further.

OLLO is a kind of album which takes its own time to find an audience for itself. Though on the face value it has a restricted appeal due to rooted Punjabi flavor to it, it has very good chances to grow provided the film turns out to be successful at the box office and the makers/music company promotes it to the fullest. Dibakar Banerjee must indeed be a happy man because while Khosla Ka Ghosla had just one chartbuster track ('Chak De Phatte') to its credit, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! has at least 2-3 tracks ('Oye Lucky', 'Jugni', 'Superchor') which have potential to be successful.