Naren's indie round-up/ Oct 2024, Ep 2


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Shekhar Ravjiani & Shreya Ghoshal/ Bas Kaafi Hai

Label: Garudaa Music 

Rating: ****

After collaborating on 'Vaari Vaari' late last year, singers Shekhar Ravjiani and Shreya Ghoshal team up on 'Bas Kaafi Hai'. Shekhar, known for his film music composing work with Vishal Dadlani, also creates this tune.

It's a simple love sung mostly as a duet in Hindi but with an uptempo English chorus at the middle and end. Manoj Yadav writes love-lorn lines like, "Ishq bole ya na bole kabhi, tere honton ki ik boli bhi, bas kaafi hai".

Manas Takle's video is simple, as it features the singers enjoying their song. Musically and on screen, they complement each other well.

Keshuv Huria & Prateeksha Srivastava/ Sitamber

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

Another love song comes from singer-composer Keshuv Huria, who teams up with singer Prateeksha Srivastava on 'Sitamber' (Hindi for September). From the title, it's obvious that the song has elements of nostalgia.

Keshuv and Prateeksha coordinate well, and the song has interesting metaphors. There are lines making reference to Raj and Simran of DDLJ, and Maratha Mandir. Another line goes, "Jaise panne ho kisi novel ke". And there's another that says, "Kissa hai hum tum ek love story mein".

Get the gist? Some peppy orchestration adds to the aura, and here's a cute number.

Last Minute India feat. Kuldeep Pattnaik/ Kaise

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

In contrast to the feel-good love songs above, here's one on how unreciprocated feelings can cause emotional turmoil. The quintet Last Minute India, along with singer Kuldeep Pattnaik and producer Swarup Chattopadhyay, release 'Kaise', a song on heartbreak.

Written by Subodh Gupta, the song talks of the difficulty of detaching from a past relationship. The words go well with the video, directed by Manthan Sharma. Featuring Diya Gupta and Nischay Mallik, it describes how a relationship changes. Rukshana Tabassum creates an apt storyline. The song is on the gloomy side, but it's something many people may identify with.

Alif/ Sher Dil

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Known for his Kashmiri music, singer-songwriter Mohammed Nazeem Nazir aka Alif now comes out with a Hindi rock ballad. Released on World Mental Health Day on October 10, 'Sher Dil', talks about how societal pressures and loneliness affect men.

The words are about how to handle insecurities and look at life with hope. The song has been produced by Aman Moroney, who chips in with some stylish guitars and synths too. Alif's voice has the right pathos.

The video, directed by Alif himself and featuring him and Shaheem Bhat, has a lot of shots of running. According to the singer, running can reduce anxiety and settle one's mind. It'll be good to jog your memory to that tip.

Vibha Saraf/ Habbakhatoon 3

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Also from Kashmir is singer Vibha Saraf, who has released the third part of her Habbakhatoon series, consisting of verse written by the 16th century poetess.

The first two songs were well-received, with the second using a mix of Hindi and Kashmiri. The new song comes as a prayer to the Almighty and revolves around the themes of death, love and surrender.

Avijeet Satapathy's production has simplicity. The piano has been used beautifully in the backdrop, and Vibha's voice has a wonderful air of serenity. The forthcoming video will have the translation, and one looks forward to that.





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