Music Review: Bombay Velvet

Written By Devesh Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor
Posted Wed, May 6, 2015

Music: Amit Trivedi

Label: Zee Music
Back in the ’60s, Mumbai, or Bombay as it was known then, had a swinging jazz scene – or so director Anurag Kashyap or composer Amit Trivedi would have us believe. The film reportedly revolves around a nightclub and hence we are treated to a bouquet of 14 compositions, 15, actually, if you count Fifi, composed by Mikey McCleary. 

Amit allegedly worked for six years on the score and utilised the services of Prague based musicians and programmers to bring in the authentic jazz sounds. So the celli, trombones, violins, accordion, clarinet, saxophones, trumpets, not to mention the thumping brass section and the drums and percussion were played by master musicians and not put together on a synthesiser.  The result is a glorious amalgamation of sound that rolls over you, song after song, like waves and makes you hit that repeat button time and again. Kudos to Amitabh Bhattacharya too, who has tried to write about loss and suffering and life’s little tragedies in a style reminiscent of the jazz and blues lyrics.

It’s a coming-of-age album for Neeti Mohan, what with six songs to her credit. One can see that she grows more confident with each offering, her hesitance leading to joy as she opens up both her lungs and her soul to come alive as a fully throated jazz singer. Her first outing in the album is the monologue Mohabbat buri bimari.

This conversation piece has the singer waxing on the fickle nature of love. Neeti’s version is a flirty little piece; she keeps to the tune mostly and does an improv towards the end. Shefali Alvarez’s version is a more vibrant rendition. It reminds one of smoke -filled speakeasies, where crooners belted out their sorrows, as the regulars drank to the rhythm. Shalmali Kholgade also has given her take, in a version remixed by Mikey McCleary. Though it’s pleasant to hear, one questions the need for it, as Amit Trivedi’s two versions are better than Mikey’s.


Ka kha ga, is a true blues number, where Neeti sings about falling in love. It’s got a bounce and the singer provides an effortless rendition. Dim the lights listen to it on loop and let the rhythm overtake you. She lets herself go in Dhadam dhadam, the sad cadence is in keeping with the tragic nature of the song. The sax, trumpets and strings combined with her perfect singing transport you to another era. Naak pe gussa, is an upbeat, flirty number, where the club singer speaks fondly of her beau’s hot temper.

Neeti’s rendition is in keeping with the nature of the song, she gently chides her lover for his temper, teasing him into submission. Sylvia is a Can Can number but speaks about a girl who likes a little bit of fun on the side. The contrasting nature of the lyrics and the music turns it into a nice cabaret number. Behroopiya, the only modern number of the whole lot, is a duet by Neeti and Mohit Chauhan. It’s an okay song, perhaps the only weak spot in the album. It jars because it doesn’t gel with the other compositions and the finesse found in the other pieces is missing as well.

read more: http://www.filmfare.com/reviews/music-review-bombay-velvet-9113.html