Party Chale On from Race 3 (Hindi)
Who is the only actor to be featured in all 3 Race films?
Answer: Anil Kapoor, of course.
The actor who features in Race 2 and Race 3, but with different character names?
Answer: Jacqueline Fernandez.
Jacqueline was also part of arguably the catchiest song of the franchise, Race 2's Lat Lag Gayee. In the new single from Race 3, helpfully titled, 'Party Chale On', she gets to dance with her new Race'ing colleagues in a song that has the same fluff and ebullience of Lat Lag Gayee. But, beyond that sound, Vicky-Hardik's song is hardly a patch on Pritam's song from Race 2.
Ab Dil Zara Zara (Hindi)
Composer Yug Bhusal, who produced a fantastic soundtrack for the Marathi film Chitrafit – 3.0 Megapixel in 2015 has been dabbling with some middling music since then, including unknown films like My Friend's Dulhania. His last non-film song featuring singer Devika Bandana, in 2017, Bas Tera Naam, was a sorry affair. But the man bounces back with his new song featuring Devika again – Ab Dil Zara Zara. The most interesting aspect of the song is the way it strongly reminds one of Ilayaraja's music, a trait that was also very, very prominent in Chitrafit – 3.0 Megapixel's standout song, Ye Dil Madmast Malanga. In fact, you could recall Paa's Mudhi Mudhi Ittefaq Se too while listening to Ab Dil Zara Zara.
O Cheli Thaara from Sammohanam (Telugu)
Moving South, the upcoming Telugu film Sammohanam's music seems to be a winner, going by the 2 singles released so far, and the 3rd single that dropped last week. O Cheli Thaara, sung by Haricharan, is a lush melody that pulls you in, particularly in the anupallavi. Vivek's work in the interludes, featuring violins and what sounds like mandolin and oboe, deserve a special mention.
Nee Yaaro Nanage from Amma I Love You (Kannada)
From the Kannada film industry, the song to listen to, this week is Nee Yaaro Nanage, from the film Amma I Love You. Sung by Mahalakshmi Iyer and Santhosh Venky, the song (and soundtrack) marks the comeback of veteran composer Gurukiran. What works easily in the song's favor is the rich Brindavana Saranaga raaga base that makes it immediately likeable.
Azhake Azhake from Neiraali (Malayalam)
To close this week's round-up, we have a Malayalam song sung by none other than Mohanlal! His upcoming film Neiraali (or Neerali) has music by Stephen Devassy, a vastly underrated composer who seems disappointingly less utilized despite enormous talent. His last soundtrack, in 2013, called KQ, was phenomenal. Thankfully, he is on better footing with a Mohanlal starrer, 5 years later. Azhake Azhake, the song he gives Mohanlal, is a beautiful and indulgent melody that the veteran star handles mighty well! The song has 3 versions in the soundtrack – a solo each by Mohanlal and Shreya Ghoshal (who, as always, is in stellar form), and a duet.