#91 Bombay Velvet: Top 100 Bollywood Albums

Music: Amit Trivedi

Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya, Majrooh Sultanpuri

Label: Zee Music Company

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Among all the Western musical genres that have influenced Bollywood music, jazz probably goes the longest back, on account of a large number of yesteryear music arrangers having been jazz musicians. Jazz flavoured songs have appeared in Hindi soundtracks from time to time (and if it interests you, here is an Apple Music playlist where I explore some jazz-influenced songs from Bollywood) – composer duo Shankar-Jaikishan even did an album called Raga Jazz Style in 1968 – but it wasn't until 2015 that a movie went the whole hog in presenting the genre. 

ALSO WATCH: TEAM BOMBAY VELVET | ADDA

Set in a time when jazz was all the rage in Bombay and with Anushka Sharma's central character modelled on yesteryear Goan singer Lorna Cordeiro, Bombay Velvet was indeed a perfect vehicle for such a homage. It was unfortunate that the movie did not do well, but composer Amit Trivedi delivered a brilliant retro score steeped in the genre. For the composer whose portfolio is largely made up of less-mainstream, experimental projects, this would rate right among the top in terms of offbeatness.

Best Song of Bombay Velvet: The top notch quality of Bombay Velvet's music was as much a result of Amit's work as it was of Amitabh Bhattacharya's words and some fabulous singing, mainly from Neeti Mohan and Shefali Alvares. Amit, Amitabh and Neeti's efforts came together in the most beautiful yet heart-crushing fashion in Dhadaam Dhadaam.

1. Fifi (Singer: Suman Sridhar)
2. Aam Hindustani (Singer: Shefali Alvares)
3. Mohobbat Buri Bimari (Version 1) (Singer: Shalmali Kholgade)
4. Mohabbat Buri Bimari (Version 2) (Singer: Neeti Mohan)
5. Mohabbat Buri Bimari (Version 3) (Singer: Shefali Alvares)
6. Kha Kha Ga (Singer: Neeti Mohan)
7. Dhadhaam Dhadhaam (Singer: Neeti Mohan)
8. Naak Pe Gussa (Singer: Neeti Mohan, Backing Vocals: Amit Trivedi)
9. Sylvia (Singer: Neeti Mohan)
10. Darbaan (Singer: Papon)
11. Shut Up (Singer: Shefali Alvares)
12. Behroopia (Singer: Mohit Chauhan and Neeti Mohan)
13. Jaata Kahan Hai Deewane (Singer: Neeti Mohan)
14. The Bombay Velvet Theme (Instrumental)
15. Conspiracy (Instrumental)
16. Tommy Gun (Instrumental)

Listen to the entire album of Bombay Velvet here:

(With contributions by Praveen VR, co-founder of musicaloud.com)

#92 ANUBHAV: TOP 100 BOLLYWOOD ALBUMS

#90 HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA: TOP 100 BOLLYWOOD ALBUMS