'1971' - a once-hear album

Emotional and instrumental tracks dominate the music score of "1971", a film based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Three instrumental pieces form a prominent part of the soundtrack - quite apt for a movie of its genre.

"Main (instrumental)" is a simple number and comprises few instruments. This two-minute track fluctuates to the minimum and yet makes a point.

Next is "Prelude to the snow" - another instrumental track similar to the previous one but chiefly constitutes the violin.

The third instrumental piece is "Honour the heroes (Theme Of 1971)". Now this track is what you call 'intensively instrumental'. The instruments used make a more prominent mark than in the earlier two pieces but later changes to slower, sad tunes to give it a stimulating feel. A better piece among the three.

Whistles, vessel clamming, claps, cheering and Kailash Kher's voice dominate the approximately three-minute song "Bhangra pauna".

Kailash is good with the 'bhangra-styled' singing but the track seems a little empty without the inclusion of any major instruments. Hence, it gets only an average mention.

But its remix is a good number as it embraces certain techno beats interspersed with folk sounds.

"Kaal ke antim palon tak" can be termed semi-instrumental. Though credit has to be given to the chorus too, which when fused with the instruments, makes for good listening. A credible effort and a great track.

Though "Saajana", sung by Harshdeep Kaur, is meant to depict a woman's anguish while waiting for her husband to return from the war front, it doesn't really do a good job of expressing the required emotions.

The lyrics may still convince you but the music is not that great, turning the track into a mediocre number.

Shibani Kashyap croons "Sehlenge hum" and does a good job of it. Her voice and sober rendering sounds really good. Violins, again, make an appearance due to which the track takes on an emotional and provoking pace.

The nine 'not very long' numbers, including the remixes, are neither very boring nor are they the kind to get the cash registers ringing.

Nevertheless, Akash Sagar has composed music that suits the genre of the film and makes it a 'once-hear' album.

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1971