'Black Friday' an Exquisite Experience - Music Review

Black Friday, which is India's only entry this year at the Locarno Film Festival, is the story of the 1993 bomb blasts that took place in Mumbai. Based on a book by S. Hussain Zaidi, this docu-drama tries to recreate those events and the intense feelings that followed them. The film has Kay Kay Menon (as the Commissioner of Police), Aditya Shrivastava as Badshah Khan and Pawan Malhotra (as Tiger Memon), among the star cast. For such a film, a normal music director and the regular Hindi film music would have been inappropriate, and hence we have something totally different.

Needless to say then that the track is devoid of romantic numbers, 'item' numbers, duets, and 'quawallis'. The track has a few songs, but predominantly, there are background music themes and instrumentals. Indian Ocean as a band has been around for some time, and has released 4 albums. This, however, is the first ever foray into the world of film music, by the band. The lyricist Piyush Mishra has been writing music for dramas, and is an actor and scriptwriter. The film is obviously a serious one, and the music is also sombre, and in keeping with the screenplay. There was a case in a Mumbai court against this film, by the lawyers of the blast accused, but this has been cleared, with the producers undertaking to delete the line 'The true story of the bomb blasts' from their promos.

The album starts off with a number titled 'Bandeh'. The song has lovely lyrics and starts off with 'Arre Rukh Ja Re Bandeh, Arre Tham Ja Re Bandeh, Ki Kudrat Has Padegi'. The vocals are quite good and forceful, with one lead singer and a loud chorus, and the entire song is a high pitched one. An inspirational song, it advises and cajoles the listener to desist from meaningless violence and destruction. The song stars off slowly with a few words before gathering momentum. The accompanying music is fast, on the guitar and drums, and is excellent. Throughout this song, the guitar is put to good use. Some of the chorus seems out of tune at times. In between the song, there is a beautiful classical 'bandish', something one hears from the 'ustaads'. This piece of alaap is sung wonderful, and is very intricately blended into the song. The song is a lovely fusion of Western jazz music and Indian classical music, and is done extremely well.

The next item on the list is called Badshah in Jail. The song starts off slowly, and has some good lyrics like 'Pad Li Aaj Koran Magar Main Aayathon Ko bhool Gaya'. The background guitar is slow and soothing, and so are the beats on the tabla. There is a religious tone to the tune. Here again, as in the first song, the fusion of east and west is amazing. The guitar is used with such dexterity in this number, that it reminds one of the Sitar and Sarod maestros of India, who play with skill and speed. "Woh Hi Baat Madina Mein Hai, Jo Hi Baat Shivalay mein', runs the secular and philosophical lyrics of this song.

This is followed by another piece called Memon House. It's the guitar that Indian Ocean seems to favour, and here too, this piece of music starts with the guitar, and is followed by the saxophone. The flute and drums join the orchestra, and what follows is a soulful melody. The jazz like quality of the music is rich receives some background 'Sufi' style singing, and some Hindustani classical alaaps, in a male voice. One rarely gets to hear an Indian classical Raga being accompanied on the Sax and drums.

The fourth piece, called RDX is named after the explosive, which was extensively used in the bomb blasts. This is also a slow instrumental number, with some alaaps in the background. Here the keyboard is put to good use.

Bharam Baap ke is yet another number, which chides us, to count our bad deeds and our sins, and to feel ashamed. It starts off slowly with only the guitar, before the voices come in. The song is also a chorus. The song has a good beat to it, and a semi-classical touch. 'Jung ka rang Sunahara Samja, Lekin Baad Mein Gehra Samja', Jung Ka Rang Tha kaala Tha Re" run some of the lyrics of this song. A long song, the picturisation of this song might well be worth seeing.

Opening/Pre-Blast is next on the list. Flute, saxophone and guitar are u8sed to create some funky lines. Perhaps it is played in the beginning of the film. A small instrumental piece, it creates a sense of suspense and urgency. Interspersed with drums, the music in parts is similar to what one hears in Navrathris, during poojas, and Ganesh Visarjans.

Bomb Planting is the next instrumental number, which must be more interesting to see than to hear. Here again, there is sinister element to the music, as we would see and hear in suspense thrillers, as an act of crime is being committed. Violins, drums and keyboard all add to make the composition very interesting. Close your eyes and hear it, and you'll actually get goose pimples all over your skin. It has that eerie quality to it.

Training, again another instrumental is the next in line, starts off with background beckoning call, which has a lot of Urdu and Arabic overtones. The drums follow this, loud and clear, much like those heard at a military march past.

Chase is the last piece of the album. Again, may be more worth seeing that hearing. Apparently the Mumbai police have been glorified in the film, and the chase should definitely be interesting. The chase is different from the rest of the pieces, in that it is an intense, almost breathless jugalbandhi of classical Bharat Natyam dance steps, followed by panting and gasping, probably as the offenders and police play a cat and mouse game. Throughout, these sounds are accompanied by good beats from drums and guitar strains. The music director has done well to use dance steps as it creates a perfect picture in the mind of the listener, regarding the chase.

All in all, a totally non-filmi film album, very beautifully composed by Indian Ocean. Some of the jazz interludes are very soothing and relaxing, and one would love to put up one's feet at the end of a tiring day, close one's eyes, and drift along with these tunes. But for those used to typical film song, duets and seductive numbers, this album will be a let down. Go for it only if it suits your taste.

Music director: Indian Ocean and K.J. Singh

Lyrics: Piyush Mishra

Vocals: Asheem Chakravarthy, Rahul Ram, and Amit Khilam.

Rating * * * and a half.

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Black Friday