Mai Hoon Shahid Afridi’s soundtrack heavily inspired by Bollywood

Lollywood soundtracks with their deafening vocals and jhankaar beats better brace themselves. The music of new-age films is crisp and fresh and will definitely give them a run for their money. The stir that was caused by Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye (KKL) in 2007 changed the face (and genre) of ‘Lollywood music’ to one that moves within the range of pop, rock and mellow tunes. KKL’s original and distinctive music album became a chartbuster not only in Pakistan, but also in India with album copies selling in equal numbers in both countries.
Six years down the lane, the soundtrack of one of the most expensive Pakistani film’s in our cinema’s history, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, has been released. But while the music of actor-turned-film-maker Humayun Saeed’s film is not your run-of-the-mill dose of Lolly beats, it could have been better.
Like the entertainment-packed film, the soundtrack is also heavily inspired by Bollywood. While it’s Bollywood-inspired trailers and storyline will attract hordes to theatres, the music suffers as it follows the same-old formulaic treatment, making one feel that although the songs are catchy, the tune is repetitive.
The album consists of five songs. Jera Vi Hai Aanday has been written by Shani and Nadeem Asad, while Malal, Teri Hi Kami and a cocktail of two songs Angreja and Beautiful Night have been written by Sabir Zafar. An undisclosed item song Teri Hi Kami is also on the soundtrack. The music has been composed by the young Pakistani duo Kami and Shani.
Judging by the one item song (Teri Hi Kami), the soulful ballad in the voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Malal) and the upbeat, motivational/ patriotic song (Jera Vi Hai Aanday) by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan which is sure to give you an adrenaline rush, the film’s music has everything to make it a hit but nothing as such to make it memorable. There is no denying that apart from Beautiful Night (which is lacklustre), Kami and Shani have created music which is as good if not better than the music of any Bollywood film. Having said that, there is nothing awe-inspiring about the MHSA soundtrack. It is good for Bollywood, but average by Pakistani standards — we have always made better and
original music.
Our inclination towards Bollywood music is rather shocking. It seems that the composers were given a heavy dose of AR Rahman and Lagaan music as inspiration, which is reflected in the safe and orthodox song writing. Khuda Kay Liye, Bol and even Chambaili had the signature Pakistani sound, which is why they stood out and this will be considered an extension of the Bollywood music we hear every day.
Where Angreja has the groove, rebelliousness and punch to be blared from car woofers — courtesy of Punjabi lyrics — Beautiful Night, an English song based on the same groove and mood released separately is rather irritating and quite exaggerated. Club music, it seems, is strictly a no-go area for a country that grew up singing and listening to mehendi songs. Artists need to confront this reality and get over it because so far, all attempts at making English-desi club music have been pretentious.
Owing to its catchy melody and lyrics that suit the music of a rebellious theme for a cricket loving nation, Jera Vi Hai Aanday remains to be our favourite. Lines like “mae ki jaanaa tuk tuk karna, mae tae yaar lapetaan (I don’t know how to play tuk tuk but I can hit the ball hard)” not only address the ongoing Misbah-Afridi competition, but also encompass our sentimentality as a nation.