Film: Marigold

Director: Willard Carrol

Producer: Charles Salmon and Tom Whilte

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar, Truth Hurts

Songs by: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Rating: 1.5/5

They say movies and music transcend boundaries; such is the attempt with Marigold that stars Salman Khan paired opposite Ali Larter. The Indian element does not end there; Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics and the musical trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy have provided the songs. This cultural mishmash of sorts affects the music as well.

Guessing that it is indeed Shaan crooning Yeh Pyaar Kya Hai is not difficult. His soft and melodious voice renders the song with a great amount of likeability. The track is more like an explanation of the colors in love, while this seems like a pointless exercise; the lyrics actually make you smile. The song is a slow number and makes for a sweet play while cuddled up in bed with your better half.

So we see Salman Khan dancing about singing Yeh Pyaar Hai in the trailers. Once again rendered by Shaan, the song features a harmonious chorus as well. Its great hearing the song till you begin hearing the track in English. There is something about this track that distances you away from it, its soft, musical and the works, but does nothing to you. This one is easy on the ear but that’s about it.

Paagal Si Saari Leheren sounds like some track from a broadway musical. Hearing it you can almost see the actors jump about performing to a filled auditorium. Sung by Alka Yagnik and Vikas Bhalla the song is more like a forced inclusion aimed at pleasing the alien listener. Hunt for trees and find yourself a heroine to run around it with, or better gate crash a wedding singing the song or better give this song a pass.

Nikita Nigam does a fabulous job singing Sachha Pyaar. The classical bit does wonders for the song, sounding almost like one of those sung by Rekha Bharadwaj. The drums, flute and classical influence in the song makes it instantly stick out from the rest of tracks in the album. If it were not for the repetitive nature of this track it could have actually been the one track solely responsible for great sales.

Another track simply composed for visual purposes is Tan Man with Vikas Bhalla,Alka Yagnik,Sneha Pant and Nihira Joshi straining their vocal chords. Straining, as they do it in futility, the instruments are piercing and the vocalists almost seem battling it out to be heard. The insurgency that the track commences with is forgotten half way through, leaving you wondering if the same track is playing. Unless you are one of those learning ‘Bollywood dancing’, skip this one.

If acting were not enough Ali Larter even manages to croon Listen to the music, backed by Truth Hurts and Shaan. R&B beats form the backbone of this track but then a ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ happens, where everyone pitches in to help and turn the track from listenable to one better forgotten. It’s loud and that’s the only way to describe it.

Truth Hurts render The Meaning of love. This song never actually tells you the meaning of love, but it sure leaves you confused. It’s like one of those tracks that all these mainstream crossover/International flicks have. With Indian percussion instruments playing in the background while the vocalist sings away. The only thing you love in this track is the voice rendering it, the lyrics and score is a bummer.

An additional, fit for Broadway track is Seven Stages of love by Shaan and Truth Hurts. You just don’t manage to hear it fully because you can’t understand much of it. With lines like ‘Im up before the sun and I dream, you’re in love’, this song doesn’t even make you smile. If visuals were backing it then perhaps it would, but as a musical piece this one is a skip as well.

The thing with the entire soundtrack of Marigold is that there is not much to like and listen to. The songs mean nothing, so there’s no point cherishing them and they are too slow to even think of dancing to. If you are really keen on listening to some Broadway musical soundtrack, pick up Bombay Dreams.