Film: The Train

Director: Raksha Mistry and Hasnain

Music Director: Mithoon

Lyrics: Sayeed Qadri

Rating: 2.5/5

This film marks Mithoon’s entry into the music world as a lone composer, after having scored tracks like Aadat and Tere Bin. The director duo of Raksha Mistry and Hasnain, is back with ‘The Train’ after having directed ‘The Killer’. The film’s music offers a glimpse into the musical elements that might be used to narrate the story and here is what you should expect in the soundtrack.  

The first track Teri Tamanna has been rendered by KK, Zubeen and Shilpa Rao. It’s mid paced and has everything from techno beats, singers straining and musicians strumming away at their instruments. Were the song any slower, you’d probably doze off. There’s nothing to the track, it’s one of those songs you listen to and forget you ever heard it.

The remix ideally should have made up for the medium pace of the track. It does so as well, but somewhere down the line, it gets to you. The loop tape and techno twist is bearable upto a point, after that you want to leave the club and take a solemn oath to never return until they have changed the track.

Then there’s Kshitij Tarey and Shaan singing ‘The train – an inspiration ‘, probably meant to be some sort of theme song. It begins with lyrics like ‘Zindagi train hai, waqt ki track pe’ that put you off completely. The irony lies in the fact that it is sung in a manner that tries to make the song sound profound. The tune is certainly nice, but the lyrics laughable. If this is the theme song, wonder what the movie has to offer. This song might just end up getting a buzz, for its lyrical paucity, if nothing.
 
Mausam, sung by Mithoon and Kshitij Tarey, is a poignant track. It’s well sung, sounds good, and the lyrics are well written. Overall, this track makes for a great hear. The selection of the instruments is great. You hear each instrument, yet there is a sense of cohesiveness in the music. Close your eyes and you could imagine soaking in the rain, your head thrown back simply feeling each drop hit your face, while you see flashes of her with your inner eye.

Ten seconds into the remix of Mausam, you know you want to change the track. You can neither understand nor hear what is being sung. Nor can you explain the music, it’s just too nerve racking. This one is far worse than any of the other remixes in this album. Skip this one, then go back to it and skip it just to make sure it isn’t playing.

Almost similar to Mausam is Beete Lamhe by KK. This track too is first-class, if you can just about manage to play this after Mausam, you’ve got yourself on a ride of self-pity and sorrow. Each word rendered by KK makes you feel the ache of love.  This track is outstanding. Something like this comes along just once in a while, savour it. However, this is not one of the tracks that might go on to top the music charts, but then, who cares? The lounge mix is no different, except a few alterations here and there, making this one a good track as well.

Woh Ajnabee by Shilpa Rao and Mithoon is a great listen too, it’s peppy and youthful. Sadly, however, Rao reminds you of her trademark style in ‘Tosey naina lagey’ from Anwar. For some unknown reason, the monotony in the track is actually appealing. The beats and the pace are so catchy that you really don’t care about the senseless lyrics. The remix is hypnotic, it makes you want to let your hair down and get onto the dance floor.

On the whole, the soundtrack is worth a buy, despite a few discordant songs. Not a ‘must buy’ soundtracks, but nevertheless, an album you want to be playing while you are out on the highway.