Shauq - Film: Qala
Qala is the aura of 1950s music in India.
Amit Trivedi has done something out of the box yet being in the box. The entire album of Qala is a lyrical as well as a compositional marvel.
Along with the rendering of each song, the director has ensured that the setting in which the song appears on screen reminds you of watching old movies on a DVD. There are very few films where behind-the-scenes in song-making are shown with such enthusiasm.
Qala can be seen as a new-age musical set in a vintage era.
The song which ranks at numero uno for me is Shauq.
Interestingly, when the album was released before streaming began, Phero na najaria and Ghode pe sawar - the other two tracks garnered numbers from fans. Shauq was a song still being graded on a curve.
The setting of the song reminded me of the song "Chingaari koi bhadke" (although this song is a touch of melancholy). Shauq categories in the genre of subtle romance where one tries to woo the lady.
A kayak, two people dissecting love.... singing in the mist, and sailing on the calm waters! The beauty of this song was the one line weaved in for the female lead character shunned by her mother. Still, the line blends like salt in water.
डूबती है तुझ में आज मेरी कश्ती गुफ्तगू में उत्तरी बात...II
Lyrically, the lyricist Varun Grover has tried to incorporate phrases that pan out the song on the larger canvas. For instance, Raat Ki Hawa Ne Saans Thaam Li Hai or Jaisey Sardiyon Ki Shaam Mein Dhuan or my favorite verse -
यह पानी भी तेरे आईना हुआ सितारों में तुझको है गिना हुआ
If you think about the composition of the song, the most difficult thing is to keep the song structure simple and still create the desired repercussions required in the scene. And Amit Trivedi does it like a true master!
The song is a serenade beautifully vocalized by Swanand Kirkire, Sireesha Bhagavatula & Shahid Mallya. I loved casting his rustic voice juxtaposing with her thin yet melodious texture.
The album altogether has some fresh voices and some known veteran voices creating a symphony to love!