Music: Indian Ocean, Ram Sampat, Nageen Tanveer

Lyrics: Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire, Noon Meem Rashed, Gangaram Sakhet

Label: T-Series

Rating: 3/5

When perfectionist Aamir Khan is a part of a film, you can surely expect it to be like a jack-in-the-box. You have no idea of what might be coming your way, but you are sure that there is something unusual about it.

Peepli [Live] is produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao and directed by Anushka Rizvi. The film neither has A-rated Bollywood actors acting in it nor does it have gigantic sets in gold, yet it is the first Indian film to compete in the Sundance Film Festival. It is not surprising as Khan is known to bring India a series of achievements, Lagaan nominated at the Oscars being one of them 

The sound track of Peepli [Live] is quite hatke from the usual masala music in most Bollywood films. The movie has a fresh take on the outbreak of price rise and farmer suicides in our country. The director, who makes her debut with this film has woven it with humor and satire to exhibit the true faces of the Indian society.

The track Chola Mati Ke Ram... sung as well as composed by Nageem Tanvir, daughter of theatre stalwart Habib Tanvir, sounds fresh. It is more like a devotional song that is folk based and has a rural composition. Lyrics by Gangaram Sakhet try to explain certain philosophies of life like body is made of mud and will ultimately be buried in mud. This track will take you back to a village in rural India.

Indian Ocean, the contemporary fusion music band from Delhi has composed the song Des Mera.... The band grabs the mic as well. Musical instruments like tabla, mridang and sitar create a rustic feel, apt for this track. At the same time it has a peppy and fun element in it that makes you hear it once again. Lyrists Sanjeev Sharma and Swanand Kirkire have played with words intellectually. ...Des mera rangrez ye babu, Ghat ghat yahan ghathta jadoo, Kahin pahad hai kankad shankar, Baat hai chhoti bada batangad, India sir ye cheez dhurandhar, Rang rangeela parjatantar.... What a satirical way to point out the flaws in the Indian democratic society! Thumbs up for the duo.

The remix of this song has a different set of lyrics and a bit of western beats but still the core essence of the track remains Indian. This song was already a part of the Indian Ocean album, but the lyrics are tweaked a little to make it more appropriate for the setting in the movie.

Next is Mehngai Dayain... and guess who takes on the mic this time. It's Raghuveer Yadav, the man who plays Budhia in the film. It wasn't recorded in the studio but right there at the sets when it was being acted upon by the cast of the film. The track is extremely situational and sarcastically talks about the plague of price rise. Lyricist Kirkire has intelligently used wit and fun to pin point the dilemma being faced by the common lot today. Lines like Kakdi ne kargai hahakaar, Matar bhi toh lago parsaad..., Garmi me pichke hai gaal..., Arrey kama kama ke marr gaye saiyan, Pehle tagde tagde the ab duble patle ho gaye saiyan... very faithfully define the present scenario. Even the music is not very hard hitting, instead the harmonium and the Indian beats in the background make lyrics more audible. Music director Ram Sampat has done a first-class job.

The remix of this track, Inflation... is a youth version of the song and you will definitely see yourself shaking a leg to it. It does have Indian music but with a flavour of western beats and rap music. You might start giggling while listening to it and I bet you will add it to your Repeat Song... playlist. Government takes your money, recession it ain't funny, can't go shopping honey, keep on working, keep on running..., truly supercool lyrics.

The last one is a little grim. Zindage Se Darte Ho... is again sung and composed by Indian Ocean. The 7-minute long track is written by lyricist Noon Meem Rasheed. A round of applause for the musicians for keeping it balanced by giving this number a modern feel with rock music and at the same time maintaining it's rustic charm as well.

The soundtrack of Peepli [Live] will definitely not be a favorite among all, the movie as well the music will have a limited appeal. If you wish to step out of the mundane Bollywood music that talks about chandni raatein, tirchi nazar or patli kamar, listen to fresh music from the film Peepli [Live] as it's truly not worth a miss. Not the lyrics atleast!

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