Label: Sony Music

Composer: Mathias Duplessy, Sachin-Jigar

Singers: Mukhtiyaar Ali, Mathias Duplessy, Dinya Kumar

Lyricists: Mukhtiyaar Ali, Alan Mercer, Dinesh Vijan, Mayur Puri, Sachin-Jigar

Rating: 3/5

MUMBAI: Musical variation is aplenty in the Finding Fanny OST. However, due to emphasis on the music, quality lyrics appear to have suffered a setback. Of the four songs in the soundtrack, three are composed by French composer and poly-instrumentalist Mathias Duplessy. Two of those tracks feature vocals by Rajasthani virtuoso, Mir Mukhtiyaar Ali and the third has Duplessy’s vocals.

O Fanny Re: In the very first song, ‘O Fanny Re’, Portuguese-inspired flamenco music can be heard coupled with Mukhtiyaar Ali’s Sufi-infused Punjabi lyrics and vocals. The song appears to have been recorded in a raw and avant-garde fashion, resulting in Ali’s vocals sounding slightly off-tune. Whether that was the composer’s intention, can be discussed below in the comments. All in all, it is a pleasant track, incorporating the sounds of instruments like guitar, accordion and banjo into a folk tune.

Mahi Ve: There is a second version of the song called ‘Mahi Ve’, with a change in title and a few Punjabi words interspersed with the first track's Hindi lyrics like the words “Fanny Re” being replaced with “Mahi Ve”. Given that there are only four songs in the soundtrack with only three composed by the reputed Duplessy, does litany of such kind raise questions on the musical versatility of the composer?

Ding Dong: Strong influences of 1960’s Brazilian music with a strong guitar lead can be heard in the third song, ‘Ding Dong’. Failing to paint a faithful picture of Goa, the song promises the refreshing and quirky mood of the film with whistles, hoots and claps in the song’s arrangement. The song also features lyrics by Alan Mercer. The English song features vocals of Duplessy.

Shake Your Bootiya: The fourth song opens as a spoof to opera, leading to the film’s signature guitar sounds. Soon to be heard are Rajasthani folk singer- Divya Kumar’s vocals. The standout feature of the song is the excellent use of the Italian swing. Those classic jazz sounds together with Dinesh Vijan, Mayan Puri and Sachin-Jigar’s (composers of the track) quirky lyrics, make this track especially memorable.