Rock On!! - New Age Hindi Rock.

I'm usually not very impulsive reserving my opinions until i've tried things enough. But then i'm also someone who makes up my mind on whether i want to try something again, the very first time! Been listening to the sound tracks of "Rock On!!" since this morning. And i don't seem to get enough of them. The promo's have already built up fair level of expectations for the movie. That the movie will probably have -

1. A great visual feel to it.

2. Some serious hindi rock music.

3. Farhaan Akhtar delivering on all counts - As an Actor and Singer!

4. The storyline - Alas it comes at the bottom. :-) But would be something fresh as we have now come to accept from Bollywood too.

I shall reserve the opnions on the last two, offer some on the first & clap my hands for the 2nd!

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It is easy to expect the film to be visually appealing. The promos are a clear hint at this being a peppy, urbane, youthful movie. With the Band shown on icy white backgrounds, the visuals are going to be very arresting. I'm hoping that Farhaan has been asked to share his DCH experience to work on the look of this venture. Plus, the cast fits the band image hand in glove! Farhaan Akhtar & Luke Kenny lend a purposeful, real-life feel. Purab Kohli must be the drummer, no wonder he stands far away in the background with the wild hair and goatee. Arjun Rampal unfortunately has a very familiar Bollywood tag to him. But still accept him once i discount his credentials of masala movies since he looks the part. Hope he delivers. But he is still the 2nd best looker of the band. #1 being Farhaan! :-)

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Moving on to the sound track, the real deal. From a movie that carries the tag - Rock On!, yes the "!" is on the tag, the sound track had to be the soul of the movie. There are no Rock Movies, Rock Car Races, Rock WWF Fights! There are but Rock Concerts & Rock Music!! So I had huge expectations from the music and I admit - Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have delivered a soundtrack that ROCKS!! After their I-Have-So-Heard-This-Before music in Thodi Life Thoda Magic, they have redeemed and perched themselves back on the highest places on the podium. These guys are on a roll again after their refreshing numbers in TZP.

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The only other serious Bollywood attempt at music that lived upto the "Hindi Rock" was by Pritam in the movie "Life In A Metro". The only other "Hindi" rock band i like is "Strings". Pritam has in the past tried some level of experimentation and i was always under the assumption that it was him for Rock On!. But I'm so surpised to know it was the trio of SEL and not Vishal-Shekhar or Pritam. In fact once i know it was not Pritam i "knew" so confidently that it was Vishal-Shekhar since Vishal still plays with Pentagram. Never Assume!

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Nyways. Rock On! raises the bar by so many many notches over LIAM that its hard for me to accept that i even considered LIAM as rock! S-E-L have managed to actually instill the soul of rock music in these songs. One doesn't need any more proof than just the sounds of electric guitars, drums & the trump card - Farhaan's voice! The sound track is a heady mix of electric guitars, bass guitars, electronic sounds, drums and some very very apt lyrics.
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Listen to the songs -

1. "Pichle Saat Dinon Mein" - this is my personal favourite. Great performance, awsome lyrics!

2. "Sindbad The Sailor" - this one rocks

3. "Phir Dekhiye" - and this one is a love ballad

4. "Socha Hai" - this one rocks too

5. "Tum Ho Toh"

to know what i mean when i say this is real rock! There is a live version of "Pichle Saat Dinon Mein" that completely transports you into a live concert! Hear Farhaan scream "C'mon! Louder!" and you will know what i mean. These are not your regular love songs. These do not depend on the inherent melody and smooth quality of voice of the playback singer. These are songs that are rely more on the composition, instruments, lyrics and finally, the edgy voice of the lead singer! This is where S-E-L have the ace. They could have very well roped in a Shaan or Shankar himself could have performed. But they chose not to go down this way. They let Farhaan take the microphone and boy, he has delivered! It is the imperfections in his voice that truly lend the essence of rock to these songs. The sound is definitely there from the instruments, but a voice like Farhaan takes the entire listening experience to altogether a different plane. I'm sure he has enjoyed every moment of this experience cause it shows in the way he has freely belted the notes. They are far from perfect, but yet, so damn perfect for Rock On! This is going to be a Farhaan movie......

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All the web content says the lyrics are by Javed Akhtar! No Kidding! This movie is going to be so full of surprises! If you had those regular lovey-dovey-mushy set of lyrics, i'm not sure how the lead singer can really convey the angst, rage, passion and what not! Seriously! Can you imagine a drab of a line, say "Mai tumse kaise karu izhaar" being mouthed by a lead vocalist of a rock band? So it must have taken Javed Akhtar some serious level of soul searching, hours of listening to at least some sort of rock to belt out these so fun yet so meaningful lyrics. I'm sure it helps to have your son sing & star in the movie! And then it must have taken the trio of S-E-L so much of breaking-away from their "Kal Ho Na Ho" & some other forgettable ventures to come out with something so fresh and pure.

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So there you are! My opinion on the sound track of Rock On! for you. You will surely forgive the lengthy writing on listening to the tracks. Cause if you are someone like i'm, who is excited by something true in its spirits, fresh coming from some completely unexpected quarters, you will be swaying to these tracks! I know it kind tests your patience when I write all these words only to convey that "It Rocks!". From now on, there is Bollywood music and there is Rock! :-)