You got to hand it to Big B. He makes a conscious effort to not repeat himself and is hugely attracted to roles that portray a new character everytime. (Remember his role in BOOM?). Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap is yet another foray into providing something new by this stalwart and this time, it’s not just the camera but also the microphone.
The music may have been composed by Vishal-Shekhar, but if you are going to have AB singing four of the five songs, the attention automatically shifts to this gimmick. Things start off in a very tame manner with the slowly unfolding ‘Haal-e-Dil’. It’s the kind of composition that requires a steady voice and some amount of control. Somehow, AB manages both while Vishal-Shekhar gradually add layers of percussion to the tune. But the song gets a positive response only for the superstar vocals. Sung by anybody else, it would probably have been lost.
An acapella version of the title song follows next. This song obviously has nothing much in terms of music as the singing is supported by some kind of beatboxing and a lonely lead guitar. This one stretches the limits though. It’s probably a remix of the same vocals that come on the next version, titled the ‘dub step’ version. Or you may call it the Pentagram version. This version roams in a twisted electronic landscape and sounds like something that spilled out of Vishal Dadlani’s band. Both the versions are quite experimental and justify the first para of this review. More gimmicks follow.
‘Go Meera Go’ is a collection of AB hits from the 70s and the 80s. Of course, the whole package is once again delivered with the Vishal-Shekhar sheen of synthesizers and loops and processed voices. Yes, it sounds like everyone is having a great time here and at times, it almost seems like Abhishek’s voice is also in the mix. Bachchan fans of a certain age may feel violated, but remember, this film is all about an angry old man who used to be an angry young man. Nostalgia is mandatory.
The only non AB track closes things off very well. ‘Main Chandigarh Di Star’ is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and is great fun when heard loud. Yes, it has the electronic twist again but it’s all about Sunidhi here who sounds like she’s totally into it. The bhangra samples used are too faint and distant to make this an out and out Punjabi song so don’t let the title fool you. The song adds some variety to the whole, and after four Bachchan vocals, this one actually makes a mark. Bbuddah Hoga tera Baap is obviously a treat for any Amitabh Bachchan fan. This may even encourage him to sing more often than the couple of past films that feature his vocals. As long it does not provoke another stab at an indi-pop career (AB Baby anyone?), this is a good sign.
