Race 2 Movie Review

Producer: Ramesh S. Taurani Ronnie Screwvala Siddharth Roy Kapur
Director: Abbas-Mustan
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ameesha Patel
Music: Pritam
Lyrics: Mayur Puri
Singers: KK, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Shefali Alvares, Atif Aslam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Benny Dayal, Shalmali Kholgade
Audio On: T Series    Number of Songs: 6
Album Released on: December 2012
Movie Rating: *** (3Star)

Whilst the original Race was a pretty pointless and dire film, the music was actually a decent effort from Pritam with a host of thumping dance tracks which supported the sizzling female cast of the film along with a fab romantic “Pehli Nazar Mein” featuring Atif Aslam. Perhaps the music helped the film somehow achieve hit status? In any case that was enough moolah to convince the producers to continue the franchise and as far as the music is concerned, Race 2 follows on the same pattern as the original with 2 dance tracks, one romantic outing featuring Atif Aslam and a rendezvous for the title track “Race Sanson Ki”. With some remixes thrown in for good measure fans are surely in for some quality tunes particularly as Pritam finishes on arguably one his best ever years in Bollywood (2012).

First up is the mind-numbing club tune “Party On My Mind” which features a hot Deepika and Jacqueline dancing away. Won’t even begin to discuss the music which has crass and yawn written all over it. K.K., Yo Yo Honey Singh and Shefali Alvares have the pointless task of singing some dire lines (by Prashant Ingole) and frankly if you get to the end you have done well. Seriously, Bollywood needs to move on from this club theme - it’s getting very boring!

“Be Intehaan” is the pleasant romantic song featuring the unique vocals of Atif Aslam with support by Sunidhi Chauhan. Some nice guitar strumming used here by Pritam as well. Make what you want of the singer but he sings good songs particularly for Pritam and his vocals here are the USP, very soulful indeed! Mayur Puri pens the lines. Well worth a listen this one but still not on the level of “Pehli Nazar Mein”.

“Lat Lag Gayee” is another club tune this time featuring only Jacqueline and Saif. The beats in this one are more bearable as they have a better groove and the song feels fresher thanks to some youthful vocals by Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade. Lyrics by Mayur Puri again. Just don’t expect miracles otherwise. There’s a couple of remixes here but if the originals aren’t up to scratch what chance of the remix?

Overall the music to Race 2 feels empty and shallow and is a massive flop as far as a standalone soundtrack is concerned. Even though it works better on screen it’s way behind on the quality of the original from over four years ago and judging by the outcome, even Pritam has given up on this franchise before it’s even started. The message is clear: STOP IT NOW. As for Pritam he will be back in 2013 for sure.