Playing the self-styled, maverick hero of no holds barred entertainers like Wanted and Dabangg has benefited Salman Khan's career enormously.
Understandably, all eyes are on his June release, Ready, a Bollywood remake of the Telugu super-hit of the same name, wherein he attempts to woo Asin and the audience in his new, bespectacled avatar.
And so the youthful verve of the original, starring Ram and Genelia D'Souza, is swapped by the experienced charisma that is Khan under Anees Bazmee's treatment, responsible for hits like No Entry, Welcome, Singh is Kinng as well as the recent duds, No Problem and Thank You.
While there's still some time before Ready's verdict is out, here's a look at the soundtrack by Pritam.
Known for dishing out serviceable melodies on regular basis, the music director does just about okay here. The song that really rocks this album isn't his creation. Instead it's the bright and talented guest composer of Telugu films (Bommarillu, Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana, Jalsa, Arya 2) -- Devi Sri Prasad -- reworking one of his own popular songs, Ringa ringa to produce, Dhinka chika.
A sure-fire success, the gibberish-proud ditty has ample street-style oomph and infectious rhythm boosted by a high-strung Mika and Amrita Kak to nitpick over its decidedly pedestrian, suggestive lyrics (Ashish Pandit).
As a standalone though, it's impossible not to make a comparison between its likeness to Garam Masala's Kiss me baby and a hoarde of Pritam concoctions for mostly Priyadarshan's factory of potboilers.
Romance flaps its wings through K K and Tulsi Kumar's lovey-dovey admission, Humko pyaar hua. Although along the same lines, Humko isn't dynamic enough to match the allure of Pehli nazar mein (Race). A standard mush melody at best, the track works better after a swish of DJ A-Myth's techno wand.
Bhangra flavours dominate the customary pep of Pritam's jig-friendly Meri ada bhi. And so there's Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Tulsi Kumar lending their brand of effervescence to Kumaar's rumbles of celebration, laung gawacha et al.
Ready isn't a song-heavy album despite a ditzy remixed counterpart (DJ A-Myth) for each. Nor is it a game changer. Still, it's got at least two potential mass favourites, complementing its leading man's stylish, crowd-pleasing personality, to offer.
And that ought to be good enough for Ready to hit steady and go.
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