Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca
Lyrics:
Javed Akhter, Willard Carroll and Truth Hurts
Vocals:
Alka Yagnlik, Ali Larter, Nihira Joshi, Nikita Nigam, Shaan, Sneha Pant, Truth Hurts and Vikas Bhalla
Label:
Big Music
Romance is in the air! The lovely 'sitar' and violin piece, accompanying Shaan's dew fresh vocals seem to state just that pure feeling of bliss in the love ballad 'Yeh Pyaar Kya Hai/Seven Stages Of Love'. The bare minimum musical arrangements (with only the superb 'sitar' and violin piece) is to highlight and emphasize Javed Akhter's exceptional lyrics, as the genius and the ever romantic poet, unfolds the seven stages of love (right from setting the eyes on the beloved to falling in love) with some beautiful, classy words. Here in this stanza he puts forward the first stage "Pehla rang hai suno kaisa, Saamne aaye, Koi aisa, Dil kahe khwabon mein hi isko to dekha tha." Shaan is absolutely magical. The only thing missing is the pace, which does not matter much.
'Seven Stages Of Love' is also incorporated in the song 'Yeh Pyaar Kya Hai', one can say that it's the all English counterpart of the first number, to cater to the English-speaking audience. The song commences in a opera-like style by Truth Hurts. Shaan is once again top-class and equally at ease with the English rendition (he has shown us that in 'Bull's Eye', from "Apne") as he complements Truth Hurts to perfection. The hugely talented director, Willard Carroll shows his prowess with the pen, and his lyrics match perfectly with the Hindi counterpart, never once do they appear out of place.
Moving on the next number 'Yeh Pyaar hai', it has all the pace and rhythm that was lacking in the first number. A superb romantic composition, with soft orchestral arrangements that slowly picks up pace and reaches a crescendo (thankfully not cacophonous). S-E-L are in top form and Shaan is delightful. The hummable chorus, Javed Akhter's exemplary lyrics, along with Willard Carroll's perfectly blended English lines, all put together make up a gem of a number.