I'm listening to the soundtrack from the 2006 film Don: The Chase Begins Again on my iPod. Repeatedly.
The 7 songs - composed by the trio of Shankar Mahadevan, Loy Mendonsa, and Ehsaan Noorani - feel like a slight departure from the Bollywood style one might expect. The music is so sleek that you would never guess that several of the songs are updates from the original 1978 Don film starring Amitabh Bachchan.
What is abundantly clear to the ear is that the music from the 2006 film has a palpable coolness factor. It helps that Shah Rukh Khan saunters through Don like he owns the sets, songs, and story. As I listen to the soundtrack, I can see Don making his way through the streets of Paris in "Don the Theme"; I find myself dancing with Vijay as he sings "Mourya Re" during the Hindu festival of Ganesha Chaturthi; I notice Vijay Don's interest in both Anita and Roma in "Aaj Ki Raat".
But "Main Hoon Don" is a definite highlight because we observe Don embracing his reputation for being bad. Dancing in a den of debauchery, he enjoys reminding us he is dangerous. This charismatic colossus of crime can, and will, do what he pleases. But we are willing to cut him some slack at this point in the film because, well, he's been through a lot. Just as moths are drawn to the flame, we are drawn to Don's scintillating seductive style.
Fair warning: As you walk down the street with your earbuds in place listening to "Main Hoon Don", you might entertain a swagger in your step ... or find that you are having trouble keeping your arms down at your sides. In that moment, it becomes your theme song.
The following clip begins with the introductory scene from the 2006 film Don: The Chase Begins Again followed by "Main Hoon Don" as sung by Shaan and picturized on Shah Rukh Khan with choreography by Ganesh Hegde.
If you liked this post, check out our other Music Monday posts.