As a cinema aficionado, I have been a keen admirer of filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s filmmaking, which soars high with its compelling storytelling, mesmerising cinematography and chartbuster soundtracks. Out of a long list, I believe the Ranbir Kapoor musical drama Rockstar (2011) has the best music. Composed by music maestro A.R. Rahman, the album comprises 14 tracks ranging from the mellifluous qawwali Kun faya kun to the electrifying youth anthem Sadda haq, ruling the hearts of every music buff with its timeless charm. The felicity with which every song resonated with different stages of Jordan’s (Ranbir) life, from a happy-go-lucky guy with big dreams to a depressed, bitter and lovelorn musician loathing his life, was magnificent. Running on punchy lyrics and upbeat music, Sadda haq ignites an indomitable spirit of youngsters, encouraging them to live their life fearlessly while serving as Jordan’s fitting response to his critics who attempted to taint his image. The way in which he lets out his pent-up rage was thrilling. Kudos to Mohit Chauhan for matching the energy and nailing it with his outstanding versatility. Be it the soul-soothing shehnai-guitar jugalbandi in The Dichotomy of Fame or the heavy snazzy music in Sadda haq, the album ticks off every box of music excellence effortlessly. (Which Imtiaz Ali film has the best music?,... March 25)

Aayman Anwar Ali

Imtiaz Ali’s film Jab We Met released in 2007 was a musical hit. Music director Pritam and lyricist Irshad Kamil created magic with the lyrics and harmony. Sanjoy Chowdhury with his excellent imagination accompanied them accurately with a magical background score. The music is the heart of this romantic comedy.

With the first song Aao milo chalein beautifully sung by Shaan, the memorable journey begins. The melody and the words reflect Aditya’s (Shahid Kapoor) transformation to a free, joyous state. This song becomes more melodious with the crafted Rajasthani folk tunes in the interlude.

Nagada nagada sung by Sonu Nigam and Javed Ali and Mauja hi mauja by Mika Singh are both foot-tapping, rhythmic and peppy party songs which add a Punjabi flavour to the environment.

Yeh ishq hai by Shreya Ghoshal is a vibrant song which blends the regional tunes of Himachal Pradesh with Bollywood music. The picturisation of this song in the mountain ranges of Shimla and Manali is extraordinarily soothing and beautiful.

Tum se hi is an emotional and romantic song. Mohit Chauhan’s soothing voice matches brilliantly with Aditya’s suppressed feelings for Geet.

My most favourite song is the semi-classical Aaoge jab tum, which is blessed with the golden voice of Ustad Rashid Khan. This song depicts the story of Geet’s (Kareena Kapoor) journey from a dream world to rock-solid reality. The introductory flute tune added an extra edge to the song.

Sarbani Banerjee

The album of Jab We Met is a perfect example of how to get a quality soundtrack which mixes songs for different segments of the audience. Some are instant chartbusters to tap your feet to (Mauja hi mauja, Nagada nagada) and others as peaceful and soothing as they can get (Tum se hi, Aaoge jab tum). Even after so many years, the soundtrack of this movie still lingers in my heart.

Nili Ghosh

No doubt, Jab We Met has the best music. A film by Imtiaz Ali, songs like Nagada nagada, Yeh ishq hai and Mauja hi mauja have been used in the film, not just to add to the excitement of the moment but especially as an effective narrative tool. When Manjeet comes over to meet Geet, Aditya sings Nagada nagada to express how he secretly sees her. The lyrics of Yeh ishq hai echo throughout the mountain ranges of Shimla and describe Geet’s madness while Aditya looks on at her crazy imagination with a smile on his face. When it’s finally known that Aditya and Geet love each other, the song Mauja hi mauja starts and, this time, Aditya can express himself openly to Geet.

Dayita Chakraborty

The one unique factor about a film being a trademark Imtiaz Ali movie is its euphonious soundtrack. Most of the time, either A.R. Rahman or Pritam along with Irshad Kamil as lyricist have served up a musical platter from Jab We Met (2007) to Love Aaj Kal (2020). My favourite in this platter is the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Rockstar (2011).

It comprises 14 tracks, each of which portrays a different genre and mostly highlights the rebel theme of the film, thanks to Irshad Kamil’s insightful and expressive lyrics. Throughout the movie, each track becomes an inseparable part of the story, depicting the inner anguish of the protagonist (especially the songs Jo bhi main and Sadda haq) or setting up peak spiritual heights and the duality of stardom through Kun faya kun and the soul-stirring instrumental The Dichotomy of Fame or the whole journey of Jordan reaching an elevating end with the powerful Nadaan parinde. For A.R. Rahman, using Mohit Chauhan as the voice of Ranbir Kapoor turned out to be a masterstroke as I believe their voices are best suited to each other.

Sayan Dutta

No other Imtiaz Ali film till date could reach the pedestal on which Rockstar (2011) sits. A.R. Rahman created an unprecedented soundtrack replete with original creations that have contributed majorly to the film’s identity, voice, soul, appeal and subsequent cult status.

Even if we can barely recover from the hypnotic trance set upon us by the haunting qawwali Kun faya kun (as well as by Ranbir Kapoor’s eyes), we get immediately drawn to the deeply romantic pathos sensuously dripping off the romantic earworm Tum ho (Mohit Chauhan take a bow!) even today. The soundscape gets even more raw and eclectic with the seething Sadda haq’s anthemic beats on the one hand and the soul-stirring, emphatic, homecoming outcry of Nadaan parinde on the other. One can also never quite get over the playfulness of Katiya karoon, the laid-back attitude and psychedelic swaying grooves of numbers like Jo bhi main and Phir se udd chala. The icing on the cake is the heart-wrenching shehnai-guitar artistic marriage resulting in the transcendental instrument piece The Dichotomy of Fame.

I feel the music and lyrics (Irshad Kamil) of Rockstar to be windows to one’s naked soul, the harmony going way deeper within and beyond the existential roots, the confluence being the profound renditions of Jordan’s unsaid expressions and vulnerabilities, the burning reflections of his tumultuous musical journey, his doomed romance and his inner philosophies of life. It is a musical album which was conceived from both folk-rooted traditions as well as foreign influences and which eventually became a powerful, eruptive, cathartic and human documentary of a rockstar’s fame and flaws, triumph and tragedy.

Anamitra Bhaduri

According to me, Jab We Met is the Imtiaz Ali film which has the best music. The movie gifted music lovers so many wonderful tracks. In fact, all the songs of this romantic comedy starring Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor are superhit numbers. Though so many years have passed since the release of the hugely entertaining film, each and every song from the soundtrack of the Imtiaz Ali-directed movie — Yeh ishq hai, Nagada nagada, Tum se hi, Aaoge jab tum and Mauja hi mauja — among others, still lingers in the hearts of music lovers, a fact that proves the sheer brilliance of these songs.

Sourish Misra