The Composers round-up : 2012

2012 has been a great year in film music as well as non-film. Though I need to check out all the non-film works, here is my effort to summarize the best and the disappointing works of leading composers, in 2012.

Pritam :

Starting with a not-too-good album of Players, Pritam later on topped the charts throughout the year. Starting with Agent Vinod he took Sawaari of Ferrari and gave sweetest treat of Barfi along with Cocktail. Though Jannat 2 and Rush were a bit downer, that can not deny the surprises he gave in FKS and Barfi - easily my most favoritest soundtrack this year. Very close to being the best in the year.

Amit Trivedi :

Consistency is the word to describe him. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Ishaqzaade, English Vinglish, Aiyyaa & finally Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. Urban, Desi, Contemporary, Southie and Punjabi. Phew.... How versatile this guy can be? Oh, and did I forget the awesomeness he spelled in Coke Studio ?? Can't help but to put him as Composer of The Year.

Sneha Khanwalkar :

Find of the year - she is. With all her 'sound trippin' like sounds and even more from Bihari folklore. This womaniya turned all ears to her in Gangs of Wasseypur. She gave what we never heard before in Bollywood. Even as a standalone product, GOW Soundtrack can be called 'Invention of the Year'. Waiting for more by her.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy :
They have gone almost missing this year. But only one soundtrack they have come out - is enough for them to say 'Yes, we are here'. Chittagong was one of the best soundtrack this year, easily. Lets hope they come back with bang next year.

A R Rahman :
What a disappointing year this has been. I was extremely looking forward to both of his projects. Ekk Deewana Tha in the beginning of the year and Jab Tak Hai Jaan at the year end. Both disappointed me. While former was lost in translation, later was lost in itself. (But it was Tamil soundtrack Kadal, that came early in December and saved the year. Hear it if you still haven't).

Vishal-Shekhar : 

An average year here too. After crackling start with Kahaani, the duo did not shine as they did in recent years. Shanghai was above average, while Arjun was purely situation. And the popcorn SOTY was okay'ish. And biggest crime they committed in it - remaking the DISCO song. Sigh....

Himesh Reshamiya : 

King of the Gullies - he should be named. Love him or hate him but you can't escape his 'looped lines'. Be it Bol Bachchan, OMG, Son of Sardaar or even the last one this year - Khiladi 786. As always all the tracks worked with masses and as always critics written them off. Obviously.

Sajid-Wajid :
Giving stiff competition to Himesh, they kept on churning below average sounds throughout the year. Tezz, Housefull 2, Rowdy Rathore (which I liked initially but knew it was ripped off straight away without acknowledgement, from original southie movie), KDM, AGL IIP and more. Only Dabangg 2 and Teri Meri Kahaani were tolerable.

Talking about other composers - Ajay-Atul gave only one yet a 'perfect-for-the-movie' soundtrack - Agneepath. With all those bam-boom percussion and yes, Chikni Chameli. Similarly, Ram Sampath too, did decent work for Talaash. Disappointing one was Salim-Suleiman who seriously need to get out of their typecasted tunes and come out with something fresh. Jeet Ganguly left a lot to desire, by just remaking his Bengali tracks, while Arko Mukherjee did a decent job in Jism 2. Shall we see both of them, out of Bhatt camp?

There, did I forget anyone? Any notable soundtrack that I am yet to hear?