After a million firewalls had been set up around to build curiosity around the next YRF-SRK mega Diwali release, we saw the firecracker fizzle out with an unimpressive title inspired from a Sholay song. YRF’s next – Jab Tak Hai Jaan, brings back SRK to the era of Dil To Pagal Hai, romancing two leading ladies, in and around London, and even playing the “Maati ke Laal deshbhakt“, as he vrooms around in his army uniform, and even walks away from an explosion – #LikeABoss. One of the other selling points of the promotion campaign has been the first time collaboration between Yashraj Films and A.R.Rahman. There is always a level of anticipation surrounding every Rahman project , as fans wait for his tracks with great levels of expectation. The first track released from the soundtrack – Challa, on a whole doesn’t hit the note quite right, and rather than being a straight boundary, feels more like a dot ball. Sorry about that cricket analogy, but Challa didn’t quite deliver the Rahman magic that we’ve grown to get used to. Neither does it bring home the SRK charm of say – Mitwa (KANK), or even Kyon Hawa (Veer Zara).

First of all, the voice is just so not right. Rabbi is a brilliant singer, but is just not right for SRK. You know who suits well for SRK – Udit, Sonu, Abhijeet, Sanu, Shankar, even Shafqat. But NOT Rabbi. Also, the song sounds like a derivative from the singer’s own Bulla Ki Jaana. It probably has to do with Rabbi’s instantly recognizable voice, and this does all the harm.

Secondly, SRK is getting old, and throughout the video, he does seem out of his age, to be playing a busker, (fake) strumming his guitar around Trafalgar Square and South Bank.  I just didn’t buy it. As much he looks aged, he seems like he overdosed on Prozac. He’s too jubilant to be roaming around a busy Trafalgar Square, Canary Wharf, train stations across London and what not! Oh, and he’s happy washing cars, passing fish baskets to fish mongers and earning his “mehnat ki kamai”. Is that the message behind the song?

I am too lazy to google the deeper meaning of the lyrics. Can someone do it for me?

Also, if he’s a serious busker, he would be carrying a guitar cover to collect the change. Have a look at what SRK has got.

But what leaves me absolutely perplexed, is the final moment of the video, when SRK appears in an army uniform, doing this.

So, from London Busker, to fish monger helper to Indian Army dude in Ladakh. Oh, and he’s romancing Katrina Kaif and biker chick Anushka. How do I connect the dots? Or, is there a Lamhe angle to this? Or a punar janam? All bets are off. We’ll get to know what Yash Chopra’s last movie has to offer. As for A.R.Rahman’s soundtrack, Yash Chopra has been quoted that Challa is his favourite and is the soul of the song. If that is indeed the case, then I’m worried.

RATING: What The Fishh! Didn’t work!