Laal Ishq

"Laal Ishq"
Song by Arijit Singh from the album Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela
Released 1 October 2013 (Full song)
26 November 2013 (Music video)
Recorded AVA Studios, Mumbai
Genre
Length 6:27
Label Eros Now
Writer Siddharth–Garima
Language Hindi
Producer Tubby-Parik
Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela track listing
  1. "Ang Laga De"
  2. "Dhoop"
  3. "Ishqyaun Dhishqyaun"
  4. "Laal Ishq"
  5. "Lahu Munh Lag Gaya"
  6. "Mor Bani Thanghat Kare"
  7. "Nagada Sang Dhol"
  8. "Poore Chand"
  9. "Ram Chahe Leela"
  10. "Tattad Tattad"

Music video
"Laal Ishq" on YouTube

"Laal Ishq" (English: Red love) is a semi-classical Hindi song from the 2013 Bollywood film, Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. Composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the song is sung by Arijit Singh with lyrics by Siddharth–Garima. The music video of the track features actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.

Background

The song is composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and rendered by Arijit Singh, marking their first collaboration. Bhansali first heard Singh in the reality show Fame Gurukul. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Bhansali said; "[Singh] is a very special singer. It's a different musical sound today. But I enjoyed interacting with the younger lot for my music".[1] The song opens with the sound of temple bells and is accompanied with different instruments like Shehnai, Sitar and Guitar.[2] The music of the song is arranged and produced by Shail Hada.[3]

The song is picturised on Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. In the music video Padukone is presented lying across her bed with splayed hair and a bleeding finger. Singh is then shown waving his bleeding finger on the glass door and peeking through the door.[4] The song is used in the background, to portray the passion and love towards each other while they were being surrounded by bloodshed.[5]

Release and response

The song was released digitally as a part of the soundtrack of film on 1 October 2013.[6] The music video of the song was officially released on 26 November 2013, through the YouTube channel of Eros Now.[7][8]

Popular ghazal singer Talat Aziz expressed his fondness to the song stating, "I liked "Laal Ishq" by Arijit Singh from Ram-Leela. The song is in Raag Bihag and he has sung it well. He is a promising singer".[9] Indian film actor Amitabh Bachchan watched the film thrice and he tweeted saying, "Signed by Laal Ishq".[10] The song was ranked at position 3 in the list of "Critically appreciated songs" from "Bollywood music report January – December 2013" published by The Times of India.[11]

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position		 Ref.
iTunes Indian Charts 8 [12]
iTunes Mauritian Charts 1 [13]
Planet Bollywood Top Songs Chart 7 [14]

Critical reception

Singh's rendition in the song attained general acclaim from music critics.

The song received positive response from music critics.

Bollywood Hungama's Rajiv Vijayakar calling Arijit Singh "a complete and stunning revelation" appraised the "effortless" composition by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and "shade esoteric" lyrics by the duo Siddharth–Garima. Vijayakar further added that the song brings the feel that "we are listening to a semi-classical song at a live concert".[15] NDTV reviewers affirmed that "track will blow you off" and added; "It can strike an instant chord with the emotional audiences. The singer takes the song and the music to another level".[16] Similar sentiments were echoed by Yashika Mathur from Daily News and Analysis who further called the song "spiritual".[17] Rafat from Glamsham showed a positive response to the song; "Arijit Singh is masterly in his rendition as he conquers the high notes with ease and delves deep into emotions required from this sufiana number".[18]

Mohar Basu from Koimoi perceived that the song is "sheer beauty" despite its length. Basu, crediting Singh for its soul, explained; "By effortlessly making this slow song into a mesmerizing hear, the track is well grounded in classical music".[19] Tejaswi from Parda Phash calling it "an almost divine number which showcases [Singh's] wide ranging vocals like no other" complimented the feel of the song and its transition. He further wrote: "Beautifully arranged and wonderfully written and of course poignantly rendered, Laal Ishq is a winner all the way".[20] Writing for BollywoodLife, Dhiren Trivedi describes the song as "soothing and soulful". Despite the song being too slow, Trivedi felt that "effortless singing" by Singh with the "best musical arrangement" by Bhansali makes this "six-plus-minute long song a definite must-hear". He further noted that the "track seems formulaic and evokes faint memories of SLB's previous work".[21]

Writing from Rediff.com, Joginder Tuteja wrote: "An easy to ears number which has a soothing feel to it, Laal Ishq is for the ones in love".[22] Prathna Tiwari in her review for Bollywood Spice called it "the most impressive number of the album". Professing the song "is incredibly peaceful and academically profound" she appraised the singing quality of Singh. Elaborating on how, she wrote; "Singh is in full form in an avatar that we had not seen him in till date. He proves that he's more than just a pleasant voice but also that he's very credible and versatile. There's a new sense of maturity to his voice we'd not heard before".[23] Sankhayan Ghosh of The Indian Express declared the song as the best of the album. He further added that Singh "is making it a habit to get the best tunes". Gosh felt that interlude of the song is "very similar" to "Mashallah" from Saawariya (2007).[24]

Mumbai Mirror writer, Anand Holla calling it "the standout track" eulogise the use of instruments in the song and explained; "Arijit Singh's persuasive voice lights up this slow-paced hymn to love".[25] Bryan Durham of The Times of India saying "Laal Ishq" is one of those tracks that seem situational and moody, mentioned that it has a "for-all-times quality". He further stated that the instruments used in the song is "top-notch".[26] Prakshid Meshram of Music Aloud was contented with the "soulful" singing by Singh and the use of the supporting chorus in the right place.[27] Mitesh Saraf from Planet Bollywood wrote; "The composition flows like a soothing poetry around Arijit's refined mesmerising vocals".[2]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2014 6th Royal Stag Mirchi Music Awards Upcoming Lyricist of the year Siddharth–Garima Won [2]
4th Gionee Star Global Indian Music Academy Awards Best Playback Singer – Male Arijit Singh Nominated [28]
8th RMIM Puraskar Awards Best Sung Song (Solo) [29]

References

  1. ↑ Subhash K. Jha (21 October 2013). ""Ranveer and Deepika gave it all for the songs of Ram Leela" – Sanjay Leela Bhansali". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mitesh Saraf (2 October 2013). "Ram-Leela – music review by Mitesh Saraf". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Ram Leela (2013) – Laal Ishq". MySwar. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Minnie Mahendru (27 August 2013). "Sanjay Leela Bhansali buzzes for 'Queen' Kangana Ranaut". Total Film. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Saniya Tabani (22 November 2013). "Goliyon Ka Raas Leela Ram Leela Film Review". Divanee. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ram-leela (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Sanjay Leela Bhansali". iTunes. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Laal Ishq Song – Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela ft. Ranveer Singh & Deepika Padukone". Eros Now. YouTube. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Namrata Thakker (27 November 2013). "Ram-Leela song Laal Ishq: Arijit Singh’s voice leaves you mesmerised!". BollywoodLife. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Talat Aziz to host ghazal show on radio". Business Standard. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Stacey Yount (22 November 2013). "Ram-leela Exclusive! Writers Siddharth and Garima: "It was a great experience working with a man who understands the importance and depth of every written word."". Bollywood Spice. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Priya Gupta (21 December 2013). "Bollywood music report Jan – Dec 2013: The year of new voices and romantic songs". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Indian iTunes top 100 list of 18 November 2013". iTunes Archive. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Mauritian iTunes top 100 list of 20 November 2013". iTunes Archive. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Atta Khan (12 October 2013). "Ram-Leela enters the chart with a bang, 'Boss' moves up and 'Phata Poster Nikha Hero' stays!". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Rajiv Vijayakar (17 October 2013). "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela (2013) – Music Review". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Music Review: Ram-Leela". NDTV. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Yashika Mathur (9 October 2013). "Music review: 'Ram Leela' music beautifies romance, love and deserves to be heard". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  18. ↑ Rafat (25 October 2013). "Music Review : Ram-Leela". Glamsham. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Mohar Basu (6 October 2013). "Ram-Leela Music Review". Koimoi. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  20. ↑ Tejaswi (10 October 2013). "Music Review: Ram Leela – Makes you wait for the film". Parda Phash. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  21. ↑ Dhiren Trivedi (4 October 2013). "Ram-Leela music review: Soulful, soothing and surreal!". BollywoodLife. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  22. ↑ Joginder Tuteja (12 October 2013). "Review: Folk flavour dominates Ram-Leela's music". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Prathna Tiwari (3 October 2013). "Ram-leela Music Review". Bollywood Spice. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  24. ↑ Sankhayan Ghosh (11 October 2013). "Music Review of Deepika, Ranveer's 'Ram-Leela'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  25. ↑ Anand Holla (17 October 2013). "Music Review of Deepika, Ranveer's 'Ram-Leela'". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Bryan Durham (24 October 2013). "Ram-Leela Music Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  27. ↑ Prakshid Meshram (6 October 2013). "Ram-Leela: Music Review (Bollywood Soundtrack)". Music Aloud. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "4th Gionee Star GIMA Awards Film Music Nominees". GIMA. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  29. ↑ "RMIM Puraskar Awards 2013 Winners". awards.giitaayan.com. Retrieved 14 March 2014.

External links