The May 27 release Waiting, directed by Anu Menon and starring Kalki Koechlin, Naseeruddin Shah, Suhasini and Rajat Kapoor, is the kind of independent drama-oriented film that seems to have little scope for music. Yet, the movie has four songs because if it didn’t, it would be a challenge to market its niche and metro-targeted narrative. The soundtrack has been composed by Mikey McCleary, who has worked on advertisement and movies, including Chennai Express (2013), Bombay Velvet (2015) and Margarita With A Straw (2015).
Anushka Manchanda and Nikhil D’Souza sing “Tu Hain Toh Main Hoon”, a dreamy pop ballad backed by a soft rhythm on the guitar, drums and a harmonious melody reminiscent of jingles featuring adolescents in the first flush of saccharine-sweet romance. The lyrics are by Manoj Muntashir.
In “Got My Eyes For You”, McCleary goes for the swinging sixties, singing in a throaty voice and revving up the retro tune with saxophone, horns and pipes. It sounds like he’s putting a spin to “Baar Baar Dekho” (Chinatown, 1962). The rambunctious send-up works into a neat twist on the dance floor.
Anushka Manchanda returns to sing the laconic “Waiting For You” with McCleary. It’s similar in arrangement to “Tu Hain Toh Main Hoon”, with the same twee sound.
Kavita Seth and Vishal Dadlani sing “Zara Zara”, possibly the only Bollywood song on the otherwise mellow soundtrack with its ambient sounds, high-pitched vocals and grandeur. The lyrics are by Ankur Tewari.
The songs are pleasant but not memorable, partly because the lyrics don’t go beyond greeting-card sentiment.