King of Kotha is the soundtrack to the 2023 film of the same name directed by Abhilash Joshiy and produced by Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films and Zee Studios, starring Salmaan in the lead role. The film score is composed by Jakes Bejoy, who also contributed five songs for the soundtrack with Shaan Rahman composing three songs. The lyrics for the songs were written by Muhsin Parari, Asal Kolaar, Roll Rida, Joe Paul, Fejo, Manu Manjith and Travis King, whereas Mani Amudhavan, Krishna Kanth, Rambabu Gosala, Kunwar Juneja, did the same for the dubbed Tamil, Telugu and Hindi versions, respectively. After being preceded by two singles, the soundtrack was released under the Sony Music India label on 23 August 2023, a day prior to the film's release.
| King of Kotha | |||||
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.png) Malayalam edition cover | |||||
| Soundtrack album by | |||||
| Released | 23 August 2023 | ||||
| Recorded | 2022–2023 | ||||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | ||||
| Length | 27:02 | ||||
| Language | |||||
| Label | Sony Music | ||||
| Producer | |||||
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| Jakes Bejoy chronology | |||||
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| Shaan Rahman chronology | |||||
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| Singles from King of Kotha | |||||
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Background
editKing of Kotha is Bejoy's second and Rahman's maiden association with Salmaan. Bejoy added that the due to Salmaan's popularity across languages, he wanted the film's music to have a wide appeal. Hence, the use of artists from various states had to be essential; the song "Kotha Raja" had Chennai-based rapper Asal Kolaar, and Hyderabad-based Roll Rida performing rap verses for the song which was predominantly had Malayalam lyrics.[1] The song "Kalapakkaara" was composed with the intention of being popular in Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.[2]
The musical score had a North Indian element which blended with the western orchestra.[3] Bejoy began recording the film's background score by June 2023 and completed it within mid-August.[4][5] He eventually took specific importance on recording music for the promotional materials—the themes featured in the motion poster ("People of Kotha") and teaser were released separately. The theme "People of Kotha" had two more renditions apart from the original versions: an "edgy" and "contemporary" version.[2] Salmaan also provided him suggestions on designing the themes and background score, so that it could suit the film well.[2]
Before signing King of Kotha, Rahman worked on nearly six to seven films, where he would compose one or two songs a day. This had affected him professionally slowing his progress on composition, where he described it to be a composer's block. When Abhilash signed Rahman for the film, a friend of the composer asked him on he would provide pre-composed music for the film, which had offended him. Eventually, Rahman composed three songs for the film, to overcome the creative slowdown.[6]
Release
editSony Music India acquired the film's music rights for around ₹2–6 crore ($US240,000–600,000).[7][a] The theme song "People of Kotha", which had vocals and lyrics by Travis King, and featured in the film's motion poster was released separately,[11][12] as well as the teaser theme.[13]
On 28 July 2023, Salmaan's birthday, the makers unveiled the song "Kalapakkaara" as the first single from the album; an item number, featuring Salmaan and Ritika Singh,[14] the song is performed by Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghoshal and rapper Fejo.[15][16] The track "Ee Ulakin" was released as the second single on 18 August, it is a romantic number picturized on Salmaan and Aishwarya Lekshmi and the song was performed by Sreejish Subramanian.[17][18]
The eight-song soundtrack was released on 23 August 2023, a day before the film's release.[19]
Reception
editAnandu Suresh of The Indian Express wrote "Jakes Bejoy's background score too is dominant in the technical side of King of Kotha. Unlike the criticism faced by the recent action thriller Jailer for the overuse of the Alappara theme, Jakes creates distinct tracks for different moments and employing the main King of Kotha theme only as needed. Throughout the film, his tracks shine consistently, offering a cohesive experience in line with its tone."[20] Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express summarized: "Jakes Bejoy's fittingly rousing score acts as a neat cushion without being intrusive."[21] Janani K. of India Today wrote "Jakes Bejoy's score elevates every single mass sequence."[22] Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India described the "thumping background score by Jakes Bejoy is like icing on the cake".[23]
Regarding the song "Kotha Raja", the critic reviewed it as "The song's pulsating beats and catchy melody evidently strike a chord with the masses".[24] While the song was appreciated by netizens, it was criticized for its poor placement.[25][26] Some were also critical on Rahman's three of the compositions being excluded from the film.[26]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kotha Raja" | Muhsin Parari, Asal Kolaar, Roll Rida | Jakes Bejoy | Asal Kolaar, Dabzee, Roll Rida, Resmi Sateesh | 4:33 |
| 2. | "Kalapakkaara" | Joe Paul, Fejo | Jakes Bejoy | Shreya Ghoshal, Benny Dayal, Jakes Bejoy, Fejo | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Ee Ulakin" | Manu Manjith | Shaan Rahman | Sreejish Subramanian | 4:02 |
| 4. | "King of Kotha" (Title Track) | Fejo | Shaan Rahman | Fejo, Nithya Mammen | 3:02 |
| 5. | "Doore" | Manu Manjith | Shaan Rahman | Sreejish Subramanian, Shaan Rahman | 3:52 |
| 6. | "People of Kotha" | Travis King | Jakes Bejoy | Travis King, Shatadru Kabir, Anand Sreeraj, Jakes Bejoy, Niranj Suresh, Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | 1:32 |
| 7. | "King of Kotha" (Teaser Theme) | Instrumental | Jakes Bejoy | Instrumental | 1:38 |
| 8. | "Kalapakkaara" (Karaoke) | Instrumental | Jakes Bejoy | Instrumental | 4:12 |
| Total length: | 27:02 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kalaattaakaaran" | Mani Amudhavan | Jakes Bejoy | Jakes Bejoy, Benny Dayal, Haritha Balakrishnan | 4:12 |
| 2. | "En Uyire" | Mani Amudhavan | Shaan Rahman | Sathyaprakash | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Kotha Raja" | Muhsin Parari, Asal Kolaar, Roll Rida | Jakes Bejoy | Asal Kolaar, Dabzee, Roll Rida, Resmi Sateesh | 4:33 |
| 4. | "King of Kotha" (Title Track) | Mani Amudhavan | Shaan Rahman | Yogi Sekar, Nithya Mammen | 3:02 |
| 5. | "Neere" | Mani Amudhavan | Shaan Rahman | Kapil Kapilan | 3:52 |
| 6. | "People of Kotha" | Travis King | Jakes Bejoy | Travis King, Shatadru Kabir, Anand Sreeraj, Jakes Bejoy, Niranj Suresh, Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | 1:32 |
| 7. | "King of Kotha" (Teaser Theme) | Instrumental | Jakes Bejoy | Instrumental | 1:38 |
| Total length: | 22:50 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hallaa Machaare" | Krishna Kanth | Jakes Bejoy | Jakes Bejoy, L. V. Revanth, Sindhuja Srinivasan | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Naa Oopire" | Rambabu Gosala | Shaan Rahman | Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Kotha Raja" | Muhsin Parari, Asal Kolaar, Roll Rida | Jakes Bejoy | Asal Kolaar, Dabzee, Roll Rida, Resmi Sateesh | 4:33 |
| 4. | "King of Kotha" (Title Track) | Rambabu Gosala | Shaan Rahman | Aditya Iyengar, Nithya Mammen | 3:02 |
| 5. | "Neere" | Naresh Mamindla | Shaan Rahman | Naresh Mamindla | 3:52 |
| 6. | "People of Kotha" | Travis King | Jakes Bejoy | Travis King, Shatadru Kabir, Anand Sreeraj, Jakes Bejoy, Niranj Suresh, Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | 1:32 |
| 7. | "King of Kotha" (Teaser Theme) | Instrumental | Jakes Bejoy | Instrumental | 1:38 |
| Total length: | 27:02 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jala Jala Hai" | Kunwar Juneja | Jakes Bejoy | Jakes Bejoy, Sahil Solanki, Shilpa Surroch | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Yeh Dil Mera" | Kunwar Juneja | Shaan Rahman | Amit Mutreja | 4:02 |
| 3. | "King of Kotha" (Title Track) | Kunwar Juneja | Shaan Rahman | Varun Likhate, Nithya Mammen | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Aankhein" | Kunwar Juneja | Shaan Rahman | Bhanu Pratap Singh | 3:52 |
| 5. | "People of Kotha" | Travis King | Jakes Bejoy | Travis King, Shatadru Kabir, Anand Sreeraj, Jakes Bejoy, Niranj Suresh, Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | 1:32 |
| 6. | "King of Kotha" (Teaser Theme) | Instrumental | Jakes Bejoy | Instrumental | 1:38 |
| Total length: | 27:02 | ||||
Background score
edit| King of Kotha | |
|---|---|
| Film score by Jakes Bejoy | |
| Released | 15 September 2023 |
| Recorded | 2022–2023 |
| Genre | Film score |
| Length | 27:02 |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Producer | Jakes Bejoy |
The film's original score, which consisted of 53 tracks running for one hour, was released by Sony Music India on 15 September 2023.[27]
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Is Kotha" | 1:02 | |
| 2. | "Raju's Childhood" | 1:53 | |
| 3. | "SI Shahul Hameed" | 0:20 | |
| 4. | "Kannan and Team" | 0:45 | |
| 5. | "King Killer" | 0:46 | |
| 6. | "K Team" | 0:31 | |
| 7. | "Shahul Insulted" | 1:20 | |
| 8. | "Eye for an Eye" | 0:37 | |
| 9. | "Manju" | 0:47 | |
| 10. | "Glorious Past" | 0:38 | |
| 11. | "Friendship Theme" | 0:32 | |
| 12. | "Kotha Ravi" | 0:35 | |
| 13. | "King's Arrival" | 1:27 | |
| 14. | "Ranjith Bhai" | 0:59 | |
| 15. | "Gandhigram Entry" | Travis King | 1:32 |
| 16. | "Rathinakallu" | Kapil Kapilan | 0:43 |
| 17. | "Tara" | 0:20 | |
| 18. | "Football in Kotha" | 1:59 | |
| 19. | "Library Love" | 1:03 | |
| 20. | "Happy Birthday Ponnu" | 0:39 | |
| 21. | "There for You" | 1:09 | |
| 22. | "Ranjith's Gift" | 1:20 | |
| 23. | "Godown Fight" | 1:17 | |
| 24. | "Broken Love" | 1:41 | |
| 25. | "Leaving Kotha" | 1:32 | |
| 26. | "Shahul's Plan" | 0:32 | |
| 27. | "In Lucknow" | 1:34 | |
| 28. | "Back in Kotha" | 1:09 | |
| 29. | "All of Them Gone" | 0:55 | |
| 30. | "Kannan Meets Madrassi" | 0:53 | |
| 31. | "This Is Not the Old Kotha" | 0:59 | |
| 32. | "Matriculation to PHD" | 1:41 | |
| 33. | "Rathinakallu" (Reprise) | Kapil Kapilan | 1:28 |
| 34. | "Manju's Plan" | 2:15 | |
| 35. | "K Team's Fight" | 5:10 | |
| 36. | "Father's Death" | 1:33 | |
| 37. | "Where is Raju?" | 0:50 | |
| 38. | "Attack in Disguise" | 0:42 | |
| 39. | "Target 1" | 0:40 | |
| 40. | "Payback" | 2:05 | |
| 41. | "Face to Face" | 0:25 | |
| 42. | "Return of the King" | 0:57 | |
| 43. | "POV Fight" | 0:57 | |
| 44. | "Raju's Fury" | 0:50 | |
| 45. | "Kotha Blaze" | 1:08 | |
| 46. | "The Faceoff" | 0:57 | |
| 47. | "Kannan Pleads" | 0:45 | |
| 48. | "Ranjith's Son" | 1:38 | |
| 49. | "You Were the One" | 0:59 | |
| 50. | "Conclusion" | 1:03 | |
| 51. | "Shimla" | 1:02 | |
| 52. | "Dev Gujjar" | 0:50 | |
| 53. | "Raju Madrassi" | Travis King | 2:24 |
| Total length: | 61:36 | ||
Notes
edit- ^ The Times of India initially reported the sale of the film's audio rights to be ₹2 crore (US$240,000),[8] whereas OTTPlay and India Today reported it to be ₹6 crore (US$720,000).[9][10]
References
edit- ^ PH, Ameena Mehrin (15 September 2023). "Outta da hoods". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Features, Express (19 August 2023). "Jakes Bejoy Interview: We should celebrate indigenous music". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Harsh, B. H. (6 September 2024). "Saripodhaa Sanivaaram composer Jakes Bejoy: I am feeling true Telugu love now". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
[Vivek] liked the King of Kotha soundscape, which had a Maharashtrian element and north-Indian percussions. We blended western orchestra with these beats, which sounds very different.
- ^ "Jakes Bejoy begins scoring background music for Dulquer Salmaan's 'King of Kotha'". The Times of India. 1 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "'King of Kotha' music composer Jakes Bejoy overwhelmed by the pre-release buzz and love". The Times of India. 21 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Krishna, Gayathri (5 April 2024). "Varshangalkku Shesham star Shaan Rahman – 'I was in composer's block until King of Kotha came up' | Exclusive". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Dulquer Salmaan's King Of Kotha Music Rights Sold To Sony Music At Record Price? Deets Inside". News18. 15 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Music rights of Dulquer Salmaan's 'King Of Kotha' sold for a whopping amount". The Times of India. 13 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Dulquer Salmaan's King of Kotha digital, satellite rights sold for this jaw-dropping record sum?". OTTPlay. 8 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Srinivasan, Latha (8 July 2023). "Dulquer Salmaan's King of Kotha sets record in Mollywood pre-release business". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "King of Kotha promo introduces key characters of the Dulquer Salmaan starrer, watch video". The Indian Express. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Motion poster of Dulquer Salmaan's 'King Of Kotha' to arrive today!". The Times of India. 23 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Bejoy, Jakes (1 July 2023). "King of Kotha (Teaser Theme) [From King of Kotha] – Single". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Apple Music.
- ^ "Ritika Singh joins Dulquer Salmaan's 'King of Kotha' for a special song". The Times of India. 13 November 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "First single 'Kalapakkaara' from Dulquer Salmaan's King of Kotha out". Film Companion South. 29 July 2023. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "'Kalapakkaara' song from Dulquer Salmaan's 'King Of Kotha' out!". The Times of India. 28 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "King of Kotha's romantic track 'Ee Ulakin' releases". The Times of India. 21 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (20 August 2023). "Second Single from King of Kotha is here". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Bejoy, Jakes; Rahman, Shaan (23 August 2023). "King of Kotha (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Apple Music.
- ^ Suresh, Anandu (24 August 2023). "King of Kotha review: Dulquer Salmaan's skillfully-crafted gangster film fails to offer a gripping narrative". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Shrijith, Sajin (25 August 2023). "'King of Kotha' film review: Sturdy, satisfying gangster epic with ample highs". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ K., Janani (24 August 2023). "'King of Kotha' Review: Dulquer Salmaan's film is salvaged by technical excellence". India Today. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Kotecha, Ronek (24 August 2023). "King Of Kotha Movie Review: A tighter edit could have elevated this power-packed gangster spectacle". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "'Kotha Raja' song reigns supreme in 'King of Kotha'; Twitterati erupts in applause". The Times of India. 24 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Kotha Raja song from King of Kotha out". Cinema Express. 26 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ a b "King of Kotha Twitter review: Dulquer Salmaan's film is 'disappointing'". Hindustan Times. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Bejoy, Jakes (15 September 2023). "King of Kotha (Original Background Score)". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Apple Music.