Lootera is the soundtrack album to the 2013 film of the same name directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, starring Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. The film's musical score and songs is composed by Amit Trivedi which featured six songs written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Trivedi composed the songs that resembled the 1950s style of Hindi film music and utilized a live orchestra for the score. The musical album was released on 7 June 2013 via T-Series and received positive reviews from critics. Monali Thakur won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Sawaar Loon" amongst other accolades.

Lootera
Soundtrack album by
Released7 June 2013
Recorded2012–2013
StudioAT Studios, Mumbai
YRF Studios, Mumbai
AM Studios, Chennai
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length25:32
LanguageHindi
LabelT-Series
ProducerAmit Trivedi
Amit Trivedi chronology
Bombay Talkies
(2013)
Lootera
(2013)
Ghanchakkar
(2013)

Development

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Amit Trivedi composed the film's soundtrack and background score in his second collaboration with Motwane after Udaan (2010). The music sets the tone for the film and has to be set in the style of old Hindi film music which had to be melodious and lyrical. As a result, Trivedi opted to keep two antaras followed by a mukhra in the songs, to match the musical style of the 1950s.[1] He further collaborated with the Chennai String Orchestra to record the orchestral portions for the score.[2]

While discussing the film's music, Motwane cited the song "Piya Tose Naina Laage Re" from Guide (1965) as a reference. This influenced him to compose the track "Sawaar Loon" which gave him "an idea about the kind of vision he had and I just followed that".[3] Monali Thakur performed the vocals for the song, after Trivedi recommended her as she previously sung for his composition "Aga Bai" for the film Aiyyaa (2012).[4] Bhattacharya had written a phrase in Bengali for the song, but the crew liked "Sawaar Loon" which had him to connect the lyrics to the mukhra of the song that worked out very well.[5]

The song "Zinda" was not supposed to be in the album. He composed the song when he was going through a tough time personally, where he used a harmonium and came up with tune and lyrics of the mukhra that became the climax of the film.[3] Bhattacharya felt that rewriting the mukhra was not possible and had to be responsible while writing the impactful antaras.[5] The song "Shikayatein" was composed and written in Goa, where Trivedi and Bhattacharya were holidaying.[5] "Monta Re" has its musical influence from the Baul musical tradition of Bengal.[2]

All the songs were composed and recorded in a single session, without retakes.[3] Trivedi described the film's music as a tribute to R. D. Burman in terms of melody and orchestration.[6][7]

Marketing and release

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On 17 May 2013, the makers unveiled the video of the song "Sawaar Loon" through social networking pages,[8] and ten days later, they released another video for the song "Ankahee".[9] The six-track album was exclusively made available on iTunes on 29 May 2013.[10] The album was released on 7 June 2013 at PVR Cinemas, Juhu in Mumbai with the cast and crew, along with a musical performance by Trivedi, Bhattacharya, Shilpa Rao and Swanand Kirkire.[11]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Lootera's soundtrack received positive reviews from critics. Sankhayan Ghosh of The Indian Express assigned three-and-a-half out of five and stated, "Lootera has the kind of sublimity that will grow with time, and work even better with the film."[12] Yashika Mathur of Daily News and Analysis also rated the same and described that the album has "fine compositions" and a "relaxed compilation of songs".[13] Devesh Sharma of Filmfare wrote "with the zany, experimental Ghanchakkar and the period feel of the present album, he seems to be going great guns" calling it as "another winner from Amit Trivedi".[14] Suparna Thombare of Bollywood Life called the album as "entirely sombre, with melancholic undertones, making you yearn for some variety in mood and change in energy".[15] Karthik Srinivasan of Milliblog stated, "Trust Amit to spring back with a vengeance from his recent middling state"[16]

However, a reviewer from Firstpost wrote "Lootera disappoints because only Sawaar Loon and Monta Re match up to our expectations of the magic we expect in an Amit Trivedi soundtrack."[17] Writing for the same website, in their best Hindi film albums of the past decade, listed Lootera and called it as "exquisitely chiseled" and "delicate", calling it as "possibly the most underrated soundtrack of the last 10 years".[18]

Accolades

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Accolades for Lootera
Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
BIG Star Entertainment Awards Most Entertaining Singer – Female Monali Thakur for "Sawaar Loon" Nominated [19]
Filmfare Awards Best Music Director Amit Trivedi Nominated [20]
[21]
Best Lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya for "Shikayatein" Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Monali Thakur for "Sawaar Loon" Won
Global Indian Music Academy Awards Best Female Playback Singer Nominated [22]
International Indian Film Academy Awards Best Female Playback Singer Nominated [23]
Mirchi Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated [24]
Producers Guild Film Awards Best Lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya for "Sawar Loon" and "Ankahee" Nominated [25]
Best Female Playback Singer Monali Thakur for "Sawaar Loon" Nominated
Screen Awards Best Female Playback Singer Nominated [26]
Zee Cine Awards Best Music Director Amit Trivedi Nominated [27]
Best Background Score Nominated
Best Lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya for "Shikayatein" Nominated
Best Playback Singer – Female Monali Thakur for "Sawaar Loon" Nominated

Plagarism allegations

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The notes from the song "Shikayatein" was used in the background score for the first promotional trailer. Following its release, speculations arose that the theme was similar to Rachel Portman's score suite composed for One Day (2011).[28] However, Motwane clarified that it was derived from a small sourced bit (from the song "Shikayatein") was developed as a theme for the trailer, but also sounded similar to the theme which was coincidental.[29] Trivedi further got in touch with Portman to explain the similarities between those two themes which was amicably solved later.[30]

Track listing

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The track listing was revealed on 29 May 2013 on the official social network page of the film.[31]

All lyrics are written by Amitabh Bhattacharya

Lootera (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Sawaar Loon"Monali Thakur4:15
2."Ankahee"Amitabh Bhattacharya4:35
3."Shikayatein"Mohan Kanan4:30
4."Monta Re"Swanand Kirkire3:58
5."Zinda"Amit Trivedi4:01
6."Manmarziyan"Shilpa Rao, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Amit Trivedi4:15
Total length:25:32

References

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  1. ^ "Amit Trivedi used 50s format for Lootera music". The Times of India. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Amit Trivedi uses orchestra to compose for 'Lootera'". IBNLive. Network18 Group. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Vajpayee, Soumya (5 July 2013). "Lootera turns 10: I made Sawaar Loon keeping Piya Tose Naina Laage Re in mind, says Amit Trivedi". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ Ghosh, Devarsi (20 May 2018). "Monali Thakur interview: 'Reality shows gives you face value but the real war starts later". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Vajpayee, Soumya (5 July 2013). "10 years of Lootera: Amit and I were in Goa when I wrote Shikayatein, says Amitabh Bhattacharya". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ PTI (8 June 2013). "'Lootera' music is Amit Trivedi's tribute to R D Burman". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Lootera's music is Amit Trivedi's tribute to RD Burman". Firstpost. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  8. ^ Yount, Stacey (17 May 2013). "First Song: Sawaar Loon from Lootera". BollySpice.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  9. ^ Thombare, Suparna (27 May 2013). "Lootera song Ankahee: Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha's melancholic love!". Bollywood Life. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ Trivedi, Amit (29 May 2013). "Lootera (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  11. ^ "'Lootera' audio launch". MSN India. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. ^ Ghosh, Sankhayan (7 June 2013). "Music review Lootera: Scene stealer". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. ^ Mathur, Yashik (3 June 2013). "Music Review: Lootera is a romantical journey". Daily News and Analysis. Indo-Asian News Service. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  14. ^ Sharma, Devesh (2 July 2013). "Music Review: Lootera". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  15. ^ Thombare, Suparna (4 June 2013). "Lootera music review: Amit Trivedi and Amitabh Bhattacharya harmonise a poetic and poignant soundtrack!". Bollywood Life. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  16. ^ Srinivasan, Karthik (29 May 2013). "Lootera (Music review), Hindi – Amit Trivedi". Milliblog. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Lootera music review: Sawaar Loon, Monta Re make magic". Firstpost. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  18. ^ Manwani, Akshay (22 December 2019). "Best Hindi film albums of this decade, from Gully Boy, AR Rahman's Rockstar to Amit Trivedi's Manmarziyaan". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Nominations for 4th Big Star Entertainment Awards". Bollywood Hungama. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Filmfare Awards 2014: List of winners". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  21. ^ "List of winners of 59th Filmfare Awards". NDTV. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Film Music Nominations: 4th Gionne Star Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) Awards 2014 Powered By Reliance 3G". Global Indian Music Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  23. ^ "IIFA Awards 2014: The list of nominees". IBNLive. Network18 Group. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  24. ^ Parande, Shweta (28 February 2014). "Mirchi Music Awards 2014 winners: Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar honoured; Aashiqui 2 wins 7 trophies". India.com. pp. Zee Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Nominations for 9th Renault Star Guild Awards". Bollywood Hungama. 15 January 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  26. ^ "20th Annual Screen Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees". IBNLive. Network18 Group. 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Zee Cine Awards 2014: Complete list of nominations". Zee News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Anurag hits a bum note". The Times of India. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  29. ^ "Is the background score of Lootera copied?". India Today. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  30. ^ Sen, Torsha (13 September 2013). "Amit Trivedi clears the air". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  31. ^ Lootera [@LooteraFilm] (29 May 2013). "The official #Lootera songlist!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2013 – via Twitter.