R Balki's Pad Man is the new 'superhero' in town. Based on the story of social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, Pad Man deals with ignorance about menstrual hygiene and the taboo that surrounds the subject.
Despite the social drama, the film is not devoid of a musical touch. The first song, 'Aaj Se Teri', is a touching composition that looks at Akshay Kumar's 'superhero' in a new light.
The song begins with the wedding of Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte's characters, Laxmikant and Gayatri, respectively. From the very onset of this shy and sweet relationship, Akshay Kumar's character comes across as a genial, creative Romeo. As the couple enters married life, Laxmikant dotes on his new wife.
From trying to buy her flowers that stand out from the crowd to building a carrier on his bicycle to make sure his wife is comfortable, Akshay Kumar's Pad Man does everything differently. The song touches upon the sensitivity of his character as well, and the role Gayatri plays in his decision to turn Pad Man.
The song has been sung by Arijit Singh with his usual control and lilt, giving it a lovely touch. The lyrics by Kausar Munir express the cooperative relationship that makes up a marriage beautifully, and is set to the milieu of the characters. The use of idioms like 'Pincode ka number' 'bijli ka bill' and 'teri saari galliyan' add domesticity to the expression of love.
The magic, though, lies in the simple, no-frills composition of Amit Trivedi. From the opening touch of the shehnai to the simple dholak percussion, Trivedi's composition thrives on simplicity, and allows the vocals to take precedence.
Pad Man is set to be released on 26 January 2018, when it clashes with Neeraj Pandey's Aiyaary.
Watch the song below:
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