The portrayal of Shiva as a free-spirited god who is also the destroyer is an old trope in Hindi cinema. Bhaiaji Superhit's newest song, 'Om Namah Shivay', puts the worship of Shiva as the backdrop for the beginning of an ominous moment in the life of the protagonist played by Sunny Deol.
The song begins with visuals of Deol glugging down a glass of what we assume to be the intoxicant bhaang, a drink made from the cannabis plant, before he begins the worship of his deity.
The setting also feels ominous with Jaideep Ahlawat's villain playing the joker as he plans a break in the relationship betweeen Deol and Preity Zinta, who plays his wife.
The song has been composed by Raghav Sachar and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Aakanksha Sharma. While rock music with heavy percussions might seem a natural fit to the rebellious and iconoclastic nature of Shiva, the composition seems to founder in bringing the two disparate emotions of devotion and frenzy together.
The average and predictable lyrics by Shabbir Ahmed do not help the cause either. Sachar does redeem himself with the good use of rhythm and percussion, but the song still does not rise above the average. Sukhwinder Singh's vocals are underused while Sharma's voice does not add to the impact.
The only bright spot is the rap portion by Raftaar, which seems to flow with intensity. The use of rhythmic verses, without skipping a beat, adds to the impact of the portion. However, that is just garnish and does not make for a satisfactory meal.
Bhaiaji Superhit will be released in theatres on 23 November. Watch the song below: