Kaagaz song 'Laalam Laal': This item number by Pravesh Mallick lacks pizzazz

Pravesh Mallick's composition for Satish Kaushik's upcoming satire, Kaagaz, misses the mark. Composed by Mallick, the song is a dance number that conforms to the stereotypes surrounding dance forms in and around Bihar and fails to bring anything to the table musically.

The song takes place, typically, at a celebratory event that has been organised for a local MLA (member of legislative assembly). Amid the festivities, Pankaj Tripathi's character, Bharatlal, turns up, hoping to speak to the leader. Naturally, the poor man gets carried away with the exuberance of the spectacle and joins in the dance. The song serves to underline the corruption and underhandedness that leads to Bharatlal being declared dead without evidence. 

The song features Sandeepa Dhar as the main dancer, and the actress does her best to amp up the energy. However, Mallick's music lacks pizzazz. The composition follows the standard format of item songs in terms of phrasing, tone and rhythm. Singers Rajnigandha Shekhawat and Sawani Mudgal are on point and possess the appropriate timbre. But the tune falls short in the innovation department and it comes across as yet another item number that will fade into obscurity.

 Kaagaz, which stars Tripathi, features Monal Gajjar and Amar Upadhyay and will be premiered online on Zee5's OTT platform on 7 January 2021. 

Check out the song below and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.