{ Page-Title / Story-Title }

News Hindi

Jawaani Jaaneman song 'Ole Ole 2.0': Saif Ali Khan's iconic, but dated, song goes through the remix machine 


With Amit Mishra providing the vocals, it is Tanishk Bagchi who takes on the job of remaking the song once again.

Shriram Iyengar

Saif Ali Khan's recent workbook might reflect a fascinating and experimental phase. With Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), the actor seems to be stepping into the time-machine to return to the playboy, flirty stereotype that defined his early years in Hindi cinema. There can be no bigger signifier to that than a remix of the song that catapulted him into mass popularity, 'Ole Ole' from Yeh Dillagi (1994). 

The remix, obviously marshalled by Tanishk Bagchi, is an amped-up version of the Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen composition written by Sameer Anjaan that defined the cavalier attitude of the 1990s for many listeners. More worryingly, the song captures a 49-year-old Khan cavorting around as the inimitable playboy living up his bachelorhood. From casual one-night stands to cringy dance steps on the dance floor, the actor pulls out all the stops. To be fair, he looks to be enjoying himself. However, entertainment is subjective. 

The composition moves along similar lines. Bagchi has some great skill and does an impressive job with remaking dated songs for contemporary tastes. But 'Ole Ole 2.0' misses the mark. The composition starts off with the stylish introduction but feels a little chaotic. There are heavy mixes, with the percussion themes taking over the melody. This drowns out the harmonizing in the rest of the composition. It has the right beats, and has a groove to it, but lacks a controlled pace that allows the vocals or the lyrics to come through. 

The other problem is the switch between the vocals of Amit Mishra and Abhijeet Bhattacharya from the original. While Mishra is allowed to sing the new lyrics by Shabbir Ahmed, the song suddenly switches to Abhijeet's voice for a couple of verses, for no rhyme or reason. It can only be assumed that it was for the sake of nostalgia. 

Either way, the song feels a little dated particularly when viewed through the lens of a growing 'woke' generation. Perhaps, that will be sorted out in the storyline. One certainly hopes so. 

Jawaani Jaaneman, also starring Tabu and Alaya F, is due to be released on 31 January. Watch the song and the original below, and let us know if you are keen on watching the film

Related topics

Song review