I do agree with your thought that a lot of the music in the movie isn't necessary and slows the plot down, but I do think some of it adds value to the film.
For example, sandwiching a song featuring Karan and Prakash joyfully singing about friendship and the rosier parts of the character's childhoods between scenes featuring Kishan screaming like a madman and chasing desperately after Karan as he obliviously goes to the car and Prakash's death helps to underscore the joyful innocence that Karan still sees life through, only for it to be shortly taken as his childhood friend dies in his arms. The song plays a role in showing the height of Karan's innocence and carefree nature before the remainder of the film shows his progressive corruption until he becomes the victim of the prophecy he originally warns Kishan about.
The second musical aspect I thought was interesting is in the first song with Karan and Paro in her apartment. As Karan and Paro finally start to become closer after Paro realizes that Karan did not play a role in Prakash's murder, the two go into an overly-cheerful, almost cheesy song about the strength and beauty of their love. As Paro is about to serve Karan dinner (which I interpreted as foreshadowing the simple, domestic life they wish to one day spend together), the power cuts out and the music stops abruptly, almost as if the city itself is trying to snap the two lovebirds out of it and show them the dark path where their love will leave them. Undeterred, Karan promises Paro he will never leave her (a promise he of course cannot keep), lights some candles, and the song resumes, only to be stopped abruptly again by someone breaking one of Paro's windows. A reminder that even now there are those who seek to harm Karan (and possibly Paro by extension) and that the lovers will always be pursued by pain and violence. This is reinforced in the second musical scene between Karan an Paro, where after Karan places the wedding ring on Paro's finger, Kishan abruptly storms into Paro's home and drags Karan out, warning him that he will die if he testifies.
I thought the decision to put these moments directly into the middle of the song was a good way to add some tension to the story, creating a surprising moment of action during a part of the movie where one isn't expecting it. To me it helps to ground musical scenes that can sometimes exist in a quasi-space between plot and non-plot.
But those are just my thoughts and I do think most of the other musical scenes mainly provided little to nothing to the story and disrupted an otherwise well-paced movie.
Appreciate your thoughts, Bman! The composition of the Karan Paro number is definitely unique and helps build the tension what's ever-present throughout the movie. Moreover, it's a beautiful song to listen to on its own. Thought, I can't help but wonder if the movie would be stronger without it.
Loved the movie and this writeup.
I do agree with your thought that a lot of the music in the movie isn't necessary and slows the plot down, but I do think some of it adds value to the film.
For example, sandwiching a song featuring Karan and Prakash joyfully singing about friendship and the rosier parts of the character's childhoods between scenes featuring Kishan screaming like a madman and chasing desperately after Karan as he obliviously goes to the car and Prakash's death helps to underscore the joyful innocence that Karan still sees life through, only for it to be shortly taken as his childhood friend dies in his arms. The song plays a role in showing the height of Karan's innocence and carefree nature before the remainder of the film shows his progressive corruption until he becomes the victim of the prophecy he originally warns Kishan about.
The second musical aspect I thought was interesting is in the first song with Karan and Paro in her apartment. As Karan and Paro finally start to become closer after Paro realizes that Karan did not play a role in Prakash's murder, the two go into an overly-cheerful, almost cheesy song about the strength and beauty of their love. As Paro is about to serve Karan dinner (which I interpreted as foreshadowing the simple, domestic life they wish to one day spend together), the power cuts out and the music stops abruptly, almost as if the city itself is trying to snap the two lovebirds out of it and show them the dark path where their love will leave them. Undeterred, Karan promises Paro he will never leave her (a promise he of course cannot keep), lights some candles, and the song resumes, only to be stopped abruptly again by someone breaking one of Paro's windows. A reminder that even now there are those who seek to harm Karan (and possibly Paro by extension) and that the lovers will always be pursued by pain and violence. This is reinforced in the second musical scene between Karan an Paro, where after Karan places the wedding ring on Paro's finger, Kishan abruptly storms into Paro's home and drags Karan out, warning him that he will die if he testifies.
I thought the decision to put these moments directly into the middle of the song was a good way to add some tension to the story, creating a surprising moment of action during a part of the movie where one isn't expecting it. To me it helps to ground musical scenes that can sometimes exist in a quasi-space between plot and non-plot.
But those are just my thoughts and I do think most of the other musical scenes mainly provided little to nothing to the story and disrupted an otherwise well-paced movie.
Appreciate your thoughts, Bman! The composition of the Karan Paro number is definitely unique and helps build the tension what's ever-present throughout the movie. Moreover, it's a beautiful song to listen to on its own. Thought, I can't help but wonder if the movie would be stronger without it.