Aarakshan

By Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghosal, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Raman Mahadevan, Gaurav Gupta, Rehaan Khan (Rehan), Tarun Sagar, Pt. Chhannulal Mishra, Shreya Ghosal (Shreya Ghoshal), Shankar Mahadevan

Aarakshan is the soundtrack to the 2011 Indian socio-political drama film directed by Prakash Jha, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, and Deepika Padukone. The musical score was composed by the iconic trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, featuring lyrics penned by renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi. The album skillfully balances the intense, heavy theme of government reservation policies with soulful melodies and traditional classical elements. The soundtrack received positive reviews from critics and listeners alike, who appreciated its melodic depth and thoughtful arrangements. The romantic duet 'Achha Lagta Hai', performed by Mohit Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal, emerged as a massive hit and received widespread airplay for its soothing acoustic feel and breezy composition. Another major highlight is 'Mauka', a high-energy motivational anthem sung by Mahalakshmi Iyer, Raman Mahadevan, Tarun Sagar, and Rehan Khan that captures the spirited drive of youth. Adding distinct artistic value to the album is 'Kaun Si Dory', a rich semi-classical track featuring the veteran Hindustani classical vocalist Pt. Chhannulal Mishra alongside Shreya Ghoshal. Prasoon Joshi's meaningful, poetry-infused lyrics, combined with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's sophisticated composition style, make the Aarakshan soundtrack a standout musical project in contemporary Hindi cinema.