Warning: major spoilers ahead!!
Sex with the Ex from Lust Stories 2 (2023)
This show is available for viewing on Netflix
Song: “Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” by Kumar Sanu & Sadhana Sargam
The evergreen classic song “Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” from the 1990 movie “Jurm” was placed in various forms throughout this short film written and directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Composed by Rajesh Roshan and beautifully rendered by Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam, this alluring melody has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
Vijay, a womaniser married to a millionaire’s daughter, encounters his presumed-dead ex-wife in a strange town, only to realise his own death in an accident caused by his unfaithfulness.
“Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” acts as a melodic thread that ties together the various plotlines in “Sex with the Ex”. Appearing in the film during 3 completely different scenarios and contexts, it serves as a powerful tool to convey the complexities of Vijay’s relationships and the consequences of his actions.
It appears first as the opening to the film, playing on the car radio while Vijay is driving, while watching his lover strip on video call. The lyrics in the moment might represent the sweet nothings and empty promises sleazy man like him would make to a beautiful woman in exchange for her trust, attention and lustful exchanges.
A refreshing and unexpected rendition of the same song appears soon after in the form of a lively choir practice, led by Vijay’s ex-wife Shanti, missing for over a decade with no explanation. As the choir sings to a rising crescendo, Vijay’s confusion, and his misplaced feelings of love and lust grow.
The song also marks the end of the film, and it’s climactic twist. The same section of the song that played in the film’s opening is now stuck playing on loop as his dead body is being pulled out of the twisted and burning wreckage of his vintage car. He realises then that he didn’t survive the crash; Paraisol is the afterlife, Shanti his grim reaper, and his dishonest, lustful ways that brought about her demise, are his own reckoning as well.
“Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” is a well thought-out choice for it’s multiple placements in the film, on many levels. One facet that stands out immediately is the clear lyrical juxtaposition – the lyrics of the song promising an everlasting bond, but playing only during moments of conflict or betrayal.
There’s definitely something to be said about the musicality of the song as well. The song chosen had to be something instantly recognisable and something with a strong yet simple melody to work with the choir scene. “Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” with it’s Western Contemporary composition does that and more, it provides a whimsical retro feel to the film.
Other than just that song, the background score of the film is diverse, impactful, modern and full in its musicality. At its relaxed moments, it takes a fair amount of support from ambient sounds and background music, keeping it somewhat grounded, which works in the film’s favour.
Though the music in the film is powerful and wrought with intention, the intended message of this story is somewhat ambiguous to me. It leaves room for interpretation, but one possible moral could be a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked desire. The narrative vividly illustrates the potential consequences that may arise from excessive indulgence, demonstrating how lust, when taken to extreme measures, can wield a destructive power capable of leading to demise and devastation.