Aladin

Producer: Sunil A. Lulla, Sujoy Ghosh
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Jaqueline Fernandes
Music: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani
Lyrics: Vishal Dadlani, Anvita Dutt Guptan
Singers: Anushka Manchanda, Amitabh Bachchan, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sudesh Bhonsle, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sanjay Dutt
Audio On: Eros Music
Number of Songs: 8
Album Released on: 26 September 2009
Reviewed by: Ankit Ojha- Rating: 4.5 / 10
The duo of Vishal and Shekhar (V-S), who had quite a few successful outings in Bollywood last year with Tashan (2008), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and especially Dostana (2008), are back to prove themselves in Sujoy Ghosh’s third directorial outing – Aladin, which has already created an instant impression due to its breathtaking promos.

Speaking of Sujoy Ghosh, all his films till now have had one thing in common – Vishal and Shekhar’s music. Whilst the award winning Jhankaar Beats (2003) catapulted the duo to be the next big thing, Home Delivery (2005) did little to promote their career as they ended up producing a situational soundtrack barring a few songs. But Aladin already has mammoth expectations surrounding it so do they fulfill these? Read on to find out.

The opener “Genie Rap” is a feel-good ‘ego-trip’ for Amitabh Bachchan who, as everyone knows by now, plays the Genie (although it’s strange that he is called Genius in the movie ) and has also given his vocals for this particular track. He is joined by Anushka Manchanda, who provides some electric backing vocals throughout the song, which is hip in its own way although when Bachchan starts singing, you start to feel a déjà vu, probably because his vocals sound the same whenever he sings (be it in “Come on Come on” from Baabul (2006), or “Chali Chali” from Baghban (2003). However saying that, there will be millions of Amitabh Bachchan fans who love to hear him sing and coupled with the wacky lyrics and the overall upbeat music, this is an electric hear, if only for a while.

Is this a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy track? That’s precisely the first reaction of the listener once he’s into the next track, the peppy ”Tak Dhina Dhin” . Admittedly, patches of the Vishal-Shekhar trademark come into focus in bits and spurts, but overall, you get another annoying déjà vu with this song, which has Shankar Mahadevan and Shaan in a singing duet which is well done. The lyrics (by Vishal Dadlani & Anvita Dutt Guptan) are very average though. Overall, yet another situational track which fails to impress from a purely auditory perspective.

Now this is a track which might at last find some patronage among the audience. Titled ”Ore Saawariya”, one wonders if it would have been more convenient to name the track “More Saiyyan” or “Sasur Ghar Jaana”, as the annoying chants by Sudesh Bhonsle and Amitabh Bachchan focus on these words far often! Shreya Ghoshal gives her all to pitch in a really well-rendered semi-classical performance. The lyrics are horribly written again, as pointed out by the repetitive “Sasur Ghar Jaana” etc which irritate after a while! Other than that, the beats are really good to listen to, and the arrangements are fine, but this track, like the other ones, give you that déjà vu feeling once again, which could harm the prospects of the song. A strictly okay outing.

“You May Be” demonstrates that the duo can perform well and bring back some much needed credibility. Though only a spark, it manages to bring a kind of a thehraav to the album and some much needed repeat value. This is the romantic song of the 70’s where soft rock always used to be fused with an Indian touch by the legend that was Rahul Dev Burman. The Hinglish lyrics are nice and sweet and an improvement over the previous tracks. Vishal and Shekhar lend beautiful vocals to this song that can also boast of some really good arrangements and mixing. Though this song is not meant to last long in the charts, it will generate some fan following before stepping out.

A poorer sounding version of “Deewangee Deewaangee” (Om Shaanti Om (2007)) returns for Aladin’s “Bachke O Bachke” , in which the beats, the arrangements, and the sound designing really give us yet another déjà vu. Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan, who are present in this track, have sung for the previous number as well although Shankar Mahadevan and Vishal Dadlani thankfully bring some change. Lyrics are woeful again! Yet another let-down by V-S. Period!

The last track of the album (and the listener adds to this sentence, “Thankfully!”) turns out to be “Giri Giri” , with vocals by Sanjay Dutt. Though he has sung well in the past for a number of successful songs, one wonders where he is heading with this track that sounds lame even without his vocals! But probably, like the Genie, the Ringmaster needs a song as well, so here it is. Though the lyrics are okay enough in describing the Ringmaster’s character, this is another poorly executed track by Vishal and Shekhar who end up disappointing the listener so much that by now you feel giving up on the soundtrack altogether!

“Genie Rap Remix” and “Ore Saawariya Remix” by DJ Suketu and AKS are okay, but how one wishes the originals were better so that the poor DJs could have something to go at (to mix) in the first place. Alas they too have been let down by the duo.

Overall, Vishal and Shekhar have delivered a very average soundtrack here, and considering their back to back hits last year, one wonders where the duo is heading particularly since this is a Sujoy Ghosh movie. Whilst it is yet to be seen if the music will do well on the big screen, he must be disappointed with their efforts for the soundtrack. As for the listeners, they are already well and truly over it!
planetbollywood.com

Main Aurr Mrs Khanna

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala, Sohail Khan
Director: Prem R. Soni
Starring: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sohail Khan
Music: Sajid-Wajid
Lyrics: Jalees Sherwani, Junaid Wasi, Arun Bhairav
Singers: Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal, Suzanne D Mello, Wajid, Sunidhi Chauhan, Raja Mushtaq, Uvie, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Bappi Lahiri, Shaan, Neuman Pinto

Audio On: T-Series
Number of Songs: 8
Album Released on: 08 September 2009
Reviewed by: Ankit Ojha- Rating: 7.0 / 10

Sajid Ali and Wajid Ali are back after a short break post Wanted for yet another Salman Khan flick, namely Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, a romantic comedy co-starring Sohail Khan and Kareena Kapoor and directed by Prem Soni. And considering most of the duo’s efforts in Salman Khan’s flicks have been average (save for the upbeat Partner and the variety in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, both David Dhawan films) at best, with even Wanted being mixed bag with a few tracks sounding good on a standalone basis, and a few making an impact on screen, the listener wonders if Sajid and Wajid will deliver a bona fide musical hit this time.

And guess what? They deliver a marvelous soundtrack with a variety of genres packed into a single eight-track album (with the list of eight tracks including two really impressive remixes), which might send fans of Salman Khan into mad frenzies (considering the fact that three consecutive soundtracks have been released so far in two consecutive months, including Wanted, and London Dreams other than this soundtrack).

The soundtrack boasts of a perfect opener with Don’t Say Alvida, a breezy romantic number that has the term HIT written all over it. Urdu-based lyrics (written by Junaid Wasi) that boast of an old-world nineties feel, coupled with beautiful music that boast of this strong “all-time-favorite” allure that even the listener of today cannot resist – such is the effect of the song. The soft desi dholak, with a fading background pad, along with synthesizers put on reverb, and Sonu Nigam’s fantabulous vocals make this a stunning number. Add to this combination Shreya Ghoshal, and we have a sure-shot winner that will floor the listeners and change their mind about Sajid-Wajid and their déjà vu music.

Don’t Say Alvida (Sad) is short, but the emotions Shreya Ghoshal pitches in with her vocals will floor you and make a softhearted listener shed a few tears!
The song will floor you so much that once you discover that there is a remix for it, you will be annoyed. But a few seconds into Don’t Say Alvida (Remix) by DJ A-Myth, you realize that this isn’t your regular dhinchak club mix. The ‘lounge’ element very much speaks a lot about the remix, which only places the song in an ‘urban setting’ for recollection and repeat value, as also making the song more popular among the urban audience. The people in love with the original will not hate this one; in fact, they will end up wholeheartedly accepting the new, hip pop feel which the remix provides, thereby actually making them love the song even more.
Speaking of the end of déjà vu, when it makes a sudden entry with Happening, a number true to its title considering its chartbusting status – yes! It’s a sure-shot chartbuster, though listeners get the queer feeling that this is another ‘Kajraa Re’ (Bunty Aur Babli), though they really won’t mind, the reason being that there is this energetic, foot tapping feel to it that is completely irresistible and will generate a lot of takers. Sunidhi Chauhan is at her energetic best, and Wajid (who doesn’t mind relegating himself to the backseat in this one) supports her amply. Lyrics are apt, which is why Jalees Shrewani does a good enough job in penning this track, though they aren’t really impressive when viewed from a practical perspective. However, it’s the energy of the song that infects you in the end, and you just want to dance to the track!
PUMP IT UP! That’s what Happening (Remix) by DJ A-Myth tells us to do. A fun remix, this one literally pumps things up, and stands on really well with the original as far as shelf-life is concerned. Play it loud!

Darn! How many times has the word Rabba been used in the songs of the past? Don’t the lyricists get bored? Anyway, this Jalees Sherwani written track ventures into the dangerous territory of been-there-done-that, which the listener might not get comfy with, considering there have been a gazillion better moody songs that have always had the word ‘Rabba’ getting interjected like it is the ultimate in sadness. The lyrics, speaking about the wrong turns made in life and the mistakes which result into bigger consequences, are so déjà vu (a very similar lyrical theme to ‘Tanhayee’ from Dil Chahta Hai). Even the music doesn’t save the song from being a letdown in terms of shelf-life and chartbusters, which is why Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is forcefully put on the backburner on this one, despite trying hard to give the song his trademark ‘punch’. A situational track that is a major letdown in the album so far, it is only to be seen if the track succeeds in melting hearts on screen!

Redemption though comes back with a bang – and what a big bang! Wajid comes behind the mike to give his best vocal rendition so far with Tum Ne Socha, and when paired up with Shreya Ghoshal, nothing can ever go wrong – and it doesn’t! The track has a complete pop/soft rock feel to it, and you will feel elated from the first playing second itself! Shreya Ghoshal is not just paired with Wajid this time – she equals him in every aspect, be it the singing or the space she is given. Arun Bhairav’s lyrics play around with the imagination and ask us what would happen if your loved one really did something that would shock you. Overall, a song that deserves as many listens as the listener would want to – as this one is an addictive delight that is a winner all the way!

Mrs. Khanna – David Dhawan soundtrack meets Shankar, Ehsaan Loy’s ‘Pretty Woman’ from Kal Ho Naa Ho? Oh well, at the end of the first listen, the only two images I conjured up in my mind were the posters of Coolie No.1 and Kal Ho Naa Ho. In an attempt to find out why, I discovered that this track has a connection – a David Dhawan feel, with a déjà vu of Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy’s ‘Pretty Woman’ included in the mix. The lyrics by Jalees Sherwani are no great shakes, but really, the song is enjoyable, what with this really good mix of singers in this one song – Shaan being the pick of the lot. The others, namely Sunidhi Chauhan, Bappi Lahiri, Neuman Pinto and Suzanne D Mello give ample support. The bhangra beat (which turns out to be a constant, in-your-face reminder of 'Pretty Woman') might annoy you for a bit, but in the end, it turns out to be a fun number that one can listen to when in an upbeat mood.

So, what does one get in this album? It is this rare album that has this amazing collection of singers which will floor you – starting with Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal, all the way till Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (who turns out to be a bit of a disappointment actually), the singers are here to impress, and the music grows on you. This is good, as it is a long time after the collaboration of Partner that Sajid-Wajid have made a ‘complete’ album which leaves you satisfied by the end of the playlist. An album that is a must-keep in your collection if you like a variety of genres!
-planetbollywood.com

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