Kaashh… Mere Hote Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
When a top composer (Shravan of Nadeem-Shravan fame) of an era gone by decides to become a film producer, the least you expect is a good musical score. Especially so when his own sons (Sanjeev-Darshan) are roped in as composers. However, in their near decade long career that has seen the duo composing for 15 odd films, Sanjeev-Darshan are still known mainly for their debut musical score - Mann. Of course some of the songs from their other films became popular too but if one looks at the music composed by them in last 5 years, they haven't come with a single song that has a recall value attached to it. All these factors only make Kaashh... Mere Hote, which has lyrics by Sameer, an even more important project for them.
The album begins with a hardcore Punjabi track 'Teri Naganee' which has an authentic folk feel to it. Reminding of 'Chori Chori' [Garam Masala], its effect is enhanced in the manner it has been orchestrated which gets an urban feel to it that makes one head straight for that dance floor. Written and sung by Labh Junjua (who is supported by Tripti Sinha and Shweta Pandit), it could have an instant chartbuster appeal to it had it been picturised well with better production values. However, if one ignores this and just looks at this song in isolation, it has all in it to make it to the DJ's list of favorites, especially with the faster paced 'remix version' concluding the album.
A new singer on the anvil, Shashank Singh Baba, is heard next and one can see an instant decline in the album with 'Mehbooba' based on the kind of tune which is an absolute passé. The lyrics too are set 20 years back and though Sanjeev-Darshan try to keep the pace up with the help of Western arrangements, they are hardly successful as the song fails to register any impact whatsoever.
Shashank Singh Baba returns to do another solo in the form of 'Teri Yaad' which takes it's inspiration from Himesh Reshammiya brand of music. In fact one can almost feel that Himesh would have been behind the mike for the song had it arrived a couple of years back. A love song about missing your loved one, 'Teri Yaad' is a much better track than 'Mehbooba' though still caught in a time warp.
Shweta Pandit is heard next in 'Kaashh Mere Hote' which is the first song in the album to have a Sanjeev-Darshan stamp to it. Remember the music they created for the title song of Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai? A slow moving track with a melodic feel to it, it has a sad theme to it and is later heard again in the vocals of newcomer Shaurin Bhatt whose voice comes quite close to Udit Narayan. Though yet again, there is a certain expiry date that the song comes with since music in Bollywood films has seen a vast change in last 10 years, 'Kaashh Mere Hote' can be given a couple of hearing at the least.
Shashank Singh Baba, who gets to sing his third song in the album, pairs up with Shweta Pandit for 'Rim Jhim Sawan'. Yet again, it's the same old story, and it seems that Shravan along with Sanjeev and Darshan had made up his mind that he would bring back the sound of the 90s. Nothing wrong with that but then the good intent doesn't quite get the desired results as the outcome turns out to be just about OK.
Shweta Pandit later gets to do a solo in the form of 'Dil Ye Mere Dil' which is set in an Indi-pop mode. Though the melody isn't the first of its kind and can't be classified as unique, it is still one of the better songs of the soundtrack. A soft track which moves at a leisurely pace and is unadulterated due to limited use of instruments, 'Dil Ye Mere Dil' is sweet and simple and should go with the childish image of leading lady Sneha Ullal.
Suzane concludes the album with 'Masti Bhara' which reminds one of the sound that cabaret/seductive numbers carried in the late 60s/early 70s. A song that deserves a quick skip due to utter disinterest it manages to evoke in the listener, 'Masti Bhara' is truly unwanted, especially with lyrics like 'Main Hoon Teri Raatrani'!
There is just one way to describe the music of Kaashh... Mere Hote - Dated! Majority of tracks in the album are the kind that could have been well left 10-12 years back with the only songs making some impact being 'Teri Naganee' and to an extent the title song.