By Joginder Tuteja, April 16, 2008 - 16:33 IST
Filmmaker Anant Mahadevan has seldom gone wrong with the choice of music for his films. Ok, so Victoria No. 203 which released last year may have been an aberration but his track record over the years - Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar, Dil Maange More, Aggar and the biggest of all - Aksar - has been pretty impressive to say the least. This is why one expects a decent score in the offering, especially with Anu Malik (arriving after a hiatus) and Sameer coming together. Eventually this is what one gets in the end - a soundtrack that is just about decent!
Shaan gets a solo for himself in the form of 'Shagufta Dil', which is pretty much early 90's and doesn't actually break any new grounds. Off late there have been quite a few heard-before-seen-all numbers sung by Shaan and 'Shagufta Dil' is yet another addition to that not-so-impressive list. The song tries to be all hip-n-happening with Western arrangements trying to pep up the feel but not to much avail. In the end, a kind of number that would hardly contribute to burning the charts, even in its Jatin Sharma created 'remix version', which hardly adds any value to the album!
While 'Shagufta Dil' hardly added on to Shaan's repertoire, 'Aashiqui' does help a little due to its intrinsic melodic value, which has a vintage Anu Malik touch to it. The chorus, which comes together with Shaan, only aids in making 'Aashiqui', a romantic track, come easy on lips. Also, the light weight arrangements do not come up with a threat of beats taking over the tune. A nice track, which makes for an enjoyable hearing.
Anu Malik fuses Rajasthani folk with Western arrangements and comes up with 'Aayo Re', which arrives first in the remix version and later in its original format. A celebration number rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan and picturized on Koena Mitra, it has a 80s feel to it and yet again doesn't quite succeed in making you dance to its beats.
Later, the original version arrives with a 'Kesariya Balam' beginning to it and stays true to Rajasthani folk for first minute and a half before Anu Malik completely twists the song and gets the fusion feel on. Well, if the composer was thinking that the song would find a place in clubs and discotheques then that doesn't seem to be happening for sure!
Last year we were witness to the title song of Dus Kahaniyaan, which had its punch coming from the word 'Dus'! This year, cue is taken from the song with a similar effect attempted to be created with the word 'Saath'. A song, which is easy on ears, primarily because of a strong deja vu feel, 'Saath', has Anu Malik himself coming behind the mike with Sunidhi Chauhan giving him company. Since the number is fast paced, especially in it's remix version, it comes and goes in a jiffy, hence making you soon look forward to what's next in the offering.
When 'Laagi Laagi' was last heard in Aksar, it had made waves. However, a song with similar title, 'Laagee Lagee' in Anamika doesn't really work. The song tries to get into the Sufi-rock mode but the effect of a genre, which Himesh Reshammiya has specialized over the years, isn't quite accomplished by Anu Malik or the singers Krishna and Sunidhi Chauhan. The song has it's chances only if accompanied by some sensual picturisation!
In Anamika, the song, which works most, is 'Aashiqui' while remaining tracks manage to pass on. If you are looking for a chartbuster as in the case of many others, Anant Mahadevan films in the past, then that is being sorely missed. Thankfully, none of the tracks is terrible to hear which makes this Anu Malik soundtrack bearable at least.
 
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