By Satyajit, Bollywood Trade News Network
The name Pahlaj Nihalani is quite well known to those who have loved their cinema throughout the 80s and the 90s even till today. An able producer-director he was instrumental in launching the ageless dancing and comedy wonder Govinda (ILZAAM -1986) and also Chunky Pandey (AAG HI AAG - 1987) who was quite a successful star in the mid 80s. Pahlaj was also responsible for giving director David Dhawan his first major hit through his two Protege starrer, AAKHEIN (1993). A constant feature with most of the Pahlaj movies have been consistently good music, even for films which have not succeeded at the box-office. So let's check out the latest album from the Pahlaj Nihalani stable as this time he has teamed up with the one and only Adnan Sami.
Adnan Sami is a super talented singer who has also put in honest efforts in establishing himself amongst the top league of composers. After the great start via LUCKY-NO TIME FOR LOVE ( an album that sells even today!), the recently released SHAURYA, his next outing comes in the form of the low profile KHUSHBOO, promising mild teenyboppers delights in its lovey-dovey romantic packaging.
Recently Sami had a syrupy and engaging outing with the sweet "n" serene melody, "Dheere Dheere" (SHAURYA), and now he returns with similar mushy connotations of innocent first-love vibes in "Kyon Hai Mujhe Lagta". The soft serene arrangements deliver a soft rock cum jazz ambience where impressive sounding Adnan Sami and Shreya Ghoshal sings out with over-sentimental flair. Sami's impeccable control over synchronized tranquil melodic appeal strikes flammable affinity with modulating vocals in making it an audibly pleasing track. "Kyon Hai Mujhe Lagta (hip-hop mix)" by DJ G, DJ Kiran and Earl, synthesizes out typical club-style hip-hop dancing flair in loud and effervescent bouncy disco beat fillers that sounds too profound improvisation for this mushy love track. An enchanting "lounge" remix might have been better option to create buzz for this remarkably composed track.
It was a delight to experience Salsa dancing magic created by Adnan Sami in the impressive although unnoticed MUMBAI SALSA but the spark seems to be losing its sheen in an average sounding "Dil Yeh Kahe". It's like a lackluster, repetitive sounding ear-splitting discotheque number where loud disarrayed arrangements and unimposing lyrical works try too hard to create any impression. Shaan along with Sunidhi Chauhan tries to be extra energetic in high octave singing but fails to find the right combination of effective orchestration and catchy wordings. Even its "club remix" by DJ Amyth sounds too ordinary to make any resounding presence in its pub-culture decorum.
"Tum Jo Mile", a supple sounding mushy romantic track sounds like sluggish and unimpressive and rehashed version of "Jaan Meri Jaa Rahi" (LUCKY-NO TIME FOR LOVE) with no great results. Adnan Sami along with Mahalaxmi Iyer tries to add fresh whiff of air with their soothing vocals in Javed Akhtar's routine sounding lyrics. It disappoints for its monotonous sounding unimpressive soft rock composition that is too frail to lend shoulders to the impressive sounding vocals.
Shankar Mahadevan's brilliant rendition makes striking chemistry with svelte sounding Shreya Ghoshal in creating good-humored youthful feel about finding suitable "match" in the impressive and situational "Kya Hai Sochta Tu". Javed sahab's mischievously penned chirpy one-liners make for a remarkable presence but the catchy flair sounds too bland in its symmetrical flows. Sami's improvisation and upbeat efforts on echoing impacts, electronic sounds and percussive elements makes it an appreciable situational soundtrack.
"Badi Albeli Hai Tu", an old fashioned gypsy "item song" brings early 90's musical mood when similar sounding melodies by Anand-Milind and Nadeem Shravan made their daunting presence. It's too cliched and uninspiring and contemporaries like Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan sound wasted in emoting out outmoded shoddy wordings. DJ Kiran and Earl's trendy infusion of "pub-culture" music fails to add amusing elements in "Badi Albeli Hai Tu (Gud remix)" and it ends up as another filler substance in the album.
KK, a hot favorite in Pritam's rock ballads makes his solitary presence in somber and emotional sounding mediocre love track "Paake Tujhe". This time its not Adnan Sami but Bappi Lahiri who fails to capitalize KK's finesse by rendering out a lackluster composition that fails to conceptualize the gloomy ambience of lost love. Even Dr. Deepal Dhusia's contemporary poetry sounds soulless in its routine-sounding interludes. "Paake Tujhe (Lovers remix)" by Eric Pillai is high on beats per second with its accelerated tempo creating hullabaloo of dancing feast on floors. KK's voice is energized and enthralling disco beat fillers makes striking collision with impressive beat-juggling impacts in making it as the finest remix track of the album.
Old war horse Amit Kumar gets into "groove" of turf-war type of belligerent singing in sluggish "arena rock" mode style of soundtrack "Kisme Hai Kitna Dum". Sami's innovatory plunge into "We will we will rock you" (QUEEN) stylized recurring drum-beat patterns orchestrations is upbeat to the core. Amit Kumar impresses in modulating baritones that gels amiably with the stamping-clapping beat patterns, and a power chorus that sounds somewhat similar to anthem. If shot aesthetically and promoted aggressively, this "arena rock "track is likely to be big rage among Gen X listeners.
KHUSHBOO ends up as another "run of the mill" album that offers couple of above average to regular sounding soundtracks. After exhilarating DHAMAAL and inspiring SHAURYA, it ends up as "non-starter" for the singer cum composer Adnan Sami. Despite its low profile and unaccountable face value, it delivers some enthralling moments in couple of tracks.
Rating: 2.5/5
