Reviews

DILLAGI - OST
Venus, Rs. 45
Isn’t there a saying of too many cooks spoiling the broth? Well, the music of Sunny Deol’s debut as a director, Dillagi, suffers from one music director too many. The profusion of musical styles and sounds that the four music directors - Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Jatin-Lalit, Sukhwindara Singh and Anand-Milind - bring with them certainly imparts variety to the songs, but this is not a harmonious effort.

The soundtrack comes packed with ten tracks and the best of the lot, by a wide margin, is the Anand-Milind tuned, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan rendered lament Tanhai. Listening to the late Nusrat sahab feelingly render Javed Akhtar’s potent lyrics is a goose-pimpling affair. This is a welcome back to form for Anand-Milind, who have been conspicuous by their absence in the big league.

Shankar-Ehsan-Loy (S-E-L) contribute three songs to the soundtrack, and except for the peppy title-track this is a below-par effort from them. Previous S-E-L efforts have been emotionally evocative and connective, but on Raahon Mein Chhayee and Kya Yeh Sach Hai the emotional edge is missing from their compositions.

Jatin-Lalit, who get solo-credit on the sleeve, contribute four songs including an unabashed copy of Billy Idol’s rocking Money Money (Koi Nahin Aisa) to the tape. The blatant plagiarism apart, this is an uninspired effort from the duo. Of the other three, the devotionally plaintive Yeh Zamin Hai is a cut above the rest. The other two - Han Han Yeh Pyar Hai (which has a big swing sound with a fat horns section) and Mein Kya Karoon - occupy also-ran status.

The two Sukhwindara Singh tuned tracks, Dhoom Dhoom Luck Luck and Sangeet, will appeal to the die-hard Punjabi aficionado, but listeners elsewhere will find little appeal in the tracks. Lyrically this is a mixed bag from Javed Akhtar who swings between the sublime imagery of Tanhai to the mundane expediency of Kya Yeh Sach Hai. Obviously, like the music directors, he took needed to be more inspired.

SHABDAVEDHI (Kannada OST)
Magnasound, Rs. 45
Although the record label says that this OST is selling like the proverbial hot cakes in Karnataka, this still is an under-par effort from music director Hamsalekha for a film that signals Dr. Rajkumar’s come-back to acting. Considering that he hadn’t appeared in a full-length role for over seven years, one would have expected much better music than is evidenced on the tape.

Rajkumar is featured in five of the six tracks on the soundtrack, and gamely wades through the five highly unmelodic tunes, which come in a mish-mash of styles. The songs may well make sense on screen, but they make little sense on the tape. The sudden change in chords on most of the songs is a little off-putting. Dr. Rajkumar’s voice, of course, has lost none of its power, but even that cannot stop the listener from switching off.

ABB MAIN VENGABOY - Baba Sehgal
Virgin, Rs. 50
Baba Sehgal was nothing if not gimmicky. So it is not entirely surprising that on his latest Virgin-set, Abb Main Vengaboy, he turns the entire album into one big gimmick. That’s not to say that this is a bad album, but the sense of forced humour that runs through the album does grate a little.

On Venga Venga Vengaboy - which is NOT a tribute to that best selling band - Baba blends a fast groove with fun lyrics to score bulls-eye. The gimmick really takes hold in Masti Aani Aani, where rapper Baba confronts bhangra star Harjeet Singh, and continues with Baba taking pot-shots at cricket and Banarasi paan in Haiya Ho. Baba rocks n’ rolls in Ooh Baby Baby, does a straight-forward bhangra number in Yaara Dil Daara, gansta’ raps in Meri Janoo (which is an ode to Baba’s ghost) and does world music in Ai Yai Yai Yo. My favourite track on the album is the melodic Pyar De Do Pyar Le Lo, which is a very good tune. On the rest of the album Baba sounds like he is suffering from multiple-personality disorder!

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL INDIPOP
Sony Music, Rs. 65
This is a combined effort by four music labels - Sony, Milestone, Virgin and Rajshri - to beat the pirates at their own game. While not being the definitive Indipop collection, the compilation will still find favour for its pricing and for its okay-dokey songs.

There are thirteen songs on the compilation including Ab Ke Sawan (Shubha Mudgal, Virgin), Kya Soorat Hai (Bombay Vikings, Sony Music), Vah Vah (Alisha, Virgin), Intezaar (Annamika, Milestone), Kudi Jach Gayi (Milind Ingle, Rajshri Music), The Eternal Chant (Biddu, Virgin), Tootak Tootak (Malkit Singh, Virgin), Sayonee (Junoon, Milestone), Dekha Hai Aise Bhi (Lucky Ali, Sony Music), Lady (Colonial Cousins, Sony Music), Pehla Din Hai College Ka (Manohar Shetty, Rajshri Music) and Aap Ki Dua (KK, Sony Music). As can be seen this isn’t the definitive set on Indipop, but is good enough for a few rewinds.

UNCOMMON & UNRELEASED
Virgin, Rs. 65
This is a swell way of extending the shelf life of a record label’s repertoire as well as garnering invaluable word-of-mouth for as yet unreleased artists and songs. On Virgin’s latest eight-track compilation one finds three previously unreleased tracks cohabiting with five artists currently in release.

The three unreleased tracks include a droning love ditty from Shaan titled Tujh Sa Na Koi, Beena Mistry’s peppy Ghungroo (It’s A party), and the all-girl band Caliche’s Dekho Tum Jidhar. If these songs are teaser-trailors of the forthcoming albums of the artists then Virgin will need to do a lot of product development on them before releasing them.

Songs already released include Dere Dere by Shubha Mudgal (from the album Ab Ke Sawan), Bhangara Paun Nu by Malkit Singh (from the Greatest Hits Remixed collection), an upbeat version of Alisha’s Love Around the World which was a bonus track on the Dil Ki Rani CD, Biddu’s Dance Mantra from his Eastern Journey set, and Haiya Ho from Baba Sehgal’s current set Abb Main Vengaboy. The title notwithstanding, this is a routine set.

PIYA SE MILKE AAYE NAIN - Hema Sardesai
Tips, Rs. 55
Hema Sardesai teams with bhangra pop composer Jawahar Wattal to come up with this album for Navratri. Since Wattal is associated with dance numbers and since the album is for the occasion of merriment, all the eight numbers have a foot-tapping rhythm. Yet there is something lacking by way of both, singing and composing. Wattal’s music lacks the finesse associated with today’s quality pop albums. It sounds more like music coming from an orchestra. Also, he has nothing new to offer, with some of the songs conveying a jaded sound or a feeling of deja vu. O Mister dil phaink is one such song. Sardesai, flying high with a lot of hit film songs to her credit, is good, but there is no variation in her singing. One has had enough of her oohs and aahs.

Of the eight songs, the title song is the best since it is catchy. Kas mas kas mas, Chain gaya dil ka and Hamaari gali aaya karo are passable. Chandaniya hai raat sung by Rajendra Kachroo is borrowed from traditional Gujarati folk. The album will remain a favourite only as long as the festival is on.

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL LOVE 2
PolyGram, Rs. 125
The super-success of the first part of this series has spurned the music company to come out with the second compilation. This one picks 16 of the latest and most romantic songs sung by the creme de la creme of the pop scene. What’s more, all the songs have been repeatedly played on all music channels, so most of the songs are on your lips. There’s the slow Shania Twain number From this moment sung sensuously, the touching Backstreet Boys number As long as you love me, the Spice Girls’ swan song Viva Forever, 98 Degrees’ Invisible Man, The Moffats’ Miss You Like Crazy, Lighthouse Family’s deep Postcard From Heaven, Janet Jackson’s That’s The Way Love Goes, 911’s You’re the Best Thing, MLTR’s Nothing to Lose, Aqua’s lilting Turn Back Time from the soundtrack of the film Sliding Doors, and Steps’ foot-tapping One for Sorrow (which has been wrongly printed as One for Arrow). Now that’s what music buffs would call a ‘wow’ compilation. Can’t miss out on this one.

DHOLI TUZA DHOL WAJE (Marathi)
Krunal Music, Rs.35
The lyrics written by Raghunath Matkari with Paresh Shah as music arranger have the pace and beat eminently suited for dandiya. There are ten tracks on side A and 12 on side B and singers Karsan Sagthiya, Kirti Sagthiya, Sarita Pathare, Sanjay Sawant, Sameer Sherla, Santosh Prabhu, Alifiya, Aradhana, Sharmili, Lara and Chang have rendered the lyrics with gusto — Me Gokulcha Kanhaa, Waje waje dhol waje, Gopika natliya on side A and Ratra aali re Navaratrichi, Hatat waajte bangdi, Nakhara ga nakhara and the repeat Waje waje dhol waje with which the audio ends, deserve special mention.

All in all, the album has the necessary ingredients to please dandiya revellers during the on-going Navaratri festival.


NAVARATRICHE NAO ROOP (Marathi)
Krunal Music, Rs.35
An album of devotional songs, most of them rendered in aarti style in prayerful supplication of Goddess Amba and Goddess Durga, will surely be in demand during the on-going Navaratri festival. Navaratricha utsav kela sung by Devyani is easily the best piece and should prove popular with young girls. All the songs are eminently hummable including Navaratrila nao roop and Ambe bais ga simhawar rendered by Madhuri Wilson, Durge durghat tujween sansari by Vaishali Samant, Jai Devi jay Devi by Meenal Rao, Ude ga Amba ude by Vinayak Hirwale and Jai Durga jai Ambe an aarti jointly rendered by Ravindra Bijur and Madhuri Wilson and with which side B of the album appropriately ends. Each song is prefaced by a brief introduction and helps the listener understand the content, although this was not strictly necessary since the words and expressions are simple and easy to grasp.

Ashok Wayangankar, as music arranger, has done a competent job.

AADISHAKTI MATA SHIVSHAKTI (Marathi)
Venus, Rs.30
An audio cassette consisting of seven devotional songs addressed to Goddesses like Amba, Saptashrungi, Ekveera and Jeevdaani. Timed with the on-going Navaratri festival, the album is a Vesavkar Aani Mandali presentation with music by Vijay Kathin. The music has the flavour of Koli folk tunes with the end piece on side B, Aadishakti mata Shivshakti, being a gondhal rendered effectively by Ravindra Sathe, Shakuntala Jadhav and Shrikant Narayan. There are seven songs in all, the remaining six being Aai mazi Ambabai and Chait saptamichya dini rendered by Sadhana Sargam, Jeevdaani dongri by Anupama Deshpande, Hinglay yesava baisali by S. Shailaja and Haati ghetale by Shakunta Jadhav.

There are brief introductions before each song (written by Anant Pawaskar and spoken by Archana Prabhudesai) which are meant to familiarise the listener with the background and deeds of the Goddess and are quite helpful.

SAI SHRI DEVA MAYI BAPA (Marathi)
Sangeet, Rs. 35
This is a devotional album designed to acquaint the listener with the saintly life of Sai Baba, his humane nature and his good social work. The album follows a continuous recitation format with the lines Sai Deva Om Sai Deva used as a refrain, as is done in bhajan and aarti.

The commentary has been credited to poetess Shyamal Khedekar, while music has been composed by Mangesh Samant and Kumarjeet. Ravindra Bijur, who has lent his voice to the songs, brins out the inherent piety of the tracks in an effective manner. This album is a must for all Sai Baba devotees.

MAHAMRITYUNJAYA
Garima Music, Rs. 55
The first thought on coming across this album is that it is just one more addition to the already flooded devotional music market. Then you see that the well-known Sanskrit mantra, credited with life-giving powers is recited by Shubha Mudgal. And you pick it up, just to listen to her voice. But what comes as a pleasant surprise is not Mudgal’s outstanding voice (her phenomenal prowess is only too well-known) but the presentation of the album.

It begins with Maglacharan, a hymn in praise of the Lord Mahamrityunjaya (another name for Lord Shiva) followed by Avahan and Stuti, all woven into elegant compositions by Pandit Bhajan Sopori, the accomplished Santoor exponent. Then begins the japa or recital of the main mantra by Mudgal, supported by Mallika Banerjee and Jeetendra Singh.

The 108 chants of the mantra are sung in the ancient, traditonal style of Sanskrit recitation, with Mudgal’s flawless voice and pronunciation ringing loud and clear, taking the listener to near trance-like state. A must for those love this kind of music.

Sandeep Belagaje, Salma Khatib, Manoj Soral and Pandit Shimpi.