Reviewed by Mandeep Bahra
mandeep@indolink.com

Those of you who have kept a keen eye on music releases over the last few years may have come across a sondtrack by the name of SHAKTISHAALI back in 1995. This Ajay Devgun - Raveena Tandon starrer never materialised, but the project seems to have been resurrected and renamed GAIR. In doing so, the songs seem to have had a face-lift: SHAKTISHAALI was released by a small unknown music company with poor quality mono sound, while GAIR's stereo soundtrack has been released by Bombino music. Unfortunately, only four of the original songs have survived the transition, which means that the catchy rain song, "Pada Pehla Pehla Pani" (Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik), and the wedding song, "Viyah Viyah" (Bali and Alka Yagnik), are nowhere to be found on GAIR's soundtrack.

However, the four that do make it to the 1998 version are also quite enjoyable. The first of these is the foot tapping, "Tu Aaja Meri Bahon Mein". Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik are so comfortable singing with each other after so many duets that they glide through this one effortlessly. Anand-Milind's tune is easily hummable and Sameer's lyrics also boast of some effort.

Kumar Sanu and Poornima do a great job with the equally enjoyable, "Ankhon Mein Mohabbat Hai". Anand-Milind and Sameer don't exactly explore new territoy here, but at least there's some comfort in the composition's familiarity.

"Mere Dil Ne Chupke Se" is a romantic duet and is sung well by Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy. The song resembles "Ishq Mein Mere Rabba" from SANAM which was also dogged with delay problems.

"Aaj Ki Raat" is a standard offering from the Anand-Milind-Sameer trio. They have come up with countless similar numbers in the past. Even Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik's good singing can't raise this number above mediocre status.

Finally, we have two numbers that are unique to GAIR. I assume they were recorded more recently, but there is nothing obvious in the compositions to suggest this. "Laila Laila" is a 'masti' song by Sapna Mukherjee and Abhijeet, and provides much needed relief from all the romantic numbers. "Mera Dil Meri Jaan" in contrast, is very dry and easily forgettable, despite capable vocals from Udit Narayan and Sadhana Sargam. This last track was definitely a mistake; the album would have benefitted from the inclusion of "Pada Pehla Pehla Pani" instead.

The brave attempt to revamp this movie and its soundtrack may turn out to be futile, but then again, Ajay and Raveena may just surprise us all(?)