KAHIN PYAAR NA HO JAAYE

out of

Producer: Narendra Bajaj
Director: K. Murali Mohan Rao
Music: Himesh Reshammiya
Lyrics: Sudhakar Sharma & Rajesh Malik

Reviewed by: Mandeep Bahra
mandeep@indolink.com

Himesh Reshammiya gets his second full soundtrack after DULHAN HUM LE JAAYENGE, (he usually has to share the music credits). Himesh composed some lively, peppy, fun numbers for that David Dhawan flick, and looked set to soar in bollywood. However, his latest soundtrack is rather disappointing and explains why Himesh is usually only roped in to compose one or two songs (a la HELLO BROTHER, PYAAR KIYA TO DARNA KYA, BANDHAN,etc.).

The album opens with the title track, "Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye" which is pleasant enough. Nothing mind-blowing or engaging, but easy on the ears with good singing from Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu. The song is very similar to the multitude of Sanu-Alka duets composed by Himesh in the past.

The next track, "Savariya" displays the inherent weakness in Kamaal Khan's voice. I cut this guy some slack in his first song for PKTDK, but he doesn't seem to have improved in the last two and a half years! Thankfully, this dance track is saved to a certain degree by Alka Yagnik who zips through the number with ease. Unfortunately, Alka's rendition only further highlights Kamaal's shortcomings as a singer.

Kamaal further accentuates his vocal disabilities in the inane, "Aa Meri Life Bana De". Sonu Nigam would have been a better choice for both this song and "Savariya". Sunita Rao's rendition is not much better - maybe it's just Himesh's tune and Rajesh Malik's pedestrian lyrics that are the real criminals here.

Kamaal redeems himself with the group song, "O Priya O Priya". However, he is helped by a brilliant tune and able support from Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik and the long-in-hibernation Nitin Mukesh. The song is reminiscent of Himesh's composition, "Hai Na Bolo" from DHLJ, and is the most enjoyable number on the album.

Three versions of the boring "Pardesi" are included on the soundtrack. WHY?! This Sonu Nigam-Alka Yagnik duet gets really tiresome after about thirty seconds! FAST FORWARD PLEASE!!! The blame for this song belongs entirely to Himesh Reshammiya - the singers do their jobs well, but don't exactly have much to work with here.

The dull and lifeless wedding song, "Dhin Tana" somehow manages to sound sedate despite a rhythmic beat. Kumar Sanu's rendition is dreadful, and unforgivable given his recent good singing in DEEWANE, DHADKAN, JUNGLE, KAHO NAA PYAR HAI, etc.

The album ends with a Parody song by Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam and Kumar Sanu. The trio sing their way through hit songs, old and new, with lyrics altered to fit the situation, (girls-teasing-boys-teasing-girls scenario). Sonu sings brilliantly, impersonating Mohd. Rafi, Daler Mehndi, KK, and Kishore Kumar, while Kumar Sanu handles a couple of old Kishore Kumar songs. This number is obviously supposed to be funny, but will probably only be appreciated in the film. However, what is hilarious here, is Alka Yagnik's attempt at singing "Rangeela Re" and "Tanha Tanha". She really can't handle such numbers - she's much more at home with her sweet-love-song image, which she carries off perfectly.

If you're looking for 'bubble gum' songs to chew over for a while and then spit out, then this album will fit the bill. The only song to savour here is the brilliant, "O Priya O Priya".