Reviewed by Mohammad Ali Ikram
ali@indolink.com

Putting a bag over my head and walking around in public would be less embarassing than enduring the tragedy that is the so-called songs of Mere Do Anmol Ratan.  Rajesh Roshan is an undoubtedly talented music director who has given us memorable scores for movies like Kala Pathar, Mr. Natwarlal, Julie and more recently Khudgarz, Papa Kahte Hain, Khel and Karan Arjun.  Mehboob displayed a plethora of talent through his lyrics for Rangeela and Grahan.  And K. Ravi Shankar had a marvellous music score in his eighties' Shashi Kapoor-Jaya Pradha-Govinda-Neelam superhit Sindoor.  The talent of these men is in hibernation for this movie, and all the digging in the world does little to make the songs tolerable.

The album starts off with Dominique trying to do an Alisha Chinoi like rendition for "Tanha Koyi Nahin".  Too bad because it does not work because the song is meant to be sung in a very high scale, beyond the reach of Dominique's voice.  Her voice is frail enough as it is, but when she tries to sing the higher notes, you can hardly make out the words.

"Aayee Hai Pados Mein" is bearable due to the singing of Abhijeet, Jolly Mukherjee and Nayan, but Chandana Dixit's "Ayo Rabba" refrains pull the song down into doldrums.

"Ice Cream Ho Ya Woh Zindagi" has used the worst simile on the planet, trying to compare the pass-time of eating ice cream to life's trials and tribulations.  How can you listen to such an idiotic song?   It is a major waste of the the talents of Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu and Poornima, and the person who approved of the lyrics should be shot (or fed ice cream until he/she bursts). 

Kumar Sanu and an out-of-practice Anuradha Paudwal sing "Titli Ke Pankhon Jaisi" like any other average love ballad, except for the soft five second renderings at the end.  I wish the entire song was that soothing. 

"Poochho Na Kaisi Meri Maa" take the Indian hero's mother complex too far.  If it is not enough to hear lovers unjustly throw any respect for God by the wayside, Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam say their mother is as great as a Holy book and better than God.  She is a mother unlike any others; a best friend, a Holy book and better than God?  I think the ecocentric mother in this movie has been brainwashing her kids since childhood to think such idiocy.  Respect and love for parents is one thing, but this is way too much.

Sonu Nigam's mournfully-toned perfect rendering of "Mohabbat Ka Yahi" comes at the very end of the album.  Unusual to find the best song at the very end of the tape.  It seems to be the only area of creativity spilling out of the album.  The music is simple and punchy while the lyrics make sense and sound pleasant.  Even the chorus is used to full effect.  For me, any positive memory of Mere Do Anmol Ratan's music, begins and ends with this song.

It is not enough to cast an attractive heroine (Namrata Shirodkar) in your movie, and assume that people will enjoy listening to the songs for that unrelated reason.  It is not enough to put three talented people together to make an album and assume that positive results will be automatic.  It is not enough to mix some milk, cream and sugar together and assume that ice cream will be forthcoming.  Mere Do Anmol Ratan has music like that mixture on the counter.  It will never become ice cream.  And that dear listeners, is an accurate simile.

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