Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao

out of

Producer: Prakash Mehra
Director: Harry Baweja
Music: Rajesh Roshan
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Audio on: Venus

Reviewed by: Narbir Gosal
narbir@indolink.com

Rajesh Roshan has been having a super year so far. Kaho Na...Pyar Hai is still selling big and the music climbed the charts very quickly. Kya Kehna may not have been as innovative but it provided the audience with some beautiful numbers. Even Karobaar has at least three great songs (Sunona, Muajo Mein, and Arzoo Ki Rahon Mein). But his latest offering for Harry Baweja's much delayed film is nothing short of pure rubbish. It is apparent that Rajesh Roshan was bored while composing the songs, and most of them seem like a rush job. It's obvious that he keeps his best for brother's films.

For those of you who came in late, this film was launched almost 4 years back. Dastak and Tere Mere Sapne had just released so Mukul Dev and Arshad Warsi were considered hot property and signed for the film. Rekha was making a comeback and Naseerudin Shah was experiemnting with insane roles (hence taking on this one). Suman Ranganathan and Pooja Batra were signed as the female leads and later Pooja backed out. The film began shooting under the title 'Tumse Aacha Kaun Hai'. But a few months into shooting it was stopped and then revived a few years later, and now audiences will have to suffer through three hours of this 'comedy' (but then it's your own fault for buying the ticket).......but enough about the film, let's get to the songs.

The album starts off with the listenable, and eventually likeable number Naach. Rajesh Roshan uses his signature percussion rifts, and yes, you will hear the tabla, like all other Roshan numbers, this one has a faint rift. The lyrics are no great shakes, but it's interesting to hear the long chains of words flow freely from the vocalists mouths. Sukhwindara Singh is his usual self, he lets himself go and his distinct voice gels well with the track. Hema Sardesai lends ample support, and it's great to hear her after what seems like eons away from the movie scene. Overall the track is uplifted thanks to commendable vocals and catchy music.Verdict: Chartbuster

But after Naach it's all gonna be downhill guys. Next up we have Deewane Yunhi Nahi Aah Gaye, once you listen to the track you'll be saying Yeh Deewane Kyon Aaye? Sukhwindara Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan get lost in this track. Their vocals are good but somewhere the track falters. The main fault lies in the music arrangement. There are too many instruments in the composition and it seems like they're trying to take each other over. Another thing about the song which annoyed me at least was the change in tempo, although the pace is well maintained, Roshan saab uses a different rift every two seconds. Lyrically the song is not impressive. The annoying chorus doesn't help either, they make the track sound sinister. Verdict: Fast Forward Please!

Jadoo Jadoo is anything but magic, Rajesh saab tries to go for a more Arabic feel with the track but the song falls flat on it's face. Sukhwindara (was there a shortage of male vocalists?) sings yet again and it seems with each track on the album he gets more annoying. Jaspinder Narula on the other hand does a good job. Her voice has an amazing capacity and although she doesn't really get to do anything special in this track, she is still a pleasure to listen to. Lyrics again are nothing great. One thing that I couldn't get out of my mind after listening to this track was how much the screaming of Jadoo Jadoo sounds like Meri Galiyon Mein from Dharmatma. Remember Hema slowly walking into the celebration and everyone screming Reshma Reshma, well relpace that with Jadoo Jadoo and you'll see what I mean. Verdict: Not even remotley listenable!

Side B starts off with an interesting track. Kahoji Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai is potpurri of sounds. Rajesh Roshan gives us a predominatley latin feel with the track but he includes Arabic rift, some fast paced westernized beat, and then a sitar and tabla rift to include the easternized beats. And each new sound is introduced with every verse, it's a good experiment which will either win you over or not. The lyrics for this one are a little more decent but still nothing to write home about. Sonu Nigam comes as a relief after we were bombarded with the three previous Sukhwindara tracks. Even more he sounds great in the track and carries the vocals with ease. Pop singer Anaida joins him and her sultry seductive voice provides a compliment to the many flavours within the track. She has a seductive voice but she can't match Sonu's vocal capacity. Verdict: Listen to it again, you might like it.

Thehro ends off the last of the vocal tracks and what a horrible way to end the album. The music is the same old Rajesh Roshan stuff, the banjo, the subtle fast paced beats, even the singing by Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan is nothing special. The lyrics which haven't really been noteworthy for the whole album are anything but good. But then again it may be because it's a semi situational song. Verdict: A great way to put yourself to sleep.

So there you have it, like I told you before nothing special. Music is average and lyrics are definitely not earth shattering. The singers rise above the silly music, and do their best, but there is only so much you can do before bad music catches up to you. Although Naach and Kahoji Tumse Aacha Kaun Hai are listenable the mediocracy of the other tracks is what stands out. And for those of you who like to torture youselves there are intrumentals of Naach and Jadoo Jadoo included, so enjoy (I suppose).

What's more the cover design is tacky and confusing. I mean who's romancing who? We have Rekha and Arshad Warsi (craddle robbing at it's peak form), and then Arshad with some new girl, and then we have Mukul and Suman, and then Suman with Naseerudin. And Rekha and Naseerbhai together. The film looks like it has flop written all over it and Harry better pray for a miracle after the debacle of Deewane. For those of you who are curious go and buy the cassette or else wait for the film and dare to watch it. If you like the songs get the audio, or else you may be screaming, Mujhe Is Audio Se Bachaao!