Bade Dilwala

out of

Director: Shakeel Noorani
Music: Aadesh Shrivastava
Lyrics: Qateel Shifai, Faaiz Anwar & Dev Kohli

It is almost criminal to neglect good film music. Who cares if the movie stars a Sunil Shetty instead of a Shahrukh Khan, and a Priya Gill instead of a Kajol? It does not make the quality of the music any different. In fact, the album Bade Dilwala has much better songs than the recently released Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH). KKHH may sell more audio tapes because of its star cast, but the album's overall impact does not add up to much when compared to Bade Dilwala. Very Indian and melodious in its appeal, Aadesh Shrivastava's music (recovering from the banality that is Laal Badshah) is propped up by the beauty of Qateel Shifai and Faaiz Anwar's lyrics in most of the songs.

"Baant Raha Tha Jab Khuda Saare Jahaan Ki Rehamatein" perfectly sings Udit Narayan to Alka Yagnik (with background vocals from Shankar Mahadevan). The translation of this poignant and unforgettable tune is extremely romantic: When God was creating the world and its splendour, I asked Him to give me your loyalty and love.

The equally lovely wording of "Apne Mehboob Ki Tasveer Banane Ke Liye", courtesy Faaiz Anwar, has Udit and Alka in search of roses whose colours they can steal to create a picture of each other.

Shankar Mahadevan and Jaspinder Narula, two of my favourite singers render a version each of "Bhadke Aag Judaai Ki". The singing is incomparable, but I must admit that the lyrics are a bit of a let-down this time. Why does Qateel Shifai and virtually every other lyricist always have to go to to the extent of challenging God and religion, to prove how much people love one another? I have never heard about God being opposed to legitimate love. He may bring challenges to people's lives, but He never opposes true, pure love.

The lullaby-like, night romance of, "Jawan Jawan Hai Arzoo" replaces Udit with Hariharan to sing a duet with Alka. Udit is incomparable in the other songs, but using Hariharan in this song was a very wise decision as his soothing vocals take the song in the direction of ghazal-like appeal.

Dev Kohli writes writes Aadesh's trademark "Kya Adaa Kya Jalwe Tere Paro"-like, "Tu Tu Ru Tu Ru Ru". It is somewhat out of place in the album, but you may enjoy Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan's (?!?!) singing with a bunch of little kids. (It is the first time I have not heard Aditya Narayan's song in a children's song. I thought he had a monopoly on those?)

Alka Yagnik's "Mujeh Aisa Ladka Chahiye" is actually probably the first tune in the movie. Wonder why it comes at the end of the audio cassette, because it is well-worded and arguably almost as good in tune as similarly-themed Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge's "Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye". Hope the video does the song justice.

I have not a clue what Bade Dilwala, the film, is about. Hopefully it is neither a Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge clone - a disappointing trend these days - nor a typical Sunil Shetty dumb-actioner. Give us a film as good as the songs and the audience will hopefully flock to the theatres.