Reviewed by Ramesh Kainthla
kainthla@indolink.com

In 1997, Anu Malik has composed music for some of the well publicised (and subsequently successful) movies (Judwaa, Virasat, Border and yet to be released Ishq). He has also composed music for some hyped but not so successful "Auzaar", "Hameshaa", "Himalay Putra" and "Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi and critically acclaimed "Tamanna". "Iski Topi Uske Sarr" has certainly not been written about much (not at least till now), but will it be successful?

Anu Malik, Style Bhai, Jaswinder and chorus start with a lively group dance number titled "Panjabi panjabi" written by Dev Kohli. It has mixture of English, Hindi and Panjabi wordings, a nice "bhangra" beat with a style reminiscent of today's popular pop-bhangra/rap albums coming out of UK. Style Bhai do their part well during rap. The song will be liked particularly by those who are into remixed music.

"O dupatte se tere kare chhedkhani, hawaon ko itni izzazat na dena" is a nice romantic duet sung by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal and well written by Rani Malik. It reminds of Mahendra Kapoor song "Mera pyar woh hai ke" from 60's movie "Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi" (Music O.P. Nayyar), especially the way Udit Narayan sings the paragraphs. However, being 90's song it has more music and is faster in pace.

Faiz Anwar written, "Paagal tujhe main kar doonga ek din pyar mein" is a typical Anu Malik tuned song sung by Kumar Sanu. The style has been heard in several Anu Malik movies.

"Sabhi ko daulat ka chakkar" written by Shyam Anuragi and sung by Vinod Rathod, Anu Malik and Aditya Narayan (cassette cover does not show Aditya's name) is in the style of "East or West, India is the best" song from Anu Malik's earlier hit "Judwaa". Here instead of "Wah wah" we have "Main kya karoon?" which reminds of another song from sixties "Sikandar ne Porus se ki thi ladai, to main kya karoon?". The song is at best a poor adaptation of the "Judwaa" song.

While the chorus keeps on saying "O ye o ye", Suchitra Krishnamurthy sings "Tumhi se chura lenge tumko" in her sultry voice (lyrics by Pt. Visheshwar Sharma). The song is probably for a club dance sequence.

Abhijeet and Alka Yagnik lend their voices to a rehashed Anu Malik tune in a song titled "Pehli baar mil ke" written by Faiz Anwar.

The album suddenly popped up from nowhere and it appears will probably fade away in the sea of big star cast movies coming out at the end of this year and beginning of next year.

As a special note to cassette companies: They should be careful in what they put on the cover. For example, there is supposed to be "Jhalak" on side A, but there isn't one.

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