Reviewed by Mandeep Bahra
mandeep@indolink.com

Anand Raaj Anand has experimented with new ideas in all his soundtracks. Sometimes he succeeds, though not very often. QILA is thankfully a limited success.

"Wah Bhai Wah" is an unusual creation in the form of a group song. "Song" may be the wrong word as there isn't actually any singing going on. The lyrics are 'chanted' to the rhythm of the drums and Udit Narayan and Poornima do a fine job in leading the chorus.

Amit Kumar makes a welcome re-appearance in "Kurte Ki Banhiya". This one is a loud "masti" number with vocal support provided by Udit Narayan and Preeti Uttam Singh. It takes some getting used to, but the end result isn't bad.

Sadhana Sargam may be one of the finest singers in films today, but "Prem Hai Radha" doesn't really showcase her talent. The song becomes somewhat tiresome and Sadhana seems to lose interest herself!

Alka Yagnik is more 'alive' in "Tere Bin O Dilbar", but to be fair, Alka is helped by a more ear-friendly tune. Sadhana or Alka are really not the ideal choice of voices for the evergreen Rekha. After UMRAO JAAN it's hard to picture Rekha with any other voice except Asha Bhosle!

"Mehndi Wali Raat" is a standard formula wedding song. Mohd. Aziz, Nayan Rathore, Sadhana Sargam and Preeti Uttam Singh play their parts perfectly, but the song would be better seen within the context of the film. Without the visuals this song gets a little tedious.

"Ankhiyan Ye Ankhiyan" can't decide whether it's a pop song or standard love song, (am I being too picky?). Asha Bhosle and Udit Narayan interact wonderfully, making this song a welcome additon to the soundtrack.

On the whole, QILA is worth a listen, but I don't think it will ensure hit status for this Dilip Kumar starrer!

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