Reviewed by Akhlaq Hussain
akhlaq@indolink.com

VIMAL KUMAR was perhaps the first member of the GOVINDA camp way before DAVID DHAWAN, HARMESH MALHOTRA, etc. joined in and Vimal returns now with Rajaji, the latest CHICHI comedy caper.

The soundtrack begins with a passable Kumar Sanu-Alka Yagnik duet "Raja Chalo Akele Mein." The song has the heroine(RAVEENA again) teasing our Raja.

Next we have Sanu again but with Sapna Mukherjee in "Sunday Ki Raat Thi." It is pleasant to hear Sapna again and this is perhaps one of the better numbers in the soundtrack. Incidentally this is also the number used to promote the film, quite odd a "slow" number is being used to promote a Govinda film.

Following this we have "Tere Pyar Ne" with Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan (just lending to the background, no verses). It is a nice, pleasant number describing the effect of love on a person.

Next we have the obligatory ChiChi title track sung by Vinod Rathod. The song describes Govinda's character in the film, which is of a care-free, get-rich, lazy man.

Udit Narayan returns in the next track "Resham Wale Kurte Pe," which is the typical hero-teasing-heroine number and needs no mention.

"Rut Nai Nai" follows with Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan and fill the void of the "rain" song which has been a feature in all of Vimal's films(except CHOTE SARKAR for some odd reason). If Rajaji gets stuck with the censors, it will be most likely with this number.

"Tere Pyar Ne" follows again but with Udit leading and Alka lending background vocals. For some odd reason I preferred the Alka version but one can take their pick.

The soundtrack ends with a "risky" wedding number "Sasuji Taro Lala," by Poornima who seems to have been eclipsed ever since JASPINDER NARULA entered the scene. With songs like this, I don't think Jaspinder has to worry about losing her current top position with the music directors. I say "risky" since the song deals with the wedding night escapade.

RAJAJI fails to impress, for the main reason being that there is no "item" number which is required for all "hit" GOVINDA films. If DULHE RAJA had "Ankiyon Se Goli Maare,", BMCM with "Kisi Disco Mein Jayein," and ANARI NO. 1 with "Deewani Kudi Dil," etc. then one would think Vimal
Kumar should ask either Anand-Milind or another music director to fill this void. Otherwise, this soundtrack will occupy the shelf of most music shops. As for a peek into the film, it revolves around a poor boy who dreams about becoming rich the easy way, by marrying a rich girl. Unfortunately our Raja meets a girl whom he thinks is rich and finds out only after marriage that it was her friend who was the rich one, she is actually poor like him. After the truth comes out, Raja's bride leaves him and Raja's father insists that Raja must win his "bahu" back through hard work. The film has a great comedic supporting cast in KADAR KHAN, ARUNA IRANI, SHAKTI KAPOOR and SATISH KAUSHIK. All in all, I see the film being enjoyable, perhaps filling the void of the music being barely passable.