Reviewed by: Akhlaq Hussain
akhlaq@indolink.com

GOVINDA is finally returning to the big screen after the debacle of HUM TUM PE MARTE HAIN and this time the film features CHICHI in a Govinda-like film which will appeal to both masses and classes (unlike the image change he tried in Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain). The film is HADH KAR DI AAPNE and is being set for an April release. The music is by ANAND RAAJ ANAND who also did the music of PARDESI BABU, Govinda's last film with director MANOJ AGARWAL.

The soundrack begins with the peppy TITLE number sung by UDIT NARAYAN and KAVITA KRISHNAMURTHY. It is easily one of the better songs we have heard in recent times and brings the spark that is required for a "hit" number. Udit suits the song well and Kavita does a decent job of bringing out the "teasing" nature of the song. One cannot even imagine it being picturized on anyone else but GOVINDA after listening to it.

Next we have BEQARAR MAIN BEQARAR, a fast track sung by SONU NIGAM describing the hero's plight in the search of his true love. Sonu does a very good job at bringing out the liveliness in the song. After this we have the OBLIGATORY PUNJABI number by the current PUNJABAN QUEEN JASPINDER NARULA, the song is called KUDI KUNWARI. The track is probably one of the major highlights of the album and brings Jaspinder in full form, a definite rewind on the tape deck or repeat on your CD player for all you Jaspinder fans. While most guys wouldn't mind having the "kunwari" RANI MUKHERJI after them, it seems our hero in the film does have a problem as the song implies.

Following this we have OYE RAJU, an emotional number sung by music director ANAND RAAJ ANAND describing the effects of falling in love. The song is a nice break from the first three fast tracks but may ruin your feel of the soundtrack if you enjoyed the first 3 numbers. It is sung well by the music director and shows that if he fails at music direction he can always line up at ANU MALIK's office replacing Anu's singing (if it can be called that).

PHIR TOTE SE BOLI MAINA is next with a whole array of singers like ANURADHA PAUDWAL, UDIT NARAYAN, SUDESH BHOSLE, VINOD RATHOD, and ANAND RAAJ ANAND. It is a passable number describing the pace of life in "PARDES" (the film is set in the UNITED STATES). Udit Narayan dominates the song while the supporting artists do an adequate job at giving him a hand.

Another group song follows but this time a parody number TURI RURI RAPPA. It features ANAND RAAJ ANAND, ANURADHA PAUDWAL, VINOD RATHOD, MOHD. AZIZ, and VIBHA SHARMA. There are several good parodies like YEH PARDA HATA DO, JHOOLE JHOOLE LAAL, etc. and is easy on the ears unlike some parody numbers in the past which have you running for the fast forward button, of course IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA is in the parody and no prizes for guessing why.

The soundtrack next features MUJHE KUCH TUMSE HAI KEHNA with UDIT NARAYAN and VIBHA SHARMA. Although inspired from the BOBBY classic "MUJHE KUCH KEHNA HAI," this version is sung very well by Vibha who is coming back after her stint in some forgettable MITHUN starrers and ISHQ. Udit as usual is excellent and suits Govinda very well as you can imagine ChiChi singing the song to Rani and no one else.

We have an instrumental version of the title track included also and a short repeat of BEQARAR MAIN BEQARAR by ANAND RAAJ ANAND to close the soundtrack. Anand does quite a good job at this shortened version of the song but why it is called "THEME SONG" on the back of the audio label only T-SERIES knows.

All in all, HADH KAR DI AAPNE is PAISA-VASOOL (worth your money) for almost everyone as it has fast and slow numbers. It has all the ingredients of a good sountrack, a good title track, a fine item number (kudi kunwaari), and a decent parody song, what more could somebody ask for in this day and age of fly-by-night songs. As for the film it is basically a PINK PANTHER mystery where we have GOVINDA playing an NRI-detective for the first time. It also has ChiChi paired with his current LADY LOVE RANI MUKHERJI for the first time but don't worry the duo will be seen together again in less than a month after HADH KAR DI AAPNE's release in CHALO ISHQ LADAYEN. Let's just hope with Govinda doing another comedy the audience doesn't say HADH KAR DI AAPNE.