Reviewed by Mandeep Bahra
mandeep@indolink.com

A Feroz Khan Film usually provides innovative, unconventional, yet enjoyable music. PREM AGGAN gets off to a promising start with "Har Dam, Dam Bedam, Prem Aggan, Prem Aggan". This song has some amazing musical arrangements and great singing by Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan and Shankar Mahadevan. Anu Malik seems to have worked overtime on this number and his effort is clearly evident. There is some resemblence to A.R.Rahman's work which is very welcome here. The song appears in two versions: one is more sedate while the other conveys real passion. There is also a narration in English provided by Feroz Khan.

However, after this amazing number Anu Malik seems to run out of ideas. "Hum Tumse Mohabbat Karte Hain" by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Udit Narayan is quite good and also has the film's title repeated several times. This trend continues throughout the soundtrack making it difficult to determine which song deserves the honour of being the title track.

In the past Feroz Khan has introduced us to new musical talent through his movies. DHARAMAATMA showcased singer Kanchan who also sang in QURBANI, a movie that introduced us to the sounds of Biddu and Nazia Hassan. JANBAAZ was the birth of Sapna Mukherjee and also featured an english version of the popular, "Pyar Do Pyar Lo", in the form of "Give Me Love" sung well by Marion Stockley. Jolly Mukherjee made his first singing appearance in DAYAVAN, while YALGAAR introduced British bhangra man Channi Singh as music director, to the world of Bollywood! Well, PREM AGGAN introduces singer Pricilla Corner in two very average numbers. Ms Corner may have a fresh and novel sound but she's really not that impressive in her duet with Abhijeet, "Dekh Ke Tujh Ko", or in her solo, "Exercise". The former number is passable but the latter is just idiotic!

70's disco is revived in "Prem Ishwar, Ishq Khuda Hai", complete with the 'disco phrase' "Aa-ha" punctuating each line! Udit Narayan and Sapna Mukherjee somehow make it work, hats off to 'em! The music sounds like it belongs in the background of a 'Starsky and Hutch' episode!

Sadhana Sargam then provides two very formula romantic numbers that are pleasant and enjoyable, but not great works of art. The first of these is "Khatey Hain Kasam" with Udit Narayan and the second is "Tere Pyar Ki Aag Mein" with Hariharan. The singing from all three artistes is superb but they are let down by the mediocre tunes.

PREM AGGAN isn't at all bad, but if, like me, you expect a whole lot more from a Feroz Khan presentation, you may be a little disappointed.

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