Andaaz   Producer: Suneel Darshan Director: Raj Kanwar Starring: Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra, Aman Verma Music: Nadeem-Shravan Lyrics: Sameer Singers: Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Babul Supriyo, Alka Yagnik, Sapna Mukerjee and Kailash Kher Audio On: Shri Krishna International Audio    Number of Songs: 8 Album Released on: 27 February 2003 Reviewed by: Abid  - Rating: 7.5 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Movie Review

Director Raj Kanwar and musical duo Nadeem Shravan have re-teamed after the blockbuster 'Jeet', 'Deewana' and the quite successful Judaai. Given the well-tuned songs for the previous albums, expectations are bound to be high for Andaaz. Suneel Darshan has re-teamed with Nadeem-Shravan after his last album sunk without a trace, and while Andaaz has many such a high points and stories aside the glamour, the talk of the film is its two debutantes, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra who after dazzling in tinsel town hit the big screen.

Love them, hate them, the N-S team has this knack of giving chartbusting music, irrespective of the box office outcome of the movie, the most recent example is of Dil Ka Rishta, unfortunately, the situation goes both ways in which a good score won’t save a movie. In any case, their magic lies in the fact that Sameer's lyrics combined with their music (which is very earthy and simple to hum), goes down well with the masses. Here, they have come up with another good album but once again, by all means, no classic, but one much better than their recent efforts and one seemingly to win us away.

'Kisi Se Tum Pyaar Karo' has been sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik and is quite pleasing and reminds us of their earlier hit number 'Yaara O Yaara' from Jeet, aside from “Thoda Sa Pyar Hua Hai” from Maine Dil Tujhko Diya. The song being aired on all trailors is already getting popular and has the highlight romantic Nadeem-Shravan orchestration. Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik are in fine romantic form here.

Unfortunately, no major points are scored with 'Kitna Pagal Dil Hai' sung by Kumar Sanu. The song is a run of the mill N-S song but is quite melodious. The highlight being Sameer's lyrics, which are excellent.

'Allah Kare Dil Na Lage' is one of the best songs of this album and is enhanced by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik's soulful singing.

The fourth song in all probabilities is the chartbuster with the meaningful lyrics and Punjabi folk touch and what is most obvious is that it will come at a very important juncture in the movie. The four singers Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Sapna Mukherjee and newcomer Kailash impress.

Of the remaining four songs, (where one song is as usual repeated), only one song 'Aayega Maza Ab Barsaat Ka' impresses. Babul Supriyo and Alka sing it well. The qawaali touch makes the song quite classy.

We then have the Alka Yagnik version of 'Kitna Pagal Dil Hai' but it is a shade inferior, compared to the Sanu version.

'Aaj Khilna Zaroori Hai' by Udit Narayan and Alka and 'Shala La Baby' by Alka and Shaan are quite average. In fact 'Aaj Khilna' is a take off on the classic 'Ghungroo Toot Gaye' by Pankaj Udhas and in 'Shala La Baby' N-S leave their forte and try to explore Anu Malik’s world. Neither work at all for this duo!

By and large the album has two or three excellent songs and another three good numbers and couple of ordinary ones. Overall its definitely worth a buy especially so for Nadeem-Shravan/Sameer and melody fans. It is better than most of their recent efforts (Indian Babu, Yeh Dil) and if you compare it to the trash being dished out in the name of music, during the last couple of months barring 'Khushi' and to an extent 'Ishq Vishk' and if you add the non filmi 'Kanta Laga’, it is worthy of your ear.

However you do yearn for that extra bit that you expect from N-S when they are teamed with either Raj Kanwar or the Darshan combo. Considering the success of Judaai and Jeet, and the musical successes of Ek Rishta, Dhadkan, Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, there are expectations that have been met.