Salaam-E-Ishq   Producer: MAD Entertainment Ltd. and Oriot Pictures Ltd. Director: Nikhil Advani Starring: Vidya Balan, John Abraham, Govinda, Salman Khan, Shannon Esrechowitz, Priyanka Chopra, Akshay Khanna, Ayesha Takia, Sohail Khan, Isha Koppikar, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, and Anjana Sukhani Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Lyrics: Sameer Singers: Adnan Sami, Shilpa Rao, Shankar Mahadevan, Loy Mendonsa, Sonu Nigam, Nihira Joshi, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhna Sargam, Mahalaxmi Iyer, and Kailash Kher Audio On: T-Series    Number of Songs: 7 Album Released on: 02 December 2006 Reviewed by: Gianysh Toolsee  - Rating: 7.0 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Movie Review

It’s called easy listening with Adnan Sami – Dil Kya Kare is a light, enjoyable and technically superior track. The background score stands out the most while Adnan’s singing style is refreshing, cool and effortless. Surprisingly, the first few lines of the ‘mukhda’ are very similar to the chorus of 24X7 I Think of You of 36 China Town. SEL produce a number filled with a variety of musical instruments (rarely heard) which all blend wonderfully with the voice and the effective chorus. The guitar riffs are a delight as well. Kudos to Sameer for inserting the title in the song which Adnan pronounces with punch! Innovative, stylish and fresh – SEL deliver a massively different sound and tune. ‘Dil Kya Kare’ is a number set to a peaceful backdrop, with easy-going people around with no worries. Enjoy this ageless composition by the trio!

There is a feeling of Joharish music in this next piece, which brings the ambience of families and relatives gathering together. Techno beats from the 90’s blending with the voice of Shilpa Rao (recently heard in Anwar) are quite an interesting mix. Saiyaan Re is catchy because of Shankar Mahadevan’s excellent vocals while Shilpa Rao supports adequately. However, due to a lack of energy, power, and a certain dance-floor element, this track will not be electrifying the clubs. Unfortunately, it ends up being formulaic. Good tabla accompaniment and qawalli pieces make it very likable and enjoyable, but the appeal is nowhere close to long-lasting.

Over the years, Sameer and the word dil have become synonymous. No surprises why there is a track called Mera Dil. Thinking of the beloved, the usual romantic stuff of Bollywood and all these dreamy sequences translate into a highly outdated number - lyrically and musically. Boosting of quality voices like Shaan & Nihira Joshi, ‘Mera Dil’ is a light, romantic, soft ballad with the routine SEL arrangements. Listeners are tortured with more replication of sounds; the stocked tabla beats used a zillion times, the bold electric guitar and the annoying chorus heard in all of Johar’s emotionally dramatic productions. And what’s with this pause in the middle before Shaan picks up again? The same pause has also been heard in Don’s Aaj Ki Raat. Mera Dil is too predictable and is a controlled chaos.

The title song forms a compulsory track from this brand of director and Nikhil Advani has a winner here. Grandeur, more family and party music are all baked with a truly filmi tune to produce the title song for this highly anticipated movie. Salaam-E-Ishq is instantly catchy and is rendered by a range of singers who add variety and spice to the rhythmic track. The chorus is very effective in elevating the song to a mass appeal level while the use of instruments and the lively music keep up its standard. It’s nice to hear Shreya Ghoshal extending her vocals and using it in different forms. Sadhna Sargam gets a few lines but her presence is still nicely felt. Kunal Ganjawala and Sonu Nigam inject excitement and fun throughout. SEL come with masala music, which will be liked by all as it is very ear friendly. The sad portion in the end shows how emotions form a great part of the story. Salaam-E-Ishq is fun, melodious and wonderful!

The party feel continues again with a shaadi oriented number called Tenu Leke, which has a good mix of techno and marriage elements. Sonu Nigam and Mahalakshmi Iyer are effortless in their renditions and keep the rhythm throughout. The piece is energetic due to the techno arrangements which always keep the piece hot and happening. Tenu Leke will hit the right chords with its fast paced music and fusion of traditional and techno music.

Rehashes, rehashes and more rehashes! Babuji Dheere Chalna is re-mastered by the trio and the classic song of Aar Paar is transformed into a lounge mix with an ambient base. Nihira Joshi is good in her rendition but she sounds too shy at places. She is backed by a clean orchestration and arrangements, which are kept minimal. However, the music becomes tasteless at places with only a bland background. The music tries to pick up later but it’s too late as the song nears its ending. This is not the best rehash due to its situational nature and the piece is simply a filler.

Trivia: Saregama-HMV has filed a case against T-Series for using the song in the soundtrack. It was agreed in the conditions with the producers (Mad Orion Pictures) who received the permission from the copyright holders (Saregama-HMV), that the song will be used only in the movie. However, they gave the music rights to T-Series which commercialized the song. In the mean time, the music of the film cannot be sold until further orders from the Court. [Source: screenindia.com]

Kailash Kher’s vocals are the strongest asset in Ya Rabba. A great number by all standards, it progresses into a nice melody with a moody Kailash thrown into a confused state, where he tries to find the light to path his way. His vocals express worry, complex thoughts and depression. Guitars, strings and keyboard sounds form a beautiful combination in producing this lonesome piece. Some of the lines take time to be uttered due the slow paced music. The chosen instruments build a nice atmosphere where the classical alaaps have been rightfully exploited. Ya Rabba is another powerful rendering by Kailash Kher and a nicely composed song by SEL where they excel in all departments.

Seems that SEL have been able to pull out a purely masala soundtrack with very friendly tunes in Salaam-E-Ishq, also thanks to Sameer. Though it’s likely to please many at first listen, the efforts by SEL are not seen. The statement that their music is getting repetitive is also becoming repetitive and it holds true. Either they are being lazy or the producers couldn’t extract the best out of them. They haven’t changed their orchestration since 1998 and listeners are still hearing the same sounds of their previous work. The music, arrangements and style are the same since Dus (the one which was to be directed by the late Mukul Anand). Sometimes one feels that it’s a karaoke of their popular songs with new singers brought in! Then there is an emergence of Karan Johar’s music, which pollutes the whole soundtrack and this has to be feared because it is detrimental to their creativity.

Though the songs are all original compositions without any mundane remixes, the recycled tunes are pretty evident. Ya Rabba and Dil Kya Kare are the only two quality numbers that stand apart due to their high quality productions, originality and individuality. For this movie, the music will not be the star but the real stars will be the glamourous cast and they are numerous enough to back the music with their foot tapping dances. Technicalities apart, sometimes it is great to have a soundtrack that is fully enjoyable and this one makes for a good listen at least.