Reviewed by Anjali Abrol
dilwaliji@indolink.com

Biwi No. 1, David Dhawan's latest venture minus Govinda. Of course, the King of Comedy always fancies the King of Copying, Anu Malik himself. Biwi No. 1 will be another original score by Anu, or so by his standards.

The title song sets us off with the image of Salman Khan prancing around, showing off his biceps, trying so hard to look cool as Memsaab Karisma flutters around in a sari. Upbeat, nice, typical Anu Malik music, with Abhijeet fitting Salman nicely and Poornima, in her two-bit role, was bearable, though she oftren sounds quite cheap if she has more than three words to sing. The background score by some bratty kids singing 'Kasam Se' got to be very annoying as well. Overall, cute lyrics, catchy song, easily one of the hit songs of the album. The lyrics Sone jaise baal hai uske is especially fit for Ms Sona Kitna Sona Hai Karisma. Hit!

Ishq Sona Hai is an annoying duet by dance club sounding singer Shankar Mahadevan and Hema Sardesai. Usually Hema is quite good, but she sounded almost as bad as Alisha Chinoy singing filmi songs. Yeck. Ahhh...it's okay, it sounds like a Sushi (Sushmita) song anyways...it has to sound cheap! She's the housewrecker of the movie ! Music is club-sounding....Next!

Jungle Hai is a typical Karisma-Salman song (sound like a lift from Judwaa). Hema sounds quite like Poornima, with her extra dose of (sickly) sweetness. The song is a bad mix of several songs, mostly from Judwaa and some of Anu's other 'original' works--it's hard to pinpoint any particular song (try it--it will give you a headache, trying to wrack your brain for the many songs!). Kumar Sanu does not mix well with Hema...she needs a younger, more vibrant-sounding voice like Abhijeet, Sonu Nigam, or Udit Narayan. Lyrics aren't anything special. Passable

Chunnari Chunnari fancies more traditional music with a modern twist (wonder which song this is "borrowed" from?). Abhijeet carries the song as Anuradha Shriram [Poornima wannabe] gets a bit annoying...where's Alka Yagnik or Jaspinder Narula when you need her? Easily one of the better, catchier songs of the album (try to ignore the overdose of sweetness that Anuradha adopts). The refrain, though typical Anu Malik style, adds to the hummable twist. Catchy! Easily a hit!

Side B begins with Hai Hai Mirchi, a confusing but interesting mix of different types of music. Sukhwindara Singh lends his heavy, Punjabi voice (a nice change from Kumar Sanu) to mix with Alka Yagnik (ahhh...here Alka is!). Nice beat, but the lyrics Hai Hai Mirchi are silly and annoying. I despise such crass lyrics that depict women as such cheap, beauty objects, who prance around in nothing to attract leering guys. Oh wait--that's the way to get into Bollywood. Oops, sorry, my bad. Ahhh...Bollywood and quality don't jive. Nice depiction of beauty and jawani. Whatever. Cheap song--fastforward! Next!

Jungle Hai is sung again, this time, for the kiddies. Once was enough, but twice? No thanks. Next!

Mujhe Maaf Karna is sung by Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik, Aditya Narayan (who screeches to no end), and Anmol. It's a rohna dohna song about the lucky bache who have both a mummy and a daddy. Too sad to listen to while cruising in the car, but appropriate for the moment in time in the movie. So let's leave it for the movie! Next!

Aan Milo Ya Milne Se is a nice duet by Udit Narayan and Kavita Krishnamurthy. Anu Malik ought to lay off the extra attempt to stick modern clubby music where it doesn't fit, as well as the extra 50's music. Light-hearted and sweet

Mehboob Mere, a duet by Sukhwindara Singh and Alka Yagnik, concludes the album. Mehboob Mere is a direct lift off of an older song that I cannot recall for the sake of my life! I believe the older song is Mehbooba Mehbooba, though I may be wrong. Nevertheless, the singing is pretty good and the music is okay. Good Timepass

Quick Picks: Biwi No 1 and Chunnari Chunnari
"Blah Picks": Ishq Sona Hai, Mujhe Maaf Karna, and Hai Hai Mirchi