Reviewed by Mandeep Bahra
mandeep@indolink.com

Anand-Milind are really struggling to regain their lost glory. They often produce a good song here and there, but a good soundtrack? This has eluded them for a while and DULHE RAJA doesn't alter the situation.

Songs don't get much more energetic than "Akhiyon Se Goli Maare". This foot tapping number has the right mix of western dance fused with a bhangra beat and some exceptional singing by Sonu Nigam and Jaspinder Narula. I'm fast becoming a big fan of Jaspinder's. Her rendition of the title track of Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha really impressed me and she is just as impressive here!

Sonu Nigam then calms down for a more sedate love song, "Aayi Ban Ke Rut Mastani" where he is joined by Anuradha Paudwal. The song is well rendered and sounds like an old Laxmikant Pyarelal song.

Anuradha and Udit Narayan team up for a simple yet fun number in pure Govinda style, "Ladka Deewana Lage" which seems to be inspired from the COOLIE NO.1 hit, "Main To Raste Se Jaa Raha Tha". Anuradha sounds more lively than she has done in a while and Udit is his usual good self.

The title track, "Dulhe Raja" by Anuradha and Vinod Rathod is the song that is being 'pushed' most by the record company. However, despite a catchy tune, the song pales in comparison to "Akhiyon Se..."

The rest of the album is just plain dull, consisting of a 'sad' song, "Nigahen Kyun Churaati Hai" by Udit and Ram Shankar which fails to evoke any emotion; and a couple of 'comedy' songs by Vinod Rathod, "Kahan Raja Bhoj Kahan Gangu Teli" and "Kya Lagti Hai Hai Rabba". Sonu Nigam joins Vinod in the former and puts on an unusual 'comic' voice, but that doesn't make the song any less boring.

I'm sure the songs will be more appealing when seen in the context of the film. Whether the film does well or not remains to be seen. Producer/director Harmesh Malhotra's last major hit was in 1986 with NAGINA. Lets hope DULHE RAJA enjoys a similar fate.

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