Reviewed by Sunder
sunder@indolink.com

Sooryavansham is perhaps the most melodious musical score among all recent Amitabh movies. While scripts don't quite give him the opportunity to play his age in a natural way, Anu Malik sure seems to have some regard for age. The songs of Sooryavansham sound like Anu Malik scored them in his typical spritely style. When he realized that Amitabh would have to shake a leg or two to them, he simply cut their tempo. Humor apart, if the songs of Sooryavansham are given a chance, with few generous hearings when they sound ordinary, they are indeed quite catchy and as I said before, melodious. Some sound influenced by South Indian numbers (like the movie itself). But I won't hold it against Anu Malik, if he helps good tunes reach out to a wider audience.

The song that sounds most adapted or influenced (I dare not say copied) is "Dil Mere". While it has a distinct southern flavor to it, it also has a typical Anu Malik melody to suggest that he has worked enough to influence the original base. The song has three variants, two by Kumar Sanu and one by Chitra. Maybe due to the southern original, Chitra's version sounds easier on the ears, though the male versions are also very easy. Obviously this is one of those easy on the ears slow love songs, and it seems slower if only for Mr. Bachchan to prance around to it. Kumar Sanu also features in two duets "Kore Kore Sapne" with Anuradha Paudwal and 'Har Subah" with Chitra. The songs sound remarkably similar, maybe due to the half pace tunes that they share. The songs, while being pleasant, but don't quite grab your attention. Maybe, they are a little too easy on the ears. Except for a little strain, typical of Anu Malik, that runs through Kore Kore Sapne making that slightly more catchy than the other duet.

The title song "Sooryavansham" is a high pitch screaming effort by Sonu Nigam. The vocabulary would perhaps drive a Hindi Pundit to refer the dictionary, and maybe trace back the origins of Hindi words in Sanskrit literature. While Sonu does the shouting well enough, this song at best is the title song, if that is saying anything.

Sonu Nigam has two other songs - the two best in the album featuring him and Jaspinder Narula. Both have a folksy beat, paced down with regard to Mr. Bachchan'a age and agility. Yet, both songs strike a beat and a chord. Amitabh lends his voice effectively to do some semi-rapping in the album opener "Chori Chori" (have we heard far too many songs for Chori Chori, that we should temporarily stay further such songs). The two singers and Amitabh (he doesn't quite sing, though wish he did) bring catchiness to this song which has a light and naughty mood about it. Even at its half-paced music, it would be amazing to see Amitabh carry this number on screen. "Peepal Ke Patwa", by Sonu and Jaspinder is wee bit slower and "less lighter" (its not heavy for sure) than the earlier song, only because it is perhaps a little more of a love song.

Summing up the album, it has no lemons, but also lacks the big apples. Maybe one "Sona Sona" or "Makhna" would have made this the best musical score in an Amitabh movie in recent years. Now, despite being the most melodious, it will be the Sona Sona and Makhna and even Dhanno Ki Aankh that will remembered more than perhaps any song from here. Unless of course, the movie lifts any song to a higher level, and a lot would depend on Amitabh to do that with the song "Chori Chori".