Hathyar   Producer: Venus Records and Tapes Pvt. Ltd. Director: Mahesh Manjrekar Starring: Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Namrata Shirodkar, Reema Lagoo, Sachin Khedekar, Sharad Kapoor, Shivaji Satam, Gulshan Grover, Deepak Tijori, Shakti Kapoor, Pramod Moutho, Anup Soni, Pankuj Berry, Harsh Chhaya, Viju Khote and Asima Bhalla Music: Anand Raaj Anand, Rahul Ranade and Nitin Raikwar Lyrics: Dev Kohli, Pravin Bhardwaj, Nitin Raikwar and Sanj Genre: Action Recommended Audience: Parental Guidance Film Released on: 18 October 2002 Reviewed by: Narbir Gosal  - Rating: 4.5 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Music Review

Mahesh Manjrekar has never had a good ear for music. For the most part, his productions concentrate more on content than on music. Usually, he throws in a nice song or two in his films, but nothing noteworthy. That´s why when Venus began production on his sequel to Vastaav, called Hathyar, they made sure that the music would at least be a good listen. To do the job they roped in Anand Raaj Anand to compose the music. The result? Well Anand Raaj Anand doesn´t really do any wonders here. All the songs on this album sounds like they have been lifted from an 80´s flick. Anand keeps it simple by not choosing to put too much into the compositions, but he could have at least put some more effort into it.

To start us off, the album opens up with Chaha Hai Tumhe sung by Alka Yagnik. Alka is the saving grace of the song. She sounds her seductive best, just slightly stretching the endings to her words. Sanjay Dutt joins her to mouth some dialogue. He doesn´t leave much impact, but sounds like he could be either really drunk, or just bored. Anand Raaj Anand uses various instruments including guitars, violins, flutes and saxophones in his composition keeping it sweet and simple. Dev Kholi´s rhyming, romantic lyrics are stale. In general this track is pretty average, humable, but nothing more.

Another romantic track featured on this album is Yeh Dil Deewana Hai with Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. Much like the last tune, this one is average at best. Anand uses a rustic backdrop to compose the number. Pravin Bhardwaj´s sugary sweet lyrics do not leave an impact. Udit Narayan smiles his way through another typical duet while leaving Alka with more singing time. Alka doesn´t sound too enthusiastic about this number what so ever. It´s another number that you won´t mind listening to, but once it´s over, you won´t consider pushing the rewind button.

Asha Bhosle makes two appearances on the album. Thamba Re Thamba is one of those 80´s disco cabaret numbers spiced up with synthesized beats to make it hip. To add a more rustic touch Anand throws in a sarangi. Dev Kholi does a bad job with lyrics. The song really has nothing to offer anyone. Asha isn´t ever bad at anything, but here you don´t even take notice of her vocals because you´re too involved in looking for the fast forward button. Mohd. Salamat makes a very brief appearance towards the second half of the track, but who´s listening?

Thankfully Asha´s other attempt on this album is slightly better. Nazar Nazar features twice on the album. The original is sung by Asha Bhosle and the remix is sung by Alisha Chinoy. The song itself is nothing special. It sounds like a techno-mujra spiced up with guitars, flutes and drums, but still very 80´s at the core. The lyrics are pretty decent, listenable but not interesting. The best thing about the track (an it´s remix) is the singing. Asha sounds playful and mischievous, making listening a little more easier. On the other hand the remix gives this track a complete pop makeover. Alisha and a band of lusty backup singers breathlessly chant to make up for the seductive flavour. Mohd. Salamat makes another unnoticeable cameo in both tracks.

What gangster epic would be complete without a few tapori numbers. Well you have a choice of two equally silly tracks, so enjoy. The first is Baat Hai Kamaal which is a really silly buddy track. The situational number opens with a ´rap´(I use that term very loosely) by Bali Bhrambhatt. Jolly Mukherjee joins Bali to belt out a slang filled rendition of the tapori number. The music continues to change paces throughout, making this listening experience all the more intolerable. When it´s over, you heave a sigh of relief.

Last time Nitin Raikwar composed a tapori style track the result was Javed Bhai So Re Le from Jaani Dushman. Here we get Boxer Bhai, another gangster who can join the likes of Kallu Mama and Aslam Bhai. Raikwar makes a rock out tapori number similar to Javed Bhai in terms of style. Nitin Raikwar also sings along with Vinod Rathod and Sudesh Bhosle. And to complete his hat trick he also pens the lyrics. Overall the track isn´t really note worthy, it´s just another popish number with silly lyrics and some annoying voices.

Just like the rest of Manjrekar´s Sanjay Dutt movies, Hathyar also contains a Shlok. A grim techno beat gives way to zombie-like chanting by a menacing Ravindra Sathe. The song culminates into a percussion based finale. In general it´s fine as far as shloks go.

Hathyar is truly another average album from Anand Raaj Anand. He seldom experiments on his albums, this soundtrack is no different. All of the compositions sounds like half baked rush jobs. Raaj is capable of good work, he just needs to cut down on his number of assignments and concentrate on making good music. The number´s in this film all have a heard-it-before feel to them. Chaha Hai Tumhe and Nazar Nazar are the pick of the lot. Maybe next time we´ll hear something a little more experimental like Ishq Samundar, until then Anand Raaj Anand better hope he doesn´t burn out.