Armaan   Producer: Dinesh Gandhi Director: Honey Irani Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Gracy Singh, Randhir Kapoor, Introducing Aamir Bashir Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Lyrics: Javed Akhtar Singers: Chitra, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shankar Mahadevan, Alka Yagnik, Amitabh Bachchan, Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Bhairavi Kumble Audio On: T-Series    Number of Songs: 8 Album Released on: 22 March 2003 Reviewed by: Rakesh Budhu  - Rating: 8.5 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Movie Review

Here comes another treat for music lovers. Whereas the films are not worth blinking an eye for, at the very least Shankar Ehsaan Loy have given us something great to listen to. Here is a broad spectrum of real melody based compositions, which vary in range of instruments used, tunes and lyrics. While the star packed film hopes to do the same with a wide scope of emotions, Honey Irani’s Armaan, is off to a great start if its soulful songs are any indication.

The sadly rarely heard Chitra opens up the album with her only contribution, but it is one to treasure! I don’t think there is any other song that can simply reel you into a soundtrack like “Mera Dil Ka Tumse Hi Kehna”. Here’s hoping a nomination is in store for Chitra because she surely deserves it for her peppy rendition laced with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s trademark peppy tunes. This tune will have your feet tapping in no time.

“Meri Zindagi Main Aye Ho” is Anil Kapoor and presumably Gracy Singh’s duet (whereas the previous is Preity Zinta’s devilish outlandish command at Anil). If anything makes this song stand out, it is its singers, who are soft and swiveling in their breezy renditions of Javed Akhtar’s romantic lyrics. Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan entertain, greatly. What’s interesting is the implementing of several different kinds of music, from the saxophone, the jhankaar beats the T-Series love so much. When you have all of that and great lyrics there is little much to ask for.

The title track is hidden in the song “Main Gaoon Tum Gao”. But the title portion is the part to treasure, “Yeh Armaan”, mainly for Udit Narayan. Udit’s contributions have been dramatically reduced with the influx of great singers. It’s good not to hear him over and over again redundantly, but its even better when his appearances are under the baton of talented composers. Udit is perfect, and Shaan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, and newcomer Bhairavi Kumble, are good in support.

“Jaane Yeh Kya Ho Gaya” does what the previous track did for Udit, for Alka Yagnik. Along with Shankar Mahadevan, this song is laced with Western tunes, from the saxophone, the piano to the snapping fingers effect lead to an effective overall American style love duet. The best part of the song is undoubtedly the line “Duniya mein, Nahin Lagti Hain…”

“Aaon Milke Aise Gaayen Aisa Gaana” is sort of like the shortcoming of the track, not because of bad music or anything of such, but it is purely a situational track. There are things to enjoy, like Udit Narayan and Amitabh Bachchan who are supported by Shankar Mahadevan and Mahalaxmi Iyer. The song also includes a chorus from children.

Perhaps the most soulful of the already very meaningful songs is “Tuhi Bata Zindagi”. Sung twice, once by Roop Kumar Rathod and the other by Shreya Ghosal, the song is filled with life, vigor, but most of all meaning. A tad bit sad, Javed Akhtar’s lyrics really don’t get better than this. Interspersed with dramatic interludes, Roop Kumar Rathod’s version definitely surpasses Shreya’s, as she seems to have some trouble achieving the heights that Roop Kumar has done so easily.

The soundtrack ends with an instrumental, “Jugalbandi”, which like the rest of the songs is an excellent mix of everything, be it Indian classical music, to Indian modern and Western. The saxophone dominates but it is still a pleasure to listen to.

Finally, Amitabh Bachchan closes off the eight-song sound track with a thirty four second dialogue. As usual, his voice is powerful. For Armaan, Shankar Ehsaan Loy have shown us why their talent is worth our attention and how they are different from other great composers, like A.R. Rahman. Combined with Javed Akhtar’s excellent lyrics, Armaan’s music is clearly in a league of its own blending melody with everything else that music lovers would love to listen to.