Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar   Producer: Lal & Kishor Dadlaney Director: Rahul Dholakia Starring: Paresh Rawal, Kim Sharma, Jimmy Shergill, Johnny Lever, Amneek Sandhu, Puja Gupta Music: Jatin-Lalit, Manohari Singh & Richard Mithra Lyrics: Sameer Singers: Udit Narayan, Sadhna Sargam, Shraddha Pandit, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kumar Sanu, Karsan Sargathia, Adnan Sami, Shaan Audio On: Sony Music    Number of Songs: 8 Album Released on: 25 April 2002 Reviewed by: Rakesh Budhu  - Rating: 6.0 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review Movie Review

“Tere Bina Ek Pal Na Rehna, Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar… Tu Hai Meri Aakhri Tamanna Tu Hai Mera Pehla Pyaar”, say Udit Narayan and Sadhna Sargam in Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar. A sweet tune, the beautifully penned number by Sameer is enhanced by

Jatin-Lalit’s musical score. An excellent way to start off an overall mediocre soundtrack.

Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar is a low-key film inspired by “Meet The Parents”. Its standout comes from the fact that it is the first ever Hindi film shot completely in the United States. Not one scene was shot on Indian soil. The producer and marketing team (Sony) are also promoting the film densely overseas than in India. Before brimming its chances at the box office, the film was made on a low budget and is meant to exhibit the talent of everyone involved including Jimmy Shergill, Kim Sharma, the producer, and the director. Jatin-Lalit score a good enough soundtrack which doesn’t come close to the diverse Soch, but amounts to more than their other disappointments. Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar is made for an occasional listening, nothing worthy of repetition.

The title track starts of very typical Jatin-Lalit style. Same music, instruments used in Yash Chopra films. The tune changes once Udit Narayan starts singing and that does in fact change the entire song from becoming another rehashed tune. Thanks to Sameer’s nice lyrics, Udit and Sadhna, the title track does have an infectious bit where the line, “Tere Bina… Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar” is left on your lips after the song is over. Overall, the low guitar use is beneficial though most of the backdrop is Jatin-Lalit. It’s truly Udit, Sameer and Sadhna that make this song the best of the soundtrack, and worthy of many listens. The song also scores points in that the voices fit Jimmy and Kim Sharma very well.

“Aasman Se, Chand Laoon” is a feel good song which uses the piano to enhance its feel and of course, Shaan’s excellent vocals. The piano beautifully plays off the rest of the familiar instruments including the tune, which is stolen from Khamoshi. A little variety benefits it. Lyrically the song is a regular tune about a hero adoring his love.

“Dikhri Amare” is a semi-folk song dosed with the dholak and Punjabi flavor. A fast number it also takes inspiration from many of Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s earlier tunes. Udit sings well as does Shraddha though her voice is strikingly similar to Sarika Kapoor’s. Interestingly enough, the song is listenable to the point where an English ‘rap’ portion comes up.

“Dhol Bhaje” openly and bluntly takes inspiration from “Dhol Bhaje” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam thanks to the opening with Karsan Sargathia’s voice (which is un-credited by the way). The song is a dandia tune, which relies on Udit Narayan to carry it off. Jatin-Lalit’s music is typical music for the style of the song. Sameer’s lyrics are normal and

Kavita Krishnamurthy’s vocals are as well.

“India Se Aaye” is featured twice, once sung by Adnan Sami and the other by Lalit Pandit himself. The title itself is a big turnoff and the songs don’t provide the listener with much thought to think otherwise. The style of the song makes it a little forgivable though we all know Sameer loves to throw in English words in these songs. Both songs are definite passes with boring music by Jatin-Lalit, but Adnan Sami’s is definitely better than Lalit’s.

For romance, other than the title track, Kavita and Kumar Sanu team up a sweet number, which is once again inspired by “Jaanam Suno Hum Tumpe Marte Hain” and “Baho Ke Darmiyan” from

Khamoshi. Overall, pleasant and sweet nonetheless with very good singing from Kumar Sanu and Kavita but suffers with Sameer’s redundant lyrics. Again, it’s a nice breezy song, which is tolerable and in that sense benefits the soundtrack.

The soundtrack ends off with an orchestration titled, “Life is Beautiful” (The film’s tagline). Manohari Singh & Richard Mithra compose it with normal instruments, though it is really surprising why these composers have been roped in to just instrumentalize the title track (couldn’t Jatin-Lalit have done it?). The saxophone is the instrument used.

Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar is not a soundtrack one sticks into the player over and over again. However, it is not horrible overall or individually and does have a few tunes, which are pleasant. It is certainly not a washout but just amounts to an okay effort from more than okay music directors- Jatin-Lalit.