Rules   Producer: Nirja Shah, Deepa Sahi, Parvati Balgopalan and Milind Soman Director: Parvati Balgopalan Starring: Milind Soman, Meera Vasudevan, Namrata Barua and Tanuja Music: Sandesh Shandilya Lyrics: Subrat Sinha, Prof. R.N. Dubey Singers: Sonu Nigam, K.K, Sanjeevani, Kunal Ganjawala and Bombay Vikings Audio On: Universal    Number of Songs: 8 Album Released on: August 2003 Reviewed by: Gaurav Malani  - Rating: 8.0 / 10   Let us know what you think about this review

Another crossover film, at least that’s what the film’s producer would like to call it (with the production house being called Cossover Films). ´Rules - Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula´ is about a granny (Tanuja) giving expert advice to her granddaughter (Meera Vasudevan) in the form of 5 rules, on how to win the guy (Milind Soman) she loves. With music by Sandesh Shandilya

who went wild with Road, mellow with Agni Varsha and composed the better half of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, the movie is indeed crossover at least in terms of music.

The album starts with ‘Pyaar Ke Naam Pe’ – a song about what all things lovers do to pataofy their partners. A song which goes very much by the title of the film. And I must say that Bombay Vikings singer Neeraj

never sounded so hummable before (perhaps because he never tried anything other than remixes). He does faintly sound like Kumar Sanu of earlier years in the opening Hindi lines but leaves his own mark in the rendition of the English part (something he is most comfortable at). The refreshing Hinglish lyrics come as a real surprise by newcomer Subrat Sinha.

When I heard ´Uljhano Ko De Diya´ by Sanjeevni (of Chori Chori fame from Kareeb), I couldn’t help but bless the Zee music show SaReGaMa for their first discovery (second being Shreya Ghosal). Sanjeevni in her saccharine-coated, innocence filled voice is simply mesmerizing and is ably supported by K.K. Again, Sinha comes up with meaningful lyrics about the humble questions pertaining to the love that a girl wants to ask her beloved and the answers that she expects from him. Shandilya makes good use of flute, sitar and other instruments.

‘Radha´s theme’ is an imaginative instrumental piece that instantly gave me a picture of some animated love fable with the lovers in their sublime moments. With violins dominating the track, it appears twice in the album and has an opera kinda feel to it.

Sonu Nigam whose singing had slightly taken a backseat these days, thanks to his acting assignments, returns to full form with ´Gori Tere Nain´. One of his best rendered songs in recent times since the Saathiya title track, this one is an excellent fusion of synthesizer beats and Ustad Sultan Khan´s Sarangi. Sonu strikes a perfect balance between pop and classical singing. Lyrics by another newcomer Prof. R.N. Dubey (as he would like to be called) is about eyes of a beauty that speak volumes. Club Remix version by Jatin Sharma

is for those who want it fast and frothy.

´Chhodo Na Mujhe´ by Kunal Ganjawala (last heard in Mumbai Matinee) in two versions, is a feel good number and likeable for it’s simplicity.

Thankfully Rules - Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula doesn’t adheres to any conventional rules or formulas in the music department. Hope the same can be said about the movie also.