Planet Bollywood
Kambakkht Ishq
 
Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala
Director: Sabbir Khan
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards, Brandon Routh
Music: Anu Malik, RDB, Salim and Sulaiman
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, RDB
Singers: Alisha Chinai, RDB, KK, Shaan, Neerag Shridhar, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan
Audio On: EROS    Number of Songs: 11
Album Released on: 12 June 2009
Reviewed by: Samir Dave  - Rating: 7.5 / 10
More Reviews and Analysis by PB Critics:
    • Feature Review by Gianysh Toolsee - Rating: 7.5 / 10
 
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Public Rating Average: 5.11 / 10 (rated by 410 listeners)
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Hello all you Bolly music lovers, and join me at Planet Bollywood’s music beach house, where we are rocking the summer away while listening to the latest releases. You know that Planet Bollywood is the best place for the latest and hottest reviews right? I know you do!

Now that you are sufficiently in a party mood (after all the strike has finally ended),let’s move on with the review of the summer party album, “Kambakkht Ishq”, which doesn’t provide the listener with any socially conscious or soul searching tunes, but does uplift the spirit with some gyrating grind inducing dance tracks (plus one obligatory slow song).

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve already been blitzed by the PR machine that is spinning in its tracks to promote this future super hit of a film. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has spared no expense to make the ultimate crowd pleaser. The highly anticipated film is directed by Sabir Khan. It stars the badshah himself, Akshay Kumar, along with the bebo-utiful Kareena Kapoor, with Hollywood mainstays Sylvester Stallone (You Rocky!), strange sexpot Denise Richards (poor Charlie Sheen) and Brandon Routh (Superman himself). It promises to be an interesting ride for sure, and the music by Anu Malik is icing on the cake.

Anu is an interesting choice to score the soundtrack and a gutsy move by Sajid Nadiadwala to choose this venerable and respected music director instead of the flavor of the moment. The question is, does he deliver!?

Last summer we had the party album, “Singh is Kinnnnng”(by Pritam), and that became the summer party soundtrack of 2008. “Kambakkht Ishq” is the part album of 2009 and it will get everyone up on the dance floor with its catchy dance tracks.


The music is unmistakably Malik, melodies combined just right with techno music that results in one of the first memorable soundtracks of the summer. Remember, don’t look for any redeemable social value, and you shouldn’t go into listening to this album expecting the world to shake, but one thing is for sure, it will put you in a happy mood and give you a few minutes of dance induced fever. Remember kidz, don’t drink and drive, but drinking and dancing….well, that’s a whole different matter……

The first track that rips itself off the CD, is the extremely likable and a potential super hit track, “Om Mangalam” which is like being in a techno dance temple with a one track conversation with God, who is telling you to get down and dance! Starting out with a nagin twist, the track has the hypnotic words “Om Mangalam” repeated over and over like a mantra, from there the chrorus backs the excellent trip hop beat and vocals by RDB. It’s a religious experience for the adrenaline junkie, and the best track on the album is not composed by Anu Malik, but rather by the British group RDB (who not only provide the music, but also the lyrics and vocals). You’ll be hitting repeat on this one! “Om Mangalam Yaar”!

After the killer first track that is sure to be a super hit, we move on to the Anu Malik composed, “Lakh Lakh” with vocals by the Bombay Viking himself, Neeraj Shreedar whose voice is a perfect fit for Akshay Kumar. It’s sort of a garbage-techno-punjabi tune with a dhol beat that refuses to let you stand still. Unfortunately, though the track is lively, one can’t help but get the feeling that it sounds like something Malik has composed before, from the beat to the melody. Yet he puts in enough freshness that the track is raised to another level. Also, helping are the fun lyrics by rising star Anvita Dutt Guptan. Almost as good as the first track and one that will certainly be something to look forward to in the film. Get up and dance, while shouting, “Lakh Lakh”!

Track three has the cringe inducing title, “Bebo” which of course refers to Kareena Kapoor’s cho chweet real life nickname. You might at first be turned off by the title, but hang in there and you’ll hear Malik deliver a track with a carnival Caribbean beat that will have you humming along to the lyrics. Made in India singer Alisha Chinai provides the perky vocals. Anvita Dutt Guptan writes, “Bebo, me Bebo, dil mera lelo”. By the end of the song you’ll find yourself incurably insanely hooked to the melody of the track, whether you want it or not. Leggo my BEBO!

Onwards as the waves hit the sand on the Planet Bollywood part beach house, where you’ll find all the writers hanging out and feverishly writing these reviews for you oh faithful readers…


Oh come on yaar, the fourth track, “Kambakkht Ishq” continues the dance feel to the album, but there is slight let down in adrenaline levels, though not for want of trying. Malik creates a staccato techno beat and the tune is like something one would find in an old Amitabh Bachchan movie. You just want to put your arms out and do that odd dance that Amitabh is famous for. The vocals are by KK and Sunidhi Chauhan and they sing with mucho fiesta like gusto. It’s a good track, but doesn’t quite rise to the levels of the previous three. But who cares!?!? We’re still dancing, and want to yell, “Kambakkht Ishq”!

Fifth track says, my name is, “Kyun” boss. I am the romantic number on the soundtrack and I’m pretty good. Thank you for that statement track five, and you are right. The fifth track is very romantic and plays to Anu Malik’s strengths. The melody again is not groundbreaking (but so few Bollywood tracks are nowadays). Starting off with a soft piano, you’ll bring your partner ever so close (and pray that your breath doesn’t smell bad) as you dance slowly under a big full moon…or something like that. Shreya Ghoshal provides the fragile and soft vocals from her heart, and one of my favorites, Shaan provides the pitch perfect male answer to Shreya’s soft whispers. I’m sure this will look great on the big screen, and certainly showcases Anu Malik at his best. When it’s over, and the girl or guy has left you for the night, you’ll have a tear in your eye as you stare soulfully out the window and ask in a breathless whisper, “kyun”?

Now ramp up the energy as we move into the PB Remix ZONE (add echo effect). First up, “Om Mangalam – Reprise” which speeds up the original and makes it even crazier than the original. I know I can’t get enough of the song! Must blast the speakers and cruise down Bollywood Boulevard! Next up, the inevitable “Lakh Lakh (electro dhol house mix)” remix by Eric Pillai that brings the house down with some techno house music. Before you have a chance to gasp for breath and wipe the sweat off your brow, you have the massive attack of, “Bebo (club mix)” by Kilogram K&G, which improves on the original’s catchy furor. Then it’s welcome to the party my friends, with the Kambakkht Ishq” remix by K&G Kilogram, that puts a reggaeton island beat to the track, but still sounds like an old Amitabh Bachchan track.

Now, usually remixes end the album, but strangely enough we have one final original track not by Anu or RDB, but by that Jodi made by Rab, Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, with lyrics by the director Sabir Khan. “Welcome to Hollywood” is interesting but may not be everyone’s cup of chai. It’s situational, with vocals by Karsh Kale (a great artist that frequently collaborates with Salim Sulaiman) and Anushka Manchanda. It will probably be played when Akshay first appears in Hollywood. Unfortunately, it’s not a high point to end the soundtrack, and probably won’t make it on anyone’s favorite play list.

So what do we have here? The soundtrack is certainly Anu Malik’s but the proverbial rug is swept out from under his feet by RDB who provide the killer “Om Mangalam” track. To add to matters, we have Salim Sulaiman with the final track, "Welcome to Hollywood". Still it’s a highly enjoyable soundtrack that brings a certain fun buoyancy to 2009 that was sorely missing. It’s not a classic, but then again it doesn’t need to be. Everyone has brought their best to create the ultimate 2009 Bolly party album. Let it wash over you and have a couple of shots before you hit the dance floor, for tomorrow is always another day with another soundtrack…

Till next time faithful readers……

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