Anand Raj Anand have paired up with Anand Bakshi this time and thankfully so. I have made it a point to bash Sameer repeatedly, but sadly, he deserves it. It was not until Lajja that we saw a change from him, and it wasn’t big (Life is Just Like Ice Cream?!) Yes, Anand Bakshi pens the lyrics for this one folks, and it doesn’t get extremely poetic, but simple enough. Bakshi too has been over worked lets hope he doesn’t follow in Sameer’s footsteps. Indian will be Sunny Deol’s first release since he created history with Anil Sharma’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, and needless to say, with that film, fans are highly anticipating this film. Co-starring Shilpa Shetty, in what hopefully is not your running around trees heroine role, the film has Action Deol written all over it, but is said to focus on the family theme at the same time. This will be Vijayata Films’ (Dharmendra and Sunny Deol’s production team) next film after the debacle of Dillagi. The film seems to have all the ingredients to be another summer blockbuster, and so far, its music can help it get there. This soundtrack has six enjoyable tracks with a variety of singers who do a good job. While many complain that Alka is used too frequently and heard too often, arguments can be put to rest when listening to the opening track, the best, in my opinion. Though her singing is not award worthy it seems just right, and so does the opener, “Rab Di Kasam”. Udit too has been under the heat over being “over used” and monopolized. It is easy to see how they save this track from being a redundant run of the mill tune. Rab Di Kasam is enjoyable for a few reasons. The backdrop, though not at all original, is blended in perfectly with the music that is over laid which conclusively flows well with the grasping singing from the two leads. The conclusive feel one gets is a sweet romantic tune that will not be classed with the run of the mill songs dished out soundtrack after soundtrack. Definite repeat value, without a doubt! “Deewane Main Na Tha” is an upbeat track, which is music to your ears! This one has more of a chorus and a backdrop and has been filled with an upbeat crowd catcher musical background. Alka is fine form, but it can become obvious how she does save her best for Rahman and Malik. Shaan sounds good and though the song seems perfect for him, I would have much preferred Udit Narayan in the song. I have listened to soundtrack multiple times before I began this review, and after ten or eleven listens this song became immensely attractive and it made me realize what the rewind button was made for! The core musical composition in this song is a mix between new and used beats coming up with a definite hit. Finally, the music plays a major part in this track as it is just as “loud” if not louder than the singers themselves. The effect is positive and it doesn’t drown out the singers. Hence though I favor Udit, Shaan still does an excellent job and this one is definitely for keeps. Leave it to Anand Raj Anand to compose one of the best Punjabi numbers we’ve heard in a while. For a Sunny Deol movie it’s a must, but unlike Uttam Singh, who composed for his last two films, Anand does it the right way! How underrated is Richa Sharma, one can only ask since Malik and Rahman seem to be the only two composers who use her. Even better when paired up with the next “Punjab diva” Sunidhi Chauhan, these two manage to create a fast, catchy (to say the least), good track with average lyrics! Immediately opening up with an interesting hot tune, “Yeh Pyar Hona Tha” will definitely have both Punjabi lovers and regular music lovers alike falling in love. “Jaana Maine” is at best a run of the mill tune, which comes across as above average because of the musical duo singing it, Abhijeet and Sadhna Sargam. Abhijeet has been seen frequently and is hopefully making a comeback. His sweet vocals paired up with Sadhna make this an enjoyable fare, but not the best of this package. Sadhna is seen so sparsely one can’t really comment on her singing in a negative note. She doesn’t do a bad a job here though and doesn’t do any injustice to the song. I suppose this is the best one can do to create romantic track since we honestly do hear them so much. Bakshi goes nowhere here with the lyrics, which would probably be another reason Anand has done such a mediocre job with this one. Coincidentally, the song listing is in order of my favorite tunes from the soundtrack, as the next song is a mediocre fare. “Watan Walo” brings with it a patriotic feel, slow paced, “Border” like tune. However, unlike Malik, he hasn’t replicated it completely from any one else’s works or his own. I suppose this one will definitely be somewhere around the climax as it has “resolve” written all over it. Roop Kumar Rathod, who alone is symbol enough of the variety of singers in the soundtrack, does an excellent job. Rathod is not heard a lot, and it is a pity since he truly is the highlight of this song. His emotive tune does get across to the listener; it is just the music, which may drag out really long to catch on. This song will probably be picturized better, and a pleasure to watch. Though it is not a complete washout it is only a decent fare. Anand Raj Anand’s vocals are not exactly “hot stuff” but I’m sure the masses will agree that they beat Anu Malik’s, Milind’s, Salman Khan’s (etc.) vocals any time! With that out of the way, “Thaath Nawabi” appears to be much of an enjoyable, fun track to listen to, but doesn’t amount to much. Alka sounds average here, and doesn’t exactly soar past Anand either. Lyrics wander between ok and almost redundant. The musical pieces here are catchy and will probably help it along its way; however, this is not the best hence it’s at the end of the list (and the soundtrack). Conclusively, Anand Raj Anand has scored this time! This soundtrack is not ground breaking, but an enjoyable, listen able fare. It is some time important to listen to a soundtrack repeatedly before you can come out with a constructive view on it, especially those that may not stand out immediately like Dil Se… or Dhadkan did. Sunny Deol films usually don’t rely on their soundtracks to become a hit (witness the mediocre Gadar), which makes this one even better! Some of the songs seem tailor made for Jatt Deol and are bound to be crowd pleasers. Anand Raj Anand should hopefully be appreciated for this soundtrack, because he deserves to be. Anand’s next venture, “Kyo Kii Main Jhuth Nahin Bholta” (he’s on a roll!) has just released, and if you are wondering which one to pick up first, it’s definitely this one! A last thought: The tunes in Indian are catchy, romantic, dramatic and good, simply put. Where as Hadh Kar Di Apne and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai were not worthy of repeat that much, this one is. The first three songs are worth the CD alone! No, this is not a masterpiece or a work of art, but it’s worth your money, and one thing is for sure, it beats Anu Malik’s and Jatin Lalit’s redundant overdone tunes any time.
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It is a rare occasion when underrated music composers just come from behind and shock everyone. What’s even more rare is when they do it with a completely commercial, if you may, soundtrack. Uttam Singh managed to do it with Dil to Pagal Hai, but then again that was a Chopra film, Aadesh Shrivastav
is still left in the dark even though both Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Bas Itna Sa Khwab
Hai were above average soundtracks. Anand-Milind are waiting for their big break, and are easily as un-noticed as the above mentioned. Now it’s Anand Raj Anand’s turn. Anand Raj Anand has always managed to dish out feet tapping, hummable tunes; the stuff that hits remix soundtracks faster than they release. His recent offerings were no different;
Bicchoo had everyone crooning “Once You Fall In Love…” while
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai had me crooning
"Khem Che". With this soundtrack you have a number of things to “croon”, and you will be satisfied.