Reviewed by: Anjali Abrol
dilwaliji@indolink.com

Keeping up with Dilip Sen-Sameer-Sen tradition is their latest venture, Kohram: The Explosion. Past releases (Aflatoon, Salaakhen, and Zulmi) consisted mainly of several meaningless "fastforward!" songs, only one or two of each album creating any ripples (take Poster Lagwado, Dhak Dhak, Punjabi Kuri Maare Jhatke, or Teri Badmashiyan). Likewise, of all the songs of Kohram, only one or two create any sort of impact. Translation? Another waste of audio tape (or if you dare to head for the CD...think twice...or thrice).

The album begins with a very Amitabh-80's touch. Tere Dil Pe Naam Na Likh Do has a very familiar Shahenshah touch to it...think of Meenakshi dancing around onstage in a tiny metallic gold top and mini skirt, singing to Amitabh. Even so, the singing by Hariharan is a far cry from a decent match to either Nana Patekar's or Amitabh's (depending on who's song it is, if either). Alka Yagnik gives a very strained performance in correlation. *Passable*

Hum Hai Banaras Ke Bhaiya is repeated on side B, and with good reason. This is definitely the catchiest song (and best bet) of the album, and I believe this is the song that both Nana and Amitabh sing together, both trying to outdo one another in Bhangra and other two steps (which also caused some competitive rifts between the two during the making of the movie as well). Very banarsi (obviously), very traditional, very very classic Amitabh! Classic Amitabh songs have their own special charm that even the best of the latest lot cannot carry off. Sudesh Bhosle does a great job carrying off Amitabh's baritone voice (sometimes it's amazing that you can tell the difference between the two...and then you listen to Mere Angne Mein, and think twice). Amit Kumar keeps up well (assuming he sings for Nana), and this song will most definitely be the best song of the movie. *Catchy...Hit!*

The third song on Side A, Baba Nanak Dukhia De Nath Re, and the third on Side B, Jai Mata Di, are both religious songs. Though sung nicely (I suppose, though I admit I fastforward through most of it) by Kishanpal Singh and Sukhvinder Singh/Sanjeevani respectively (though I am still no fan of Sanjeevani's nasal sickly sweet voice--remember her from Kareeb?), I don't think I bought the tape in hope of finding the best Bollywood bhajan tape...one religious song is enough, two is overdoing it, especially when the rest of the album is pathetic. *Next!*

Ladki Ladki Tu Woh Ladki, Pagal Huwa Diwana Hua, and Janeman Janeman make up the rest of the album, and none are particularly good--they are more of the run-of-the-mill lovey-dovey songs. The singing is nothing spectacular, and I admit that I ended up fastforwarding most of each song (I can bear only so much). Imagining either Amitabh or Nana dancing around in any of these songs is a little much for me. They have their own charm and their own respect as quality actors, I don't think either need to be frolicking around trees for half the movie. Unless, of course, there is some young nameless actor that enters and exits for the songs...I wonder what's worse? An older Amitabh or a young loser like say, Jugal Hansraj, Harish, or Kishan Kumar, dancing around trees? I think these songs are ill-suited for the movie, or even to be listened to, for that matter. *Next!*

And here, we conclude the fabulous album, Kohram, with a rating of 2/10, 1.5/10 given to Hum Hai Banaras Ke Bhaiya, and the other 0.5/10 for effort on the singers' and music director's part. I suspect the movie is going to be much, much better...or so I hope!