<i>Chand Ke Paar Chalo</i>

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM
Friday, March 31, 2006

Chand Ke Paar Chalo - First look at the title and one wonders which era does the film belong to! Even the leading actress Preeti Jhangiani comments that though the title may sound old fashioned, the film's subject is pretty relevant even in contemporary setting. Still, one is a little apprehensive about the music as well as the movie and reluctantly checks out the album that has music by Vishnu Narayan and lyrics by Rishi Azad, Babu Bhai, Sani Aslam and Afsar Azad. Sahib is the debut making hero opposite Preeti in this Mustafa Engineer directed film that is produced by Babar Chopra.

Title song 'Chand Ke Paar Chalo' dominates the proceedings as it appears in not less than three versions in the music album. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik bring that freshness and innocence in the song that is only complimented by Vishnu Narayan's soothing tune and lyrics by Rishi Azad. Yes, it does come quite close to 'Kisi Se Tum Pyaar Karo' [Andaaz - Nadeem Shravan] but one doesn't really mind that due to the song's melodious feel. It has a 'pahadi' feel to it and is quite ear friendly since it comes sans any heavy duty musical arrangements and relies on simple usage of Indian instruments. Use of flute in major portions of the album only enhances the beauty of this song composed in the 60s-70s style and if only it was a part of a biggie, it would have already found a place near the top of the charts by now.

A shorter version of the title song follows where the boy inspires the girls to look forward in life while she reciprocates by asking for his companionship in her journey forward. Finally comes a sad version of the same song where the boy wishes the girl all the best in life after she has achieved what she had always wanted to whereas the girl admits her love for him. Sweet and typically Bollywood!

Jaspinder Narula croons 'Kinna Sona Pal', a Punjabi-Hindi number belonging to the 'dard-e-judaai' genre and written by Afsar Azad. In the same style as Nadeem Shravan's compositions from the mid and the late 90s, it has a folksy feel to it and has been sung quite well by the female singer, though it stays in the realms of a situational composition. Yet another number that has a 'shuddh-hindustani' feel to it with zero influences from the west!

It's time for another lyricist to arrive on the scene as Sani Aslam writes a street dancer number 'Dhin Chak Lad Gayee' that reminds of the 'banjara' tracks from the 60s and the 70s. Karsan Sagathia creates a folk base for the song at the beginning that is followed by Kalpana who completely lets her hair down while crooning this foot tapping number. The song may sound too old fashioned in a first couple of hearings but gradually settles down as a time pass track that should work well at the B and the C centers. A 'seeti-maar' number that thankfully doesn't have anything vulgar about it in spite of its setting, it is surprisingly the only song in the album that also has a westernized remix version. If not anything else, the curiosity factor of hearing a 'banjara' number in a remix version makes it quite interesting.

As soon as the sound of 'santoor' begins 'Deewana Pooch Lega', there are expectations of a melodious outing. This is more or less confirmed as soon as Udit Narayan enters the scene and what he brings to fore is some old world charm that makes you hear on the number. A pleasant sounding melodious track written by Babu Bhai, it comes quite close to the title song in terms of quality and feel good effect that emphasizes the fact once again that never judge a book by the covers! When there were absolutely no expectations from the album, songs like 'Chand Ke Paar Chalo' and 'Deewana Pooch Lega' throw in a surprise as they turn out to be reasonably fine. Good to see Udit Narayan at his spirited best even for a movie like this that didn't have many credentials to boast about, at least on the paper.

After flute [Title song] and santoor [Deewana Pooch Lega], its time for harmonium to make its presence felt in the 'qawalli' number 'Is Dil Ka Kya Bharosa' crooned by Aftab Hashmi, Sabri brothers, Kumar Sanu and Shreya Ghoshal. A situational track that makes for a good pre-climax/climax setting, 'Is Dil' is yet another track inspired from Nadeem Shravan school of music. As soon as Shreya Ghoshal comes on the scene, it is 'Meri Mehbooba' [Pardes] revisited. Though there is no direct copy of the hugely popular number from the late 90s, it's the style that comes quite close. It's just the earlier portion and towards the song's end where Aftab Hashmi and Sabri Brothers are heard while the major part of the song is a duet between Kumar Sanu and Shreya Ghoshal. Yet another pleasant sounding track that makes you wonder why the song has not been publicized yet!?

Chand Ke Paar Chalo turns out to be a surprise pack when there were absolutely no expectations from the music of this little known movie. Vishnu Narayan makes a fine beginning to his career and one expects to hear more Indian melodies from him in near future. After 'Souten' this month, Chand Ke Paar Chalo is yet another album that works to a decent extent due to 'zero expectations factor'.

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