Shaadi Se Pehle

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

As soon as you lift the music album of Shaadi Se Pehle, you don't look forward to checking the cute pose of Ayesha Takia, the sexy figure of Mallika Sherawat or the funny picture of Akshaye Khanna. You want to check if composer Himesh Reshammiya has sung any song for this album too as this has fast become a trend with number of his albums post the success of Aashiq Banaya Aapne. Sadly, that's not the case for this Satish Kaushik directed comedy coming from the house of Subhash Ghai's Mukta Films. Nevertheless one plays on the album that promises to be all fun and frolic with a remix version accompanying almost all the tracks in Shaadi Se Pehle. Sameer writes the lyrics.

Masti and dhamaal begin David Dhawan ishtyle as Sunidhi Chauhan modulates her voice considerably to come up with a foot-tapping 'Mundeya'. The song is not a classic by any means when it comes to lyrical value, and this partially seductive partially naughty number falls under a guaranteed time-pass category. A regular girl-trying-to-invite-boy number, it should make for a good eye pleasing viewing as it has all it takes to excite the hoi-polloi. Things take a pacy turn for better with Akbar Sami coming up with his trademark DJ mix. No doubt it turns out to be much more catchy and exciting!

When seductive sighs of 'Oh baby, come closer now' mark a beginning to a song, you get an impression that 'Ankhiyon Se Gal Kar Gayi' is a whole hearted seductive number. This turns out to be a misconception when Sukhwinder Singh appears on the scene as he and Himesh Reshammiya turn it into a regular Punjabi dance number. The song is noticeable only for its heavy duty high bass but that's about. Overall an average track with Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan as co-singers that may gain some popularity only if picturised well since musically it is ordinary. Just like 'Mundeya', 'Ankhiyon Se Gal Kar Gayi' too sounds much better in its remix version by Akbar Sami that comes with 'dhol' beats to make it an authentic Punjabi track.

Daler Mehendi and Himesh Reshammiya coming together - now that's quite a handful. 'Tuteya Ve' makes it possible for the music lovers as Daler goes on to sing a love song in his own inimitable manner. Don't expect a dance number from Daler this time around as the song moves at a moderate pace with some excellent music arrangements. As soon as you are halfway through the song, you wonder if a lounge version would have further enhanced its appeal. Now call it sheer coincidence as this is what happens when DJ Suketu version of the same song comes after a gap. Undoubtedly 'Tuteya Ve' is the best song of the enterprise so far.

A song for the interiors, 'Bijuriya' is a qawalli number with lyrics like 'Gire Mujhpe Teri Ishq Ki Bijuriya' with an extra stress on 'Ishq'. Alka Yagnik is seemingly enjoying herself while coming up with an all-out effort while for a change someone of the caliber of Sukhwinder Singh takes a back seat. Though the beginning of the track is in a typical Himesh Reshammiya mode, it's the portions thereafter that have a certain Subhash Ghai touch to them. Akbar Sami's remix version adds in some extra beats to the proceedings but one would still prefer to go with the original.

A conventional love song that makes for a good 'naach-gaana' around the trees, 'Tere Liye' is one of your routine romantic tracks by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. Not bad but nothing that makes you go over the song again and again. Average! Remix version by Akbar Sami isn't anything exciting either and the song can be forgotten soon after.

Album ends with a song with 'Sache Aashiq', a song with ample dose of 'shaava shaava', 'nachle', 'jind meriye' and the stuff alike. Now that should be good enough to give a fair idea about what the song is all about as it falls under a typical Bollywood 'bhangra' dance number. Yet another okay track that doesn't really make you jump with joy.

If you are looking for some trademark Himesh Reshammiya touch that he has perfected during last few months then you may not have too many reasons to cheer about as the songs belong to the pre-Aashiq Banaya Aapne era. Shaadi Se Pehle has some average to above average to good songs with 'Tuteya Ve' being the pick of the lot followed by 'Mundaya' and 'Bijuriya'.