Aap Ka Suroor - remixes spoil its charm

Nevertheless, when it comes to original tracks, things continue to be better as the best song of the album comes in the form of 'Tanhaiyan'. A track that was first aired exactly 6 months as a part of campaign that marked the kick start of film's shooting, 'Tanhaiyan' is an eminently likeable song which has strong melody as its foundation with the rhythm and arrangements making it an irresistible track.

You may like it or dislike the song but it would be impossible for you to ignore it. So what if Reshammiya croons 'Tanhaiyan' as 'Tanhaiieeyaan', the song still doesn't cease to be catchy. A track about a man hopelessly in love with a female and can't see or think anything beyond her, it is one of Sameer's better written tracks this season.

There is a surprise in store with an unlikely pairing of Sunidhi Chauhan with Reshammiya as she croons with a slight westernized accent and gives an altogether different dimension to the track. A shorter two minutes 'unplugged version' is equally impressive and continues to keep the listener involved while the 'remix version' ensures that music catalogue in the club dance floors have one more addition to the list.

Have Pritam and Zubin started the trend of 'Ya Ali' post 'Gangster'? This is the first thought which comes to mind when a song with a namesake title comes next. Yet another Reshammiya-Sunidhi Chauhan combo, 'Ya Ali' turns out to be a damp squib after a thrilling impact created just a few moments ago in 'Tanhaiyan'.

Though the theme of 'Ya Ali' is similar to 'Tanhaiyan' with even the lyrics having 'Tanhaiyan' as a key word, there isn't much about it that would a listener to play it on in a repeat mode. While Sunidhi continues to play her westernized part, Reshammiya does render with a punch but at maximum for a situational appeal.

Designed for the dance floors, the 'remix version' isn't anything to write home about though the 'Electro Mix' is indeed electrifying when it comes to high intensity arrangements. Wish the basic tune too could have been equally interesting and this mix version would have created a much larger impression.

'O Huzoor...Tera Tera Tera Surroor' - the words that started it all for Reshammiya to make him an overnight rock star - are heard again along with the signature tune at the beginning of 'Tere Bina'. 'Ya Ali' is forgotten pronto as this sad track about difficult-to-be-living-life-without-my-beloved would be picked up soon by all broken hearts. Based on melody, the song comes as a welcome relief after all the heavy duty sound that one had to bear in 'Ya Ali' and innumerous remix versions heard so far.

Reshammiya manages to hold on a listener's interest into what he wants to say through his restrained singing and makes 'Tere Bina' one of the better tracks of Aap Ka Surroor. Even the 'remix version' that comes later brings in its own feel and sounds well enough to be used for a promotional music video.

'Kya Jeena' carries the same mood as 'Tere Bina' and turns out to be an even better hear hence adding on to the list of likeable tracks in Aap Ka Surroor. Set in a semi-classical mode, it goes quite easy on arrangements and just has 'tabla', 'ghunghroo' and a few other instruments in the background to take this 5 minutes song through to its completion. With faint resemblance to 'Tere Bina Nai Jeena' by legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab, 'Kya Jeena' at most comes to being an inspiration but that's about it as it maintains its own identity. The same cannot be said about the 'remix version' though since it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Now this is absolutely criminal! When an album has been peaking so well with one song after another making a good impression, what exactly was the need of remixing 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' from 'Sholay'; and that too with sounds of 'Ae Saala' in the background? While Reshammiya sings yet another track in quick succession, what surprises is Ashaji's presence in the track as she sings along too.

The original is such that it would sound good in whatever format it is presented but still it's presence in the album is baffling to say the least and that too twice! One wonders if this is the same track that Reshammiya had earlier promised to create for 'RGV Ke Sholay'?

If not for 'Ya Ali' and 'Mehbooba', Aap Ka Surroor may have been an enjoyable album from beginning till the end. Add to that a dozen odd remixes which are surprisingly still added to each and every album. Nevertheless, while 'Tanhaiyan' is the pick of the lot, 'Jhooth Nahi Bolna' and 'Tera Mara Milna' along with the remix version of 'Assalaam Vaalekum' are enjoyable too. With 'Kya Jeena' and 'Tere Bina' doing well to justify their presence in the album, Aap Ka Surroor overall turns out to be an album that does have its moments throughout.

Due to huge expectations factor, it would take some time for a listener to warm down to the album. Still, if one is patient enough to give it a hearing with a clear state of mind without measuring the pros and cons till the nth state, Aap Ka Surroor is worth a good hear.

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