Anthony Kaun Hai? - Music Review

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Munnabhai and Circuit return, albeit in a different avtar! And the question on everyone's lips is - Anthony Kaun Hai. Trust Bollywood to present a different dish every second week this year! Earlier titled 'One Night In Bangkok], Anthony Kaun Hai? is a fun caper by director Raj Kaushal who has attempted diverse subjects in his earlier days such as Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and Shaadi Ke Laddoo. While these two were small budget flicks, Kaushal makes his most starry film so far with Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Minissha Lamba, Anousha Dandekar and Gulshan Grover in the lead. AKH is produced by Nikhil Panchamiya, who made his debut with 'Dil Maange More' while Himesh Reshammiya, Sameer and Akbar Sami combine again to deliver yet another album in what can be considered a dream run.

'A' factor has always worked in favor with Reshammiya. Be it Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Aksar, Aap Ka Surroor or most recently Ahista Ahista. Does the good run with 'A' continue in case of Anthony Kaun Hai as well? Unfortunately not as the album crashes after a promising start, hence proving to be a dent in the dream 'A' run!

The accompanying rhythm of 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' is reminiscent of 'Teri Yaad' [Kartoos], which was itself a take off on numerous western tracks. Nevertheless, one can comfortably add this track to an already blooming list of hits for Reshammiya, the composer and singer, who holds the mike once again along with Sunidhi Chauhan to come up with a pulsating 'masala' number. There is a visible Arabian influence to the song as well but that is too short to be noticed as Reshammiya ensures that his stamp holds more prevalent in the song than anything else. That indeed is the reason why someone like Sunidhi Chauhan too is relegated to the background in this song which is yet another treat for Reshammiya fans. Would it go a far way? Perhaps not, but still it would easily make it to the compilation of Reshammiya's current Top-10 hits. Akbar Sami's remix, that follows a different approach as far as creating the rhythm for the song is concerned, more than ensures that this happens!

Have you checked out a rather cute looking Sanju baba playing a flute while seated on a couch? Well, the sound of flute is what arrives at the beginning of 'No Way Way', a funky item song [if one can call it that way] between Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. The song in fact has two catchy moments; one is with 'No Way' and the other when the line 'Saawariya Tere Bina' comes. While Reshammiya begins the proceedings as a singer, he has K.K. as his co-singer who arrives moments later. A song that has the suited booted 'jodi' of Dutt-n-Warsi looking absolutely smashing and debonair, 'No Way' is a song with an attitude that is yet another 'masala-mix' number that should help the film and album to be in news till the film's release. Surprisingly Akbar Sami's remix version of the song seems so rushed up as it almost sounds annoying! Skip this remix version as the original has enough spice to keep you engaged.

Perhaps Reshammiya himself knew that there was nothing great about 'Tune Mera Chain Vain Le Liya' and hence he tried to redeem it by adding a 50s style accompanying rhythm to it! Except for lively beats, there is nothing much in this attempted peppy romantic number by Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghoshal that merely passes muster. There is Pritam 'ishtyle' rap-n-reggae incorporation into the number but that may create an impression only after the song's picturization. Sounding like one of those stock tunes by Reshammiya, it's rhythm in fact starts sounding too much like Pritam's recent hit 'Pyaar Karke' [Pyaar Ke Side Effects] in its remix version.

Saru Maini, who came up with her reasonably successful solo album 'Ishq Hua' a few months back, makes her Bollywood playback singing debut with 'Bhangra Paale' that sounds everything but a 'bhangra'. In fact the song comes close to be being a groovy beach song rather than anything else and though Sonu Nigam tries well to create a Punjabi feel around the song, it is not to much avail as the song is more romantic than being a dance track. Now if Raj Kaushal indeed manages to pull of an eye pleasing choreography for the song, it would really be a worthy achievement. With Jayesh playing his role as a voiceover artist well, 'Bhangra Paale' is primarily a Sonu Nigam song with Saru Maini hardly getting much opportunity to demonstrate her talent. A little later the remix version of the track comes which indeed turns out to be a worthy celebration number. In fact this is THE version that should find a place in the album since the original has hardly any ammunition to cheer about. Agreed that even this is not great by any means but it at least manages to hold fort!

The opening sound of flute justifies the Far East setting of the film while the guitar strings that follow make sure that a romantic offering is on the way. The song brings together than husband-wife 'jodi' of Kunal and Gayatri Ganjawala. A melodious number with guitar playing the most important role in the musical arrangements, 'Because I Love You' is all sweet-n-saccharine and is traditionally Sameer in the way it has been written. After two average numbers, 'Because I Love You' brings back the album on track as it walks a similar line as 'Do Dil Mil Rahen Hain' [Pardes], though the latter would always remains to be more superior of the two. Is there really a requirement for a remix version of this song? This is what one feels when you read the next song to follow as the remix version of 'Because I Love You'. It takes a racy-pacy approach and in fact doesn't sound too distracting since it maintains an identity of its own. Yes, after hearing the soft-n-sober original, it does sound a little loud but certainly not bad.

As if to make amends for the limited role that she had to play in 'Ishq Kiya Kiya', Sunidhi Chauhan gets to sing a solo 'Let's Rock' where her only accompanying partner is Arya who does the rap. There is an extended musical piece before the song begins and on hearing the very first two lines, one feels if it was only the opening rhythm that should have continued from beginning to end. The weakest and perhaps most boring song by Reshammiya post his 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne' era, it is an easy skip after the very first go. The words 'Let's Rock' are in fact used only for providing rhythm to the song with no active contribution in the feel and situation of this song where a girl is trying to woo her man. Sounding nothing better than a 70s cabaret number, it has its further lukewarm remix version concluding this album that has a mixed quality of songs.

The album begins on a good note with 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' and 'No Way' but goes downhill from thereon with only 'Because I Love You' providing some support. The album has too much quantity but not much quality, now it all depends upon how far 'No Way' and 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' take it past the safety mark.