EXPECTATIONS
In
the
last
couple
of
years,
Himesh
Reshammiya
has
been
lying
low
when
it
comes
to
composing
music.
The
same
man
who
once
gave
more
than
three
dozen
chartbusters
in
a
row
had
just
one
major
soundtrack
releases
last
year
in
the
form
of
Karzzzz,
the
music
of
which
did
become
immensely
popular.
Meanwhile,
Himesh
got
selective
in
his
assignments
and
worked
only
on
those
films
where
he
came
up
with
a
package
deal
of
an
actor,
composer
and
singer.
It's
the
same
package
deal
in
the
offering
with
Radio.
One
change
though
-
instead
of
Sameer
being
his
partner
as
a
lyricist,
it's
Subrat
Sinha
who
has
been
roped
in.
How
does
the
album
turn
out?
Well,
it's
as
simple
as
this
-
One
can't
take
the
composer
out
of
Himesh
Reshammiya.
He
surprises,
and
how,
with
an
altogether
different
approach
to
music
that
he
takes
with
Radio.
He
was
a
trendsetter
4
years
back;
and
now
he
may
well
create
a
new
trend
if
the
songs
of
Radio
are
any
indication.
MUSIC
A
much
sober
and
subdued
Himesh
is
heard
in
'Mann
Ka
Radio',
the
opening
track
of
the
film.
In
the
first
listening,
all
one
ends
up
focusing
is
on
lyrics
that
go
as
'Mann
Ka
Radio'.
Frankly,
it's
hard
to
digest.
However,
as
one
gives
the
number
a
few
repeat
hearing,
it's
the
music
and
the
singing
(in
Himesh's
new
voice)
that
takes
centre
stage.
What
further
impresses
is
the
overall
soft
mood
of
the
song
that
does
the
trick.
Once
the
song
reaches
it's
'antra'
portion,
one
gets
to
hear
a
little
of
Himesh
in
his
vintage
style
as
well.
The
'remix
version'
only
elevates
the
song
further
as
it
heads
straight
for
the
club.
A
good
beginning.
It's
a
Western
bhangra
fusion
feel
that
'Zindagi
Jaise
Ek
Radio'
carries.
Based
on
the
folk
flavor
of
Punjab
and
carrying
a
similarity
feel
to
it,
'Zindagi
Jaise
Ek
Radio'
is
high
on
rhythm
with
the
'dhol'
beats
ensuring
that
the
'bhangra'
mood
is
set
right
away.
Himesh
gets
into
his
full
throated
rendition
with
this
number
(which
also
appears
in
a
'remix
version')
that
does
come
with
a
sense
of
deja
vu
but
one
doesn't
mind
that
due
to
it's
foot
tapping
ability.
The
real
album
begins
though
from
this
stage
on
as
there
are
six
straight
songs
that
bring
that
side
of
Himesh
that
hasn't
been
heard
in
the
present
times.
It's
the
sound
of
guitar
strings
which
begin
'Jaaneman',
a
soothing
number
that
is
sung
in
almost
an
unplugged
manner.
A
brilliant
track
that
announces
loud
and
clear
the
melodic
mood
that
the
album
develops
from
here
on,
'Jaaneman'
has
minimal
instruments
in
the
background
with
Himesh
holding
centre-stage.
His
voice
too
sounds
all
smooth-n-silky
which
makes
'Jaaneman'
an
ideal
number
for
a
candle
light
dinner.
Shreya
Ghoshal
joins
Himesh
in
this
romantic
outing
and
makes
sure
that
'Jaaneman'
turns
out
to
be
one
of
the
best
songs
to
have
arrived
this
year.
Looking
at
the
lyrics
of
'Piya
Jaise
Ladoo
Motichur
Wale',
one
would
have
imagined
this
to
be
a
celebration
number.
However,
there
is
a
pleasant
surprise
in
store
as
it
turns
out
to
be
a
semi-classical
track
which
has
Rekha
Bhardwaj
beginning
the
proceedings.
A
love
song
which
again
has
just
Rekha's
voice
on
the
forefront
with
emphasis
on
the
quality
of
rendition
rather
than
any
musical
instruments
bringing
on
the
beats,
'Piya
Jaise...'
too
demonstrates
Himesh's
stranglehold
over
classical
music.
One
wonders
where
was
this
aspect
of
Himesh
lost
over
the
years?
In
fact
Himesh
even
curbs
himself
as
a
singer
and
only
brings
him
on
the
scene
a
couple
of
times
while
allowing
Rekha
to
hold
centre-stage.
Yet
another
excellent
track
which
only
makes
one
start
expecting
a
lot
more
from
Radio.
In
fact
'Piya
Jaise...'
would
be
the
last
to
warrant
a
'remix
version'
but
Himesh
Reshammiya
and
Akbar
Sami
make
it
happen
and
present
it
in
a
format
that
would
make
an
entry
into
the
lounges
and
clubs.
Feeling
of
some
pure
and
unsaid
love
continues
with
'Koi
Na
Koi
Chahe'
and
by
this
time
one
gets
to
know
that
all
the
beats
and
the
musical
instruments
were
reserved
for
the
'bhangra'
number
in
the
start
-
'Zindagi
Jaise
Ek
Radio'.
That's
because
from
that
point
on,
none
of
the
songs
had
focus
on
anything
other
than
the
vocals,
something
that
shows
in
'Koi
Na
Koi
Chahe'.
A
'raaga'
based
love
song,
this
Himesh
Reshammiya
and
Shreya
Ghoshal
track
goes
perfectly
well
with
the
mood
that
has
been
set
in
Radio
so
far.
The
sound
of
piano
marks
the
beginning
of
'Teri
Meri
Dosti
Ka
Asmaan'
and
one
knows
there
and
then
that
Himesh
has
indeed
set
his
heart
in
for
creating
the
soundtrack
of
Radio.
If
one
liked
the
music
of
his
last
brilliant
album
Ahista
Ahista
then
one
is
bound
to
grab
Radio
too
with
both
hands,
courtesy
a
song
like
this
which
continues
the
unadulterated
feel
of
the
album.
Subrat
Sinha
too
spins
some
interesting
lyrics
for
this
number
that
has
Shreyal
Ghoshal
getting
that
little
girl
act
well
with
Himesh
giving
her
company
in
a
full
throated
rendition.
It
isn't
every
day
that
another
male
singer
makes
an
appearance
in
a
Himesh
Reshammiya
album;
let
aside
sharing
the
stage
with
him.
Well,
impossible
happens
in
case
of
'Damadji
Angana
Hai
Padhare'
where
Kailash
Kher
gets
this
opportunity.
A
number
that
has
a
folk
base
to
it,
'Damadji...'
has
Kailash
beginning
the
proceedings.
However,
two
minutes
into
the
song
and
Himesh
enters
the
scene
while
bringing
a
different
pitch
and
momentum.
Yet
another
number
that
is
attached
to
the
roots
and
stays
Indian
throughout,
it
should
make
for
a
good
situational
outing.
It's
back
to
a
romantic
duet
with
Himesh
and
Shreya
coming
together
for
'Shaam
Ho
Chali
Hai'.
After
'Janeman',
this
is
the
love
song
that
impresses
most
and
deserves
to
be
promoted
to
the
hilt.
With
a
touch
of
wait
and
sadness
to
it,
this
one
too
carries
a
certain
'pure'
feel
to
it
and
stays
unconcerned
about
any
commercial
trappings.
Carrying
the
kind
of
sound
(that
does
remind
of
'In
Dino
Dil
Mera'
-
Life
In
A
Metro)
that
is
bound
to
work
well
with
the
youth
of
today
who
are
looking
at
hearing
something
different
from
the
usual
club
outings
that
are
being
presented
in
many
a
album
in
recent
past,
'Shaam
Ho
Chali
Hai'
deserves
a
repeat
hearing.
Before
the
album
concludes,
Himesh
presents
himself
a
solo
in
the
form
of
'Rafa
Dafa
Kiya
Nahi
Nahin
Jaaye'.
A
number
about
moving
on
in
life,
this
one
is
a
good
attempt
by
Subrat
Sinha
as
he
pens
something
different
from
the
'dard-e-tanhai'
genre
that
has
been
beaten
to
death.
A
slow
moving
track
that
is
primarily
for
situational
appeal,
it
doesn't
harm
the
overall
flow
of
Radio
which
ultimately
turns
out
to
be
much
more
than
just
a
satisfying
album.
OVERALL
Radio,
in
one
word,
is
'brilliant'.
In
three
words,
it
can
be
described
as
'Himesh
is
Back'.
And
in
one
sentence,
it
would
be
right
to
say
that
'Himesh
creates
something
that
what
he
is
capable
of
doing
so'.
One
wonders
whether
he
too
was
aware
of
this
fact
that
he
had
it
in
him
to
compose
and
sing
songs
like
'Janeman',
'Piya
Jaise',
'Shaam
Ho
Chali
Hai'
and
'Koi
Na
Koi',
all
in
one
single
album.
He
makes
a
huge
impression
with
Radio
that
is
sure
to
hit
the
top
spot
in
the
charts
in
quick
time.
Strongly
recommended!
OUR
PICK(S)
'Janeman',
'Shaam
Ho
Chali
Hai',
'Piya
Jaise',
'Mann
Ka
Radio',
'Koi
Na
Koi'