EXPECTATIONS
From
a
movie
that
has
terror
as
its
background,
you
don't
quite
expect
a
commercial
score
that
would
cut
across
audience.
With
Kashmir
as
the
setting,
there
is
scope
for
good
music
though
but
then
it
is
mainly
expected
to
be
situational
and
totally
theme
based.
However,
on
closer
look,
it
comes
to
one's
notice
that
the
composer
here
is
Mithoon
who
has
given
some
fantastic
music
for
films
like
Anwar
and
The
Train
in
the
past.
Also,
he
returns
with
his
favourite
lyricist
Sayeed
Quadri
and
that
again
makes
one
look
forward
to
what
does
the
'jodi'
have
in
offing
for
the
music
lovers
here.
MUSIC
First
thing
that
strikes
on
reading
the
credit
details
is
the
album's
duration.
Despite
only
six
songs
here,
the
duration
is
41
minutes
which
makes
every
song
lasting
an
average
of
7
minutes.
This
is
certainly
far
more
than
an
average
of
4-5
minutes
that
a
regular
song
lasts.
In
fact
there
are
a
couple
of
songs
that
run
for
more
than
8
minutes
each
which
makes
one
wonder
what
exactly
are
they
all
about.
The
question
is
answered
with
'Madno'
as
the
opening
number,
a
number
which
is
as
mesmerising
as
it
gets.
A
smooth
flowing
number,
it
has
minimal
instruments
in
the
background
and
relies
totally
on
vocals
by
Kshitij
Tarey
and
Chinmayi.
Instantly
reminding
of
the
superb
tracks
that
Mithoon
had
composed
for
Anwar
-
'Maula
Mere'
and
'Tose
Naina
Laage
-
'Madno'
is
a
pure
piece
of
work
that
sets
the
ball
rolling
for
the
album.
Even
though
there
is
a
touch
of
Kashmir
folk
to
the
song,
there
is
a
definite
originality
about
'Madno'
which
makes
this
Sayeed
Quadri
number
special.
Pick
this
one
up;
a
song
like
this
would
have
been
loved
even
if
it
was
10
minutes
long.
No
wonder,
it
is
repeated
as
'Sajnaa'
this
time
with
(surprise-surprise)
Mika
giving
company
to
Chinmayi.
This
proves
yet
again
that
given
an
opportunity,
the
singer
has
the
range
to
do
something
different
than
the
'mauj-masti'
that
he
is
known
for.
Of
course
you
do
prefer
the
Kshitij
Tarey
version
but
that
doesn't
mean
that
Mika
version
is
any
pushover.
If
not
for
anything
else,
the
song
at
least
helps
to
keep
the
sound
of
the
album
consistent
by
arriving
twice.
The
serene
sound
continues
with
'Salaam
Zindagi'
which
has
a
bunch
of
Kashmiri
kids
kick
starting
the
song
with
their
laughter.
Soon
after
Arun
Daga
and
Mohd.
Irfan
comes
behind
the
mike
and
pass
on
the
message
of
unity
in
one
voice.
With
additional
Kashmiri
vocals
by
Salim,
this
track
about
looking
forward
in
life
and
saluting
life
is
situational
and
should
play
in
the
background.
The
song
goes
well
with
the
situation
in
the
movie
and
the
kind
of
setting
Lamhaa
has.
However,
it
doesn't
quite
have
life
beyond
the
film's
run.
The
sound
of
a
chopper
followed
by
a
dialogue
-
'Welcome
to
Kashmir,
yahan
ka
mausam
aur
mahaul
kabhi
bhi
badal
sakta
hai'
-
is
an
apt
way
to
kick
start
'Main
Kaun
Hoon'.
It
isn't
everyday
that
one
gets
to
hear
Palash
Sen
coming
up
with
a
rendition
for
a
Bollywood
soundtrack.
This
is
much
reason
to
rejoice
as
the
singer
comes
behind
the
mike
for
'Main
Kaun
Hoon'
which
is
written
by
Amitabh
Varma.
A
soft
rock
track
which
goes
perfectly
well
with
the
theme
of
the
film,
'Main
Kaun
Hoon'
looks
at
the
state
that
Kashmir
is
in
state
today
and
how
it
is
being
used
as
a
target
by
vested
interests.
Play
this
one
on
and
you
won't
mind
putting
this
on
a
repeat
mode,
mainly
due
to
it
being
easy
on
ears.
What
is
really
noticeable
about
the
album
around
this
stage
is
that
it
doesn't
loose
focus
from
the
overall
theme.
This
is
apparent
in
the
way
'Zameen
O
Aasmaa'
begins
because
yet
again
the
mood
stays
on
to
be
soft
here.
With
Kshitij
Tarey
going
solo
for
this
almost
unplugged
track,
this
one
is
a
take
on
sad
affairs
that
Kashmir
is
engulfed
in.
In
fact
the
protagonist
here
is
shown
to
be
urging
God
to
drop
everything,
visit
Kashmir,
have
a
look
at
its
state
and
take
adequate
remedies.
Totally
situational.
Last
to
come
is
'Rehmat
Zara'
which
sees
a
good
kick
start
for
itself
by
means
of
some
exciting
beats
that
sets
the
mood.
With
Mohd.
Irfan
and
Mithoon
coming
together
for
this
high
on
energy
song,
'Rehmat
Zara'
by
all
means
appears
to
be
a
Pakistani
rock.
A
track
that
makes
an
instant
impact,
it
again
questions
the
state
of
Kashmir.
However,
despite
the
theme
being
repeated
from
song
to
song,
this
one
is
the
best
amongst
what
one
has
heard
so
far
and
rest
assured
would
play
on
for
a
longer
period
of
time
provided
a
music
video
around
this
is
made
pronto.
OVERALL
From
theme
perspective,
Lamhaa
works
well
and
doesn't
stray
even
once.
However,
in
the
process
of
that
happening,
a
universal
and
penetrated
reach
of
the
album
can't
be
expected
since
not
all
would
be
enticed
to
play
songs
which
have
their
roots
in
the
condition
of
Kashmir.
Still,
there
are
songs
like
'Madno'
and
'Rehmat
Zara'
which
should
still
manage
to
do
quite
well,
courtesy
Mithoon
and
Sayeed
Quadri,
who
do
give
audience
something
to
cheer
about
for
long.
OUR
PICK(S)
'Madno',
'Rehmat
Zara',
'Main
Kaun
Hoon'
Story first published: Monday, June 14, 2010, 17:49 [IST]