Hulchul Music Review

 

   Hera Pheri, Hungama and now Hulchul - Priyadarshan has been directing multi-starrer comedies with quite ease for last few years. Hulchul, a Venus production with Manohar Kanungo as the co-producer, too boasts of a fine lineup of actors that comprise of Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Arbaaz Khan and Amrish Puri. Supposed to be a laugh riot, the initial promos have already created a stir and the movie is being awaited this winter. With lyrics by Sameer, composer from the south Vidyasagar handles the music front.
 

Though Priyadarshan is a director par excellence, his movies were never recognized for a good musical score. While Hera Pheri had a couple of good tunes in the shape of item numbers, Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar was a non-starter and Hungama was plain average despite the Nadeem Shravan tag. One wonders whether Vidyasagar would be able to catch the pulse of the music lovers.

' Rafta Rafta ' by Udit Narayan and Sujatha takes you back to the music of another Priyadashan movie ' Doli Saja Ke Rakhna '. This romantic number has a Rehman touch while the picturization is situational with a comic touch as the lead pair of Akshay Khanna and Kareena seem to be having a compromise while being with each other! The number starts off well but after a couple of minutes becomes quite ordinary.

Shaan and Sadhna Sargam sing ' Hum Dil Ke ' that is thematically very similar to another number ' Kissa Hum Likhenge ' from ' Doli Saja Ke Rakhna '. Well, this time around the song doesn't impress much as it is too laidback and there is complete lack of energy. It is one thing to be sweet and simple while it is different to be without any fizz at all!

A rural based item song comes up as ' Loot Gaye ' that is not a patch on Anand Raj Anand's ' Loot Gaye ' from ' Mumbai Matinee '. This one is just not happening with lyrics like ' Loot Gayi Lanka Ravan Ki ' that comes across as song from a 'cow-belt audience' facing music album. Gayatri, Sayonara Philip, Poornima and Raja Lakshmi attempt to do a powerhouse performance, but the tune fails them and the song falls flat. This is another item song that doesn't create any ripples at the music stores.

Till now, the songs have been on a constantly decline and one wonders if this is the weakest score ever in a Priyadarshan's movie. Well, Shaan and Alka Yagnik come to rescue in an Anand-Milind inspired tune ' Ishq Main '. A 'Beat One-Beat Two' number, it is impressive for two reasons. One, it's zingy beats that makes one start foot-tapping and two - the choreography that is situational and gets a comic feel around the whole number. Overall, a number that can be heard throughout and is to an extent, enjoyable.

' Lee Humne Kasam ' is a number about 'Let's promise we will never separate from each other' by Hariharan that has a distinct South Indian flavor. Another weak link in the armor of Vidyasagar's compositions, it is very average and one can be safe while saying that audience will use the song's duration to get their share of popcorns and cold drinks in the auditorium.

 ' Dekho Zara Dekho ' starts off as a village number by Udit Narayan but immediately takes a turn towards being a fast paced track with Kunal Ganjawala joining in soon. A number again inspired from Anand Milind who themselves borrowed heavily from South India maestro Illayaraja; it has a 90's feel. The best part of the number is that it can be at least heard completely and has a potential to make for some good visuals at least if presented well as it has comical overtones about guys running after a girl.

In the end, one can say that ' Hulchul ' has nothing extra ordinary to offer. One expected a Kareena movie to have some decent tunes that would be blockbuster material but with an exception of a couple of tunes (that themselves are again nothing spectacular), there is not much in the offering. Super success of Hera Pheri and Hungama have proved that music may not be the most important ingredient in such a comic movie and one can as well hope that Hulchul - the movie, too follows suit.