Woh Lamhe

Article Updated 21 August, 2006 09:51:44 PM IST

Woh Lamhe

After ruling the music charts and pleasantly surprising the box-office with 'Zeher' and 'Kalyug', director Mohit Suri is back once again with 'Woh Lamhe'. Needless to add, that we music buffs are too excited to say the least, as both the above-mentioned movies had music to die for. And with Pritam fresh from the success of 'Gangster' expectations soar even higher. So let's turn on the volume and check out the latest offering from the Bhatt camp.

The album opens with the light, frothy rocking Bhatt style composition 'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai'. Unfortunately, right from the start, including the base guitar strumming and Kay Kay's base vocals, this song is a blatant rip off from Indonesian band Peterpan's composition 'Tak Bisakah'. One has to hear it to believe it. All that Pritam has done is refurbish it. The only person that deserves credit is the lyricist Neelesh Misra who has done a wonderful job. Sample a few lines - "Kyun aaj kal neend kam khwaab zyada hai. Lagta khuda ka koi nek irada hai. Kal tha faqeer aaj dil shehzaada hai. Lagta khuda ka koi nek irada hai. Kya mujhe pyaar hai..."

All the same, not many in India (will) know about 'Tak Bisakah' and so will love this one. Unless and until, like Kuwait's Guitara ('Ya Ghali' copied as 'Ya Ali'), Peterpan decides to sue Pritam.

DJ A-Myth and DJ Kiran deserve a pat on their back for spicing up and presenting us with a super sounding remixed version of 'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai'.

The Bangladeshi rockstar James is back after truly rocking us with his 'Bheegi Bheegi' ('Gangster'). But unlike previously, where he got to sing the Hindi adaptation of late Gautam Chatterji excellent Bengali composition 'Pritibhi', this time he gets to render a semi-motivational cum love ballad 'Chal Chale' by Pritam, which is not in the same league. The musical arrangements are low keyed. The mouth organ piece, along with the orchestra dominated plates and James excellent rendition (specially his much loved high pitched crooning) makes it a super number, which may take a while to grow on us.

The next track 'Tu Jo Nahin' features twice in the album (the second time as a mere space filler) has music arranged by Pritam. Sadly, the whole number is inspired from two sources. First, the mukhda has shades of Nadeem-Shravan's 'Bahut Pyaar Karte Hain' ('Sajan'), which itself was lifted from the Pakistani song 'Bahut Khoobsurat Hai Mera Sanam'. Second, the antara, believe it or not, is a straight lift from the 'antara' of the evergreen classic number 'Mohabbat Ki Jhoothi kahani Pe Roye' from 'Mughal-E-Azam'. Glenn John does a fine job and peps up a dull number with some good singing.

A couple of years back, the Bhatts' had roped in Pakistani pop singer Atif Aslam and his 'Woh Lamhe' ('Zeher') weaved a magical spell on the listeners. This time, they have the services of another Pakistani pop star Jawad Ahmad and the song 'Bin Tere' from his album 'Bol Tujhe Kya Chahiye'. Maybe keeping in mind the theme and the tagline of the movie, 'For everyone who has loved and lost', they have chosen the above-mentioned number. It is a typical soft Pakistani style "missing you" song rendered well by Jawad. Will it touch the popularity of Aatif's 'Woh Lamhe'? Highly unlikely.

The album ends with 'So Jaoon Main', which appears twice in the album. Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala have each sung a version. It's definitely a very unique composition from (no not Pritam) Roop Kumar Rathod, both lyrically and musically. Shakeel Azmi's lyrics are very good, fresh and very different from the same old romantic ones written today - "So jaoon main tum agar meri khwabon mein aao. Kho jaoon main main tum agar meri baahon mein aao." Shreya sings well but she sounds strained during her high octave humming. Though lyrically this number is a bit on the effeminate side, Kunal is simply brilliant and effortless.

On the whole, despite all the plagiarism and illegally imported Pakistani number, 'Woh Lamhe' has had a good start at the sales counter. Most of the paying audience don't know or don't care and that is why such things continue. While Pritam may once again get another musical hit, if he continues in the same way, he will soon be crowned the unquestionable king of plagiarism!

Rating: 7.5/10

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