Music review: Lucky

He is known for his trademark style of music. He became a household name a few years back, with the soulful “Kabhi To Nazar Milao”. Since then he has brought out two more best-selling albums, cavorting with the leading actresses of Bollywood in the music videos. Lucky – No time for Love (henceforth I’ll refrain from using the byline) features Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai look-alike Sneha Ullal in the lead, with Mithun Chakravarthy in a supporting role, and marks Adnan Sami’s debut as a music director in Bollywood.

Sami starts off with the beautifully romantic Jaan Meri Jaa Rahi Sanam. Soothing and melodious, the song beings softly with the voice of Udit Narayan. Sami uses the tabla and the flute to build up the song. The orchestration reminds you strongly of the title track of “Tera Chehra”. Anuradha Paudwal compliments Udit’s voice perfectly. Sameer’s lyrics are splendid (Kya ladakpan hai, kya jawani hai, ab tumhare naam meri zindgani hai. Kya haqeeqat hai, kya kahani hai, saamne mere meri sapnon ki rani hai). A sure chart-topper!

Sun Zara starts off with some Gregorian chant-like stuff and heavy thumping beats which makes you think as if you are listening to something out of Enigma. However, Sonu Nigam puts you at ease, and what follows is one of his best songs so far. Sonu perfectly manages to convey the anguish of separation through his voice. The solo violin piece in the background is haunting.

If you though the best was over, what follows is sheer bliss. Adnan Sami and Lata Mangeshkar work magic with Shayad Yahi To Pyar Hai – easily the best track in the album! The lyrics are once again splendid! Those who accuse Lata lately of being too shrill (including your’s truly), should listen to this track! This is the Lata we all love. Sami and Lata are exhilarating in both the high and low notes of the song. Simply marvelous!

What follows is only for Salman Khan fans. Chori Chori is not in the same league as the above mentioned threesome, but for it’s lively pace, it’s likeable chhed-chhad song. For Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik, it’s a routine day’s work. The chorus in the background is catchy.

Asha! Oh Asha! What would we have done without you? Lucky Lips is not a song which people would fall in love with at first hearing. But the song grows on you on further hearing. Mind you, you’ll have to ignore some lyrics if you want to listen to the song. Watch out for the excellent rendition of the antaras. Lubov Mix of ‘Sun Zara’ comes next with intermittent vocals by Adnan Sami. It is however, not the usual remix stuff you get to hear nowadays – add some beats in the background, add some illegible mumbling of English words in the name of rap and put in a ‘yo’ here and there. Sami has done a wonderful job by adding the sax and the guitar to the original.

Hum Deewane, a mediocre piece by Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal follows. There’s not much in the song to catch your attention, and it sounds just like the run-of-the-mill tracks that you come across in any Hindi movie. This one is an invitation to press the forward button. This is just a minor aberration though, as Asha is back with the Bolshoi Mix of ‘Lucky Lips’. It actually sounds better than the original, though there is no doubt that Adnan has been inspired by Robert Miles! To close off the album, Adnan gives Sonu Nigam stiff competition with his own melancholic rendition of Sun Zara.

Lucky definitely scores in melody. Salman Khan is on a high! The year 2004 saw Salman bag a big hit in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and a Screen award nomination for best actor (Ugh!) in Garv.
Lucky could turn out to be what the doctor ordered for Salman Khan – a hit! Of course, while listening to the album some of us will have to forget that Salman Khan will be enacting out the songs on the screen! However, it would be better if Adnan Sami becomes less predictable with his songs – traces of his previous albums do creep up in various songs. Nevertheless, Lucky is certainly a good buy for lovers of romantic numbers. And for lovers of Adnan Sami’s music, it is a MUST BUY!