Anthony Kaun Hai
Munnabhai and Circuit return, albeit in a different avtar! And
the question on everyone's lips is - ANTHONY KAUN HAI. Trust Bollywood to
present a different dish every second week this year! Earlier titled 'One Night
In Bangkok, 'Anthony Kaun Hai?' is a fun caper by director Raj Kaushal who has
attempted diverse subjects in his earlier days such as 'Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi'
and 'Shaadi Ke Laddoo'. While these two were small budget flicks, Kaushal makes
his most starry film so far with Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Minissha Lamba,
Anousha Dandekar and Gulshan Grover in the lead. AKH is produced by Nikhil
Panchamiya, who made his debut with 'Dil Maange More' while Himesh Reshammiya,
Sameer and Akbar Sami combine again to deliver yet another album in what can be
considered a dream run.
'A' factor has always worked in favor with Reshammiya. Be it 'Aashiq Banaya
Aapne', 'Aksar', 'Aap Ka Surroor' or most recently 'Ahista Ahista'. Does the
good run with 'A' continue in case of 'Anthony Kaun Hai' as well? Unfortunately
not as the album crashes after a promising start, hence proving to be a dent in
the dream 'A' run!
The accompanying rhythm of 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' is reminiscent of 'Teri Yaad'
Kartoos, which was itself a take off on numerous western tracks. Nevertheless,
one can comfortably add this track to an already blooming list of hits for
Reshammiya, the composer and singer, who holds the mike once again along with
Sunidhi Chauhan to come up with a pulsating 'masala' number. There is a visible
Arabian influence to the song as well but that is too short to be noticed as
Reshammiya ensures that his stamp holds more prevalent in the song than anything
else. That indeed is the reason why someone like Sunidhi Chauhan too is
relegated to the background in this song which is yet another treat for
Reshammiya fans. Would it go a far way? Perhaps not, but still it would easily
make it to the compilation of Reshammiya's current Top-10 hits. Akbar Sami's
remix, that follows a different approach as far as creating the rhythm for the
song is concerned, more than ensures that this happens!
Have you checked out a rather cute looking Sanju baba playing a flute while
seated on a couch? Well, the sound of flute is what arrives at the beginning of
'No Way Way', a funky item song if one can call it that way between Sanjay Dutt
and Arshad Warsi. The song in fact has two catchy moments; one is with 'No Way'
and the other when the line 'Saawariya Tere Bina' comes. While Reshammiya begins
the proceedings as a singer, he has K.K. as his co-singer who arrives moments
later. A song that has the suited booted 'jodi' of Dutt-n-Warsi looking
absolutely smashing and debonair, 'No Way' is a song with an attitude that is
yet another 'masala-mix' number that should help the film and album to be in
news till the film's release. Surprisingly Akbar Sami's remix version of the
song seems so rushed up as it almost sounds annoying! Skip this remix version as
the original has enough spice to keep you engaged.
Perhaps Reshammiya himself knew that there was nothing great about 'Tune Mera
Chain Vain Le Liya' and hence he tried to redeem it by adding a 50s style
accompanying rhythm to it! Except for lively beats, there is nothing much in
this attempted peppy romantic number by Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghoshal that
merely passes muster. There is Pritam 'ishtyle' rap-n-reggae incorporation into
the number but that may create an impression only after the song's
picturization. Sounding like one of those stock tunes by Reshammiya, it's rhythm
in fact starts sounding too much like Pritam's recent hit 'Pyaar Karke' Pyaar Ke
Side Effects in its remix version.
Saru Maini, who came up with her reasonably successful solo album 'Ishq Hua' a
few months back, makes her Bollywood playback singing debut with 'Bhangra Paale'
that sounds everything but a 'bhangra'. In fact the song comes close to be being
a groovy beach song rather than anything else and though Sonu Nigam tries well
to create a Punjabi feel around the song, it is not to much avail as the song is
more romantic than being a dance track. Now if Raj Kaushal indeed manages to
pull of an eye pleasing choreography for the song, it would really be a worthy
achievement. With Jayesh playing his role as a voiceover artist well, 'Bhangra
Paale' is primarily a Sonu Nigam song with Saru Maini hardly getting much
opportunity to demonstrate her talent. A little later the remix version of the
track comes which indeed turns out to be a worthy celebration number. In fact
this is THE version that should find a place in the album since the original has
hardly any ammunition to cheer about. Agreed that even this is not great by any
means but it at least manages to hold fort!
The opening sound of flute justifies the Far East setting of the film while the
guitar strings that follow make sure that a romantic offering is on the way. The
song brings together than husband-wife 'jodi' of Kunal and Gayatri Ganjawala. A
melodious number with guitar playing the most important role in the musical
arrangements, 'Because I Love You' is all sweet-n-saccharine and is
traditionally Sameer in the way it has been written. After two average numbers,
'Because I Love You' brings back the album on track as it walks a similar line
as 'Do Dil Mil Rahen Hain' Pardes, though the latter would always remains to be
more superior of the two. Is there really a requirement for a remix version of
this song? This is what one feels when you read the next song to follow as the
remix version of 'Because I Love You'. It takes a racy-pacy approach and in fact
doesn't sound too distracting since it maintains an identity of its own. Yes,
after hearing the soft-n-sober original, it does sound a little loud but
certainly not bad.
As if to make amends for the limited role that she had to play in 'Ishq Kiya
Kiya', Sunidhi Chauhan gets to sing a solo 'Let's Rock' where her only
accompanying partner is Arya who does the rap. There is an extended musical
piece before the song begins and on hearing the very first two lines, one feels
if it was only the opening rhythm that should have continued from beginning to
end. The weakest and perhaps most boring song by Reshammiya post his 'Aashiq
Banaya Aapne' era, it is an easy skip after the very first go. The words 'Let's
Rock' are in fact used only for providing rhythm to the song with no active
contribution in the feel and situation of this song where a girl is trying to
woo her man. Sounding nothing better than a 70s cabaret number, it has its
further lukewarm remix version concluding this album that has a mixed quality of
songs.
The album begins on a good note with 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' and 'No Way' but goes
downhill from thereon with only 'Because I Love You' providing some support. The
album has too much quantity but not much quality, now it all depends upon how
far 'No Way' and 'Ishq Kiya Kiya' take it past the safety mark.
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