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By
Joginder Tuteja, May 1, 2007 - 08:20 IST
 Shoot Out At Lokhandwala is one film that has arrived
like a hurricane. Though the first half of 2007 was
touted as a year of 'Guru', 'Salaam E Ishq', 'Eklavya',
'Namastey London', 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' and many more
biggies, the promotion and packaging of 'Shootout At
Lokhandwala' has ensured that it turns out to be one
of the biggest, if not the biggest itself, film of the
season.
With a power packed cast comprising of Amitabh
Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Viveik
Oberoi, Suneil Shetty, Tusshar Kapoor and many more,
this men-all film directed by Approva 'Ek Ajnabee'
Lakhia has made an instant impression. Films coming
from the house of Sanjay Gupta are often known for
their music. Remember recent ones like 'Kaante', 'Musafir'
and 'Zinda'? One expects the same from this soundtrack
that has Anand Raaj Anand, Strings, Mika, Biddu and
Euphoria coming together.
Anand Raaj Anand decides to flex his vocal chords for
his own composition 'Mere Yaar'. A blend of Rajasthani
and Punjabi folk presented in a fusion of Indian and
Western orchestra ensures that 'Mere Yaar' sounds fine
at least as long as it lasts.
An item number set in a dance bar, this Dev Kohli
written track isn't of the kind that would set the
charts afire, nor is it yet another 'Beedi Jalaile'
for Sunidhi Chauhan or for that matter Aarti Chabaria
[on whom the track is picturised]. At maximum, 'Mere
Yaar' would keep the racy mood of the film intact due
to its fast rhythm and won't let boredom come in, but
that's about it. One searches for a remix version of
this track but there isn't any in the
album....thankfully!
Now that's what one expected from Sanjay Gupta in the
first place - a track like 'Aakhri Alvida'. After
hearing it just once, one can conveniently say that
the genre to which 'Aakhri Alvida' belongs to can be
created only by a Pakistani band! Strings prove once
again that they are an original and in spite of
numerous attempts at creating a similar feel by
musicians across the World, the results have never
been as exemplary.
 Brilliantly written with a philosophical undertone of
life and separation interspersed in so well, this rock
track changes shades throughout its 5 minutes duration
and flip flops its mood from soft, hard to soft again.
It's not just the beats that add on to the 'remix
version' of 'Alvida'; it is also the rendition that
changes to speed on a fast track. There is a 80s feel
to the added rhythm and the instrument that plays
alongside the track keeps the 'Club mix' feel intact.
After 'Ye Hai Meri Kahani' [Zinda], 'Aakhri Alvida' is
yet another track that would be known for years to
come.
'Ganpat' gets into a 'Bheeku Mhatre' [Satya] mode as
it tells the tale of Maya Dolas [played by Viveik
Oberoi] and his gangster friends who have ambitions to
rule Mumbai. Composed, written and crooned by Mika who
has Anchal as his co-singer, it is a situational track
picturised on Viveik, Tusshar, Rohit, Aaditya and
others.
Mika sings in a style similar to that of his own 'Ae
Bhai Tune Pappi Kyon Li' [private album: Out Of
Control] while the composing style comes close to the
kind adopted by Nitin Raikwar for numerous RGV films.
And by the way, this is no compliment since the
results are lukewarm here as well!
The remix version of 'Ganpat' is interesting, though
not from music but story point of view. The track is
basically orchestrated to highlight the power of Maya
Dolas in Mumbai and how he 'rules' over phone and
creates havoc. Those fond of underworld setting would
like to give this track a hearing for a couple of
times.
Anand Raaj Anand is the sole composer in the film to
have two tracks to his credit. After 'Yaar Mera' he
comes with 'Unke Nashe Mein' for which Sanjay Gupta is
at the helm of penning the lyrics too. An ordinary
track that neither breaks any new ground nor makes a
distinct identity for itself, 'Unke Nashe Mein' is a
celebration/item number that would in all likelihood
be featured on the men in the film who form the gang.
Sukhwinder Singh, Mika and Anand Raaj Anand come
together but can't really make this track rise above
ordinary either in its original or equally lukewarm
'Club Mix' version.
 A theme song, 'Live By The Gun' is an out and out
English track by Biddu. Sanjay Gupta needs to be
patted on his back for thinking of coming up with a
track like this but surprisingly the end result isn't
quite striking. Biddu does give the song a haunting
feel to go with the theme and mood of the film but
even though the music is set on soft tones, there
isn't much for a listener to cheer about. Though one
is quite sure that the song won't really find a place
in the film, it would be interesting to see if a
promotional music video for it is created soon.
Aah...thankfully a track that one can finally pick
from the album of SOAL after 'Aakhri Alvida'! 'Sone De
Ma' is a kind of track that one expects from the band
Euphoria. Led by Dr. Palash Sen who has also written
and crooned it, it is a soothing track about the
protagonist who is tired of all the running away in
this mad race of crime and now finally wants to sleep
tight.
Based on core Indian melody, 'Sone De Ma' has some ear
pleasing arrangements that never come in the way of
sensitive lyrics and rendition and let the situation
do most of the talking. Now this is one track that one
can give a repeat hearing, even though it is not the
kind that makes for a chartbuster score.
One still feels a sense of incompleteness though since
over the years Sanjay Gupta has raised very high
standards of music. And if not for 'Aakhri Alvida' and
'Sone De Ma', 'Shoot Out At Lokhandwala' would have
been a major disappointment.
Rating:- * *
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