Reviewed by Mukul Deshpande
mukul@indolink.com

With Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Yash Johar will be hoping to recover the loss incured with Duplicate. This time his son Karan Johar, who was assistant to Aditya Chopra in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, is wielding the megaphone. In addition to the hit pair of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, the film stars the "Khandala" girl Rani Mukherjee, and even has special appearances by Salman Khan and Neelam. The music is given by Jatin-Lalit who have already given three hit romantic scores in Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha.

The album gets off to a perfect start with the title song. Although the intro is reminiscent of one of the songs from Khamoshi, the Yash Chopra trademark is palpable as the song progresses. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik (who is present in all the eight songs in this album) lend their voices to this brilliant composition by Jatin-Lalit. Alka also sings a slower, shorter, sadder version of this song at the end of Side A.

Jatin-Lalit carry on their great form into the next song. "Koi Mil Gaya" combines melody and a catchy beat, making it the joint best song of this album (the other one being the title song). Udit sings the first half of this song with Alka and the second half with Kavita Krishnamurthy. My guess is that both the heroines think the hero is singing with them. Evidently, one of them is sadly mistaken. Sounds familiar?

If it's Jatin-Lalit, there has to be a "shaadi" song. "Saajanji Ghar Aaye" is strikingly similar to "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Basically, there are only two differences between "Saajanji" and "Mehndi". One is that the former is rendered by Kumar Sanu, Alka and Kavita, while the latter was sung by Udit and Lata Mangeshkar. The second (and more important) reason is that the former doesn't have the magic of the latter. So "Saajanji", which incidentally is the longest song in the album, drags and drags more until you're sick of it.

Side B kicks off with "Yeh Ladka Hai Deewana", a peppy number where the hero and the heroine are having a confrontation. I've seen a trailer where Shah Rukh and Kajol bang into each other (either accidentally or purposely) while playing basketball. So maybe that provokes an argument? Only time can tell us the answer. Meanwhile, enjoy this song by Udit and Alka.

"Tujhe Yaad Na Meri Aayee" is a sad song where the lovers remember each other after separation. Manpreet Akhtar begins the song in her husky voice, and Udit and Alka take over from her. This song is a no-no for me, but then I'm not too fond of sad songs. Hear it for yourself.

Next, we have Alka singing an old bhajan "Raghupati Raghav", while Shankar Mahadevan and his troop are in the background trying to modernize this prayer (don't ask me why). For once, Shankar has failed miserably. The song sounds totally out of place in this album, and we are left wondering where Karan is going to fit this in the film.

Jatin-Lalit run out of ideas in the last song. "Ladki Badi Anjani Hai", which has the voices of Kumar and Alka, start with "Yeh Ladka Hai Deewana" and end with the title song. And the tune in between is barely passable. There is some good percussion but the song is average at best.

Like all Yash Raj films, the songs will sound better when we see them. But then I'm assuming Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will be like a Yash Raj film. Let's hope my assumption is right. And while we wait for the film to hit the theatres, listen to the music to get into the right mood for yet another love story.

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