Elaan Music Review

 

Five Unlikely Heroes...
And One Elaan...

And finally Bollywood acknowledges the fact that the leading ladies in a formula film can be a 'Hero' too - definitely a step in the right direction!

Starring five 'heroes' - Arjun Rampal, John Abraham, Rahul Khanna, Amisha Patel and Lara Dutta, Elaan is special for one more reason - the return of three time National award winner Mithun Chakrobarty to the silver screen. Playing the role of a gang lord in this slick action thriller directed by Vikram Bhatt, Mithun's return would be appreciated by his 'urban fans', who lost on all his performances in last decade or so!! A Venus production by Ganesh Jain and Ratan Jain, who have a recent hit ' Hulchul ' to their credit, Elaan has music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Sameer.

It is good to see Rahul Khanna in his first ever 'regular' mainstream hero in Elaan . And his foray begins with a romantic love song ' Bechain Mera Dil Hai '. A duet by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, it is good - but that's it! It is a typical formula melodious number that is pleasant as long as it lasts and suffices to be a sweet and saccharine filled composition. Don't imagine yourself crooning this one, days after days.

John Abraham and Lara Dutta display a passion play in ' Dil Mein Hulchul ' and go all out to seduce the audience. The number is more of a power play combined with love and affection and the tune too has a thumping effect - literally. Sets are imaginative, costumes revealing (watch out for John in his bare torso!) and dance steps seductive. KK and Sunidhi Chauhan are heavy and husky while the lyrics stick to the basics. Not one of the better compositions by Anu Malik, it will hold value mainly due to the video. Otherwise the tune is just about average and is one of the stock tunes.

 One song that was supposed to be a 'watch-out-for' category in last few months is ' Andarlu Mandarlu '. First ' Kubaku ' ( Dil Maange More ) and now ' Andarlu ' - what's up Mr. Sameer? Anyways, figuring out what ' Andarlu ' means can be left to the intelligentsia, but in the meanwhile the frontbenchers could content themselves with this 'happy-go-lucky' fun song. Again, the number has a situational appeal and is about the 'five heroes' who are singing away to glory and are telling each other to stop worrying about everything and enjoy life. In his trademark style, Anu Malik joins Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan and provides unintentional humor! And yes, as you may have expected by now, there is a Remix of the song as well!

Title song comes in the shape of ' Meri Zindagi Mein Koyi ' and hey! the number sounds compellingly like the ones that accompany the opening credits of a James Bond movie. Gayatri Iyer is husky in her rendition, the accompanying vocals of females sound the same as they do in James Bond opening sequences and you are fully convinced about your belief when you hear the trademark guitar strings and the orchestra. This number should create the mood right in the very beginning of the movie and set the context of what the movie is about. Now, this should be a 'watch-out-for' song!!

Lara Dutta's ' Dua Karna ', that gives an impression of being a pre-climax song, may not really be another ' Aisa Jadoo ' ( Khakee ) of her career. The tune is just about average and lyrics predictable, but Lara's presence and the choreographer's efforts could take this number some distance. Overall the number is 'come today gone tomorrow' kinds and will die a silent death after the movie's run is through.

' Elaan ' - the movie, has a tremendous appeal due to it's fresh pairing, slick look, emergence of Rahul Khanna, return of Mithun and a formulaic feel that always works. But the music is nothing spectacular and seems to be a mere gap-filler. Anyways, there isn't much that is expected from a musical score of an actioner and on those grounds, ' Elaan ' could be excused. The makers should continue with their strategy of promoting action trailers and shouldn't let the tempo slow down even for a brief period. Rest assured, the movie should take a thumping initial. About the music - well one may just hear it in the movie!!