AUDIOSCAN
My Brother... Nikhil (Universal)

New composers are expected to bring a whiff of fresh air to the music scene. But this hope is rudely shattered by Vivek Philip. Leave alone a fresh approach, they have not come up with many new songs either. The cassette is packed with songs from films and private albums released in the past.

Kabhi is from an album of the same name by Josh. Aa bhi jaa by Lucky Ali and Sunidhi Chauhan is a well-known song from the film Sur. Kunal Ganjawala’s Bolo tum bolo is from Rules – Pyar Ka Superhit Formula, while Mere Sapne (Kavita Krishnamurthy) comes courtesy Mitr.

Woh kaun thi by Sunidhi Chauhan is from Shaadi Ka Laddoo and Mahiya, by the same singer, is borrowed from Pehla Nasha. To that extent this cassette sets a record of sorts as far as the number of borrowed songs is concerned.

Amid all these oft-heard songs one has to really work hard to reach the original ones. One, Le chale by Shaan, comes at the very start of the album but then one has to wait for the end of the other side to hear the female version of the same by Sunidhi Chauhan.

Beyond these there is only instrumental music and Till we meet again sung by Vivek Philip. The lyrics are by Amitabh Verma and Nilanjana.

The music here is far superior but still one feels disappointed only because one expected much better from a maestro like Illayaraja.

Perhaps that has something to do with the storyline of the Kamalahasan film where he plays a stuntman. So there are songs like Bandar ki dugdugi (Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, KK and Shaan).

Vintage Illayaraja is missing even in songs like Aila re (two versions sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, KK and Shaan and chorus) and Pyar chahiye (again two versions, sung by Sonu Nigam and Shaan in one and Shreya Ghoshal joining them in the other).

He comes into his own only in the instrumental Monkey Chatter, which is from a live orchestra in Budapest.

Long dialogues from the film have been included in the album. The lyrics are by Dev Kohli.

Juggy is the product of London’s Southall district. He has been performing since the age of 14 when he won a talent competition.

He has collaborated with other singers like Rishi Rich in the past but this is his debut album. The furious beat will ensure that his songs will gain temporary popularity but the poor quality of the lyrics jars.

To his credit, he has included a song that cautions the youth against the use of intoxicants. Such songs are more effective than sermons. —ASC