AUDIO SCAN
Charge of the youth brigade

Star system is not confined to actors alone. There is a similar monopolistic trend in the music world as well. It is very difficult for a new singer to find his feet among the established stalwarts. But in this film, composer Ram Sampat, who is himself a little wet behind the ears, has given a chance only to lesser-known singers.

Since it is a film made by Amitabh Bachchan’s company, that is a great break to have. The new crooners have not disappointed either.

It’s the done thing these days to put the most promising song in the opening slot. That is nothing very novel either. After all, haven’t we always put the best apples on top of the basket? Yes, if at all this album is remembered, it will be for the opener Qatra qatra which has been sung with abandon by Arnab Chakraborty and Soumya Raoh.

Another indication of the composer’s favourite song is whether he has also done it in a remix. Again, it is Qatra qatra, which is there in two versions.

Arnab had come into the limelight with Wada Raha in Khakee and that song too has been included in this cassette as a "bonus".

That is not the only bonus song from other films included in this cassette. There are also Dil dooba by Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam and Aisa jadoo by Sunidhi Chauhan.

Arnab is indeed the singer to watch for in the days to come. He is not only a regular at live shows, but has also participated in several competitions. He won the RD Burman Award at an interstate singing competition in 1996-97. He is also the winner of the Coca Cola Rock The Mike contest 2002 and the MTV Video Ga Ga Awards 2002, where he was discovered by Javed Akhtar in the presence of Jatin-Lalit and Usha Uthup.

His co-singer, Soumya, with several Telugu hits to her credit, has lent her voice to Bollywood films like Jungle, Pyar Tune Kya Kiya (Roundhe), Company (Aankhon Mein Raho) and the recent award-winning hit Laila Laila from the film Samay.

Prakash has lent his voice to the theme music of the film.

While most Punjabi singers have been looking askance for a single hit, the Midas touch of Gurdas Mann continues. Whatever he croons turns into a folk song almost instantaneously. This album too seems destined to be played repeatedly at weddings and dance parties.

Gurdas has a patent method of gauging public reaction. He sings his forthcoming numbers at live shows and the audience response gives him a good guess of how it will do in cassettes. Several of these songs included in Vilayatan were heard in Mann’s programmes here over a year back and when one hears the recordings for the first time, their beat is already familiar.

The cassette opens with the title number but, in my opinion, it is Babe bhangra pounde ne which may turn out to be the biggest draw, with Bekadraan naal pyaar na kariyo dub joonge coming a close second.

Gurdas has carried out some experimentation this time. He has included a Hindi number Hai mera dil kahaan and has also put in a number in praise of Guru Gobind Singh (Sarbans daaniyaa ve).

Music is by Jaidev Kumar, while the lyrics are Mann’s own. 

— ASC