KAL HO NA HO - Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta
Music Directors: SHankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Director: Nikhil Advani
Producer - Karan Johar
Karan Johar is the producer, Shah Rukh Khan is the main lead, the ever-reliable Preity is the female lead, the new sensation Saif Ali Khan is enacting an important role – enough reasons for Kal Ho Na Ho to become the most hyped and the most awaited movie of the year. Even the promos look fresh and entertaining. But, does the music live up to expectations? My answer – not quite so. Although the album has a few good numbers the overall album is not very satisfying.
EXCELLENT SONGS:
1) KAL HO NA HO – Sonu Nigam
Undoubtedly, the best track of the album! Kal Ho Na Ho is a soothing melody with philosophical lyrics, soft music, and Sonu Nigam. It is nice to listen to Sonu in a song that doesn’t require him to go overboard. He does a very good job and is definitely going to be one of the top contenders for the BEST PLAYBACK SINGER award next year!
Kal Ho Na Ho is neither an extremely happy song nor is an extremely sad song – I can best describe it as ‘calm’ or ‘sober’. The message of the song is to make the best use of the present because the future is uncertain ( Kal Ho Na Ho). Hence, if you find love today, enjoy it; if you find happiness today, enjoy it, because you may lose that love or happiness tomorrow. Javed Akhtar does a good job with the https://lyrics. I like these lines:
“Chaahe jo tumhein poore dil se
Milta hai vo mushkil se
Aisa jo koyi kahin hai
Bas vohi sabse hasin hai
Us haath ko tum tham lo
Vo meherbaan kal ho na ho”
(Meaning: It is difficult to find someone who loves you wholeheartedly. Hence, if you find that ‘special someone’ hold her hand immediately. Who knows whether she will be with you tomorrow)
No wonder the best song of the album is picturized on the Johar favorite – Shah Rukh.
I rewound it 3 times consecutively (!) – 10/10
KAL HO NA HO – Sad version - Richa Sharma, Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam
AH! The magic of sad songs! The sad version of Kal Ho Na Ho is equally soothing as the happier version. The song begins with a chorus wishing a woman happiness in her life. I infer that the girl (Preity) is getting married (to Saif), but the girl’s heart is elsewhere, with someone else (Shah Rukh). Javed has penned good verses once again.
“Dil ko gham kyun
Aankh hai nam kyun
Hona hi tha jo hua hai
Us baat ko jaane hi do
Jiska nishaan kal ho na no
Har pal yahaan jee bhar jeeyo
Jo hai saman kal ho na ho”
(Meaning: Why are you sad? Why are you crying? Whatever happened was destiny. Now, forget those things that will have no trace in the future. Live your life completely. What is there today might not be there tomorrow)
Alka and Sonu sound beautiful! Their emotional voices brought tears to my eyes! Richa Sharma does a good job too.
Immensely moving – 9.5/10
GOOD TRACKS:
1) KUCH TO HUA HAI – Alka Yagnik, Shaan
Kuch To Hua Hai is nothing extraordinary in terms of music or lyrics! It has mediocre lyrics and the music consists of steady beats. But the stars of this track are its singers. Alka and Shaan (who is sounding better and better with every song) rise above the boring lyrics to deliver the goods well. Alka’s experience allows her to sail through the song with ease while Shaan’s soft voice is very expressive! The result is a sweet romantic number, describing the effect of love on two young souls. I am sure that this track is going to feature the bubbly Zinta and the handsome Saif!
Sonu’s Kal Ho Na Ho is Shaan’s Kuch To Hua Hai – 8.5/10
2) Heartbeat – Instrumental
“Heartbeat” is purely instrumental. The music directors have played the tune of the title track using violins, pianos, flutes, and jingles. This is not a creative piece (unlike the instrumental version of, say, a Devdas) but is still pleasant to listen!
Good – 8/10
AVERAGE TRACKS:
1) Its Time To Disco - Vasundhara Das, KK, Shaan, Loy Medonsa
Well, a party song that promotes ‘enjoying life’, which might become a rage with the youngsters! Its Time to Disco features young talents as the playback singers who do a competent job. ‘Shakalaka Baby” Vasundhara Das is in top form. She sounds sensuous and has enjoyed singing this number. The male voices blend well and we can immediately picturize a group of youngsters dancing away to glory! Here, I should mention that Its Time To Disco reminded me of Koi Kahe from Dil Chahta Hai, although DCHs song is ten times better!
Dance, dance baby – 7/10
2) Maahi VE – Sadhna Sargam, Sujata Bhattacharya, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan
Nah! Maahi VE sounds nothing like Maahi Ve from Kaante (which is also ten times better). This track is quite ordinary! How many times have we heard songs about lovers teasing each other, admiring each other, and appreciating each other. Maahi VE is just another such song that celebrates that warm feeling of ‘love!’ This song was no challenge to experienced Udits and Sonus and Sargams. Nonetheless, they sound enthusiastic! The music mainly consists of Punjabi beats. Lyrics are ordinary.
Ok – 5/10
BAD TRACKS
1) PRETTY WOMAN – Shankar Mahadevan, Ravi Khote
I don’t understand the purpose of this track! Throw in lyrics appreciating a girl, thrown in some English verses that sound out of place, throw in a bunch of bhangra beats, and the result is “YAAAAWWWWWNNNNN”!!!! Pretty Woman is not pretty from any angle. Shankar sounds like he has sounded hundred times before! And what in the world was JAVED AKHTAR, who gave us tracks like Panchi Nadiyan (Refugee) and the title track of Kal Ho Na Ho, thinking when he penned this one?!
Fast Forward – 3/10 ( I am being very generous here!)
In short, how I wish all the songs of Kal Ho Na Ho were as good as the title track. How I wish the lyrics were consistently good and the music was more innovative. This album would have then become evergreen! As it stands, KHNH is a potpourri of excellent, good, average, and bad songs. It is certainly not a bad album but, except for the two excellent tracks, I doubt the other songs will be remembered after the initial hype dies down!
Overall rating – 6/10