AKS

Director: Ramesh Mehra
Music: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Gulzar
Producer: Jhamu Sughand
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Raveena Tandon

Anupama sings Yeh Raate. It start's pleasantly. Music resembles title song of Gharwali Bharwali. The song has some good music, but the lyrics are dreadful. They could have been improved a bit, if Gulzar had concentrated more on the lyrics. Music plays an important role in this song and Anupama's voice is pretty superior.

Raat Aati Hai by Shubha Mudgal has excellent slow music. Shubha Mudgal's voice is good for the song and lyrics are worthy too. A little, but worth hearing.

After giving excellent songs for Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, K.K. returns now with Aks. He sings Aaja Gufaon Mein along with Vashundhara Das. All the first three songs are quite similar and start slowly. In the starting, you must be thinking K.K. spoils the song, but he ends up with a good voice. Vashundhara is as usual good. Lyrics are pretty okay.

Hariharan has improved in singing with age. The next song of the album is Hum Bhool Gaye which is sung by him. It starts with some good music. Another slow song but Hariharan makes it a better one with his good and soft voice. Music plays a major role. This song may take up in the Bollywood Countdown. Lyrics are okay. But, the song is indeed really slow.

K.K. also sings Banda Bindas. Songs starts off with excellent music. And this is obviously the first fast song of the album. Lyrics are excellent. This song will also take up to the top 10 in the charts.

Superstar of the millennium, Amitabh Bachchan returns to singing with Bhala Bura. Vocals played are good in this song. Music is good. First it starts slowly, and then speeds up. Amitabh, keeping in mind, his voice has changed doesn't sing a fast song, but manages to slow down a bit. Okay, he sings, no wait, he only says dialogues. Lyrics are just fine, could've been improved. No, this song is not at all good. Amitabh shouldn't go on for singing.

Chitra sings Hum Bhool Gaye. As mentioned above for the song, lyrics are okay and music is good.

Amitabh Bachchan, Nandita Das & Kavita Mundra team up for Ramleela. Song starts with Amitabh's voice and he's a 'Ravan' which is included in the lyrics too. The song is pretty melodious. It has shades of slow and fast music. A good mythological song. Not exactly, mythological. A song between the good and bad.

The last song, Rabba Rabba is sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Vasundhara Das. Sukhwinder's voice is as usual (as in all songs), excellent. And this song has good fast music and his voice matches. Vasundhara Das's voice is also excellent. Excellent lyrics. What else do we need for a song? This is the best song of the album.

In the end, Anu Malik has given good music. But, lyrics by Gulzar are not at all worth hearing. But, then again Aks means Reflection. So, what could you expect for the songs? The first few slow songs could've been improved but will do. Okay, the album is worth buying.

Some good songs in the album. And for those of you who love slow songs, this is what you are looking for. And for those of you who like fast songs, there are some pretty good numbers.

REVIEWED BY AATIF FARID