ARMAAN

Producer: Dinesh Gandhi
Director: Honey Irani
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Randhir Kapoor and Gracy Singh
Music: Shankar-Ehsan-Loy
Singers: Chitra, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shreya Ghosal, Udit Narayan, Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Amitabh Bachchan, Shaan, Bhairavi Kumble, Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Audio On: T-Seies

Produced by Dinesh Gandhi, Armaan happens to be a launching pad for Honey Irani as a director. Honey Irani is well known within the film industry as a great scriptwriter and has been penning scripts for many years now. Armaan carries a big starcast including from Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh. Some of the tracks of the flick have been energetically running on satellite channels these days making their place in the hearts of the people. The trio of Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, knowing their onions, decorates the tunes in a perfect manner. The output of their music seems to be gorgeous. Javed Akhtar, getting drenched in the ocean of ideas, pens the lyrics for this album. T-Series fulfills its duty to release the album, which has seven tracks in total.

1- Mere Dil Ka Tumse Hai Kehna (Chitra)
The album unzips itself with a melodious romantic number, Mere Dil Ka Tumse Hai Kehna. The track has all spices to provide a rich taste to the music lovers. Chitra renders it brilliantly by winning the applause of the listeners. Chitra deserves full marks for a beautiful, accurate and a soft rendition. The song has a marvelous impact on the listeners. An ear-friendly number all the way. Javed Akhtar writes the lyrics, which lift the spirits. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy arrange a gorgeous piece of music, which attract the listeners. Instrumentation is classy. The track has been running successfully on satellite channels for last many days, leaving an impression on the viewers. The number stars Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta. The new hairstyle of Preity (or it might be a wig) catches the people's attention. Preity's usual innocent and naughty acting in the song makes her impressive. Preity's scene of taking bath in a tub full of red roses all around has been acquired from Oscars Awards Winner Hollywood movie, American Beauty. Nevertheless the choreography is fantastic. Anil looks good too. The pair might succeed and the audience may see it in some other movies in future. The song could fetch awards in the days to come.
Rating: 8/10

2- Tu Hi Bata Zindagi (Roop Kumar Rathod)
Tu Hi Bata Zindagi by Roop Kumar Rathod comes up next. The number is sad. Roop delivers the song in an accurate style. The style completely shows his classical background. Javed Akhtar depicts his class here by writing creative lyrics. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy design a brilliant piece of music here. The song truly satisfies the soul.
Rating: 7/10

3- Tu Hi Bata Zindagi (Shreya Ghosal)
A lady singer also renders this song, Tu Hi Bata Zindagi. Shreya Ghosal excellently delivers it in a balanced rhythm. Lyrics by Akhtar and the composition by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy raise the song well to the heights.
Rating: 7/10

4- Aao Milke Gayen (Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shankar Mahadevan and Amitabh Bachchan)
Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shankar Mahadevan and Amitabh Bachchan fasten their belts to drive on the road of singing. Aao Milke Gayen sung by all of them is electric and spreads fun all around. All the singers, knowing their job, do pretty well in rendering it. The impressive element of the song is ofcourse the vocals of Big B. His fans will enjoy the song to the fullest. Javed Akhtar does not impress here. His lyrics are plain average. His specialty truly lies in romantic and sad numbers. So his effort to pen a fun number goes waste. The trio of Shankar-Ehsan-Loy does well by composing an electric track.
Rating: 6/10

5- Main Gaaon Tum Gao (Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shaan and Bhairavi Kumble)
Again a fun number takes its place in the album. Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shaan and new find Bhairavi Kumble team up to deliver this number, Main Gaaon Tum Gao. It seems the song has been forcibly added to the album, as there is no need at all to have two fun numbers in the soundtrack. As far as the vocalists are concerned, they prove their skills accurately well and the composers (Shankar-Ehsan-Loy) do their job rightly too. The lyrics again by Javed Akhtar are average.
Rating: 5/10

6- Jaane Yeh Kya Ho Gaya (Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik)
A romantic duet by Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik changes the taste. Jaane Yeh Kya Ho Gaya leaves a good impression. The singers' rendition is excellent. Here a creative Javed Akhtar happens with his creative lyrics. His lyrics personify the mood of the song in a perfect manner. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy arrange true romantic tunes here. The number can be hummed time and again.
Rating: 7/10

7- Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye Ho (Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan)
The classy singers, Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan appear having a catchy number, Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye Ho. Their rendition is perfect as per the tunes of the song. The lyrical beauty designed by Javed Akhtar is impressive whereas the composition by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy registers a handsome impact too. A good number to warp (up) the album.
Rating: 7/10

On the whole, the soundtrack of Armaan is excellent. It has a good hearing effect and is soothing to the ears.

Overall Rating: 8/10

REVIEWED BY GOHER IQBAL PUNN