HUMRAAZ

Producer: Venus Records & Tapes Pvt. Ltd
Director: Abbas-Mustan
Music: Himesh Reshammiya
Lyrics: Sudhakar Shara
Starring: Amisha Patel, Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna

The famous pair of Vinod Khanna and Dharmendera will be repeated in Humraaz, though with their star sons this time around. Akshaye Khanna and Bobby Deol star opposite Amisha Patel in this film.

Doing the music is Himesh Reshammiya, a composer known for his catchy numbers, as opposed to really good music. How does he deal with this soundtrack?

1. Dil Ne Kar Liya
A typical Udit Narayan - Alka Yagnik track opens this album. The track is quite average, and quite typical. The tune is nice, but nothing special. The music sounds like much that we've heard from composers like Anu Malik in the past. The instrumentation is pretty good, and the background beats are well done. The two singers perform their parts in this track with average effort.
Rating: 7.5/10

2. Tune Zindagi Mein
Much in the vein of the opening track comes this Udit Narayan solo. Once again, a typical number, with typical music and singing. The track gets a bit repetitive, as the same refrains continue on. The instrumentation in this track is above-average. The opening dialogue by Bobby Deol is an interesting look into the film.
Rating: 7/10

3. Pyaar Kar
Using a few lines from the classic song, this stage number, sung by Udit Narayan, Shaan, and Kavita Krishnamurthy, is a nice change of pace from the first two tracks. The mood of the song is changed completely with the background music and the instrumentation. The beaty track has quite a typical tune, but is still well-done, especially at the music intervals. The beats and instrumentation are well-done. The three singers do a good job together, though Shaan's voice isn't as good as it usually is.
Rating: 7.5/10

4. Baardasht
Possibly this year's "Khambakt Ishq", this very catchy track begins with a good introduction by K.K., humming a few notes. As is expected in such a track, the beats are well-done, and help bring out the flavor of the song. The track is fast-paced, and the tune is quite catchy. K.K. does a good job, as usual, with this track. Sunidhi Chauhan adds able support with her strong voice.
Rating: 8.5/10

5. Sanam Mere Humraaz
A Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik duet quite similar to Reshammiya's earlier compositions for "Yeh Hai Jalwa". This track is moderately-paced, trying to be a bit more modern and hip, with modern background music, and voice effects. The overall effect comes out as a bit too typical, as such has been done before. Overall, an average song with average music and average singing.
Rating: 7/10

6. Life Ban Jaayegi
Seeing as there seems to be a huge demand for Punjabi songs in Bollywood, as well as a need by lyricists to insert random English lyrics in their songs, comes a combination of the two. Featuring the hit Bollywood-Punjabi duo Sonu Nigam and Jaspinder Narula. The song turns out to be a typical imitation Punjabi number. Not too bad, but could be better. The singing is well-done, especially Sonu Nigam, as he once again proves his versatility.
Rating: 7.5/10

7. Tune Zindagi Mein
Track 2 repeated, as sung by Alka Yagnik. She does a standard job with this track.
Rating: 7/10

8. Bardaasht (Remix)
For every future "Khambakt Ishq", there has to be a remixed version, and thus comes this version. Taking the original, the track has been mixed with heavier beats, and is even faster-paced. This time, Sonu Nigam takes over KK's place at the microphone. Though KK's vocals are preferable for such a track, Sonu Nigam still does a good job.
Rating: 8.5/10

9. Tune Zindagi Mein (Sad)
As implied by the title, a sad version of Tune Zindagi Mein, as sung by Alka Yagnik. The background music, instrumentation, and back-up chorus add an effective change of mood to the song, and do it well.
Rating: 7.5/10

10. Theme Music
The track starts out with a nice violin solo, then moves on to become an instrumental version of "Dil Ne Kar Liya" with some background support. Nothing special that warrants the name of "Theme Music", but an effective piece nonetheless.
Rating: 7.5/10

Overall Music and Instrumentation:
Himesh Reshammiya has done a good job with this soundtrack. His compositions throughout are above average, with some truly good tracks spread around. The music varies from standard to good, while the instrumentation is hardly noticeable, save a few tracks.
Rating: 7.5/10

Overall Singing:
Overall, all the singers involved do a good job throughout. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik do their standard jobs for this one, while Sonu Nigam further proves his versatility. The standout singer of the soundtrack is KK, whose vocals in KK are well-done, adding another feather to his (small) cap of hit songs.
Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating:
A typical and standard soundtrack, but pretty good at that. Not quite the best of the year, but better than most would expect from Himesh Reshammiya.


Overall Rating (Not an average): 8/10

REVIEWED BY RISHI J