MEENAXI

Producer : Culture of the Streets
Director : M F Hussain
Cast : Tabu
Music: AR Rehman
Lyrics : Rahat Indori, Sukhwinder Singh and M F Hussain
Singers : Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Nigam, Reena Bhardawaj, Alka Yagnik, Murtaza Khan, Qadir Khan and Asha Bhosle
Audio : Sony Music

Acclaimed painter M F Hussain makes his entry in films once again after Gangamini (featuring Madhuri Dixit) with his latest venture "Meenaxi". Produced by Culture of the Streets, the flick stars Tabu as the leading actress and A. R. Rehman as the composer of the soundtrack. Rahat Indori bags the role of lyricist for the album, which features eight songs. The album has been released by Sony Music.

(1) Yeh Rishta (Reena Bhardawaj)
The soundtrack starts off well with stylish singing by new singer Reena Bhardawaj, who catches the rhythm brilliantly with the song "Yeh Rishta". The sound of dholak together with other soft instruments features in the background from the beginning till the end of the track, truly bringing out the best from the musical arrangement. Superb lyrics by Rahat Indori philosophize the theme of the number and Rehman adds more value to the song by scoring melodious music.
Rating: 8/10

(2) Chinnamma Chilakkamma (Sukhwinder Singh)
The melodious music continues with the full-throated solo "Chinnamma Chilakkamma" delivered by Sukhwinder Singh, who also makes you notice his expertise in writing excellent lyrics for the song. Sukhwinder's voice gets you hypnotized as soon as it appears. The beautifully arranged fusion of flute, Jhankaar and drumbeats speaks for itself. AR Rehman's composition is strong yet again and the song is a winner.
Rating: 8.5/10

(3) Do Kadam Aur Sahi (Sonu Nigam)
Sonu Nigam balances the harmonious mood well with his soft and slow solo "Do Kadam Aur Sahi". Creative in every sense, the controls his vocal chords perfectly. Rahat Indori scores with his lyrics and compliments Rehman's well-orchestrated music. The song has the potential to become very popular with the audience.
Rating: 8/10

(4) Dhuan Dhuan (Asha Bhosle)
Legendary vocalist Asha Bhosle renders the next track, "Dhuan Dhuan". Displaying a seductive mood flawlessly, Asha sounds excellent and truly knows how to handle such songs. An unidentified male singer's crooning makes an appearance in the song and impresses you as well. The lyrics by Rahat Indori are full of life. Rehman puts his full energies into the creation of composition and the outcome proves it all.
Rating: 8.5/10

(5) Rang Hai (Alka Yagnik)
Alka Yagnik seems completely comfortable crooning the song "Rang Hai". The track is similar to Rehman's earlier composed work "Mujhe Ran De", although the feel of this song is quite different. Being the finest in music world, Rehman does wonders with the composition, and his partnership with lyricists Indori works well yet again.
Rating: 8/10

(6) Noor-Un-Ala-Noor (Murtaza Khan and Qadir Khan)
A qawwali "Noor-Un-Ala-Noor" adds extra charm to the album. The duo of Murtaza Khan and Qadir Khan render this masterpiece with much passion. Their rendition simply grabs our attention instantly. M F Hussain displays his creative skills of poetry by writing spellbinding lyrics for this song. This quality music by a quality musician is a treat for music lovers.
Rating: 7.5/10

(7) Cyclist's Rhythm (Instrumental)
"Cyclist's Rhythm" begins with the pleasant sounding cycle bell and then moves on to heavy drumbeats and whistles.
Rating: 7/10

(8) Potter's Village (Instrumental)
Rehman uses his creative genius in this instrumental. Matkaa beats and a variety of other musical instruments help you judge his fiery love for music.
Rating: 8/10

Overall:
A classic album from all angles, this soundtrack is essential for any Rehman fan. The composer shines brightly with his work on this album. His partnership with director M F Hussain will be remembered thanks to the songs on offer here.

Overall Rating: 9/10

REVIEWED BY GOHER IQBAL PUNN