Chalte Chalte, the Dreamz Unlimited film, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherji, has been declared a hit in India and it’s music is faring well with the public if the initial reports are to be believed.

Music directors Aadesh Srivastava and Jatin-Lalit offer a mixed bag of pleasures, almost every song brings about a keen sense of déjà vu, making one wonder if AR Rahman is the only one who can offer musical surprises in Hindi films.

Abhijeet's melodious “Tauba Tumhare Yeh Ishare" with Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet’s “Chalte Chalte” are hummable, unchallenging numbers totally lacking conflict or any trace of originality. Ditto for the last track Suno na suno na by Abhijit. Jatin, Lalit seem to have sleepwalked through this one.

Sukhvinder, the pint sized vocal dynamo belts our yet another Punjabi folk song,( de rigueur in recent Hindi films) Aadesh Shrivastava’s “Layi Vi Na Gayee” penned by Pappu Dhillon and Babu Maan.

Sonu Nigam’s “Gum Shuda” by Adesh Shrivastava is ordinary, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik sing Jatin-Lalits’s, “Dagariya Chalo” which is pleasing to the ear at first listen.

Sisters Preeti and Pinky ably supported by Adesh and chorus sing “Tujhpar Gagan Se. A fast paced track and upbeat lyrics fail to elevate the song beyond a certain mediocrity.

All in all, a disappointing collection of songs. The album is climbing the charts in India, though, and that speaks volumes about the low expectations we have from our melody makers.

|