RACE 

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor & Sameera Reddy

Producers: Kumar S Taurani & Ramesh S Taurani

Directors: Abbas-Mustan 
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty 
Lyrics: Taz & Sameer

Singers: Atif Aslam, Sunidhi, Neeraj, Taz, Apache Indian, Monali, Shaan & K. K 
Cassettes & Cd's On: Tips 

Pritam Chakraborty teams up with Sameer and Taz and Abbas-Mustan in the glitzy and slick thriller Race starring Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif and filmed extensively in exotic locales in South Africa, India and Dubai. 

As the title suggests, the music of Race is fast paced and racy, no doubt.  There are totally 17 songs on 2 CDs, the second of which is a remix album by D.J.Suketu.  The songs are remixed into Asian, Latin-Fiesta and lounge versions which get the album really repetitive and tedious. However, some of the songs are catchy in parts and all the songs are fast and focus more on the rhythm than on the melody or the lyrics! 

Dekho nashe mein (which also has a Latin Fiesta mix version) has a very run of the mill tune but is fortunately compensated by a swinging rhythm and strings section and lively vocals which stir up an infectious and foot-tapping mood and the singers Sunidhi, KK and Shaan give it all they can and succeed in getting the listener rocking on the dance floor ………. 

Mujh pe to jadoo is a catchy mix of bhangra, reggae, and rap – Apache Indian and Taz and Sunidhi Chauhan team up to take the listeners through the song – which like all the others in the film is peppered liberally with English lyrics throughout.  An out and out dance number that is sure to attract the dancing crowd……… 

Pehli nazar mein – with very predictable arrangements and notations is what could be described as a stereotypical Pritam soft rock number present in almost all his albums – very skilled vocals by Pakistani pop singer Atif Aslam who has had some recent hits like Hum Kis Galli, Aadat, Woh Lamhe, Doorie and Tere Bin. Atif who was formerly the lead singer of the Pakistani music group Jal is a voice to look out for. 

Race is on my mind and Race Saanson ki which are the 2 versions (different lyrics in English and Hindi) of the same song have a strong middle eastern flavour –and though the song has a much flogged melody, it is still interesting enough and evokes an Arabian nights feel and makes for more than one listen –. There is some good guitar work in the song and great vocals by Sunidhi and Neeraj. 

Zara Zara Touch me touch me - though the lyrics are certainly banal and the tune a trifle hackneyed, the song is nevertheless somewhat seductive and appealing.  It starts off well enough and then loses the initial punch in rhythm and melody as the song progresses. The vocals of young and new singer Monali however are appealing enough for the song to become a moderate success.

There is an Asian RnB mix of as well of this song on the same CD. 

Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady) is a new song that Pritam has composed for the film which is supposed to replace Mujhpe To Jadoo in the film. The CD has been re-released by Tips with this new song, which is a very sprightly and energetic number with very spirited vocals by Monali, Neeraj and Pritam.  

All the songs go through various avatars of club and lounge remixes by DJ Suketu in the 2^nd CD which also has a track which is the theme music for the film. 

To sum up, an album with an overdose of remixes and versions that makes it long drawn and monotonous.  The music is not as thrilling as one would expect it to be, but not a total disappointment either.  Seems to be doing well in the charts and the album has the potential to keep the listeners engaged for a short while at least!