Review

An uneven comeback

Nadeem-Shravan, one-time hit team, return with a heavy Middle Eastern accent this time

Dhadkan
Music: Nadeem Shravan
Dir: Dharmesh Darshan
Lyrics: Sameer
Venus, Rs 55

Billed as the comeback film of Nadeem-Shravan, Dhadkan has been in the making for a long time. That director Dharmesh Dharshan concentrated more on Mela than Dhadkan is the grudge Venus holds agains him. Incidentally, Venus, the music label, is also the producer of this film.

Dhadkan hits the screen the same day as Deewane, which has music by Sanjeev-Darshan, sons of Shravan. So it's papa vs sons at the marquee on August 11!

A heavy Middle Eastern influence dominates Dhadkan. Aksar is duniya mein and Dil ne yeh kaha are the best examples, and the composers balance out the influence with an intelligent Indian-style orchestra. Dil ne yeh kaha has two versions, one with Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik and the other with Sonu Nigam and Alka. Both are competently sung, but Sonu's version does have an edge.

Aksar is duniya mein (Alka and chorus) disappoints with a listless, bare orchestra. Is this a return to simplicity? Or plain lack of interest? Since even the tune is nothing much to write home about, we can safely assume it's the latter!

The lively Na na karte should go a long way. It's fast, catchy and very very filmi. But why the English lyrics these days? Bichoo had it to jarring effect, and now this song in Dhadkan! Who started this trend anyway?

Tum dil ki dhadkan is good, but the sad part is that after two hearings anyone can find out that it is a rehash of Nadeem-Shravan's earlier hit Sochenge tumhe pyaar! The Dhadkan song has three versions -- Abhijeet and Alka, a solo by Kumar Sanu, and an instrumental version. Abhijeet's version is better than the rest.

The late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan makes a surprise appearance in Dulhe ka sehra. No great shakes. Nadeem-Shravan seem to have missed their opportunity to do a good job with the Sufi music legend. Lyricist Sameer pitches in by including the word 'dhadkan' in almost all songs. The songsmith is in his elements. Just the regular stuff, but done well.

For a comeback album, Nadeem-Sharavan's Dhadkan disappoints. One cannot help comparing this score to Deewane, also a triangular love story like Dhadkan. And one cannot help wondering if the sons know the audience pulse better!

Karthik S

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