You can listen to the soundtrack here (link via @Prakshid).
The soundtrack starts off well with a breezy title song that rides on Sukhwinder Singh’s energy, very well assisted by the kids’ chorus. Composer Ismail Darbar uses a guitar-led arrangement for this one, punctuated by some well-placed brass-based diversions. Tu Sab Kuch Re too is fairly engaging track, mainly for the fabulous way that Sonu Nigam and Anweshaa Dutta carry off the musical conversation. Once again the composer uses the backing vocalists well, doing the occasional cameo himself. And once again the song ends on a band baaja mode. And then the cracks begin to appear. The potent combination of a dated techno base and cheesy rhymes ensures that Main Mushtanda is safely avoidable; not even Mika and Aishwarya Majumdar’s singing is worth the effort (OK I am told that this one has been written and composed by Subhash Ghai himself. Not that it changes anything about the song per se). Koshampa is almost as bad, reminiscent of some of those annoying 90s dance tracks, except this one has a groovy bass line (which understandably is wasted here). Wonder if it is just me who felt subtle nods to older Subhash Ghai songs in places. And yet again the song ends with a brass section.
Providing a brief respite in the proceedings is the pensive classical-based (raag purvi?) piece Kaisa Hai Dard Mera soulfully sung by Ankit Tewari, while the composer gradually builds up the strings and percussion in a crescendo towards the finish. Kambal Ke Neeche sung by Neeti Mohan, Aishwarya Majumdar, Sanchita Bhattacharya and Aman Trikha attempts at a cheeky recall of some of Subhash Ghai’s older songs, but ends up a middling mishmash. The random fun element is conveyed more entertainingly in Adiye Adiye courtesy a spirited effort by the singers Sanchita Bhattacharya and Avril Quadros, but even here the song does not sustain much interest beyond a couple of listens. Guest composers Salim Sulaiman have two songs in the soundtrack. Thumka features a standard dance template and annoyingly over-processed voice of Sonu Nigam. In fact Suzanne D’Mello sounds better here. The composers fare better in the rock anthem Hindustan Kahaan Hai where lyricist Irshad Kamil improvises on the lines of Jana Gana Mana and Saare Jahaan Se Achcha. Sukhwinder Singh, Mohit Chauhan and Raj Pandit do a commendable job behind the mic.
Kaanchi. A far cry from the musical standards once associated with Ismail Darbar and Subhash Ghai.
Music Aloud Rating: 6/10
Top Recos: Kaanchi Re Kaanchi, Tu Sab Kuch Re, Kaisa Hai Dard Mera
