MUSIC REVIEW: Aaja Nachle

If Madhuri Dixit is not enough of a promise, try the soundtrack of the film. Music makers Salim and Suleiman seem to have gone all out for the music scape of this Aditya Chopra film. Take the title

track for example: sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, it starts off with a folksy prelude. We may be killed for saying this, but hey, is it not a straight lift form a very popular Bengali folk number (Dada paaye pori re?!). But let's not get petty here, the song is peppy, with enough dhol and drums and chorus to make you swing those hips a la Madhuri.

Next up, a slow, love song by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal has some lovely sarod interludes by Zarine Daruwala, combined with flute and santoor sounds. Nice! Salim-Suleiman's use of other traditional instruments such as rabab, dafli, sitar, udh and even madolin (and didn't we hear the sarangi and harmonium as well?) are laudable, as they come as a much-needed breather from programmed sounds.

Watch out also for O Re Piya, performed with a lot of soul by Rahat Fateh ali Khan. The song is a slow burner, passionate and achingly sweet. Listen to Rahat calling out O Re Piya in the beginning of the track… it tugs at your heartstrings. add to that old worldsy lyrics such as: Chalna ahiste ishq naya hai pahla yeh waada humne kiya hai... .Good job by lyricists Jaideep Sahni and Piyush Mishra.

Two tracks however take us by surprise: Koi patthar se na mare (which is a completely different version of the old classic) and Dance with me by jazz singer Sonia Sehgal. The latter has been picturised on Madhuri as she turns into a dance instructor in New York. The track is a blend of big band jazz and pop, well mastered.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the album, let us simply say, Aaja Nachle is high, really high on energy and joie de vivre. The film is about Madhuri's character Dia and her passion for dancing. The

music does justice to it and more.

Our verdict: Go for it!