MUSIC REVIEW: Love Story 2050

Whether he likes it or not, Love Story 2050 has been making news for lead actor Harman Baweja's more than uncanny resemblance to Hrithik Roshan. He looks like Hrithik, dances like him and guess what? He even sounds like him.

How do we know? Each song begins with a few seconds of dialogue from the film. While we are quite used to Priyanka's occasional screeching by now, Harman's voice is like listening to Roshan's K3G dialogues on audio. But this is just an observation and Baweja might just surprise everyone on July 4, 2008 when the film hit the theatres. Which brings us back to the music of the film. Needless to say landmark debuts have always had superb scores. And anything less than a memorable soundtrack is bad news for the debutant. So does Love Story 2050 have it to be counted with the likes of Maine Pyaar Kiya, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and of course Kaho Na Pyaar Hai?

Shaan's bang on for Harman's big club number Milo Na Milo. A super hit track from the word go, it should make an even stronger impact on screen with Harman's moves. The song has all it takes to become Harman's Ek Pal Ka Jeena given that he has even bettered Hrithik's break dance in parts of the video. Strangely the high point of the song is Anu Malik's chorus who uses his 'different' voice to great effect in the background.

After grooving to the fast paced beats of Milo Na Milo, it's time for Meelon. A soft Kay Kay-Alka Yagnik romantic duet, it starts well, but soon slips into the conventional 90s dil, pyaar mode. This could be the movie's signature romantic song but one wonders if it can leave a lasting impression. Yet Kay Kay and Alka Yagnik do well in a song which would have been ideal for Kumar Sanu or Udit Narayan.

Which brings us to the title track. Shaan's always good with love ballads but again as a tune this one is nowhere close to title songs from past debuts.

Just when Love Story 2050 was slipping into the routine comes Sach Kehna. Kunal Ganjawala's voice is refreshing break from Shaan and Kay Kay, who have been over used in the album. Anu Malik changes his style to compose a more youthful track that's high bass drums and guitar. Sach Kehna has a very catchy tune and you can almost picture the video to be another show reel for the actor's dancing skills. After Milo Na Milo this is another winner.

Priyanka gets her solo number in Lover boy. But just when the album was scoring brownie points for being original, Anu Malik does it again. He takes inspiration from Shawn Paul's Get Busy for most part of the tune. Old habits die-hard. Now throughout the album it's quite clear that Javed Akhtar has been asked to throw poetry out of the window and write lines that appeal to the SMS generation. But Hey you lover boy, will you be my toy must be an among the veteran's lowest points. The so called futuristic number about the woman of 2050 has Alisha Chinai ironically bringing back memories of her Sexy Sexy days with Anu Malik. Times have changed guys!