(This article is sponsored by Sounds of India)

Lakshya is Farhan Akhtar’s second project after the phenomenal “Dil Chahta Hai”. The music of DCH was composed by Shankar/Ehsaan/Loy (with lyrics by Javed Akhtar) was refreshing, upbeat and epitomized the contemporary, youthful and hip feel which perfectly complemented the movie about 3 urban friends, their romantic travails and their relationship.

With Lakshya , the musical team remains the same. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Amitabh Bachchan, the film has an Indo-Pak war theme and by way of the promos seems to depict a youthful and frivolous Hrithik who undergoes a metamorphosis and becomes a disciplined soldier in the Indian army.a

On first listen, the album is very easy on the ear, but it takes a couple of sessions to appreciate it more thoroughly. The sound and feel is very different from DCH (as one would expect), the lyrics are topnotch and the music is varied from hip hop/jazz to bluegrass to inspirational music. “Main aisa kyon hoon” sang with gay abandon by Shaan has a jazzy light feel with some hip hop elements. Shaan sings effortlessly and conveys the youth’s uncertainty about his future and the choices that he hopes to make someday, with a light touch that is very effective in this song. The music has a strong electronic overlay but supports the singer well.

Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik perform “Agar Main Kahoon” which is an intimate conversation about expressing one’s love. This is clearly the best musical number in the album. The guitar is a voice that interweaves with the vocalists. The sound of the mouthorgan wafting creates a sound inspired by bluegrass. All in all, a song that is arranged wonderfully. Alka and Udit provide excellent vocals. This song is comparable to “Jaane Kyon log” from DCH with the same singers.

“Kitni Baatein”is a slow, romantic number sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam. It is a song about lost love, memories and a rekindling of suppressed feelings. “Kyun poori ho na payee dastan Kaise aayee hain aisi dooriyan”. I don’t know if folks remember a number from “Tere Mere Sapne” starring Cahdrachur Singh and Arshad Warsi, “Kuch mere dil ne kaha” song by this very duo that is an achingly beautiful number. Hariharan’s velvety, resonant; tug-the heartstrings voice contrast with Sadhana’s pure, sharp, somewhat piercing vocals. For some reason, this combination works very well.

Shankar Mahadevan comes in with a bang in the title song” Lakshya”. This is one of the best songs in the film and one of Shankar Mahadevan’s best performances so far. The lyrics are inspiring, the music keeps pace with great drums and military-style special effects and an awesome chorus which exhorts the protagonist to move forward. Shankar Mahadevan depicts both inspiration and the inspired one and alters his voice accentuating the difference. A great number, sure to be a HIT!!

“Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe” performed by a number of singers including Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam, RoopKumar Rathod, Kunal Ganjawala and Vijay Prakash is a powerful number as suggested by the title. It is a motivational number sung with gusto by all as the soldiers head for war leaving their loved ones behind, facing uncertainty, disability and death.” Modein kalaiee maut ki, itni toh hummen takkat hai” The song is reminiscent of the famous Border song, but definitely more upbeat.

Dr. Meena Sundaram, Cardiologist, singer and movie buff writes from Acton where she lives with her husband, an avid movie watcher/critic and son.

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