Refugee

Refugee: a human story, has songs about human feelings. Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik preside over the album as if it’s their backyard, and both deserve every bit of praise that they are likely to get for their singing. At this rate, both seem set to pick up awards next year.

The first two tracks: Panchi nadiya and Aisa lagta hain are nice and melodious with very good arranging of music. Who is this arranger of Anu Malik? The album hits a spike with Mere humsafar, what with Ms Yagnik rendering the song with the smoothness of a paper plane through pawan. Such gliding last heard under the baton of Mr Malik was the Jaysree S-voiced title song of Ishq.

After these three duets, Sukhwindara Singh and Shankar Mahadevan do their own duet with a soulful Jise tu na mila, almost a very mellow head-banging rock song. You can feel your neck rocking back and forth with the tempo of this number. Then comes Udit Narayan and a very standard Raat ki hatheli. Udit is a champion at songs like this — must be a baaye haath ka khel for him! Lastly, we have the Taal pe jab number with Nigam and Yagnik doing the honors again.

Refugee is like a nice home-cooked meal. You feel content because all courses are tried and tested. There’s nothing extra-ordinary about Refugee, barring the voice of Abhishek Bachchan in two tracks — at least I hope it is him — which is definitely poised to regurgitate shayaris in many albums to come. Kabhie kabhie main bhi sochta hoon…

So all ye fans of pawan and deserts and sand blowing in your eyes, go forth and get blown away. The rest might want to see the movie first.

(Music: Anu Malik. Lyrics: Javed Akhtar. Tapes/CDs: HMV)