Hello Music Review: Doesn?t Hit the Right Notes

Hello, a film based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller, One Night @ The Call Centre, is finally ready to see the light of day. The film has been directed by Atul Agnihotri and stars his brother-in-law Sohail Khan with the other more famous brother-in-law Salman Khan making a special appearance as well. Besides the Khan brothers, the film also stars Sharman Joshi and Esha Koppikar among others. The film's music has been composed by Sajid Wajid with lyrics by Jalees Sherwani. The film's theme and its treatment may be a little off the beaten track but sadly one cannot say the same for its music, which is quite mediocre. There are just a couple of numbers in its music album which make a mark.

The opening number of the album, the title track, 'Hello' is sung by Wajid, Suzy Q Ishq Bector, Herchelle, Merlin and Tim. The number reappears later in the album in a remixed version as well ? party mix. The track has some interesting beats and rhythm and sounds versatile enough for it to be played on the dance floor or a lounge. The music is catchy and should do well. The party mix is even catchier.

Sufi music makes its presence felt in the next track, 'Rab Ka Banda'. But this is not pure Sufi, but one dressed in Westren sounds and arrangements. The number has been sung with feeling and fervour by Sonu Nigam, Zubin and Sunidhi Chauhan. However, even though the singers do a very good job in essaying the number, it lacks punch. The desired effect is not akin to Sufism or anything else. Somehow Sajid Wajid's experiment does not work very well here.

Daler Mehendi comes and does his usual stuff in the next number, 'Karle Baby Dance Wance,' which is a bhangra number. Sunidhi keeps him company in this number. This number is pleasant but does not stretch either of the singers who go through it with ease. Daler has been singing such numbers for years and in recent times, has done a better job with the number in Singh Is Kinng. This number is a routine bhangra number, with nothing special to distinguish it.

Wajid sings the next number called 'Bang Bang Bang.' This too is another very average sounding number, lacking spark and originality. It is composed like a rock concert song, but lacks the drama and passion which generally characterizes such numbers. o Maybe Salman's presence in the song picturisation may give it the much-needed boost.

The last two numbers, 'Mitwa Re' and 'Caravan' seem to be a bid by the composers to go for some conventional music and surprisingly, they excel in that. The two songs are not the greatest of numbers, but there is an attempt to compose something which is melodious. 'Mitwa Re' has been sung by the melodius Shaan along with Sadhana Sargam and Wajid. Shaan does an excellent job with his soft, perfectly pitched tones in this romantic number.

But the best seems to have been reserved for the end. 'Caravan' sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is melodious, has a certain feel to it and gives the lyric writer space to create and the singer room to sing with feeling. Though the overall mood is one of melancholy, it still has a lasting impact, which none of the other songs are able to do.

Hello, the film, may well prove to be very interesting, but its music is quite disappointing. The tracks on this album, except for a couple, are mediocre and do nothing for the film. The title track is interesting and so are the last two numbers. As for the rest, they don't call for more than a single hearing.