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It's a really slow but hopefully, steady trend. Filmmakers are, finally, acknowledging the youngest section of the audience.
In recent times, apart from mythology-oriented animation (Hanuman), sensible filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj and Aamir Khan have tried to explore the psyche of children through their wide-eyed protagonists like Biniya and Ishan in The Blue Umbrella and Taare Zameen Par, respectively. While one is a children's film, the other is about children.
Ravi Chopra's new film, Bhootnath, also, revolves around a pint-sized brat and his unlikely friendship with a grubby ghost, Bhootnath. The family entertainer, directed by Mahesh Bhatt's erstwhile assistant, Vivek Sharm, features Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla, Aman Siddique and Shah Rukh Khan (in a guest role).
The peppy duo of Vishal-Shekhar score the soundtrack against Javed Akhtar's competent lyrics. Alas, the composers fail to pass on their brand of enthusiasm on its music.
The opening track involves an attitude-packed Bachchan juggling a Remo Fernandes and Will Smith, at once, to deliver Mere buddy in sync with Armaan Mallik's kiddie-sweet voice. The song isn't exactly 'love at first sight' material but if you are patient enough to give it a third, fourth chance, you might enjoy Big B's sincere attempt at wooing the bachcha party.
An entire bandwagon of young voices -- Koushtuv Ghosh, Aparna Bhagwat, Sharavan Suresh and Sneha Suresh -- are cockiness personified even as they go all out to infuse life in the rock-based linear tunes of Hum to hain aandhi. While the 'don't mess with us' motto sounds cute and all, it works best as a situational ditty.
Up next, one of the better songs in the album follow. The husky baritone of Sukhwinder Singh loosens up to entertaining effect in the fun-filled, sarangi-laced beats of Banku bhaiya. It isn't long before you warm up to the upbeat tempo of Vishal-Shekhar's melody and playful exaggeration in Akhtar's lyrics.
The increasingly glum Samay ka pahiya muses on the life-goes-on philosophy. Its monotonous pace and uninspiring strain mar the overall impact made by the emotionally-choked renditions of Hariharan and Sukhwinder.
He's no seasoned singer, yet it's never an effort to hear Big B ringing through the speakers. The mild rhythm and modest tunes of Chalo jaane do allow him to take centre stage as he goes about appeasing Little Mister Banku, around whom the caper revolves. AB is joined by Juhi Chawla, making her singing debut. The famously chirpy actress sounds different, and not necessarily in a good way, in her playback avatar.
Salim-Sulaiman's instrumental summation of Bhoothnath lacks the haunting character or striking enchantment associated with ghost-themed movie tracks to incite the mandatory goose-pimples on the listener.
Bhoothnath is a surprisingly dull and uninventive offering from Vishal-Shekhar after Dus, Salaam Namaste, Bluffmaster, Om Shanti Om and Tashan.
The increasingly glum Samay ka pahiya muses on the life-goes-on philosophy. Its monotonous pace and uninspiring strain mar the overall impact made by the emotionally-choked renditions of Hariharan and Sukhwinder.
He's no seasoned singer, yet it's never an effort to hear Big B ringing through the speakers. The mild rhythm and modest tunes of Chalo jaane do allow him to take centre stage as he goes about appeasing Little Mister Banku, around whom the caper revolves. AB is joined by Juhi Chawla, making her singing debut. The famously chirpy actress sounds different, and not necessarily in a good way, in her playback avatar.
Salim-Sulaiman's instrumental summation of Bhootnath lacks the haunting character or striking enchantment associated with ghost-themed movie tracks to incite the mandatory goose-pimples on the listener.
Bhootnath is a surprisingly dull and uninventive offering from Vishal-Shekhar after Dus, Salaam Namaste, Bluffmaster, Om Shanti Om and Tashan.
Rediff Rating: 