Woh Lamhe

Producer: Vishesh Films Director: Mohit Suri Starring: Shiney Ahuja and Kangna Ranaut Music: Pritam and Roop Kumar Rathod Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri, Neelesh Mishra, and Shakeel Aazmi

Singers: Glenn John, James, Jawad Ahmad, K.K., Kunal Ganjawala, and Shreya Ghoshal Audio On: T-Series Number of Songs: 8 Album Released on: August 2006

Reviewed by: Aakash Gandhi

A film decades in the making, has finally been realized by one of the Industry's youngest directorial talents, Mohit Suri. Inspired by the high-profile romance of yester-year, Woh Lamhe treads the relationship of actress Parveen Babi and director/producer Mahesh Bhatt.

However, today we tell a different story. We delve into the enigmatic fragrance and intoxicating aroma of the film's hauntingly beautiful score, a score that not only continues a trend…but redefines it. It's hard to fathom Suri's professed ideology of his rather tasteless ear for good music, given that he has encapsulated some fine compositions in his past films [Zeher and Kalyug], essaying the nuances of each tune beautifully to fit vividly within the ornamented silver screen. Mr. Suri: Modesty is not always a working factor behind the work of a successful filmmaker. And by far not one of your best skills either! You have a mighty fine ear for rich and textured sounds, as Woh Lamhe's musically diverse feather fits snug in that director's cap of yours. Sometimes a Romance such as the one in question can only be expressed through the unparalleled chemistry portrayed by a tranquilly layered composition and a phosphorescent stanza of poesy, enlaced with the finishing touches of a sensually raw, yet melodiously flawless rendition. So, are you ready to embark on a journey that promises to protect the sanctity of filmi music, while adding volumes to it? And the masses raise their hands in desperation…

Title: Tu Jo Nahin

Artist: Glenn John Music Arranged By: Pritam Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri Original/Uncredited Composer: Sunny Benjamin John Ah hell, I never was a fan of that save-the-best-for-last school of thought; so we're going to open things up with the extremely moving Tu Jo Nahin. Tenderly lit with the resonance of a flute, the opening is an accurate foreshadow to the parched feel of nostalgia to come, which has lost its way in a generation of very varied music scenes. The upright spine of this piece, which is the main reason this song reaches such astronomical heights, is the ever-so seductive, yet traditional, rhythm left unaltered (rightfully so) in the somber backdrops of this lyrically heart-rending song. Another aspect of this track that is very uncharacteristic of Pritam is the technical subtlety showcased and the fact that the song itself does not try so hard to gain your approval. Rather, it does its thing, slowly enticing you…captivating you…and inevitably entrapping you within its bare embodiment. Enameled with a classy play of the piano (a la Agar Tum Mil Jao of Zeher) coupled with the richness of the strings help this piece soak in the sea of remembrances. Apart from the mastery of the composition, I find the melody to be the fulcrum of admiration here. Sunny Benjamin John, a famous Pakistani artist, created this absolutely gorgeous tune. Pritam has been credited as the musical arranger; unfortunately no reference or credit has been given to the original artist [surprise surprise]. Legal matters apart, Pritam and the Bhatts have really landed ass-backwards in something extraordinary here. Just like the rhythm, the melody, in all its innocence, is drawn out just enough to shine light on every distinction the melody carries, with each passing bar you shutter within yourself at the mournful euphony of separation. This takes us to the unblemished rendition of Mr. Glenn John (son of aforementioned SB John). It's a shame Indian talent is not given much scope in Pakistan, but when you turn the statement around, great things are happening. Pakistani talent is being realized like never before and Glenn John is amongst the finest of them to enter the Industry. John's rendition is so perfectly balanced with skill and emotion, never letting one overpower the other. Doing immaculate justice to his father's invincible melody, Glenn John has set a standard that few can only dream of meeting. Moreover, such a piece would be vastly hollow if it were not for an insightful, coherent, allusive, and poetically charismatic set of lyrics. Who better to call on than Mr. Sayeed Quadri, a romance guru when it comes to such syrupy sweet lyrics, with a twist of anguish and heart-felt despair? To live up to the art of nostalgia so elegantly essayed in 'Tu Jo Nahin', Sayeed Quadri has a different mindset while writing this piece. One can almost compare the style of poesy and diction used to that of lyrical greats like Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra, and Sahir Ludhianvi. To sum it up, his lyrics complete the musical trinity in perfect harmony and sublime fashion. Verdict: If this is heaven, then I don't want to live… "Mujhe phir tabaah kar. Mujhe phir rulaaja. Sitam karne waali, kahin se tu aaja. Aankhon mein teri surat basi hai. Teri hi tarah, tera gham bhi haseen hai." – Sayeed Quadri

Title: Chal Chale

Artist: James Music: Pritam Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri Pritam makes it two in a row with a brilliant little piece titled Chal Chale. The trademark acoustics that gets this piece underway melts into a peppy/rhythmic harmony, which slowly slithers behind the lead instrument, the harmonica. I don't believe Pritam has used this instrument as a lead before, but it fits uncannily well with the extremely sweet atmosphere of this petite song. Behind the mic is the man who shook us all with his unbelievable rendition of Bheegi Bheegi in Gangster, James. Entangled in the very stringy composition, James gives a commanding performance, hitting every note perfectly with a strong and stable voice. However, the key element that rides his success is the feel and attitude with which he renders the entire piece. From his previous rendition and this, I can deduce that he is one of the most vocally animated singers we have heard, putting his soul into every word and every note. Sayeed Quadri does a semi-U-turn from Tu Jo Nahi to write some really sweet lyrics that should catch the fancy of nearly all who listen with an attentive ear! My only regret is that Pritam didn't decide to ride this gem of a song a bit longer than merely three and a half minutes. I would have loved to hear another stanza sung by James and some more fantastic lines written by the Romance Guru! But hey, it's Pritam…we might hear this piece re-worked and re-released five years from now…who's waiting with me huh?

Title: Bin Tere

Artist: Jawad Ahmad Music Arranged By: Pritam Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri Original/Uncredited Composer/Lyricist: Jawad Ahmad Up next we have an extremely popular track from an extremely popular Paki artist, Jawad Ahmad. The track in question is Bin Tere, which has been re-worked on by Pritam obviously. The first thing I noticed while listening to this piece is that Pritam (like in ;Tu Jo Nahin'), has pulled the reigns back while re-composing this piece. In almost all of his previous lifts, Pritam has done a complete over-haul, giving the song a very attractive make-over (I guess to make up for the fact that he has lifted the tune). However, here he is much more subtle in his mannerisms, and thankfully so! The acoustic feel mixes very well with Ahmad's authentically rustic voice. And no by rustic I do NOT mean sufiish. Once again a Paki artist has made a very novel entrance into the industry. Apart from no credit being given to Ahmad as the composer, the label has given the lyrical credit to Quadri saab. However, if you've heard the original you'll notice that 2/3 of the words are identical. Quadri has simply written the second stanza of the piece. Hey, I'm just pointing out the facts! Nonetheless, Ahmad's lyrics are not as extraordinary as some of the samples we've heard previously, but are a treat nonetheless.

Title: Kya Mujhe Pyar Hai

Artist: K.K. Music: Pritam Lyrics: Neelesh Mishra Original/Uncredited Title: Tak Bikasah Original/Uncredited Composer: Peterpan Now this is the Pritam we have all come to know and love/hate. His Characteristics: 1) K.K., Kunal, or Sonu --- CHECK 2) Hyped up composition --- CHECK 3) Mindless remixing --- CHECK 4) Blatant lift of Middle-Eastern/Pakistani Track --- CHECK But I digress. As far as the song itself is concerned, irrespective of any outside or stereotypical influences, is composed at a high level. K.K. would have to be the star of the cast, as his rendition is on target throughout the entire piece. The metal highlights coupled with the groovy chorus mix to create a piece that should have its remix [By DJ A-Myth and DJ Kiran] playing in all the clubs/discs, whichever you prefer. Neelesh Mishra is another one of those rare gems in the world of lyrics. Although he's not given a piece in which he can excel to his fullest potential, his attempt is more than enough to lift the piece from the lyrically average category. Verdict: A solid attempt that could have done away with the blatant plagiarism.

Title: So Jaoon Main (Male/Female)

Artist: Kunal Ganjawala/Shreya Ghoshal Music: Roop Kumar Rathod Lyrics: Shakeel Aazm Although I am a mild fan of Roop Kumar Rathod and his work as an MD, I strongly feel that this album would have stood taller without this extremely detached piece. Not saying that the composition is bad necessarily; but one must take into consideration their surroundings. Here, we have a very varied style of composition, however RKR's style is typical filmy stuff at best, which disrupts the flow of this otherwise exceptional group of songs. Furthermore, the melody is not substantiated, and really begins to test your patience half way through. The 6+ minute length of each version does not help one bit either. Shakeel Aazmi's lyrics pale horribly while placed next to the lyrics of pieces like Tu Jo Nahin and Chal Chale. As was the case in Zeher, it is my assumption that this is a tune from RKR's collection of unused compositions. Mohit Suri, maybe your taste for good music isn't as consistent as I had presumed! An enigmatic array of flavorful sounds and ingenious words such as this is a spectacle for music lovers to treasure for a very long time. Although the last piece drags the appeal of the soundtrack as a whole down somewhat, the other four tunes are a spectacle of sound with intonations from India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

Over the years we've traded the true essence of music for an over-dosage of heavy remixing, nonsensical lyrics, and monotonous sounds. But with the recent emergence of albums such as Bas Ek Pal and Woh Lamhe, we may be in the midst of a revival of progressive Indian music that carries the potential of transforming hackneyed and lackluster compositions back into a universal language through which millions can connect and rediscover the true essence of Music.

August 23, 2006 13:39 IST

Woh Lamhe's music is worth a listen Sukanya Verma

< = =text

Mahesh Bhatt's Woh Lamhe has the tagline: for everyone who has loved and lost.

Intense relationships are a favourite theme with Bhatt; take, for example, the Bhatt-directed Arth and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi. The Mohit Suri directed Woh Lamhe, which is based on Bhatt's intense relationship with late actress Parveen Babi, is scheduled for a September 29 release. It stars Shiney Ahuja and Kangna Ranaut.

If the music is an indicator to a film's success, composer Pritam hits the bullseye yet again for the Bhatts, post-Gangster.

Kya mujhe pyaar hai makes for a pleasant introduction to the soundtrack. It's young, lively, refreshing and a perfect companion for a long drive. KK's wholehearted commitment to the track works wonderfully in its favour. In fact, I spy another Ya Ali style chart topper here. DJ A-Myth and DJ Kiran, thankfully, don't tamper too much with the song in its remix version. A pumped up rhythm is all they inject, allowing the inherently racy number its breathing space.

James, the Bangladeshi singer, who rendered Bheegi bheegi in Gangster, proposes a night of passion in the carefree and groovy Chal chale.

Tu jo nahin falls in the same league as Nadeem-Shravan's Saajan song, Bahut pyaar karte hain -- a sentimental cry, dripping with heavy-hearted poetry (Sayeed Quadri, in this case), and set against charged piano and violins. Newbie singer Glenn John does a decent job with the track.

Shreya Ghoshal conveys the obsessive and possessive nature of sKangana's character in the eloquent So jaoon main. Kunal Ganjawala reprises Shakeel Aazmi's beautifully penned song effortlessly. All credit ought to be directed to singer Roop Kumar Rathod, who acts as guest composer on this one. Rathod's silvery melody easily makes this the top track in the album.

Pakistani import Jawad Ahmad makes his presence felt in the laidback tempo of Bin tere. If you listen carefully, you will notice the strain for the opening verse bears resemblance to the Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai title track. That aside, Bin tere -- like most other songs on the soundtrack -- sounds good.

Pritam lends Woh Lamhe an interesting character, enough to recommend purchasing its CD. It won't hurt the senses.

thanks 😊 the album rocks
especially the one by KK

thanx dada,the kya mujhe pyar hai song is really nice. 😛

Woh Lamhe

Director Mohit Suri's first film 'Zeher' had a hit number 'Woh Lamhe', the song was very well appreciated and went on to become a hit number. Now Mohit is directing a film titled 'Woh Lamhe' produced under the Vishesh Films banner. No doubt there are a lot of high expectations from the music of this film too as the Bhatts films are known to have extremely good music. Woh Lamhe is based on the past relationship of Mahesh Bhatt with the Late Parveen Bhabi. The film stars Shiney Ahuja and Kangana Ranaut in the lead roles. The music has been composed by Pritam and the singers include K.K, James, Glenn John, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala and Jawad Ahmad. The music of the film is fresh, appealing and pleasant.

'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai'- A brilliant song that has a softness but is yet hard hitting and soulful. This catchy number is sung in the harmonious voice of K.K and his rendition does complete justice to the number. The chorus of the song is extremely catchy and the lyrics are extremely touching. Neelesh Misra's lyrics have a poetic feel to it. The number has been heard in the promos and makes a powerful impact along with the picturisation. Its has an introspective and reflective feel to it. The electric guitar and drums can be heard as part of the musical set up. The rhythm and synchronization blend in perfectly with the lyrics. The song also has a 'Remix Version' which has been remixed by DJ A. Myth and DJ Kiran. The remix is fast, peppy and groovy which makes you want to get up and dance. Although 'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai' has been inspired by an Indonesian song, it has the ability to be the next hit song.
Score: 8/10

Chal Chale'- Bangladeshi singer James's strong and very appealing voice is heard in the rendition of this number. A romantic song with great poetic lyrics once again by Sayeed Quadri. The musical arrangements for the song has slow beats and the strings of the guitar are distinctly heard. It has a beautiful melody and mystical quality that captures one's attention. The lyrics 'Chand Lamhe Tu Mujhe Inse Door Kar...Chal Chale Apne Ghar Humsafar are beautiful and talk of one's lover taking them to another place where there is no one and nothing else besides these precious moments. A nice soft song that will be appreciated.
Score: 7/10

'Tu Jo Nahin'- This number is sung by Glenn John who makes his debut with this song. The song is a romantic ghazal with slow beats and the tabla strains heard right through. The song was originally sung by Glenn's father S.B John in the film 'Sawera', so in other words Glenn tries to recreate the old charm of the song once more. The lyrics are average this time round and the song ends on a soft note. There is a 'Repeat Version' of the song again sung by Glenn where the lyrics are a bit different but the style and tune is the same. A fairly decent number that will have its appeal in the film and is listenable too.
Score: 6/10

So Jaoon Mein'- This soft sweet number is rendered in Shreya Ghoshal's honey voice and she adds a distinct calm and serenity to the song. The song has been composed by Roop Kumar Rathod and written by Shaqeel Azmi. The lyrics are relatively good and have a calm and placid feel to them. It fits in perfectly with the theme and plight of the protagonist who wants to get away from it all. It's a soulful number and the guitar as one of the musical instruments comes forth clearly. It has a lot of emotion and depth depicting the pain of the protagonist. There is another 'Male Version' sung in the soft melodious voice of Kunal Ganjawala and this time round too the song is definitely worth listening to and creates a light and calm ambience. A nice sweet song.
Score: 7/10

'Bin Tere'- The track was originally sung by Pakistani singer Jawad Ahmad and he sings it again for the film. His voice has a raw appeal to it which draws the audiences. He has made the song very dramatic and full of raw hard emotion with his rendition. This song again depicts a lot of high end emotion and the pain and anguish of a lover who misses his loved one. A great number, one that may be well appreciated after 'Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai'. The musical arrangements of the song have slow beats and a lilting catchy rhythm. There is a piece of musical arrangement towards the middle of the song which has the guitar chords and drum beats and make for a great presentation. A song that will make its presence felt.
Score: 8/10

'Woh Lamhe' has a nice soulful album; there are several good numbers right through the album which not only work for the film but also from a listening point of view. There's harmony, melody, tune and good lyrics in most of the songs. A good sound track once again from Vishesh Films that will be duly appreciated by the masses.

I really wanted to find how you all have like this song.
He is a new singer Glenn John.

Tu Jo Nahin'- This number is sung by Glenn John who makes his debut with this song. The song is a romantic ghazal with slow beats and the tabla strains heard right through. The song was originally sung by Glenn's father S.B John in the film 'Sawera', so in other words Glenn tries to recreate the old charm of the song once more. The lyrics are average this time round and the song ends on a soft note. There is a 'Repeat Version' of the song again sung by Glenn where the lyrics are a bit different but the style and tune is the same. A fairly decent number that will have its appeal in the film and is listenable too.

My honest opinion Glenn did a great job. Glenn John steps in to sing TU JO NAHIN and has done it remarkably well. This ghazal style by Sayeed Quadri has good arrangements and excellent composition. The song is out and out brilliant and is always worth a second hearing.

Woh Lamhe Cast: Shiny Ahuja, Kangna Ranaut Music Director: Prittam Director: Mohit Suri Producer: Mukesh Bhatt Lyrics: Year: 2006
</>
TITLE	SEL PLAY PCD MAIL RT
Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai
Chal Chale
Tu Jo Nahin
So Jaoon Main - Female
Tu Jo Nahin - 2
So Jaoon Main - Male
Bin Tere
Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai - Remix
Repeat Shuffle

Woh Lamhe

In the glitzy entertainment capital of Mumbai as dusk descends, famous actress Suna Azim (Kangana Ranaut) slashes her wrists in a hotel room, in an attempt to kill herself. When this news reaches film maker Aditya Garewal (Shiny Ahuja), he is devastated. Aditya has been searching for Sana all over the world. Sana who was intensely involved with Aditya, had mysteriously disappeared from his life without any explanation, three years ago, only to surface now in what could be the last moments of her life.

As Aditya waits outside the ICU in a death watch situation, praying to be reunited with her, he is hurled back into the perfumed days and champagne nights of his memory, wherein Sana Azim played the role of both, lover and mentor to a struggling Aditya.

Everything was perfect, except for an enemy which lurked in the shadow, waiting to destroy their love. An enemy which neither of them saw till it was too late…

When Aditya realizes that the only way he can save Sana from total devastation is to take her away from Bollywood and the vested interests that threaten to destroy her completely, he runs away with Sana putting his career on the line. Those moment lived in the sanctuary of their love are like an oasis in the desert.

Until one day, suddenly, she disappears, leaving him with unanswered question. Why did she leave at the very acme of their love, when there seemed to be hope? What pushed her to attempt suicide? Will be finally be able to piece together the puzzle that has been haunting him and almost destroyed him? And most important of all, will be reunited with his love?

Watch Woh Lamhe for Kangana

Gullu Singh | September 29, 2006 17:46 IST

A still from Woh Lamhe

An aspiring director, Aditya Garewal, looks for his big break. An established actress, Sana Azim, finds life empty after achieving stardom. She wants peace of mind and appreciation of her art, and knows that Aditya is the only person who can give her what she wants. The director wants to use her to get recognition, while the actress is looking for true love.

To sum it all up, then, is Woh Lamhe about the Mahesh Bhatt-Parveen Babi story? Not really.

The film works because the protagonist, Sana (Kangana Ranaut) has acted so brilliantly that you feel the presence of Parveen Babi from the 1970s. There are similarities drawn from Babi's life -- she comes from the small town of Junagadh in Gujarat and falls for a director who has nothing to offer her but dreams that will make her a serious actress and shed her glam doll image.

Things aren't what they seem, of course. There are contracts, producers, brand endorsements and a dominating boyfriend (Shaad Randhawa) who doesn't want to leave the hen that lays golden eggs. Following a gross rape scene of Sana by her boyfriend, and to cut a long story short, Aditya gets her dates and believes stardom for him is not far. But, there's a hitch. He falls in love with her without knowing that the actress is schizophrenic.

Until the first half, the film sails through with beautiful songs by Pritam such as Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai and Chal Chale. The second half takes a tragic turn though, after it is learnt that Sana is schizophrenic. She begins to hallucinate and she sees a woman who tells her that the whole world is out to get her. The producers then step in, along with the old boyfriend and the actress' mother who says her daughter needs shock treatment.

Aditya objects. When asked what rights he has on Sana, his only answer is, "I love her."

He saves her from the hospital and the two elope. In his heart, he believes Sana can be cured with love and proper medication in Goa. Does he succeed? Does he give up his promising career? 25-year old director Mohit Suri has done a marvellous job handling such a difficult script. He should have made the second half a little more lively though.

Purab Kohil has done a commendable job as Aditya's friend, and Shaad Randhwa makes a good debut as a villain. Shiney Ahuja is a bit disappointing, possibly because one expects an outstanding performance after watching him in Hazaron Khwaishen Aisi and Gangster.

If there is one reason you need to watch Woh Lamhe, it is Kangana Ranaut. She is a brilliant, outstanding actress.