click for larger view

Yash Raj Films, the most successful banner, has been delivering consecutive hits for almost a decade and 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' comes with their first offering of this year. 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' is the story of one man, his family and his struggle to overcome the obstacles in his life. After the splendid success of 'Hum Tum', the bankable pair of Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee makes their presence together in this film. It promises entertainment for child audiences and the film has two brilliant child performers -- Angelina Idnani and Ali Haji -- in the lead roles. The film's highlight will be its spectacular animation in the title track and high impact thrill of car racing championship with loads of "feel good" factor entertainment. Due to impressive promotion and high profile the film is creating a wave of a predictable "promising" hit in the film circuits. Music duo Vishal-Shekhar has rendered the fun loving "happy go lucky" music for this film after the musical success of 'Salaam Namastey' for Yash Raj Films. Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics of the album. 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' has six original soundtracks that can be heard on Yash Raj music cassettes and CD's.

Ta Ra Rum Pum: It's time for some fun and frolic for kids as the story about four lovely bears is voiced by Saif Ali Khan along with vocal efforts of Shaan and Mahalaxmi Iyer in the title track "Ta Ra Rum Pum". It's family song where parents narrate to their kids a comic book story about four lovable bears named "Ta", "Ra", "Ma" and "Pa". The song is also voiced by Master Shravan Suresh and Sneha Suresh to make it a kid friendly soundtrack. There is nothing great about it except that this number has finely crafted animation with cheerful choreography that should make it an entertaining affair. Shaan and Mahalaxmi Iyer display their vocal skills with ease in nurturing out this kid-loving number with some frolicking beats.

Hey Shona : If you have thoroughly enjoyed Vishal-Shekhar's "My Dil Goes Mmmm" and "Tu Jahan"('Salaam Namastey'), then "Hey Shona" will promise entertainment for you. Shaan's soft and subtle voice props up beautifully as he narrates his romantic feeling in expressively delightful lyrics with sentimentally rendered music. Sunidhi Chuhan adds graceful femininity as she sings in tandem with him and makes this audible soundtrack despite its repetitive rhythm patterns. Vishal-Shekar's music sparkles with synchronized beats that mellow effectively with subtle paced vocals in producing a delightful love song. It sounds as the most credible soundtrack and if choreographed well then this might be the chartbusting track in coming months.

Nachle Ve : Vishal-Shekhar has not been specialized in delivering penchant "bhangra" number but it comes out with above average compositions in the traditionally conceived "Nachle Ve". It was last time with track "Cham Se Woh Aa Jaye" ('Dus') that they delivered a "bhangra" number with average results. Even 'Nachle Ve' fails to promise anything as it comes with overheard Punjabi folk base music and contemporary lyrical work. Sonu Nigam sings in pompous mode in depicting his delight with thumping "dhol" beats with Sowmya Raoh's vocals mellowing with him in tandem. The soundtrack sounds situational and its prospects are shouldered on flashy choreography rather than on its musical merits.

Ta Ra Ra Rum Tararumpum : Shreya Ghoshal's prowess in rendering soft pitched sentimental tracks prove worthy as she pitches low and mellow in emotionally enriched soundtrack "Ta Ra Ra Ra Rum Tararumpum". It's a sad and gloomy soundtrack where the singer expresses her grit and determination in braving all miseries and hardships of life. The song has sentimental prelude in the form of impressive set of piano beats that gel effectively with shimmering vocals. The song will positively add one more credible number in the credits of Shreya Ghoshal and should work positively for Vishal-Shekhar's prospects in future albums.

Ab To Forever : Vishal-Shekhar's trendy musical show is back again in rehashing and revamping beats and rhythms of their earlier compositions in this highly spirited soundtrack "Ab to Forever". The song opens with loud Afro-American hip-hop (similar to "Mama Told Me" ('Ek Ajnabee') followed by Latino funky beats of "Dil Laga Na" and "Touch Me" ('Dhoom 2') where KK along with Shreya Ghoshal sings with energetic pace. It is a soundtrack where a boy woos a girl and in return the girl shows attitude and the song materializes like a contemporary disco song. Vishal Dadlani's enthused hip-hop rendition gives it a trendy outlook while Javed Akhtar's lyrics simply fit into rhythm patterns.

Saiyaan : Vishal Dadlani tried with vocals in "Dhoom Again" ('Dhoom 2') with average success and once again he takes on mike in Sufi rock mode in the soundtrack "Saiyaan". It sounds more like a background score where the struggles of the protagonist are depicted with his introverted feeling. The soundtrack fails to create anything promising and it sounds more like an old fashioned situational "banjara" (gypsy) song with conventional lyrical work. Vishal Dadlani fails to impress and hardly creates any impact despite the song having improvised musical arrangements with racy musical backdrop.

Vishal-Shekhar comes with above average to average compositions in their latest work 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' with modest impact. Their associations with Yash Raj Films have been a mixed fare and this time they fail to deliver anything spectacular as compared to their previous works. The album has some hopes in the title track "Ta Ra Rum Pum" and "Hey Shona" but even their success depends on the film promising box office results rather than on its musical strength.

Simply Average!