The combination of Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta has always delivered blood splattering action packed thrillers and this time they come with 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' ('SOAL'). It is based on real life police encounter featuring the top ranked actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Tushar Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi in the lead roles. 'SOAL' has a collage of different musical talents as it has added attractions from Pakistani pop group "Strings" a song from Palash Sen (lead vocalist of "Euphoria"), Biddu and Punjabi pop artist Mika along with Bollywood contemporary Anand Raj Anand's soundtracks. Director Apoorva Lakhia, who earlier directed films like 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' and 'Ek Ajnabee', has directed this film. The film also features Dia Mirza, Amrita Singh, Aarti Chhabria and Neha Dhupia in pivotal roles. The album has nine original soundtracks that can be heard on T-Series music cassettes and CD's.

MERE YAAR : Anand Raj Anand has flair for contemporary Punjabi folk style of music and he comes with full bang in exuding his passion in raunchy and pulsating soundtrack "Mere Yaar". This is voiced by Anand Raj along with Sunidhi Chauhan. It has the backdrop of "Beedi" ('Omkara') where raunchy folk song is spiced up with high voltage pulsating music to thrill front benchers. The song's rhythm patterns sound similar to Mika's super hit number "Ishq Brandy" and it shows great potential to lure its target listeners. Like all Sanjay Gupta films, it has the flavors of raunchy dancing and singing that was one experienced in songs like "Ishq Samundar" ('Kaante') and "Ishq Kabhi Kariyo Na" ('Musafir'). The listeners who feel enthralled by raunchy numbers like "Beedi" will positively appreciate this number and it largely metaphors with the situation of the film.

AAKHRI ALVIDA : Pakistani pop band "Strings" created a rage with "Yeh Hai Meri Kahani" ('Zinda') in Bollywood and now they return with similar Sufi rock zing as they deliver another impressive background score with "Aakhri Alvida". The soft guitar strumming is followed by inspired base guitar and electric guitar strumming combination in creating a racy backdrop for all blood splattering events. This sad and emotional song has penned lyrics by Anwar Maqsood and brightens the sense of farewell in lines like "Sab Yaadein Jo Bandhe the Bandhan, Kaajal bhi diya haathon mein kangan, Mehki rehti mehndi, Gaata rehta hai saawan, Phir yaadon ko saapno mein rehne do, Yeh Aakhri Alvida na ho…" This soundtrack may not be their finest number in recent times but stands out as the biggest commercial aspect for this album. We hope that we can hear more from this impressive Pak rock band group.

Nikhil Chinnapa along with DJ Nawed comes out with electrified pace disco beats that form echoing and recurring prelude to the disco friendly soundtrack "Aakhri Alvida (remix)". This contemporary "club" mix comes with loud beat thumping and ear-splitting drumming that gets incorporated into this lively number with full zest.

GANPAT : "Ganpat", a contemporary Bollywood "tapori" song comes as "happy-go-lucky" soundtrack emoting out "bhai" culture in the weird lyrical expressions. Mika along with Aanchal voices out this situational number where bunch of gangsters celebrate in a dance bar and share their aspirations in oddly scripted lyrics. It reminds of songs like "Aslam Bhai" ('Love ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega') and "Kallu Mama" ('Satya') where vocalist babbles his creepy thoughts.

"Ganpat (rap)" works as promotional soundtrack where the dialogues are incorporated with enthused musical arrangements. The song expresses the feeling of Maya Dolas (Vivek Oberoi), the leading gangster who talks with overseas underworld dons, extorts money from builders, harasses film stars and describes his filthy style of living. Both these numbers are purely situational and should find more acceptances in the film or in promos where the theme of film can be exhibited.

UNKE NASHE MEIN: Producer Sanjay Gupta takes up the job of lyricist as he pelts another dance bar number "Unke Nashe Mein" where the intoxicated gangsters share their heartfelt emotions. It's a mediocre number where Mika along with Sukhwinder Singh and Anand Raj Anand sings this number in high pitch rendition. Anand Raj Anand's music fails to create any thrill or zest that can excite listeners and sound too ordinary with flair of fast paced beat patterns.

"Unke Nashe Mein (club mix)", the second remix number from Nikhil Chinnapa and DJ Nawed, proves to be damp squib as the original soundtrack does not have the fire to enlighten senses. It's an average "club" mix that comes with energetic disco beats with flickering paced enthralling musical arrangements.

LIVE BY THE GUN : After couple of raunchy soundtracks, the mood transits to Hollywood style of music as yesteryear musical sensation Biddu comes out with theme track "Live by the Gun". This song has the feel of contemporary Hollywood action packed thriller where the story about living by the gun is explained with expressive lyrical work. The song works on sluggish paced musical arrangements and the sentimental English lyrics sound too philosophical to digest for pop genre. Earlier films like 'Dus' and 'Dhoom' conceived their theme soundtrack in English but they proved average grosser and this too sounds too mediocre for ears.

SONE DE MAA : Alas! Melody makes its presence felt and it comes straight from the heart as Dr. Palash Sen (lead vocalist of Indian pop group "Euphoria") delivers a magical emotional soundtrack "Sone De Maa". After "Aakhri Alvida", this comes as another breather since it soothes senses with skillfully narrated lyrics mixed with ethnically rendered musical arrangements. Palash relives the magic of his most popular soundtrack "Maayi Re" (Album- "Phir Dhoom") and the music of "Euphoria" sounds soulfully delightful to ears. The song is a request by disheartened son who questions and complains about the evil happenings in the world after being cherished in his childhood through fairy tales from her. The music of "Euphoria" creates nostalgia of 60's and 70's with its finely stringed and orchestrated musical arrangements. It should positively be the biggest asset to the album and should be making itself in the brightest spot in sad and gloomy situations. The listeners deserve more from "Euphoria" in Bollywood as they are the only surviving pop group in India and unfortunately the most underrated and underutilized musical talents in the Indian musical fraternity.

SOULFULLY DELIGHTFUL!!!

'Shootout at Lokhandwala' proves to be a mediocre musical presentation in spite of the album having wide spectrum of musical talents. The soundtracks "Aakhri Alvida" and "Sone De Maa" stand out as the promising numbers while "Mere Yaar" caters to the front benchers. The rest of the soundtracks are too feeble to make any mark in musical scenario. This album comes out as the weakest musical offering from the stables of Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta after the musical success of 'Zinda', 'Musafir' and 'Kaante'.