Review of Kabhi To Nazar Milao by Adnan Sami and Asha Bhosle

MTV India does a very good job of introducing us to the latest in the Indipop scene, what with airing all the new videos and promoting them through their programmes like 'MTV Apna Artist of the Month,' 'MTV Made in India' and 'Nonstop Hits.' It was thus that I "heard" Adnan Sami first crooning "Bhigi bhigi raaton mein" and I just had to acquire his album Kabhi to nazar milao, in which the great Asha Bhosle shares the singing honours with him.

Adnan's voice is terrific and he has quite a range, carrying off the soulful melodies and the teasing, playful songs with the same ease. Asha is good - thankfully she doesn't put on the coquettish kind of voice that could get on one's nerves.

All the songs are fabulous, and the music (also by Adnan Sami) is great. The title song is repeated solo by Asha in Side B but fails to stir one as much as the duet. The latter vies with "Bhigi bhigi raaton mein" (it's called "Barsaat" officially) for the most popular song in the album. These form the "romantic" songs along with "Pyar bina" and "Pyar hai" while the album has its share of "upbeat" songs like "Mehndi masala," "Dholki" and "Lift karadey" which very enjoyable too. The video of the last has been touted as the first video featuring the Hindi film star Govinda - has everybody forgotten Govinda's attempt a few years ago at singing when he released his own album and of course, had videos shot too? (As an aside, I found the "Lift karadey" video quite pathetic, saved only by the song which is funny and catchy.)

My personal favourites are "Bhigi bhigi raaton mein" and "Dholki." I am eagerly waiting for the next Adnan album.

Kabhi to nazar milao is a must-own for Indipop lovers.