Music Review of DOR

By Satyajit - Eye TV/Smash Hits - India
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The golden dusty sand dunes, colorful ethnic outfits, soulful folk music mixed with competent performances makes way for Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Dor'. Fresh from the spectacular success of 'Iqbal', the talented director forays into land of ethnic and beautiful Rajasthan in 'Dor'.

Once again it will be successful combo of actor Shreya Talpade and director Nagesh Kukunoor in 'Dor' with Ayesha Takia and Gul Panag in lead roles. 'Dor' is a women-oriented film that shows the deglamourized Ayesha Takia as village belle whereas Gul Panag will don urbanized character. The trendy music composer duo Salim-Suleiman unravels their unexplored music prowess in this album by delivering brilliant Indian classical music. Salim-Suleiman did a splendid job in 'Iqbal' with chartbuster tracks "Aankhon Mein Sapna" and "Aashayein" and promises another competent show in 'Dor'.

Actor Shreyas Talpade's debut performance of deaf-mute boy in 'Iqbal' won him accolades and 'Dor' will be another feather in his cap. It will be first time that Ayesha Takia will be doing deglamourized role in this heart warming social saga. Ex-Miss India-turned-actress Gul Panag has lackluster journey in Bollywood with offbeat film 'Dhoop' and disastrous flop 'Jurm'. This film holds importance in her career to have stronghold in the film industry. 'Dor' is exclusively conceived to cater class or niche audience, so box-office expectations will be low and grim. 'Dor' music has the gloss and fragrance of colorful ethnic folk music of Rajasthan with a strong feel of Indian classical music. The original soundtracks of 'Dor' can be heard on Universal.

ALLAH HOO : In grandeur of "Allah" (God Almighty), a sacred Sufi "Qawaali" "Allah Hoo" comes with conventional set up of classical music. After Himesh Reshammiya, it's composer-turned-singer Salim Merchant holding mike and displaying his Sufi singing flair. The soundtrack comes with traditionally pious lyrics, fine usage of "tabla", "shehnai" and piano beats in background. In the present context where Sufi music is gaining momentum the soundtrack is likely to get acceptance from mature listeners. Salim-Suleiman's fine mixing of keyboard generated trendy music with classical musical set is brilliant. In Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's immortal melodies, "Allah Hoo" as one of the precious rendition and has been plagiarized many times in films and pop albums.

'Dor' proves another path-breaking success for director Nagesh Kukunoor and music composers -- Salim-Suleiman. In an era where hip-hop, rap and Sufi pop is ruling the charts they have dared enter the territories of quality musical entertainment. The album deserves applause for being ethical, folksy, classical and pure in terms of content and style. It will have limited takers from class audiences but will be counted as the finest classical composition in recent times.

SIMPLY CLASSIC!!!