Producer : Keshu and AB Corp
Director : Raj Kumar Santhoshi
Starring : Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Bhoomika Chawla, Aryeman
Music : Ram Sampat
Lyrics : Sameer

The team of ‘Khakee’ returns back with ‘Family – Ties Of Blood’. While it is common news that Keshu, Raj Kumar Santoshi, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar are just some of the factors common in both the movies, what comes as a pleasant surprise is music director Ram Sampat is also repeated here. He had come up with some good tunes like ‘Aisa Jadoo’, ‘Waada Raha’ and ‘Dil Dooba’ in ‘Khakee’ and one has similar expectations around a decent soundtrack from ‘Family’ too that has lyrics by Sameer and also stars Bhumika Chawla along with Keshu’s son Aryaman making his debut.

Zippy – that’s how one describes ‘Qatra Qatra’ in one word. There was a ‘Katra Katra’ by Burman da and Asha Bhonsle in ‘Ijaazat’ and there is one by Arnab Chakraborty and Soumya Rao in ‘Family’ and needless to say they are poles apart. The song gets on you as soon as you have heard it once and it is difficult to let it go once you have seen the video a couple of times. Peppy musical arrangement coupled with foot tapping beats, catchy voiceovers in the background and some racy choreography make ‘Qatra Qatra’ yet another quick hit in succession for Akshay Kumar after ‘Garam Masala’ and ‘Maar Suteya’ [Deewane Huye Paagal]. Arnab is good once again in a dance number after a romantic ‘Vaada Raha’ [Khakee] and one wonders why the singer is not heard more often! The song appears to be moving in a fast forward mode when it appears in its remix version and is suited for clubs and dance floors.

Newcomers Suhail Khan and Ernie come together for ‘Pyaar Bina’ that takes on from where ‘Qatra Qatra’ left and continues the racy feel of the album. A song with an attitude that is seen so often with a Salman Khan or a Saif Ali Khan on the frame, ‘Pyaar Bina’ too relies on its western arrangements, has a remix feel to it throughout and as the trend goes has some English passages attached to it. It’s not your next big hit in the anvil but is still a decent fare nevertheless.

The party continues with ‘Jeene Do.Jeene Do’ is more of a neck swirling track with a relaxed choreography that would most likely be picturized on a bunch of cool dudes with an attitude. On a similar note comes ‘Quick Byte’ that is in fact a quick byte as it has a mere 2 minutes duration. This time it is Arnab who comes behind the mike for this track about a bunch of youngsters selling fast food. As expected, it is situational.

Some shift in proceedings happens with Sona Mahapatra’s ‘Lori’ that has a distinct Rabindra ‘sangeet’ feel to it and reminds of Rehman’s ‘Ghoomparani’ by Sapna Mukherjee from ‘Bose – The Forgotten Hero’. A soothing lullaby, it is conventional and makes one feel relaxed. Rehman inspiration is evident in ‘Janam Janam’ from everything to the style of music to arrangements to rendition. A family get together number with a classical touch to it mid-way, it is a situational track sung by Madhushree, Soumya Raoh, Arnab Chakraborty, Shaliendra and Suhail Kaul. This is in fact the only song in the album that has duration of more than 4 minutes!

In the end it is ‘Qatra Qatra’ and to an extent ‘Pyaar Bina’ that make some impression in ‘Family’. Rest of the tracks are better than the ordinary but still not of a kind that make ‘Family’ a must buy. Go for it if you don’t have a copy of ‘Khakee’ already!