Chal Mere Bhai (2000)

When Chori Chori Sapno Mein first hit the tube in 2000, I had to double check to make sure that Mr. Dhawan had indeed directed this film! The song was very unlike what he had done over the past 8 years. Probably Swarg (again Anand-Milind) and Shola Aur Shabnam (the late Mr. Bappi Lahiri) were among his last films that were dictated by romantic tunes, with Sajan Chale Sasural (Nadeem-Shravan) sprinkling in an occasional Dil Jaane Jigar. But CMB had not one, not

two but three romantic songs with the queen of melody Alka Yagnik, dominating the album. For Chori Chori, Abhijeet's icy cool vocals and Sameer Anjaan's lyrics made the song a beautiful listen, with Yagnik joining in soon. Salman Khan and Karisma made the song look cool and the picturization was pretty.

The next song was even better (and my favorite), Meri Neend Jaane Lagi Hain (I even did a cover on my YouTube Channel (shameless self-promotion plug! You can listen to it here.)) Sonu Nigam is at his best, once again with Ms. Yagnik. Anand-Milind proved that they have so much music in them, with this one.

The third romantic song is by the duo that ruled the 90s with their countless love songs - Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. Thodi Si Bekararai may have come in late during the promotions but ended up becoming the most popular song of the album, over the years. The song has a lovely charm to it and the singers' effortless rendition helped it go that extra mile.

After three romantic songs, you start listening to what Dhawan Sr., Anand-Milind and Sameer are best known for - fun and madness! Sonu Nigam, Poornima, Vinod Rathod, Vaijanti and Shankar Mahadevan get together for Aaj Kal Ki Ladkiyan. Sameer saab even references Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor in the lyrics, making it one of a kind! The song is peppy and entertaining.

Mere Baap Ki Beti has some quirky lyrics (Nitin Raikwar), which I think is its USP. Abjijeet and Vinod Rathod (towards the end) make this song so much fun, that you will go back and listen to it over and over! True to the David Dhawan school of music, this song is an absolute fun-ride.

The remix version (or what I would call version 2) is my preferred of the two - it is modern, contemporary, peppy and has tremendous repeat value. Vocalists Shankar Mahadevan, Leslie Lewis and Dominique Cerejo shine!

Jaspinder Narula begins O Mehndi making you believe that this will a Yash Raj Styled wedding song, but it soon shifts gears and becomes a David Dhawan styled song when Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan change the lyrics to Tera Laal Dupatta. The song is a good dance number with Sameer's trademark lyrics.