Music: Vishal Shekhar

Lyrics:  Anvita Dutt Guptan, Vishal Dadlani and Kumaar

Label: Sony Music

Rating: 3

Some of us may hate love stories and the entire hulla hoop surrounding it - thanks to bollywood, and the important role it plays in adding to our imagination. The music too, of such films was often exaggerated, but interestingly, the music I Hate Luv Storys has a good connect value and is not something one can/should miss.

Strongly in line with the film's youthful nature - it's fun, catchy and infectious. Credit goes out to tracks like Jab Mila Tu - a radio-friendly track that you might put on loop. The track is build over reggae beats, and the over all feel of this genre is generally quite infectious. As far as singing goes, Vishal Dadlani does a great job on vocals. Hear the banjo hook on the song - not many in bollywood composers are known to use this instrument on their songs.

Bin Tere, sung by Shafquat Amanat Ali is not the kind that hits you instantly, but it grows after multiple hearings. The peotry is good, but the song could have done with out the English parts. For a singer like Shafquat Amanat Ali, this song would be too easy, to say the least. Sunidhi Chauhan has limited role and sings the female parts as the song nears its end. The interesting part of the song is - it's pacy, but also melancholic. Well, wait until you hear Shekhar Rajviani's acoustic version of the same song - that's the real
surprise.

Now let's go to the title track I Hate Luv Storys – well, I assume there's a rule to have at least one bang-bang song without any whim or reason. I Hate Luv Storys track fit that bill and has nothing appealing except the chorus. It's clearly targeted at the pubs and party lot - you'll like it if you are one among them.

There's a growing trend of having two versions of the same song. Bahara, on one song has Sona Mohapatra and Shreya Ghoshal. While Sona sounds refreshing/rustic with her accented folk vocals (though one wishes she had some more time on the song), Shreya's vocals completes this happy - dreamy track. A semi-classical take of the same song comes from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – its easy, and soulful.

The only track on the album that fails to connect is Sadka Hua. Though it sounds like a unique composition considering the way melody/tune goes, for some reason, it doesn't touch. The track is sung by Mahalaxmi Iyer and Suraj Jaggan.

Overall, I Hate Love Story's is of great musical value, and will last longer than any of the recent film tracks that have released off late.

Our pick: Jab Mila Tu

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