/> Rating: ***

EXPECTATIONS

Composer Shamir Tandon's work has been patchy (to put it best) ever since he started making music for films. Sometimes he cracks it well, but there have been instances when his music hasn't really clicked.

Dut to this reason, one doesn't put in much faith in the music of Runway. Add to that the action theme of the film coupled with minimal buzz around the music and one wonders what would Shamir Tandon and lyricist Shabbir Ahmed have to offer in Runway?

MUSIC

There is a surprise in store though, a pleasant one at that, as Runway opens on a positive note with 'Khuda Ke Liye'. A classy track that could have easily walked into any quality product, 'Khuda Ke Liye' is sung by Mustafa Zahid.

He is the same man who gave two memorable songs in Awarapan - 'To Phir Aayo' and 'Tera Mera Rishta' - and he is brilliant yet again in 'Khuda Ke Liye' which deserves to be the flagship number of the album.

A soft-n-smooth number with a touch of sadness to it, 'Khuda Ke Liye' follows the same musical genre that Pakistani artists have been famous for and the team of Shamir, Shabbir and Mustafa do not disappoint at all, both in the original and the 'remix version' (which by the way is tailor-made for Emraan Hashmi)!

'Teri Yaadein Leke Dil Mein' takes a good start as well and as it progresses, you know that Runway by no means is a pushover album. Belonging to pop genre, this K.K. sung number is second in a row that manages to make an impression.

Following a similar mode as that of 'Khuda Ke Liye' with a slight peppy flavour to it, 'Teri Yaadein' (which also comes in a club remix version) also relies on melody and makes one feel good about the fact that the musical team didn't hold themselves from giving their best in spite of Runway not really boasting of a big banner.

Surprise, surprise as Runway continues to impressive, what with third good song in a row.

This time it's the turn of Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan who come together for 'Roshan Dil Ka Jahan', a number that could have fitted into any YRF or Dharma film movie directed by young blood of the likes of Siddharth Anand or Tarun Mansukhani!

Lyrics too are different from routine, hence adding further class to the proceedings even as this energetic love song stays on to be a quality outing. Later in the album Raaj replaces Shaan and reprises the 'Dance Mix' version of the same song while successfully bringing in his own touch to 'Roshan'.

'Aa Dil Ke Kuna Maan Dubki Lagayi Le' - When lyrics of a song go like this, you very well know what to expect from the remainder of it.

'Pyaasi Machuriya' is one such song which is a quintessential 'made for single screens and small centres' item numbers that is mandatory for a 'masala' flick like Runway.

Picturised on Tulip Joshi who would be seen in an altogether different avtar in the song, 'Pyaasi Machuriya' is a quick skip audio wise though it has to be seen how exactly does it turn out on screen.

OVERALL

Runway gives much more than what one expected from it before it was played on. Shamir Tandon does well in giving a good score in a film where music may not necessarily have been the selling point. Still, songs like 'Khuda Ke Liye', 'Teri Yaadein Leke Dil Mein' and 'Roshan Dil Ka Jahan' are impressive enough to keep one interested in the music for at least a few more weeks to come.

OUR PICK(S)

'Khuda Ke Liye', 'Teri Yaadein Leke Dil Mein' and 'Roshan Dil Ka Jahan'