/> Rating: **

With Pritam at the helm of affairs, you do expect a frothy album. And when Javed Akhtar joins the show, you look forward to the kind of songs that the combo comes up with.

After all, the film is expected to be an out and out family entertainer with ample laughs in it. Moreover, actors like Govinda, Tusshar Kapoor and Genelia D'Souza do promise good fun.

To add to this, since Life Partner is maiden production venture of Abbas-Mustan, one does expect a good album with a series of peppy numbers in the offering.

MUSIC

The album begins quite well with 'Kuke Kuke' and within 20 seconds you realize that this is a parody in the offering. Antara Mitra sings badly, as is the requirement of the situation where the girl (Genelia D'Souza) is supposed to be playing a really bad singer.

While she sings in all her glory, Shaan and Debojeet Daata try to stop her from committing the 'crime'.

Though there isn't much to take home lyrically since the song is set more into conversational mode, Pritam's tune is peppy enough, especially the part around the phrase 'Tauba Meri Tauba Meri', which makes 'Kuke Kuke' catchy enough. The 'remix version' is well placed too and adds on the young mood of the film.

'Teri Meri Yeh Zindagi' which follows next is nice and sweet but doesn't quite break any new grounds.

A harmless number which has a decent melody to it, this Soham Chakraborty and Shreya Ghoshal duet is a love song which reminds one of 'Tere Bin' from Bhagam Bhag, though it has a little more pace to it.

There is quite some noise in store though with the arrival of 'Aage Aage' which is as annoying as it gets.

In fact the entire idea of getting together a bunch of singers with Mika Singh, Shakti Singh, Ajay Jhingaran, Soham Chakraborty and Antara Mitra goes completely wrong.

It is difficult to imagine Pritam coming up with a tune like this which was passé way back in 70s. Though placed as a fun number, it just doesn't justify its appearance in the album and is a quick skip.

Kirti Sagathia gets into his 'He Jee Re' mode once again in the 'garba' number 'Gunji Aangna Mein Shehnai'. Yet again, the number doesn't quite work and the tune is nothing better than a dozen odd songs belonging to this genre that has been heard before.

Sunidhi Chauhan is heard for most part of the number but the number only acts as a hindrance in Life Partner from which one had entirely different expectations. Disappointing.

Guest lyricist Kumaar is roped in to write 'Poorza Poorza' which has Sunidhi Chauhan coming behind the mike once again.

Set entirely in 'S For Soniya' [Kidnap] template (which was created by Pritam himself), 'Poorzaa Poorzaa' with Kunal Ganjawala also chipping in is 'heard today, enjoyed for the moment and forgotten tomorrow' number.

Still, it is better than the likes of 'Aage Aage' and 'Gunji Aangna Mein Shehnai'. Also, at the least it managed to bring some fun back into the album with its 'remix version' making an appearance in the album.

OVERALL

Life Partner is hardly an album that a listener would want to partner for an entire lifetime. Only a couple of songs manage to make their presence felt but the remainder of the album ranges from average to disappointing.

In the current times when there are quite a few other albums like Love Aaj Kal, Teree Sang, Kaminey and Jashnn making a mark, it would be an uphill task for Life Partner to make its presence felt.

OUR PICK (S)

'Kuke Kuke', 'Poorza Poorza'