Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008) Bollywood Music Review By Kalcha

RATE MONEY HAI TOH HONEY HAI MUSIC:
(2 votes, average: 5.5 out of 10)
 Loading ...

CASSETTES & CDs: EROS MUSIC
SINGERS: Nitz ‘N’ Sony, Harshdeep Kaur, Adnan Sami, Shruti Pathak, Arya, Bob, Ishq Bector, Shantanu Hudlikar, Labh Jajua, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala, Rekha Bharadwaj, Earl, Daler Mehndi, Master Saleem, Suraj Jagan, Shaan, Shivamani
LYRICIST: Sameer
MUSIC COMPOSERS: Nitin Arora & Sony Chandy

Hmmm… what does any sane soul expect to hear in a GOVINDA flick? Some racy and catchy numbers that can go down well with the masses. And targeting the urban contingent is an altogether unheard option. RIGHT? At least We at Indian Filmdom thought so. But this album really surprised me. Not so much with its content but with the marketing approach. To make things clear, let me tell you that Money Hai Toh Honey Hai is surprisingly targeted at the classes. By doing so, obviously the film loses its mass appeal… but also loses its class appeal with its poor promotion that doesn’t highlight its unique proposition.

Read On for the Review By kalcha…

TRACK: Money Hai Toh Honey Hai
RUN TIME: 3:31 Min
SINGERS: Nitz ‘N’ Sony, Harshdeep Kaur

This is obviously the title track emphasizing the power of money. The lyrics accompany the situation and rhyme along with nice fluidity. Quite hummable as there are no lengthy lines to remember. This track is almost like an INTRO in to the whole album and so just stays put at 3:31 Min. The track starts with some soothing Chinese Sanxian strokes. But immediately launches into a bizarre mixture of sounds with synthesized bits from various sources (A bit childish…). But very soon the track improvises into a heavily beat oriented rhyme that is extremely entertaining. Singers Harshdeep Kaur and Nitz N Sony did very well to keep the grooves in place. And then the track ends with some funny words and sounds. Although not executed to perfection, this track is very enjoyable.

This track MIGHT NOT work instantly in Bollywood especially in a Govinda movie.

TRACK: Awara Dil
RUN TIME: 4:23 Min
SINGERS: Adnan Sami, Shruti Pathak, Nitz ‘N’ Sony, Arya, Bob, Ishq Bector, Shantanu Hudlikar

This track is truly an ode to the under current Hip-Hop wave in the country that will burst on to the stage very soon. And this track gives the right push, though I doubt it will… being in a Govinda movie. Indian Filmdom is really impressed with this groovy, creaky, boomy, hip-hop number that can set the right mood in many a lounges. Adnan Sami in his inimitable style of lip-cutting the words gives the right feel to the song. The whole ensemble set up for this song is extremely impressive along with the rappers and the bass arrangements. More than the rap and bass guitar… it is the well executed Piano accompaniments that impresses the most. Very nice touch and executed to perfection. All in all this track falls into R KELLY style of execution and is extremely enjoyable over and over. This track would have done wonders with Akshay Kumar in the lead. The only grouse is that the lyrics could have been a bit more catch worthy… Uhhh… Right song in a Govinda movie.

This track MIGHT NOT work instantly in Bollywood especially in a Govinda movie.

TRACK: Churiyaan
RUN TIME: 4:57 Min
SINGERS: Labh Jajua, Sunidhi Chauhan

A hip-hop album and no Punjabi flavour… How could that be? This is a Punjabi version of the mood that is already set to groovy hip-hop. Personally, I would have wanted Sunidhi Chauhan to be made use of in a better way. She is left just to take care for Masha Allah phrase. Labh Jajua sounds authentic. Sameer’s lyrics are not great but not bad either. But the hollow ruffles and the croaky clinging groove in the background courtesy of the synthesizer and the bass guitar keep pace of the track. An enjoyable track and yet wasted track.

This track MIGHT work but again the movie plays spoilsport.

TRACK: Ta Naa Naa
RUN TIME: 4:34 Min
SINGERS: Kunal Ganjawala, Rekha Bharadwaj, Nitz ‘N’ Sony, Earl, Arya

Aahhh… it sounds tiring by this time. It gives a feel that the composers had only one groovy loop to show their talent. Or is it that they had money to buy only one bassy, groovy loop that is running through out the other songs? (Some loops are commercially available…) In either case, this track doesn’t work for Indian Filmdom ‘coz it is a BLATANT COPY of Beyonce knowles & Sean paul’s Baby Boy The composers disguised the tune with a Super Catchy line of Ta Naa Naa and also made it more of an R Kelly rendition. And also the Punjabi interludes by the female artist completely ruins the song… taking us back to the N number of 90s songs. I did not enjoy the song.

UPDATE: A commenter named Retarded Monkey asked me to hear over this song again as he felt that I had been mistaken. And I did hear both the Beyonce & Sean’s Baby Boy and Ta Na Na. I must admit here that I had been a little harsh in my treatment to this song. The fact is… if it were to be placed at the beginning of the album… it would have caught my fancy. Retarded Monkey is right. This track is not a blatant copy as I said it is. But still there are a couple hooks from the mentioned track. And still there are those Punjabi interludes that doesn’t gel well for my taste. I am upping the rating of this track as it is enjoyable when I am listening it in isolation of other tracks.

This track WILL SURELY WORK instantly even in this movie. But Indian Filmdom doesn’t reward Copies.

TRACK: Rangeeli Raat
RUN TIME: 4:45 Min
SINGERS: Daler Mehndi, Master Saleem, Sunidhi Chauhan, Arya

CRAP! Nitin And Sony got tired of hip-hop and tried to do justice to Govinda flick and hence the Crap Tag. Mundane Punjabi beats… Bored Sunidhi sung uninspiring lyrics of Sameer. Daler Mehandi cannot save this from being Crap.

In the end I can safely say… Mat Bajao Yaar. WOULD work with the masses if they happen to watch this movie.

TRACK: No Big Deal
RUN TIME: 5:29 Min
SINGER: Suraj Jagan

WOW! What a superb song… and yet it is pure SIN. What is this song even doing in this Govinda flick? It would be prestigious for any prestigious project to have this song in its kitty. Pacy start along with great guitar strumming to start with… then on Suraj Jagan takes us on a foot tapping ride accompanied with great violin pitches. The violin arrangements in this song are rare to hear in Bollywood movies. Lyrics by Sameer are superb. CONGRATS and THANKS to NITIN and SONY for delivering this master piece. Bollywood… watch out… Suraj Jagan is here to stay.

This COULD HAVE WORKED in an A class movie.

TRACK: Dance Master
RUN TIME: 4:24 Min
SINGER: Shaan
PERCUSSIONIST: Shivamani

Uhhh… Shivamani, the Greatest Percussionist India has ever produced is accompanied by Shaan in this number. I think Govinda Jii would unleash his dancing skills in this song. There are many Timbaland-ish interludes. But for me… the song is not at all enjoyable. The percussion doesn’t gel with the tune. Please use Shivamani in a masterly executed song and not in this kind of half-baked run-of-the-mill numbers. I can understand the theme of the movie… but listening to the same lyrics in every track takes its toll on mind. Listen only for the percussion elements.

WOULD NOT WORK in Bollywood at all.

TRACK: Hope
RUN TIME: 5:30
INSTRUMENTAL: Lead By Flute

WOW! The instrumental version of the already great song No Big Deal is even more enjoyable in the Flute rendition. Flute, Guitar and Violin pitches are to die for… Great ensemble that showcases the hidden talent of this pair of NITIN ARORA and SONY CHANDY.

WOULD WORK anywhere in the world.

Well, a surprising album to say the least. Whether it works or not commercially, Indian Filmdom surely enjoyed it. I hope other music buffs would find it entertaining too.