Hindi music album reviews

Yuvvraaj
A. R. Rahman
When celebrated names like filmmaker Subhash Ghai, composer A. R. Rahman and lyricist Gulzar come together, expectations are extremely high and thankfully Yuvvraaj does not disappoint.

Rahman's soundtrack almost immediately captures your attention with innovative tunes, imaginative arrangements and interesting fusion of eclectic genres. What really sets Rahman apart from most of his contemporaries is his ability to keep the Indian soul intact despite using Western arrangements.

The album begins none too impressively with Salman Khan mouthing filmi dialogues with Beethoven's fifth symphony in the background. But the talented composer redeems his creative genius with Tu Meri Dost Hai (Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghoshal) – a dreamy romantic melody. Tu Muskura (Alka Yagnik-Javed Ali) follows the same tone, while Dil Ka Rishta (Roopkumar Rathod, Sonu Nigam) is a moody number, particularly notable for Rahman's mastery on modern mixing techniques. In Zindagi Zindagi (Srinivas) and Man Mohini (Vijay Prakash), we have two semi-classical tracks.

The fun-side of Rahman's music is reflected in Sonu Nigam's Mastam Mastam and Shanno Shanno – a peppy club-dance track, much like his earlier hit Pappu Can't Dance Saala.

Golmaal Returns
Various artistes
So Golmaal does return to the silver screen in a new avatar but it does so by changing its music director. Here, Pritam takes over the musical baton from Vishal-Shekhar. Going with the comedy theme, Pritam predictably dishes out some frothy and feisty songs full of thumping beats, club-sounds and inane Hinglish lyrics. Neeraj Shreedhar is the guiding spirit of two multi-singer efforts – Tha Karke and Vacancy; Monali and Suzy Q come together to render Meow but Anuska Manchanda's item-song Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya hogs the limelight.

C Kkompany
Various artistes
Even after putting two ‘K's in its title, this Balaji film bombed at the box office and the fate of its music album won't be any better. The music follows the fast-furious-fun formula but it mostly manages to come up with forgettable dance songs like Khoka (Mika Singh, Bappi and Rema Lahiri) and Speaker Baaje (Anand Raj Anand–Sunidhi Chauhan). Sanjay Dutt's underworld-themed title-song C Kkompany and KK-Shreya Ghoshal's romantic duet, Jaane Kya, manage to hold the listener's interest for a while.

Dosti/Patthar Ke Sanam
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
This album presents Laxmikant-Pyarelal's melodious music from two mid-1960s musicals. Dosti-songs like Mohammad. Rafi's Chahoonga Main Tujhe, Jaanewalo Zara, Mera To Jo Bhi Kadam Hai and Patthar Ke Sanam, Lata Mangeshkar's Koi Nahi Hai and Mukesh's Tauba Yeh Matwali Chaal have remained evergreen classics. This twin soundtrack combo is indeed a double delight!