Hindi music album reviews

Welcome to Sajjanpur (OST)
Various Artistess
With some great soundtracks such as Parineeta and Khoya Khoya Chaand to his credit, composer Shantanu Moitra has proved his mettle in the past. For noted director Shyam Benegal's latest film, he creates some more refreshing songs, teaming up with lyricist Swanand Kirkire and Ashok Mishra.

The album begins with a foot-tapping chartbuster: Sita Ram Sita Ram. In this folksy fun-song spruced up by modern bouncy rhythms, we bump into the village folks eagerly waiting for the postman to receive and send their letters, telegrams and money-orders! Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan's peppy dance-duet Dildaara brings back memories of the composer's earlier popular song, Thirak Thirak from Khoya Khoya Chaand. Krishna Kumar and Shreya Ghoshal's Bheeni Bheeni and Mohit Chauhan and Madhushree's Ek Meetha Marz De De are melodiously romantic.

In Kailash Kher's Aadmi Aazad Hai and the eunuch-song Aayi Ab Munni Ki Baari, the focus shifts to Ashok Mishra's incisive lyrics that successfully satirise rural politics thriving on corruption and ignorance.

Rubaru (OST)
Various Artistes
Coming from three new composers – Satyadev Burman, Speed Of Sound and Sammeuddin – this album could well prove to be the surprise hit of the year. The music immediately captures the attention with its variety and verve.

The album is one big fusion exhibit with eastern bhangra, sufi and Punjabi devotional genres rubbing shoulders with western pop, rock and R&B. Shreya Ghoshal's rock number Tera Woh Pyar, Sunidhi Chauhan's sufi song Manchali, Jaspinder Narula's bhangra track Rubaru and Chauhan and Kunal Ganjawala's romantic duet Mitti Ki Khushboo are the top picks.

Hari Puttar (OST)
Various Artistes
Composers Adesh Shrivastav and Guru Sharma join hands to come up with some entertaining situational songs. Half the soundtrack is filled with different title-songs eulogising the central character Hari Puttar, glorifying him is a cute kid and a dude who makes his enemies squirm!

Fusing bhangra and rap, these songs are catchy. Bollywood mimicry-mix Bhai Aa Gaya is fun. Sukhvinder and Sunidhi Chauhan's Punjabi-styled Tootari is passable, while Shreya Ghoshal's Meri Yaadon Mein makes
an impression.

Pure Gold
Jagjit Singh
For lovers of Jagjit Singh's rich bass voice, this well-selected collection of ghazals and nazms should prove to be a big bonanza.

These Jagjit-numbers, touching on love, loss, longing and life in general, have proved quite popular.

With milestoneslike Woh Kaagaz Ki Kashti, Teri Khushboo Mein Base Khat, Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, Sarakati Jaaye Hai Rukh Se Naqab and Pyar Mujhse Jo Kiya, this particular compilation does provide a glimpse into the best of Singh.