Hindi Music Album Review - December 14

Rabba Yaar Se Mila De

They share their names with the internationally-famous Sabri brothers of Pakistan. But they are no copycats or clones of their popular counterparts from across the border and to avoid any mix-up they add Jaipuri to their names. In fact, they are so down to earth that they prefer to live in their hometown, Jaipur in Rajasthan, rather than the glamorous world of Bollywood. And they too have performed abroad, in the U.S., the UK and even in the UAE.

No Altaf Raja in their approach, these purists are the late showman Raj Kapoor's discovery. He gave them a break in Henna (Der Na Ho Jaye) and subsequent one-off qawwali assignments followed like Ek Mulaqat in Sirf Tum, Lagan Lagi (Uff Yeh Mohabbat) and Pardes's Nahi Hona, sung by brother Amin Sabri.

Now, the talented father and son team comes up with a six-song album of semi-classical and folk-based numbers. They are helped in their musical endeavour by the young Bollywood composing duo, Nikhil-Vinay, who have given us Aaja Meri Jaan and English Babu Desi Mem, and lyricists Asha Rani and Asad Ajmeri.
The opening title song, Kaliyan Bagon Mein, also shot on video featuring model John Abraham, is ample proof of the  duo's talent as they impress you with their chorus singing – taking a leaf out of the Sufiana style.

The harmonium, being their main instrument, is used justifiably well by Nikhil-Vinay while the following duet, Yeh Hai Pyar Pyar sees a liberal use of the popular Indian percussion instrument, the tabla. The song is an ode to love as the lyrics emphasise this better known human emotion to be God's gift. The duo pour their hearts into this love anthem in their nasal voices. Their Tanha Tanha Rona Tha is a soothing number sung well but is wrongly credited to Asha Rani.

The flip side opens with a strong Sufiana flavour, Dil Mein Tu Nazar Mein Tu, and pays tribute to the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for the oft-repeated word 'Tu' as the father and son duo follow each other vocally in the qawwali format. The following Tumko Naseeb Mera, which is actually Tumse Naseeb Mera, is a ghazal-type, semi-classical number where the duo find themselves on home turf.

They dare to go for an exhibitionist approach in Sharabi Sharabi, but not the Altaf Raja kind and remain well within the parameters of the semi-classical boundaries, never ever compromising with the pop appeal. Didn't I say they are the down-to-earth kind? And prefer to stay that way, come what may...
Cassette courtesy: Vanilla Music

Ishq Ne Mara – Attaullah Khan

Here is the much-awaited compilation of Pakistani Punjabi singer Attaullah Khan's evergreen songs. The traditional Punjabi singer who gained wider international recognition after taking up Urdu songs, has done pretty well for himself throughout his long career which took him all over the world.
Basically, Attaullah can be dubbed a melancholic singer and his choice of lyrics point in that direction.

Take the opening number on the album, for example. The song, Chan Shehzada, is a lover's lament as she waits for her beloved to return home. Attaullah's trembling style of singing, like Talat Mahmood's, turns out to his advantage. His Yaadon Ko Bhoola also toes the same line but the following, Tumhe To Ilm Hay, is a fast-paced, qawwali-type number where the dholak dominates the proceedings.

On Side B, Attaullah goes for a modern approach in Saqiya Ek Nasar and Kabhi Hum Bhi, which sounds like a film song but again Ishq Ne Mara turns towards melancholy as Attaullah pours his heart out in this sad number. Attaullah fans will love this compilation for its nostalgic values.
Cassette courtesy: Megastar