Punjabiyaan di battery is a lively celebration of the Punjabi energy, thanks to enthusiastic vocals by Mika and Yo Yo Honey Singh, and Kumaar’s lyrics. Kumaar’s wise-cracks continue in Main senti hoon, another peppy Punju number with Jaspreet Jasz, Shalmali Kholgade and someone who suggestively moans generously. Panjabi MC’s Haaay overdoses on the Punju hip-hop [...]

Sajid-Wajid’s recreation of Bappi Lahiri’s super-hit, super-kitschy 80s originals – Naino mein and Taki taki – use the source material well, resulting in fairly entertaining versions in a fresh, new-kitschy way! It’s when the duo is entrusted with creating new material that they flounder – Dhoka is plain horrendous, while for the moronic Bum pe [...]

The traditional Jugni gets an edgy, funky spin in Sandeep’s hands, while Sowmya Raoh is the star of the supremely jazzy Idhar gire; Sandeep digs into his recent collaborations to layer it beautifully. Media se sees Sandeep channelling his inner Vishal Bharadwaj with his own unique touches to the filmy, naughty qawali, sung well by [...]

Sachin Jigar’s reworking of Chaalbaaz’s Naa jaane is sufficiently funky thanks to oomphy vocals by Anushka Manchanda. Their other 2 songs – Capuchino, a cool offering with interesting vocals by Abhishek Nailwal and a neat Celtic hook, and Darbadar, a wonderfully arranged mod qawali of sorts, superbly sung by Monali Thakur – work very well [...]

Out of the four tracks, the soundtrack sees the composers bestowing three on Atif Aslam – Aa bhi ja has him soaring with his vocals in his characteristic style; Dil na jaane, his techno-duet with Anushka Manchanda is sufficiently foot-tapping and Hai na, that he dominates completely above Priya Ranchal. Surprisingly, the composers reserve the [...]

Roxen’s Mustafa Zahid offers an extended version of the band’s own acoustic hit, Kaisay jiyein, in Hum jee lenge – largely predictable and staid Pakistani pop. Of the three songs by Pritam, Teri jhuki nazar, by Shafqat Amanat Ali, hardly raises above the familiar template. Ditto with Jaata hai tujh tak, sung by Nikhil Dsouza [...]

Swanand Kirkire’s wonderful imagination powers Manjha, while Amit sings it with his usual panache. Additional plus is the absolutely gorgeous use of Esraj, a peculiar choice given its East Indian origins against the film’s Western base! Shubhaarambh features an inventive staccato variant of the Dandiya rhythm, while Shehnai and Bagpipes make love in the background [...]

The title song by Sukhwinder Singh carries a whiff of Omkara’s title song, but is markedly more simplistic and masala’ish. Baap ka maal doesn’t deserve any comment whatsoever. Ditto – or even worse – for Bappa Lahiri guest (unwanted) composition, Chamiya No.1. But the composing duo of Amjad-Nadeem mildly surprise in Ranjha jogi and Tu [...]

Shambu sutaya must be most frenetically paced Ganesh bhajan ever, with a detour in sound for the sake of dance that is mighty pulsating! Shankar Mahadevan and Vishal Dadlani ace the track, in their inimitable style. Bezubaan is gorgeous mix of a sweeping ballad and hip-pop – great combo, made even better by Mohit Chauhan, [...]

Party On My Mind and Lat lag layee are mighty competent techno tracks that hit all the right buttons with the tune and the rhythm; the latter, in particular, is bloody addictive, thanks to the fabulous vocals by Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade. Atif Aslam is dependably good in Be intehaan, though the tune is [...]