Halkat jawani is one of those songs that was conceptualized as an item song from scratch, with seemingly generous instructions to include all the elements of previous ‘hit’ item songs. Harmless, but vacuous. For Khwahishein, Shreya’s diva act fits perfectly for the gorgeous pop tune. Main heroine hoon‘s Bond’ish tune sits uncomfortably over its cringe-worthy [...]

If you move past the ear-numbing ennui created by the totally predictable Kunwara and Bipasha, this soundtrack does have something to offer. Not that Darmiyaan is dew fresh, but even when the duo is aping the SEL-Johar sound, they extract lovely work from Shafqat, and Shreya, in the reprise. The soundtrack thankfully peaks with Mujhko [...]

Aadat se majboor and Jazba seem like calculated, safe efforts – the carefully assembled catchy rhythm, Benny and Shilpa Rao’s cool vocals…everything; but they still endear as they hold the right amount of spunk. Thug le is where the composing duo push their luck a bit too much; everything is painfully familiar here. Jigar da [...]

With its lilting Middle Eastern pop feel, Afreen makes for a nice listen, particularly with Salim Merchant crooning it, while Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s reprise version draws from his vocal style equally well. Bismillah is almost Rahman’ish, with carefully calibrated rhythm and a thoroughly harmonious tune. Habibi wears the Middle Eastern sound on its sleeve, [...]

Everything about Rozaana seems familiar, and if the track still works, it is only because of the spunk in the tune and Salim’s lively vocals. Rab rakha isn’t that lucky, with a stale tune that meanders laboriously with occasional respite from the Shreya Ghoshal-sung portions. Love love love goes down further – a pointless reggae-Bollywood [...]

I remember writing this, in my review of Pandiraj’s debut Tamil film, ‘Pasanga‘. Tamil cinema is home to rampant male domination. No hero in our state apologizes – its always the woman who is used to apologizing; if the man does, he’s either above 50 (in filmy age) or from a neighboring state (Mammooty?). And [...]

Keeravani’s Ninnu chudani plays on stereotypes, but manages to occasionally impress, thanks to that prominent accordion. Salim Sulaiman’s Premalekha Raasene rehashes their Hindi style, but sounds brilliant nevertheless – scintillating sound and a catchy tune! The duo’s short Yodha theme too is lovely. Mickey J Meyer’s Chandamamala is a fantastic combination of a simple, lullaby-like [...]

Anu Malik’s Lagi lagi has some old world charm, but gets drowned in overindulgent music. His other song, Lafanaa, is item’ish chaos with borrowed rhythms and recycled hooks. Beyond the snake sees Shruti Haasan in fantastic form, thanks also to DKFP! Mallika Sherawat, in her singing debut in Sway hisses, chants, speaks and lets out [...]

Ab mujhko offers faux optimism, in a conventional package, while Mohit Chauhan’s reflective Chala aaya pyar doesn’t work entirely despite some neat tabla-infused orchestration. Shafqat’s Shukriya zindagi is standard SEL-template and is predictably pleasant. Shankar Mahadevan’s (and Shreya’s) painfully meditative Pal mein is just that – painful and meditative. With its Middle Eastern/Latino appeal, Pritam’s Dilkash dildaar is [...]

Bachchan’s probability mumbo-jumbo sounds silly in an otherwise-enjoyable, Bond’ish Life is a game; fantastic vocals by Sonia Saigal and Anushka! Summertime (George Gershwin’s original used as-is) has corny lyrics, but the zingy pop works instantly, thanks to Joe Alvares’ vocals. The title song is likeable techno-pop with a psychedelic soundscape. Sunidhi is scintillating in the [...]