| Song: Yeh Dil Hai Nakhrewala Album: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji Type: Bollywood Singers: Shefali Alvaris Music Director: Pritam Lyricist: Neelesh Mishra Rating: 4.1 A different-sounding pop-rock song. I really like this song for Shefali (who?) Alvaris’ spunky, slightly nasal vocals and some pretty cool vocalizations (“Tu du du…”). There is another pop (populist?) version of this song sung by Antara Mitra which appears in the movie but after listening to Alvaris, it seems like a watered-down version (though I like Mitra’s vocals too). |
| Song: Joh Wada Kiya Who Album: Taj Mahal Type: Bollywood Singers: Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar Music Director: Roshan Lyricist: Sahir Ludhiyanvi Rating: 5.0 Lovely, charmingly simple song. |
| Song: Stage Fright Album: The Best of The Band Type: Rock Artist: The Band Rating: 3.6 A relaxed song, with a profusion of piano and organ. Nice bassline. |
| Song: Mindathedi Album: Thanmathra Type: Mollywood Singers: MG Sreekumar, Sruthi Music Director: Mohan Sitara Lyricist: Kaithapram Rating: 4.7 An awesome meld of melody and rhythm. Utterly hummable. That said, I like Sujatha’s version more. |
| Song: Meri Duniya Lut Rahi Thi Album: Mr & Mrs. 55 Type: Bollywood Singers: Mohd Rafi Music Director: O.P. Nayyar Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri Rating: 3.9 One of the old-time qawalli, love songs that alternate between the slow/melodic and the rhythmic. Listen to it for Rafi’s alaaps. |
| Song: Haira Haira Hairabba Album: Jeans Type: Koliwood Singers: Unnikrishnan Music Director: A.R. Rahman Lyricist: Vairamuthu Rating: 3.9 This is one example where melody and rhythm don’t gel very well. I like the melody, not so much the rhythm. And I hate the “Haira Haira…” line. |
| Song: Aankhon Ke Saagar Album: Fuzon Type: Paki-Rock Artist: Fuzon Rating: 4.8 I cannot stop admiring the ingenuity of the Paki-rock bands who created this new genre of Hindustani/Sufi/Rock music. Shafqat Amanat Ali owns this genre in this song. Brilliant! |
| Song: Ilamai Ullasam Album: Unnale Unnale Type: Koliwood Singers: Krish, Shalini Music Director: Harris Jayaraj Lyricist: Pa. Vijay Rating: 3.5 A nice frothy, pop number with cool harmonies. Short. |
| Song: Tu Jo Mere Sur Mein Album: Chitchor Type: Bollywood Singers: Yesudas, Hemlata Music Director: Ravindra Jain Lyricist: Ravindra Jain Rating: 5.0 One of my all-time favorite duets. We don’t appreciate Ravidra Jain’s genius enough. Mind blowing composition! (Can’t say the same about his choice of Hemlata though.) |
| Song: Jadugari Album: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji Type: Bollywood Singers: Kunal Ganjawala Music Director: Pritam Lyricist: Sanjay Chhel Rating: 3.6 I really like the melody of this pop-influenced, acoustic number. But I would have liked it more if I had not been distracted by Kunal Ganjawala’s vocals. In my opinion, he overdoes the breathy, sensuous bit to the point that it gets irritating. |