BILLU SOUNDTRACK REVIEW

Pritam Chakraborty is known for producing music chart toppers and the Billu soundtrack is consistent with his golden reputation. Billu indeed features a large majority of danceable songs or creative remixes of the soundtrack's original tunes.

In the item number category, the punjabi-sufi "Marjaani" opens the album with staccato lyrics performed by a sexily husky Sukhwinder Singh, who is duly accompanied by Sunidhi Chauhan. "Love Mera Hit Hit" follows, seemingly using a template from one of Chakraborty's previous hits: "Maujha hi Maujha" from Jab We Met. The rythm mellows down a bit as soon as the sensual reggae "You Get Me Rockin' & Reeling" enters the scene, featuring a noteworthy Neeraj Shridhar delivering pleasantly smooth vocals. Sadly, after such a sweet number, "Ae Aa O" fails to impress with a chorus that strangely seems to be revisiting the 1980's worldwide hit, "Ti Amo" by Umberto Tozzi.

Venturing towards the soundtrack's less commercial tunes, we do get a few glimpses of Chakraborty's potential outside his chartbuster talent, much to the delight of music buffs. The first welcome incursion towards this, and personally what I believe to be the album's best track, is "Jaoon Kahan". The guitar riffs and rythmic loops provide a bewitching background for the extremely talented Pakistani singer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, undoubtedly making this a piece that will enthrall listeners worldwide, mainly due to the singer's expressive and slightly vulnerable voice, which makes the melody sound as natural as the flow of pristine water.

A colourful and fun-filled "Biloo Bhayankar" introduces both Billu, the film's main character, and his village's atmosphere. Accordeon, banjo, bicycle bells, Raghuvir Yadav's naughty singing, you name it! If you want to smile, this is the song you are looking for...

Finalizing the set of original tracks, the peppy "Khudaya Khair" features a charming feminine chorus. Unfortunately, the song seems unable to take off after a joyful start. This is the only track for which I would certainly recommend listening to the album's reprise, in which Abhijeet's performance gives the song the extra oomph the original version is lacking.

Basically, apart from several danceable tunes, Billu also offers a few songs that do stand proud without the nightclub aura that Chakraborty is so renowned for. Dancing night owls and daytime listeners, old and young alike, will surely appreciate the soundtrack for different reasons, but isn't that what variety is all about?

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DELHI-6 SOUNDTRACK REVIEW

An astoundingly fresh, urban and spiritual soundtrack, AR Rahman's Delhi 6 captures a large range of genres in which the Oscar winner's talent as a composer excels, making it a compulsory introduction to his fabulous body of work for Western listeners and a wonderful addition to any Eastern listener's music collection.

"Masakali" is undoubtedly the soundtrack's perfect opening song, as Prasoon Joshi's playful lyrics prove once more that he is indeed a consummate master in the art of using language as a musical instrument (clearly revealed in Ghajini's "Behka"). The song's haunting Congo drum pattern, the use of a fleeting accordeon and particularly Mohit Chouhan's relaxed and almost mischievous singing style make "Masakali" an album's gem that will hypnotize many a listener.

Following such a light and ear-pleasing opening, Kailash Kher's and Javed Ali's brilliantly executed duet in "Arziyan" introduces the soundtrack's partially devotional tone. Its Sufi brio is later balanced with the peaceful hinduist "Aarti", further leading to the album's final spiritual note in "Noor", in which Amitabh Bachchan gives a short spoken performance, praising God's all-enveloping presence.

A pleasant surprise awaits Indian classical music lovers in the mesmerizing rendition of a candid and charming "Bhor Baye", featuring young Shreya Ghoshal along with music legend Ustad Bale Ghulam Ali Khan.

Delhi 6 also offers a funky urban atmosphere that surrounds the album's remaining songs, starting with the sensual title track ("Delhi 6") which mixes Hindi and French in a rap that will not fail to please the young crowds. AR Rahman then proceeds to grace the romantic "Rehna Tu" with his warm voice. The result is a sultry pop song that can compete with the best of its genre around the world, just to leave all competition behind as it finishes with a simple but splendid continuum melody. Prasoon Joshi's lyrics continue to shine through "Hey Kaala Bandar" which is slightly reminiscent of Rang de Basanti's "Paathshala". One of the soundtrack's most intriguing songs in my humble opinion is "Dil Gira Dafatan", which strongly relies on Ash King's crisp and sweet voice, achieving an airy and universal feel. Last but not least, the album's funky repertoire closes with "Genda Phool", a catchy tune with rustic vocals delivered by Rekha Bharadwaj.

All in all, Delhi 6 is similar to an eclectic polished diamond whose beauty is to be enjoyed by all. Delhiites must indeed be proud to have inspired such a dazzling array of talent-filled songs and performances.

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