NACHLAI - HARBHAJAN MANN
T-Series, Rs. 50
Harbhajan Mann is surely among the better Punjabi pop singers on the scene today, so an album from him is always welcome inspite of the fact that the market is flooded with Punjabi pop albums. This album from him doesn’t make the same impact as his earlier albums Oye-Hoye or Lala Lala Lala, but some of the songs make for a good hearing and will have you shaking a leg. These include the first number Kurti laal, which is quite energetic, Mele, Chan, Udeekaan and the title track. Jaidev Kumar has composed the music, fusing the traditional Punjabi folk tunes with modern beats well. But the best part about the album is Mann’s singing, which is clear and forceful. Good buy for Punjabi pop freaks.

SHAHE ARAB SE SALAAM KEH DENA
Venus, Rs. 35
It’s time for Haj, and pilgrims will flock the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to perform the Haj. For the occasion, Venus has released this devotional album, which has songs sung by Rani Roop Lata, well-known qawwali singer. Incidentally, she happens to be the mother of Altaf Raja, who today has carved a niche for himself and has his own fan-following. Side A has two lengthy compositions, namely the title track penned by Nazan Sholapuri, and Madinewale Aaqa, again penned by Sholapuri. Side B has Khuda denewala penned by Ziya Ansari, Mere Ghausulwara by Ibrahim Iqbal and O pyare Khwaja penned by Rani Roop Lata herself. All the devotional numbers keep you engrossed, pleasing the devouts. Good release.

DESHI HOLI BIDESHI CHOLI (BHOJPURI)
Sangeet, Rs. 30
Timed with the Holi festival (March 9 and 10), this audio of nine songs offers to the listeners musical fare which is typical of the way this festival is celebrated. The songs are folksy, are understandably noisy in places, but they are rooted in the soil and have the aura of the tunes one comes across in the rural regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The songs have been written by JD Bahadur, Rambhog, Mangal Kavi and Mahendra. Set to music by Ramesh and Munna, they have been effectively rendered by Indrajit Yadav and Nitu Chanchal. Ideal for playing during the Holi fest.

BUDDHESHWAR SHIVJI
Venus, Rs. 35
An album which offers Budhwar vrat katha (story of rites to be performed on Wednesdays), bhajans, vandan, chalisa and aarti, all revolving round Lord Shiv. The audio begins with the recitation of a shloka by Pandit Kiran Mishra, who is also credited with the writing of the lyrics. This recitation is followed by the singing of two bhajans each by Mahendra Kapoor and Anupama Deshpande. The flipside opens with another bhajan sung by Rakesh Pandit, and is followed by the narration of the Budhwar vrat katha by Alka Ashlesha, and the rendering of Shiv chalisa by Anup Jalota. The album concludes with a Shiv aarti in the voice of Nitin Mukesh. The musical score is by Triveni-Bhavani, excepting the aarti which has been set to music by Pradyumna Sharma. The fare which has been served in the voices of well-known and popular singers holds appeal for all devout listeners, specially the Shiv devotees.

AAP BANENGE KROREPATI
Venus, Rs. 38
This audio is Volume 2 of chutkule or jokes and is in the nature of a spoof on the popular TV show, KBC, anchored by Amitabh Bachchan. Side A of the album presents Amitabh with filmi contestants like Anupam Kher, Keshto Mukherjee, Ajit, Dada Kondke, Paresh Raval, Raaj Kumar and Johny Lever, the voices of all the participants as also of Amitabh having been imitated by Sikandar, who is also credited with the scripting. Vishwajit Soni’s is the supporting voice, while music is by Rajesh-Salil. The fare served is quite hilarious. However, the contents of the flipside, which include items like Railway station, Amitabh aur Sindhi and Ek raat machharon ke saath, are not in the same mould or are not as funny and rib-tickling as those of Side A. All the same, overall the audio will find favour with listeners, specially those who enjoy spoofs.

KAANHA TAPLAAY NAAKYAAWARI (MARATHI)
Krunal, Rs. 35
The ten songs in the audio are in the nature of Goulanis and revolve round the pranks played by Krishna in his childhood vis-a-vis the milk-maids. Written by Darshan Kumar, the Goulanis are reminiscent of Dada Kondke filmi tunes and have been sung by Vijay Sartape, Vaishali Samant and Shakuntala Jadhav, with Ashok Wayangankar as music arranger. The entire fare is hummable, specially the title track, Kanha taplaay naakyaawari (the last number on the flipside) rendered by Shakuntala Jadhav, as also Khod Krishna tu kaadhu nako by Vaishali Samant and Gavalyaachi por chandraachi kor by Vijay Sartape.

SAI SHIRDICHA TAARANHAAR (MARATHI)
Venus, Rs. 35
The album is Volume 3 in the series Aawad Sai Bhajananchi (Marathi traditional bhajans) and contains eight tracks in the voices of Sachhidanand Appa, Nitin Diskalkar, Santosh Nayak and Shekhar Mahadik. Sachhidanand Appa is also credited with writing the lyrics and composing the music. The rendering of the bhajans, all of them meaningful and hummable, is prefaced by an explanatory narration by Mandar Kharade. A must in one’s collection of Sai Baba audios.

BALI RAJA (MARATHI)
Krunal, Rs. 35
This is Volume 2 in the series Shetkari Geete (songs relating to the farmers). A version album which contains ten songs which revolve round the farming community. They have been rendered by Vijay Satape, Shakuntala Jadhav, Sanjay Sawant, Shashikant Mumbre and Manohar. The renderings are typically folksy and hummable. Will be liked by lovers of Marathi folk music.

GHE GHE PORI LAAL LAAL MIRCHI (MARATHI)
Venus, Rs. 30
In the nature of a quadrangular contest pertaining to naughty and playful folk songs laced with shero shairi for the first time (as the in-lay claims), the album presents eight numbers, all written by Vishnu Shinde who has also set them to music. The four singer contestants are Vishnu Shinde himself, Kavita Shinde, Priya Mayekar and Suryakant Shinde. The fare dished out should go well with those who like shero shairi. Nothing great but good to pass time.

CHANDRA AAHE SAAKSHEELA (MARATHI)
Venus, Rs. 35
A version album of 13 popular romantic duets from Marathi films like Apradh, Kalankshobha, Aamhi Jaato Amuchya Gaava, Banya Bapu, Naav Motha Lakshan Khota, Kaiwari, Anolkhi, Chandanaachi Choli Ang Ang Jaali, Dhaakti Bahin, Baala Gaawoo Kashi Angaai and Madhuchandra. The songs have been rendered by Sudesh Bhosle, Uday Upadhye, Madhav Bhagwat, Aniruddha Joshi, Vaishali Samant, Suchitra Bhagwat and Madhuri Karmarkar. The songs are well rendered and listeners would like to have this audio in their collection.

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New Releases

Rahul music released

Subhash Ghai and Tips released the music of Mukta Arts’ Rahul at Ghai’s Audeus Studio, in Mumbai, on February 17. The film stars Neha, Jatin Grewal, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Gulshan Grover and child actor Yash. Directed by Prakash Jha, it has music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Besides Ghai, director Jha, and the cast of the film, others present included Ramesh Taurani of Tips, Anu Malik, Anand Bakshi, and singers Ustad Sultan Khan, Alka Yagnik and Sunidhi Chauhan.

Reviewed By
Salma Khatib And Pandit Shimpi
salmakhatib@hotmail.com