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CHORDS AND NOTES

LAGE RAHO MUNNA BHAI

T-Series.

Ever since Munna Bhai won over the cinemagoers with his trenchant humour, people have been waiting for the sequel. Here it comes from the house of Vidhu Vinod Chopra again. Predictably, starring the old firm of Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, this time Vidya Balan has replaced Gracy Singh for the glamour quotient. What remains unchanged is the music value of the film. Yes, there are a couple of racy songs but the number which stays in the memory is "Pal Pal... Har Pal" where Shreya Ghosal gives such a terrific account of herself that the male singer Sonu Nigam is reduced to playing catch-up for no fault of his. Her voice modulation, the element of mischief, the little dash of sweetness all combine to give this song a head start in an album that could have done with another chartbuster. Like the item number in the original. This eight-track offering, including two remixes and an instrumental score, is a decent bargain for moments of leisure.

All in all, a score that Shantanu Moitra won't be embarrassed to lend his name to, without quoting it among the accomplishments a few years down the line.

DIL APNA PUNJABI

Tips, Rs.150

That Punjabi pop has come to stay is evident from the mushrooming number of albums in the market. Punjabi music has a delightful exuberance about it, never having those pretensions to being serious, melodious or very meaningful. The idea appears to be to provide lively music, the `balle balle' type, in sync with the lively nature of the people populating Punjab. So be prepared to enjoy this latest offering from Tips that has majority of the songs rendered by the latest singing sensation Harbhajan Mann, the first contemporary artiste to move back from abroad to India to try his luck here - and how successfully he has been! Best known for his foot-tapping `oye oye' album, that was such a runaway hit, the man sings his heart out in his typical Punjabi voice, much like Daler Singh Mehndi.

The CD has 10 tracks, made lively by the bubbly voice of Sunidhi Chauhan. That she is able to tackle the Punjabi medium with equal felicity is a tribute to her. And of course there is Apache Indian to add colour. "Sohna Munda" (Sunidhi and Apache Indian), "Sun Haan Mere Diye" and Jago (Mann and Sunidhi) are nice on the ears. Alka Yagnik too lends her voice in the song "Sohniye". Music by Sukhshinder Shinda is typically Punjabi, an adroit mix of desi bhangra and Punjabi hip hop. The songs will soon be vying for space in the ever popular FM broadcasts.

PHIR HERA PHERI

Shemaroo, Rs.169

Neeraj Vora takes over from Priyadarshan, adds some spice, some salt, some pepper. And delivers a film that rocks in the first half, loses energy early in the second half, before recovering it all with a flourish towards the end. Phir Hera Pheri is that kind of flick you might watch on the big screen, then come back home and wish you could just watch it again. Not for great enlightenment, just for kicks. Just to drive away all tension of a long day. Hence, this Shemaroo twin VCD packet is just for you. For moments when brains rest in deep freeze and you want a date with Paresh Rawal, that inimitable comic often stealing the hero's thunder.

Starring Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty - the old Hera Pheri firm - with Bipasha Basu, Rimmi Sen, and an item number by Dia Mirza, this film might just find favour with your family. Witty lines, situational humour, rocking music. It has them all in an extravagant package. Go for it. It is clean fun.

(Compiled by ZS)

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