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Chords and Notes

SONA

Sony BMG, Rs.175

It is a motley mixture of various genres, lyrics and styles. Sony BMG's latest album launches Sona Mohapatra as a versatile singer who defies classification. The first track "Bolo Na" is a mellow contemporary number with good guitar accompaniment but what is interesting is Sona's uninhibited and hearty voice - a welcome change from the screeching vocals that dominate the current Hindi music scene. The catchy background score in "Abhi Nahin Aana" and the Punjabi pop influence in "Aaja Ve" add to the appeal of the album. The fourth song, "Ishq Nachaya" with impressive percussion and Bulle Shah lyrics follows the Sufi trend in popular music that was kick started by Rabbi Shergill not so long ago. "Aisi Jaagi Re" has a distinct rustic flavour, while "Awaz" is much softer and modern. Immediately after the urban melody is a heady traditional song "Jai Phulo Re", which in turn is followed by a foot-tapping number, "Sapne". Interspersing semi-classical music with western zing works wonders for this album, which offers something for everyone. And, yes, there are two remixes too. It is a sad commentary of the times that we are going through that no album is perhaps complete without the scourge of remix numbers. This offering is no exception. Nevertheless a nice album to hear.

CHUPKE SE

GTM Music, Rs.75

This is an album strictly for the die-hard romantics. The music as well as the lyrics are not so profound and yet well presented by Chander Kamal and Sajan Sehri respectively. The singer, Vvicky has sung well and he could connect to the teenagers particularly with the numbers "Chupke Se", "O Yara", "Sun un Mere" and "O Riya O Riya" . The album is a good mix of fast, dance numbers and slow ones.

It also comes with a video CD of these audio tracks where the singer romances a girl, now dancing, now playing the saxophone.

Buy it if you think you need a dose of mush without needing to think much.

COMEDY KA HUNGAMA

Shemaroo, Rs.349

It is time to make a killing. With comedy being the flavour of cinema for sometime now, and Paresh Rawal ruling the roost, it does not take great business acumen to put together three of Rawal's recent hits in one pack and sell it to eager fans. Shemaroo has done the inevitable here by including three hits Awara Paagal Deewana, Hera Pheri and Hulchul into a six-disc pack. Of course, it is a ripple effect that they are hoping to generate by including Awara... and Hera... a couple of years after they have been lapped up on the small screen. Yet all the three films have enough laughs to last the distance. No subtleties in all the three films, just over-the-top humour that is virtually unique to Bollywood, the DVDs will keep the undemanding fans happy. And those who buy the pack for Rawal won't be disappointed either. Selling a collection on the face value of a character artiste is compliment enough for him.

(Compiled by Mayank Pushkarna)

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