A Fun Poem on All C.A.'s

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai

Apni Profile ke bojh tale daba jaa raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Zindagi se hara hua hai,
Par " Balance sheet Tally " karne se haar nahi manata,
Apne excel sheet ki ek ek line ise rati hui hai,
Par aaj kaun se rang ke moje pehne hain, ye nahi janata,
Din par din ek excel file banata ja raha hai

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Das hazaar line ki file main error dhoond lete hain lekin,
Majboor dost ki ankhon ki nami dikhayi nahi deti,
PC pe hazaar windows khuli hain,
Par dil ki khidki pe koi dastak sunayi nahi deti,
Satuday-sunday nahata nahi, week days ko naha raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

linking karte karte pata hi nahi chala,
"Excel" ki priority kab maa-baap se high ho gayi,
Kitabon main gulab rakhne wala , cigerette ke dhuyen main kho gaya,
Dil ki zameen se armaanon ki vidayi ho gayi,
Weekends pe daroo peke jo jashna mana raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Maze lena ho iske to pooch lo,
"Salary Increment" ki party kab dila rahe ho,
Hansi udana ho to pooch lo,
"Leave" pe kab ja rahe ho?
Wo dekho Leave se laute team-mate ki chocolates kha raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Kharche badh rahe hain,
Baal kam ho rahe hain,
Income Tax ke sitam ho rahe hain,
Lo phir se bus choot gayi, Auto se aa raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Pizza gale se nahi utarta,
To "Coke" ke sahare nigal liya jata hai,
Office ki "Thali" dekh munh hai bigadta,
Maa ke hath ka wo khana baar roz yaad ata hai,
"Sprout bhel" bani hai phir bhi, free "Evening Snacks" kha raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai,

Aapne ab tak li hongi bahut si chutikiya,
Chartered Accountant ke jivan ka sach batati ye akhri kuch panktiyan,
Hazaron ki tankhwah wala, company ki karodon ki jeb bharta hai,
Chartered Accountant wahi ban sakta hai, jo lohe ka jigar rakhta hai,
Hum log jee jee ke marte hain , zindagi hai kuch aisi,

Ek fauj ki naukri, doosri Chartered Accountant ki , dono ek jaisi,
Is kavita ka har shabd mere dil ki gehrayi se aa raha hai,

Wo dekho ek Chartered Accountant ja raha hai ..........

Chetan Bhagat's Inaugural Speech for the new batch at the Symbiosis BBA program, Pune - Keep the Spark Alive

After One Night at Call Centre, Five Point Someone and Three Mistakes of my Life, everyone knows Chetan Bhagat. I came across this awesome inspiring speech given by him at at Inaugural ceremony on 23rd June 2008 from one of my friend. Many must have read it but those who have not read it, it is a must read.

So, here we go - A speech from Chetan Bhagat..........


Good Morning everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates - there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.

Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.

I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?

Imagine the spark to be a lamp's flame. The first aspect is nurturing - to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.

To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn't any external measure - a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.

Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement. But it isn't the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr. Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won't be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday? They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive. Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.

Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born.. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature's design. Are you? Goals will help you do that.

I must add, don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

You must have read some quotes - Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school, where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One last thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don't be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.

I've told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.

Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don't go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you. But it's life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that's where you want to be.

Disappointment's cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don't know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release. Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts, having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.

Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you. In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty damm lucky by Indian standards. Let's be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don't. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don't get literary praise. It's ok. I don't look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It's ok. Don't let unfairness kill your spark.

Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.

There you go. I've told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, your eyes will shine the same way as they do today.. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.

Thank You!

My Favourite Songs

My Favourite Songs ( 18-01-2009 )

Dil Gira Dafatan - Delhi 6 Khudaya Khair - Billu Barber Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire Emotional Attyachar ( Rock Version ) - Dev D Pyar Ki Daastaan - Luck By Chance Yeh Zindagi Bhi - Luck By Chance Pyar to Hona Hi - Sunday O..Saya - Slumdog Millionaire Kaisa Yeh Raaz Hai - Raaz TMC Masakali - Delhi 6

Slumdog Millionaire

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01 - O... Saya -  A. R. Rahman, M.I.A

02 - "Riots" by A. R. Rahman

03 - Mausam & Escape - A. R. Rahman

04 - Paper Planes - M.I.A.

05 - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)  - M.I.A

06 - Ringa Ringa - A. R. Rahman featuring Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun

07 - Liquid Dance - Palakkad Sriram, Madhumitha

08 - Latika's Theme - Suzanne D'Mello

09 - Aaj Ki Raat - Sonu Nigam, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Alisha Chinai

10 - Millionaire - A. R. Rahman featuring Madhumitha

11 - Gangsta Blues - BlaaZe, Tanvi Shah

12 - Dreams On Fire - Suzanne D'Mello

13 - Jai Ho - Sukhwinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalakshmi Iyer

MUSIC REVIEW - INDIAFM

This one is not just a versatile album but also a teasing one, as can be witnessed from the opening number 'Ringa Ringa' which is based on the the rhythm of 'Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai'. Set in a brothel, 'Ringa Ringa' hardly leaves anything to imagination and one wonders that if not for an A-grade project set-up as that of Slumdog Millionaire, the song would possibly have not gone beyond the censors. In the league of 'Choli Ke Peeche' [Khalnayak] and 'Mujhko Raana Ji Maaf Karna' [Karan Johar], 'Ringa Ringa' is as raunchy as it gets. 'Jai Ho' is the flagship number of Slumdog Millionaire and Subhash Ghai may certainly have been cursing his luck that he allowed this superb track from Yuvvraaj to be handed over to Slumdog Millionaire after he felt that it didn't suit the mood of his own film. Boasting of an amazing mix of melody and rhythm, 'Jai Ho' remains Indian at heart and is instantly catchy. No wonder, it is the lone promotional song of the film and also sees a music video being dedicated to it. Gulzar saab celebrates the spirit of love and life with 'Jai Ho' and infuses enough power in it that justifies all the nominations it is receiving today. A background theme piece that should help speed up the pace of Slumdog Millionaire with the sheer energy it brings with it, 'O Saya' has an African sound to it. Heavy on orchestra, 'O Saaya' moves at a fast paced and is the kind that has to be heard on a high volume on a good music system to get the right effects. A few theme pieces follow next with 'Riots' getting the scare factor on. Years back, Rahman had composed 'Bombay Theme' in Mani Ratnam's Bombay and here in Slumdog Millionaire he makes it dark and depressing all over again. On the other hand, 'Mausam - Escape' is mainly a fusion piece that amalgamates Indian and Western classical. A track which takes has quite some range to it with the kind of ups and downs that it sees; it should heighten the impact of the narrative. Same is the case with 'Liquid Dance' which lasts for three minutes and has unpredictability written all over it. Yet another exciting piece that makes you check out the film to know how exactly is it placed in the film. What makes for one of the most beautiful theme pieces in Slumdog Millionaire is that of the leading lady Latika though. Titled 'Latika's Theme', you want this piece to go on for longer than it's three minute duration due to the lively manner in which it unfolds. From being lively, the mood shifts to that of euphoric with the track 'Millionaire' coming next. With a hint of 'Jai Ho' to it, it is a club track that you could play out loud and jive along with all the fancy lights surrounding you. 'Gangsta Blues' is a haunting yet intriguing number that reminds one of the soundtrack of lesser known film Snip which was made close to a decade back. However, though not much is remembered of Snip today, Rahman ensures that his 'Gangsta Blues' would be identified well by those who have been exposed to this genre of music, courtesy MTV and Channel V! The concluding track 'Dreams On Fire' is a soft and sensitive number and Rahman shows once again that why he is a preferred choice for many international filmmakers! VOCALS It would certainly have been the Rahman factor that would have prompted Alka Yagnik to come behind the mike for a number like 'Ringa Ringa'. Even though she has sworn off singing any number that has a hint of vulgarity to it, Alka Yagnik doesn't mind going ahead with 'Ringa Ringa' and comes up with good results all over again in company of her 'Choli Ke Peeche' partner Ila Arun. Sukhwinder Singh is energetic and effortlessly goes ahead rendering 'Jai Ho' where he is accompanied by Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Vijay Prakash. The singer can comfortably add on another big chartbuster to his name. Rahman himself comes behind the mike for 'O Saaya' along with M.I.A and sings as per the mood and setting of the situation in which it is placed. One of the most difficult tasks behind the mike is to get the right pitch on when all that you are required to do is hum throughout. Suzanne does it well as the crooner for 'Latika's Theme' and deserves applause for the way she approaches the three minute long piece and keeps it all subtle yet so full of impact. For the English number 'Dreams On Fire', she is yet again in her elements and goes about singing it the way a girl would in an up market night club with dim lights around and no disturbance whatsoever. On the other hand, Blaaze and Tanvi Shah are just so right into the groove for 'Gangsta Blues' which has to be one of the very few 'gangsta' genre of tracks that have been composed by an Indian composer. OVERALL Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent album that deserves all the applause and accolades it has been collecting internationally. Basically, a theme album with most of the tracks being background pieces, it never makes you miss the need of any spoken words for most of its duration. And even for those who look want their music to have full song and dance routines, there are numbers like 'Jai Ho' and 'Ringa Ringa' to keep them entertained. Play this one on for a long ride; you would certainly enjoy the sheer variety that comes along with it! OUR PICK(S) 'Jai Ho', 'Gangsta Blues', 'Ringa Ringa', 'O Saya', 'Dreams On Fire'   ALBUM RATINGS Music : 4/5 Lyrics : 3/5 Vocals : 4/5 Overall Rating : 4/5

Luck By Chance

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01 - Yeh Zindagi Bhi  - Loy Mendonsa , Shekhar Ravjiani

02 - Baawre - Loy Mendonsa , Shankar Mahadevan

03 - Pyaar Ki Dastaan - Amit Paul , Mahalakshmi Iyer

04 - Yeh Aaj Kya Ho Gaya - Sunidhi Chauhan

05 - Sapnon Se Bhare Naina - Shankar Mahadevan

06 - O Rahi Re - Shankar Mahadevan

07 - Baawre (Remix)

MUSIC REVIEW - INDIAFM

Uniqueness is what one experiences in 'Baawre'. A fusion track that gives a rustic touch to a folk tune and then compliments it with a hint of Western flavor, 'Baawre' boasts of a catchy tune. Though it's placement at the very top of the album comes across as a surprise, it is a pleasant one since one didn't really expect a song like this to be the starting point of the album which had it's lead hero 'rocking' the nation in Rock On less than six months ago. An electrifying 'remix' version follows later that is just the kind of recipe that a DJ would be looking for! 

There is an immediate mood shift though with 'O Raahi Re' that has a trademark S-E-L stamp to it. A slow moving number that sees the protagonist asking himself about the path he wants to choose for himself in the walk of life, it is a background piece that should make good sense in the film's narrative. Next to arrive is a love song 'Pyaar Ki Daastaan' which again is the kind of number that keeps the proceedings simple and doesn't turn out to be an assault on the ears. Also, this is yet another track which follows the S-E-L template of a love song and comes up with good results as well. 

A pop fusion track that also has strong Indian classical influence to it, 'Sapnon Se Bhare Naina' is a cracker of a piece which yet again describes the journey of the protagonist who is wondering about the success that has come his way but at what cost? Aided by Western arrangements, it is a unique piece and deserves to be placed at numerous junctures in the narrative. Soon after comes 'Yeh Aaj Kya Ho Gaya? ', a song which begins on a happy note, courtesy the lively arrangements and the overall feel good factor of the number. However, it is not a frivolous piece of music and in fact promises to make a good impression once it is seen in the film. 

Finally, comes 'Yeh Zindagi Bhi' which just flows with the mood of the entire album and doesn't allow the narrative to deviate at all. Yet again, Luck By Chance retains its soft flavor, hence staying consistent from start to finish. 

LYRICS

After thoroughly enjoying himself penning 'Baawre', Javed Akhtar keeps it simple for 'O Rahi Re' and instead of getting full on poetic, he keeps it almost as conversational. However, he does get an opportunity to go poetic with 'Pyaar Ki Daastaan' as well as 'Sapnon Se Bhare Naina'. From a pensive 'O Rahi Re' and 'Sapnon Se Bhare Naina', he makes a good transition to being optimistic about life with 'Yeh Aaj Kya Ho Gaya?' Same is the case with 'Yeh Zindagi Bhi' which is again centered on hope and achieving greater highs in life! 

VOCALS

Shankar Mahadevan leads from the front as he comes behind the mike for as many as three tracks. He gets the mood just right for 'Baawre' that also has Loy Mendonca, Ila Arun, Mumay Khan, Babu Khan, Manzoor Khan and Rajab Khan chipping in a little. However, it is 'O Rahi Re' which shows why he is such an asset as not just as a composer but also as a singer. Later when he sings a semi-classical 'Sapnon Se Bhare Naina', he re-establishes his stranglehold over the genre. This is the track where he performs best. Shekhar Ravjiani (of Vishal-Shekhar duo) pairs up with Loy Mendonca for 'Yeh Zindagi Bhi' and is pretty impresseive as he allows himself to go soft on vocals.

Newcomer Amit Paul is given a good platform to sing the first romantic number of the album and he does a good job along with Mahalakshmi Iyer who continues to make an impression with every opportunity that she gets behind the mike. Sunidhi Chauhan gets only one song in the entire album and is at her spirited best in 'Yeh Aaj Kya Ho Gaya? ' which allows her to get into her Pop Diva mode! 

OVERALL

As 2009 kick starts, Luck By Chance brings with it a different flavor of music to it, something which is completely different from some of the biggest hits that 2008 saw. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy push the envelope, as expected, and dare to do something different in a film which is being pitched in a commercial market. Though it would be wrong to expect this album to take a thundering start at the music stands due to its unique flavor and unconventional style, as an entire soundtrack it does work for the film. Luck By Chance is one of those albums where one can't expect a single number to make waves but listen to it as an original soundtrack and it certainly turns out to be pretty enjoyable. 

OUR PICK(S) 

'Sapnon Se Bhare Naina', 'Yeh Zindagi Bhi', 'O Rahi Re'

ALBUM RATINGS

Music : 3.5/5

Lyrics : 3/5

Vocals : 4/5

Overall Rating : 3.5/5

Billu Barber

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01 - Marjaani - Sukhwinder Singh, Anushka Manchanda

02 - Love Mera Hit Hit - Neeraj Shridhar, Tulsi Kumar

03 - You Get Me Rockin Reeling - Neeraj Shridhar

04 - Ae Aa O - K.K., Rana Mazumder, Suraj

05 - Jaoon Kahan - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

06 -  Billoo Bhayankar

07 - Khudaya Khair - Soham Chakrabarthy, Akruti Kakkar, Monali

08 - You Get Me Rockin Reeling (Video Edit) - Neeraj Shridhar, Dominique

09 - Love Mera Hit Hit (House Mix) - Neeraj Shridhar, Tulsi Kumar

10 - Marjaani (Kilogram's Balkan Mix) - K.K, Akruti Kakkar

11 - Khudaya Khair (Reprise) - Abhijeet

12 - You Get Me Rockin Reeling (Remix) - Neeraj Shridhar

13 - Ae Aa O (Remix) - K.K., Rana Mazumder, Suraj

14 - Marjaani (Electro House) - Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan

15 - Love Mera Hit Hit (Remix) - Neeraj Shridhar, Tulsi Kumar

MUSIC REVIEW - INDIAFM

Item song no.1 - that's 'Marjaani' for you! From the very first beat, you know that there is no way this song won't succeed in reaching the top of the charts. A fast paced track that remains Indian at heart even with all the Western beats surrounding it, 'Marjaani' has Pritam giving his all to ensure that his 'jodi' with Kareena Kapoor continues to be a big hit. Remember 'It's Rocking' (Kya Love Story Hai) and 'Yeh Ishq Hai' (Jab We Met)? The fun continues with 'Balkan Mix' and 'Electro House'

He goes on to create 'Love Mera Hit Hit' which he could have composed in his sleep, considering the 'template' feel to it. Item song no.2, it is just a follow up to many a dance floor chartbusters that he has created in movies like Race ('Khwaab Dekhe Jhoothe Moothe') and Kismat Konnection ('Ae Pappi'). 'The House Mix' and 'Remix' version ensure that the song remains with you much after you have heard it first.

Another 'template' song in the album is 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which has a beginning akin to that of 'Zara Zara Touch Me' [Race]. However, soon after it moves to being much more childlike and innocent with the advent of lyrics that go as 'Khudaya Khair'. In fact based on the same tune with just the words 'Khudaya Khair', there is another namesake song that follows later in the album. While the former has a slight Western twang to it, the latter comes with a full-on Indian feel. These two are yet another very good additions to this album that seems to have one chartbuster packed after another in the album.

There is a speed breaker though in the form of 'Ae Aa O' which is the first rock track of the album and doesn't really make you jump with joy in the very first listening. In fact the very sound of 'Ae Aa O' (also appearing later in the remix version) that remains persistent throughout the track is ordinary and straight out of a commercial.

It's a different Pritam that one hears in 'Jaoon Kahan' which is a sad song expected to play in the background at multiple junctures. Though there isn't anything extraordinary about the compositions due to the heard-before factor, 'Jaoon Kahan' is still a soothing number enough to keep your interest in the song to follow. Later, one can sense a clear Priyadarshan influence to the proceedings with 'Billoo Bhayankar' bringing the album to a close. With a rustic folk flavor to it while keeping the fun quotient intact, 'Billoo Bhayankar' is a song that hails the central protagonist of the film played by Irrfan Khan.

LYRICS

'Marjaani' boasts of lyrics that have a characteristic Gulzar touch to them. In fact with the kind of flavor that Pritam brings to his lyrics, one wonders whether we are looking at another Pancham da-Gulzar 'jodi' in the offering since the composer makes it all sound so commercial that one ends up remembering many a chartbuster hits that Pancham da and Gulzar had delivered three decades back! On the other hand, don't bother about lyrics like 'Khit Pit', 'Hit Hit', 'Kudi Tu Sexy' etc. - it's the catchy feel and rhythm that matters most for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' and lyricist Ashish Pandit does well on those grounds! Neeraj Shridhar also turns lyricist for 'Ae Aa O' but the words here aren't anything above ordinary.

Sayeed Quadri and Gulzar write a version each for 'Khudaya Khair' that also arrives as 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling'. Both the numbers bring in a different flavor though the element of pure and innocent love remains intact in each of the instances. Sayeed Quadri also writes 'Jaoon Kahan' that narrates the state of the protagonist who has lost a lot in his life while Gulzar gets his own take on the protagonist's popularity with 'Billoo Bhayankar'. 

VOCALS

Sukhwinder Singh, the voice of Shah Rukh Khan opens 'Marjaani' and allows Sunidhi Chauhan to arrive on the scene who shines in a big way. She is truly in form in her only number in Billu Barber and ensures that her hit record with Kareena Kapoor stays intact. Later K.K. too arrives for the 'Balkan Mix' of the song and adds on to the options available for the final song placement in the film.

Neeraj Shridhar, the voice that never fails Pritam, is in full form again for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' though it is Tulsi Kumar who surprises most with her altogether different style of rendition for Deepika Padukone. Neeraj also sings the solo 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which later arrives as 'Khudaya Khair' with Soham, Akriti Kakar and Monali bringing a certain Indian-ness to the proceedings. With Abhijeet coming back on scene with the 'reprise version' of the same song, one knows what to expect considering the fact that the singer has sung many a hits for Shah Rukh Khan during last 15 odd years!

K.K., who is otherwise so dependable, doesn't really make 'Ae Aa O' rise above ordinary. Most of the times he is capable of turning the most average compositions good due to his sheer prowess behind the mike but in case of 'Ae Aa O', he isn't able to do much even in company of Rana Mazumder and Suraj. On the other hand, Raahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice manages to bring in some 'thehrav' in the proceedings that were being dominated by beats and rhythm all this while. Ajay Jhingaran, Raghuveer and Kalpana come together for a rustic 'Billoo Bhayankar' and though the song is not the next chartbuster in the making, it should help the narrative of Billu Barber.

OVERALL

Billu Barber has a rocking start to it with songs like 'Marjaani' and 'Love Mera Hit Hit' that are guaranteed chartbusters in the making. Though 'Ae Aa O' is the only number that doesn't quite make a mark, 'Khudaya Khair' brings in a nice feel-good touch to it which keeps the flag high for Billu Barber. On the other hand, 'Jaoon Kahan' and 'Billoo Bhayankar' add on to the situational flavor. While the soundtrack should work well for the film, we are not looking at a Race or a Jannat or a Singh Is Kinng that are being played even till date. Still, from the popularity perspective, Billu Barber should go the Kismat Konnection and Golmaal Returns way by being reasonably successful.

OUR PICK(S)

'Marjaani', 'Love Mera Hit Hit', 'Khudaya Khair'

ALBUM RATINGS

Music : 3/5

Lyrics : 3/5

Vocals : 3/5

Overall Rating : 3/5

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Delhi 6

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01. Masakalli - Mohit Chauhan

02. Bhor Bhayi - Shreya Ghoshal, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Gujri Todi

03. Noor - Amitabh Bachchan

04. Aarti (Tumre Bhavan Mein) - Rekha Bharadwaj, Kishori Gowariker, Shraddha Pandit, Sujata Majumdar

05. Genda Phool - Rekha Bharadwaj, Shraddha Pandit, Sujata Majumdar

06. Dil Gira Dafatan - Ash King, Backing Chinmayee

07. Hey Kaala Bandar - Karthik, Naresh, Srinivas, Bony Chakravarthy

08. Rehna Tu - A R Rahman, Benny Dayal, Tanvi

09. Delhi 6 - Blaaze, Benny Dayal, Vivinenne Pocha, Tanvi, Claire

10. Arziyan - Javed Ali, Kailash Kher

MUSIC REVIEW - INDIAFM

Why such excitement about the soundtrack of Delhi 6? Well, one hearing of 'Masakali' and you know that this would be a song remembered for months to come. An instant chartbuster from the word 'Go', it has a characteristic Rahman flavor to it and sounds a unique and extremely fresh piece of music. The orchestra is kept at bare minimum and still makes a huge impact in bringing on a recollection value. 

Reminding of 'Pia Haji Ali' and 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja', 'Arziyan', as required by the genre, has tabla and harmonium taking it through its 9 minute long duration. The impact of this devotional track with a haunting sound is such that after a couple of minutes, a listener completely surrenders by loosing himself in the ambience created by it. 

Well, if one thought that Delhi 6 was more inclined towards rustic music then watch out for the title song that comes next. 'Delhi 6' is what 'Paathshala' and 'Khalbali Hai Khalbali' were to Rang De Basanti. This is the track that deserves to be placed at number of instances in the film's narrative and if at all a music video is created around it, rest assured the number would be hummed by every campus goer. The beats are simply groovy and don't be surprised if the pubs and lounges, at least in North India, have the number playing on in a few days from now. In fact there is a number that goes as 'Hey Kaala Bandar' and is set in a mode similar to that of Delhi 6 if one has to consider the intrinsic groovy elements that it carries. 

Most remarkable of the enterprise so far, 'Rehna Tu' is melody at its best with a Western base to it. A kind of number that can be instantly associated with Rahman, it has its strength in the smooth flowing narrative that makes it an ideal candidate to be played on your date with the one you love! And if the date extends for another hour or so, don't forget to play on 'Dil Gira Dafatan' which is just an ideal follow up to 'Rehna Tu' and keeps the romantic tempo on when it comes to melody. In fact there is hardly any instrument that plays in the background, hence making 'Dil Gira Dafatan' even more special! 

For about 50 seconds, 'Genda Phool' appears to be all rustic and rooted but soon Western arrangements come into picture hence making it a cool fusion number that continues to get on variety for the soundtrack of Delhi 6. Composer Rajat Dholakia comes into picture for this unique number which leaves one wondering that in which situation it would be used. Surprise comes in the form of classical 'Bhor Bhaye' which is based on raaga Gujri Todi followed by an aarti 'Tumre Bhavan Mein', both of which promise to add on to the narrative of Delhi 6 in the background. Essence of love is all over again, though for a mere 50 seconds, as Amitabh Bachchan runs his commentary on 'Noor' that concludes the album. 

LYRICS

Prasoon Joshi certainly likes to write something that has never been heard before. When he plays it all around to mix and match with words that could either be totally poetic or straight out of day to day conversations, songs like 'Masakali' are made. He gets devotional with 'Arziyan' and 'Aarti (Tumre Bhavan Mein)' with the classical 'Bhor Bhaye' and folk based 'Genda Phool' showing an altogether different facet of his writing. 

Prasoon returns with the love songs 'Rehna Tu' and 'Dil Gira Dafatan' and gives Rahman quite a lot to experiment around. On the other hand, he would have certainly given Rahman a tough time to compose lyrics that go as 'Hey Kaala Bandar'. 

Viviane & Claire are the guest lyricists for the title song 'Delhi 6' where they bring in the flavor of Delhites. This one is an ultra cool and modern number where lyricists cleverly mix words written in both English and Hindi.

VOCALS

Mohit Chauhan gets to sing on a completely different pitch, something that he hasn't been known for much after a slew of mushy romantic numbers that he has sung so far. He is terrific with 'Masakali' that would add on to his ever increasing repertoire. Javed Ali opens 'Arziyan' and Kailash Kher joins him later to create a mesmerizing impact that makes the number a heartfelt experience. 

Blaaze, Benny, Viviane, Tanvi and Claire would have certainly had fun while coming together for Delhi 6 which is the first 'cool' number to make an appearance in the soundtrack. Another teamwork is seen in 'Hey Kaala Bandar' where Karthik, Naresh, Srinivas and Bony Chakravorty come together to make it an all-boys outing. Certainly, this makes for an enjoyable journey! However, ladies are not to be left behind, as apparent with 'Genda Phool' that sees Rekha Bharadwaj, Shrradha Pandit, Sujata Majumdar and V.N. Mahathi joining in and also 'Tumre Bhavan Mein' that features the trio of Rekha, Shrradha and Sujata Majumdar with Kishori Ashok Gowariker. 

Rahman goes selfish with 'Rehna Tu' as he saves the best track of the album for himself and comes behind the mike for it. Just hear it to believe it as he is just so perfect in his rendition and makes you play on the number repeatedly. However, Ash King, a male singer who hasn't been heard on the Bollywood scene so far, gives Rahman tough competition as a singer with the number 'Dil Gira Dafatan'. He makes an excellent debut with Chinmayee doing well as a backup vocalist. 

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal come together for 'Bhor Bhaye' and the latter especially shows her prowess as a singer as she comfortably slips out of her playback singing veil and gets into the groove of hardcore classical music. 

OVERALL

Delhi 6 is near perfect. Period. If one thought that Slumdog Millionaire, Ghajini and Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Naa were superb then just listen to Delhi 6 once. Rahman beats his own score with Delhi 6 which would easily go down as one of his best scores till date. Simply said, even though the year has just begun with some exemplary soundtracks like Dev D, Slumdog Millionaire and Luck By Chance already making a very good impression, Delhi 6 would qualify as a comfortable nomination amongst the Top albums of the year. And to thing of it, 2009 still has more than 11 months to go! 

OUR PICK(S) 

'Rehna Tu', 'Masakali', 'Dil Gira Dafatan', 'Arziyan', 'Delhi 6' 

ALBUM RATINGS

Music : 4/5

Lyrics : 4/5

Vocals : 4.5/5

Overall Rating : 4/5