Yatra

While the debate is on around whether Anu Malik's score for 'Umrao Jaan' matches up to the class of Khayyam's classic score in the namesake flick a couple of decades back, the soundtrack of 'Yatra' enters silently. Why is the film special? For three reasons: 1. The film has music by Khayyam. 2) The film stars Rekha as a coutesan once again after 'Umrao Jaan'. 3) Nana Patekar is in the lead along with Rekha and hence makes the casting special. Directed by acclaimed Gautam Ghose, the film comes from the production house of Bipin Kumar Vohra who had made '15 Park Avenue' early this year. Apart from Khayyam, Ghose too handles the music of around half the album.

With a niche theme like 'Yatra' and a expectations of a score dipped in Indian classical music, one plays on the album. Well, it turns out that the album is indeed hardcore classical and is aimed only at a minute section of audience.

http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/12898/index.html

Umrao Jaan

If there is an acid test for Anu Malik this season or in fact this decade, it has to be with 'Umrao Jaan'. The man has seen enough highs and lows in his decades old career so far but the music of 'Umrao Jaan' is something that would be scrutinized by one and all. And why not? After all the tracks from Khayyam's 'Umrao Jaan' are still being appreciated by the connoisseurs of classical Indian music and it is certainly no mean feat to match. Hence when J.P. Dutta picks up the baton to narrate the story while roping in Anu Malik and Javed Akhtar saab, one can't help but look at each and every track with keen interest. Also with Aishwarya Rai being the central protagonist along with Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Suneil Shetty, one can't help but have mammoth expectations from the film and its music.

So does the team deliver? Does it come close to the classic score from the yesteryears or at least form an identity of its own without worrying about the past? Will Anu Malik have another successful score after 'Jaan-E-Mann'? The answer to each of the questions is yes!

Before one starts hearing the tracks, first thing that strikes on looking at the CD cover is the name of Alka Yagnik. She is practically there for each of the tracks except for a couple and bags a biggie as the voice of legendary Umrao Jaan.

http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/12719/index.html