For children between six and sixty
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Makdee
(Times Music)

Very few films are made in India purely for children. The few that are hardly have music meant specifically for children. Makdee is a pioneer of sorts in this regard, because not only is the film child-specific but so is the music.

Interestingly, the film has been directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, who has so far been known only as the music composer of such brilliant films as Maachis, Godmother and Satya. Since he mans both the key departments there is perfect coordination and the end result is refreshing.

What makes the songs all the more endearing is the fact that these have been penned by Gulzar. As is well known, he has the capacity to step down from intellectual heights (remember Chaddhi pahen ke phool khila hai?) to come to the level of a child. He performs the same feat here, with delightful results.

The overall effect is such that it is not only children who are going to love it. There is a child in every one of us and the songs may appeal to that hidden juvenile.

Quite fittingly, almost all songs have been either sung by children or rank newcomers such as Upagna Pandya, Alaap Majgavkar, Makrand Deshpande, Dominique, Clinton and Rekha Vishal.

With the passage of time and practice, Jasbir Jassi is graduating to a better and better singer. His albums now pack more variety and he is also more willing to experiment. The present album goes beyond dance numbers to include some serious songs and also some novel ones.

The central attraction here is Baba Bulle Shah’s immortal Tere ishq nachaya kar thaiyaan thaiyaan… which Jassi has sung in a refreshingly different style. Doing so after the song has been used in Dil se is a remarkable achievement. Credit is also due to Shyam Bhateja who has made a radical change in composition along with Jassi. This, incidentally, is also the longest song of the album.

Shyam Bhateja has also penned three of the songs, one of them in collaboration with Jassi (Nachda nee …)

Another notable inclusion is Waris Shah’s Heer. Of course, there is the title song Koka koka tera Koka … written by Devinder Khannewala with which the album opens.

Vinayaka is considered the Lord and Destroyer of all worldly life, obstacles, ignorance, egoism, pain and suffering. This album has been presented in the traditional form of shloka recitation which has been produced by Inner Voice and musically designed by Shaarang Dev.

Vijay Prakash, a disciple of Suresh Wadkar, sings aalaaps, sargam and taraana in keeping with the divine feel of the shlokas.

Besides a commentary on the Vighnaharta scripted by Ashok Roy and narrated by Harish Bhimani, there are Vighna Nash Shloka, Ganesh Kavach, Vighnanivarak Sidhivinayak Strotam, Sankat Nashan Stotra and Ganesh Gayatri prayer.