THIS is a film "designed" by Raj Babbar, produced by wife Nadira Babbar, introducing daughter Juhi Babbar and dedicated to Smita Patil. As far as the music reveals, Raj Babbar has put his heart and soul into it.

Aadesh Shrivastava’s music is melodious and hummable. It has clear Punjabi overtones, perhaps because the characters of the film are Punjabi. That does not mean there is excess of balle-balle. It is just the regional flavour, whether in the foot-tapping Shaawa pardesio (Sonu Nigam, Sukhvinder Singh) or Hai Rabba … and Dil mein sau-sau … sung by Manmohan Singh (cinematographer?), which remind you of the immortal Jutti Kasoori Aaye na poori …

Otherwise, the main singer is Sonu Nigam who figures in three duets besides singing four solos. The lyrics are by Sameer, except for two numbers penned by Praveena Bhardwaj. Interestingly, the title song is in three versions. While one is written by Sameer, the other two are by Praveena Bhardwaj, one sung by Sonu Nigam and the other a duet by Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal.

The only female solo has gone to Alka Yagnik. Dhaani chunariya … which has an old-world charm about it. The slowest but perhaps the most accomplished creation is Tumhi se hui mohabbat … by Sonu Nigam. Such songs were common in the Rafi era but are rarely made these days.

Having two versions of a song in every album is fast turning into an established practice. Here, two songs are present in two versions. One is the title song which is first sung by Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan and then by Babul Supriyo and Sarika Kapoor (sad). The happy-sad distinction is not there in the case of Saajan sajan … which has been done first by Alka Yagnik, Sapna Awasthi and Kumar Sanu and then by Jaspinder Narula and chorus. It is almost a quawwali and has been sung with gusto in both versions.

The song which is likely to make it at the party circuit is Alka Yagnik’s Dayya dayya dayya re …, although my favourite one from the album is Kitna majboor ho gaya … by Kumar Sanu which has such touching pathos.

Music is by Nadeem Shravan and lyrics by Sameer.

Altaf Raja’s popularity far exceeds his talent. The Tum to thehre pardesi … man does not shed the winning combination ever. Here too he has given us a clone with the same DNA.

As the title says, the subject matter is longing and pain of separation. The poetry is also of the variety which generally graces hair cutting saloons. A sample:

Encore anyone?

In between, there is also a bit of love for one’s beloved nation. Like it or not, Altaf has a solid vote bank which anxiously awaits for his new albums. As long as they are satisfied with his offerings, you and I have no reason to smirk.