(This article is sponsored by Sounds of India)

Music: Anu Malik, Shahi, Ali Azmat, Music Mushrooms
Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri, Amjad Islam Amjad, Sabir Zaraf & Ali Azmat
Vocals: Ali Azmat, Anuradha Paudwal, Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan,Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Udit Narayan
Label: SAREGAMA

Actor turned producer Pooja Bhatt’s directorial debut ‘Paap’ stars John Abraham and model Udita Goswami and is written by Mahesh Bhatt and co-produced by Sujit Kumar Singh.

If I have to cite one reason for loving this collection it would be Laal, an exhilarating 6 minute long alaap with singers Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (born 1974 in Faisalabad, Pakistan, the son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's brother and accompanist, and grandson of another legendary qawwali master, Fateh Ali Khan) and Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan´s evocative voice in Mann Ki Lagan (lyrics by Amjad Islam Amjad)is thrilling and embraces the elevating aesthetic of the Sufi tradition. The music by Shahi is pure ecstasy; the score will have you swaying in an enthralled trance. The phenomenal young Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a revelation!

Out of the eleven tracks in the album, Anu Malik directs only two. Both Intezaar and Sun e mere dil feature an often-off key Anuradha Paudwal. While Sun Ae Mere Dil, rendered by Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan is average with a totally mundane sound, Intezaar fares only slightly better both as an instrumental track as well as with vocals.

Ms. Bhatt has done well to invite Pakistani musicians Shahi, Faisal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Faizi and Ali Azmat. to collaborate; they elevate the collection by several notches. Breaking the conventional hackneyed style of Bollywood music is risky business and full marks go to Ms. Bhatt for this refreshing medley of numbers.

Garaj Baras is vintage Junoon, Ali Azmat’s enthusiasm is infectious in this gem with sizzling guitars from their latest album Deewar.

Initiating a healthy trend in Bollywood films is the background score; the instrumental soundtrack of Paap makes for interesting listening. In this album, each theme piece is said to suggest a chapter of the film. Credited to Music Mushrooms, all the instrumental tracks please, Tumhari jagah oonchey aasman mein hai, Run to the Church and Intezar interlude are groundbreaking musically.

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