MUSIC REVIEW OF BABUL

Ravi Chopra's 'Babul' brings the cultural deep rooted ethics of Indian family with loads of bankable stars in accomplished package of Bollywood entertainer. The filmmaker has once again trusted the reliable pair of Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini as the lead pair of the film after the bumper success of 'Baghbaan'. If 'Baghbaan' was an eye opener about responsible but depressed parenthood, then 'Babul' is a tearjerker of a different kind. The film enjoys strong face value as it is loaded with the acting prowess of saleable actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, John Abraham and Rani Mukherjee in the lead roles.The surprise element of the album is the soulful theme soundtrack in the voice of Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. Experienced campaigner Sameer comes up with humorous, playful, festive and emotional lyrics that metaphor with the situation of the film. 'Babul' offers eleven original soundtracks that can be heard on T-Series music cassettes and CD's.

The painful sentiments of a caring father in a situation where her beloved daughter bids farewell after her marriage get beautifully emoted in thematically oriented soundtrack "Kehta Hai Babul". It brings the poet out of Sameer as the lyrics are beautifully penned, disclosing the innermost sentiments of a loner father. Jagjit Singh's voice makes it perfect ten with his soulfully penetrative voice that seeps into senses. Earlier, this track was supposed to be rendered by Big B but finally Jagjit Singh was assigned the job and the end result is brilliant. Aadesh Srivastav uses minimum of instruments and the heartfelt emotions are exuded primarily through "Shehnai" and violin rendition. Lyricist Sameer delivers one of his finest works in recent times and the feel of the film in phrases, verses and words. Jagjit Singh has earlier sung theme songs like "Maa Tujhe Salaam" ('Khalnayak') and "Tu Hai Shikhar" ('Shikhar') with finesse and it adds to his credits. The long duration of the song (eight minutes) might be stressing but if heard with patience it has the substance and feel to make even stone cry. "Kehta Hai Babul" will be an important feature in the narration of the film and it is icing on cake for Jagjit Singh after the release of his recent Ghazal album "Koi Baat Chale".