Armaan, T-Series- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Chitra, the reigning queen of South Indian playback, does justice to Mere Dil Ka Tumse Hai Yeh Kehna, a very Rahmanesque (think Bombay) upper. Tu Hi Bata Zindagi is another excellent Hindustani classical number that spells pathos and has two versions. While the male version rendered by Roop Kumar Rathod definitely stands out, the song seems away from Shreya Ghosal’s vocal range and you can clearly hear the singer straining. Main Gaoon Tum Gao is another effervescent number and who better than Shaan for a shot of bubbly in the playback. Shaan has help from Udit Narayan, Mahalaxmi Iyer — a favourite of the trio — and a new voice Bhairavi Kumble, who hasn’t really made a mark.

Then there’s the instrumental violin-sax jugalbandi, that plays a central role in the film. While the violin takes on the Indian classical essence, you can’t miss the Ehsaan-Loy jazz flavour to the sax composition. Like most film soundtracks of the ’90s, you miss the versatile Sonu Nigam, who does a great job of Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye Ho, a mellow duet with Sunidhi Chauhan. Since Bollywood is in love with love, Irani couldn’t have picked a better lyricist than the poet-writer Javed Akhtar.The album’s one of the better ones this season.