WHEN you make a youth-oriented film with newcomers, the music also has to be different. Unfortunately, that does not happen very often. This film does manage to do the near impossible.

In this film, it is not just the actors who are wet behind the ears, the same can be said about some of the singers also. But these newcomers — Kunal, Nayan, Arnab and Mahalaxmi — have been supported by those who have had some experience in film singing, such as Shaan, Shankar, Sunidhi and KK. What matters is that all of them have sung confidently under the baton of Shankar Loy.

The young lot has been helped by the fact that they had the lyrics of maestro Javed Akhtar to work on. His genius is not restricted by the simplicity of these songs. Even when Javed writes "Yaar apne ghar jao …" his brilliance shines through.

The title song is in two versions, both of which have been sung by Shankar, Kunal, Nayan and Arnab. Similarly, "Ooh yeh…" (Mahalaxmi, KK) is later repeated on instruments.

One song that stands out is "Yeh sama …" by Sowmya and Shaan. Almost in the same bracket is "Kuch hum bhi pagal hain …" by Shweta, Sunidhi and Gayatri.

Junoon (Universal)

Aadesh Shrivastava has some good albums to his credit, but here he succumbs to the Anu Malik disease: many of his creations are "inspired" by earlier hits.

This weakness is particularly noticeable in "Saanson mein sama jao …" (Alka Yagnik), which is a close copy of "bahon mein chale aao, hum se sanam kya parda…." On the other hand, "Hey Rama …" (Sunidhi Chauhan and chorus) seems to have been composed the day after watching the video of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna". This song has been penned by Shyam Raj, while all others are by Nida Fazli.

Because of that fly in the ointment, one is not fully able to appreciate "Tere liye dhoopon mein saya banoon…" (Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kumar Sanu), which is both original and melodious. Sukhwinder Singh is good in "Ye kaisa hai junoon...."

Adnan Sami sings "Aankhon ne kiya ishara …" solo and then shares the mike with Preeti Kapoor.

Rhim Jhim (Music Today)

Music Today has launched its sub-label, Rhim Jhim, as a step towards breaking away from the niche section to which it has been catering for the last decade. Rhim Jhim is an economy brand with music for the masses and prices to suit a broader section of listeners. Launched with four devotional albums, the brand promises to widen the company’s already extensive catalogue.

The first four products launched under this label are mantra albums featuring Gayatri Mantra, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Vidya Praapti Mantra and the most sought after Shanti Mantra. These are 45-minute loops of the above-mentioned mantras slotted at Rs 35 per cassette and Rs 99 per CD of Gayatri and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.