AUDIO SCAN
Music of Lahore

Lahore Ke Rang
Hari Ke Sang
(Times Music)

The Indian Punjab and the Pakistani Punjab may be different in a million ways but as far as music is concerned, they are identical twins. Whatever is the flavour of Lahore is very much the flavour of Amritsar as well.

So when Hariharan sings the "music of Lahore", he is very much singing the music of Punjab. The only distinction is that he sings compositions of men like Wazir Afzal, Nazar Hussain and Qadir Shaggan from Lahore. Then there are also timeless compositions of Amir Khusro, Bulleh Shah, Hasart Mohani, Majeed Amjad, Nasir Kazmi, Mushtaq soofi and Tassaduq. It was recorded in May 2004 at Folk Studios, Lahore, and mixed at Abbey Road Studios, London.

This is the first time that Hariharan has sung a Punjabi number, Bulleh Shah’s Bhavain Tu Jaane Na. It goes to his credit that he has sung like a pucca Punjabi in spite of his different cultural and linguistic background.

The album opens with Amir Khusro’s Mohay apnay rang mai rang de, which has all its Sufi energy and vibrancy. Hariharan himself says that this track is closest to his heart.

One song which is not heard too often in India nowadays is Rooth gaye moray baankay. It will be lapped up with nostalgia by many Punjabis. Then there are also several excellent ghazals and thumris. The string that runs through all these 10 tracks is Hariharan’s classical touch. Even when he renders a folk song, he does so with remarkable subtlety and depth. Music has been arranged by Riaz Hussain.

Remember Kunika Desai, the sexy seductress of Indian cinema? Perhaps you do. But if you don’t, you can be easily excused, because she just could not make it big despite exposing her, hmmm, talent. Well, then you are even less likely to remember that she cut a music album in 2002, named after herself.

She has come up with another one now, and just because she has incorporated a faux Sufi number in this album, she has named it "a mystical journey".

That is one of the only three original offerings in the eight-song album. The rest of it is packed with cover songs from films like Aaiye Meherbaan, Ae dil mjhe bata de tu kis pe aa gaya hai, Yeh nayan dare dare, Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam and Boojh mera kya naam re. Aaiye Meherbaan also has a showcase video, directed by Filmmaker Deepak Tijori, and starring who else but Kunika herself.

One saving grace is that the proceeds from the album go to Tara Charitable Trust for children of a lesser God. —ASC